Let’s look at the facts. Michigan is one of the worst states in the country for job creation — an economic basket case. No controversy there. Cities like Detroit are on the verge on bankruptcy because of government workers…
Let’s look at the facts. Michigan is one of the worst states in the country for job creation — an economic basket case. No controversy there. Cities like Detroit are on the verge on bankruptcy because of government workers…
Could worker freedom from union compulsion come to Michigan? It looks like only Republicans can stop it: Click image to contact Sen. Randy Richardville (R-MI 17th District) ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Republicans in Gov. Rick Snyder's own backyard are urging the GOP chief executive, state Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, and other area legislators to support enactment of a state Right to Work law that would protect employees from being forced to join or pay dues to a labor union as a condition of employment. The Washtenaw County Republican Executive Committee Thursday night -- by vote -- adopted a resolution proposed by the Willow Run Tea Party Caucus saying a Right to Work law will "guarantee individual freedom of choice and help attract and create new jobs in Michigan." "No person (should) be required as a condition of obtaining or continuing public-sector or private-sector employment to: resign or refrain from membership in, voluntary affiliation with, or voluntary financial support of, a labor organization, (or) become or remain a member of a labor organization, or pay any dues, fees, assessments, or other charges of any kind or amount...to a labor organization," the resolution said. Judy McCoy, a member of the GOP committee, said Right to Work legislation "is a civil rights law that will protect employees from job discrimination on the basis of union membership or financial support. No employee should be discriminated against and fired for choosing to join or support a union, or for choosing not to. Every person should be free to choose either way without fearing loss of their job." "With overwhelming Republican majorities in both houses, and a Republican in the governor's office, the only people in Lansing who can prevent Michigan from passing a Right to Work law are, obviously, Republicans," McCoy said.
Matt Mayer of the Buckeye Institute debunks the long-term economic growth without Right To Work freedom is sustainable. Mayer uses a Columbus Dispatch reporter Joe Hatlett column that featured Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to expose the fact that corporate welfare and reduced regulations ignore the “proverbial elephant in the room weighing down” compulsory union states like Indiana, Ohio, Illinois,, and Michigan. From Matt Mayer’s post: “With Michigan bleeding jobs and tax revenues, Granholm said she followed the corporate playbook in her attempt to close a huge state budget deficit and make Michigan more competitive. ‘In listening to the business community, I cut takes [sic] 99 times, and I ended shrinking government more than any state in the nation. In my two terms, I cut more by far than any state in the nation. And yet, we still have the highest unemployment rate. There was no correlation.’ Granholm conceded that streamlining business regulations and lowering taxes — Kasich’s economic recovery mantra — are helpful, but they aren’t a panacea…[l]abor costs, help with start-up costs and proximity to markets are other factors.” Hallett and Governor Granholm fail to mention why streamlining regulations and lowering taxes aren’t helping the northern states (located within 50 percent of the U.S. population and with low start-up costs) compete against the southern and western states. Instead, Hallett ignores the obvious answer and pleads for an end to corporate pork (with which we enthusiastically agree). The reason Michigan and Ohio can’t compete is that the southern and western states already have fewer regulations and lower taxes, so “catching up” with those states still leaves the proverbial elephant in the room weighing down the northern states. Plus, those states are also pushing for lower taxes and fewer regulations, so the northern states are perpetually behind them. The elephant, which Governor Granholm does hint at, is labor costs, or, more specifically, unionized labor costs (see: General Motors and the United Auto Workers). As I noted in Six Principles for Fixing Ohio, “Of course, tax and regulatory burdens also impact a state’s economy. Although many of the forced unionization states have heavy tax burdens and many of the worker freedom states have light tax burdens, some heavily taxed worker freedom states (Idaho, Nevada, and Utah) had the strongest sustained job growth from 1990 to today. Similarly, a few moderately taxed forced unionization states still had weak job growth (Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri). The combination of both a heavy tax burden and forced unionization is deadly when it comes to job growth, as 11 of the 15 worst performing states are ranked in the top 20 for high tax burdens.” If Ohio and the other states from Missouri to Maine want to truly compete with Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina, then those states need to enact laws that protect the rights of workers not to join a labor union to get a job.
Matt Mayer of the Buckeye Institute debunks the long-term economic growth without Right To Work freedom is sustainable. Mayer uses a Columbus Dispatch reporter Joe Hatlett column that featured Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to expose the fact that corporate welfare and reduced regulations ignore the “proverbial elephant in the room weighing down” compulsory union states like Indiana, Ohio, Illinois,, and Michigan. From Matt Mayer’s post: “With Michigan bleeding jobs and tax revenues, Granholm said she followed the corporate playbook in her attempt to close a huge state budget deficit and make Michigan more competitive. ‘In listening to the business community, I cut takes [sic] 99 times, and I ended shrinking government more than any state in the nation. In my two terms, I cut more by far than any state in the nation. And yet, we still have the highest unemployment rate. There was no correlation.’ Granholm conceded that streamlining business regulations and lowering taxes — Kasich’s economic recovery mantra — are helpful, but they aren’t a panacea…[l]abor costs, help with start-up costs and proximity to markets are other factors.” Hallett and Governor Granholm fail to mention why streamlining regulations and lowering taxes aren’t helping the northern states (located within 50 percent of the U.S. population and with low start-up costs) compete against the southern and western states. Instead, Hallett ignores the obvious answer and pleads for an end to corporate pork (with which we enthusiastically agree). The reason Michigan and Ohio can’t compete is that the southern and western states already have fewer regulations and lower taxes, so “catching up” with those states still leaves the proverbial elephant in the room weighing down the northern states. Plus, those states are also pushing for lower taxes and fewer regulations, so the northern states are perpetually behind them. The elephant, which Governor Granholm does hint at, is labor costs, or, more specifically, unionized labor costs (see: General Motors and the United Auto Workers). As I noted in Six Principles for Fixing Ohio, “Of course, tax and regulatory burdens also impact a state’s economy. Although many of the forced unionization states have heavy tax burdens and many of the worker freedom states have light tax burdens, some heavily taxed worker freedom states (Idaho, Nevada, and Utah) had the strongest sustained job growth from 1990 to today. Similarly, a few moderately taxed forced unionization states still had weak job growth (Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri). The combination of both a heavy tax burden and forced unionization is deadly when it comes to job growth, as 11 of the 15 worst performing states are ranked in the top 20 for high tax burdens.” If Ohio and the other states from Missouri to Maine want to truly compete with Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina, then those states need to enact laws that protect the rights of workers not to join a labor union to get a job.
After decades of being under the thumb of the big labor bosses, Michigan in general, and Detroit in particular, are suffering the inevitable consequences. Politicians, often of both parties, let the union bosses run wild in exchange for political support.
Unemployment in double digits for years. Debt as far as the eyes can see. No job growth. Bailouts for major industry. Potential bankruptcy for cities and towns. This is the state of Michigan’s economy. Gov. Rick Snyder is trying…
In Michigan, neither candidate for governor appears to be serious ab0ut supporting efforts to turn Michigan’s economy around. As expected, Big Labor-funded and supported Democrat Virg Bernero opposes giving workers the right to choose whether to join a union saying, “There is no credible evidence…
The union for government workers is spending over $1.5 million attacking Republican congressional candidates in Michigan and Nevada. The Michigan ad claims that GOP candidate and former House Member Tim Walberg “skipped out” on a vote to bailout the auto industry.