ysursa secretary state idaho et al pocatello education association et argued november decided february idaho right work act permits public employees authorize payroll deductions general union dues prohibits deductions union political activities respondents group idaho public employee unions sued alleging ban payroll deductions political activities violated first fourteenth amendments district upheld ban state level struck applies local governments affirming ninth circuit stated idaho ultimate control local governmental units actually operate control payroll deduction systems applied strict scrutiny hold statute unconstitutional applied local level held idaho ban political payroll deductions applied local governmental units infringe unions first amendment rights pp restrictions speech presumptively invalid subject strict scrutiny davenport washington ed first amendment however impose obligation government subsidize speech see regan taxation representation idaho law restrict political speech rather declines promote speech allowing public employee checkoffs political activities idaho public employee unions free engage speech see fit simply barred enlisting state support endeavor idaho decision limit public employee payroll deductions infringe unions first amendment rights state accordingly need demonstrate rational basis justify ban idaho justification interest avoiding reality appearance government favoritism entanglement partisan politics see civil service letter carriers state response problem limited source political payroll deductions cf davenport supra ban plainly serves state interest separating public employment political activities pp ban issue valid local level deferential review applies whether ban directed state local governmental entities political subdivisions never considered sovereign entities instead subordinate governmental instrumentalities reynolds sims state legislative action subject first amendment scrutiny whether applicable state level local level subpart either case suggests different analysis applies depending level government affected ban furthers idaho interest separating operation government partisan politics interest extends public employers whatever level government pp reversed roberts delivered opinion scalia kennedy thomas alito joined ginsburg joined parts iii ginsburg filed opinion concurring part concurring judgment breyer filed opinion concurring part dissenting part stevens souter filed dissenting opinions ben ysursa idaho secretary state et petitioners pocatello education association et al writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit february chief justice roberts delivered opinion idaho law public employee may elect portion wages deducted employer remitted union pay union dues may however choose amount deducted remitted union political action committee idaho law prohibits payroll deductions political activities group unions representing idaho public employees challenged limitation conceded limitation valid applied state level argued violated first amendment rights applied county municipal school district local public employers agree first amendment prohibits government abridging freedom speech confer affirmative right use government payroll mechanisms purpose obtaining funds expression idaho law restrict political speech rather declines promote speech allowing public employee checkoffs political activities decision reasonable light state interest avoiding appearance carrying public business tainted partisan political activity interest extends government local well state level nothing first amendment prevents state determining political subdivisions may provide payroll deductions political activities idaho right work act declares right work shall infringed restricted way based membership affiliation financial support labor organization refusal join affiliate financially otherwise support labor organization idaho sess laws ch codified idaho code michie part policy act prohibits requirement payment dues fees labor organization condition employment authorizes employers deduct union fees employee wages employee signed written authorization act covers employees including employees state political subdivisions prior employees authorize payroll deduction general union dues payroll deduction union political activities conducted political action committee app idaho legislature passed voluntary contributions act vca sess laws chs codified idaho code legislation among things amended right work act adding prohibition payroll deductions political purposes amendment provides deductions political activities defined chapter title idaho code shall deducted wages earnings compensation employee term political activities defined electoral activities independent expenditures expenditures made candidate political party political action committee political issues committee support ballot measure violations punishable fine exceeding days imprisonment shortly vca take effect plaintiff labor organizations sued bannock county prosecuting attorney idaho secretary state idaho attorney general official capacities alleging ban political payroll deductions unconstitutional first fourteenth amendments constitution app district rejected argument respect public employers state level concluding first amendment compel state subsidize speech providing expense payroll deductions purpose paying union dues association fees state employees pocatello ed assn heideman wl idaho ban valid state level state incurring costs set maintain payroll deduction program ibid struck vca however extent applies local governments private employers state failed identify subsidy provided employers administer payroll deductions omitted state defendants appealed contending ban political payroll deductions may constitutionally applied local government employees pocatello ed assn heideman neither party challenged district rulings private employees therefore