The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing the Alabama law banning public employees from having union dues automatically withheld from their paychecks. That’s the bill otherwise known as SB2, which generated so much controversy during last year’s special session – largely because union officials see it at a pointed effort to make fundraising harder for the Alabama Education Association.

At issue: does the law violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965? Officials in the Alabama attorney general’s office say this happens every time a state legislature changes election-related law – but there have been cases when these laws don’t pass muster with DOJ, and remain unenforced.

From The Anniston Star – Feds reviewing AEA payroll deduction ban