Your Guide to Right-to-Work Bills, Lawmakers' Votes

Demonstrators took to the Capitol steps Monday in Lansing to sound off on right-to-work legislation that is poised to become law after Gov. Rick Snyder did an abrupt about-face on the issue last week and a series of related bills passed in the House and Senate.

Larger protests are expected today when the legislation could reach Snyder's desk for his signature. Patch will be live-blogging from Lansing as the situation develops.

[Are you participating in the demonstrations? Leave a comment, upload a photo or e-mail St. Clair Shores Patch editor Edward Cardenas]

Read on for a description of each bill and to find out how lawmakers who represent St. Clair Shores voted.

House Bill 4054

The legislation that would make Michigan a "right-to-work" state was passed 58 to 52 in the House on Dec. 6, according to michiganvotes.org. The bill would prohibit unions from requiring workers to pay dues as a term of employment. It also includes a $1 million appropriation to make it "referendum-proof," michiganvotes.org reports. (Visit legislature.mi.gov to download the full bill.)

• Rep. Anthony Forlini, R-Harrison Township, voted no.

Forlini said that he has continually stated that he is not in favor of right-to-work, and his constituents have made shared their feelings with him on the legislation.

Quote form Tony who was one of six Republicans who voted against the legislation.

"My district is not a right to work district," said Forlini, who would have preferred more discussion on the issue. "This is a divisive issue. The best way to handle a divisive issue is to talk them out."

Senate Bill 116

The legislation that would make Michigan a "right-to-work" state was passed 22 to 16 in the Senate on Dec. 6, according to michiganvotes.org. The bill would prohibit unions from requiring workers to pay dues as a term of employment. It also includes a $1 million appropriation to make it "referendum-proof," michiganvotes.org reports. (Visit legislature.mi.gov to download the full bill.)

• Sen. Steve Bieda, D-Warren, voted no.

Bieda spoke out passionately against the legislation, and the introduction of the bill, on the floor of the State Senate on the day of the vote.

"This is real an affront to the state constitution and the people of this state," said Bieda. "The Senate’s action in voting on this bill can only be viewed as an arrogant exercise in political power, the type you generally see in third world dictatorships, not in an American state and certainly not in Michigan."