The application of the payroll deduction ban to charitable contributions shows its absurdity and its expected large impact on those receiving funds through payroll deductions.
“United Way officials in Lawrence and throughout Kansas said they were stunned Thursday by news that a Senate committee had advanced a bill that would prohibit the state and local school districts from deducting charitable contributions from employee paychecks.
“‘I’m a little floored here. I’m kind of speechless,’ said Colleen Gregoire, vice president and campaign director for the United Way of Douglas County…
“The panel then put the contents of both bills into a House bill, a procedure that means if the bill passes the Senate, the House can simply vote yes or no to concur or not, thus limiting debate and the possibility of other amendments…
“‘If the option to make charitable contributions through payroll deduction is removed, these longtime United Way donors may still choose to support this community wide effort through other means of giving, but losing the convenience of payroll deduction could seriously affect the campaign totals,’ Gregoire said.
“‘Oh my goodness, it would be huge,’ Krehbiel said.
“She said the Topeka United Way receives about $130,000 a year through payroll deductions from state and local government employees. That’s out of an annual contribution base of $3.5 to $3.7 million, she said.
“‘That is a very, very significant amount,” she said. “This really takes away the opportunity for employees to make a difference to their community in a tangible and convenient way.'”
Read more here: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/mar/19/kansas-senate-panel-approves-bill-public-sector-un/