Email to Wis. gov. initially favored union rights
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FILE - In this Feb. 17 file photo protestors pack the rotunda at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis. Seeking a counter to the thousands of protesters opposed to his plans to eliminate union bargaining rights for state workers, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker found it in his email: The majority of notes, Scott Walker said, urged him to “stay firm, to stay strong, to stand with the taxpayers." But what the new Republican governor didn’t say is that for close to a week, his inbox had been home to overwhelming opposition that ran roughly 2-to-1 against his plans. It was only in the moments just before he discussed the emails for the first time, and hours after a group of desperate Democrats fled the state to stop a vote they knew they would lose, that the tide had turned in his favor.
MADISON — Seeking a way to counter a growing protest movement, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker cited his email, confidently declaring that most people writing his office had urged him to eliminate nearly all union rights for state workers.
But an Associated Press analysis of the emails shows that, for close to a week, messages in Walker's inbox were running roughly 2-to-1 against his plans. The tide did not turn in his favor until shortly after desperate Democrats fled the state to stop a vote they knew they would lose.
The AP analyzed more than 26,000 emails sent to Walker from the time he formally announced his plans until he first mentioned the emails in public — a span of seven days.
During that time, the overall tally ran 55 percent in support, 44 percent against. In the weeks since, Walker has continued to receive tens of thousands of emails on the issue.
The AP obtained the emails through a legal settlement with Walker's office, the result of a lawsuit filed by the news cooperative and the Isthmus, a weekly newspaper in Madison. The news organizations sued after the governor's office did not respond to requests for the emails filed under the state's open records law.
Walker's comments about the emails came on the evening of Feb. 17, as roughly 25,000 protesters packed into the Capitol's ornate rotunda and filled its lawn outside. They could be heard screaming outside the conference room where he met with reporters in a news conference broadcast live by several cable news networks.
"The more than 8,000 emails we got today, the majority are telling us to stay firm, to stay strong, to stand with the taxpayers," Walker said of the emails. "While the protesters have every right to be heard, I'm going to make sure the taxpayers of the state are heard and their voices are not drowned out by those circling the Capitol."
But for several preceding days, the emails of support Walker received had been vastly outnumbered by those opposed to his plan.
On Feb. 11, the day Walker formally outlined his "budget-repair bill" and his proposal to dramatically curb union rights, the emails sent to his office ran more than 5-to-1 against his plan. Much of that opposition came from public workers directly affected by the proposal, many of whom responded to an email sent by Walker that offered a rationale for his proposal.
The gap closed over the next five days, as protesters arrived in large numbers at the Capitol and the Republican-controlled Legislature set a course to pass the bill in less than a week.
By the end of Feb. 16 — the eve of a planned vote in the state Senate and a day in which Madison schools were forced to close due to high number of teacher and staff absences, presumably to protest at the Capitol — Walker had received more than 12,000 emails in all, and they ran roughly 2-to-1 against the bill.
Things changed dramatically the next day as the tide of emails shifted in Walker's favor. By the time his press conference began, the gap had closed significantly as emails of support arrived by the hundreds every hour.
At 5 p.m., 15 minutes after he took the podium, the governor's office had received nearly 5,900 emails of support that day to roughly 1,400 against. Still, at that point, the overall tally was split roughly down the middle.
Walker's spokesman, Cullen Werwie, told the AP last week the governor's comments were based on information that he provided.
Werwie said he counted all the emails received up to that point and then took a "brief sampling of the ones we received to get a rough idea about the proportion of those in support or opposition."
Werwie said he alerted the governor when there was a dramatic shift in support, which led Walker to talk about the emails for the first time at the news conference.
Walker said he called several of the people who sent emails, both in support and against, but the thousands of messages that came in didn't influence his actions.
"We've never based support for the bill on how many emails we got," Walker said.
As Walker spoke at the news conference, a massive spike of emails in favor of his proposal poured into the governor's inbox. At the end of the day, he had received more than 9,400 emails cheering him on — three times the number of messages of opposition. The final overall tally through the end of the day: 54 percent in support, 43 percent against.
The AP's analysis was based on an individual review of each email, which was categorized as either pro, con, ambiguous or unrelated. Some authors noted clearly they were from out of state, while others said they were teachers and other Wisconsin public employees who would be directly affected by Walker's plans.
"Thanks for the 10% pay cut," wrote a Department of Corrections employee. "I can't believe that I voted for you. Get bent."
Many emails encouraged Walker to fire the teachers who called in sick to attend protests at the Capitol, specifically citing President Ronald Reagan's action against the nation's air traffic controllers during a labor dispute in 1981. Walker later compared the stand he was taking to Reagan's during a prank phone call he thought was from billionaire GOP donor David Koch.
"That was the first crack in the Berlin Wall and led to the fall of the Soviets," Walker said on the call taped by a New York-based blogger.
The emails did not represent a scientific measure of public opinion. Some on both sides were profane. Others were deeply personal.
