LANSING – In response to the Indiana Senate’s approval of right-to-work legislation, Michigan Sen. John Proos issued the following statement:

“Now that one of our neighbors has taken the step to become the first state in the Great Lakes region with a right-to-work law, it is even more important that Michigan removes barriers to competition and looks at right-to-work.

A September 2010 study by Grand Valley State University economist Hari Singh looked at data from both sides of the issue. His conclusion was that if Michigan had adopted right-to-work status in 1965, the state today would have up to 60,000 more automobile industry jobs.

In Feb. 2011, Proos introduced Senate Bill 120, which would allow right-to-work zones to be established by two means: either by approval of a measure by a local governing body, or by adoption of a measure initiated by the people residing within a county or municipality. SB 120 has been referred to the Senate Economic Development Committee for consideration.