Politics & Government

Your Guide to Right-to-Work Bills, Lawmakers' Votes

Legislation passed last week in the Michigan House and Senate could reach Gov. Rick Snyder for his signature by Tuesday. Leave a comment or upload a photo if you participate in related demonstrations!

Demonstrators took to the Capitol steps Monday in Lansing to sound off on right-to-work legislation that is poised to become law after Gov. Rick Snyder did an abrupt about-face on the issue last week and a series of related bills passed in the House and Senate.

Larger protests are expected Tuesday when the legislation could reach Snyder's desk for his signature. Patch will be live-blogging from Lansing as the situation develops.

[Are you participating in the demonstrations? Leave a comment, upload a photo or e-mail Troy Patch editor Jen Anesi!]

Find out what's happening in Troywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Read on for a description of each bill and to find out how lawmakers who represent Troy voted.

House Bill 4054

The legislation that would make Michigan a "right-to-work" state was originally introduced by Troy resident Rep. Marty Knollenberg (R-Troy) in January of 2011; it passed 58 to 52 in the House on Dec. 6, 2012, according to michiganvotes.org. The bill would prohibit unions from requiring workers to pay dues as a term of employment. It also includes a $1 million appropriation to make it "referendum-proof," michiganvotes.org reports. (Visit legislature.mi.gov to download the full bill.)

Find out what's happening in Troywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Rep. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy, representing the the 41st District including Troy: Voted yes

Senate Bill 116

The legislation that would make Michigan a "right-to-work" state was passed 22 to 16 in the Senate on Dec. 6, according to michiganvotes.org. The bill would prohibit unions from requiring workers to pay dues as a term of employment. It also includes a $1 million appropriation to make it "referendum-proof," michiganvotes.org reports. (Visit legislature.mi.gov to download the full bill.)

  • Sen. John Pappageorge, R-Troy, representing the 13th District including Troy: Voted yes

House Bill 4003

The legislation that would extend right-to-work regulations to government and school employees passed 22 to 4 in the Senate on Dec. 6. It passed 63 to 46 in the House on June 8, 2011, according to michiganvotes.org. (Visit legislature.mi.gov to download the full bill.)

  • Rep. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy, representing the 41st District including Troy: Voted yes
  • Sen. John Pappageorge, R-Troy, representing the 13th District including Troy: Voted yes

Senate Democrats, who walked out of the Capitol on Thursday in a show of protest after all 21 of their proposed amendments to the bill were defeated, did not vote on the legislation, Gregory said.

"None of the right-to-work bills ever went to committee for all sides to weigh in on," he said, adding that lawmakers did not get to read the bill before being asked vote on it. "It was just rammed through without any discussion."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here