Scott Walker has struck another blow against democracy.

On Monday, the Republican Wisconsin governor signed into law a bill that made Wisconsin the nation’s 25th right-to-work-for-less state. For Badger State workers, this is nothing short of a disaster. Contrary to what you might hear on Fox So-Called News or read in The Wall Street Journal, right-to-work-for-less laws are not a recipe for economic success.

In fact, according to the Economic Policy Institute, “8 of the 10 worst states in terms of quality of life are [right-to-work] states.” And that’s not even the worst of it.

Studies also show that workers in right-to-work-for-less states make less money, get skimpier health benefits, and are more likely to die on the job than workers in Union Security states. Republicans, of course, like to argue that all this doesn’t matter because right-to-work-for-less states have lower unemployment rates.

But that claim doesn’t really hold up to much scrutiny.

In reality, 7 of the top 10 states in terms of unemployment rate are right-to-work-for-less states, and if anything, the lower unemployment rate in some right-to-work-for-less states probably has more to do with population size than union-busting.

So whatever way you look at it, right-to-work-for-less laws like Wisconsin’s are a raw deal, both for workers and the states they live in. They also pose a mortal threat to a democratic workplace, and that’s arguably a much bigger problem. That’s because the real purpose of right-to-work-for-less-laws isn’t to lower wages or gut health benefits - although those are some nice side benefits as far as corporate America is concerned.

No, the real purpose of right-to-work-for-less laws is to totally gut the negotiating power of unions, the most important check we have against concentrated wealth and power.

Read more here.

-Thom

Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 10pm... Is it time to put Senators in jail yet? (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT or Free Speech TV, and catch past shows on Youtube)

Be sure to check out our new videos: CARBON, LAST HOURS & GREEN WORLD RISING - narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio

Need to Know: Is it time to put Senators in jail yet?
- Jamal Abdi, National Iranian American Council (NIAC)

Big Picture Rumble:
- Scott Greer, The Daily Caller
- Neil Sroka, Democracy for America
- Patrick Hedger, American Encore

Best of the Rest: Would you rather have Obamacare or crowdfunding?
- Sheriff Richard Mack, The Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association / Oathkeepers

Community Square

"GOP Health Care Plan - Bad Meds"

Wednesday's Daily Stack

Article: "Cheney: Congress must not interfere with the president's Iran policy" by Jon Perr.

Article: "Republican Senators Write To Leaders Of Iran, Attempt To Sabotage Nuclear Deal" by Igor Volsky.

Article: "Text of GOP Senators’ Letter to Iran’s Leaders on Nuclear Talks ".

Law: "Boland Amendment", 1982 - 1984 (limiting U.S. government assistance to the Contras in Nicaragua) by Wikipedia.

Article: "Hyde Amendment" by Wikipedia.

Article: "Human trafficking bill hits abortion snag" by Burgess Everett and Seung Min Kim.

Article: "Editorial: GOP letter to Iran disgraces America" by Detroit Free Press.

Law: "Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act", 2010.

Law: "Glass-Steagall Act", 1933.

Article: "Republicans are mad about Hillary Clinton's emails. So pass Foia reform" by Trevor Timm.

Book: The Time Cellar by Marc Emory.

The good: "NSA sued by Wikimedia, rights groups over mass surveillance" by David Ingram.

The bad: "Pat Robertson: Quit your job if you work with Buddhists so you don’t ‘get infected by it’" by David Edwards.

The very, very ugly: "Ben Stein On Fox: Michelle Obama's Healthy School Lunch Initiative Is Orwellian" by Media Matters.

Tweet: "Tehran Tom asks Iranian Revolutionary Guards for help in battle against US diplomats" by Jared Polis.

Article: "Governor Scott Walker signs Wisconsin right-to-work bill into law" by AP.

Law: "Logan Act", 30 January 1799. Citizens may not negotiate with foreign governments

Article: "Wisconsin ’right-to-work’ critic will expand company in Minnesota" by Tad Vezner.

Quote: "Our men are so happy at home that they will not hire themselves to be shot at for a shilling a day. hence we can have no standing armies for defence" - Thomas Jefferson".

Law: "Patriot Act", 2001.

