Dive Brief:
- New Hampshire’s Republican governor might not have the votes to pass his right-to-work bill, the AP reports. The bill’s failure could be a major defeat for Gov. Chris Sununu, who made passing right-to-work legislation a priority.
- Right-to-work laws prohibit employers from requiring nonunion workers to pay union dues for collective bargaining expenses. Opponents say right-to-work legislation aims to restrict and weaken unions.
- State GOP leaders have threatened to withdraw support for the campaigns of any Republicans that don’t vote for the bill, according to the report.
Dive Insight:
Republicans generally favor right-to-work legislation. GOP-dominated states like Wisconsin have successfully passed right-to-work bills. Should the New Hampshire bill fail to pass, it might mean that some Republican votes aren’t guaranteed.
Currently, 26 states have right-to-work laws. The latest states to pass such legislation are Alabama and South Dakota, with more states potentially close behind.
There's speculation as to whether Congressional lawmakers might push for federal right-to-work legislation. But without a 60-vote majority in support of such a bill in the Senate, opponents could block the bill 's passage with a filibuster.