Final votes possible on right-towork law

Protests mount as governor pushes anti-union stand.

LANSING, MIcH. — Gov. Rick Snyder says one reason he supports rightto-work legislation in Michigan is the economic boost a similar law has given Indiana, although officials have provided no conclusive evidence the policy by itself has drawn new businesses to the state next door.

It’s an example of the flurry of claims supporters and opponents were making as the Michigan Legislature prepared to reconvene Tuesday for what could be final votes on right-to-work bills that have inspired fierce protests from unions and their Democratic allies, including President Barack Obama.

Lansing authorities were bracing for an onslaught of demonstrators, increasing police presence and planning road closings around the Capitol.

Snyder, a Republican who said repeatedly during his first two years in office that right-to-work wasn’t a priority for him, reversed course last week by endorsing bills that would prohibit requiring nonunion employees to pay unions for negotiating contracts and other services.

Within hours, bills were rushed through the GOP-dominated House and Senate as Democrats angrily objected.

During a news conference explaining his decision, Snyder said he had been impressed by results in Indiana, which enacted a right-to-work law earlier this year.

“They’ve had 90 companies in the pipeline for economic development say this was a factor in deciding to look to come to Indiana,” he said. “That’s thousands of jobs. We need more and better jobs in Michigan.”