From WSJ on-line-
Pop quiz: What political party, in what state, this week passed a bill in the dead of night stripping public-sector unions of their collective- bargaining powers? Republicans in Wisconsin? The GOP in Ohio or Indiana?

Try Democrats in Massachusetts. Maybe the debate over public-sector benefits isn't all that ideological after all.

That would be the view of Massachusetts Democratic Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, who late Tuesday led an overwhelming majority of his House in passing a bill divesting policemen, firefighters, teachers and other municipal employees of the power to collectively bargain most health-care benefits by a 111-42 vote.

http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/0...

Conservatives, like Gov. Walker, argue that if their policy prescription is followed, it will produce broad-based economic benefits including more rapid growth, higher incomes, less illness, and, even, more democracy. The myth of conservative economic policy does not compare with the reality. What conservative economic policy has actually accomplished is a redistribution of wealth and power away from the vast majority of the population to firms and their owners. The effects of these policies on citizens and workers have been socially determined economic instability, unemployment, poverty, inequality, dangerous products, and infectious and chronic disease.

dmfd24:".how anyone could still support Walker with all the information coming out." We have the 88% of American workers who don't belong to Unions who support Walker. We voted for him knowing his plans), we have people like myself, made to pay Union dues & belong to a Union that does absolutely nothing but collect our Money.If I wanted to continue supporting my family, & keep the job. Then I need to pay the extortion to work, We support Walker!Then we have taxpayers that are tired of seeing their cities, towns, & villages held hostage every time contracts come up, & Unions advise their members not to take that 2% increase in pay & benefits, when the rest of the Countries workers are compromising to keep their employers doors open. Unions don't do that. Case in Point is GM. If the Unions had NOT been able to increase UAW members wages waaaay above their worth, Janesville's GM would still be open today.My son is a Union fanatic because he belongs to one of them, & he actually said to me yesterday... & I've had other Union commenters say to complainers of Unions that "Your just jealous because you don't make the kind of money I make, & Have the guaranteed benefits I have" & I just have three things to say to people who say this kind of garbage.. #1. You don't have any idea of what my income is, nor do you know what benefits I have. #2. "Guaranteed benefits you have" roflmro.. Apparently, you guys haven't talked to some of the wiser, older generation that were also supposed to have "Guaranteed benefits" when they retired. How many union companies have been absolved over the years from their pension debt by the Courts? My dad is one of those ripped off Retirees, so don't think it won't happen to you. How many company executives have wiped out their companies pension funds over the years? Or companies that invested poorly, draining their revenues? So many things happen over the years, & by the time you retired, your chances of being screwed raises every year. And #3. "Jealous of" what!? I'm glad I don't depend on a Union for my wages anymore. Their a crap-shoot. Take a look at all the foreclosures happening around the Country because too many people went way over their heads in debt, thinking their jobs would always be there. I know my comments sound angry over this Union stuff, & I am angry at Unions Lobbyist for being able to payoff politicians to vote for bills that benefit 12% of American workers, & Screw the taxpayer. The value of my home decreased over the last year, but my property taxes will go up again this year (In part) because Unions have never wanted to be reasonable during negotiations for contracts. The Collective bargaining rights need to be rethought, re-written, & re-voted on, so contract negotiations can be a "Even Playing Field." I don't think I've ever felt this Country so divided.

“A house divided against itself cannot stand."
Abe Lincoln 1858

I don't know how anyone could still support Walker with all the information coming out.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/...

Mouse- I worked my butt off for 15 years with two jobs and think 50 hours is plenty now. I do go to classes and training if you must know.

We run a nationwide employment agency consortium Governor Walker. HR staff will be forwarding to you the detailed resumes of at least 2100 unemployed teachers, administrators, IT technical, etc., from the tri state area all passing our stringent personal and professional capability tests, drug tests, etc. We also have an extensive list of unemployed professionals from general contracting, et al., to Aerospace workers and engineers. We have agreed that if an applicant is accepted, we will pay for their relocation expenses subordinating those costs over five years but they must be able to make it to your location for the series of expected interviews. Those on this list meet this criterion and all are ready for employment.

Walker ran on creating 250,000 job I just did not realize he was going to create less jobs instead.

The Dem's are experts at fear mongoring,hence Obamacare and the poor union people who are going to be picking scraps off the floor. They claim Republicans cater to big business and rich CEO's. Lets get real, both sides do the same. Dem's cater to unions and don't care about small business unless they are in the unions. Where do you think your union dues are going. I guess if I wanted to support a candidate, I would send my money to the candidate I support not who some big wig says I should support. I would also negotiate my own benifits and salary with my employer or move on, not expect someone to do it for me.

The issues before us in Gov. Walker's bill are very hazy at best and he has constructed the usual fearful atmosphere that has become all too common when a politician has a personal agenda. The "Gotta be quick gotta be now or else!" presentation of this is suspect.

As I stated previously, how much of this deficit is due to things he already has done to inflate it. Such as corporate tax breaks that have no history of providing anymore real increase in decent paying jobs. More likely it would result in corporate executive bonuses and/or generous stock holder profits. Walker's cancellation of the High Speed Rail was a mistake. Even Minnesota's R Gov. Pawlenty saw the sense in providing that. Add to the federal money ( some 240 million) that had to be paid back plus lost jobs; well no wonder we have a deficit. This isn't what the taxpayers of Wisconsin want.

And lest you feel I am all pro Dem I will say this. From my over 50 years of observing the political scene R's typically try and sell their platform on fear of issues (from gun control to gay marriage) and tax breaks for corporations (not small business) and the rich who manipulate and despise common sense regulations that would control the excesses that brought our country down in 2008.

The D's are not always squeaky clean either. But they generally do realize that if the taxpaying, job working populace isn't well employed and compensated with a living wage that can support a family on one income , if possible,; then we have anarchy and people marching in the streets. Which is what we have now. Businesses/investors used to be satisfied with 6% to 8% return on investment. Once that wasn't good enough suddenly the wages and benefits were deemed "unsustainable" by corporations, their investors and of course their political cronies. Meaning, they wanted more in their collective pockets than the fair share that the profit generating employees were getting. What was unsustainable was the "irrational exuberance" or increased greed of corporations. Even the privatizing and development of the Health Care institutions became profit oriented, rather than the mutual insurance company's they had been.

I don't understand all the apparent hatred toward public service employees. Like most of you, we too pay taxes. Like many of you, my family lives check to check. I am salaried and work long hours to make sure taxpayers receive the services their taxes pay for. My politics do not need to come into play. Simply realize that when you paint us as greedy and rich, you don't realize how far off you are. And those of you who don't want me to have the benefits I do should realize the investments of money, time and education I've put into earning them - and that you too could have them if you're willing to put in the time. Instead of our middle classes fighting amongst itself, why don't you ask your private employer why he can't provide you with better benefits and a living wage? Don't blame me for what you don't have. Take a look in the mirror.

