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State of the State draws protesters

Detroit Free Press

LANSING, MI (AP)--   Labor union members and supporters gathered outside the Michigan Capitol to protest the passage of right-to-work legislation as Republican Governor Rick Snyder delivered his State of the State address. 

Several hundred protesters were circling the Capitol on Wednesday night, and their chants and drum beats could be heard inside the noisy state House chamber where Snyder was preparing to speak.

Snyder signed right-to-work measures that cleared the Republican-controlled Legislature in December.

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union member Chris Roggero says elected officials ignore the public's wishes and do what they want.

Anti-right-to-work protests drew 10,000 people last month. The measures taking effect in March bar unions from requiring people they represent under collective bargaining agreements to pay fees.

Nicole was born near Detroit but has lived in the U.P. most of her life. She graduated from Marquette Senior High School and attended Michigan State and Northern Michigan Universities, graduating from NMU in 1993 with a degree in English.