Since the teaparty so effectively installed Republicans in legislative offices in Lansing last November, the time has now come to find out if those legislators will take a first bold step to increase freedom in the State.
The Michigan Freedom To Work movement has spread across the state, with many proponents rallying and asking individual county Republican Parties to adopt resolutions in support of the movement. My local county party has, and , indicating a grassroots push for freedom to work. Many proponents felt it has been an uphill battle, even though the freedom to work without belonging to a union seems like a no-brainer for those in the Republican Party. Michigan Governor, Rick Snyder has said numerous times that it was not part of his agenda, but will sign such legislation if it reaches his desk.
That posturing has made some movement conservatives very leery of the Governor’s commitment to Republicanism, many labeling him a RINO. Democrats have suggested that if the Freedom To Work legislation pending is pushed through and signed, that they will not work with the Governor on his big, signature, big government push for a second International Bridge. That’s not bad news for conservatism, it is however, bad news for the Gov.
Despite massive conservative outcry, the federally and Canadian funded Detroit River International Crossing bridge (DRIC), now renamed the New International Trade Crossing (NITC), remains a signature, epic battle for the Governor. Continually reiterating the the DRIC will not cost a dime to taxpayers, while at the same time, securing their money to build it, has puzzled many grassroots Republicans. There is already a bridge in use, owned by a private businessman, and the DRIC battle was began by the ultra-leftist, Canadian-born, former Governor of Michigan, Jennifer Granholm. Snyder has the help of his Senate Majority Leader, who has been arguing in favor of the bridge, as if it will increase jobs in Michigan, as a much-needed infrastructure improvement that will produce 10,ooo jobs, if you add in the additional funding from the feds for road construction. That amount of jobs would be bought by the government, much like they have bought about 10,000 green jobs in Michigan.
The simple argument here is one of philosophy. Do we, as Republicans believe that government should displace private sector business? Ask any Republican, minus the liberals in Lansing, the Governor, and the Senate Majority leader, and the answer would be a resounding Hell No.
So the Republican Governor of the now Republican state of Michigan, with a majority in the Michigan House of Representatives, and a super-majority in the Michigan Senate, should not have a fight on their hands. If the Governor listened to the Republican grassroots, the DRIC fight should be lost and Freedom to Work should be passed and signed by him.
But will he listen?
