So it begins locally - Wisconsin public workers flood capitol to protest benefit cuts

[Cowlesy]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/us/17wisconsin.html

Thousands of public workers flooded the rotunda of the Capitol in Madison, Wis., protesting a proposal to cut benefits and remove most of their unions’ ability to bargain.

By MONICA DAVEY
Published: February 16, 2011

MADISON, Wis. — As four game wardens awkwardly stood guard, protesters, scores deep, crushed into a corridor leading to the governor’s office here on Wednesday to protest some of the most far-reaching budget cutback proposals in the nation. Screams of “Come out, come out, wherever you are!" echoed throughout the Capitol building.

Behind closed doors, Scott Walker, the Republican who has been Wisconsin’s governor for about six weeks, calmly described his intent to forge ahead with plans to cut benefits to public workers and to sharply curtail collective bargaining rights in the state. Yes, some angry workers had surrounded his state car on Tuesday and started pounding on it. And yes, others had surrounded his home in Wauwatosa. But Mr. Walker said he had no other options.

It's like the NY Slimes is like "ugghhh...yeah, our rowdy leftist tax feeders threatened his safety..but you know, whatevs."

Had these been right-wing people pounding on the hood of his car or surrounded his home, the national guard would be called out and DHS would swarm the town.

 

[libertybrewcity]

i hope Walker gets this passed!

 

[eduardo89]

i hope Walker gets this passed!

Me too. This guy has balls to stand up to the unions. Once it passes, hopefully other governors take note and follow his lead.

 

[specsaregood]

MADISON, Wis. — As four game wardens awkwardly stood guard, protesters, scores deep, crushed into a corridor leading to the governor’s office here on Wednesday to protest some of the most far-reaching budget cutback proposals in the nation. Screams of “Come out, come out, wherever you are!" echoed throughout the Capitol building.

Probably should have hired some local farmers instead, what do game wardens know about handling a stampede of sheep?

 

[Hallamaat]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/us/17wisconsin.html



It's like the NY Slimes is like "ugghhh...yeah, our rowdy leftist tax feeders threatened his safety..but you know, whatevs."

Had these been right-wing people pounding on the hood of his car or surrounded his home, the national guard would be called out and DHS would swarm the town.

Funny you should mention the national guard.

http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/16/opponents-of-wisconsin-gov-scott-walker-call-him-mini-mubarak/

Walker told the Associated Press last week that state National Guard “is prepared to respond if there is any unrest among state employees.” The statement has caused an outcry by union supporters, who claim it as a threat of physical violence to stop protests.

A statement released Tuesday by the Wisconsin National Guard clarifies that it “has not been mobilized for state active duty… We remain in our normal state of readiness.”

Most of my friends in WI are lefties/democrats, so my news feed on facebook since the weekend has been filled with status updates and page 'likes' and even 'events' for "Scott Walker is a douchebag", "Scott Walker sucks", "Recall Walker and draft Feingold". It sucks, because I was going to try and bring a few of these friends of mine to our side because of their anti-war/civil liberties stances (and I'll still try, mind you), but if they're this passionate about public workers at the state level, I'll have quite the challenge ahead of me in regards to getting them on board with us economically.

 

[eduardo89]

Most of my friends in WI are lefties/democrats, so my news feed on facebook since the weekend has been filled with status updates and page 'likes' and even 'events' for "Scott Walker is a douchebag", "Scott Walker sucks", "Recall Walker and draft Feingold". It sucks, because I was going to try and bring a few of these friends of mine to our side because of their anti-war/civil liberties stances (and I'll still try, mind you), but if they're this passionate about public workers at the state level, I'll have quite the challenge ahead of me in regards to getting them on board with us economically.

Still try, every bit helps!

 

[libertybrewcity]

Still try, every bit helps!

Here's a quote from one of my friends:

SCOTT WALKER, back the fuck up and give me my state back, you mo'fug....my mom is an awesome teacher and works SO hard for that $$$, don't do this

My is a teacher too, and the health care benefits are insanely good. But, we're all paying for them..

 

[eduardo89]

Here's a quote from one of my friends:


My is a teacher too, and the health care benefits are insanely good. But, we're all paying for them..

I never said it'll be easy...it never is with progressives

 

[libertybrewcity]

I never said it'll be easy...it never is with progressives

yea, public workers can potentially receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in health care benefits for them and their families each year. It is simply unsustainable for the system to continue like that. This is a definitely a step in the right direction. This is what the bill includes:

Restricts public employees from negotiating everything except their wage

• Does not affect police and fire workers

• Limits wage increases to the rate of inflation

• Requires any larger wage increase to be approved by referendum

• Requires public employees to pay 5.8 percent of their pensions and 12 percent of their health care benefits

• Requires that collective bargaining units take annual votes to maintain certification as a union

• Prohibits employers from collecting union dues

• Releases members of collective bargaining units from dues paying requirements

• Authorizes restructuring of principal payments in the current budget for general obligation bonds, reducing debt payment costs by $165 million

• Increases general revenue for Medicaid to cover an estimated $153 million deficit

• Provides $22 million to address shortfalls in the prisons budget

• Authorizes the Department of Administration to sell state heating plants, with the net proceeds deposited in the budget stabilization fund

http://www.wiscnews.com/saukprairie...cle_1f1e78e0-3953-11e0-b9ba-001cc4c002e0.html

 

[mczerone]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/us/17wisconsin.html



It's like the NY Slimes is like "ugghhh...yeah, our rowdy leftist tax feeders threatened his safety..but you know, whatevs."