Jean Eichman, a special education teacher in Walworth County, said in her note to Walker that his father, a minister, had performed her wedding ceremony in 1978 and Walker himself had once babysat for one of her children more than 20 years ago.
"It's hard to criticize people you know," Eichman said, but the importance of the issue compelled her to email Walker.
An email typical of the supporters came from Gail Whittier, an accountant in Racine who said she and her husband have struggled during the recession. She wrote to Walker that public employees should make sacrifices as well, and said in an interview that he needed to know — as the protesters got so much attention — there were people who supported him.
"I just wish that people would kind of sit back and look at the facts," Whittier said in an interview. "I wish people wouldn't just run on emotion."
In the weeks that followed, the protests grew at times to include more than 75,000 people. Democrats in the state Assembly launched a 61-hour filibuster before the bill passed in the middle of the night. And Senate Republicans eventually used a parliamentary maneuver to force a vote without the missing Democrats present.
The law requires all public workers, except most police and firefighters, to pay more for their benefits, equating to an 8 percent pay cut on average. It also limits most public workers' collective union bargaining rights to wages only, and caps potential wage increases to the rate of inflation. That means they can no longer negotiate issues such as work conditions or vacation time.
Walker has signed the law, but Democrats have challenged it in court, arguing that Republicans violated the state's open-meetings law in their efforts to push the legislation through.
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Associated Press writers Troy Thibodeaux and Shawn Chen contributed to this report.
Mar 28, 2011 at 4:45 p.m.
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I would say the silent majority, about 80% are behind Gov. Walker all the way. Keep it up. Ignore all those radicals, who only know how to scream and curse like a spoiled kid and can't accept that their pick-pocket gravy train, has now been derailed. Walker is saving the state from disaster. He has our thanks and praise. We also have a very intelligent Lt. Gov. They both have a lot of common sense.
Mar 26, 2011 at 6:20 a.m.
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Maybe e-mails in favor were a little late, because we were the working people.
Mar 25, 2011 at 6:24 p.m.
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Mooshoo... and there are so many that decided they didn't NEED to exercise their right to vote! Sucks to be YOU but WE... the people of Wisconsin DID vote, and voted to STOP paying for your bennies and your future right to collective bargaining! Welcome to the USA! I LOVE my country!
Mar 24, 2011 at 12:58 p.m.
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Clarity- your comments on the Bush vs Obama economy are simply wrong on so many levels. For starters, below is a link to the study of 2007 gas prices. *Please note that gas prices in July 2007 were $3.75 per gallon. The other comparisons can be disputed by facts as well.
http://www.atg.wa.gov/uploadedFiles/Anot...
Mar 23, 2011 at 7:58 p.m.
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imagine that more lies from heir walker...
Mar 23, 2011 at 7:46 p.m.
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it would make sense that when the protest began the emails turned a little more in favor , because the people protesting werent emailing.
Mar 23, 2011 at 7:16 p.m.
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AND, ya'all SHOULD have shown up at the polls! With our economy in the toilet, THIS last election SHOULD have held the biggest turnout in Wisconsin history! This lackadaisical attitude of eligibly aged voters who had huge things to gain/lose, should have caught people's attention. But the status quo prevailed. "My vote won't make a difference anyway".
Well guess what... It made a HUGE difference!
Mar 23, 2011 at 5:49 p.m.
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Thank you bucky for making the point that what matters most is the ballot box.
Mar 23, 2011 at 5:42 p.m.
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Why would anyone who is a union member waste time writing to an jackass who has already made up his mind. It's no surprise that his supporters are writing him and his opposition would not waste their time. Beside why waste time writing this idiot when you can spend your time working for his recall.
Mar 23, 2011 at 4:44 p.m.
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Ya, I know MooShoo because anyone who doesn't think like you has no character! Sorry, but thinking that way is a character flaw all on its own. I voted for Walker and wanted the bill to pass, but also understand the union lovers have every right to protest against something they don't like. That's what makes our country so great!
Mar 23, 2011 at 4:37 p.m.
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"Don't be deceived, people, just because you saw SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND people at the capitol you automatically assume that the people of Wisconsin do not support Governor Walker." ---------- That's funny.
Mar 23, 2011 at 3:31 p.m.
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Don't be deceived, people, just because you saw several hundred thousand people at the capitol you automatically assume that the people of Wisconsin do not support Governor Walker. Don't be suprised if the recalls you are seeking backfire on you. I suspect that those supporting Governor Walker's position will be affirmed and those that didnt like the "Fab 14" may be ousted. So be careful what you ask for.
Mar 23, 2011 at 3:02 p.m.
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I agree liverpool , I sent e-mails to rep. knilians who now we know is just a puppet for his master. Recalls can't come soon enough.
Mar 23, 2011 at 2:53 p.m.
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It became clear early on that boss walker was hell bent on breaking unions and was not going to back down. I think most people like myself sent e-mails to our rersentatives and didnt waste our time sending any to the boss.
Mar 23, 2011 at 2:10 p.m.
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No, MikeF. Respectfully, it would only be a "lie of omission" had he not said "...emails we got today..." and implied that the overall number of emails he had received were in support of his budget repair bill. Instead, he clearly specified and qualified the day to which he referred.
