Michigan GOP’s new motto: “(Over)react first, get the facts later”
Last March, Michigan Republicans announced that they were going to essentially fine Michigan State University a half million dollars for having the audacity to provide courses that were, in their words, “encouraging labor disputes”.
As it turns out, that wasn’t the case at all. The courses were not open to undergraduates or graduates but only to “groups hoping to learn more about union organizing”.
Now that the Republicans have gotten the full story, they have decided not to fine one of our state’s finest institutions of higher learning after all:
“As we’ve made the rounds and talked to a number of members, I think as we give them all information, I think there’s fewer concerns than were originally raised,” said David Bertram, MSU’s assistant vice president for state affairs.Bertram says no taxpayer money is used to support the program.
“As a matter of fact, we actually make a small profit off of this that goes into the graduate program at our school of human resources and labor relations,” he said.
Apparently Michigan Republicans don’t feel the need to educate themselves with all of the facts before (over)reacting in a completely over-the-top and inappropriate manner. All it takes is a whiff of labor support and they are ready to come crashing down on it with their full wrath.
It’s a disgusting but revealing moment in our state. What we’re seeing here is the Michigan GOP in its purest, rawest form: anti-labor corporatists ready to do the bidding of their wealthy benefactors at a moment’s notice, facts be damned.
