Citizens United did what?

Did Citizens United open the door for broader union efforts for Democrats in 2012? The answer appears to be yes. The evidence is the Ohio referendum repealing anti-union legislation passed by Republicans.

Public support of unions higher than thought

A new Bloomberg National Poll finds unions with more support than one might suspect.

Sixty-four percent of respondents, including a plurality of Republicans, say public employees should have the right to bargain collectively for their wages. Sixty-three percent, including 55 percent of Republicans, say states without enough money to pay for all the pension benefits they have promised to current retirees shouldn’t be able to break those obligations.

Indiana passes right to work

Indiana is now a right to work state. The real question is "what does that mean?"

Ohio collective bargaining law jeopardized

This fall's election cycle has little of note (unless you think Gov. Jindal's 66% win is underwhelming against a field of under financed, under knowns). There is one contest in Ohio, however, that is worth noting. Its the attempt to undo Gov. Kasich's limits on collective bargaining rights for public employees in the state. Current polling has the repeal forces optimistic. This election is seen as a harbinger of the 2012 presidential race in a crucial state.

Wisconsin votes

It is fascinating to watch from a distance the politics of Wisconsin. So much now driven by the struggle between a Republican governor determined to reign in public sector unions and allies of labor. It has certainly made the 2010 political trend favoring Republicans short lived. The real question is the resurgence of support for labor evidenced in Wisconsin likely to play out on a national scale. More after the jump