issue remaining concerned application ban local government employees appeals agreed district subsidy state idaho payroll deduction systems local governments appellate remarked generalized lawmaking power held legislature respect state political subdivisions establish state acting proprietor respect local government employers instead regarded relationship state political subdivisions analogous state regulated private utility see citing consolidated edison public serv idaho ultimate power control units government issue actually operat contro payroll deduction systems local units government therefore applied strict scrutiny idaho decision prevent local government employers allowing payroll deductions political purposes held statute unconstitutional applied local level ibid granted certiorari reverse ii restrictions speech based content presumptively invalid subject strict scrutiny davenport washington ed paul unions assert ban checkoffs political activities falls category law singles political speech disfavored treatment first amendment however protects right free government abridgment speech contexts government must accommodate expression required assist others funding expression particular ideas including political ones legislature decision subsidize exercise fundamental right infringe right thus subject strict scrutiny regan taxation representation cf smith highway employees per curiam first amendment impose affirmative obligation government listen respond context recognize labor association bargain concluded idaho dispute unions face substantial difficulties collecting funds political speech without using payroll deductions parties agree state constitutionally obligated provide payroll deductions see plaintiffs reply memorandum see also toledo area council pizza cf charlotte firefighters reject contention respondents status union members interest obtaining dues checkoff entitle special treatment equal protection clause publicly administered payroll deductions political purposes enhance unions exercise first amendment rights idaho obligation aid unions political activities state decision abridgment unions speech free engage speech see fit simply barred enlisting state support endeavor idaho decision limit public employer payroll deductions subject strict scrutiny first amendment regan given state infringed unions first amendment rights state need demonstrate rational basis justify ban political payroll deductions prohibition aim ed suppression dangerous ideas internal quotation marks omitted instead justified state interest avoiding reality appearance government favoritism entanglement partisan politics previously recognized purpose upholding limitations public employee political activities see civil service letter carriers public perception partiality undermine confidence representative government public workers mitchell congress may limit political acts public officials promote integrity discharge official duties cf cornelius naacp legal defense ed fund limitations speech may justified interest avoiding appearance political favoritism greer spock upholding policy aimed keeping official military activities wholly free entanglement partisan political campaigns kind banning payroll deductions political speech similarly furthers government interest distinguishing internal governmental operations private speech idaho decision allow payroll deductions purposes political activities plainly davenport guides resolution case also involved distinction based content speech specific consent required nonunion members agency fees charged used activities consent required respect agency fees used purposes rejected unions argument requirement violated first amendment turned content speech issue recognized statute rather suppressing union speech simply declined assist speech granting unions right charge agency fees election activities decision reasonable given state interest preserving integrity election process ibid also concluded state enact limitation vindicate narrow concern restriction use checkoff fund political activities analysis governs idaho suppress political speech simply declines promote public employer checkoffs political activities concern political payroll deductions might seen involving public employers politics arises idaho permits public employer payroll deductions first place davenport state response problem limited source case political payroll deductions ban deductions plainly serves state interest separating public employment political iii question remains whether ban valid local level unions abandoned challenge restriction state level contend strict scrutiny still warranted ban applied local government employers context unions argue state longer declining facilitate speech payroll system obstructing speech local governments payroll systems see brief respondents find distinction unpersuasive hold deferential review applies whether prohibition payroll deductions political speech directed state local governmental entities political subdivisions counties cities whatever never never considered sovereign entities reynolds sims instead subordinate governmental instrumentalities created state assist carrying state governmental functions ibid see also louisiana ex rel folsom mayor administrators new orleans municipal corporations instrumentalities state convenient administration government within limits state political subdivisions merely department state state may withhold grant withdraw powers privileges sees fit trenton new jersey idaho legislature elected withhold public employers power provide payroll deductions political activities state legislative action course subject first amendment constitutional scrutiny whether action applicable state level local level subpart either aware case suggesting different analysis applies first amendment depending level government affected unions cited none ban political payroll deductions furthers idaho