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STOP THE Special Exemptions Act

Coming to a ballot box near you this November. STOP THE Special Exemptions Act. November’s Anti-Union Ballot Measure. Is NOT Paycheck Deception -- it’s much different and much worse Backers claim it’s campaign finance reform – they even call it the “Stop Special Interest Money Now Act”.

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STOP THE Special Exemptions Act

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  1. Coming to a ballot box near you this November STOP THE Special Exemptions Act

  2. November’s Anti-Union Ballot Measure • Is NOT Paycheck Deception -- it’s much different and much worse • Backers claim it’s campaign finance reform – they even call it the “Stop Special Interest Money Now Act”

  3. A Deceptive Power Grab • Takes away union members’ voice in politics • Riddled with EXEMPTIONS for corporate interests and billionaires • It's a “one-two punch”

  4. “Fair and Balanced”

  5. “Fair and Balanced” Lie #1 • PROHIBITS unions from making ANY contributions to state or local candidates or political parties EVER. • Backers claim it’s “balanced” because the same ban applies to “corporations” but… • Riddled with exemptions: Wall Street hedge funds, real estate investors, insurance companies and billionaire businessmen would be able to contribute directly to candidates

  6. “Fair and Balanced” Lie #2 • Claims to prohibit corporations AND unions from using payroll deductions for politics. • Unions collect dues through payroll deduction. Corporations don’t use payroll deduction for politics; they use their massive profits. • Exempts Corporate Super PACs and front groups allowing them to spend with NO Limits!

  7. Takes Unions Out of the Game • Unions won’t be able to contribute to: • Candidates – Local or State • Ballot Measures – Local or State • Independent Expenditures • We couldn’t even communicate with our own members on politics

  8. Who It Restricts ALL unions in California will be affected - public and private sector, service, trades, everybody.

  9. Who Can Spend Without Limits (THE 1%) • Corporate Super PACs – No Limit • Chamber of Commerce – No Limit • Wall Street Hedge Funds – No Limit • Karl Rove’s PAC– No Limit • Wal-Mart – No Limit • ABC – No Limit • Billionaire Meg Whitman – No Limit

  10. Next Step: Right to Work • Next they put a Right to Work measure on the ballot • Under current law, we can fight it • Under this measure, we couldn’t fund a “No” campaign • Right to Work becomes law in CA

  11. Who's Behind It • Wealthy corporate interests • Orange County millionaires • Anti-union activists • Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association • Lincoln Club of OC (backers of Citizens United case)

  12. This Measure will be Harder to Defeat • We’ve defeated “Paycheck Deception” • But we’ve never beaten “campaign finance reform” • Campaign finance reform is very popular with voters • Our opponents are smarter this time around

  13. Our Opponents’ Message Now U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz:"This initiative gets to the heart of one of the most corrosive elements in politics: campaign contributions. For too long, special interest money has dominated our politics, muting the voice of average Californians."

  14. Why Their Message is so Dangerous • “Campaign Finance Reform” is very popular with the public • Eight in 10 voters say there’s too much big money spent on political campaigns

  15. What Happens If It Passes • Union members could never again pool our money to participate in politics • Unions will have no voice in politics to stand up for working people • Corporations will have NO Limit to money they can spend • Corporations will win even more control over government

  16. This is the First Blow of a “One-Two” punch • Remove unions from politics in 2012, then come after our rights in in 2014 • Next are local and state ballot measures that gut pensions, eliminate PLAs and even strip collective bargaining rights • And we have no ability to fight back

  17. Medicare health insurance pension social security 8-hour day meal breaks workplace health & safety laws child labor laws overtime pay grievance process sick leave FMLA leave minimum wage Project Labor Agreements job security not contracting out vacation leave collective bargaining What We’ve Won Through Politics– and Stand to Lose

  18. How We’re Going to Win-- Message • Two steps: • 1) This isn’t real reform – it’s unbalanced, unfair and full of exemptions for wealthy and corporations • 2) Gives even MORE power to corporate interests, Super PACs and billionaires to write their own rules

  19. How We’re Going to Win -- Message • Tips on messaging: • 1) Be careful with “hot” language • 2) Emphasize unbalanced nature of measure – silences unions while creating exemptions for corporate Super PACs, billionaires • 3) Highlight consequences

  20. How We're Going to Win– Field and Paid Media • We need more education than ever -- MUST reach every union member in the state to win • Member to Member Program – in worksites, phoning and walking • Building a broad coalition of partners • Voter persuasion and GOTV campaign to general voters through Alliance for a Better CA • Statewide paid media – TV and radio and mail

  21. How We’re Going to Win – Next Steps • Do presentations using video or PowerPoint at every meeting •  Map your top worksites and order/use worksite flyers •  Sign up your leaders/activists for CLC campaign schools •  We need to go full speed ahead when we get a number in late June/early July.

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