The SPECIAL EXEMPTIONS Act Coming to a ballot box near you this November

November’s Anti-Union Ballot Measure  Much different and much worse than previous anti-union measures  Backers claim it’s campaign finance reform – they even call it the “Stop Special Interest Money Now Act”  Much different and much worse than previous anti-union measures  Backers claim it’s campaign finance reform – they even call it the “Stop Special Interest Money Now Act”

A Deceptive Power Grab  Takes away union members’ voice in politics  Riddled with EXEMPTIONS for corporate interests and billionaires  Takes away union members’ voice in politics  Riddled with EXEMPTIONS for corporate interests and billionaires

What We’ve Won Through Politics – And Stand To Lose Medicare health insurance pension social security 8-hour day meal breaks workplace health & safety laws child labor laws overtime pay Medicare health insurance pension social security 8-hour day meal breaks workplace health & safety laws child labor laws overtime pay

 Remove unions from politics in 2012, then come after our rights in in 2014  Next are local and state ballot measures that gut pensions, eliminate PLAs and even strip collective bargaining rights  And we’d have no ability to fight back  Remove unions from politics in 2012, then come after our rights in in 2014  Next are local and state ballot measures that gut pensions, eliminate PLAs and even strip collective bargaining rights  And we’d have no ability to fight back This is the First Blow of a “One-Two” punch

Fair and Balanced? Backers claim that the measure:  Bans both corporate and union contributions to candidates  Prohibits campaign contributions from government contractors  Prohibits corporations and unions from collecting political funds from employees and members via voluntary payroll deduction  Makes all employee political contributions by any other means strictly voluntary, requiring annual written consent. Backers claim that the measure:  Bans both corporate and union contributions to candidates  Prohibits campaign contributions from government contractors  Prohibits corporations and unions from collecting political funds from employees and members via voluntary payroll deduction  Makes all employee political contributions by any other means strictly voluntary, requiring annual written consent.

“Fair and Balanced” Really?  PROHIBITS unions from making ANY contributions to state or local candidates or political parties EVER.  Backers claim it’s “balanced” because the same ban applies to “corporations” but…  Riddled with exemptions: Wall Street hedge funds, real estate investors, insurance companies and billionaire businessmen would be able to contribute directly to candidates  PROHIBITS unions from making ANY contributions to state or local candidates or political parties EVER.  Backers claim it’s “balanced” because the same ban applies to “corporations” but…  Riddled with exemptions: Wall Street hedge funds, real estate investors, insurance companies and billionaire businessmen would be able to contribute directly to candidates

 Claims to prohibit corporations AND unions from using payroll deductions for politics.  Unions collect dues through payroll deduction. Corporations don’t use payroll deduction for politics; they use their massive profits.  Exempts Corporate Super PACs and front groups allowing them to spend with NO Limits!  Claims to prohibit corporations AND unions from using payroll deductions for politics.  Unions collect dues through payroll deduction. Corporations don’t use payroll deduction for politics; they use their massive profits.  Exempts Corporate Super PACs and front groups allowing them to spend with NO Limits! “Fair and Balanced” Really?

Eliminates Our Voice UNIONS WON’T BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO:  Candidates – Local or State  Ballot Measures – Local or State  Independent Expenditures  We couldn’t even communicate with our own members on politics UNIONS WON’T BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO:  Candidates – Local or State  Ballot Measures – Local or State  Independent Expenditures  We couldn’t even communicate with our own members on politics

Who It Restricts ALL UNIONS in California will be affected - public and private sector, service, trades, EVERYBODY.

Who Can Spend Without Limits (THE 1%)  Corporate Super PACs – No Limit  Chamber of Commerce – No Limit  Michelle Rhee’s PAC – No Limit  Karl Rove’s PAC – No Limit  Wal-Mart – No Limit  Assoc Builders & Contractors – No Limit  Billionaires – No Limit  Corporate Super PACs – No Limit  Chamber of Commerce – No Limit  Michelle Rhee’s PAC – No Limit  Karl Rove’s PAC – No Limit  Wal-Mart – No Limit  Assoc Builders & Contractors – No Limit  Billionaires – No Limit

Who's Behind It  Wealthy corporate interests  Orange County millionaires  Anti-union activists  Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association  Lincoln Club of OC (backers of Citizens United case)  Wealthy corporate interests  Orange County millionaires  Anti-union activists  Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association  Lincoln Club of OC (backers of Citizens United case)

Our Opponents’ Message Now U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz: "This initiative gets to the heart of one of the most corrosive elements in politics: campaign contributions. For too long, special interest money has dominated our politics, muting the voice of average Californians.”

Why Their Message is so Dangerous  “ Campaign Finance Reform” is very popular with the public  Eight in 10 voters say there’s too much big money spent on political campaigns  “ Campaign Finance Reform” is very popular with the public  Eight in 10 voters say there’s too much big money spent on political campaigns

How We’re Going to Win – Message TIPS ON MESSAGING:  1) This is an attack on our jobs and our wages – personalize fight for members  2) It’s not real reform – it’s unbalanced, unfair and full of exemptions for wealthy and corporations  3) Gives even MORE power to corporate interests, Super PACs and billionaires to write their own rules TIPS ON MESSAGING:  1) This is an attack on our jobs and our wages – personalize fight for members  2) It’s not real reform – it’s unbalanced, unfair and full of exemptions for wealthy and corporations  3) Gives even MORE power to corporate interests, Super PACs and billionaires to write their own rules

How We’re Going to Win – Message TIPS ON MESSAGING:  1) Be careful with “hot” language  2) Emphasize unbalanced nature of measure – silences unions while creating exemptions for corporate Super PACs, billionair es  3) Highlight consequences to workers TIPS ON MESSAGING:  1) Be careful with “hot” language  2) Emphasize unbalanced nature of measure – silences unions while creating exemptions for corporate Super PACs, billionair es  3) Highlight consequences to workers

How We're Going to Win – Field and Paid Media  We need more education than ever – MUST reach every union member in the state to win  Member to Member Program – in worksites, phoning, walking and online  Building a broad coalition of partners  Voter persuasion and GOTV campaign to general voters through Alliance for a Better CA  Statewide paid media – TV and radio, social media and mail  We need more education than ever – MUST reach every union member in the state to win  Member to Member Program – in worksites, phoning, walking and online  Building a broad coalition of partners  Voter persuasion and GOTV campaign to general voters through Alliance for a Better CA  Statewide paid media – TV and radio, social media and mail

For More Information:  Go to  Contact California Labor Federation Communications Director Steve Smith at  Go to  Contact California Labor Federation Communications Director Steve Smith at