Wisconsin Senate PASSES Gov. Walker's anti-Collective Bargaining Bill

[FrankRep]

Scott Walker, Wisconsin Governor


Wis. GOP bypasses Dems on collective bargaining


Associated Press
March 9, 2011

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate voted Wednesday night to strip nearly all collective bargaining rights from public workers after discovering a way to bypass the chamber's missing Democrats.

All 14 Senate Democrats fled to Illinois nearly three weeks ago, preventing the chamber from having enough members present to consider Gov. Scott Walker's so-called "budget repair bill" - a proposal introduced to plug a $137 million budget shortfall.

The Senate requires a quorum to take up any measures that spend money. But Republicans on Wednesday split from the legislation the proposal to curtail union rights, which spends no money, and a special conference committee of state lawmakers approved the bill a short time later.​

Madison, Wisconsin — nicknamed Madtown — launched the fight between public-employee unions that want to continue the status quo, and taxpayers concerned over debt.​

Wisconsin Erupts: Ground Zero for National Movements


Alex Newman | The New American
04 March 2011



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[One Last Battle!]

Daaaamn

So much for that trick, eh?

 

[Cowlesy]

mwaaahahahaahahahaha

F U UNIONS!

 

[AuH20]

The Wisconsin GOP is counting on that the unions will overreact. This is a high-stakes chess game.

 

[1000-points-of-fright]

 

[QueenB4Liberty]

Well that took long enough.

 

[ItsTime]

Well the dems didnt want their vote counted anyway. lol I guess be careful for what you wish fore.

 

[Inkblots]

It's about darn time! However, I'm slightly worried about this:

Republican senators quickly assembled at 4 p.m. to send the bill to a conference committee, which convenes at 6 p.m. They largely declined comment after the meeting.

Attorney Robert Dreps, an expert on the state open meetings law, said he did not believe the conference committee could meet with such short notice.

State law generally requires a 24-hour notice for public meetings, but can be called with just two hours notice when more notice is impossible or impractical, said Dreps, who has represented the Journal Sentinel in the past.

“I can’t imagine how they can meet that standard,” he said.​

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41996994/ns/politics-more_politics/

This reform better stick. My nightmare is that some GOP senators are recalled, and then a court rules the bill was improperly passed afterwards, when it's impossible to vote it through again.

Of course, then again, with the capital building alreaady swarmed with protesters and union thugs, maybe they could argue longer notice would indeed have been impractical....

 

[ItsTime]

It is impractical when you are being threatened with violence......

 

[TroySmith]

Hopefully Indiana follows suit!

 

[Southron]

What happens when a federal judge throws it out? That's always the backup plan for the establishment.

 

[cswake]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/us/10wisconsin.html

The bill makes significant changes to most public sector unions, limiting collective bargaining to matters of wages only and limiting raises to the Consumer Price Index unless the public approves higher raises in a referendum. It requires most unions to hold votes annually to determine whether most workers still wish to be members. And it ends the state’s collection of union dues from paychecks.

 

[FrankRep]

What happens when a federal judge throws it out? That's always the backup plan for the establishment.

Conservative and Tea Party Hellfire will come raining down. I dare a Federal Judge to overturn it.

 

[jth_ttu]

Im kind of torn on this issue. I believe people have to right to collectively bargain but since these are public employees and they are bargaining for more money that has been stolen from the private sector I kind of agree with the governor. After all the taxpayers are the employers but really have no say in any of the dealings with the union. Is anybody else not really sure about this?

 

[FrankRep]

Im kind of torn on this issue. I believe people have to right to collectively bargain but since these are public employees and they are bargaining for more money that has been stolen from the private sector I kind of agree with the governor. After all the taxpayers are the employers but really have no say in any of the dealings with the union. Is anybody else not really sure about this?

Hopefully this will make you feel less torn on the issue.



Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), Mr. Progressive, warned against collective bargaining for government unions.

