In a letter attacking state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe for supporting paycheck protection legislation (“Paycheck protection”, Jan. 29), Steven Winslow tries to dodge the issue by scaring readers into the labor union’s viewpoint. The real question, which the writer skirts, is whether public resources should be used to collect political money.

Today, taxpayer-funded payroll systems collect union dues that are used for politics and even campaign contributions. For example, AFSCME Council 13, representing state workers, recently gave $115,000 to America Works USA, an arm of the Democratic Governors Association. This money was taken from workers’ paychecks by the state treasurer using public resources.

If we truly care about workers’ rights, we should care about their right to choose what political causes they support. The vast majority of Pennsylvanians agree. A survey last fall showed 67 percent of likely voters support paycheck protection.What’s more, 80 percent of union households believe taxpayer resources should not be used to collect political contributions, per a 2014 survey.

The facts are clear. Unfortunately, fear is often the tactic of choice when facts are not on your side.