The bill was coming before the legislature for vote today, but was instead scrapped because – as Gov. Chris Gregoire stated – an email from a state labor group raised “serious legal and ethical questions.”

While the email has not been released, the Seattle Times reports that “knowledgeable sources who have read the e-mail confirmed that it came from the Washington State Labor Council,” and that it linked “campaign donations” to the legislation.

The controversial bill is part of a recent flurry of labor law changes and conversation, and the bill’s high profile death will certainly be celebrated by business interests.