Mar 23, 2011 at 1:56 p.m.
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It is known as a "lie by omission".
Mar 23, 2011 at 1:52 p.m.
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"The more than 8,000 emails *we got today,* the majority are telling us to stay firm, to stay strong, to stand with the taxpayers," Walker said of the emails.
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"At 5 p.m., 15 minutes after he took the podium, the governor's office had received nearly 5,900 emails of support *that day* to roughly 1,400 against."
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"As Walker spoke at the news conference, a massive spike of emails in favor of his proposal poured into the governor's inbox. At the end of the day, he had received more than 9,400 emails cheering him on — three times the number of messages of opposition. *The final overall tally through the end of the day: 54 percent in support, 43 percent against."*
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Each of the above quotes is pulled directly from the article. Governor Walker specifically refers to the e-mails received *on the day of the press conference.* (See paragraph one above.)
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At no time does the Governor state that there are no e-mails from out-of-state or that there had been no opposition to his bill--only that on THAT day the supporters who were telling him to stand firm were in numbers far greater than detractors.
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I'm not sure how, in any quarter, that can be taken as a lie.
Mar 23, 2011 at 1:46 p.m.
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What???????
A politician lie??????
Now that is a giant surprise worthy of a comment. Sorry Mooshoo, but there is not a single politician, Republican or Democrat, in the history of this Nation, who does not lie.
Mar 23, 2011 at 1:41 p.m.
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MooShoo Mar 23, 2011 at 1:02 p.m.
So if I understand what you are saying, having an opinion that differs with you is a character flaw?
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The democrat's Madison 'good ole 60's' side show along with the age old tactic of intimidation and distorted rhetoric will only serve to turn away the independant voters.
As others have stated, I made my point at the ballot box and will do so again April 5th.
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jowner Mar 23, 2011 at 8:09 a.m. Maybe that's not a 'fact'.
Mar 23, 2011 at 1:33 p.m.
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The AP objective? Uh...no.
Mar 23, 2011 at 1:32 p.m.
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I sent emails in support!
Mar 23, 2011 at 1:26 p.m.
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i support the governor. he is my hero. Walker for president!!!
Mar 23, 2011 at 12:57 p.m.
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Walker is a big fat liar!
Mar 23, 2011 at 12:17 p.m.
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I thought reporters were supposed to be objective. You could have fooled me by this article. Why can't the Gazette have local reporters on this instead of AP writers who are probably from out of state?
Mar 23, 2011 at 12:15 p.m.
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lovessweets, For what purpose would you have had those of us who support the budget repair bill show up in Madison? So we could be shouted at by out-of-state union organizers? Ridiculed by paid lobbyists? I do not need to march on Madison. I voted in November. That was my protest of the status quo. I will continue to vote in April. And in every election as it arises in the future. And my fervent prayer is,(whether they like the legislation before them or not),--unlike this time--in the future my representatives will have enough spine and integrity to actually stand up and be present in the State Assembly and Senate so that my voice is heard.
Mar 23, 2011 at 11:52 a.m.
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I also hope that people who oppose this legislation understand we had an election on November 2nd. I hope they further understand that those of us who support the legislation did not go to protest because unlike the the protesters we cannot just have a sick out.
Mar 23, 2011 at 11:20 a.m.
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I hope that most people realize that during the time the Governor was receiving email in support of his bill that the people who would have opposed it were doing so in person at the protest rally. They didn't have the time any more to just sit at their computer and send emails, they had to take action. I would take people being in support of the bill if they had also shown up in the tens of thousands. Apparently they didn't care enough.
Mar 23, 2011 at 9:26 a.m.
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I'd like to know how many of these e-mails were from Wisconsin residents. I heard the majority were from out of state.
Mar 23, 2011 at 9:21 a.m.
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If concession is specifically given to a group of people through a law, that privilege is a legal right.
Mar 23, 2011 at 8:51 a.m.
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True Gazette. You should issue a correction on using the word "rights" in your article. The collective bargaining issue is not a "right".
Mar 23, 2011 at 8:09 a.m.
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I didn't see where this article stated the fact that almost all of his supporting emails came from out of state.
Mar 23, 2011 at 7:45 a.m.
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"Initially?" HA! It still does. This concept that there are 'rights' given to a privileged class of people-the Union workers that aren't given to others is patently ridiculous. RIGHTS ARE GIVEN TO EVERYONE! Constitutional rights are given to every American Citizen. There is no 'right' to collectively bargain. It is a privilege given to union workers that can be taken away if not used properly (like taxing the retirement away from citizens to pay for theirs). I'm still w/Walker, this has to stop. RIGHTS ARE GIVEN TO EVERYONE, not just to a bunch of privileged few. And I'm guessing that everyone who thinks that he is hurting the 'middle class' forgets that there are workers who aren't in Public Unions getting their tax bills increased every year just to pay for someone else's retirement. Oh And Thanks Gazette, for showing your Lib Bias again....
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