The 24 words state Sen. Pam Wolf proposed adding to state lawbooks last week drew a small flurry of media attention and teachers-union fury before the state Legislator took off for a weeklong holiday recess. 

Those 24 words, amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 179A.06, subdivision 6:

A dues check off under this subdivision for contributions to foundations, political action committees, or publications must be requested by the employee in writing.

"What I believe she's trying to do is bury the union in a blizzard of bureaucracy," Tom Dooher, president of Education Minnesota, told Minnesota Public Radio.

In a tweet, WCCO's Pat Kessler elaborated on an Associated Press story by quoting Wolf's remark about her bill that "it's not anti-union, it's pro-union member."

Wold told Fridley Patch that she'd been a teacher for two decades before discovering four years ago that she could opt out of automatic payments, or dues check offs, to Education Minnesota that go toward its magazines, foundation and political activity.

"It's almost like it's hidden," Wolf said, whose monthly contribution as a teacher and Education Minnesota member toward what she termed "extras" amounted to $60 per month.

Teachers can now opt out of paying into the foundation and political activity funds, but not the magazines. Wolf's bill makes those contributions, as well one for union publications, opt-in.

"That makes up more than 10 percent of the dues that I pay to Education Minnesota," Wolf told the Senate's State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee. "What this bill does is change it so that instead of having those costs automatically placed on the member, it allows the members to choose whether they want to contribute to those things." (See video clip.)

The committee postponed a vote on the bill until after the holiday break.

Wolf told Patch she's open to keeping the current opt-out system, as Sen. Richard Cohen (DFL-64) proposed in committee, but wants to "make it better known" that the contributions are optional.

As to why this bill attracted more attention than other bills she has offered, Wolf said, "I have no idea." Julie Blaha, president of Education Minnesota's local for teachers in the Anoka-Hennepin school district, said she thought it was due to a "slower week" for lawmakers and the news media who cover them.

Blaha said she didn't see the point of Wolf's bill. "I don't know what problem she's trying to solve," Blaha said. ""I haven't heard this concern from my membership."

Wolf said she is getting positive emails thanking her because "someone finally said something." She said Republican teachers "stay hidden" in their opposition to the union's political activity. "There's a lot of teachers [for whom] that's a huge deal," Wolf said.

Education Minnesota has endorsed Republican candidates, according to Blaha, including in the Anoka-Hennepin district, which includes a small part of northern Fridley.

Bills from Fridley's Legislators
This feature usually lists bills that Fridley's senators and representatives have authored or co-authored since the last Capitol Review. However, since the session is entering its final weeks, and with last week was a holiday week for legislators, there was very little new.

Sen. Barb Goodwin (DFL-50)
No new bills.

Sen. Pam Wolf (R-51)
Co-authored S.F. 1299, modifying child care assistance program school readiness service agreements.

Rep. Carolyn Laine (DFL-50A)
No new bills.

Rep. Kate Knuth (DFL-50B)
No new bills.

Rep. Tom Tillberry (DFL-51B)
No new bills.