Indiana’s Gov. Mitch Daniels, who gave the Republican response to President Obama’s State of the Union address last night, represents all too well the sad decline of the national Republican Party. As suggested by the Twitter hashtag #MitchFail, Daniels was an improbably bad choice to represent a party already facing questions about its commitment to the 99 percent. (Feel free to post a message to Daniels at his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/mymanmitchfans .)

AFL-CIO Field Communications staffer Cathy Sherwin sends us this from the Indiana statehouse.

Despite overwhelming opposition throughout Indiana to the so-called right to work (RTW) bill, the state Senate yesterday passed its version of the bill by 28-22, while House Speaker Brian Bosma continued to use strong-arm tactics to force RTW down Hoosiers’ throats. The Senate chose to vote even as 10,000 Hoosier workers packed the statehouse—and even though working families have been holding town hall meetings, making thousands of phone calls and signing postcards.

AFL-CIO Field Communications staffer Cathy Sherwin sends us this from the Indiana statehouse.

More than 10,000 working people are filling the Indiania statehouse to protest “right to work” for less legislation. Inside the House and Senate chambers, legislators are battling between the interests of everyday working people and those of the big corporations and out of state special interest groups who are pushing this deceptive legislation.

AFL-CIO Field Communications staffer Cathy Sherwin sends us this report.

Following the State of the State address last week, Michigan’s Gov. Rick Snyder held an online town hall meeting. Participating on Twitter using the hashtag #AskGovSnyder, union workers, the Michigan State AFL-CIO and progressive allies kept the questions coming—on jobs, needed infrastructure investments and education.

Republicans trying to ram through a “right to work” for less bill in Indiana cannot seize the pay of Democratic House members who are staying off the floor to filibuster the measure, a judge ruled last evening.

Look what just came to light! Here’s a video clip of Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, who’s now teamed up with statehouse Republicans to ram into law a “right to work” for less bill, telling a Teamsters Local 135 stewards dinner back in 2006 that he opposes “right to work.”

The national Republican party has selected Indiana Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels to respond to President Obama’s State of the Union address next week–sending a clear signal the party is making attacks on working people a top priority in the 2012 elections. Daniels is a key backer of right to work for less (RTW) legislation which state Republican lawmakers, in a stunning display of arrogance, have repeatedly tried to ram through, while thumbing their noses at working Hoosiers–not to mention democracy.

Keep your eye on the Indiana statehouse today, where Republican House members are doubling down on their push to pass a “right to work” for less law. House Democrats offered a range of amendments to the bill, including a move to put the anti-worker legislation on the ballot for a public referendum—an idea 71 percent of Hoosiers support.

Indiana working families are gearing up to fight state Republican lawmakers’ attempt to ram through a “right to work” for less bill—and a new report reveals the corporate lies behind backers’ claims that “right to work” laws boost wages.

AFL-CIO Field Communications staffer Cathy Sherwin sends us this report.

Opponents of working people in Michigan are pushing a bill that would gut protections for workers hurt on the job and give employers more power to dictate where injured workers could seek treatment. The bill also would slash benefits by factoring in “imaginary” wages and pensions and deducting from benefits—reducing workers’ compensation by the amount someone might be able to earn, regardless of the availability of an actual job.