interest separating operation government partisan politics interest extends public employers whatever level government reaching opposite conclusion appeals invoked decision consolidated edison public serv case held state commission consistent first amendment prohibit privately owned electric utility discussing controversial issues bill inserts ruled fact state regulated utility authorize prohibition appeals concluded analysis applied state broad powers control local government entities solely regulator analogous state commission regulatory power private utility analogy misguided private corporation subject government legal authority regulate conduct political subdivision hand subordinate unit government created state carry delegated governmental functions private corporation enjoys constitutional protections see first nat bank boston bellotti political subdivision created state better ordering government privileges immunities federal constitution may invoke opposition creator williams mayor baltimore see trenton new jersey supra municipality successor private water company enjoy state constitutional rights water company relations existing state water company state city district appeals found significant subsidy state idaho payroll deduction systems local governments see also wl appeals emphasized evidence idaho attempted use asserted powers manage operations local government personnel given relationship state political subdivisions however immaterial state allocates funding management responsibilities different levels government question whether state must affirmatively assist political speech allowing public employers administer payroll deductions political activities reasons set forth opinion answer appeals ruling idaho code unconstitutional respect local units government reversed ordered ben ysursa idaho secretary state et petitioners pocatello education association et al writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit february justice ginsburg concurring part concurring judgment classification question case presents answered without extended discussion parties agree appeals idaho ban payroll deductions political activities violates first amendment limitations applied private sector also agree ninth circuit ban permissible applied government entities see ante tr oral arg sole question posed decision appropriate placement state political subdivisions purpose hand align employment employment employment given relationship state political subdivisions persuasively explains immaterial state allocates funding management responsibilities different levels government ante agree context involved constitution compels distinction state local governmental entities therefore join parts iii opinion concur judgment ben ysursa idaho secretary state et petitioners pocatello education association et al writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit february justice stevens dissenting public private sector payroll managers routinely remit portions employees wages third parties pursuant employees written instructions decades employers idaho discretion allow payroll deductions however state enacted voluntary contributions act vca sess laws chs codified idaho code michie among things prohibits employers allowing payroll deduction political activities several reasons conclude restriction payroll deductions reasonably calculated state interest separating operation government partisan politics ante clear restriction intended make difficult unions finance political speech hold unconstitutional applications axiomatic government may regulate speech based substantive content message conveys rosenberger rector visitors univ face restricts payroll deductions political activities petitioners contend state reasonably enacted avoid either appearance reality public employer involvement electoral politics tr oral arg several features statute however belie purported viewpoint neutrality restriction narrowly intended target union fundraising first evidenced statutory context provisions vca enacted pertain exclusively instance requires unions create separate funds political activities places restrictions unions solicitation political contributions makes misdemeanor among things unions make expenditures political activities union dues establishes registration reporting requirements union political funds provisions proximate enacted roughly two decades earlier part right work act sess laws ch codified idaho code et seq similarly directed union activities even subsection immediately preceding aimed specifically unions prohibits payroll deductions union dues fees assessments charges without employee prior written authorization finally codified title idaho code entitled labor chapter entitled right work together statutory features strongly suggest idaho legislature enacted specifically impede union fundraising statute discriminatory purpose evidenced substantial overinclusiveness underinclusiveness respect state asserted interest passing legislation petitioners contend restriction enacted state interest avoiding appearance actuality public employer involvement partisan politics see tr oral arg enacted prohibited private well public employers making payroll deductions political activities petitioners admitted oral argument state interest private employers determination involved involved political matters petitioners conceded invalidity applied private employers earlier litigation require us ignore breadth statute state enacted assessing provision scope purpose consideration provision actually passed legislature makes clear state asserted interest restriction compatible breadth state interest avoiding appearance reality employer political involvement also inconsistent decision restrict deductions charitable activities deductions often present similar risk creating appearance political involvement deductions covered political activities yet state made effort