…when as many as a half of the companies looking to create jobs in the U.S. take non-RTW states off the table, removing this barrier to opportunity is absolutely key to the economic future of our state. Governor Daniels has informed me that his phone is already ringing off the hook with employers wanting to know more about Indiana and the opportunity to expand here. I have personally heard from representatives of Michigan and Illinois companies considering relocating to Indiana, and have even had personal conversations with manufacturing representatives from as far away as Germany and Italy that have renewed interest in Indiana in light of the adoption of this pro-job pro-freedom policy. It is certainly a victory for all Hoosiers that courageous legislators were willing to put it all on the line for our state’s future success, even in the face of shouts and intimidation. Please extend your thanks to all of the members of the House and Senate who worked together to advance this critical policy…
Taken from an email from Brian Bosma. (View entire email here.)
Congratulations to our Indiana Governor and all of our Indiana legislators that worked hard to pass Right To Work legislation this session. They withstood a lot of heat in order to do the right thing. Thank you also to the Democratic Caucus for staying and making their position heard rather than leaving for Illinois again.
I have no doubt that this was the right thing to do, both as an employee freedom of choice issue and as an Indiana Economic Development issue. Maybe Indiana can be the first State in our Midwest region to begin to stem the tide of manufacturing jobs moving to the South.
See my previous post on why I supported Right To Work here.
Right to Work legislation seems to be successfully working its way through the legislature this year. A much better showing for our State than last year when the Democrat Caucus vacationed in Illinois rather than addressing the issue.
This is important legislation for all Hoosiers. From my position on the the MCEDC board I have heard that this issue is one of the few deterrents to business location or relocation in Indiana. This has been promoted by IDEC. This was also listed as a problem by one of our site selector consultants. There are many case histories such as the story of Oklahoma here which tell of how a state’s economic fortunes have improved after passage of Right to Work legislation.
With Speaker Bosma supporting it (you can sign a petition here) and Governor Daniels promising to sign it, there is a lot of muscle behind the current push. It would be a boon to Indiana’s economic development position.
Aside from that, I believe that it is a freedom issue. I worked in a closed shop factory for 30 days one summer. It was an eye-opening experience. I had no interest in joining the union. In fact I was generally in trouble with the union steward. The floor manager, who was not union, learned that if he needed some task completed quickly (if it was in my skill set) I would do it. That was unacceptable to the union members. I was taking someone else’s job! I had worked several summers at Easterday Construction before taking that job. I was taught there that I should do something even if it was wrong. Easterday Superintendents always told the labor that if you finish a task and don’t know what else to do, pick up a broom and sweep the floor. Boy, did that ever start a flap when I did that during one of the union’s unscheduled breaks! That basically got me “blackballed” and I was told that I would not be accepted after my 30 day probation period. Why would I want to join the union when I didn’t agree with their policies and they didn’t agree with my work ethic? Why did they have the right to keep me from that job? If they would have allowed me to remain, why would I want to contribute to their causes with which I didn’t agree? I should have had the freedom to work there, but I didn’t.
If you want to express your opinion on this, use the link above to vote on Brian Bosma’s page. This week there is a poll on the Pilot News website. Currently it is running more than 60% in favor. There is also information at Halt the Assault website here. And there is also information on the Indiana Chamber of Commerce website here. Join me in contacting our legislators to make this Law in Indiana! I’ve already contacted mine. If you don’t know who yours is, I’ll help you find them!
Taken from Halt the Assault
Getting a letter from the FBI is a little like having a police car come up behind you on the highway. Even when you aren’t doing anything wrong, haven’t done anything wrong and don’t plan to do anything wrong… it makes you nervous. We received one of those letters today from the FBI talking about potential terrorist activity as we approach the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The letter included a flyer with a list of potential indicators and best practices concerning construction sites. Most of them are common sense, but the reminders are good. I’ve scanned the flyer and included it to the right.
It is best we don’t forget, lest it happen again.