Senator Declan O’Scanlon said a ruling issued today by the United States Supreme Court in Janus v. AFSCME represents a big win for New Jersey taxpayers.

“The cycle of public employee unions using dues to finance the campaigns of politicians who then reward them with taxpayer dollars may finally be coming to an end,” said O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth). “In New Jersey, the millions unions have funneled into campaigns has led to expensive government driven by the highest taxes in the nation. This ruling is a victory for workers as well as for even-handed political debate. Public union money frequently, purposefully overwhelmed any potential for legitimate, fair, and open public discourse.”

In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court said that teachers, police officers, and other public employees cannot be forced to pay fees to support union activities.

“Many public employees may choose not to pay union dues that result in large deductions from their paychecks,” added O’Scanlon. “They may also recognize that the unions they have been forced to support financially are driving up their own tax bills. This will lead to an erosion of the power of public employee unions that too often have worked against New Jersey taxpayers.”

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy has already published a website to help members of New Jersey’s public employee unions to opt-out of their union memberships.