Had these been right-wing people pounding on the hood of his car or surrounded his home, the national guard would be called out and DHS would swarm the town.

Well, they would be more likely to be open-carrying...

 

[Cowlesy]

Well, they would be more likely to be open-carrying...

Watch, these guys will end up killing someone trying to make responsible fiscal decisions, and the media will somehow find a way to contort it to be a result of right-wing fanaticism.

 

[Trigonx]

Funny you should mention the national guard.

http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/16/opponents-of-wisconsin-gov-scott-walker-call-him-mini-mubarak/



Most of my friends in WI are lefties/democrats, so my news feed on facebook since the weekend has been filled with status updates and page 'likes' and even 'events' for "Scott Walker is a douchebag", "Scott Walker sucks", "Recall Walker and draft Feingold". It sucks, because I was going to try and bring a few of these friends of mine to our side because of their anti-war/civil liberties stances (and I'll still try, mind you), but if they're this passionate about public workers at the state level, I'll have quite the challenge ahead of me in regards to getting them on board with us economically.

Me too, it is ridiculous how these people ignore every aspect of the federal government and what they do to us, but when it comes to this they are raging and frothing at the mouth. I got a few relatives that work in Madison and a few are teachers, all of them are whining like there is no tomorrow.

 

[Mark37snj]

Let the Unions eat cake.

 

[Badger Paul]

The sad thing is this portion of the budget probably would have passed the legislature by now if they had not exempted police and fire fighters for the loss of collective bargaining rights. It was a stupid overreach along with talk about the National Guard and increased security.

This isn't just about salaries and benefits, which I agree must be in line with the public sector. I agree persons not wanting to be a part of a union should be allowed the freedom to opt out and state shouldn't be in business of holding union dues. It's about basic fairness. You can't tell one union you can keep what you have and tax payers get stuck for the bill while others have to take cuts. You can take away collective bargaining if you're going to have unions at all, otherwise what's the point? Either have them or not.

And praytell what is conservative and or libertarian about the state telling local school boards and cities and town how they can negotiate with their own unions? I thought the whole idea was decentralizing power down to the most local level possible? Hmm?

As for protests, I hope none of you were at the state capitol on Tax Day the past two years because seem to recall there being Tea Party protests there. And as I also seem to recall Tea Partiers like to protest at town hall meetings held by Congressmen. Hey, if you thought it was good for your side to picket outside the capital, or speak at meetings, then the unions must have been taking notes at your apparent success.

Here was a chance for reform washed out by a political maneuver. For once can a Wisconsin governor do something that's not motivated by pure politics? How long has that chain gone on, from Thompson to McCallum to Doyle to now..Walker.

 

[Trigonx]

22 painful signs that austerity has arrived in America

http://www.24hgold.com/english/news-gold-silver-22-painful-signs-that-austerity-has-arrived-in-america.aspx?article=3347060434G10020&redirect=false&contributor=Eric+de+Carbonnel

1) The financial manager of Detroit Public Schools wants to close half of all city schools, leading to class sizes of up to 62 students.

10) Major cuts to Newark's police force have led to a substantial spike in the city's crime rate.

11) Camden, N.J., the second-most dangerous city in America, recently laid off half of its police force due to a huge budget shortfall.

14) Due to budget cuts, OAKLAND POLICE WILL STOP RESPONDING TO SEVERAL CRIMES, INCLUDING CAR WRECKS, GRAND THEFT AND BURGLARY.

15) In Connecticut, the governor wants state legislators to pass the biggest tax increase the state has seen in two decades.

and the list goes on.


edit: http://www.businessinsider.com/austerity-in-america-2011-1?slop=1 original article with sources.

 

[Cowlesy]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110217/ap_on_re_us/us_wisconsin_budget_unions

By SCOTT BAUER, Associated Press Scott Bauer, Associated Press – 50 mins ago
MADISON, Wis. – Protesters clogged the hallways of the Wisconsin state Capitol on Thursday as the Senate prepared to pass a momentous bill that would strip government workers, including school teachers, of nearly all collective bargaining rights.

The nation's most aggressive anti-union proposal has been speeding through the Legislature since Republican Gov. Scott Walker introduced it a week ago. After clearing a major legislative hurdle Wednesday night, it was headed to votes in the Senate and Assembly.

Hundreds of protesters massed outside the Senate chamber on the second floor of the Capitol early Thursday, hours before the planned vote. Republican leaders said it has the votes to pass in both the Senate and Assembly.

Rest is at the link

 

[Cowlesy]

Rep. Paul Ryan is saying it's like Cairo moved to Madison, WI.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/vi...sin_protests_like_cairo_moved_to_madison.html

 

[Stary Hickory]

For the love of all that is holy dont back down. Unions have been picking the pockets of taxpayers way too long. If they are underpaid then they won't be able to fill the government jobs, end of story.

God I hope this Wisconsin gov stands his ground, sometime..somewhere a stand must be made against the wholesale looting of other people via government.

 

[jclay2]

If these teachers are so underpaid, why don't they move to a private school and start "raking in the dough". Oh wait....they can't do that. Reason: private schools pay the market wage which is substantially below the pay of public schools which is filled with pension/healthcare goodies. When I compare, the amount of compensation received at a private Christian school I attended to that of public schools in my area, the pay was at least half when you included teacher benefits. No one realizes how relatively wealthy teachers can become in these situations because the money is paid out as an annuity. If the teachers received a lump sum benefit, people would start to catch on more. In illinois, many of the teachers can retire at 55 with million $ pensions.

 

[EvilEngineer]

go figure that all the states mentioned in this list are blue states...

So hows that socialist utopia working out for you dems..