The South Carolina House has approved a bill Republicans say further strengthens the state's already tough anti-union law.
Democrats argued Wednesday the measure is unnecessary duplication in a state that already ranks among the least unionized. Union members in 2011 made up just 3.4 percent of South Carolina's workforce.
The bill approved by an 86-25 vote in the House would require unions to submit detailed financial data to the state's labor agency. They already must report the information to the federal Department of Labor. The measure would also increase civil and criminal penalties for unions that break the state's right-to-work law and require employers to post that law.
The measure is a top priority for House Republicans this year. They say it's about creating jobs.
Democrats say it's election-year politics.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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