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Wisconsin Residents Sound Off On 'Right-To-Vote' Bill

EDITOR'S NOTE: Comfort By Design issued a statement regarding the report below, saying "The opinions of one of our employees do not in any way reflect the visions and opinions of Comfort by Design. The television interview was not cleared with the owners and therefore we negate any thoughts, opinions or expressions against unions. We are an all-American company that believes in the rights of all. We apologize if this was misconstrued."

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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- On Friday, Wisconsin became the 25th state to pass a right-to-work bill.

Lawmakers in the state assembly fiercely debated the bill for more than 20 hours into the early morning. The bill finally passed around 9 a.m.

It was a straight party-line vote with no Democrats voting in favor of the bill.

Gov. Scott Walker is expected to sign it on Monday, officially making union dues voluntary in Wisconsin.

The "right-to-work" issue really came to light in Wisconsin when Walker took office four years ago.

There have been protests, and it has been heavily debated.

In Hudson, even businesses and customers can be found on both sides of the issue.

"I think generally speaking, people want to work without having to be forced to pay the union fees and things that go with it," Mary Sacher said.

Sacher works at Comfort By Design, which sells fire places and also does plumbing and electrical work.

She's happy that private-sector workers will now be able to decide whether or not they want to pay union dues.

"Jobs are hard to come by. Trades jobs can pay well, but with the reduction, you know, in paying dues there's definitely a loss of wages there," she said.

But Comfort By Design customer Faye Lupke disagrees.

"I just feel that anyone that has a union job would be more than willing to pay those union dues," Lupke said.

Lupke isn't in a union but says she sees their value. She feels that Friday's vote will ultimately hurt workers.

"Union dues are pittance. We pay union dues for our medical, health insurance, and I'm more than happy to pay it," she said.

Friday morning's vote came after Gov. Walker said the "right-to-work" issue would not come up this session. That was during his re-election campaign last fall.

But two weeks ago, Senate Republicans decided to take it up, and Walker said he would sign it.

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