This poll shows very clearly where readers of the Gazette stand...52% to 43% in opposition of Walker's power move. This will end badly not only for Walker, but for his puppets and their constituents. Everyone in WI who isn't super rich will be effected by this. Your kids will have more classmates to try to learn with, your parents and grandparents will lose crucial benefits to Medicaid and Medicare, and don't expect the plows to come through when it snows in a timely manner. If you think things are bad now, you're in for a treat! Wait until 330,000 workers in WI lose 20% of their take-home pay. Who's going to buy your products, eat at your restaurants and drink at your establishments. This will not end well, pass or not, for all of WI, not just union workers!! Open your eyes, people!!!

My wife and I have been keeping track of the budget repair bill issues since it started. While we know and appreciate the financial issues at hand, we are wary of what else is buried in Gov. Walker's bill that we don't know about. He seems to bring up "flexibility" a lot. This morning on "News 3 This Morning" (Madison WISC-TV) Charlotte Deleste asked Gov. Walker specifically about Medicaid and how his budget plans would effect the needs of elderly, handicapped, and special needs taxpayers and their families. He made what I took as skirting remarks, assuring her that needs would be met, but maybe more closely "assessed". A few moments later he also again mentioned the need for flexibility to leave the door open make further adjustments to any programs or tax issues. There is also the threat to Federal funds for the Madison Metro transportation system due not meeting federal guidelines because his budget includes limitations on collective bargaining. All this seems to indicate even more a haphazard effort to push things through.

It causes us to wonder what other "flexible" provisions his bill contains that we would only come to understand later and are detrimental to the well being of state residents. Also, how much of his budget deficit is due to his stoppage of the High Speed Rail and the federal funds that had to be paid back? How much of the projected budget deficit is due to overly generous tax breaks to corporations and the affluent as possible special interests of his own?

Tim Cullen brought up an excellent idea that was used by previous Gov. Earl years ago when faced with a similar budget crisis. Gov. Earl had both the R's and D's choose two members to address budget concerns and recommend areas and strategy that worked for almost 10 years to cover the budget. Why hasn't Gov. Walker done the same? There is sufficient time before the June deadline to do this. It would seem Gov. Walker just places too much blame on past governors mistakes and is a bit arrogant to consider that there are always alternatives. Haste makes waste. . . or has the State lawmakers and Gov. Walker forgotten that? What about flexibility to work in a bi-partisan way with all of the state legislature instead of just offering a ruse to debate and just force a vote on his bill?
The fact that several other governors are attempting the same tactics in other states, especially after attending the new governors conference after their election, but before they took office. Every budget represents a "crisis". And the blame shifting and critical remarks of Gov. Walker offer little in the way of convincing us that he is really offering the kind of reform that is really beneficial to all Wisconsin citizens and taxpayers.
Sincerely,

J&P in Janesville

Cherokee1 , I will call my public union husband and tell him about him not being a "ordinary, hard working" person. Oh wait, he's in a sewer right now cleaning it so you can flush--all for that greedy , get rich wage of less then $40.000 a year. ( that's after 15+ years) Yup--just rolling in it around here. He pays into insurance and all other taxes to. Where was all you people when they were hiring for these glamorous , get rich , easy work jobs?

Walker is trying to please his handlers: the Koch Brothers, Wisconsin Manufacturers, and other organizations that believe in a power
elite.

As for you anti-union thugs.
Let me have the same health care and penison as Walker. Nothing more.

All I have to say is that upon watching both sides since the beginning of this. I see both sides slamming each other. I see both sides hating each other, and I for one will teach my children that this bill is taking away rights, rights which we have fought for for decades. We are broke, but this bill excludes only groups that protect all of us, but also protect the govenor. His government elected leader cuts don't start until he is out of office in 2012. What is wrong with the elected leaders taking the heat now just like the rest of us? He has set himself up to be the sole decision maker on all bills passed in the future. Tell me is that not a dictatorship? I am afraid to leave my home. We have protestors who are getting angrier and angrier. What has happened to us? We will be in a police state before we know it. All due to a power hungry man who is not leading our country for the people and by the people. Our freedom is at stake unless we find some major legal loopholes in this bill. But then when did our legal system ever get honest and protect us? The insurance companies funded Mr. Walker. This is all about more money for the insurance companies without checks and balances by unions and public leaders.

mooser and crazycatlady you are sad individuals going after a disabled person, ever hear of voice activated computer tech. you must lead pretty sad lives, I hope you are never faced with some horrible life changing condition that disables you I would never wish my life on anyone not even someone like you two

A bold move from Wisconsin and the surrounding states. Stand up for your Rights. Kewlest move to make, as we have seen.
The only detractors are those whom MAY change their minds after reading the actual Budget Repair Bill information. If the Gov will release it for public scrutany. (Before it DOES effect all Middle Class Rut-erz.)
Or they are the simple plain ignorant.

Never should Public Employees have been given collective bargining rights. This should be reserved for the private sector where it is sometimes actually needed.

Michigan announced today that they will close half their schools and remaining schools/classes will have up to 60 kids in a class. Thats what we will have in wisconsin if Walkers bill does not get passed. Our state will probably go bankrupt because of unions if we don't stop their greedy power by imtimidation tactics. They no longer help our workers, they drive companies and jobs out of the country. The proof is there. Businesses and companies can't compete in the world market, when faced with union bulling and outragious demands. Unions keep crying buy american, when they are the ones driving everything out of the country. How dumb can they be. Eventually if they keep getting their way, even the union bosses will go overseas and try to pick the pockets of those people, when they have no ones pocket to pick here anymore. The democrat party would also be history, without all the money the union has sucked and picked from every member they ever had. We need the freedom of workers who are not forced and chained and had their pockets picked for unioin bosses and democrat party against ones will. We desparately need a right to work law and free those remaining 11 % of workers from forced blackmail by uniuons.

cherokee1: you are disabled but you are capable of typing on here. So why can't you find a job typing? I'm sure the taxpayers are supporting you but obviously there is a skill that you could use to find employment. just sayin.

As a public employee who did not vote for Walker, I can agree to paying more on my health insurance. I however, cannot agree to have my rights stripped from me without warning. I am not in a union, and I do not have a pension. I am not OK with the legislature forcing this vote without negotiation, and do not support spending tax dollars looking for the Democrats who left town to ensure no quorum. IF the vote on this issue has been taken off of the table, the senators should come back to do their job. But if Walker continues to force this on all of us, I hope they stay gone...

How about all of you that are whining about giving up some riches come live the lives of ordinary, hard working, non union workers. Maybe then you can see why this is such a hotbed of contention. I guarantee if we did what you are doing now, ie.. protesting(sick calls) ect.. we would not have a job pure and simple. Get off your moral high horses and start thinking about the community as a whole and not just your little paradise. My husband works 75 hours a week, has not had a raise in 2 years, pays $100 a week for health ins.(no eye, dental) and I am disabled and S.S has not had a COL in 2 years now. Try living our lives week to week and praying nothing breaks down ect.. As for the dems. who ran get rid of them all, they failed their job and public!! I would be so proud to be a democrat, instead of facing it and fighting they ran like a bunch a blithering idiots!