distinguish type political activity state decision apply private employers failure apply restriction charitable deductions produces significant mismatch restriction reach asserted purpose mind clear features legislation prohibition payroll deductions political activities intended target union political activity cf chamber commerce brown slip noting rule restricting use state funds promote oppose unionization impermissibly expressed preference thereby chilling one side public debate majority facile assertion first amendment confer right government subsidization private speech validate evidently discriminatory restriction fundraising political ii although statute discriminatory purpose provides adequate ground deciding case briefly note disagreement majority analysis constitutionality applied local government employees appeals found application provision invalid due state failure show actually operates controls payroll deduction systems local units government pocatello ed assn heidman absence evidence control appeals held state relatively weak interest preventing respondents exercising first amendment rights ibid unlike appeals majority omits examination relationship idaho established political subdivisions rather majority finds sufficient assert creators local government retain authority grant withdraw subdivision powers privileges ante fact authority however hardly proves particular relationship state political subdivisions irrelevant constitutional inquiry treat subdivisions differences sometimes consequential contexts recognized constitutional significance relationship state chooses establish political subdivisions instance mt healthy city bd ed doyle stated answer question whether school board treated arm state partaking state eleventh amendment immunity depends least part upon nature entity created state law mcmillian monroe county held whether sheriff county state policymaking authority purposes determining liability rev stat ascertained reference actual function government official turn dependent definition official functions relevant state law cases constitutional analysis turned part way state structured relationship political subdivisions although previously considered implications relationship first amendment context repeatedly recognized significance analogous inquiry whether government imposing speech restrictions acting capacity regulator proprietor see davenport washington ed slip cornelius naacp legal defense ed fund accordingly agree majority assertion political subdivisions instrumentalities state immaterial state allocates funding management responsibilities different levels government ante relationships state local governments varied consequences variation significant majority analysis admits conclusion discriminates labor organizations sufficient decide case find unnecessary fully consider implications idaho relationship political subdivisions rather note significance relationship urge careful consideration future cases iii majority avoids acknowledging evidently discriminatory purpose examining statute context ignoring initial applicability private employers considering provision enacted find justified majority state interest avoiding reality appearance government favoritism entanglement partisan politics ante impermissible purpose quite obviously motivated enactment vca fully justified invalidation applied private employers produced judgment case holding entire statute invalid rather judgment producing new statute idaho legislature enact respectfully dissent ben ysursa idaho secretary state et petitioners pocatello education association et al writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit february justice souter dissenting thought case classified solely one first amendment limits state management affairs join judgment agree much opinion far idaho law affects freedom expression persuaded sufficient reason treat state statutory prohibition differently depending unit government employing worker whose salary deduction fund political activity question case lower echelons idaho government creatures state exercising state power discharging ultimately state responsibilities apparent reason think state asserted legitimate interest differs according level government state work whether interest firewall public administration politics simply exercising power decide whether public employees administer payrolls spend work time advancing private political speech find impossible stop although case comes us one scope public business state free within reasonable limits manage thinks wise specter another first amendment category one superior significance insistent ignore true government may choose manage affairs ways draw reasonable lines affecting speech free example sell space buses advertising soap politicians see lehman shaker heights government free draw lines way discourage suppress expression viewpoints disagrees cornelius naacp legal defense ed fund perry ed assn perry local educators narrow tailoring serve compelling state interest justify kind selectivity see playboy entertainment group difference viewpoint discrimination neutral regulation governmental activity point case although state invokes legitimate interest keeping public administration free political involvement reason idaho code michie ostensibly rationale suffers circumstances justice stevens describes detail see ante dissenting opinion every provision amendatory act included deals unions statute amended regulates unions legislation placed state labor law codification union speech nothing else seems legislative mind answer recalls davenport washington ed suggesting idaho merely limiting risk entangling public administration politics followed authorizing public payroll deductions union benefit first place ante scope state enactment imposes prohibition places explanation question statute goes beyond constraining government employer criminalizes deductions