Hour Two: Corporate personhood on steroids...
- Rob Kall, Op Ed News

Article: "The power and danger of complexity and secrecy" by Rob Kall.

Site: Open Corporates.

Article: "New poll on single payer and a Medicare buy-in" by Don McCanne MD.

Article: "Iran Schools GOP Senators On International Law" by Akbar Shahid Ahmed.

Article: "Republicans Admit: That Iran Letter Was a Dumb Idea" by Tim Mak.

Borowitz Report: "Iran Offers to Mediate Talks Between Republicans and Obama" by Andy Borowitz.

Talk Radio News Segment:
- Ellen Ratner, Bureau Chief, live from South Sudan

Article: "Anti-Abortion Provision Stirs Controversy In Senate" by Mary Jarvis.

Article: "Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) Questions and Answers" by Jeffrey Zients.

Site: "Goats for the old Goat".

Article: "TRNS News Notes- 3/11" by Victoria Jones.

Article: "TRNS News Notes- 3/10" by Victoria Jones.

Hour Three: Four years of Fukishima fallout
- Kevin Kamps, Beyond Nuclear

Article: "TEPCO Removes Spent Fuel At 1st Of 4 Fukushima Reactors" by Esther Tanquintic-Misa.

Article: "Fukushima No. 1's never-ending battle with radioactive water" by Kazuaki Nagata.

Site: "Japan" by Beyond Nuclear.

Article: "Fukushima’s 4th Anniversary Brings Hope Amidst Radioactive Ruins as Renewable Energy Revolution Soars" by Harvey Wasserman.

Article: "Japan’s nuclear crisis: Fukushima Daiichi Status report" by Shaun Burnie.

Article: "NRA chief warns of ongoing risks at wrecked Fukushima No. 1 plant".

Site: Progressive Change Campaign Committee.

Article: "Poll Of Likely 2016 Voters" by GBA Strategies on behalf of the Progressive Change Institute.

Article: "Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan & Kevin McCarthy: Plot To Sabotage US Economy with Frank Luntz" by keepemhonest.

Book: "The Crash of 2016: The Plot to Destroy America--and What We Can Do to Stop It" by Thom Hartmann.

Thursday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET

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Did the Fukushima disaster change how the world views nuclear power?

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Full Show 3/10/2015: Defense Industry Spending Insanity

In tonight’s Big Picture Politics Panel, Thom talks treason for Republicans’ interference with the Iran nuclear negotiations. Hughey Newsome of the Project 21 Black Leadership Council, Progressive commentator Nate Sweet, and Jennifer Kerns, contributor for The Washington Times and The Blaze join Thom on set to discuss Iran nuke talks, Pres. Obama’s slam of Scott Walker for right-to-work laws, the CARERS medical marijuana act and Florida’s climate change lunacy.

Professor Spencer Overton, Interim President & CEO of the Joint Center for Political & Economic Studies and author, Stealing Democracy: The New Politics of Voter Suppression, talks the Voting Rights Act 50 years later.

RT Correspondent Manuel Rapalo joins Thom live from Madison, WI on the protests following the killing of Tony Robinson. John Nichols of The Nation Magazine talks police shootings and the Tony Robinson death investigation.

Thom gives his Daily Take – Defense Industry Spending Insanity, plus The Good, The Bad, and the Very Very Ugly.

For more information on the stories we've covered visit our websites at thomhartmann.com - freespeech.org - and RT.com. You can also watch tonight's show on Hulu - at Hulu.com/THE BIG PICTURE and over at The Big Picture YouTube page. And - be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter!

Corporate Personhood on Steroids...

If Republicans Don't Like it, it Ain't Gonna Happen...

Caller: I Have to Depend on Obama to Protect the U.S.?

Caller: How did Senators not Violate the Logan Act?

Caller: Why Would any Country Want to Negotiate with the U.S.?

Is it Time to Put Senators in Jail Yet?

Caller: Obama is a Dictator!

Caller: What Enemy are Republicans Providing Aid and Comfort?

Why Does the Right Hate Obama so Much?

Republican Treason is all about 2016...

Caller: I Believe There is a Logan Act Violation...

Republicans: We no Longer Respect the Office of the Presidency...

Caller: We are Being Suckered by Iran - Again!