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Right-to-work rumors dominate lame duck session

The Legislature is wrapping up the first week of its “lame duck” session with lots of things to do – but everyone is wondering if Republicans intend to put “right-to-work” legislation on their end-of-the-year to-do list.

The halls and lobbies of the Capitol were packed with union members urging the Legislature to not take up a right-to-work bill in the “lame duck” session.

Additional State Police troopers were called in as a precaution.

Governor Rick Snyder said he would rather see lawmakers focus on things other than right-to-work.

“It’s a divisive issue, and you just look at all the activity. There are a lot of important things we were talking about otherwise, and it just kind of takes the oxygen out of the room,” said Snyder.

But the governor also said he can’t stop legislators if they decide to take up a right-to-work bill.

He says it’s something labor leaders should have thought about it when they decided to ramp up the right-to-work battle by taking it to the ballot in November.

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987.
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