political purposes even administered private employers application law state concedes unconstitutional pocatello ed assn heideman hence reader statute may fairly suspect idaho legislative object efficient clean government unions political viewpoints target selected politics state might filter public workplaces reasonable suspicion viewpoint discrimination dilemma hardly disregard affects weight case carry precedent decision ignores elephant room decision diminished authority potential issue viewpoint discrimination addressed case us although unions brief alludes viewpoint discrimination several places focus argument unions instead aim showing state acting regulator local governments much regulates private corporations manager setting limits government public resources consequently rest position argument state discrimination political speech illegitimate however consistently shades political speech may treated even properly recast case remanding consider viewpoint discrimination see cornelius supra remand affect application statute subordinate units government unions accepted constitutionality applying law state effort viewpoint discrimination unconstitutional level town upshot decide case comes us shut eyes substantial substantial issue raised facts expand issues presented us remanding enquiry viewpoint discrimination risk wink later unconstitutional application law state owing unions decision challenge application either ninth circuit us good description case vehicle refine first amendment doctrine dismiss writ certiorari improvidently granted respectfully dissent ben ysursa idaho secretary state et petitioners pocatello education association et al writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit february justice breyer concurring part dissenting part part iii opinion points law ordinarily treats municipalities creatures state see reynolds sims hence fact state statute rather municipal ordinance limits use municipality payroll deduction system beside point agree agree justice souter discussion relationship state municipality agree however analysis pertinent legal question whether state statute violates first amendment agree ultimate conclusion rather view remand case consideration first amendment analysis emphasizes characterization statute abridging union worker freedom speech rather declin ing promote speech ante internal quotation marks omitted agree first amendment prohibit government declining promote speech says government shall abridg freedom speech emphasis added think distinction particularly useful case distinction neither easy draw likely prove determinative sometimes concede distinction may help payroll deduction system unions arguing creation system scratch one might characterize claim seeking promotion speech situation deduction system already exists unions attack separate statutory provision removes politically related deductions system linguistically speaking one need characterize attack seeking speech promotion rather seeking prevent abridgment activity otherwise absence exception occur instance debate characterization metaphysical practical importantly characterization quite possibly matter suppose example somewhat similar statutory exception picks chooses among political causes prohibiting deductions help one political party permitting deductions help another first amendment result turn upon whether one described exception abridgment promotion failure shall explain infra may case disagree characterizations another respect says exception infringed unions first amendment rights strict scrutiny apply thus state need demonstrate rational basis standard review applicable ordinary legislation infringe fundamental rights justify ban political payroll deductions ante emphasis added agree exception call strict scrutiny categorization almost always proves fatal law question exception restrict content unions speech impose prior restraint speech ban union speech political issues altogether disagree believe first amendment interest stake exception affects speech albeit indirectly restricting channel finance might flow result alternative strict scrutiny necessarily form rational basis review test almost every restriction pass instead applying either strict scrutiny rational basis review statutory exception ask question asked contexts namely whether statute imposes burden upon speech disproportionate light interests government seeks achieve see burdick takushi election regulation nixon shrink missouri government pac breyer concurring collecting cases see also thompson western medical center breyer dissenting discussing application approach commercial speech context denver area ed telecommunications consortium fcc plurality opinion cable programming regulation pickering board ed township high school dist government employee speech constitutional courts nations also used similar approaches facing somewhat similar problems see libman quebec attorney general canada applying proportionality campaign finance context bowman kingdom european human rights midi television pty ltd director public prosecutions sca rsa south africa applying proportionality freedom press context bakri israel film council hcj israel applying proportionality freedom expression context cases sought determine whether harm interests disproportionate light degree harm justifications potential alternatives considered seriousness harm provision likely cause importance provision countervailing objectives extent statute tend achieve objectives whether less restrictive ways light considerations determined whether ultimately statute works harm proportion justifications see board trustees state univ fox describing need fit legislative ends means whose scope proportion interest american library breyer concurring judgment context calls strict scrutiny one necessarily ask proportionality questions ask contexts calling less ordinary legislative leeway light fact constitutionally