Wisconsin Lover: Why is it that if the opinion you agree with isn't leading the poll that someone must be cheating? The facts are these: More people think Walker's a moron than support him; people didn't take their voting responsibility seriously last time out and we're all gonna pay for it. Finally, we won't make the same mistake twice.

I am a retired early childhood educator who for 23 years of my teaching career was a non-union state employee (my pension from the state: $620/month). I am firmly opposed not only to the passage of Governor Walker’s Budget Recovery Bill and it’s hidden agenda, but also the tactics that he and his cronies are using to ram it quickly through the legislature without discussion from anyone who opposes them. As we all know, one of the biggest complaints about the bill is revoking a union’s right to Collective Bargain about anything other than wages. What these politicians are doing runs completely in opposition to what we work so hard to teach children daily.
Everyday in my classroom I reminded children to work out differences through conversation, all viewpoints were to be listened to, respect and safety were unconditional, we were a community that needed to work together and that bullying of any kind would not be tolerated. Is it any surprise that in the last week teachers have needed to come forward and rally for everything they hold near and dear? We live democracy everyday in our classrooms.
What Gov Walker is proposing in this bill goes far beyond wages. He says “it’s about the money”. If that is true, then why are he and his legislative cronies refusing to accept compromises that would get him his $300M biennial savings plus start any subsequent bargaining from a much lower threshold (assuring savings for years to come). This compromise would retain collective bargaining rights, would legislatively set the benefits bar lower for both state and local governments and net the required savings in the next biennium and beyond. Everyone’s assignment: re-read the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution and GET OUT AND VOTE. The Walker “landslide” happened with 50% of eligible voters voting.

I am a public (State of WI) employee, and I don't hide that fact. We all (public employees) knew Walker was going to ask us to pay more of our wages toward benefits. What almost nobody, including most Republicans in the legislature, knew was that Walker would try to take away bargaining rights. This bill is a step in the GOP's plan to eliminate public unions nationwide. Union members vote in higher %'s than non-union members, and they vote largely Democratic. Also, if this bill passes, an amendment will be added to break the police and fire unions as well.
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The only good thing about this bill is that if it passes, Walker will be face a recall election in 2012.
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For union workers, this has very little to do with the monetary parts of this bill. Sure, it'll hurt our bank accounts with such an immediate increase in pay going toward benefits. This fight is about workers rights, public and private, and it's about quality education for the students in WI and across the country. This bill will cut $1 billion from education spending, which will force school districts to lay off many teachers and cut programs. So, I guess he's telling the truth that he won't be issuing the layoffs. That task will be passed down to the local areas. Milwaukee Public Schools alone will see a 25%-30% cut in funding, essentially crippling the district.
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Shame on you, Scott Walker!

Walker can count on one term.

Wisconsin taxpayers will learn a lot about fiscal responsibility under Gov Walker - and if he serves for several terms, we will see our state become healthy again.

It has become so obvious that the pro-union people are cheating on this poll. I started wondering about the numbers, so I'd check them when I went to bed and again in the morning. Surprise, surprise -- every night the number of responses for "I didn't vote for Walker and this reinforces my decision" has gone up by 300 or more. Additionally, I've been watching it for the last 10 minutes and only that response has gone up -- by more than 100 votes.
It's funny that these guys must know the majority of the public is against them too, but they still keep going with these dishonest union tactics. What a shame.

Adam615- who worked ONLY 40 hours anymore??
I work 50 a week and ALL YEAR.
So you are not comparing apples to apples.

bueno"the state is not even in debt"

Since when????
Maybe my accountant doesn't know the truth about why we pay so much into the state for taxes.

So why would we get inferior teachers because they need to contribute 12%?? LIKE THE REST OF US have to.

I am 100% behind Govenor Walker, we can not afford to keep paying for these 'free loaders' , everyone should pay for their own health care, and pensions, just like the middle class that go to work each day. As for the union input, they just keep raising your dues, and more often than not, they do nothing for you when the time comes... right now, all they are worried about is not getting their money from the dues.....
When the Govenor gets this past, I surely hope he decides to do something about all the welfare people that just lay around and collect their checks....
Govenor Walker, good job, keep it up !!!!

Very informative graphic.

http://www.stateofworkingamerica.org/pag...

Recall Walker Now!

Running and hiding is not what is being done. Parliamentary procedure drives the process including voting. Were they in the state, the Governor could force them to appear, not to vote but to establish a quorum so that a vote could be taken. But since Walker tried to push this through so quickly, before the citizens could react, they were forced to use this approach to buy time for a true reading of the will of the people. But Walker cares nothing for people. He cares about his image. He cares about winning. He wants there to be winners and losers which naturally causes greater division and polarization. Were he a good leader he would listen and seek a workable solution less drastic. So the Democrats are not hiding. They are using a drastic tactic that is in response to drastic actions on the part of a drastic Governor.

Does anyone wonder why there are so many charter schools and home schooling?

Is it too early to recall Walker? His ego and pursuit for power interferes with his ability to seek real solutions; it’s his way or no way. Rather than bringing people together he is causing greater division and this we do not need. Division and extremism run rampant in the world today and his approach polarizes people even more. He is no leader. He is no statesman.

Workers’ Rights
Our rights as American are being taken away by Wisconsin Governor Walker. This comes from the state that gave us workman’s compensation law and better working conditions. He wants people to believe he is concerned with budget issues, but he really wants to break unions and take away any bargaining ability they have left. Also, why is he only doing this to some unions and not all? The Wisconsin teachers have all ready been singled out before, when no other union was. In 1993 the Wisconsin governor put a 3.8% cap on the teachers’ pay increase, which included pay and insurance. Insurance ate up most of this, so teachers saw little pay increase for the 17 years it lasted, while other workers, union and non-union, were enjoying large pay increases and benefits. As a 30 year veteran teacher in Wisconsin I have continued to give more and more monetarily, at the bargaining table and in the hours I give to my profession. With low pay, long hours, and now a projected expectation of no bargaining rights, what quality of teachers do you hope to get for your child to provide him/her with an education? We need to all support collective bargaining rights for our workers.

Does anyone believe running and hiding in a Chicago hotel is the solution here? Shouldn't Dem's come to the floor and fight their battle? Or/and vote? Isn't that democracy and the law of the land? Walkers not the designer of the show in Madison- we are a country in big financial trouble, like any family, when cuts have to be made, its hard, but its time, and Wisconsin is only the first in a long line and that's why the Unions are kicking so hard. Sorry folks- our family hasn't had any insurance for a long time. You've been blessed. Be glad you can at least pay for some.

"If all the taxpayers saw all this, they possibly would be marching on the schools and teachers themselves."

Start the movement goodone...

Or doesn't it mean that much to you?

Easier to post here than to actually do something, like the teachers are doing when they are passionate about a cause.

Talk is cheap goodone.

Seems like there's a lot of people out there, if these numbers are to be believed, who are ashamed that they voted for Walker.

That is certainly understood. We forgive you.

