The GOP in Indiana, by pushing its goal of making Indiana a right-to-work state, is bad for all working Hoosiers. That is, unless you are in favor of the right to work for less money.

As a whole, union labor comprises less than 7 percent of the workforce, and this legislation is supposedly aimed at helping a small minority of union members become “freeloaders.” These freeloaders would like to receive all the benefits, wages and other compensations achieved by union-negotiated collective bargaining agreements with companies. Union members, by belonging to the union and paying dues, are responsible for compensating the union bargaining team for the time when the team members lost work on account of attending the bargaining sessions. Why should the freeloaders benefit from the actions of others, whom they don’t support? They should not!

While unions traditionally support Democrats, the Republicans are supported by the wealthy (who are looking to get wealthier) and big business. That may explain why the GOP has slated this right-to-work vote at the beginning of this session, instead of getting the many more important issues done first. Committee rules are being violated routinely, in this all-out effort to repay big business for its longtime support. The GOP legislators are not truly interested in doing the work for us Hoosiers as much as they should be. They are more interested in paying off their political IOUs that big business is calling due! If the GOP would reschedule the right-to-work debate to the end of the session, instead of the beginning, it would signal that they truly want to get the people’s work done. They don’t! It is all posturing!

Years ago, Gov. Mitch Daniels mandated that Indiana be brought into daylight-saving time by proclaiming that “the money will just flow into the state if we do.” He was wrong then and is wrong now! Diapers and politicians both need to be changed often – both for the same reason.

KENDALL N. SMITH

Kendallville