New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D) has vetoed a “right-to-work” bill passed by the Republican legislature, which would have restricted private-sector unions in the state. As of this juncture, a veto override could potentially occur, but is not a certain thing.
The New Hampshire Union Leader reports:
The bill, HB 474, would bar contracts that require non-members to pay partial dues to unions that represent their rights in the workplace. The partial payments are meant to cover the costs of reaching and enforcing labor contracts.
The bill would also allow fines to be levied against companies that included the provision in a contract and deducted the payments.
…
Lynch wrote in his veto message, “States should not interfere with the rights of businesses and their employees to freely negotiate contracts. That is unless there is a compelling public interest, and there is no compelling public interest in passing this legislation.
On the prospects of a veto override, the Associated Press reports: “The bill did not pass the House by the two-thirds margin needed to override a veto, but 31 House members were absent or did not vote, which makes an override still possible. In the GOP-controlled Senate, the bill passed last month with enough votes to override a veto. The House is expected to vote on May. 25.”
If the law were to be enacted, New Hampshire would become the 23rd state in the country to have such a law — but perhaps more significantly, the only state in the Northeast.
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
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