For all those of you that can't wait to recall Gov Walker.please take a look at Article XIII,Sect 12 of the Wis. Constitution. Some of you are right that you can't start the recall until the 1st year of the term for which the incumbent was elected. I want to point out if you are successful-the process might take at least one more year -so you have the recall person in his/her third year of the term. and the incumbent can run or the winner can serve out the term which could be one year left. With that said, I think that we should think about recalling the 14 sen. as they could be brought up on charges of " Contempt of the Legis." which the Gov. may issue at any time. With that being said the bottom line is that everyone should pull together and solved the debt,not only this year ending,but next 2years budget. this state is broke... you could say on and on about this but this state is still broke. by the way Where in the U.S Constitution that we as tax payers are funding the Dept of Education, The Dept Of Energy, The EPA. and the list goes on.lete take a look where is our money (taxes) is going.

I think those teachers that took off of work Fri. should be discipline as this is a breech of their contract. More so what kind of example setting are they setting,toward their students? Not a very good one may I say. What a mess. I don't want to hear about who started this, but I do know that Us taxpayers will suffer, you can go on and on,but the problem is still with us. The School Dist of Janesville from this day foreward is in deep money trouble,so lets pull together and support the people that we elected to do a thankless job of solving the budget problem

some poster had said janesville teachers did not join the teacher walkout here. The poster must have been asleep for a week. Janesville teachers left in such high numbers that with all the subs called in they still were way short and could not open school for the students. Teachers were awol. A poster said the teachers were sick of Walkers actions and that was good enough excuse. If they think that is justified, then it may be that the teachers were just sick in the head by their own unstable views and didn't know how to explain it. Maybe some of them need to go in for an evaluation. I'm sure they have all the health care that will pay for it. Another stated that Wis. ranked 2nd in ACT scores. What about SAT scores? These don't seem to mean much and are not very relevant. I read before Janesville was just below average in student scores. I just saw last week that the Milwaukee schools have a 95% dropout rate,or failure rate. That doesn't say much for high paid teachers. who are above the middle class if ones goes with total high salary & benefits. If they were not forced to pay high union dues, they would save about $700.00- $850.00 a year right there and I heard one complain about maybe having to pay a $1,000 a year more if their pension and insurance is changed with the co-pays they might have to pay. That don't amount to much. I don't have those benefits they do and I pay on average $10,000 - $15,000 for two of us, per year for insurance with deductibles, no dental,no eyecare or prescriptions,etc. Most teachers today don't even draw up their own lesson plans. They use pre-canned state furnished lesson plans in many classes. Heck, any secondary student can follow a lesson plan , Why even need a teacher. When I dropped my kids off at school every day I counted 10-20 teachers come rolling into the teacher parking lot about 3 minutes before start of school. When I picked up my kids I counted 15-20 teacher come out up to 10 minutes before school was dismissed and before any kids came out and had already left the parking lot. Its too bad everyone can't see what goes on in and outside the school building. If all the taxpayers saw all this, they possibly would be marching on the schools and teachers themselves.

With the legislature set to rubber stamp Governor Walker’s proposal to require public workers to pay part of their retirement and health insurance benefits, let’s take a look at what the legislators are compensated for the work they do. Keep in mind that these figures are based solely on information received from the chief clerk of the Assembly. Requests to the clerk of the Senate have been ignored.
The pay for state legislators is $49,943 per year. They voted themselves a 5.3% raise that went into effect in 2009. They also receive $88.00 a day per diem for time spent in Madison. My assemblyman, Mark Honadel, collected $7,480.00 (85 days) in per diem allowance while Jeff Fitzgerald collected $13,024.00 (139 days). Legislators receive a travel allowance equal to $.485 per mile traveled. They also receive retirement benefits equal to 2% of pay for every year served. This is not deducted from their pay but provided by the tax payers. Health insurance premiums cost them anywhere from $36/month to $471/month. The coup de gras is they average a whopping 21 days in session per year (this is the average over 11 years since 2000). Not a bad gig for what amounts to part time work.
But, this is the tip of the ice berg. Each legislator has a STAFF. These legislative assistants are paid anywhere from $25,800 (level 1 minimum) to $50,364 (level 4 maximum) depending on experience. The maximum pay for their research assistant is $58,632 and maximum for their administrative assistant is $59,340. These workers receive the same health insurance option as the legislator and also have 14% of their retirement paid by the state. Legislators have anywhere from two to six aides.
It’s time to ask legislators what they are putting into the pot to cut the budget. Their raise took effect well after the financial meltdown occurred in 2007/2008 and long after these budget deficits began to appear. They could have sworn it off. Maybe they should not be claiming 139 per diem days when the legislature is only in session 21 days. Work from home, save the per diem and the travel allowance.
Clearly the state of Wisconsin is in dire financial straits and all public employees must contribute something. The problem is we do not hear of any concessions coming from legislators or the governor himself. This is the proud state of Wisconsin, not some third world dictatorship. I ask Governor Walker and all legislators to cut their pay, eliminate half of their legislative aides, pay more of their own retirement and health insurance, cut by 25% the per diem reimbursement allowance (or be reimbursed for actual expenses). In the future maybe two or three legislators can stay in one hotel room when in Madison, eat the continental breakfast and don’t use their per diem on three martini lunches and trips to happy hour. Then and only then, will we all see if they mean business when they say all must sacrifice to balance the budget.

batmanb4robin: "it gets worst" i want you homeschooling my children.

Kill The Bill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lay off as many as need be. I will not pay any more on my taxes. What I pay this year I will pay next year. I have no more money to give and that is that. Live within your means!!!

I BELIEVE IN MAKING CUTS. I AM ALL FOR THE UNIONS. I SEE NO CUT BACKS ON GOVERNMENT, OUR CONGRESSMEN, THEIR BENEFITS. THEY GET FREE ALL ACROSS THE BOARD. WE, TAX PAYERS, UNION MEMBERS ARE PAYING THEM. TIME FOR US TO PICKET THAT. I SEE NO COMMENTS ON TAKING AWAY FOREIGN AID AND PAYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THAT IS ALL NOT FAIR. TIME FOR OUR GOVERNMENT TO STAND UP TO THE PLATE AND DEAL WITH THAT. NOT TAKE IT OUT ON US.

well we just had the election and the overwhelming majority backs Gov. Walker and what he laid out. Did the last poster miss it?

milton17

The election was in November, did you forget to vote? Sorry, you don't get a "do over" on an election.

Also, congrats to the teachers at Milton on showing real class and staying on the job.

Lets hope that the people elected for Janesville area are watching this poll; the people have spoken and they disagree with this bill!! That is what they are elected for and this is what the people say! NO arguing or whining about that!

This poll is much closer than I thought it would be in Janesville. Being that Janesville is the biggest stronghold of union democrats in the state.

Perhaps it is time for private sector unions to strike in support of public unions. It is
time to show Walker that he does not live in
feudal Europe.

nugnrose: I was a social worker at one time. When I graduated with a masters degree I knew that pay would be low. If you go into a field you need to check out the salaries. It's especially easy to with the internet, etc. I left social work because I burned out on trying to help people take responsibility for their lives and you can't do that. They have to want to do it. I was able to help some children along the way but I don't know how long it lasted. The state I worked in gave too many chances to bad parents.

