Traverse City Record-Eagle

Other Views

January 21, 2012

Other view: Right-to-work timing off

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State Rep. Mike

Shirkey, R-Clark Lake,

had a productive first

year in Lansing, voting with

the Republican majority

to reshape the state

government’s budget and

tax policy. Personally, he

made a name for himself

with his advocacy of “rightto-

work” legislation that

gives workers the ability to

opt out of unions.

Today, Shirkey stands at

a crossroads when it comes

to the right-to-work cause.

He has to decide whether it

is worth him pursuing the

issue even if leaders of his

own party are saying it’s not

worth the effort.

Recently, Senate Majority

Leader Randy Richardville

declared that he did not

think a right-to-work bill

would pass the Republicanled

Senate. His comments

add to a lack of support

from Gov. Rick Snyder, who

views the issue as a distraction

from his agenda.

... if Shirkey or any lawmaker

wants to push right

to work, they should show

some care.

This is sure to be a

hot-button issue, one that

would anger many and

surely prove divisive. Is it

worth pushing this to the

front burner, when it is sure

to fail?...

Jackson (Mich.)

Citizen Patriot

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