The signing of House Bill 4929 is proof positive that our Governor is just another politician. The bill prohibits school districts from automatically deducting teacher’s union dues. Since the process is automated, the bill does not save money. Republicans defeated an amendment to the bill that would have allowed the process to continue if the union paid for any associated costs. This proves the bill is a political attack against teachers because they have been the most vocal opponent of the Republican agenda. Teachers have spoken out loudly against many Republican policies, most notably the stealing of money from the school aid fund to help give huge tax breaks to business, some of who are making record profits. This bill is not about “ensuring that public resources are used solely for their intended purposes” as Rick Snyder said after signing it. If it were, state workers, who are part of the Service Employees International Union, and the state trooopers, who are part of the the Michigan State Police Trooper’s Association, would have also been included in the bill. After all, both of these groups also have their dues automatically deducted.
So despite what he has said, Snyder has no problem “picking winners and losers.” He will sign anti-labor bills if they reach his desk even if they are “not on his agenda.” He has no problems being involved in “divisive politics.” The irony of it all is a few weeks ago he was on national TV talking about how people in Washington need to work together. Clearly reaching out across the aisle is not on the Governor’s agenda. Rick Snyder has become your run-of-the-mill politician. If anything has been reinvented in Rick Snyder’s tenure as Governor, it is Rick Snyder. He went from being a millionaire nerd CEO to another fat cat politician who is only out to serve the best interest of his wealthy brethren. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
