LANSING, MI (AP)-- Senator Arlan Meekhof helped usher in Michigan's landmark law making union fees voluntary for workers, a feat he'd thought was probably impossible until at least 2015.
But passing the "freedom-to-work" measure ranks just second on the next state Senate majority leader's list of legislative highlights.
He says he was most proud when the Senate approved his bill prohibiting late-term abortions. Meekhof says he was adopted as an infant and his anti-abortion stance is who he is.
Republican senators picked Meekhof to lead the Senate for the next four years. He'll replace term-limited Randy Richardville in January.
The 54-year-old from West Olive near Holland says he hopes to set an aggressive agenda. He says he's waiting to unveil many specifics until first conferring with other GOP senators.