The Republican-led Michigan House of Representatives is considering legislation that would prohibit public employees, such as teachers, from sending a political message using a publicly-owned email service.
Violating the law would result in a $10,000 fine for an organization, and a $1,000 fine and one-year imprisonment for an individual.
The House Oversight, Reform and Ethics Committee adopted the bill, HB 4052, by a 4 to 2 vote along party lines last week. It was first introduced by Republican state Rep. Al Pscholka in January, shortly after he was sworn in to his first term in service to the 79th House District.
The Michigan Education Association, a union representing the state's teachers, said the bill was "political payback" after a conservative activist lost a legal battle over the use a school district’s email service for union lobbying efforts. The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled the emails were not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
"This is more than just another blatant attack on public workers and their unions," the Michigan Education Association said in a statement. "This is an unconstitutional attack on every citizen’s right to freedom of speech and freedom of association."
The Livingston Daily noted that the bill cannot be enforced without modifying the state's Freedom of Information Act, which lawmakers so far have not considered doing. Rep. Pscholka said the law would depend on co-workers who report violations by their colleagues.
2 comments:
Well, you could always mount a recall effort against Pscholka.
Oh wait:
BENTON HARBOR - The effort to recall State Rep. Al Pscholka continues, past the expiration date for signatures gathered at the start of the attempt.
Benton Harbor City Commissioner Dennis Knowles, with members of the Democratic Party of Berrien County, have been gathering petition signatures to place a recall vote on the February ballot.
Knowles said Wednesday that the recall effort was continuing.
The petition language was approved by the Berrien County Election Commission on May 23, so the group has 180 days, or until Nov. 18, to turn in the petitions before the language expires, said Berrien County Clerk Louise Stine.
But signatures become invalid after 90 days, and Knowles said he began collecting signatures on June 18. That means the first of the signatures gathered began to expire on Sept. 16.
Knowles said Wednesday that he had no further comment on the effort to recall Pscholka. The petition says Pscholka, a Stevensville-based Republican, should be recalled because of his sponsorship of Public Act 4, the emergency manager law.
LOL
Oh yeah, screw the MEA.
I would hold off on your LOLs because your party is in bad shape heading into an election year, so we may not need petition drives to recall these Republicans. With no accomplishments, no ideas and a far right-wing agenda on the table no one in their right(no pun intended) will vote for Republican next year. What can Michigan Republicans offer next year? More tax cuts for the already wealthy? More policies that go after the lower middle class and the working poor? Anti-worker bills? What can your boys run on?
They already ticked off some of those workers that sometimes vote Republican and this stance on teachers will add more fuel. to the fire And screw teachers mindset you and that 30% crowd have should prove to sane people you folks are off your rockers.
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