2018 STATE CANDIDATE

QUESTIONNAIRE

2018 STATE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 1 MICHIGAN AFL-CIO

 Dear Candidates,
T
hank you for your
interest in running
for public office here
in the great State of
Michigan – and thank you for
seeking the endorsement of the
Michigan AFL-CIO.
“

 There is so much at stake for
We as a state working families in this year’s
labor election, with races for
Governor, U.S. Senate, Attorney
federation are General, Congress, Supreme
Court, all 148 members of the
committed to Michigan Legislature, and local
electing offices in every corner of
Michigan on the ballot.
candidates up
For far too long, the rules of our
and down the economy have been rigged by
elected officials in Lansing and
ballot this year Washington to favor their
who will have wealthy corporate donors while
regular working families
our backs. struggle to get by. This needs to
change. And that’s why we as a
state labor federation are
committed to electing
candidates up and down the
ballot this year who will have
our backs and work to build a
better Michigan for everyone.
Our vision for Michigan is pretty
simple: we need to build an
economy where all working
people have the freedom to
negotiate together for a fair
2018 STATE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 2 MICHIGAN AFL-CIO
return on their work – with good
jobs, strong benefits, a secure
retirement, and more time to be
with family.
To make this vision a reality, the
Michigan AFL-CIO has
developed a detailed policy
platform that was voted on and
approved at our 2018 legislative
convention. This platform
outlines a set of key policy
priorities that will help us to
rewrite the rules in Lansing and
Washington and build an
economy that works for
everyone, not just the wealthy.
Please take some time to
carefully review the platform
document before you complete
this questionnaire, as it forms
the basis for many of the
questions we expect candidates
to answer. Our hope is not just
to win elections this year, but to
help elect candidates who will
help us turn these policy
objectives into new state laws
that will help all working people
to build a better life for their
families right here in Michigan.


Ron Bieber

President
 STATE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
First Name Middle Name Last Name

State District Party

Incumbent Challenger Open

Do you currently hold or have you previously held office? Describe.

Have you received an AFL-CIO endorsement in the past? If so, for which office(s)?

Official Campaign Committee Name

Campaign Address

City State ZIP

Campaign Manager Email Cell Phone

Are you now or have you ever been a union member? Union(s) and local(s)?

Candidate’s Signature Date

2018 STATE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 3 MICHIGAN AFL-CIO

 Protecting the Rights of All
Working People

All work has dignity and all working people have rights. But right now, billionaires and wealthy corporations
are rigging the rules of our economy and taking away our freedom to negotiate together in union for things
our families need, like: good-paying jobs, great schools, clean and safe environments, and affordable health
care.

Since 2011, Governor Rick Snyder and Republicans in Lansing have passed countless laws like the
Emergency Manager Act and “right-to-work,” which were designed to take away rights from working people.
Now there are far too many people in Michigan living paycheck to paycheck, working unreliable hours, with
few or no benefits, and without a secure retirement.

In Michigan, families should always come first. Whether it’s a newborn baby, your elderly mom, or a spouse
who’s sick, everyone knows being there and providing for your family isn’t optional. All working people
should have a fair shot at the American dream, with the freedom to negotiate together in union for better
jobs with strong paychecks, good benefits, a secure retirement, and more time to be with family.

Please circle yes/no for your answer. If you have additional comments, please include them in the
space provided at the end of each section. 


If elected, would you sponsor or co-sponsor and vote for legislation that would restore the right to
organize and engage in collective bargaining? 

YES / NO

If elected, would you sponsor or co-sponsor and vote to repeal existing “right-to-work” laws, and vote to
pass Fair Share legislation for both public and private sector workers, requiring all employees covered
under a collective bargaining contract to pay their fair share towards contract administration, grievance
processing, and other representational costs? 

YES / NO

If elected, would you publicly affirm the importance of unions to your communities and urge employers
not to interfere when workers are deciding whether to form or join a union? 

YES / NO

If elected, will you support legislation that restores the freedom to pay union dues and contribute to
political action committees through automatic payroll deduction? 

YES / NO

2018 STATE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 4 MICHIGAN AFL-CIO

 If elected, will you support reinstating Michigan unemployment benefits to a base of 26 weeks instead of
the 20 weeks limitation recently enacted into law? 

YES / NO

If elected, will you support changing workers compensation, removing the current restrictions which make
it more difficult to obtain benefits, and eliminate provisions that allows employers to arbitrarily reduce
benefits by a “phantom wage” - the amount of wages they think the injured worker should be able to earn
- regardless of whether they actually have the job or wages? 

YES / NO

If elected, would you support legislation to strengthen workplace safety and health standards that keep
working men and women safe on the job? 

