Facts show labor bill is bad idea
I recently read an article by Gordon Lafer posted on the Economic Policy Institute (a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank) website titled, “Working Hard to Make Indiana Look Bad: The tortured, uphill case for ‘right-to-work’.”
In the article, Lafer writes, “In Indiana and elsewhere, large sums of money have been devoted to backing RTW bills, with lobbyists claiming that RTW significantly improves both the number of jobs in a state and the wages people earn because companies that had avoided the state will flock there. The evidence shows that these claims are completely without scientific foundation.” Lafer goes on to say (and I am paraphrasing) analysis on effects of RTW laws in RTW states show:
n Reduced wages by $1,500 a year, for both union and nonunion workers (Gould and Shierholz 2011).
n Lowered the likelihood that employees get health-care or pensions through their jobs, again, for both union and nonunion (Gould and Shierholz 2011).
n Have no impact whatsoever on job growth (Lafer and Allegretto 2011).
How can anyone, after reading the facts, be in favor of this bill? This issue hits very close to home for me. I am a public school teacher. The hundreds of public school teachers in Vigo County have to deal with the effects that poverty has on our students every single day in one way or another. I believe those who are in favor of this bill are so far removed from the hardships and struggles of the middle and lower class citizens of this state they have chosen to ignore the facts.
I implore the governor and those lawmakers who are distorting the facts to do the right thing for the hard-working men and women and especially the children of Indiana. Vote no on RTW.
— Donna Tidd
West Terre Haute
Rural road needs more attention
I am writing this to try to reach someone who can help get our roads fixed. I live off of Indiana 63 south of town and the roads are horrible to my house and many others.
While the project to repair corners on the highway were going on, traffic was routed down our county road, Sutliff Drive. All that traffic tore the road really bad. It is very rough with huge potholes.
We called and complained, and by “we” I mean everyone I know out here and they came and shoveled some repair material in holes and left. It lasted a couple days.
I pay county taxes as well as the people who live around here. We would just like a driveable road to travel on.
— Tim Mccombs
Terre Haute
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