How Republicans struck a blow against Michigan’s powerful unions
But in a convergence of methodical planning and patient alliance building – the “systematic approach” – the reformers were on a roll, one that establishment Michigan Republicans came to embrace and promised to bankroll.
Republicans executed a plan – the timing, the language of the bills, the media strategy, and perhaps most importantly, the behind-the-scenes lobbying of top Republicans including Snyder.
They knew they would likely face an acrimonious battle of the kind they had seen over the last two years in the neighboring state of Wisconsin between Republican Governor Scott Walker and unions. Operating in plain sight but often overlooked, they worked to put the necessary building blocks in place.
“This was a risky move across-the-board and I wanted to make sure all of my (Republican) caucus members would come back to serve with me after the next election,” said Colbeck, who ran for office after whetting his political appetite as a Tea Party activist.
Blowback
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Next should be the teachers unions, the NEA and the DoE.
Rixon on December 13, 2012 at 1:20 PM
1. Awesome. I love the tactical genius of all of this. Especially the part about making it an appropriation so it can be referendum’d. No sense making it easy on them. Also the part about waiting till after the election so they didn’t have to talk about it.
2.
Do they ever note how much money Democrat supporters have?
ChrisL on December 13, 2012 at 1:25 PM
80% of the article is B.S. In the end, the unions overreached, and tried to enshrine collective bargaining into the states constitution. They lost big, and that resulted in a pub blowback. If the unions had shut their big mouths and not tried to bring about a ballot measure, Michigan would have remained unionized. Snyder had no interest in right to work, cos he deemed it to divisive. But the unions shot themselves in the head by that ballot initiative.
tommy71 on December 13, 2012 at 1:44 PM
The article mentions Proposal 2, but there was also Proposal 4, which would reinstate forced withholding of union dues to a specific union, the SEIU, for people being paid by the State to care for severely disabled persons, usually family, in their homes.
That skimming of money was started by DEM governor Granholm, and it was downright dirty, rotten theft from people who were saving the state money by caring for disabled persons out of hospital, and they had no choice. The unions and DEMs wanted the slush fund restarted. I understand the SEIU collected about 26 million in dues under the enforced program
The unions were in the face of voters on this issue. The money should go to the SEIU, you jerks. It played very badly. Worse than the Prop 2 deal
Snyder is a moderate. He vetoed a voter ID bill just before the election, and Michigan has a lax motor votor setup. I was not sure he would make the move. Guess he added up where we were going and decided to stop the bleeding. Give him credit for that courage
Today they are still running Freedom to Work ads and they are fantastic ads. I wish we had seen anything near this in the Presidential election. Right to Work is presented as personal freedom, and fairness. No snide voices. No aggressive rhetoric. Comes across as a refuge of decency in a world of thuggery
entagor on December 13, 2012 at 1:47 PM
Not mentioned, apparently: Lots of forward-thinking non-Republicans are also getting very tired of the unions’ mafia/thug tactics. The “blow” was struck on their behalf, too.
KS Rex on December 13, 2012 at 2:17 PM
Detroit is a right-to-work city now, hahahahahhaha, suck on that liberals!
Dollayo on December 13, 2012 at 2:56 PM