Read his 1937 letter:

All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management. The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with Government employee organizations. The employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives in Congress. Accordingly, administrative officials and employees alike are governed and guided, and in many instances restricted, by laws which establish policies, procedures, or rules in personnel matters.​

And

Particularly, I want to emphasize my conviction that militant tactics have no place in the functions of any organization of Government employees. Upon employees in the Federal service rests the obligation to serve the whole people, whose interests and welfare require orderliness and continuity in the conduct of Government activities. This obligation is paramount. Since their own services have to do with the functioning of the Government, a strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent on their part to prevent or obstruct the operations of Government until their demands are satisfied. Such action, looking toward the paralysis of Government by those who have sworn to support it, is unthinkable and intolerable.​

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=15445

 

[sailingaway]

It's about darn time! However, I'm slightly worried about this:

Republican senators quickly assembled at 4 p.m. to send the bill to a conference committee, which convenes at 6 p.m. They largely declined comment after the meeting.

Attorney Robert Dreps, an expert on the state open meetings law, said he did not believe the conference committee could meet with such short notice.

State law generally requires a 24-hour notice for public meetings, but can be called with just two hours notice when more notice is impossible or impractical, said Dreps, who has represented the Journal Sentinel in the past.

“I can’t imagine how they can meet that standard,” he said.​

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41996994/ns/politics-more_politics/

This reform better stick. My nightmare is that some GOP senators are recalled, and then a court rules the bill was improperly passed afterwards, when it's impossible to vote it through again.

Of course, then again, with the capital building alreaady swarmed with protesters and union thugs, maybe they could argue longer notice would indeed have been impractical....

Then they should do it with proper notice. However, it is entirely possible they never recessed, given they were waiting for the Dems to appear at any time.

It isn't like they were avoiding the Dems, if the Dems return, they have quorum and can vote the whole package through.

 

[sailingaway]

Im kind of torn on this issue. I believe people have to right to collectively bargain but since these are public employees and they are bargaining for more money that has been stolen from the private sector I kind of agree with the governor. After all the taxpayers are the employers but really have no say in any of the dealings with the union. Is anybody else not really sure about this?

I think VOLUNTARY collective bargaining in the private sector is fine. In the public sector, the people footing the bill for the concessions aren't really at the table except for the collective bargaining of elections, and I think it is appropriate that public sector workers should be restricted the same way - plus of course they can choose not to work for a wage they don't find acceptable.

In the private sector the one actually footing the bill is on the other side of the negotiations.

I don't think forcing someone to be in a union to work is right, though.

But I think it is a state matter, so Wisconsin can do what it wants.

 

[Stary Hickory]

mwaaahahahaahahahaha

F U UNIONS!

My sentiments exactly

Feels liberating to beat back the bloodsuckers.

 

[Cowlesy]

My sentiments exactly

Feels liberating to beat back the bloodsuckers.

Amen. There is no reason for citizens who have a monopoly on certain services to be able to en masse vote in the people who will give them wealth.

Screw you public unions. Eat S and D.

 

[forsmant]

I think attacking the middle class democrats and public unions is a diversion from the real ruling class. Corporate control of American government at all levels is a greater threat then paying too much for police protection. Corporations like JP Morgan, Monsanto, Phillip Morris, Haliburton, Moodys, and whatever cartels I haven't listed pose a much greater threat to our freedom. The republican party is using our anger at bailouts to attack the democrat parties base of public unions. These public unions are corrupt and deserving of scrutiny but I question the motives of Governor Walker when some public unions are exempt and his solution does nothing to curtail the defined benefit pension plans. The Wisconsin republican party is not a friend of freedom. Just look at their record. Paul Ryan voted for nearly everything Bush policy. The RNC chair is the definition of party insider. I am weary of their motivation for this legislation.

I understand the havoc public unions create on state budgets but I do not believe this Wisconsin legislation will shrink the liabilities caused by public pension systems. The pension losses caused by the stock market crash of 2008 are a major part of budget shortfalls today.