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REDFORD, MICH. – President Barack Obama traveled Monday to Michigan to tout a new investment in domestic auto jobs, while using the opportunity to assail the state's Republican lawmakers for pursuing "right to work" legislation.
With three weeks to go to avoid the fiscal cliff, President Barack Obama will travel to a Detroit auto plan and attempt to sell his plan to raise taxes on the top two percent of Americans.
Obama renewed his offensive to pressure Republicans into extending middle class tax cuts, calling on Congress to pass legislation making the Bush-era tax rates for those making below $250,000 permanent.
But this trip to the Detroit-area came with some extra baggage in the form of a state-wide union battle over a right-to-work law that Michigan’s governor, Rick Snyder (R) has pledged to sign. The president addressed the union controversy towards the middle of his remarks:
"We should do everything we can to encourage companies like Daimler to keep investing in American workers," Obama said, "what we shouldn’t be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages and working conditions."
Related: Lawmakers implore Michigan gov. to halt or delay 'right to work' law
The audience responded enthusiastically as the president continued: "These so-called right-to-work laws, they don't have to do with economics. They have everything to do with politics. What they're really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money."
While Snyder did not join the president for his event at the Daimler-owned Detroit Diesel Corporation, the governor did greet Obama on the tarmac along with some of the Democratic members of Michigan’s congressional delegation.
Snyder had a meeting with many members of the Michigan delegation earlier today to discuss the legislation, which would make mandatory payment of union dues or fees as a condition of employment illegal. On the flight to Michigan, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney noted that the president’s opposition to right-to-work laws was “well known” and the optics of this were brought even more into focus by the president being accompanied on his tour of the engine plant by the UAW NW Local 163 Detroit Diesel Engine Unit Shop Chairperson Mark Gibson, and multiple people in the crowd sporting UAW stickers. Currently, 23 states and Guam have some type of right-to-work legislation on the books.
Saul Loeb / AFP - Getty Images
President Barack Obama speaks on the economy and fiscal cliff negotiations after touring the Daimler Detroit Diesel Plant in Redford, Michigan, December 10, 2012.
But while the president was on the tour of the Redford engine plant, the clock continued to tick towards the end of the year and the so-called fiscal cliff. Obama again insisted that tax rates on the wealthiest Americans should be allowed to go up,
"What you need is a package that keeps taxes where they are for middle-class families," he said. "We make some tough spending cuts on things that we don't need, and then we ask the wealthiest Americans to pay a slightly higher tax rate. And that's a principle I won't compromise on."
He didn’t mention his meeting over the weekend with House Speaker John Boehner, choosing instead to focus the blame on Congress if taxes go up for everyone at the end of the year.
"If Congress doesn't act soon -- meaning in the next few weeks -- starting on Jan. 1, everybody's going to see their income taxes go up. It's true,” the president said. The audience loudly booed and the president responded, “You all don't like that.”
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he obaba!!!....butt out......this is a state's rights issue......go back to DC and try to be a leader....
hey!!!...does anyone know if obaba apologized to that korean rapper who rapped about killing americans?......obaba had this rapper PSY at the white house christmas party....this obaba is a total boob....
Campaigning again. One would think that Obama is planning to make another run for for a third term.
He's compared himself to Roosevelt who was elected to 4 terms in a time of crisis.
We got a debt crisis that he's in no hurry to resolve in the next four years.
Possible excuse for him to ask the American people to wave the 2 term limits so he can continue to fight the good fight over our tanking economy.
Wouldn't surprise me and it wouldn't surprise me if the people wave the two term liimts. After all, we've become a people that reward failure. Reelecting Obama to his second term is proof of that.
Oh Yea - Knucklehead.
Obama is a joke of a president. Those who voted for this simpleton got a cheerleader for the next 4 years. This guy is about as much a leader as Bozo the Clown, sorry Bozo. Someone tell him the election is over and unfortunately he won and get back to DC and start making beer or playing golf. Stop wasting taxpayers dollars.
You don't follow politics too closely do ya? Obama is in the process of beating the hell out of the GOP on just about every issue facing the country right now. The GOP (teabaggers) are in total free fall. The party is disintegrating. Obama is in complete control.
Or, as Lenin, Marx, Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot would have said: "Mission accomplished!"
No, that was Bush when he popped off prematurely on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
Oops, the Navy put up the banner; not Bush. So much for facts and history. I know you are never bothered or notice either.
It shouldn't be called a "right to work" law. It should be called a "right to freeload" law.
It is a right to work without the intervention of the unions. If you do not work you do not get paid and they can terminate you immediately.
Invisible, Hand,
Ok, explain your comment. It makes no sense.
Foreign companies like when we have unionized labor; it makes their native country more competitive.
The "right-to-work" has no effect on bargaining rights despite what President Obama says. A "right-to-work" gives an employee the choice of paying union dues.
Lastly, isn't the "right-to-work" law a state issue? President Obama seems to believe that gays rights is a state issue, but not heatlhcare, marriage, and immigration?
