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 Is A Right-To-Work State

Rick Pluta — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 11:09:00 +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.

Michigan Likely To Become A Right-To-Work State

Rick Pluta — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 09:55:00 +0000

The Michigan House and Senate have passed the legislation in different versions, and may take final action on the bills next week. Michigan could become the 24th state to say workers cannot be forced to pay union dues even if they work for a business or government employer with union representation.

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.

GOP Michigan Congressman To Run Write-In Campaign

Rick Pluta — Wed, 30 May 2012 07:18:00 +0000

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich., is facing the daunting prospect of running a write-in campaign to get re-elected this year, as his campaign fell far short of the number of petition signatures he needs to qualify for the August primary ballot.

Compounding McCotter's troubles: It appears election fraud may have played a part in the failure.

The Michigan attorney general's office launched an investigation into the ballot scandal that threatens to bring an end to McCotter's decade-long career in Congress.

Road To The White House Goes Through Michigan

Rick Pluta — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:21:00 +0000

There is a battle underway on the presidential campaign trail over Michigan's economic recovery. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says President Obama is given too much credit for helping the domestic auto industry. President Obama has made the auto industry's turnaround a central point of his re-election campaign.

Santorum Upset By Mich. Delegate Decision

Rick Pluta — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And in Michigan, there's a fight going on over one delegate to the Republican National Convention. Rick Santorum's campaign team says its candidate is a victim of, quote, thuggery.

Romney Name Doesn't Guarantee Ballot Magic In Michigan

Rick Pluta — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 06:37:00 +0000

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney plays up his Michigan roots when he talks to voters in the state where he grew up.

In 2008, Romney won the Republican presidential primary in Michigan. On the campaign trail, he likes to tell stories about his father, George, who was an iconic governor of Michigan in the 1960s:

"He said, 'It sure is great to be in Mount Clemens today,' even though he was in Mount Pleasant.

Fred Who? He's Republican, He's Gay, And He's Competing For Michigan Delegates

Rick Pluta — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:36:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7653g25x4C4