AWFUL! Former MO GOP State Leader Defects – Joins AFL-CIO in Battle Against “Right to Work” Drive

24 states have ‘right to work’ laws today.

Left-leaning Michigan became the latest state to pass right-to-work laws in December 2012.
right to work mo

But, not Missouri.
Despite having a veto proof supermajority – Missouri deadbeat Republicans have no intention or plan to pass right to work laws this year.
That is a disgrace.

And, then there’s this…
Former Missouri Republican Speaker of the House is going to join forces with the AFL-CIO to make sure Missouri remains beholden to the unions.
The PoliticMo reported:

After opposing efforts to move a ‘right-to-work’ bill in the legislature while serving as Speaker of the House, Steven Tilley is back at it again – this time, joining the AFL-CIO as a lobbyist as it revs up for a potentially big fight over the issue.

Tilley, who started his lobbying firm soon after leaving the House in 2012, was retained by the labor organization along with powerful Jefferson City lobbyist John Bardgett and Danny Pfeifer’s Catalyst.

“The Missouri AFL-CIO has always enjoyed a good working relationship with Steve Tilley, from his time on the House floor to his service as Speaker of the House,” said Mike Louis, Missouri AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer. “His willingness to support Missouri’s working families and look for bipartisan solutions to create jobs in our state has earned our respect. Now we look forward to looking forward with Steve and his team. It is time for our this legislature to start focusing their attention on real priorities like job creation instead of unnecessary and unfair ‘right to work’ bills.”

Even as a Republican Speaker of the House, Tilley was hesitant to touch the controversial policy. In an interview at the time, he called it “divisive,” and said he would have rather focused his efforts on economic development legislation that drew consensus from both the labor and business community.

In a brief statement on Wednesday, Tilley echoed that sentiment when asked what his case will be to undecided Republican lawmakers.

“There are so many things we can do for this state to make it a better place to work and live, that both labor and business can agree on,” he said. “There is no reason to start that discussion with the most divisive issue possible.”

Tilley and Bardgett are part of a nine member lobbying team employed by the Missouri AFL-CIO as the fight begins to ramp up. Adoption of a ‘right-to-work’ law – which would ban payment of union dues or similar fees as a condition of employment – has become the chief priority of Tilley’s successor, House Speaker Tim Jones. Bills are making their way through committee and Jones expects to get it to the floor early in session.

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Jim Hoft is the founder and editor of The Gateway Pundit, one of the top conservative news outlets in America. Jim was awarded the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award in 2013 and is the proud recipient of the Breitbart Award for Excellence in Online Journalism from the Americans for Prosperity Foundation in May 2016. In 2023, The Gateway Pundit received the Most Trusted Print Media Award at the American Liberty Awards.

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Thanks for sharing!