A Midland-based think tank's demands for Michigan professors' e-mails about Wisconsin's public employee labor strife is causing an uproar among some who suggest the Freedom of Information Act requests aim to intimidate pro-labor dissenters and stifle academic freedom.
The requests were submitted last week by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy to labor studies departments at Wayne State University, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.
"Intimidation of college professors by conservatives appears to be the latest tactic in their arsenal to destroy unions," wrote the liberal Blogging for Michigan Web site.
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow also expressed outrage. The FOIA request asked -- among other things -- for e-mails containing her name.
Ken Braun, editor of the Mackinac Center's online newsletter Michigan Capitol Confidential, said Wednesday that he's perplexed. The center has targeted ideological opponents since its founding 20 years ago, he said.
"We run a couple of FOIA-based stories almost every week," Braun said.
The group is also seeking public schools teachers' e-mails about a possible strike.
Since they came to power in January, Republicans have been acting like gangsters and tyrants. I shouldn't be surprised by this but I just can't grasp how so many people wrapped in our star spangled banner could forgo the idea of our Republic simply so they can act like monarchs.
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