Gov. Rick Snyder said he has no regrets in signing off on two laws that introduced right-to-work for both public and private workers, and he was asked if Michigan is better off being a right-to-work state.

“Absolutely,” was the response given to The Huffington Post during an interview Feb. 7.

Snyder had previously called the right-to-work proposal “too divisive” and “not on my agenda,” – until Republican majorities in both the state House and Senate passed RTW laws in December 2012. Then he put his signature on Public Acts 348 and 349, establishing Michigan as a right-to-work state for both public and private workers.

“I wasn’t pushing it, but as a practical matter, I was very clear on the matter that, if it’s there, it’s a good thing to do,” he said in the interview.

Michigan’s right-to-work law allows “free riders” to enjoy the benefits of union wages and benefits, without having to pay union dues.

Democrat Mark Schauer, who will likely be facing off against Snyder on the November ballot in the race for governor, said Snyder “cannot point to one job” that’s been created as a result of right to work.               “Right to work needs to be changed, it needs to be undone,” he said. “To me, this is an example of Rick Snyder making a direct political power grab. It was an assault on organized labor, and it was clearly not about economics. Because if he had looked at the economic analysis of what we’ve learned from other states, you realize that “right to work” really does mean ‘right to work for less.’ “