Nov. 21, 2017
HARRISBURG – The House State Government Committee today approved legislation drafted by Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom) that would prohibit public employers from collecting political money from employee wages.
“Just as it would be wrong for my colleagues and me to use the state’s payroll system to collect money from our staff to benefit our campaigns, it is also wrong for public resources to be used to collect money to forward any other political agenda,” Cutler said. “The bill would apply the law consistently.”
Under the bill, political contributions would no longer be collected from public employees’ paychecks and would need to be collected privately by the organization. These contributions include but are not limited to:
• An independent expenditure, as defined in the Election Code.
• A contribution, as defined in the Election Code.
• An expenditure, as defined in the Election Code.
• Lobbying, as defined in 65 PA.C.S. Chapter 13 (lobbying disclosure).
• A voter registration drive.
• A get-out-the-vote drive.
• Any other electoral, political or legislative purpose.
Only automatic deductions from the Commonwealth’s public payroll system serving a political role, such as Political Action Committee donations and other purely political expenditures, would be prohibited by the bill. Deductions not to be used for political purposes, such as fair share or the portion of the union dues not used for political expenditures, could still be collected as they are under existing laws.
The bill now advances to the full House for consideration.
Representative Bryan Cutler
100th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Alison Evans
717.260.6206
aevans@pahousegop.com
RepCutler.com /
book.com/RepBryanCutler /
twitter.com/RepBryanCutler