Rick Pluta

Challenge To Michigan's Gay Marriage Ban Grows From Adoption Case

Rick Pluta — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:04:00 +0000

A federal judge in Michigan could rule as soon as Thursday on a challenge to the state's ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions. The challenge comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear two cases dealing with gay marriage later this month.

In the Michigan case, a lesbian couple sued not because they want to be married, but because they want to be parents.

Jayne Rowse and April DeBoer have been together 13 years. For all practical purposes, they consider themselves married to each other.

Despite Protests, Michigan Passes Right-To-Work Bills

Rick Pluta — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:58:00 +0000

Michigan is now the nation's 24th right-to-work state, where unions cannot automatically collect dues or fees from workers. The governor signed the law just hours after it was approved by the state's legislature in a day marked by protests.

Mich. Voters Defeat 2 Organized Labor Ballot Issues

Rick Pluta — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 10:51:00 +0000

Unions poured millions of dollars into ballot campaigns to guarantee collective bargaining rights in the Michigan Constitution and allow state-paid home care assistants to organize into a union. Both were resoundingly defeated.