The sad thing is, it's not even a constitutional thing. It's a human rights thing......and the greedy upper class, who control this country are trying to turn it into something it's not.

to likegler, I don't find any such "right" in the constitution, just like getting a drivers license, its a privilege, not a right. 88.1 % of workers in this country are non=union workers and they don't want anything to do with unions. With only 11 % of the workforce, and losing members every year, you are out of touch with reality. Unions had there day and now are a hasbeen fading out, hopefully before
they get violent.

How does denying workers the right to collective bargaining balance the budget? How does a 'good union' man like Joe Knilans agree to destroy collective bargaining when he knows that the majority of grievances in any workplace does not deal with monetary issues? His answer that the state is broke does not fly with removing the collective bargaining rights of workers. Hey Joe, please explain.

Well, traco6 had one thing right, he blames unions for all the immoral rubbish coming out of hollywood. Unions are the ones responsible for jobs going overseas, causing are products to be way over priced and can.t compete in the world market or even in this country for most of us. Foreign countries jump for joy everytime the union forces pay raises here by imtimitation and threats at the homes of those of opposite views. The law breaking teachers who are AWOL should not be let near our children. We don't want them brainwashed by law breakers and liers. That unprofessionl doctor in Madison handing out medical excuses, when they were not evaluated and made no appearance at the doctors office and with no clinic record should lose her license to practice. It is a clear violation of her license requiements.traco6 is also right that everyone who can should take them out of school and home school, our kids would be much better off, or get them into private/religious schools. The public unions, mostly teachers,will be responsible for the next real depression, if they are not stopped here and now. Now may be the time to lock out the teachers and shut down the schools and start hiring new teachers. There are thousands of layed off teachers around the country, who are out of work, looking for jobs and would be glad to come to Wisconsin to teach again and forget about those top 0f the class benefits. How about it school boards? Most of us classify teachers as the RICH in Wisconsin, in the working segment, yet they want more, more, more and not bat an eye. WOW!

I'll still respect you in the morning.
the check is in the mail.
and now:
there is no problem with the budget.....

Is it just me or just a coincidence that all the walker supporters aren't the people paying the additional 12%. Come on you hot shots, put your money where your big mouth is. Call walker and tell him you want to give an additional 12% just because he's your savior.

rofl.. tracco6 is hilarious! "If you want the collective bargaining agreement gone and dont support unions dont watch or support the Green Bay Packers,Milwaukee Brewers,Milwaukee Bucks,dont send your kids to public schools dont call the police or fire departments..."

I don't support Unions, & think Unions are whats helping companies deiced to leave the United States, & go to China. I've never spent a dime in support of, nor ever had the misfortune of sitting to watch the Green-Bay Packers... or any Football Game (except when my kids played Football), nor Baseball, & we home schooled our kids because I'm a firm believer that our Public School system has been broken for years, & no one cares because our children are nothing but $$$ signs to school districts. Have you ever checked where Janesville schools are in the National test scores done every year? It gets worst, not better. Most of my property taxes (And yours) goes to the school district.. & they can't balance their check-books. Next year, the Janesville School Dist wants more money, so guess whose property taxes will go up to pay it... Get my meaning yet...?

We tax payers are footing most the bill for, schools (Whether we have kids going to them or not), we foot most the bill for teachers salaries, their health-care, & their pension premiums. AND right now, when lots of people are out of work, struggling to pay bills, all i hear right now is reluctance/ refusal to pay more then the measly 12%.

If you want the collective bargaining agreement gone and dont support unions dont watch or support the Green Bay Packers,Milwaukee Brewers,Milwaukee Bucks,dont send your kids to public schools dont call the police or fire departments.And last but not least dont watch any television or go to movies the whole entertainment industry mostly union.So shut you tv off because when you do you support some type of a union.

I have a solution. All you bloggers that agree with walker, keep your children home from school to avoid contact with the evil teachers. That way they would not need any state aid and the budget is fixed. Win/Win

E_Burke...you are nuts! He just got in as Gov. and his tenure in the Milwaukee areas was that of slashing the costs. Say what you will about his union-policies...Gov Doyle was a huge spender! You need to stay away from typical ranting and be more imperical.

Wow Janesville your ignorance is showing again. Be stupid and proud if you want...where are the union members saying this is an attack besides the teacher's union? It's only a matter of time and "he" will be after you too.

People need to stop pretending this is about the money. It isn't. The money issues can be resolved through good faith bargaining. This is about a power grab by a politician who is looking to further his own social agenda and his own political career. Just look at the other stuff in this bill and you should realize that.

Having said that, I'm getting pretty sick of this whole "my pay/benefits suck so yours should too". Posters say the teachers are whiners, but the number of private employees complaining about their jobs far outnumbers them.

Just because you bent over and took it when your pay/benfits got cut or your job got shipped to China, don't expect everyone else to. If you didn't have the stones to complain or protest or do something to save your own situation, that's not the fault of those who have banded together to protect their pay/benfits/working conditions. If you're bitching about how you had to take a pay cut or pay more for your insurance or your 401k maybe you could quit and get one of those readily available jobs you think the public employees should be looking for. You're just jealous. And everyone pays taxes so I don't put stock it that "you work for me" crap.
ps-I'm not a union member nor a public employee.

to adam615. There are millions who work more than 40 hours per week. With your three months off every year plus all your personal and sick days, you must be working 18 hours a day. Where is the union?? You also failed to mention, you can deduct $250,00 off your taxes to purchase school supplies every year. We are paying taxes to subsidize the teachers with their tax breaks.

Cherokee, maybe for a few teachers it is about the money, but that is not why we do it. I have been a teacher in a union and in a non-union school. I've also worked in the business sector. Let me put it this way, if you work 40 hrs a week for 50 weeks a year, you work 2000 hrs. As a teacher in a "shortened year" I have never worked less than 2200 hrs! That's 10% more than a full time job. Teaching is a profession-- it requires extra schooling and training. No one complains about other professions (law, medicine, engineering) making money, but teaching is not supposed to be about money. And you know what, it isn't. We make enough to get by on. The benefits are part of the pay for the hours and commitment put into the teaching. Teachers also buy many, many items for their classrooms. And they have to be professional at all times (Natalie Munroe, anyone?) even when they can be assaulted and cursed at. And they are always under scrutiny and attacked from the right AND the left. They are the scapegoats. Teaching is a thankless job that is taxing on mind, body and soul. And teachers are willing to make concessions, this isn't about the money at this point, it is about unions in general, which are very necessary (albeit in some cases they go too far, but we'd be worse without them than with them). And when you look at average salaries, remember you have some very veteran teachers there raising pay. New, young, energetic teachers who are also trying to follow new paradigms and NCLB laws get the brunt of the work and no where near the pay you see when looking at averages. Walk in a teacher's shoes before you criticize.

