LANSING, MI (WTVB) – 35th District Republican State Representative Andrew Fink voted against a pair of Democratic proposals in the State House on Wednesday.
Fink was in the minority as the House voted to repeal Michigan’s Right To Work law. The 2012 law gave workers the option of joining a union and paying dues instead of being mandated to do so.
He said, “The issue at hand has nothing to do with being pro- or anti-labor, like Democrats would like Michigan residents to believe. We should all be able to agree that no one should be forced to be a part of a union. The hard-working people in my district don’t like the idea of being forced into paying dues – they want to make that decision for themselves. But Democrats are sending a message that they do not care what workers think.”
The law which was adopted when Republicans were in the majority appears to be doomed with the Democrats now in charge. The legislation passed by the House is expected to approved by the Senate and signed by Governor Whitmer.
Fink also voted no as the House approved so-called universal background checks on a party line vote of 56-53.
The Detroit News reports the bill would require a criminal background check and registration for any firearm purchase. It would expand the requirements that are presently limited to handgun sales to also include rifles and shotguns.
Fink felt there were numerous enforcement concerns and unintended consequences that will fall on law-abiding gun-owners.
He said, “Common sense tells us that this law won’t impact criminals, who oftentimes don’t acquire guns legally, who it will impact is innocent gun-owners. Our current laws have not been properly enforced historically in Michigan, and that has had a devastating effect. It’s time to get tougher on crime and enforce these laws that are already in place to keep guns out of the hands of bad actors or keep those individuals off the streets entirely.”
That is not what common sense tells me