dick devos who ran against me for governor in 2006. he's a billionaire. he's the heir to the amway fortune. what role is he playing in the attempt to cripple the unions? >> well, there's evidence that suggests that devos family has been planning this for over a decade. there's been a video circulating today showing he's been planning what happened in michigan since 2007, they've been working on an ambush plan to push right to work. they considered putting it on the ballot but instead they decided to focus their money on state legislative races, on the governor's race and we're seeing the fruition of that today. >> jennifer: we're also seeing -- it is interesting that the bill itself actually mirrored the bills that alec put out and alec, of course is funded by some others including the koch brothers who also fund americans for prosperity. i want to play a sound byte from the executive director of this koch brothers funded group americanss to prosperity. take a listen. his name is scott hagger strom. >> like any organization, unions want to grow and get la

. >> but i heard that one of the entities also funding this in addition to the bill yon air, dick devos is bill i don't believeair koch brothers with americans for prosperity are they one of the players? >> they are. they have a big tent out there. the other day they had 23 people come in a bus, about 30 or 40 total people. this is not -- the general public does not want michigan to go right to work. one of the things we said we attempted many ways to avoid it, to find a path to work. >> that's what the american public has said clearly in this last election they are tired of partisanship polarization. so we made an outreach. to the governor's credit we had meetings. they know when it came time to made make the leadership decision to say, okay, we can do more working together than dividing. i think he wanted to do it but, you know leadershipwise we have seen this happy happen over and over again. when the right-wing puts a bill up endings dues deductions limiting public bargaining rights lessening healthcare, lessening pensions the governor signs it. it's not on his agenda. >> he has to

instead, he is allowing these outside groups like alec and other insiders like dick devos, very richorporate ceo types. and they're not going to be successful in beating back workers. we're going to show that it's actually energizing our base. and people are saying that they're angry about it. >> what was the name you put out? what was his name? dick what? >> dick devos. >> that's the amway guy. >> yep, that's right. >> and governor snyder seems to have -- seems to pay more attention to him than he does the citizens of the state. and that's very unfortunate. >> moving forward here, the only option you have here is 2014. congressman, in some way could this really solidify democrats going into a midterm where they're going to be needed? >> i think it will. it's going to energize people who understand that we had a governor who said that he was about bringing people together, and instead he is driving a major wedge in our state. at a time when our economy is roving as a result of the auto industry recovering, and all the work that president obama has done. at a time when our economy is

they defeated a collective bargaining constitutional amendment but dick devos billionaire from -- runs the amway corporation, they won but they were also the ones that have been consistently attacking organized labor. they were behind this effort and they completely mischaracterized this as the ability for workers to decide whether to belong in a union or not. it gives workers now a chance to free ride or free load and receive all of those benefits from collective bargaining without paying for them. >> eliot: which means long-term -- that's right. this creates a free lord problem. we'll discuss that more later in the show which means long-term the union will lose its capacity to negotiate. you made a hugely important point, mark. the wage increase negotiated by unions extend out, radiate all to all workers in the economy. because they create a floor beneath which employers know they have to pay the floor to get good workers. explain that because people need to understand the benefits go to even nonunion members. >> well, that's right. michigan built the middle class. that was through t

. >> dick devos and extreme right wing control what's going on in the state. and the koch brothers, americans for prosperity all pushing for the legislation, threatening the governor, threatening different representatives. they were threatened that they would have a primary challenge from the tea party. >> threats, intimidation. on democratic moves. right now michigan is the center of the right wing attack on workers rights and we must fight it. joining me now is democratic congressman from michigan gary peters. he met with governor snyder yesterday. and from lansing, michigan, state senator gretchen witmer, and the reverend charles williams. president of the michigan chapter of the national action network and senior pastor of the historic king solomon baptist church in detroit. thank you, all three for joining me tonight. >> great to be with you. >> thank you. >> congressman peters, let me start with you. the governor snyder has signed this bill. now, what's the next step? >> this is absolutely outrageous. what we've seen in the last hours. compete about face

>> dick devos. >> that's the amway guy. >> yep, that's right. >> and governor snyder seems to have --ms to pay more attention to him than he does the citizens of the state. and that's very unfortunate. >> moving forward here, the only option you have here is 2014. congressman, in some way could this really solidify democrats going into a midterm where they're going to be needed? >> i think it will. it's going to energize people who understand that we had a governor who said that he was about bringing people together, and instead he is driving a major wedge in our state. at a time when our economy is roving as a result of the auto industry recovering, and all the work that president obama has done. at a time when our economy is coming back. instead of bringing people together, he is driving a wedge between people. this is energizing people. it's an emotional issue. and i believe that people are going to turn out and make sure that their voices are heard. in fact we expect to see that tomorrow on the grounds of the state capitol when thousands of people have their voice heard. i just ho