Legislators Get Sworn In — And Get Cookies
Union protest was meant to shame those who voted for right-to-work bill
LANSING — The Democrats got cookies; the Republicans got crumbs.
That's how members of Michigan’s 97th legislature were welcomed by union members here on Wednesday.
Well, that and a litany of insults, threats and attempts at intimidation by a handful of union protesters gathered outside the building who were rallying against the state's new right-to-work law.
"You're a dirtbag," someone yelled at two men dressed in suits and trench coats as they walked into the Capitol.
"Did you vote against workers?" a woman holding a sign with a picture of Rep. Jim Stamas, R-Midland, yelled at someone who was not a legislator.
They numbered about 200, or about 0.0003 percent of the state' unionized workforce. There were lots of "hey hey ho ho" chants and recycled, cliché-filled signs. At least one protester drew a Hitler mustache on the picture of a state legislator. So much for civility.
Those who weren’t screaming at anyone wearing a tie outside the Capitol delivered cookies — or crumbs — to legislator offices. It was part of an effort coordinated by a group called, We are Michigan, that apparently was aimed at making a point about how workers and the state's economy will be ruined because of the worker freedom bill.
One young man told staffers in Rep. Stamas' office that the crumbs represented the middle class. Get it? Crumbling middle class …me neither.
The protest was supposed to shame legislators who voted for the right-to-work bill and send a message to the new ones that there are consequences for voting against union interests.
In reality, it was just a sparsely attended rally for union members to vent their anger and mug for the cameras — only this time they brought treats.
Tight security locked out dozens of anti-right-to-work protesters from the State Capitol as Governor Snyder was delivering his "State of the State" address. Protesters tried to disrupt the speech by banging and chanting outside the building.
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FROM MICHIGAN HOME HELP PROGRAM PROVIDERS — OFTEN FAMILY MEMBERS
ATTORNEY GENERAL ORDERED THE STATE TO STOP TAKING MONEY ON MAY 25, 2012
opinion May 25, 2012
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) "organized” Michigan's self-employed Home Help Program providers for the purpose of skimming dues from their ailing and disabled clients' Medicaid subsidy checks. The majority of these providers are relatives or friends taking care of loved ones. It’s been estimated that less than 25 percent of the providers are hired in an employment setting.
The first counter tallies SEIU dues skimmed since the union and state officials first launched this scheme in late 2006. The second shows the amount skimmed since June 9, 2011, when the Michigan House passed and sent to the Senate a bill to ban this and all similar “stealth unionization” efforts. The third counter shows the dues skimmed since the Governor signed the bill into law on April 10, 2012. The fourth counter shows the amount skimmed since May 25, 2012, when the Attorney General opinion was announced.
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