President Obama traveled to Michigan today to campaign for higher taxes and to keep pinning Republicans on the defensive. During his remarks, he also spoke out against the state’s new right-to-work law, which is expected to be signed into law tomorrow.
“What we shouldn’t do–I just gotta say this–what we shouldn’t be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages and working conditions,” Obama said in the speech, which was meant to be on fiscal cliff issues. “We shouldn’t be doing that.”
“You know, these so-called right-to-work laws don’t have to do with economics, they have to do with politics,” Obama continued. “What they’re really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money.”
Yeah, that’s what’s called a “lie.” Michigan’s right-to-work law makes the state an “open shop” state, meaning workers will no longer be forced to join unions to work in certain occupations, and will no longer be forced to pay from their pockets to unions that use that money in political causes. It forces unions to make the case that membership for workers is worth their money, and workers can keep their own money if they so choose. It does not impact collective bargaining rights.
Michigan’s union membership has been declining sharply in recent years, from 26% in 1989 to just 16.5% in 2011. Michigan’s workers have clearly decided that union membership is not for them in ever growing numbers. Younger workers are less likely to join unions in the first place. The state’s new law just prevents the unions from skimming non-worker paychecks against their will.
Right-to-work may also make Michigan more open for business, which would bring in more jobs the state that has an unemployment rate of 9.3% officially . The state that has seen Detroit turn from a bastion of American success into an economic abscess can use all the help to attract business that it can get.
Barack Obama once again reveals himself as nothing more than a special interest agitator who happens to occupy the White House. He promised to carry Big Labor’s agenda with him, and he is doing that, no matter the consequences to most workers and those who want jobs. If he had the majority of workers’ interests at heart, he would knock off knocking right-to-work. I’m sure he’ll do that right after he stops pushing for tax hikes on job creators, and he’ll do that right after he announces that he supports repealing ObamaCare.
Additionally: Using patented Democrat logic, the people of Michigan elected their state legislators, who in turn passed the right-to-work law. Gov. Snyder, who was also elected by the people, will sign it. It passed by stronger majorities than ObamaCare enjoyed in the US Congress. So, therefore, it’s settled law that must not be opposed or even tampered with, no?
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