The sponsors of this proposal says that all is does is “protect” the right to “collectively bargain.” It does not. This proposal is a deceitful measure that will enhance perks to special interests at the expense of taxpayers.

This long and complicated proposal is a union boss wish list of policy ideas that would turn back the clock to the days when union bosses called the shots in Michigan. Here’s just a sample of the things this power grab would do:

• It would repeal the laws recently passed that make it easier for school districts to get bad teachers out of the classroom.
• It would repeal the law that says school employees can be docked a day’s pay when they illegally strike.
• It would undo the reforms that require government employees to contribute more to their health care and retirement benefits.
• It would repeal the law that prohibits those with criminal records from serving as officers for unions in Michigan’s casinos.

Who knows how far this proposal reaches?

• This proposal might strike down laws requiring criminal background checks for employees in day care centers, nursing homes or hospitals if those employees are unionized.
• It would make it impossible for cities and counties in a financial crisis to ever balance their books.
• With all the power in the hands of the union bosses, it might even result in judges ordering tax increases to pay for the unions’ contract demands.

This proposal does nothing for workers in the private sector, union members or non-union. This proposal is a vast transfer of power to the public employee unions. The rest of us just get to foot the bill.

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This proposal sounds good at first: more energy in Michigan from renewable sources. Who could oppose that?  Well, a lot of us. It’s a proposal that is likely to increase energy costs dramatically in the future and is a dishonest attempt by investors to cash in on the energy market through our Constitution. Additionally:

• Michigan has a strong law promoting more renewable energy, and we think a law passed by the legislature and signed by the governor is the right place to decide energy policy. The wrong place is our constitution.
• With all the changes in the price of energy, and the new technologies for extracting clean-burning energy, we should be flexible about where we get our power. We shouldn’t lock anyone’s idea in the constitution in this time of change.

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Over 40,000 people in Michigan work in the private sector, most just working on their own, as home health care assistants. Many just care for one patient, often a friend or member of their family. We value the work they do, and taxpayers benefit too, because those can receive care at home don’t require expensive nursing home care.

So along came the radical union SEIU with a scheme to pretend that these independent contractors were state employees. That let the union deduct dues from the checks these workers receive from Medicaid. Nice scam, huh? Well the union skimmed more than $30 million before a law was passed to put a stop to it.

Now the union bosses are back, and they want to put their scam into your constitution, so they can grab a chunk of your tax dollars. This proposal isn’t about quality of health care.  This is about cash going to the union SEIU for them to spend on a political agenda.

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