The 9^th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals today upheld a federal district court ruling that an anti-union law passed by the Idaho Legislature in 2011 was invalid, as it was pre-empted by the federal National Labor Relations Act. The law, which was immediately enjoined and never took effect, banned “job targeting” or “market recovery” programs, in which unions use funds they collect from workers to subsidize bids by union contractors on jobs. When lawmakers were considering the measure in 2011, the Idaho Attorney General’s office warned that it likely would be overturned in court, but the bill passed anyway; it included criminal penalties and hefty fines for violations. A group of labor unions immediately sued and won. The state appealed to the 9^th Circuit/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here.

Question: Someone needs to compute all the money Idaho has wasting fighting quixotic court battles in favor of unconstitutional law -- that and how much the state has paid for outside counsel to ignore good advice of the AG's office. Thoughts?