OPINION — It was recently discovered that Matt Gress is both a State Representative and a paid lobbyist. Gress is employed as vice president of Government Affairs for Americans for Fair Treatment, a national organization working to weaken public schools and dismantle public sector unions, including for teachers, police officers and firefighters.
Gress’ job to destroy public sector unions is taking aim at the very organizations that ensure our first responders have reasonable job protections including fair wages, benefits and safety equipment.
As a paid lobbyist, Gress and his organization assist legislators in other states to run bills that weaken job protections for first responders and teachers. For example, Utah recently passed a bill to strip collective bargaining rights from their firefighters, police and teachers. Utah’s bill was substantially similar to the bill Gress pushed in Arizona, HCR2040, and would have applied those same anti-union policies here. Both measures were dangerous and unpopular; the Utah bill was repealed, Arizona’s version was thrown off the ballot by the courts.
