STATE SHOULD HONOR WORKER'S RIGHT TO SPEND

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 3, 1993                   TAG: 9302030105
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: JOAN MUNFORD
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
STATE SHOULD HONOR WORKER'S RIGHT TO SPEND
Throughout the past year, there has been much talk about the governor's decision to allow state employees to have payroll deductions for dues for employee associations. There was a lot of concern that this measure would impair or weaken Virginia's right-to-work status, which I strongly support.
Several bills have been introduced to prohibit the state and local governments from deducting dues from an employee's paycheck. I cannot support these measures; we already allow deductions from paychecks for charitable contributions, savings and annuities, health insurance and loans from the credit union. To me it would seem wrong to disallow a deduction for membership dues when we permit all these other deductions.
I also believe that the money belongs to the employees and the state should respect the employee's wishes as to how she or he spends that money.
The House of Delegates recently approved a measure that will provide, beginning in the fall of 1994, free textbooks for all public school students. When this measure was introduced, I was prepared to vote against it because of the cost to our counties. As introduced, this bill would have cost Montgomery County in excess of $350,000 and Giles County more than $90,000. However, we were successful in amending this bill on the floor of the House to require the state to fully fund these costs.
As chair of the House Labor and Commerce Committee, I pay close attention to unemployment issues, which come under the committee's purview. Because of the continued, long-term unemployment we have experienced, I am sponsoring several pieces of legislation to assist those in need of unemployment benefits.
One piece of legislation would place Virginia law in compliance with federal law and allow our workers to receive the extended benefits recently enacted by Congress. Another would reduce the requirements for continuing to receive unemployment in "distressed" areas, and would deny benefits to anyone in jail or prison.
Your views are important. Call me at (804) 786-8425, or write to me at P.O. Box 406, Richmond, Va. 23203.

Joan Munford, D-Blacksburg, is a veteran member of Virginia House of Delegates. She represents Blacksburg and parts of Montgomery and Giles counties.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1993

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