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LP: Anti-union measure threatens to blow Republican party.
WASHINGTON -- Michigan is set to become the 24th state with a so-called right to work law, with Gov. Rick Snyder (R) poised to sign the controversial bill on Tuesday. The bill has been fast-tracked by the Republican-controlled state legislature, with the aim of getting it enacted by the end of the year.
Every Democrat in the Michigan House and Senate voted against the bill on Thursday. Four Republican state senators and six Republican state representatives broke with their party and sided with Democrats, citing the way their party expedited the legislation and the effect it would have on labor relations in the state.
"My district has a lot of support for unions," explained state Rep. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan), a Tea Party member and one of the "no" votes. "I had employers even calling me saying they're satisfied with the relationships they have with unions in our area, and they said they didn't want this either. I think that there's room for some very serious reforms with union policy in our state, but I don't think it was necessary to go to this length."
"I've always rejected not being allowed to read bills before we vote on them, regardless of which party is in power," said state Sen. Tory Rocca (R-Sterling Heights). "This is obviously a pretty weighty issue. People weren't allowed to see what the language was going to be ... until it was given to us literally minutes before we started voting. I couldn't bring myself to justify making a change like this."
State Sen. Anthony Forlini (R-Harrison Township) said he's "not a right to work guy," noting the union support in his district. "There are probably other things that we can do, and we have done, over the years," he said.
State Rep. Dale Zorn (R-Ida) said in a statement that without a majority of his constituents asking for the bill to pass, he "could not in good conscience offer a yes vote."
Right to work legislation would ban automatic payroll deductions of union dues. Supporters say workers who don't want to belong to a union shouldn't be forced to pay dues.
Originally posted here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/07/michigan-right-to-work_n_2258092.html
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