Nope, right to work is a national issue since it affects our national economy.
Sorry,
Germany is a union country; and it's labor workers enjoy the highest wages in the world.
Nice try to spin it.
Did you know that the BMW plant is SC has the company's lowest paid workers in the world...Good Job Nicki Haley on that accomplishment.
Each state can maker its own rules.
Why has Obama not made it possible for federal employee unions to collectively bargain? Uh oh. More hypocrisy from the left.
Well of course, he doesn't want people to have the right-to-work because he isn't creating any jobs.
4.5 million in the past 3 years. Boo Yah!
markinbecker
And manufacturing is down, AGAIN.
Long term problem that started way back in the 1970 when companies started moving to Mexico. There are ways to get manufacturing back but the GOP always stands in the way.
Don't the Democrats back the Unions which make labor more expensive?
Didn't DOL go after Boeing for relocating production in another STATE, which is right-to-work?
That is because Boeing did it to break the union, a clear violation of labor law.
There are ways to get manufacturing back but the GOP always stands in the way.
Tell that to Clinton....he signed NAFTA into law
He also signed the repealing of Glass- Steagle into effect in 1999 which deregulated the banks in such a way that investment banks could play with mortgage money. We saw how well that worked out in 2008. But it's ALL the Republicans fault always....pukey.
Yes Clinton signed it but it was started by Reagan and negotiated by GHW Bush.
History reflects: “U.S. President George H. W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Mexican President Carlos Salinas, each responsible for spearheading and promoting the agreement, ceremonially signed it on December 17, 1992.” And “Before the negotiations were finalized, Bill Clinton came into office in the U.S. and Kim Campbell in Canada, and before the agreement became law, Jean Chrétien had taken office in Canada.
NAFTA negotiations were started in 1986 under the direction of President Reagan.
NAFTA was signed by President George H. W. Bush in 1992 along with Canadian PM Mulroney and Mexican President Salinas. The need of Congressional approval was accomplished in 1993 and signed into law by President Clinton taking effect on 1/1/1994
Fewer Americans working than in 50 years. Real unemployment rate for the US is around 16%...and growing.
Yes Clinton signed it but it was started by Reagan and negotiated by GHW Bush.
Um you realize my point was things are both the parties fault and you helped me make it....Thank you.
Between Feisty Redhead, American Girl and Pigotry it's impossible to determine who is the biggest fool posting on this site. A three-way tie!
so, Obama is a union man - - - - fits; unions buy many dishonest politicians
But not Federal employee unions that have any power. Why is that?
Well, of course it will be Congress's fault. Either that or George W. Bush. This president never takes blame for anything. It's always someone else's fault. This jerk ought to stay in Washington where he belongs. Apparently he hasn't gotten the memo that the campaign is over.
How ironic that the Democrats can find so many imaginary rights to defend: the "right" to kill babies; the "right" to redefine marriage, the "right" for illegals to ignore our laws, etc....
But they won't support the very clear and basic rights of a worker to work and a business owner to hire and fire whom he pleases.
Classic thug-totalitarianism.
Meet my demands or my boys will wreck your business. --- Don Corleone
Meet our demands or my boys will wreck your business. ---Union Leaders
Thuggery can't masquerade as a "right" except in the mind of a modern Liberal.
Stick it in your ear 1/2 breed. Mind your own business.
You're likely a Mutt.
Here's why he supports unions:
Appearing Monday morning on CBS, Obama's jobs council head and the CEO of GE Jeffrey Immelt said that one thing that "actually works" is "state-run Communism" in China.
After host Charlie Rose brought up the "growth rate" of China falling from double digits to about eight percent, Immelt chimed in.
"Look, I think it's good for China," he said. "To a certain extent, Charlie, 11 to 12 percent is unsustainable. You end up getting too much stimulus or a misallocation of resources. They are much better off working on a more consumer-based economy, less dependent on exports, driving technology and innovation harder. Really, the one thing that actually works, state run communism may not be your cup of tea, but their government works."
"They get things done," Rose responded.
this 'right to work' is all well and good but as a former steelworker i have to say that in a union shop the union should have the right to not represent non members in any labor dispute and the scabs should have to negotiate their own wage and benefit package without any input or help from the union
as it stands now in a union shop the union is required to represent members and non members alike and the nonmembers get the same pay and benefit package. in essence if your a non member and get in trouble the union must represent you. so your actually stealing a service you havent paid for
"We should do everything we can to encourage companies like Daimler to keep investing in American workers," Obama said, "what we shouldn’t be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages and working conditions."
Okay NBC - you are supposed to be reporting this, so why don't you call BS on the President? The bill allows employees to opt out of paying union dues -- PERIOD.
I can't believe people listen to him and assume it must be true!
King 'Bama needs to keep his nose out of state politics. State gov't is our last defense against this dictator.
Willie, you're a goob... But I'm sure you've been told that before.
I have to agree with Chick here. Your post is sorely closed minded drivel.
