michigan. protestors fighting for the very existence of the unions that built that state. that built the middle class. that built this amazing country. someone, please tell me what are we becoming? >> jennifer: tonight we're going to go straight to the state of michigan where more than 10,000 protestors descended on lansing, the capitol to raise their voices against harsh new anti-labor laws. >> right to work has got to go! >> he wants to turn us around make $10 an hour, what are we going to do for our families? >> jennifer: preach it, sir. despite the uproar outside the capitol, inside it, the republican-led legislature still passed right-to-work legislation today. that legislation would muzzle the union voice in michigan by taking away the requirement that everyone who's in a union shop should pay union dues. you might ask why is that a big deal. well if not everyone's required to pay you're going to have people who enjoy the advantages of a union better pay and better benefits environment but who don't contribute to the union's survival at all. this only works if we're a

home of the powerful auto unions is suffer the same fate michigan is the fifth most unionized state in the nation with nearly one third of all voters living in unionized households but michigan's organized labor community was outmatched or at least caught off guard by a corporatist sneak attack led by dick vos and the koch brothers last week they forced republican governor rick snyder to renege on earlier promises turn his back on working people and throw support behind michigan becoming the twenty fourth right to work for less state in the united states now workers in michigan can expect the lower wages minimal benefits and more deadly workplace accidents that always accompany right to work for less laws wherever they may spring up and labor unions in the state will watch helplessly as critical revenue dries up in organizations fracture under the weight of union freeloaders who have who now have the choice to not pay their union dues even though they benefit from being in a union the koch's strategy can be summed up in one sentence this can happen

michigan? this is the bluest state we get. union movement has deep roots a deep history. what explains the dynamic that suddenly a right-to-work law a label i reject, how could this law pass in michigan? >> the irony is yesterday chrysler announced $120 million investment in michigan. 115 new jobs. michigan has helped lead the economic comeback for this country in part because of historic collective bargaining agreements between the detroit three and the united autoworkers. we have a labor management partnership that works. this, as you said was about politics. it was about gutting organized labor and the irony is i work for a labor management fund connected with a laborer's union and we invest almost $5 million a year in apprenticeship and training programs. we operate skilled workers to build complicated infrastructure projects like the governor wants to build in this state. so it will make michigan less competitive. it puts us in a race to the bottom with low-wage, low-skill states, that's bad for our state. >> eliot: tim, you were one of the leaders in the legislature.

how are michigan's union members takintaking this news? >> prounion protesters are swarming the capital building in lancing. >> hey, hey, ho, ho, right to work has got to go. >> union busting is disgusting! (laughter). >> jon: dude, you're from michigan, detroit, "8 mile." you've got to come up with better rhymes that busting-disgusting if you want to win the khraoe climactic rap. you have to put effort into it. (laughter) (cheers and applause) look, you have one job at one factory, when you seize every benefit you could, yo, our palms are sweaty, knees week, arms heavy, working in a factory all day building chevys, like the volt, you plug it in, and then you win -- ecologically, because if it was an actual race you would not -- actually. you've got to dues collect for the unions oro bahts are going to come and take away our jobs or to the chinese kids with the tiny hands to work and go -- ♪ this of ha tunety comes once in a lifetime note? note yo! (cheers and applause) you know what i realized? if i perform my hoff-torah a as bad as that i

>> well, i don't think it will weaken unions in michigan at all. tually make unions stronger. this is why. because what right to work does is it injects free market principles or competition into the union marketplace. and now unions are going to have to, instead of taking workers for granted, because, remember, in michigan, a force unionism state, the union officials don't have to work very hard for their members because they know that members are forced as a condition of employment to continue to financially support them. however, in a right to work state, all of a sudden unions have to reinvent themselves and become much more service and product oriented and take care of their members. so in the long run, what right to work really does is it strengthens unions out of necessity. >> it is a perspective we had yet to hear today. terry bowman, thank you. >>> coming up next, what will the world look like in 2030? 18 years from now. one report has some pretty interesting predicts about one about the american economy. ali velshi, business news, it matte

the bills weaken unions in michigan by making it so that workers do not have to pay for union representation. even before the bills passed you did not have to join a bill in michigan. even if there was a union job, you didn't have to be part of it. you only had to pay your share of the cost of the union representing you. what michigan republicans approved today is a new rule that says you do not have to pay even if you are being represented. you get the perks of membership, the higher wages, the higher benefits without contributing anything. you can be a free rider. yesterday michigan's entire democratic congressional delegation met with governor snyder and asked him to please slow the process down, to stop the bills, or at least send them out for referendum. let the people have a say. president obama had a word with governor snyder at the airport in detroit yesterday. we don't know what they said. but later that day, president obama gave a speech about the economy and the middle class in which he came out strongly against a republican plan to weaken michigan's unions. >> what we shouldn't b

