Here is a portion of the column I wrote this week for MLive.com
When Republican legislators pushed through a contentious Right To Work law two years ago, they said they were freeing unionized workers from a system that “confiscated” a portion of employee paychecks through union dues.
Yet those GOP lawmakers hypocritically engage in their own rigid employment system at the state Capitol that represents the antithesis of a right-to-work mentality. Their Democratic counterparts, who opposed the new law, also take part.
Here’s how it works: The leadership of both parties essentially charges legislative aides dues by instructing them to contribute hundreds of dollars for their respective party’s campaign activities.
As MLive reported this month, House staffers are expected to donate $100 to $600 a year, depending on their salaries and which party they work for.
A political fee of $100 may not sound like much. But it is imposed on staffers making less than $25,000 a year, most of whom are in their early 20s and struggling with college debts.
For many years, GOP aides jokingly referred to the money paid as their “union dues.” On a more serious note, staffers from both parties know that cooperation is key to a future in politics.
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