Leave it to Barrack Hussein Obama to put his 2000 trillion cents worth in. He has to back the unions who support his bid for dictatorship. The facts are. (1) Every citizen has the right to decide whether or not he or she should have to be FORCED to join a union. (2) They also have the right not to be punished for not wanting to be controled by union thugs. (3) Everyone knows unions are controled by the Communist party. And don't tell me they aren't.
I was a union member for over 20 years and they were corrupt and useless to every member in it. When i retired in "good standing" i got nothing back after all the years of $90.00 per month dues and all the money "contributed" by my employer.
Every state should be a Right to Work State!
I for one don't care about the right to work I do care about our right to know . For example why don't our fool obama tell us why he let the CIA give wepons to libya when he knew this is illegal . Why did our fool obama give the order to stand down and not help the ambassador and three other service men and let them die in Bengazi obama is so inexperinced that he just stays on the stump faceing things he can talk about and the 47 % idiot welfare voter can't expect more from this lame fool we call president.
Well sneezer Almostiss and probe business sure seem to be fans of union-busting... Not surprising given their weak understanding of the history of corporate america.
A vote for union busting in any form, "right to werk" in this case, is a direct vote of confidence in the behavior of corporate america toward its workforce. What's the history there? They will behave themselves only so long as there is at least the threat of organization or so long as there is nearby organization to compare to. Failing that, they will regress into seeing their workers as a profit center and strip away all class bonds with them as in the past.
You posters here that fail miserably at the lessons of history and their cures deserve to be boot-lickers to those that already despise you. Your chosen lot in life... Just don't presume your talking down to anyone from that perpetually crouched position with your stale boot-leather breath....
Let those that are serfs enjoy being treated as such, just don't let them vote others into their ill-chosen fate. Expansion of the ignorant slave party is what the effort is ultimately about. Check history. The ignorant enslaved class can be "organized" (in order to maintain their "righ to work", to vote republican as necessary.
I have to disagree with most of your post. There are many government agencies for protecting workers rights and safety. This isn't the same country it was in the 1920's where factory owners could work people to death.
Much of the reasons for creating Unions in the first place have long since ceased to be relevant. Unions got us the 40 hour work week, paid time off and safer working conditions. Now they mostly try to squeeze both the worker and the company that they work for as much in Union dues as they can. To many Unions have become businesses on to themselves instead of workers organized to help their fellow workers. Look at the UAW, how many of its Union leaders have MBA's and how many of them have ever rolled up their sleeves and worked on a line?
Now this is subject that I disagree with Obama on. Iowa is a Right to Work state and it hasn't hurt us one bit. Also, I am not a big fan of Union strong arming and feel that people should not be denied a job because they do not wish to be part of a Union.
The lack of historical knowledge here is breathtaking. There are people that just have NO interest in pertinent information. Willfully giving away the farm without even understanding what it means.
What class do you imagine yourselves occupying? What class do you imagine your children and their children occupying?... If you can comprehend nothing else, at least know that the expansion of the serf class will coincide with the retraction in numbers of any class above it. Even though you are clearly math challenged, you should be able to understand that this fact diminishes the future prospects of your own lineage forever.
Some of you are so dim that if the republican party offered you smoke and mirror you'd just light up and admire yourselves.
Personally I think you are hysterical and twisting the past to make an argument that wouldn't otherwise be supported.
In this day and age we have things like OSHA to look out for worker safety and concerns. Back when Unions were badly needed we didn't and workers organizing to say that they weren't going to be abused anymore was the only option.
"If Congress doesn't act......."Whose the LEADER of Congress????? My fault, I thought the President was the LEADER of the NATION.....my bad....
As far as his support for Unions....they own him....amazing
Hard to believe that a President of these Unite States, could ever side with labor unions, which have, abetted by state laws like these, have literally forced generations of citizens to become union members, if they wanted to work in certain industries, and/or for certain companies. How did they ever get that power in the first place.
I lived through this crap back in the 60's where you couldn't get a job unless you were union, and you couldn't get a union membership unless you had a job. In other words, if you didn't have a family member already in the union, fat chance they would let you join. And, if they did have to let you join for whatever reason (they were forced), you would sit on that out of work list until you died of old age, because you'd never get sent out on a work call. Yeah, tell me all about how fair the unions have always been . . . BULL - SH-T!
JamVee, he sided with them (UNION's) for ONLY ONE REASON, they promised to vote for him, so now it's time to pay for those votes!
I think you are full of Bull - SH-T!!!!
What you say is not truthful!! You can work anywhere you want!!
COME ON!!!
Obama leads nothing. He could not even lead his own party for the first two years of his term when the Dems had the WH and both chambers of Congress.
So, Mr. Union President, why are not Federal employee unions able to bargain collectively for wages? Why have you not changed that which Jimmy Carter took away when he was the acting president? Hmmm?
Uh oh. How can the "Boy Blunder" be so much for unions that can collectively bargain but he does not allow Federal employee unions to do the same? Why is that!?
Can anyone answer? Go ahead, liberals. Give it a shot if you are not too busy receiving handouts.