protected expression issue see view helps structure sometimes calls intermediate scrutiny inquiry see turner broadcasting system fcc applying analysis find statutory exception constitutional convinced exception applied even handedly among similar politically related contributions provision still negatively affect interests close one channel individuals might provide funds political institutions majority points many channels funds exist state strong interest avoiding reality appearance government favoritism entanglement partisan politics ante consequently find restriction justified proportionately serving legitimate important governmental need cf fox supra clear however whether particular exception us fact operate even handedly read statute without concede suggests even handedness provision says eductions political activities defined chapter title idaho code shall deducted wages earnings compensation employee idaho code ann michie emphasis added chapter title idaho code defines political activities without special reference labor organizations see nonetheless certain features provision suggest may affect deductions namely deductions others title idaho code entitled labor labor activities ban payroll deductions political activities enacted part statute every provision concerned solely union activities see voluntary contributions act idaho sess laws chs codified idaho code ann time provision containing payroll deduction ban immediately followed another related provision expressly mentions labor unions see nothing chapter shall prohibit employee personally paying contributions political activities labor organization unless payment prohibited law emphasis added important know whether exception concerns political deductions allowing similar deductions treats alike restriction applies political activities unions alone seem unlikely government justifying objective namely providing appearance political neutrality case provision well bring harm disproportionate statute tendency government neutrality objective appeals analyzed issue state regulated municipalities government might regulate private firm resolve questions described remand case decide whether parties appropriately raised matters consider accordingly vacate appeals decision remand case footnotes unions also challenged provisions vca including one requiring labor organizations establish separate segregated fund political activities idaho code michie see app response challenge state agreed strike vca except ban political payroll deductions pocatello ed assn heideman wl idaho state asserted ban given effect since operates without reference existence separate segregated fund ibid internal quotation marks omitted unions dispute ban political payroll deductions severable challenged provisions plaintiffs reply memorandum support motion summary judgment opposition state defendants motion summary judgment civ idaho hereinafter plaintiffs reply memorandum justice breyer finds analysis inapplicable challenged provision removes politically related deductions existing system post opinion concurring part dissenting part available deductions tenure legislature free address concerns arise justice breyer also subject ban exacting scrutiny analogizing various direct restrictions expression see post analogy misses mark decision assist fundraising may practical matter result fewer contributions simply directly limiting expression cf regan taxation representation although union much money wants thus exercise freedom speech much like constitution confer entitlement funds may necessary realize advantages freedom internal quotation marks omitted therefore subject idaho statute factors proposed dissent alternative rational basis review jerome grubart great lakes dredge dock see post justice breyer suggests ban political payroll deductions may applied evenhandedly politically related deductions post opinion concurring part dissenting part justice stevens goes find ban unconstitutional applications discriminatory post dissenting opinion district however noted ban wl unions acknowledged appeals brief attempted establish section based viewpoint discrimination brief nothing questions presented raised issue viewpoint discrimination ban political payroll deductions terms limited particular type political contribution nothing record suggests public employers permit deductions political activities unions idaho attorney general charged enforcing ban explicitly confirmed applies organizations deduction regarding political issues applies regardless viewpoint message applies employers single candidates issues app ban enforced evenhandedly plaintiffs free bring applied challenge see national endowment arts finley footnotes respondents also challenged provisions vca petitioners conceded invalidity earlier litigation acknowledging violated first amendment restricting ability labor organizations solicit political contributions see pocatello ed assn heidman may even true affects union political activity petitioners point evidence another entity affected statute see tr oral arg unnecessary determine whether entities actually affected restriction light clearly discriminatory purpose discriminatory nature distinguishes restriction upheld davenport washington ed decision majority heavily relies case state law authorized unions charge nonmembers agency fee equivalent membership dues employers collect fee payroll deductions respondent challenged validity state ballot initiative requiring unions obtain nonmembers affirmative authorization using fees political purposes held provision violate respondent first amendment rights merely placed limitation extraordinary entitlement allowing collect spend money government employees slip contrast limitation entitlement specifically benefits unions rather exclusion generally available benefit state conceded oral argument appeals proprietor local government workplaces payroll deduction programs see