What Walker is doing is basically creating class warfare. If WI busts unions, unions will be busted nationally, WI has always led the way. Unions gave all workers-- union or non-- the 40 hr work week, they prevented child labor, and helped sweat shop conditions. They also help set the pay scales even though pay still isn't increasing with inflation. An interesting fact-- unions were 36% in 1954 and 11% membership in 2010. We saw the drop off in the 80s and 90s. CNN Money had an article about the widening gap between rich and middle class. The middle class salaries have basically stagnated since then while the rich increased. This article wasn't written in correlation with unions, but, the numbers provide for interesting correlation. Maybe the middle class would be better off if more people were in unions? Walker is making a political move to cripple his political opponents because unions support them. All political will come from big business once unions are destroyed. There will be only one party with control-- Big Business and class warfare will truly be upon us. It needs to stop here and now. All eyes are on this bill. Walker was a mistake, and we are all reaping what the blinded WI voters have sewn.

All of these protests shows that Walker is just a BIG BOOB !!!

carlitosway - I suggest you look outside the Janesville bubble - a much larger sample size: http://www.jsonline.com/polls/116392154....

The nerve of those idiot TAX PAYERS! To think That they have the right to control their taxes!!! Only the DEMOCRATS & UNIONS have that right!

it never ceases to amaze me how shortsighted and ignorant people are. I don't even know why I come back to read these things

I want to know why all union people think they are entitled to everything under the sun and we the working class are to sit by, work our collective asses off and have noone to protect us or our jobs!! Has the loss of GM and all the other jobs tied to it taught us nothing about what union does for job security! Ask the transfered how they feel now that they have lost alot of their union backing and have to actually work for their money. Not so smart mouthed now are they!! Now they whine, boohoo.. I never want to hear a teacher say "I do this for the children" this had nothing to do with them, and everything to do with the almighty buck!!

I THInK THIS POLL SAYS IT ALL All, IT LOOKS AS IF THE DICTATOR IS ON THE RECALL LIST.A college dropout with a less the C average (prior to dropping out) apparently has no clue as to a need for a good Education. This you will find as true if you look him up and check his education background,,,, To all who actually believe what you are posting as to this is a good thing,good luck if you have kids for a quality eduction or need any public medical help with any quality as you won't get in WISCONSIN >>>>>>>>>mrsdamracefan, Well you say he had no union so I guess he got shafted and it wasn't the union it was the company that like walker did anything they wanted without the consideration of the hard workers Maybe that sour taste is from bashing what would have saved the unjust to employees at your husbands company.
nugnrose, great point. justdontgetit, I totelly agree.
JasonTh Well said and why don't Walker put the actual figures publc The true figures.
Mouse well said.

I have an idea, let's vote the bill down and then see some of our co-workers loose their jobs. Ya, as long as I keep mine. Screw my fellow union members with less senority. That's the American way. Some will win some will loose, but, some will loose everything! And better yet, while we vote it down and some loose all my bet is that the president of my union and the rest of the union heirchy will keep their high paying jobs.

100% behind Gov. Walker!!

goodone- Allow me to respond about the Senators in question and their "Despicable acts". A few points to ponder: 1) The senators are engaged in what's called civil disobedience, this is a right all Wisconsin residents have, including our legislators. Civil disobedience is a tenet of our democracy, without our forefathers and their civil disobedience we could still be subjects of the Crown. 2) It seems the Senator's actions are a "Stunt" and "Despicable acts" or OK, depending on whether there is a (D) or (R) behind the name. Republican Legislators have walked out numerous times, where is your moral outrage and call out for their actions? Since you call for these Democratic Senators to be punished, will you also call for the same punishment of the above mentioned Republicans? Janesville awaits your answer!

The point I think everyone is missing is when in the private sector statements are made "competitive wages and benefits". What are they competitive with? Union wages!! So if you strip away collective bargaining from the union and their overall package is reduced, commom sense say the private sector will follow suit. Everyone loses!!

goodone = troll

Say, all those democrats took a powder and are also truant. Why would anybody vote and elect a no-show that don't have the guts to do the peoples business and vote on important issues. If they don't want to work, they should all resign immediately. What a sorry bunch of losers and whiners they are. Like Truman said, if you can't take mthe heat get out of the kitchen. Their salary should be cut and be censored and punished for their dispicable action.

Democrats will be in power again & Walker & his boy's will wounder what happen'ed.

The teachers proved they care nothing about the students by walking out on them in violation of their contract and against state law. If they have no proof of medical illness, they are guilty of lying and should be fired. Its simple, you break the contract,you have no contract.Students who are truant can be arrested and sent to court, why not arrest the truant teachers.What kind of example is this to kids to be truant, it only teaches them, to disregard any law. This leads to anarchy by the unions. We should become a right to work state, so that everyone has freedom to work without being forced to pay dues to high up union bosses and to funnel 95 % of dues to some radical democrat that many do not want.They no longer are helping the workers. Only 1l.9 % of the workers in this country are members of unions. 88.1 % of workers are non-union, Why let this small group of radicals force their greedy radical views on american freedom? The large silent majority will wipe out most of the rest of those greedy freeloading Democrats who suck out of the public trough, at the next election. Walkers plan only affects some public workers and nothing to do with private company unions.They sill don't get it. Thanks to actions of the teachers,the Democrats and unions, we will have another sweep in 2012

@JohnDeere: Here is an article about it: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/go... and here is the original source if you want to look at the raw numbers: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/Misc/2011...

I'm still amazed at the posts that say Wisconsin has a surplus and that there's no debt problem.
Seems to me that around Rock County in just the past couple weeks I read about both Beloit & Janesville facing multimillion dollar debts and school closings... Am I to assume that they actually have a surplus, but just choose to close schools as a way to do something sinister??
These posts are confusing to say the least.

Who are you "union members" who won't show solidarity with our public workers' unions? Have you forgotten how labor unions in genreal have been demonized in the public discourse over the last 30 years? You seem to be resentful of the public unions because you think they have it better than you. Well I don't buy that selfish excuse. I am not a union member, but I at least can see the dire consequences of Walker's thuggery. I stand in solidarity with all the union protesters because I know that without our unions, I would not have a weekend, a 40-hour work week, job safety regulations, worker's compensation and more. Walker and his ilk are trying to crush not just the public workers' unions, they're trying to crush labor unions in general, and with them, all hope for us hardworking middle-class folks to have a chance to earn a better living in the future.

@gstockman: You are one of the people that still doesn't get it. The protest is not against the cuts he's proposed, though they will crush thousands of Wisconsin families. What we are protesting is that he wants to *kill collective bargaining for state workers.* There is no fiscal advantage to destroying collective bargaining!! And Walker didn't say ANYTHING about this on the campaign trail! Then he lies and says oh, uhhh, you can't tell me nobody saw this coming. Bull, sir, you are full of it. We need more people from Janesville to come tonight and tomorrow to stand with our working class Wisconsin neighbors. Walker is trying to finish off the middle class, and he WILL be defeated!

