Highlights: National Right to Work Bill introduced by Jim DeMint, Pat Toomey, and others; Indications are that Scott Walker is caving; PA Gov taxes ax to state budget, education; MN Gov takes aim at collective bargaining for teachers; MI, OH, IN demonstrations heat up

All Around

GOP introduces anti-union bill
UPI.com
The National Right to Work Act was introduced by Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, and is cosponsored by Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Orrin Hatch of Utah, Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky, James Risch of Idaho, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and ...

Wisconsin

WI: E-mails reveal possible Walker concessions on union bill
Gov. Scott Walker's office released documents Tuesday showing he's willing to give on some points of his union bargaining bill to break the Capitol standoff and bring Senate Democrats back from Illinois.

Report: More Wisconsin GOPers wavering in support for Walker
Washington Post
Denny Rehberg, the GOP candidate for the Senate from Montana, ..... So, Daniels removing right to work in his budget was taking on the unions? ...

Walker blames Senate minority leader for ongoing budget stalemate

With calls for a compromise growing louder, Gov. Scott Walker on Monday pointed to a series of secret meetings with Democrats and placed the blame for the continued stalemate over his budget repair bill squarely on shoulders of Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller.

Walker blames unions for standoff

WAUKESHA, Wisc. -- Gov. Scott Walker blamed national labor organizers Monday evening for scuttling attempts at compromise with 14 Democratic senators who fled to Illinois to avoid a vote on a budget-repair bill that would take away most collective bargaining rights of public workers.

Pennsylvania

Toomey, other key Republicans back national right-to-work bill
Allentown Morning Call
The bill Toomey supports would create a national right-to-work law, which would aim to ensure union membership is not a condition of employment. Currently 22 states have right-to-work laws, but Pennsylvania does not. "American workers deserve the ...

Corbett's state budget plan cuts $866 million

Gov. Tom Corbett's announcement of his $27.3 billion spending plan sparked heated reactions from Democratic lawmakers, who vowed to fight to restore millions in state education funding, while Republicans said it was a "blueprint" for the direction they'd like to go.

Corbett's budget cuts basic aid to Pennsylvania public schools

For the first time in two decades, Pennsylvania public schools will see a drop in basic education aid, their primary source of money. Gov. Tom Corbett's 2010-11 budget proposes cuts that hit every school district in central Pennsylvania. Midstate districts would see spending cuts ranging from 7 percent to 10 percent.

Marcellus Shale the sweet spot in Gov. Corbett's budget

Marcellus Shale was the sweet spot in Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett's budget, and not in the way many expected.

PA: Corbett's budget -- No tax hike, lots of spending cuts
Gov. Corbett kept his word, at a cost. In unveiling his first budget Tuesday, Corbett stuck by his campaign pledge to not raise a single tax. At the same time, he called for layoffs, wages freezes, and some of the deepest cuts in recent history for public schools and colleges.

Ohio

OH: Forget the status quo, governor tells legislators
Gov. John Kasich used his first State of the State address yesterday to issue a final warning that widespread changes to Ohio's governing and spending practices are coming soon.

Protest to greet 'State of State'

Gov. John Kasich's first State of the State speech today will clash with thousands of Statehouse protesters who will urge the governor to abandon his efforts to weaken collective-bargaining power for public workers.

Backers of unions, tea party protest

Opponents of Senate Bill 5, which limits collective bargaining for public workers, held a rally at the Elks club on Freedom Road, while tea party supporters lined up across the street with signs supporting the bill.

Not So Fast: Ohio's Anti-Union SB 5 Has Several Hurdles to Clear
Firedoglake
A Tea Party group, the Ohio Liberty Council, sought a number of changes to the bill in the Senate, and are pushing for the same types of changes in the House. This includes essentially a “right-to-work” rider for public employees, so they can choose to ...

Letter: Nation's standard of living would decline without unions
Zanesville Times Recorder
This is just the beginning of a right-to-work state. I've yet to meet someone who has benefited from working in a right-to-work state. You are not better off. Good jobs just become harder to find. Once SB 5 passes, there will be no end to the trend of ...

Michigan

Unions protest upcoming Michigan Senate vote, warn further protests if more ...
MLive.com
Rick Snyder has said repeatedly he's not about to call for an end to collective bargaining or champion a so-called “Right to Work” initiative, labor leaders remain wary. “Through our right to collective bargaining with our local elected officials, ...

Emergency Financial Manager bill on the verge of passage
Michigan Messenger
He points to public statements that he does not believe Right to Work is a priority for his administration, but then says he would sign it if it makes it to his desk. On the one hand, Gaffney points out, Snyder says he wants to work with unions, ...

MI: Boisterous protesters jam-pack state Capitol in Michigan
It was a show of force rarely seen in Lansing as hundreds of union supporters filled the Capitol rotunda and halls Tuesday morning, chanting so loudly that some had to be gaveled to quiet down in the Senate chamber.

Rally today to protest bills that could nullify unions

Unions and local officials are stepping up protests of bills to give emergency financial managers appointed by the state broader powers over financially troubled cities and schools -- including nullifying union contracts.

Labor leaders to protest bills up for Senate vote

The state Senate is poised to vote today on bills that would give broad powers to emergency financial managers, and protesters are expected to lodge their opposition in a rally outside the Capitol.

Indiana

Mardi Gras-style funeral held for middle class
Fox 59
The event was meant to honor the life and legacy of middle class Hoosiers as lawmakers continue to fight over union and right to work issues. By News Staff Fox59 A New Orleans-style funeral procession made its way through the Indiana Statehouse Tuesday

Indiana House impasse shows no sign of breaking
Louisville Courier-Journal
Those include the so-called “right to work” bill that bans companies and unions from negotiating a contract that imposes fees on non-members; a bill banning any state or federal funding from going to Planned Parenthood; and some education and ...

Democrats say timeout time well spent
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
He has been fielding questions – from the public, from new Republicans, from business partners – about what right-to-work legislation would mean for Hoosiers, Eckert said. He believes the Democrats have strong support in northeast Indiana.

House Democrats have the harder case to make
News Sentinel
The main reason they bolted – a controversial right-to-work bill – is dead for the session. Are Democrats now just focused on stopping education reform and collective- bargaining limits, or are they trying to kill the whole GOP agenda they couldn't ...

Minnesota

Minn. GOP takes aim at teachers' bargaining power

As state lawmakers struggle to right Minnesota's finances this year, they're increasingly heading back to school -- specifically, to the people that work there.

Tennessee

Bargaining focus of debate
Marshall County Tribune
"I'm thankful in Tennessee that we have the right to work so that teachers have the right to participate or not" regarding membership in a local education association. Asked about local teachers negotiating contracts with county school board

New Hampshire

NH Senate weighs requiring voters to have photo ID

A Senate committee is considering a bill that would require New Hampshire citizens to present photo identification to vote in person.