Party-line vote introduces new version of last year’s voided anti-union bill

The Senate State Affairs Committee has voted along party lines to introduce a new bill this morning aimed at re-enacting legislation passed last year to restrict project labor agreements, after that law was overturned by a federal court as a violation of the National Labor Relations Act. “As you know, Judge Winmill overturned last year’s legislation on somewhat specious grounds,” Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, told the committee. He said an earlier bill introduced this year to try to re-enact the provision, SB 1342, was the subject of an Idaho Attorney General’s opinion that pointed out additional problems, so he’s now introducing a new version. “We believe this bill addresses the concerns of the court,” Pearce said.

Senate Assistant Majority Leader Chuck Winder, R-Meridian, said, “I think this deserves a hearing and discussion and passage,” and moved to introduce the new version; his motion passed with the panel’s two Democratic members objecting. Last year’s bill was one of two anti-union measures pushed through by GOP lawmakers despite legal questions.