LANSING, MI -- A newly-elected state representative from Midland has drafted legislation to extend the reach of Michigan's Right to Work law to public safety personnel, the only union members exempt under the 2012 law.

State Rep. Gary Glenn is currently courting co-sponsors for the legislation. He said he hopes to accomplish that goal and introduce the bill sometime in early March.

Michigan became the 24th "Right to Work" state in 2012 when the Republican-controlled state Legislature passed the law, which bans the requirement that employees pay union dues as a condition of employment.

Glenn, R-Midland, whose district includes parts of Midland and Bay counties, said he has never understood why the Michigan Legislature exempted police officers, firefighters and state troopers from the law.

"As a matter of public policy, Michigan now protects all employees from being discriminated against or fired based on choosing not to join or financially support a labor union, except for public safety employees," Glenn said. "There is no justification for denying that same protection from public safety employees."

With Wisconsin's GOP-controlled state legislature positioning that state to soon become the 25th "Right to Work" state, Glenn said the timing is right for Michigan to make the change.

"I'd like to get Michigan back on the scoreboard," he said.

State Rep. Vanessa Guerra, D-Bridgeport Township, said she first learned of the proposed legislation when Glenn announced he was seeking co-sponsors Tuesday, Feb. 25.

While she has not yet had a chance to see the bill itself, Guerra said she is concerned about the impact it could have on Michigan's communities.

"My initial reaction is that police and fire departments are not businesses and should not be treated like businesses," she said "Attempting to cut costs by weakening unions that are looking out for the best interests of our police and firefighters doesn't just hurt those public servants - it puts the public safety at risk."

Glenn is no stranger to the Right to Work fight. He was a founding member of the Michigan Freedom to Work Coalition in 2011 and, prior to moving to Michigan, worked alongside Charlton Heston in 1986 in an effort to pass Right to Work legislation in Idaho.

Related: Charlton Heston gives beyond-the-grave radio endorsement to Michigan State Senate candidate Gary Glenn

Glenn said his Michigan legislation would strike out portions of the 2012 law that exempt firefighters, police officers and state troopers.

"These are people who put their lives on the line for us and our families," Glenn said.

Dan Kuhn, a former Saginaw police officer, now works as a business agent and serves as an executive board member for the Police Officers Association of Michigan, a union that represents many of the state's police personnel.

Kuhn said Glenn would not be doing police officers any favors by extending Right to Work to the exempted group. He said there was a reason police were exempted in the 2012 law.

"We don't have any ability to strike," Kuhn said. "It's not like the police can walk off the job and protest for better wages. The legislature and leaders in the state wanted to make sure that never happened."

Glenn said he views the extension of Right to Work to all union employees as a "civil rights" issue. He said it would ensure all workers have the freedom to choose whether or not to support a labor union and would prevent anyone from facing termination or reprisal as a result of that choice.

"It protects employees from discrimination," Glenn said.

Kuhn said he is very skeptical that Glenn will be able to find the necessary support, or even the co-sponsors necessary, to move the bill forward.

"The governor would never support anything like that," he said. "The only reason he supported it in the first place is because it exempted public safety."

Kuhn said the Republican Party would not be willing to give up the support it has enjoyed from law enforcement.

"If they pass this, I'd never be able to salvage the relationship with the GOP ever again," he said.

Glenn was elected by 98th District voters in November 2014 to his first term in the Michigan House of Representatives, replacing State Sen. Jim Stamas.

The 98th House District includes the city of Midland and Larkin, Lincoln, Homer, Midland, Lee and Jerome townships in southern Midland County and the cities of Pinconning and Auburn and Gibson, Mount Forest, Pinconning, Garfield, Fraser, Beaver and Williams townships in western and northern Bay County.

In his recent past, the new state representative gained a reputation as a vocal opponent of gay marriage, LGBT nondiscrimination laws and other social issues.

Two days after winning election to the Michigan Legislature, Glenn spoke out in support of a federal appellate court's decision that upheld Michigan's ban on gay marriage.

As he started his first term in office, he had already prepared 10 draft bills. None deal with social issues.

They range from reducing taxes for seniors to a repeal of Michigan's prevailing wage law to legislation that would empower local school districts to opt out from implementing "Common Core" education standards.

In response to being named a freshman "lawmaker to watch" by Lansing's Capitol News Service, Glenn said he plans to work hard to do the best job he can for families in Bay and Midland counties, regardless of the political issue.

"Over the past three decades, I've held leadership positions on labor law, education, and health care reform issues, as well as agricultural and marriage, family, and life issues," he said. "Anyone who believes there's only a narrow spectrum of issues I can effectively and intelligently address may well be in for a surprise."

Mark Tower covers local government for MLive/The Saginaw News. Contact him at 989-284-4807, by email at mtower@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.