Gov. Rick Snyder never lied about right-to-work legislation in Michigan. In 2009, he said he’d sign a bill if it reached his desk.
But, he also said then and stuck to his preference that a right-to-work bill not reach his desk because he said he thought it was too divisive. That didn’t matter to Michigan’s union bosses, who ignored Gov. Snyder and pushed Proposal 2 to protect their own perks at the expense of the majority of Michigan residents.
In response, Michigan legislators passed a package of bills that give workers the choice as to whether they want to pay dues or fees to a union as a condition of employment. Gov. Snyder signed it Dec. 11.
The legislation does not do away with unions. Nor does it eliminate collective bargaining.
It allows workers to decide if they want to give a significant portion of their yearly income to union bosses who have used most of that money supporting political activities and candidates that some union members don’t support.
The governor and the following legislators voted for freedom and liberty in the workplace and should be commended for their efforts.
Senators:
Sen. Darwin Booher, R-Evart
Sen. Jack Brandenburg, R-Harrison
Sen. Bruce Caswell, R-Hillsdale
Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton
Sen. Judy Emmons, R-Sheridan
Sen. Geoff Hansen, R-Hart
Sen. Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell
Sen. Joe Hune, R-Hamburg
Sen. Mark Jansen, R-Cutlerville
Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge
Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw
Sen. Mike Kowall, R-White Lake
Sen. Jim Marleau, R-Lake Orion
Sen. Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive
Sen. John Moolenaar, R-Midland
Sen. John Pappageorge, R-Troy
Sen. Phil Pavlov, R-St. Clair
Sen. John Proos IV, R-St. Joseph
Sen. Randy Richardville, R-Monroe
Sen. David Robertson, R-Grand Blanc
Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker, R-Lawton
Sen. Howard Walker, R-Traverse City
Representatives:
Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grandville
Rep. James "Jase" Bolger, R-Marshall
Rep. Jon Bumstead, R-Newaygo
Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville
Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant
Rep. Hugh Crawford, R-Novi
Rep. Kevin Daley, R-Attica
Rep. Kurt Damrow, R-Port Austin
Rep. Cindy Denby, R-Fowlerville
Rep. Jeff Farrington, R-Utica
Rep. Frank Foster, R-Pellston
Rep. Ray Franz, R-Onekama
Rep. Robert Genetski, R-Saugatuck
Rep. Jud Gilbert, R-Algonac
Rep. Ben Glardon, R-Owosso
Rep. Joseph Grave, R-Argentine Township
Rep. Gail Haines, R-Waterford
Rep. Joseph Haveman, R-Holland
Rep. Kurt Heise, R-Plymouth
Rep. Thomas Hooker, R-Byron Center
Rep. Holly Hughes, R-Montague
Rep. Matt Huuki, R-Atlantic Mine
Rep. Bradford Jacobsen, R-Oxford
Rep. Nancy Jenkins, R-Clayton
Rep. Joel Johnson, R-Clare
Rep. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy
Rep. Eileen Kowall, R-White Lake
Rep. Kenneth Kurtz, R-Coldwater
Rep. Andrea LaFontaine, R-Richmond
Rep. Matt Lori, R-Constantine
Rep. Pete Lund, R-Shelby Township
Rep. Lisa Lyons, R-Alto
Rep. Peter MacGregor, R-Rockford
Rep. Greg MacMaster, R-Kewadin
Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills
Rep. Chuck Moss, R-Birmingham
Rep. Paul Muxlow, R-Brown City
Rep. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton
Rep. Margaret O'Brien, R-Portage
Rep. Rick Olson, R-Saline
Rep. Paul Opsommer, R-Dewitt
Rep. Mark Ouimet, R-Scio Township
Rep. Rick Outman, R-Six Lakes
Rep. Peter Pettalia, R-Presque Isle
Rep. Earl Poleski, R-Jackson
Rep. Phil Potvin, R-Cadillac
Rep. Amanda Price, R-Holland
Rep. Al Pscholka, R-Stevensville
Rep. Bruce Rendon, R-Lake City
Rep. Bill Rogers, R-Brighton
Rep. Roy Schmidt, R-Grand Rapids
Rep. Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City
Rep. Deb Shaughnessy, R-Charlotte
Rep. Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake
Rep. Jim Stamas, R-Midland
Rep. Sharon Tyler, R-Niles
Rep. John Walsh, R-Livonia
Rep. Ken Yonker, R-Caledonia
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.
Hydra-Lock employees vote to decertify their union
Michigan Senate passes public sector right-to-work repeal; Whitmer to sign
Michigan Senate committee advances right-to-work repeal