YES / NO

If elected, would you support legislation to strengthen whistleblower protections for workers who raise
job safety concerns? 

YES / NO

If elected, would you oppose efforts to weaken MIOSHA regulatory and enforcement programs? 

YES / NO

If elected, will you combat sexual harassment and sexual assault in the workplace by passing legislation
that requires employers to provide training to prevent sexual harassment, and ensures survivors can
access the counseling, advocacy, and medical support they need without unnecessary obstacles?

YES / NO

If elected, will you refuse to participate in events and activities associated with anti-labor, ALEC-affiliated
groups like the Mackinac Center for Public Policy?

YES / NO

Short Answer: Why do you believe that employees should have the right to collectively bargain and
organize?

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2018 STATE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 5 MICHIGAN AFL-CIO

 Building Quality Infrastructure

Michigan is the state that put the world on wheels. But after years of neglect, we now have some of the worst
roads in the country. Governor Snyder and Republicans in Lansing made things worse by passing a roads
package that raised taxes on working families, making it more expensive to own a car, while asking
corporations to pay nothing. Now our roads and bridges are more dangerous than ever – costing Michigan
motorists $2.5 billion a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs.

Rebuilding our infrastructure will jumpstart our economy and create thousands of good-paying jobs for
working people right here in Michigan. We need real solutions to fix our crumbling roads and bridges
without forcing regular families to foot the bill for everything.

Please circle yes/no for your answer. If you have additional comments, please include them in the
space provided at the end of each section. 


Will you publicly support Michigan’s prevailing wage law that helps provide good paying jobs to
Michigan’s skilled trades workers? 

YES / NO

If elected, would you support state funding for important infrastructure projects that generate good jobs,
such as our transportation systems, school modernization, and water systems? 

YES / NO

If elected, will you support legislation that modernizes our underground infrastructure and establish
strong pipeline safety, inspection and reporting standards to protect our water and the Great Lakes?

YES / NO

Will you require that corporate polluters pay the full cost of repairing the environmental disasters they
create, and use skilled and well-trained workers to fully repair the damage?

YES / NO

Will you aid in the development of a transition plan to assist workers and communities who may be
affected by energy plant retirements to ensure that sites are redeveloped and new job opportunities are
created while Michigan transitions to cleaner, more affordable energy sources?

YES / NO

2018 STATE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 6 MICHIGAN AFL-CIO

Short Answer: How will you work to ensure policies enacted in Michigan rebuild quality infrastructure while
protecting everyday Michiganders from solely footing the bill?

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2018 STATE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 7 MICHIGAN AFL-CIO

 Growing Vibrant Communities

Throughout the 20th Century, cities all over Michigan were magnets for young workers who were looking for
vibrant communities where they could put down roots and start a family. But since 2011, Governor Snyder
and Republicans in the legislature have cut billions of dollars from our public schools, universities, and
public safety. Republicans have also targeted deep cuts to retirement savings and health care benefits for
Michigan teachers, nurses, police officers, and firefighters.

To get our economy moving, Michigan needs to build healthy, vibrant, and livable communities that will
attract a diverse and highly-skilled workforce.

Please circle yes/no for your answer. If you have additional comments, please include them in the
space provided at the end of each section. 


If elected, would you actively oppose all private school voucher proposals and other schemes intended to
divert taxpayer dollars from public schools to private schools? 

YES / NO

If elected, would you support legislation that would help local school districts reduce their class size,
provide professional development and support for teachers and other school staff—particularly for staff
working in schools serving high numbers of disadvantaged students? 

YES / NO

Retirement savings and health benefits for Michigan public employees are currently under attack in the
legislature. If elected, will you pledge to protect and strengthen pensions for Michigan school employees,
as well as retirement savings and health benefits for public servants like nurses, police officers, firefighters,
and municipal employees?

YES / NO

If elected, would you oppose the privatization of public services at the local and state level?

YES / NO

If elected, would you work to ensure guaranteed health care for all as a right, and not a privilege? 

YES / NO

If elected, would you oppose efforts to restrict access to FDA-approved birth control methods for working
women? 

YES / NO

2018 STATE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 8 MICHIGAN AFL-CIO

 Will you support efforts to protect Medicaid expansion in Michigan, and work to protect individuals from
being denied health coverage for pre-existing conditions?

YES / NO

If elected, would you support legislation to amend the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include protections
for the LGBTQ community against workplace discrimination? 

YES / NO

Short Answer: Please explain why you believe buy local policies are important in Michigan, and what
policies you would sponsor or cosponsor?

