Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels took his state backwards on Wednesday – signing legislation to make Indiana the 23rd “right-to-work” state in the nation. It’s the first state in ten years to go right-to-work and also the first state in the nation’s manufacturing belt to adopt a right-to-work law, which starves labor unions of much-needed funding.

So what can workers in Indiana expect now? First off – lower wages. It’s really right-to-work FOR LESS – as the average worker makes more than $5,000 less in wages a year in right-to-work-for-less states versus free-bargaining states. They can also expect less healthcare – as 21% fewer workers on average receive employee-sponsored healthcare in right-to-work-for-less states.

And finally – workers can expect more workplace injuries. Without unions to ensure safe working conditions – right-to-work-FOR-LESS states experience 51% more workplace injuries and deaths. So the only winners here are transnational CEOs who don’t give a damn about their workers – and don’t give a damn about democracy. That’s what unions are – democracy in the workplace – and they are just as essential to creating a stable middle class as democracy in our government. So Republican Governor Mitch Daniels didn’t just declare war on unions in Indiana – he also declared war on the middle class.

-Thom

(Do you think will happen in more states? Tell us here.)

The Daily Stack

Article: "Pa.’s Punxsutawney Phil predicts 6 more weeks of winter _ but at this rate that’s not bad" by AP.

Article: "Facebook Sets Historic IPO" by Shayndi Raice.

Article: "AP sources: Donald Trump intends to endorse Mitt Romney’s presidential bid" by AP.

Book: "Jack: Straight from the Gut" by Jack Welch with John A. Byrne.

Site: "Jack Welch".

"Matthew 25".

Article: "Billionaire Buddies: Adelsons Join Forces With Koch Brothers To Take Down Obama" by Josh Israel.

Article: "Republicans Wrongly Equate Pentagon Spending with American Security" by Campaign for America's Future.

Article: "With Governor's Signature, Indiana Becomes 'Right To Work' State" by Eyder Peralta.

Article: "Poll Reveals 62% of California Voters Want Marijuana Regulated Like Wine" by Business Wire.

Book: "War Is a Force that Gives Us Meaning" by Chris Hedges.

San Onofre Nuke plant radiation leak...a warning of things to come?
- Kevin Kamps, Beyond Nuclear

Article: "San Onofre Nuclear Plant Closed After Radiation Leak" by David Wright.

Article: "NRC inspecting water pumps at stalled US reactor" by Tammy Webber.

Article: "Tritium" by Wikipedia.

Article: "Regulators: ‘No danger’ from Byron nuclear plant shutdown" by Brian Leaf.

Hour Two: SuperPACs and the people who love them
- Paul Sherman, Institute for Justice

Article: "Study: Outside ad spending up 1,600%" by Abby Phillip.

Case: "Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission".

Article: "First Amendment to the United States Constitution".

Article: "Secrecy Shrouds ‘Super PAC’ Funds in Latest Filings" by Nicholas Confessore and Michael Luo.

Site: "Corporations Are Not People".

Book: "Corporations Are Not People: Why They Have More Rights Than You Do and What You Can Do About It" by Jeffrey D. Clements.

Geeky Science alert: "Sugar Should Be Regulated As Toxin, Researchers Say" by Christopher Wanjek.

Article: "Europe freeze: Serbia snow strands thousands" by BBC.

Article: "Preamble to the Constitution of the United States".

Talk Radio News Segment:
- Victoria Jones, White House Correspondent

Article: "UPDATE: Trump Endorses Romney, Not Gingrich" by Geoff Holtzman.

Article: "Trump to Endorse Gingrich? Romney?" by Martin Steinberg (DRUDGE: WAIT, IT'S MITT!).

Article: "Report: Hill Dems Put Heat On Komen Over Planned Parenthood Decision" by Geoff Holtzman.

Article: "Obama Reflects On Faith In Prayer Breakfast Speech" by Eric Marrapodi.

Article: "Romney: 'I'm not concerned about the very poor'" by Mark Murray.

Book: "Self Empowerment: Nine Things the 19th Century Can Teach us About Living in the 21st " by B. Anne Gehman and Ellen Ratner.

Hour Three: The Rapidly Expanding, Secret 'No-Fly List'
- Nusrat Choudhury

Article: "14th Amendment".

Article: "The Rapidly Expanding, Secret 'No-Fly List'" by Common Dreams.

Article: "US 'no-fly' list of suspected terrorists doubles in 12 months" by AP.

Article: "ACLU Files Lawsuit Challenging Unconstitutional "No Fly List"" by ACLU.

Site: "Democracy for America".

Site: "DFA Grassroots AllStars".

Article: "Articles of Confederation".

Article: "Latter-day Saints launch "I'm a Mormon" ad campaign" by Keith Coffman.

The good: Grenda Corporation: "Melbourne Bus Company Gives $15 Million Bonus After Business Sale" by Arlene Paredes.

The bad: Rupert Murdoch: "Britain's Hacking Probe Extends To 'Times Of London'" by Eyder Peralta.

The very, very ugly: "Mike Lee on Obama recess appointments: A ‘day of infamy’" by Felicia Sonmez.

Crazy alert: "Love behind bars: Infamous Swedish cannibal hopes to marry vampire" by MSNBC.

Article: "Where Have All the Nurses Gone? The Impact of the Nursing Shortage on American Healthcare" by Faye Satterly.

Article: "andrea rossi e-cat cold fusion" by mark axen.

Article: "Are we on the Brink of an Energy Revolution? Andrea Rossi to Build 1MW Power Plant" by Al Fin.

Article: "GOP pushes federal pay freeze through House" by AP.

Article: "Quakes and U.S. Reactors: An Analytic Tool" by Matthew L. Wald.

Hour One: It's our weekly national townhall meeting "Brunch With Bernie"... America's Senator...Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) will be talking about the important news of the week and he'll be taking your calls too...

Plus, it's anything goes on townhall Friday...dial me up, choose the topic and let's talk...

And, the best of the rest of the news and your calls right here on...

The Thom Hartmann Program...your media support group for "we the people"...TAG, YOU'RE IT!!!!!!!!! (OCCUPY SOMETHING!!!!!)

Read an excerpt here, and buy the book!