Politics

Finley: Why The Dems Haven't Played Up Right to Work in Governor's Race

October 16, 2014, 6:48 AM

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Detroit News columnist Nolan Finley raises an interesting question about the gubernatorial campaign this season: Why haven't the Democrats and labor put more emphasis on the fact Gov. Rick Snyder signed right-to-work legislation?

Three words were strangely missing from Sunday night's gubernatorial debate: right to work.

When Republicans jammed through the anti-union legislation in the 2012 lame-duck session, labor promised they'd live to regret it. This fall was supposed to be the calling to account election, when union members would punish the GOP for its overreach in a state that is supposed to be still labor-friendly.

Yet Democrat Mark Schauer never challenged Gov. Rick Snyder Sunday for placing his signature on the law, even when a question was raised about bills passed by the Legislature that the governor may have rather not signed. It was the perfect opening to hammer Snyder on right to work. But Schauer passed.

It is a legit question.

"They know people support right to work, and that it hasn't been the bogeyman it was predicted to be," former state GOP Chair Ron Weiser, the principal right-to-work fundraiser and a candidate for University of Michigan regent, tells the News. "It's not a winning issue for them."

Finley writes that Democratic insiders say unions have decided not to play up the right to work card out of concern it will only motivate the Republican base and generate more campaign contributions. 


Read more:  The Detroit News


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