Hey, don't shoot the messenger! This is WHY Walker was elected - he said he would cut spending, didn't he? Walker is trying to balance the budget & Wisc. is broke! The 12.5% he is asking State Workers to pay towards healthcare is a whole lot less than they would have to pay if they worked anywhere else.

The HONEST news channels have reported the evidence that Obama & his administration are organizing and bussing in a lot of protestors . . . whipping everyone into a frenzy. Why? Because he "needs" WISC. when he runs for president in 2012. . . he thinks this type of frenzy will entice voters to vote for him.Why should State Workers be exempt from tightening their belts? Everyone will be experiencing some sort of cutback. It is a necessary evil. The fact that the Democrats fled to Illinois to avoid the vote shows you that they are children, lacking in wisdom and knowledge. Obama is driving the nation in bankruptcy but Democrats cannot accept the much needed cuts in spending.

Question: Why didn't more voters show up against the antiunion bill?

Answer: They had to work!

Why don't we start by cutting the governors salary, his insurance is the best another cut and how much rent is the mansion?? Walker is the first govenor in many years that did not graduate from college and when he was there held down a C average, so he is not as smart as he thinks he is. He is a career politican!!! Then senators and rep.s, then their aides (the teachers aides have been cut). Of course the politicans have lobbyist to fall back on. I feel the last cuts should be in education and yes I have 2 daughters who teach, they try to pick up a couple of credits every summer to stay on top of things.

Ok I was a bit emotional but the fact I think he is a moron was supported by fact (I mean no offense to morons)

Please call the Governor some more names! My day is going rather slowly.

Cut benefits, cut wages but do it over the bargaining table as it has been done many times in the past. Wisconsin was a democracy not a dictatorship! Perhaps negotiating is beyond the capabilities of the tea-bagging moron Wisconsinites were frightened into electing? Or perhaps the purpose of his attacks is not balancing a budget but destroying peoples right to negotiate, ya think?
You can hide behind the deficit but Walker would get a lot of the cuts he wants if he negotiated but that is not what he is after. The budget process in WI lasts through June so why is he so upset that this isn't done in February! Walker added 140 million to the debt within his first 6 weeks in office now he claims a shortfall of 136 million. He like the republicans who 7 times voted to raise the debt ceiling under Bush and then insured tax breaks for the top 2% adding hundreds of billions to the debt before they "saw the light" aren't fooling anybody.

Tim Cullen, where are you? Are you doing your job or spending time at a resort on taxpayers money. Get back and show our young people how to act when you become adults.

Walker is doing the right thing for the state. The teachers are doing what's right for them not the children. It's a no-brainer.

There is no budget crisis.

Walker dropped out before graduating from governor training 101.

As a 139 member, I am tired of hearing all this whining. I had raises go to health care and pension wich left a nickle to go on the check. What the tax payers are saying the money tree died lets all help fix this awful problem and get this great state back to be something proud of again.I do not like this walk out bs are the teachers still getting a days pay while picketing? It is also disgusting to use the students as pawns do they know both sides? Teachers and any one else can protest but not when you are disrupting the public, who's paying the people that had to miss work cause schools closed to watch there kids. Maybe the teachers should reimburse them.

Someone has done a masterful job of pitting people against public employees. These hurtful steps that are being taken to bring public sector employees down will affect everyone negatively. Can you people not see this?

Fixing the budget mess Governor Doyle, Mike Sheridan and Judy Robson left behind is going to be difficult work. Those who are used to getting what they want from the state government are not going to be happy at all. The obstructing, picketing, name calling, caterwauling, weeping and gnashing of teeth has just begun. Fixing budget deficits is like performing surgery without anesthesia. The patient may think the cure is worse than the disease but his survival depends on it.

Walker and the Republican's plan is working very well. Get all of us working people to fight amongst ourselves while ignoring how the top 2% are screwing all of us. The State is not even in debt......this is just a ploy to destroy any vehicle (like unions) that actually try to help working people.

Wisconsin State Representative Mark Pocan
Walker’s Trojan Horse
.
Governor Scott Walker’s manufactured $3.6 billion state budget deficit in the next biennium is rapidly unraveling as a bogus figure.
.
Yesterday I pointed out that the figure is based on $3.9 billion in new agency requests (Table 1) for a spending increase of 6.2%, a figure we noted is never approved by the legislature. Those are REQUESTS, not actual dollars expended.
.
Well today the non-partisan legislative Fiscal Bureau released a memo showing that in the current state budget, agencies requested a 9.7% increase in GPR dollars,
.
yet were given an actual REDUCTION of 2.6%. .
That’s a difference of nearly $3.5 billion!
.
That means this isn’t just a bunch of Democrats looking at the numbers that are being used to put a budget together and crying foul; this is hard and cold reality from a respected, unbiased resource – the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.
.
Further, we also know that there was no statutory requirement for a “budget repair” bill from the same non-partisan source, yet Governor Walker is claiming we needed to act due to impending payments to the state of Minnesota and the money owed the Patient’s
.
Compensation Fund. Well, chalk up another lie. Walker’s “Repair” bill addresses NEITHER.
.
So just what is Governor Walker up to?
.
Remember the Trojan War.
.
The only way you can slip a bunch of bad public policy into law in Wisconsin is to disguise it as something else.
.
Create a crisis, claim you are the sole path to resolving that crisis needing to enact whatever measures are necessary and be a hero to the people. Right...
.
This week Walker is trying to be a darling of the national conservative movement by taking away workers rights, destroying collective bargaining and setting the stage for big cutbacks in Medicaid.
.
Next week he announced a budget that is full of cuts to education, healthcare and funds for police and fire.
.
All of these actions are hidden in the Trojan horse called the “budget repair” bill.
.
Back then they warned “Beware Greeks bearing gifts.”
.
Today the problem is the national conservative special interests get the gifts, while we get what comes from the tail end of this Trojan horse.
.
(Next blog….How much of the
.
$2 BILLION in tax breaks and loopholes Walker promised the wealthy during the election
.
will be put into his budget causing a REAL budget crisis?)
.
PLEASE READ THIS IF YOU TRULY WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT GOV WALKER IS DOING TO THIS STATE.
.
THIS IS ABOUT SO MUCH MORE THAN PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AND UNION RIGHTS...IT IS ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WI DO WE WANT?

These new teachers entering the workforce may find that the jobs are not there. State, community budgets just don't have the funds to pay the wages and benefits. Talk of raising taxes, etc., people crawl out of the woodwork saying they can't afford it, their on fixed incomes and so forth. So if cuts are not made somewhere, more teachers will be laid off. Schools will be closed. Police, Fireman may also be laid off. The tough job of fiscal responsibility has been ignored far too long, mostly for political reasons, and today we are seeing the consequences of it.

Apparently you don't believe that millions have had to sacrifice. Your childish replies have proven that.

And in the mean time msdamracefan your husbands employer got in his jet and flew to Costa Rica to Parrot fish with his kids. He's not taking any hit. You should be happy.

