A bill that prohibits Oklahoma school districts from making payroll deductions for its employees for union membership has narrowly passed a state Senate committee.
The Senate General Government Committee voted 4-3 Monday for the bill by Republican Sen. Nathan Dahm of Broken Arrow, the chairman of the committee. The bill already passed the House and now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
The bill's approval came despite opposition from the state's two largest teacher unions — the Oklahoma Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers.
Dahm says he doesn't believe the state should be in the business of making payroll deductions.
But Westmoore High School teacher Elise Robillard says the bill unfairly targets Oklahoma teachers who already are suffering from low morale.
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