Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation and National Right to Work Committee joined me on Feedback to discuss Right to Work in Wisconsin and Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels’ record against Right to Work in Wisconsin.
Before citizens vote in the August 9 primary in Wisconsin, gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels must be transparent on Right to Work, Prevailing Wage and his ties to special interest groups that have benefited his family business – Michels Corporation.
FACT: In 2015, when grassroots citizens were rallying to support Governor Walker, Lt. Governor Kleefisch and the Republican-led legislature’s efforts to pass Right to Work in Wisconsin, Tim Michels and his company – the Michels Corporation – were leading the opposition. Michels Corporation employees actually received a day off of work to attend a pro-union rally to protest Right to Work legislation in Wisconsin.
FACT: In 2015, a Colorado-based worker won a settlement from the Michels Corporation and a union after he was fired for declining to pay union dues. It is a violation of federal law to force an employee to join a union. And to add insult to injury, the Michels Corporation took union dues out of the employee’s final paycheck AFTER he was fired.
FACT: in 2022, the National Right to Work Committee sent a candidate survey to Tim Michels to ask him if he would express – in writing – his support of Right to Work – a simple yes or no question. Michels has not responded. His opponent – former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch has answered the survey and expressed her full support of Right to Work.
Tim Michels is an unknown entity. Voters need to know who he really is. Look beyond the contrived radio and television ads. Who is really behind the candidate whose handlers have tried to characterize as the ‘outsider’ in this race? Former Governor Tommy Thompson’s endorsement suggests that he’s anything but an outsider. Voters shouldn’t forget that Tommy Thompson most recently served on the Evers Administration.
In April of this year, Wisconsin Right Now sent these questions to Tim Michels. We still don’t know where he stands on these important issues:
1. What is your position on Right to Work legislation?
2. What is your position on prevailing wage?
3. Do you support unions? What percentage of employees working for your company are union workers?
4. Do you support Act 10?
5. Did you have any involvement in the “Scott Holes” campaign and what?
6. Can you explain your ties to the union, Operating Engineers 139 Local? How many of your employees belong to it?
7. Your company has had more than $1.3 billion in state contracts since 2008. How would you isolate yourself from that as governor?
8. Who is pushing your candidacy? There are rumors that road builders’ lobbyists like John Gard are urging you to run. Are the “road builders” behind your candidacy? Is this so? Does it matter?
9. Do you believe Scott Walker mismanaged the transportation budget? How as governor would you be different than Scott Walker on transportation funding?
10. Do you support raising the gas tax? Indexing?
11. Is there anything you want voters to know on these topics?
12. Is it true you are the largest union employer in the state? Is that good or bad?
13. How many jobs has Michels Corp. created for the state since you helped lead it?
14. Do you agree or disagree with the statement that your campaign would be pushed by the roadbuilders?
15. What is your position on the Paul Castle Right to Work lawsuit? Why was he fired?
16. Michels Corp is on the board of WTBA, the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association, which supported Governor Evers’ gas tax hikes and indexing. Do you support their agenda?
17. The Wisconsin Contractor Coalition lobbied against four bills in 2016, and all were related to prevailing wage or Right to Work. Why would you want to be affiliated with such a group?
Who is behind Tim Michels?
The August 9th Primary is coming soon. Voter beware. Exercise caution, critical thinking skills, and common sense.
Don’t get ‘Hageburned’ again.
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