Wow, Joe, the spinning machine cut your arm off. Well, there are plenty of people out there who will take your job, so figure out how to do it with one arm or you're fired.

janesvillean - No, an employer expected someone to do their job. I think what mrsdamracefan is saying is, millions of people have lost their jobs. Millions of people have taken pay cuts, pay freezes, insurance hikes and 401k loses. All at their expense. Sympathy from non-union workers is going to be hard to come by for some. Especially when they make up a tiny portion of the workforce.

MrsDamRaceFan - Your post is full of conflicting opinions. Are you stating you're proud for the loss of benefits your husband needed to take in order to keep his job and that's why you don't support unions? If your husband's company had a union in the first place, do you think he would have had to take a full 10% pay cut? Lose all company contributions to 401K? Lose double-time wages when working Sundays?

If there had been a union, no way would such harsh cuts have been made, let alone all three of those you mentioned. Management sure knew they had a gullibe bunch of scared sheep for a workforce. One they could bully with little effort.

"If they wanted there (their) jobs they were to do what was asked of them......Did they do a walk out? NO, they wanted there (their) jobs and did what they had to to survive and keep on feeding there (their) families."

I'm flabbergasted you think what they did was acceptable and the employees should be grateful.

Wisconsin State Representative Mark Pocan
Walker’s Trojan Horse
Governor Scott Walker’s manufactured $3.6 billion state budget deficit in the next biennium is rapidly unraveling as a bogus figure. Yesterday I pointed out that the figure is based on $3.9 billion in new agency requests (Table 1) for a spending increase of 6.2%, a figure we noted is never approved by the legislature. Those are REQUESTS, not actual dollars expended.

Well today the non-partisan legislative Fiscal Bureau released a memo showing that in the current state budget, agencies requested a 9.7% increase in GPR dollars, yet were given an actual REDUCTION of 2.6%. That’s a difference of nearly $3.5 billion!

That means this isn’t just a bunch of Democrats looking at the numbers that are being used to put a budget together and crying foul; this is hard and cold reality from a respected, unbiased resource – the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

Further, we also know that there was no statutory requirement for a “budget repair” bill from the same non-partisan source, yet Governor Walker is claiming we needed to act due to impending payments to the state of Minnesota and the money owed the Patient’s

Compensation Fund. Well, chalk up another lie. Walker’s “Repair” bill addresses NEITHER.

So just what is Governor Walker up to?

Remember the Trojan War.

The only way you can slip a bunch of bad public policy into law in Wisconsin is to disguise it as something else.

Create a crisis, claim you are the sole path to resolving that crisis needing to enact whatever measures are necessary and be a hero to the people. Right...

This week Walker is trying to be a darling of the national conservative movement by taking away workers rights, destroying collective bargaining and setting the stage for big cutbacks in Medicaid. Next week he announced a budget that is full of cuts to education, healthcare and funds for police and fire.

All of these actions are hidden in the Trojan horse called the “budget repair” bill.

Back then they warned “Beware Greeks bearing gifts.”

Today the problem is the national conservative special interests get the gifts, while we get what comes from the tail end of this Trojan horse.

(Next blog….How much of the $2 BILLION in tax breaks and loopholes Walker promised the wealthy during the election will be put into his budget causing a REAL budget crisis?)

mrsdamracefan, let me get this straight. Your husband's employer treated him poorly, but it's unions that you're mad at? How is this anything but envy?

Ok I have to comment here. My husband works for a local factory and when Janesville got hit hard (gm woes) so did the employees at this company they didn't have a say in what was to happen why Because they had no union. If they wanted there jobs they were to do what was asked of them. And what was asked of them a 10% cut in pay, the company no longer matching 401k, and Sunday is no longer considered double time only time in a half.Did they do a walk out NO they wanted there jobs and did what they had to to survive and keep on feeding there families. The unions leave a sour taste in my mouth and I for one am very Happy that I voted for Scott Walker.

JoyM, what if the state budget committee published a report that shows Wisconsin is actually in the black?
-
Yes, shocking as it is, Walker is lying to us to get support for busting unions. Remember, he's foremost a business owner. High school graduate with only a few years of local government experience. He will be returning to the private sector and with unions out of his way - his life will be that much better.

"The world won't end if you don't have an education, it will merely pass you by."

This is playing out more and more ("dumbing down of America") as we cripple our education system.

New business does not locate in areas where school systems are lacking or the employee base is stacked with untrainables that have been shoved through an ineffectual school system.

Well said, JoyM.

No, but I can spell it...thanks to the excellent teachers I've had throughout my upbringing in good old Wisconsin.

Can you say Breech of Contract?

Want some facts? All obtained from information published in Milwaukee JS last November.

The $3.3 B budget numbers that Governor Walker is using is not documented in any form. The previous administration estimated a small budget surplus for this fiscal year and about a $1.5 B deficit by 2013. Walker's office has taken these numbers, threw out all of the Doyle administration numbers for cutting $1.1 B out of state spending on workers, and published a new number. There was also more recent evidence that state revenue was looking even better but Walker is NOT including that information in his "budget".

Walker is using this situation to destroy unions so that they have no power (and no money ) to support education and other causes. By doing some of these cuts and aiming at a $1.5 B shortfall, he could have avoided all this turmoil with the unions.

bignik - Who was that comment towards?

Well said, NugNRose. Cutting corners in education has castrophic effects. Do we want school systems like they have in Mississippi and Louisiana? We should be supporting that which attracts the best teachers, rather than scares them away. Why would anyone not want the best for their children?

Quit complaining and do something about it!

jellybean - an average salary of $48,000 a year with a great pension and insurance is not a viable, life-sustaining career? There's people that get by with way worse.

Two years ago (roughly) the private sector went through the worst of a crushing recession, but the gods in power (read: Doyle and cronies) would not even consider changing the status quo, even though more people out of work meant fewer people able to pay Wisconsin's outrageous state income taxes to support said status quo. Now we are coming to the precipice and have to haul up reins before we go completely over the edge. If Doyle had expected SOME amount of concession from these folks during the worst of the recession, then maybe we wouldn't have fallen so far as to need to do this now.

Would you be saying the same thing friendly if the police were losing their ability to collectively bargin?

officerfriendly 1 and his supporters think they have the answer, sorry to say you don't. I will give you a valid example of what's going to happen, this happens right now in you own backyard: Rock County pay for social workers (degreed) is one of the lowest in the state, these social workers come to Rock County fresh from college to get their training and experience on Rock County's dime, then after two or three years move to other counties in Wisconsin with better wages/benefits. It's been going on for the 11 years my wife has worked for the County. Don't believe me? Watch the Janesville Gazette or Beloit Daily News for Rock County want ads, call Rock County Human Resources and ask about the turn over rate of social workers, talk to some veteran social workers from Rock County. This is exactly the same thing that will happen with our school districts, the only difference is these teachers will move to another state. Is this what you want for your children, grandchildren and tax dollars? Be careful what you wish for.....

it was that way before Walker came along, can't blame him for that! he only wants them to contribute 12% into their pensions and insurance, not the end of the world!!!!! I agree with officerfriendly1 100%

officerfriendly1--You're overlooking the fact that all those college students are now changing their majors because teaching is no longer a viable, life-sustaining career.