it will make michigan a right to work state. >> there you have it. hundreds of union responding to michigan's republican controlled legislature's push to make michigan the 24th right to work state. the vote takes place tuesday. governor snyder is now backing the plan. >> this is solely focused on their relationship. shouldn't the the opportunity to say they want to be long or not. second piece is this will be good for economic development for more p and better jobs coming to michigan. >> the union workers agree with the governor they argue michigan was built on unions. they claim the gop majority state legislature is making an attack on the middle class. >> on tuesday it's important because they are going to try to reconcile the bills. the governor who said he didn't want the legislation now says he is going to sign it. so it's an attack on working families and we are going to be there and not stand for it. >> they are still standing for it because over the weekend union organizers continue to prepare their numbers for take to go the streets this week staging demonstr

union. a historic moment in the state of michigan. the sights and sounds of what is happening there on the ground right now. >> we will lose our union power, what little we have of those here in our state and wages will go down, benefits will go down, it's going to hurt small business, local business, it's just going to hurt michigan. martha: those are the concerns of the folks outside the capitol there. as you know the governor feels very differently about what the impact will be on the economy in michigan. we will take a quick break and be right back with breaking news. gregg: we'll also tell you about this super secret space plain. look a plane. look at that. ready for liftoff. where exactly is it going? we'll tell you. anncr: some politicians seem to think medicare and... social security are just numbers in a budget. well, we worked hard for those benefits. we earned them. and if washington tries to cram decisions about the future... of these programs into a last minute budget deal... we'll all pay the price. aarp is fighting to p

and as union membership has gone down, so has middle class income. so if anything, michigan's new right-to-work law will hurt economic development. governor snyder also says the law was all about the workers. really? he is concerned about the workers. that too is a lie. all the unions are saying is this, if you are going to be a union member, you are going to be expected to pay dues. you know, you're going to be not required to be a part of the union. that's another thing that is out there. they're saying well, gosh, you have to join the union. no, you don't. that would be against the law. it would be like if you go play nine holes of golf and you have the choice of paying the fee or just playing for free, what are you going to do? hey charlie, let's play the front 9 for free. you're going to take the free deal, right? what this legislation really does is give workers the chance to get all the benefits of collective bargaining without paying dues like everybody else who has decided to pay dues. and if you want to know what was really going on in washington -- in the state of m

michigan represents unions. about the economy. the economy is lousy. president promised shovel-ready jobs, and guess what, you got solyndra. what is fascinating about this, union leadership still blames republicans and conservatives, fox news when their real problem clearly is the fact that president obama basically with his stimulus package and this economy has sold them out. >> the violent actions are either in the minority or not. you basically all said that they are. therefore, it is the exception. when someone loses a political fight they protest. that is great thing about democracy. throwing into solyndra in there. here is where you are wrong. let me explain. >> this is the sin of obama economics it was supposed to go to shovel-ready jobs and men and women would partake in. it was handed to states so they could keep their pension funds flush and finance things like solyndra. even the president joked about there was no shovel-ready jobs. the labor movement should be mad at the president, not at republicans

michigan represents unions.he fact that that state turned.... >> their worry should be about the economy. the economy is lousy. president promised shovel-ready jobs, and guess what, you got solyndra. what is fascinating about this, union leadership still blames republicans and conservatives, fox news when their real problem clearly is the fact that president obama basically with his stimulus package and this economy has sold them out. >> the violent actions are either in the minority or not. you basically all said that they are. therefore, it is the exception. when someone loses a political fight they protest. that is great thing about democracy. throwing into solyndra in there. here is where you are wrong. let me explain. >> this is the sin of obama economics it was supposed to go to shovel-ready jobs and men and women would partake in. it was handed to states so they could keep their pension funds flh and finance things like solyndra. even the president joked about there was no shovel-ready jobs. the labor mov

unions here can make workers join and pay dues. michiganng in the opposite direction, less than two hours ago the house passed right to work legislation, affecting public sector workers they passed it 58-51. representatives had already ok'd second bill focusing on private sector employees the senate approved both last week. with thousands circling outside the capitol in lansing, and another 2,000 plus inside, the michigan house has approved the second of two contentious right to work bills that weaken union power in the pro labor state. worker reaction was swift and angry. >> getting lied to, with we done like it. >> reporter: if and when legislation clears the governor's desk, michigan will be the 24th right to work state that means nonunion employs won't be forced to pay unions for services. backers say it will bring more jobs to michigan and give workers free some. >> they can still belong to a union. it is a win-win for everybody. >> reporter: the president of the uaw says even though the protest fell on deaf ears voices will be heard i

