How do Michigan's bar dues compare to other states?

Michigan's Supreme Court announced Friday that dues for active Michigan bar members will decrease - related to funds for attorney discipline.

Article here. (via sbmblog).

But after the decrease, how will Michigan's dues compare to other states in the US?

And is this all related to other legislation (proposed under Michigan's Right to Work laws) to make state bar membership voluntary instead of mandatory?

Aside: my basic dues amount is added to with membership fees for other Sections of the State Bar.

Friday, the Michigan Supreme Court announced that the portion of dues paid by State Bar of Michigan members to fund the disciplinary system in Michigan will decrease by $20 for every Michigan attorney during the next dues cycle. That means the total amount of dues paid by active Michigan attorneys will drop from $305 a year to $285 a year.
After that decrease in dues takes place, how expensive will Michigan's dues be compared to those in other states?
- See more at: http://sbmblog.typepad.com/sbm-blog/2014/06/how-do-sbm-dues-stack-up-compared-to-those-paid-by-attorneys-in-other-states-.html#sthash.YFY1BfeX.dpuf

Friday, the Michigan Supreme Court announced that the portion of dues paid by State Bar of Michigan members to fund the disciplinary system in Michigan will decrease by $20 for every Michigan attorney during the next dues cycle. That means the total amount of dues paid by active Michigan attorneys will drop from $305 a year to $285 a year. - See more at: http://sbmblog.typepad.com/#sthash.suppCtqD.dpuf

Friday, the Michigan Supreme Court announced that the portion of dues paid by State Bar of Michigan members to fund the disciplinary system in Michigan will decrease by $20 for every Michigan attorney during the next dues cycle. That means the total amount of dues paid by active Michigan attorneys will drop from $305 a year to $285 a year. - See more at: http://sbmblog.typepad.com/#sthash.suppCtqD.dpuf

Friday, the Michigan Supreme Court announced that the portion of dues paid by State Bar of Michigan members to fund the disciplinary system in Michigan will decrease by $20 for every Michigan attorney during the next dues cycle. That means the total amount of dues paid by active Michigan attorneys will drop from $305 a year to $285 a year. - See more at: http://sbmblog.typepad.com/#sthash.suppCtqD.dpuf

Friday, the Michigan Supreme Court announced that the portion of dues paid by State Bar of Michigan members to fund the disciplinary system in Michigan will decrease by $20 for every Michigan attorney during the next dues cycle. That means the total amount of dues paid by active Michigan attorneys will drop from $305 a year to $285 a year. - See more at: http://sbmblog.typepad.com/#sthash.suppCtqD.dpuf

Friday, the Michigan Supreme Court announced that the portion of dues paid by State Bar of Michigan members to fund the disciplinary system in Michigan will decrease by $20 for every Michigan attorney during the next dues cycle. That means the total amount of dues paid by active Michigan attorneys will drop from $305 a year to $285 a year. - See more at: http://sbmblog.typepad.com/#sthash.suppCtqD.dpuf

Does Michigan's Right-To-Work law apply to State Bar Membership? Hearing Scheduled

The Task Force on the Role of the State Bar of Michigan will hold a public hearing regarding the Task Force’s charge described in Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 2014-5.

The hearing will be held Friday, May 2, 2014 at the Michigan Hall of Justice, 925 West Ottawa Street in Lansing, beginning at 9:30.

Article here.

State Bar membership may become voluntary in Michigan.

Michigan, the 24th state to adopt Right to Work laws, has now introduced legislation that would make state bar membership voluntary.

From the State Bar of Michigan blog: The sponsor, Sen. Arlan Meekhof, told reporters that the State Bar had become “more of a political organization."

 article here.

Survey: 47% of Michigan leaders support Right-to-Work

Just under half of local government leaders in Michigan support the state’s year-old right-to-work law, but they don’t approve of an exemption the Legislature gave to police officers and firefighters, according to a University of Michigan survey to be released today.

article here. 

So, in other words, the law doesn't have as much support as it could, and those who do support it wish that it were written differently, so that police officers & firefighters were treated the same as others.

MEA tells legislators Union Bylaws don't conflict with Michigan's Right to Work

Representatives from the Michigan Education Association told lawmakers investigating the union's compliance with the state's right-to-work law that its practices are in compliance with the law.

Article here.

Doug Pratt, the union's temporary director of member benefits, told the Senate Compliance and Accountability Committee on Wednesday that the union's "August window" for member withdrawals was protected by provisions of the right-to-work law passed one year ago.
"MEA is confident that we are consistently and fairly implementing our organization's rules about membership resignation, and that those rules are lawful," Pratt told the committee.

MEA defends itself in Right-to-Work suit

Doug Pratt, temporary director of member benefits for the MEA, said Thursday that the case has nothing to do with right to work but is instead about enforcing contracts between the union and its members.

article here.

"Membership organizations don't go around marketing how to quit. That's not how this works," Pratt said.

Teachers suing the MEA find support gathering

A Coopersville teacher said other colleagues across the state are starting to reach out to her, a day after multiple unfair labor practices complaints were filed against the Michigan Education Association on behalf of her and seven others who allege they were kept from leaving the sprawling teachers' union.

Article here.

Also, this is the second law suit in two weeks against the MEA. Another teacher sued last week for unfair labor practice. Article here.  

Michigan teacher sues MEA over union requirement

Miriam Chanski, a kindergarten teacher in Coopersville, says the debate is not about why she doesn’t want to be part of the MEA, but rather her right to not to be forced to be in a union after Governor Snyder signed a bill making Michigan a Right to Work State.
“I chose to opt out and it’s not being honored,” said Chanski.
Article here.