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2018 STATE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 9 MICHIGAN AFL-CIO

 Creating a Fair Economy

Right now Michigan’s economy is out of balance. Pro-corporate trade deals like NAFTA have been a total
train wreck for Michigan, because they reward wealthy corporations for sending Michigan jobs, factories,
and profits overseas. Since NAFTA was enacted, Michigan has lost tens of thousands of good-paying
manufacturing jobs.

Making matters worse, corporate CEOs have rigged the rules of our economy by denying their employees a
fair return on their work.

Stagnant paychecks also mean working people in Michigan are struggling to sustain their families.
According to the Michigan Association of United Way’s ALICE Report, 40 percent of Michigan households
can’t afford basic necessities like housing, child care, food, health care, and transportation.

Please circle yes/no for your answer. If you have additional comments, please include them in the
space provided at the end of each section. 


Would you support reversing these changes by repealing the pension tax, restoring the homestead
property tax credit and restoring tax deductions for children, charitable contributions, college tuition and
adoption expenses?

YES / NO

If elected, will you oppose more new tax breaks for big corporations unless they include strong measures
that require companies to hire Michigan workers, as well as strong clawback provisions that require
companies to pay back their tax breaks if they fail to create the jobs they promise?

YES / NO

If elected, will you support measures to strengthen Michigan's earned income tax credit, which helps
working people with low incomes support their families? 

YES / NO

If elected, will you oppose state budget cuts that weaken the state’s social safety net? 

YES / NO

If elected, will you support earned sick leave legislation?


YES / NO

If elected, would you support legislation to end pay discrimination against women? 

YES / NO




2018 STATE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 10 MICHIGAN AFL-CIO

 Do you support increasing Michigan’s minimum wage to $15 so that working people can provide for their
families?

YES / NO

Short Answer: If elected, what specific policies will you support to fight outsourcing and crack down on
wealthy corporations that send Michigan jobs, profits, and factories overseas?

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2018 STATE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 11 MICHIGAN AFL-CIO

 Protecting Our Voting Freedoms
and Strengthening Our Democracy

Our democracy is supposed to be of, for, and by the people, not the wealthy and powerful. But billionaires
and corporate CEOs are using their campaign contributions to manipulate the rules of our democracy in
their favor. They’ve rigged the rules so they can spend unlimited money on campaigns while hiding their
donations, and by taking away our voting rights to choose who represents us in Lansing and Washington.
Michigan now ranks dead last in the country when it comes to transparency and accountability in state
government.

We need to push for real democracy reforms, to ensure every American has the freedom to have their voice
heard and their vote counted in our elections, regardless of party. It’s time to get money out of politics,
expand our voting freedoms, and modernize our elections by making them more secure and accurate.

Please circle yes/no for your answer. If you have additional comments, please include them in the
space provided at the end of each section. 


If elected, would you oppose any legislation that creates new barriers to voting? 

YES / NO

Will you work to protect straight party voting in Michigan? 


YES / NO

If elected, would you support efforts to promote greater voter participation, including early and no reason
absentee voting? 

YES / NO

If elected, would you support efforts to reform the redistricting process to eliminate gerrymandering and
bring fairness to the drawing of legislative and congressional district boundaries? 

YES / NO

If elected, will you work to repeal the Emergency Financial Manager Law? 

YES / NO

If elected, will you support legislation to make the state legislature and the governor’s office subject to the
Freedom of Information Act?

YES / NO

Will you help secure funds to ensure that every voting precinct in Michigan has the most secure and up-
to-date voting technology, and enough voting machines available to reduce waiting time at the polls and

2018 STATE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 12 MICHIGAN AFL-CIO

 ensure every Michigan voter can have their voice heard and their vote counted accurately in our
elections?

YES / NO

Will you support legislation to establish a strong and robust code of ethics for all state elected officials
and top political appointees that requires personal financial disclosure, with strong guidelines and
enforceable penalties for failing to disclose any potential conflicts of interest?

YES / NO

Would you support legislation to ban secret political nonprofits, like Governor Snyder's "NERD Fund"?

YES / NO

Do you support legislation that requires all in-state political funds to publicly disclose all political
contributions online on a quarterly basis?

YES / NO

Do you support repealing the "Citizens United on Steroids" law that allows unlimited spending on
political campaigns?

YES / NO

Do you support legislation that bans lobbyist gifts to government officials? 


YES / NO

Do you support legislation that would close the revolving door between the legislature and the lobby
corps by requiring a mandatory "cooling off" period of at least three years for former elected officials after
they leave public office? 

YES / NO

Short Answer: Do you believe Michigan should keep, amend, or repeal legislative term limits, and why?

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2018 STATE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 13 MICHIGAN AFL-CIO