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Ohio Governor Cautious About Right-To-Work Bills

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Two bills stripping Ohio unions of the ability to compel membership and automatically collect dues face an uncertain fate at the Ohio Statehouse.

Gov. John Kasich has reserved judgment on the proposals being prepared by state Reps. Kristina Roegner and Ron Maag, his fellow Republicans. GOP House Speaker William Batchelder has also been cautiously noncommittal.

Even before Roegner and Maag had held a scheduled event Wednesday to explain their companion "Workplace Freedom" proposals, union-organized protests were taking place in the capital.

Roegner's bill would affect private-sector unions. Maag's would apply to public-sector unions, the same entities targeted in a sweeping collective bargaining overhaul rejected by more than 60 percent of Ohio voters in 2011.

Twenty-four states, including neighboring Indiana and Michigan, have such right-to-work provisions in place.