Kentucky lawmakers have killed a bill that would establish so-called “right-to-work” laws in the commonwealth. The Republican-backed bill would prohibit workers from paying union dues as a condition of employment.
It was voted down 15 to 4 by the House State Government Committee, which is largely composed of Democrats.
House GOP Floor Leader Jeff Hoover is the bill's primary sponsor. He says right-to-work laws are needed to make Kentucky more competitive with other states.
“We can enable more job creation and let our citizens find better opportunities for employment while strengthening our economy and putting more real dollars in the pockets of our workers,” he said.
Opponents argue that these kinds of laws would drive down wages for all workers, and have not led to the kind of growth that right-to-work supporters claim.
