By Bill Miller Jr.Record PublisherState Rep. Bart Korman’s vote against “Right-to-Work” legislation last month is still generating hate mail.“The tone of the letter I received this week was pretty upset,” Korman, R-High Hill, said Monday. “The individual said an economic development project was going to another state and not here because we don’t have Right-to-Work. The person wasn’t happy with me.”Korman was one of 23 Republicans to vote against the bill which passed the House by a 91-64 vote on Feb. 12. The controversial measure would bar labor unions from charging any fees to nonunion members.The bill was sent to the Senate where it could come up for a vote next week, according to House Speaker John Diehl. Even if it passes in the Senate, Gov. Jay Nixon has indicated he will veto it. That would set the stage for an override vote later this year. It takes 109 votes in the House to override a veto.Speaking by phone from his office in the Capitol, Korman said his “no” vote was probably the toughest he’s had to make since taking office in 2010.“It’s not fun for guys in my position,” he said. “I heard from a lot of vocal constituents on both sides of this issue — probably more that were against it than were for it. I tried to hear everyone out and just listen to the different points of view. In the end, I tried to take out the hype from both sides and look at exactly what the bill itself was going to do.”Korman said his decision to vote no came down to the fact he wasn’t comfortable with any legislation that would overwrite existing private agreements between employees and employers.“It was a concern for me, a huge concern. The question for me was, ‘is that what a state government should be doing — essentially interfering in private employment agreements,’” he added.Korman said while his district, which includes the majority of Warren County, is overwhelmingly conservative and Republican, it also is home to many union members. They work at the GM plant in Wentzville, in the construction trades and are members of the machinists and pipe fitters unions, Korman explained.“They love their guns, they are pro-life, just don’t mess with their jobs,” Korman said.The debate over Right-to-Work in the Legislature continues to be highly charged. Legislative hearings are drawing large crowds and a bevy of state and national political leaders. Last month’s House vote was covered by the national media. Korman was interviewed after the vote by a New York Times reporter and the story included a comment from him that his party colleagues were respectful of his position.Korman said Right-to-Work legislation is an issue that is divisive for the people of the state of Missouri, his district and the country. It is also one that has caused a lot of stress within the Missouri Republican Party. No Democrat in the House voted for the legislation.On Monday, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed “Right-to-Work” legislation that bans unions from collecting dues from any individual without his or her express permission, making Wisconsin the 25th state with such a law.“I could be at the grocery store, restaurants, local events or my listening posts, and Right-to-Work legislation is brought up by concerned citizens,” Korman wrote in a statement sent to The Record.“In the 42nd District, most constituents are usually opposed, others support, but they are passionate about this issue. I take this proposed change in law, and any change in law, seriously because a law change usually deals with a shift in someone’s rights, competitive advantage or costs, or all of the above.”Korman stressed he would continue to listen to both sides in the debate and didn’t rule out changing his vote in the future if new legislation is introduced that offers some of the compromises that have enabled similar Right-to-Work legislation to pass in other states.Some of those compromises include forcing nonunion members to pay the costs incurred when they are represented by union officials in grievance proceedings.“I realize the concerns that the constituents of the 42nd District hold regarding lower wages and benefits that would fall on the working middle class. As future legislation is brought forward, I do not want to make a general statement for or against Right-to-Work legislation but will look at each bill individually depending on the impact it will have for my district and its constituents,” Korman said.In the statement he issued, Korman encouraged his constituents to call him at his office to express their views on Right-to-Work.Better yet, he wrote, citizens can attend a listening post on Tuesday, March 24, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., in the Warrenton branch of the Scenic Regional Library, 912 South Highway 47.“I’m still listening,” Korman said Wednesday. “Too often politicians quit listening and that is one of my pet peeves.”State Rep. Bart Korman