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Against fierce opposition, Gov. Gov. Rick Snyder explains why he's ready to sign controversial legislation
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Protesters stormed the Wisconsin state capital and now missing.
-- -- Hundreds of people -- the state capital of Lansing protests against Michigan becoming a right to work state today Republican governor Rick Snyder GOP leaders saying they will push -- Right to -- legislation.
And tonight.
Both the Michigan house and senate passed in the measure -- spoke with the Governor Snyder about this erupting fight.
-- -- -- good to be with you thank you.
What you had an easy day today you had at the S state can't prevent -- -- you've -- protest event pepper sprayed the police blocked protesters out and then suddenly about an hour later unions got an injunction to open those stores -- so.
What provoked all this today.
Well if you look at it's really about freedom to choose it's about being pro worker and stepping up for the workers and our state.
We need workplace equality and fairness and that's what this legislation's all about is giving workers the choice to join a union and that.
You know it's certainly interesting above all states Michigan -- historic connotation -- the United Auto Workers you have the Teamsters you have lots of unions AFL CIO members.
You know this is sort of interesting and we -- to watch this happen in your state.
I'm curious.
What do you hope to achieve it economically.
By this legislation this right to work legislation.
-- -- -- very positive economic consequences.
If you step back and look at the history unions have been strong in Michigan.
And they did a lot of good things the last century in terms of working conditions other issues and people wanted to join a union.
But where we are at today is -- should we give workers the choice and beaten pro worker.
And give them the opportunity to say do they want to belong to a union or not.
And in fact I don't view this as anti union because I encourages unions to be more proactive about resign the value equation.
To workers to say they should want to join and be part of it.
So this is first and foremost about worker choice.
The second thing is is about economic development we've carefully watch what's gonna Indiana since -- -- similar legislation back in February.
And they've seen a significant increase in the number of companies talking about thousands of jobs to their state.
So first it's about worker choice but secondly it's about more and better jobs for Michigan under so that's why this is important and positive legislation for our state.
-- this -- not part of your regular agenda and this is not been done in the lame duck so I suppose that you know as an issue that team you're gonna mean that the people the people are asking for.
Why was a part of your original agenda and why did you -- so lame duck.
Well if you think about it over 80% of the workers.
Don't have this issue they're not -- so it only applies in Michigan about seventeen and a half percent of our workforce that's still significant.
But by far most people don't have this is an issue if you look at where Michigan was out.
Well we're at the bottom four entire decades -- worth a comeback state our state because we've done so many good things about tax reform balancing our budget -- down our debt.
Doing many great things that we're the six fastest growing state in the nation last year compared to fiftieth in prior years so it's been a great comeback.
This was becoming a divisive issue -- after the election we had a ballot proposal that brought up a lot of labor issues this is what -- that's continued.
So is a divisive -- -- my view is let's take some leadership.
Let's address this issue on a positive way to stand up for the workers and be pro worker.
And let's move forward and get it behind us and continue to reinvention of Michigan about -- better jobs in the future for our kids.
Talk in terms of reinventing Michigan let me edges zeroing on one -- your state Detroit -- eighteen point 9%.
Unemployment which is actually.
Deplorable for the people of Detroit.
What do you intend to do or what can you do look in the state do to try to help the city -- that.
-- -- city councilman last night actually sent us a quid pro quo she wants the president essentially bail them out.
Combo what do you plan to do -- about Detroit.
We're gonna continue working with the city we did a consent agreement with some earlier this year that called for a number actions to happen.
Because we do need better services for the citizens of Detroit they deserve it.
Com and we need to achieve results -- a problem as the mayor and the City Council haven't been able to get on the same page.
I'm more encouraged him to get it done and we're going through the process now of saying if they don't get it done we're gonna -- a review hopefully next week that'll go on for thirty days to say.
If it doesn't get down there are other actions including emergency managers that we should be concerning for Detroit.
Some clearly -- -- the mayor and City Council let's get these issues on the table.
Haven't worked together get resolution so we can move forward so we can get -- growing again.
Explaining emergency managers them in the state just steps in and does a job for them by and does that -- -- Yeah and Michigan we've had a statute.
For some time we had some controversy or under the old statute now but this goes back to.
Many years where we've had emergency manager status were an emergency manager can come and help work with -- city.
To resolve these issues and a more efficient fashion than the traditional way because then if that you get to an emergency like this the traditional way it wasn't working.
I'm and we -- -- my allegiance.
Aren't you at that point demanding employment -- course in October of 09 is -- 25 point five -- a lot of people have been discouraged and left that some reason for declined eighteen point nine but eighteen point nine is more than twice the national average.
Aren't you add an emergency in Detroit.
Well Detroit -- crisis for a long time but.
I think we should I try to work with the locally elected leaders first because my goal is not to running particular city it's to be -- supportive partner and so we've worked hard to strive to do that.
I'm we have achieved some good results but now -- not seen enough progress and we need to keep pushing ahead because we do need to get this resolved and get better -- -- traders.
I live look at -- from afar I settlement -- you do immunity in that state but eighteen point 9% and it has been that way for just -- back to 2008 it has been above that and so like I mean it how long you gonna wait for before something is going to be done in Detroit because I imagine the people there are running out -- this this is desperate.
Plus imagine it's a thirty day review cycle.
I'm where we get outside experts to come and make an evaluation -- status.
And from there we can what to the emergency manager status or other options to try to move things forward but we need better resolution.
On this mayor and City Council need to get to got to get things done -- that we're gonna take the actions necessary to take care of the citizens of our cities.
Governor thank you very much nice to talk to -- Great to be what you thank you.
