In an opinion piece submitted to the Wichita Eagle Sen. Susan Wagle says that when “paycheck protections” were enacted in Utah, union political donations dropped 75%. Prohibiting voluntary payroll deductions is not about protecting employees, its about silencing dissent. In Kansas, it’s about silencing a group that will advocate for public schools when the likes of Sen. Wagle are pushing for constitutional amendments, changes to at-risk funding and other fiscal and policy measures harmful to public education. She knows employees find it easier to check a box than to remember to write a separate check for political contributions.