>> reporter: union members from across michigan and other states voiced their anger at the michigan capital. mike huerta has been a member of the united auto workers union since 1997. >> no one wants this in this state. this state is where the birthplace of the united auto workers is, this place is where unions built the middle-class. >> reporter: but republican governor rick snyder insists the legislation will help workers by not forcing them to join unions or pay dues. >> if they don't see value in the union in terms of its activities, should they be forced to pay financial resources for that? i don't believe so. give them choice. >> reporter: the governor and republican lawmakers argue the legislation will attract businesses and keep jobs in michigan. union members argue it will result in lower wages. clear evidence for either argument is inconclusive. workers in right-to-work states do earn $300 more than their counterparts in non-right to work states according to data collected by a group arguing for right to work. but five of the 11 sates with the highest unemployment have right-to-wo

all means, but to make it mandatory, that seems a bit harsh. >> neil: but the unions are spinning it the other way in michigancharles, what do you ke of that? >> and ben makes the great point. the unions feel like their back has been against the walls and have for a number of years. in michigan, this is the way we can be competitive. liste everyone talks about the great comeback in detroit in the auto sector, that's a mirage. michigan's in trouble, detroit is in trouble and this is how they compete on the national scale, ultimately, a global scale. >> neil: dagen? >> versignificant that this is happening and by the way, this is just the right to not have toay union dues i you don't want to belong to a union first and foremost. >> neil: and you got that. >> very significant that it's happening in the birthplace of the u.a.w. it could spread across the midwest if this gains momentum and if you look back. >> by the way those are not sunglass. >> i'm sorry. >> and what is he doing? > and i think he's a union buster. >> he's not nothing, not shouting. >> not him. >> and exactly. >>ut if you look back on the last d

(chanting 'union) union members invade the michigan state house in lansing. republican dominated legislature passes laws stripping unions of their power to require michigan's governor quickly signed the legislation. his state is now the 24th to adopt what are calledhere in california, if your workplace is unionized, you can't opt out of joining the union. you can't keep your job without paying dues. but in more than 20 other states, there is no such requirement and what's significant is the others are not heavily industrialized. michigan has plenty of unionized. >> there are 58 aye votes, and 51 nay votes" >> michigan's new "right-to- work" bill has created a firestorm -- both within the state and across the country. >> "we are, unions! we are, unions!" state police used pepper spray when demonstrators flooded the grounds of the state capitol in lansing. inside, backers of the bill say they are only trying to employers >> with this legislation workers will now be freed to make their choice. it is time that we restored the workplace of michigan. teamsters head

union. it's playing out moment by moment in michigan today. one of the most heavily unionized states in america. that state is on the verge of passing something called a right to work law that would make it illegal to force anyone to join a union or pay union dues if they want to take the job. you've got live pictures here in front of you from the state capitol in michigan. that's lansing. thousands of protesters, none too happy with those challenging this law. more than 600,000 michigan workers are part of a union. they belong. and if you do the math with the population, that works out to nearly 18% of the state's workforce. much higher than the national percentage as well. our alison kosik has been story all morning long and the noise level as well as the number of people seems to be growing. >> reporter: that's right. you know, as the day has progressed, you know, there's well over, i would say, 2,000 people out here. that is short, though, of the 1,000 that was expected. inside the capitol, though, there's a lot going on. for one, the vote.

melissa: union anger explodes in michigan. the state passes right-to-work laws, dealing a huge punch to union power. but they are not going down without a fight. the economic fault lines could spread across the country. also, "money" tonight, a crash for gas prices. they are tumbling across the u.s. it's an early christmas gift for drivers but we'll tell you if the relief will last through the new year. >>> pepsi is crazy in love with beyonce. the music icon inks a $50 million deal to pitch its products. can she really make you stop drinking coke though? i say pepsi just got hosed. but a top marketing expert is here to disagree with me. even when they say it's not it is always about money melissa: firss, let's look at the day's market headlines of the leave it to congress to suck the air out of a good thing. stocks soared in early trading on hopes of a deal on the fiscal cliff. but a parade of speeches by congressional leaders this afternoon dump ad whole lot of water on the rally. stocks pared back from session highs. dow clos

