Bloomfield Voices Reach the Nation Over Right To Work

The nation watched the events unfolding Tuesday in Lansing with regard to  Michigan's right-to-work laws with great interest, and if they paid attention, they heard several voices from Bloomfield on both sides of the issue.

"If the unions have a value proposition for their members, unions will prosper in Michigan, and if they don't, they're going to have to find a new way to be effective. That's very simply what this is about," said GOP Michigan Chairman Bobby Schostak on CNN Tuesday afternoon.

During the five-minute segment from the Capitol lawn, the Bloomfield Hills resident said he believed the new law would improve Michigan's economy.

U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Twp., disagreed during his appearance on Politics Nation with Rev. Al Sharpton on MSNBC Tuesday night.

He called on Snyder to veto the "divisive, anti-worker legislation" earlier in the day, and took the governor to task on prior statements that right-to-work was not a priority.

“After spending years telling us that ‘right to work for less’ legislation was off the table, Governor Snyder has created an embarrassing national spectacle by doing a full flip flop on this issue,” he said.

State Rep. Lisa Brown (D-West Bloomfield) also appeared on the broadcast.

State Sen. John Pappageorge, R-Troy, who represents Bloomfield and supported the legislation, focused his message on a single question:
"Should it be illegal to pay a third party to keep your job? My answer is yes and that's why I voted the way I did."

Patch Editor Leslie Ellis contributed to this report.