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State Capitol Quiet On Right-To-Work Anniversary

The state Capitol was quiet Wednesday on the anniversary of the passage of a historic right-to-work bill.

Last year at this time, the halls and lawn were packed with thousands of protesters.

We have more from The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Rick Pluta.

It was largely business as usual at the Capitol with no signs of the hullabaloo that rocked the building a year ago.

Republican state House Speaker Jase Bolger  says he has no regrets about passing the controversial right-to-work legislation. 

   “I think anytime workers are more free, that’s a good thing,” he says.

State House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel.

“We’ve actually seen the unemployment rate go up over the course of the past year since the enactment of so-called right-to-work legislation,” he says.

A slight uptick in the unemployment rate is due mostly to more people looking for work. Hiring by Michigan employers is up slightly over the past year, although there’s no evidence to suggest that is or isn’t due to the right-to-work law.

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.
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