union dues. what does the legislation in michigan say about state collection of union dues? municipal workers? her in michigan, a law that prohibits deuce check off but that is for teachers. what this would do and unlike wisconsin is the supplies to the private sector and the government sector unions and says not only that the state is not going to do the check off but workers can choose whether they want to pay the union period. in the soon-to-be 26 forced unionism or non right to work state a union can actually get a worker fired for not paying them. stuart: why is michigan doing this? i am told it is because neighboring indiana became right to work and attracted a whole bunch of jobs and michigan is jealous so they want to fall in line. is that the reasoning? >> right to work has been kicked around in michigan for decades. when indiana went right to work michigan took a look at that and said right to work states have lower unemployment, bigger population growth, bigger wage growth and when you factor in cost of living they have higher wages. we have to do something to compete because our nei

lou: a union demonstration turned violent. michigan state pro worker law cutting in to union dues.nions don't like it. one of their state legislative supporters says, there will be blood. we will show you why the unions are so angry in tonight's "chalk talk." demonstrations swell in egypt. atrocities mounted in syria. afghani troops are woefully unprepared. national security experts clifford may and frank gaffney to assess the obama foreign-policy next. ♪ the boys use capital one venture miles for their annual football trip. that's double miles you can actually use. tragically, their ddy got sacked by blackouts. but it's our tradition! that's roughing the card holder. but with the capital one venture card you get double miles you can actually use. [ cheering ] any flight, anytime. the scoreboard doesn't lie. what's in your wallet? hut! i have me on my fantasy team. at legalzoom, we've created a better place to handle your legal needs. maybe you havquestis about incorporating a business you'd like to start. or questions about protecting your family with a will or living trust. and y

it looks like in michigan, you're going to have unions organizing to, number one, combat the way the gh. but, also, to go after those politicians that voted for it. >> congressman, not only in michigan, this year, you saw a lot of people despite some very clear voter suppression strategies come out even though they cut some of the early voting in half, even some states had photo id, came out anyway, stood in line and turned it around. some nonpartisan groups did the sa same and had people make their own choice. will we see this happen around the country with the midterm elections now becoming a new point of organizing and people come out in a surprising number. you have in 2014 what you have in governor wisconsin, pennsylvania and, scott, in florida. it could be a very decisive year if people do what they don't always do. and that's come out during the midterm election year. >> we've seen the right wing's play book. we've seen governor snyder's true colors. i warned -- i predicted to organize labor that if we failed to amend our constitution, to preblgt for right to work and other att

michigan. it was not always a democrats versus republican thing. the specific union rights that rick snyder and the republicans in the legislature seem to be about to strip in that state were enshrined in michigan law in the first place by this guy, former michigan governor george romney, father of mitt romney, revered republican figure, and frankly, revered figure in michigan state politics. governor rick snyder's office is in a building called the george w. romney building. they hold him in high regard there. congressman sander levin recounted the story today at the "washington post" of how union rights were enshrined by governor romney. congressman levin met with governor romney in the 1960s when mr. levin was a state senator. he says, quote, we sat there for an hour. the governor was in a rocking chair with his blue sweater. and he said, well, i think we have resolved all the issues. let's proceed. the two pieces of legislation that governor romney and democrats in the legislature passed in 1965 marked a major step forward, major step forward for labor relations,

union jobs. we're seeing high-paying jobs come to michigan without a union.ecade, we've suffered a lot being a not right-to-work in terms of personal income, not just that reason but many reasons. we dropped from 16th from 36th in terms of per capita income. we've started to come back now. i believe giving workers choice, you look at the results in indiana, they have more and better jobs coming to indiana today than they had before, and i think we'll see that same phenomenon in michigan. >> governor rick snyder, we appreciate you coming on. we know you're in the middle of a tough political battle up there, but it's very important for our viewers to hear what's going on on both sides. it's very important for me because, well, i don't like being alone all the time. thanks a lot, governor, for being here. look forward to seeing you soon. it is really a great challenge. it is a great challenge moving forward, especially, you know, michigan, mike, the state of all states to look at, once the fourth largest city in america, detroit. >> detroit, yeah. >> once the we

