This morning's legislative hearing on the union dues initiative Proposition 75 may have been billed with milquetoast heading of "informational", but it played out as a knock-down, drag-out political brawl.

Majority Democrats, who politically have the most to lose if Prop 75 passes, quickly came out swinging. Especially heated was the prolonged exchange with some of the key players behind the initiative: Lew Uhler of the National Tax Limitation Committee, Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and Lance Izumi of the Pacific Research Institute.

Democrats attempted to turn the tables, by demanding information on the donors to some of these organizations, and asking whether these donors give permission before any political advocacy is undertaken. They also repeatedly asked why Prop 75 is necessary, if workers can already opt out of having dues go towards political efforts.

Particularly notable was an exchange between Uhler and Senator Richard Alarcon (D-Van Nuys), one of the co-chairs of the hearing. Uhler had said that many of the questions weren't relevant.

"We were elected, not you," shot back Alarcon. "And we'll decide what's relevant to this committee."

Uhler responded by saying, "What I have observed from this committee is total imbalance."

There were also interesting accusations made by both sides. Senator Alarcon stated that Prop 75 is unnecessary, because 25% of state employees already opt out of union activities. And Jon Coupal said that several employees of an LA-area community hospital have alleged that the fees they pay for non-political activities are, instead, actually being spent by their union on political activities.

The hearing was certainly more entertaining than the 30-second TV commercials... but may not have been much more enlightening.