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In the last week there have been two major developments showing respect: respect for LGBTQ+ Michiganders as the Governor signs a law expanding the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity … and respect for workers’ rights.
Under the Snyder administration, there were continual attacks on the rights of workers to improve their working conditions and pay. The most egregious: after saying that so-called “right to work” legislation wasn’t on his agenda, in 2012 Governor Snyder and Republicans jammed through a ban on union shop contracts during a lame-duck legislative session. The bills passed with no committee hearings and minimal floor debate on straight party line votes.
Just this week, the former Governor doubled down on his betrayal of workers with an op-ed in the Detroit News claiming that repealing the law means Michigan is now closed to business.
Also working it’s way quickly through the Legislature: restoring Michigan’s prevailing wage law, which requires that workers on government-funded projects be paid a wage consistent with the local prevailing wage.
Our guest this week is Ron Bieber, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO, who talks about how these bills are good news for ALL Michigan workers.
Links to stories we’re following
- Michigan set to repeal right-to-work laws – The Washington Post
- The Union Advantage – U.S. Department of Labor
- Snyder: Repealing right to work means ‘closed for business – Detroit News
- Michigan Right-to-Work backers plot ballot proposal as Dems pursue repeal – Bridge Michigan
- What is Michigan Right-to-Work: How law impacted wages, jobs, unions – Bridge Michigan
- Democrats pitch tax credit for union dues, other pro-labor measures
- Inside the Gun Safety Package Michigan Lawmakers Want to Pass – Time Magazine
- Michigan Senate OKs ‘history-making’ gun control bills after gun violence
- Democrats push Michigan gun reforms. Here’s what the laws are now – Bridge Michigan
- Michigan voters support lifetime firearms ban for some crimes, poll says – Detroit News
- Insider: Voters in poll see gun laws as priority for Michigan Legislature – Detroit News
- Gun rights group calls for recall effort against lawmakers who vote for reform – Fox47 Lansing
- Joe Biden seeks more gun background checks through new executive order – USA Today
- Biden Remarks on Gun Background Checks – White House
- Michigan man who threatened Dems charged with gun crime – WLNS 6 News
- Gov. Whitmer Signs Bipartisan Legislation Expanding Rights and Freedoms for LGBTQ+ Michiganders – Governor’s Office
- New Statewide Voter Poll – the Economy, Future Direction; Pronounced Partisan Differences Continue – Detroit Regional Chamber
- How Democrats disarmed a brewing Senate battle in Michigan – POLITICO
- Michigan Republicans face debt, crossroads on presidential primary – Detroit News
- New GOP chair rejects party headquarters; accepts donor and voter data – Detroit Free Press
- Michigan a Top State for Electric Vehicle & Battery Investments, Bringing Home $16.6 Billion, Creating 16,300 Good-Paying Jobs
- Lt. Gov. Gilchrist Joins Public, Private Partners to Launch New $10 Million Microloan Fund for Women, Veterans, and Entrepreneurs of ColorWayne State to offer free tuition to certain Michigan students – Detroit Free Press
- Michigan lawmakers slam ‘new normal’ of DTE, Consumers outages
- Michigan prosecutor mulls charging Lapeer library over LGBTQ book – Bridge Michigan
- President’s Budget | OMB | The White House
- Biden’s 2024 Budget Proposal Wins Support of Voters- Morning Consult
- Biden says he’s focused ‘intensely’ on lowering drug costs | AP News
- Opinion | Republicans Are Delusional If They Think Biden Will Be Easy to Beat – POLITICO
- House conservatives issue new spending demands in debt ceiling debate – The Washington Post
- February job growth tempered but strong – The Washington Post
- Hilary Scholten on Her First Months in Congress – The Dispatch