michigan union fighting a new crackdown.le saying they will still get shut down. ♪ the boys use capital one venture miles for their annual football trip. that's double miles u can actually use. tragically, their ddy got sacked by blackouts. but it's our tradition! that's roughing the card holder. t with the capital one venture card you get double miles you can actually use. [ cheering ] any flight, anytime. the oreboard doesn't lie. what's in urallet? hut! i have me on my fantasy team. ♪ neil: well, signed to a sealed, but still not delivered. days after michigan's governor sign that right to work bill, different groups already filing lawsuits to block it. lots more are expected. the folks trying to block the law to have a case. they disagree. explain to me why they might have a case. >> to very important reasons. first, there is a due process issue about how this came into place. there was no notice. they actually closed down the state house. it was done in secret. whenever something is done in secret, people have something

the history of unions have been strong in michigan and they did a lot of good things in terms of working conditions and work issues and people wanted to join unions. but today shouldn't we give workers the choice and give them the opportunity do they want to belong to a union or not? i don't view it as anti-union. they are more proactive to presenting it to workers and say they should want to join it be part of it. this is first and foremost about worker choice. and second thing it is about economic development. we've watched what has gone on in indiana since they passed similar legislation and they have seen a significant increase in the numbers of companies talking about thousands of jobs to their state. first about workers choice but more about more and better jobs for our people. it's positive legislation for the state. >> it was not parts of your original aany da and it's being done in the lame duck. i suppose that's an issue that -- that the people are asking for, why wasn't it part of your original agenda and why did you wait for the lame duck? >> if you think about it, over 80% o

the shareholders, actually no, the unions we will talk to, the unions are taking to the streets in a large number in michigans set to pass legislation making it a right to work state. union membership no longer required. cheryl: jeff flock with more. you have amazing pictures coming out of there today. >> hard to believe it would happen in this state, but it is a very different scene from the one in wisconsin. take a look at the scene out here. if you remember what it looks like in wisconsin, that was a different piece of legislation. not as big of a crowd. the atmosphere has really changed, and i will tell you why. i have a union man here. he supports right to work. what are you thinking to support the right to work? >> what the union bosses are not on the membership are collective bargaining is not at risk. right to work does not affect collective bargaining at all, that is protected by federal law. they're giving bad information and so they are afraid, they're scared, they are angry, and that is why they'r they are acting ly are today. speaker you don't want to be required to join a union, but you told me

sports what's happening on the union side sports the workers and the labor movement in michigan, bob king president of the uaw, thanks for coming inside the war room. coming up tea party ringleader jim demint is leaving the senate. if you are a woman, a minority a teacher, a union member or a homosexual, not to worry, he is still going to kick you around. it's just going to be with a different set of boots. plus, we are going to go to doha qatar, talks on climate change to see who has more pull elected leaders around the world and, yes, our favorite: the cope koch brothers. later fielding blue and couldn't be happier. a bit of good news. the face of america is changing and the country's electoral map is changing along with it. it's a thursday night in the rhyme "the war [ music ] >> big news out of washington today as jim demint the informal leader of the senate tea party caucus announced his resignation. he is going to step down and into the director's chair at the conservative think tank the heritage foundation. that position not only allows him to shape the conservative agenda from

unions. last month in michigan, voters rejected a referendum that would have made this unconstitutional. e could also make unions in the private sector obsolete. if the law passes, union supporters are convinced pay and benefits could take a big hit. the later bureau of labor statistics for 2011 put the immedia median salary for full time union workers at about $940 a week. compared to about $730 a week for nonunion workers. the head of the united auto workers in michigan, not happy. >> data and the facts from all of the right to work states show that it's right to work for less. >> in michigan, 17.5% of the workforce is unionized. one of the highest of any state. >> all right, susan, so supporters including republicans, led by gop governor rick schneider, they think the bill is going to wind up boosting the economy there, not hurt it and that's the whole point of this law, right? >> exactly. the governor and others insist that right to work laws will save jobs and in fact, bring more work to michigan and even increase salaries by not forces union dues on workers. here's michigan's govern

michigan the home of the powerful auto unions could become a right to work state. ed to sign a new law tomorrow, right to work, michigan, 24th state. unions have been protesting and bigger demonstrations are planned. listen to this: stuart: got pretty noisy. all right, all rise, judge andrew napolitano is here. judge, welcome back. >> thank you, stuart. stuart: now i think -- if a state becomes right to work, essentially that means that a union may not force its members to contribute dues. union membership becomes voluntary. am i right? >> well i would state it slightly differently, but we end up at the same point. in a right to work state, the state does not force people to join unions. stuart: okay. >> in a nonright to work state, it is a law that you join or contribute to the unions. so if you choose not to join, your employer is required to deduct from your salary the dues for the union and remit it to the union, whether you physically join, sign up the papers and attend union functions or not. stuart: outrageous. >> it is outrageous. that's because the unions h