Thread: Michigan House approves right-to-work bill, as teachers ditch school to protest

House approves right-to-work bill, as teachers ditch school to protest

Published December 11, 2012



The Republican-controlled Michigan House has passed one of two contentious "right-to-work" bills, as union protesters flooded the capital and hundreds of teachers called out of work to participate in the demonstrations.

The measure approved Tuesday morning deals with public-sector workers. Another bill focusing on the private sector was approved last week, when the Senate OK'd both bills.

When final versions have cleared the House, they'll go to Republican Gov. Rick Snyder for his expected signature as early as Wednesday.

Coinciding with the votes were massive and noisy protests both inside and outside the Capitol from pro-union demonstrators. Thousands descended upon downtown Lansing to rally against the legislation that prohibits requiring nonunion employees to financially support unions at their workplace. The move would make Michigan the 24th "right-to-work" state and strike a blow to organized labor in the heart of the U.S. auto industry.

Earlier in the day, two state school districts closed after hundreds of teachers called out.

FoxNews.com confirmed that the Warren school district had to close Tuesday after so many teachers called out absent; WDIV in Detroit reported that the Taylor school district had to do the same. A statement from the Warren system said that by 8 a.m. local time, 750 staff members had called out.

"Our decision to close school was based solely on student safety given the number of staff who called in absent today," the school district said in a statement.

Snyder, in an interview with Fox News, said it was "unfortunate" that teachers called out.

"Too often the educational system's all about the adults," he said. "To see schools shutting down because of an issue like this is not appropriate in my view."

Snyder, a Republican who is expected to sign the "right-to-work" legislation, defended his position.

"This is about giving workers the freedom to choose whether their resources go to a union or not -- and I actually don't view this as anti-union," he said. "Indiana's had a strong experience. ... They've seen thousands of jobs come to Indiana. Those jobs could also come to Michigan."

Several high-profile Democrats, though, have gotten involved, with Michigan Democratic Sen. Carl Levin and House Democrats meeting with Snyder on Monday and urging him to veto the bill.

The rhetoric has at times been heated. State Democratic Rep. Douglas Geiss on Tuesday said "there will be blood, there will be repercussions," while speaking on the House floor.

President Obama also weighed in Monday, using a speech near Detroit to call out local Republicans.

"These so-called 'right-to-work' laws, they don't have anything to do with economics. They have everything to do with politics," Obama said. "What they're really talking about is they're giving you the right to work for less money."

The surprise move by Michigan Republicans last Thursday to approve the anti-union bills touched off a firestorm in the home of the U.S. auto industry. Following high-profile fights over union privileges in Wisconsin and Indiana, Michigan in an instant became the latest battleground in that struggle.

Though Republicans control the capital and have the votes to send the bill to Snyder's desk, opponents are planning to mount a legal challenge should that happen. Given the rapid manner with which the bills moved and the fact some demonstrators were kept out of the chambers, Democrats say they'll challenge under open-meetings laws.

The Detroit Free Press also reports that Democrats could try and challenge a provision that exempts police and firefighters.
However, any attempt to bring the proposal to referendum is complicated by the fact that the bill contained an appropriation -- and under Michigan law, appropriations bills cannot be challenged by popular vote.

In order to bring the "right-to-work" bill to referendum, supporters would have to first prove the appropriation to be somehow invalid or inappropriate.

Opponents could also launch recall campaigns against targeted Republicans in retaliation, as they did in Wisconsin following the vote that cracked down on collective bargaining.

Read more: Michigan House approves right-to-work bill, as teachers ditch school to protest | Fox News

Did the Organizer in Chief encourage the violence exhibited by the Union protesters?

President Obama Denounces Right-to-Work Laws at Visit to Auto Plant

The Union thugs attack Steven Crowder. CAUTION! TYPICAL UNION LANGUAGE - FOUL


UNIONS ASSAULT ON CAMERA!!

http://www.alipac.us/f19/meanwhile-l...g-blow-268566/

CBS, ABC, NBC ALL IGNORE UNION VIOLENCE



by BREITBART NEWS 12 Dec 2012

Last night, all the major television networks chose not to show footage of violent union members in Michigan tearing down a tent owned by Americans for Prosperity, or footage of a union member punching Fox News contributor Steven Crowder in the face repeatedly. This is no surprise; the mainstream media is unconcerned with reports of union violence, which they apparently feel is justified enough not to warrant coverage.

“The pro-union broadcast networks are deliberately censoring footage of thuggish union violence directed at conservatives,” said Media Research President Brent Bozell. “If a Tea Partier had physically assaulted a liberal journalist or ripped down a structure occupied by a liberal organization all on video, the footage would be broadcast on an endless loop. ABC, CBS, and NBC have a responsibility to the American people to expose what’s really happening in Michigan. Their double standard is absolutely outrageous.”

President Obama, who has piped up on issues ranging from Rush Limbaugh’s words about Sandra Fluke to the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. by Cambridge police, remains silent about the violent activities by his union allies in Michigan.
CBS, ABC, NBC All Ignore Union Violence

Inside view as unions tear down AFP tent



Inside view as unions tear down AFP tent - YouTube


Published on Dec 11, 2012

Watchdog.org had cameras rolling as union protesters tore down a tent owned by Americans for Prosperity during the right to work protests in Michigan. Chris McCoy has a firsthand account.

UNION THUG Who Sucker Punched Steven Crowder ID’ed – He’s a Grand Rapids IBEW Member …Update: Second Goon Identified

Posted by Jim Hoft on Tuesday, December 11, 2012, 4:11 PM

The union official who sucker punched Steven Crowder today in Michigan has beenidentified.
His name is Tony.

Tony Camargo

* * * * *
Union official Tony Camargo goes to work on Steven Crowder’s face–

* * * * *
Tony Camargo is a member of the IBEW.

The IBEW local is 876, Grand Rapids, MI.
Next time he assaults a conservative he may not want to wear his name on his jacket.

About 1:32 in the video his whole name flashes on the screen.

UPDATE: Dana Loesch interviewed Steven Crowder today after the assault.
UPDATE: After several different views and input the name appears to be Tony Camargo.
UPDATE: A second unhinged union goon who was destroying the AFP tent has been identified.
UPDATE: Figures… When MI Union Goon Is Not Harassing Conservatives – He’s Cross-Dressing

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012...ummings-video/

The drag update is very entertaining.JMO

http://www.alipac.us/f9/michelle-mal...5/#post1317654