Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R - Monroe) has previously been silent when it comes to right-to-work legislation, but on Friday he was anything but quiet about proposed right-to-teach legislation.

Richardville came out in support of a proposed state bill that would allow public teachers to choose whether they want to be a part of teacher unions or not on WKAR's "Off the Record" Friday morning.

The Michigan Education Association was quick to criticize the effort to implement right-to-teach.

"It's a political attack," said MEA president Steve Cook. "It doesn't improve education and it doesn't give more money to districts. It's a payback for the recall efforts that've sprung up around this state."

The MEA recently donated $25,000 to a recall effort targeting the state House's education chair, but Cook says the state legislature's putting its attention in the wrong place.

"They can blame us if they want to but they've got more people to answer to back home than the MEA," said Cook.

State Sen. Rick Jones (R - Grand Ledge) thinks the MEA is overreacting.

"Really all this proposal would do is allow people to work and not be in the union," said Sen. Jones, who told WILX he hasn't decided whether to support a right-to-teach bill yet. "I don't see it affecting a lot because I doubt many would leave."

For his part, Grand Ledge teacher John Ellsworth isn't in love with his local or state unions.

"I don't think I'm getting my money's worth because I don't believe they're fighting for funding equity," said Ellsworth, who pays a total of $90 per month in union dues.

He says teachers he knows are frustrated with school districts, unions and state lawmakers at this point. Despite that frustration, Ellsworth's not so sure right-to-teach is the way to go.

"When you give one side too much power, you're asking for trouble," said Ellsworth.

Sen. Richardville's office did not respond to multiple requests for comment. It's unclear when the proposed right-to-teach legislation will be introduced.