It is out right class warfare! The Koch bro's cronies want to steal from the poor and middle class and give to the rich. Recall Walker and the good ole boys club!

This reminds me SO MUCH of "Casino Jack" Jack Abramoff! You know: honor. integrity. principles. EVERYTHING is negotiable. But then, prison is the end result. But it's unfortunate. If he should end up in a Wisconsin Prison, the Correctional Officers he affected so drastically will be providing him safety. grrr. (Don't get me started on protecting criminals from themselves......)

Walker is such a tool.

What kind of excuse will he have this time?

Walker threw his followers a curve here. He is a good guy, the poor victim. It amuses me how some will defend him no matter what he does.

RAF, did the government FORCE you to buy coffee at a higher rate?

Marge, there is no faction more back-scratching than the left. I believe unions are fairly open about their self interests-spending too.
*
I'm glad I am not the person to notice the city bonuses, created to make up for the cap put in place by our fiscally responsible Governor, vs the 'merit' pays he put out. Thanks Joe McC.

It would be interesting to see if it's "merit" or "walker supporter" for those that received the increases.

"Some Janesville city workers could get bonuses under plan"

http://gazettextra.com/news/2011/nov/26/...

The difference? Walker's plan is based on merit.

Our scooter is really unpredictable, isn't he?

If Walker saved you any money, I am sure it would not make the headline...hmmmm.

There is no debate about it. Numbers don't lie, but liars make numbers! No where is this more prevalent than on the left wing in the country! Hold your ground Gov. Walker. Some of us are thinkers. Mouse....did you actually see the numbers in comparison that was not cherry picked?

This reports wants to make you think Doyle "suspended" it and Walker is opening it up like a special interest thing. Doyle plundered tons more, but not through incentive programs like society should be, but rather through your tax-paid dollars as various political sign-into type bills. Fluffy ideas like environmental good sounding things and redistributing our money to a few good deserving people, and many more who are just slugs. The Doyle types continue to make huge decisions with your money and then tax the hell out of you. But no one bats an eye lash about that. Because when that happens the AP, just conveniently reports good sounding words about it. The AP rarely has positive articles about anything conservative.

This makes me so angry. Doyle did so much more than this! If one of these elitist-ideological types replaces Walker, it is going to get worse. The problem is that the AP and other sources will report to you how it wants you to hear it. I think something should be done about this. Just listen to these posters, they are all believing it like they had a comparison factor already. You could say "two-people got bonuses" and make it sound horrible. I want the AP to give a comparison to Gov. Doyle's hand-outs.

Mouse is probably against showing the list of recall petition signers though. This story is cherry picked. This ALWAYS happens. It is literally an overindulged segment of reporting. I think the Walker camp should take it on and explain it. I bet Gov. Doyle did the same thing only much more. Furthermore, I am all for incentive pay. Think it is back scratching? Well show me a party-line or government faction that isn't. This is chicken feed compared to the spending the democrats implemented. Typical AP.

eyeball this newspaper is far from liberal and I guess all the other news including your DEAR FOX associates have reported the same Walker is gone get over it. Raf Your coffee goes up HMMM, who do you think owns the distributors and companies It sure isn't the ones you are so against....Eagle People assume that you are rolling in doh as your comments give that impression as to the ones you support...As to the gov. employees being in unique positions LOL LOL Look at the Criminals that your boy appointed and why. He gives Jobs to friends and some family/ girl friends of other Repubs. BTW there is no JOB Position that cannot be replaced and there are several people qualified for those JOBS Those in them at this time can be gone along with Scooter. I was curious to see if Walker gave himself a raise or bonus as he sure the hell doesn't deserve one.

Mirror the private sector? How does he decide when and where to do that? I know. When it benefits him somehow.

Well, the only thing Walker is going to get is his Walking papers. Good riddance !

From the article: "Walker brought the program back because he felt it was important to mirror the private sector and provide rewards for outstanding work." What Walker doesn't get is that the private sector gives bonuses from their profits. The state does not have excess money (profit) to give out. I wonder if anyone who doesn't agree with his policies got the raises or bonuses.

In breaking news .... the poster who recently stated that he had paid more for a cup of coffee and therefore felt he had taken a pay cut was seen filling his gas tank and paying less for his gas. This made him think he got a pay raise. While it may not seem to be an issue for most, he now thinks he has 2 jobs and isn't sure where to report to work. Hopefully the work schedules don't conflict. He is being advised by friends to stay home and not buy anything more as they don't think he can juggle any more jobs.

As Springsteen once said, eyeball is "blinded by the light".

This article was written by a liberal. Why is sexual assualt victim funding being included in an article about pay raises?.....To fan the flames, that's why. The media is a for profit propaganda machine.

walker will do any thing to try to get votes
There are a lot of people in gov. that need to put out on the street

Don't worry Sal, I voted for Walker the first time around and won't be voting for him this time so it all evens out.

well, most of us 'right wingers' don't waste our time with this paper very often, but if you will remember, I have said ad nauseum that I didn't vote for Walker the first time around. Will I vote for him in the recall -- yes, because the choices offered by 'your side' are sooooo much worse. Realize please, that I am only speaking for myself.. and btw, its hear, not here.

RECALL WALKER

I just bought a cup of coffee and it went up since the last time I bought it there...guess that means I got a pay cut.

I am a public employee under this regime. I go over and above my job duties; however, there is conveniently "no funding" for my Department. Funny how the people who received this so called "merit" pay are ones who supported this clown and who earn a six figure salary. This system is nothing but a smokescreen to make people believe dropout scooter cares. I can't wait to vote; just hope enough people are smart enough to vote against him....not real optimistic on that front either.

more money for the people who defended Walkers position = PAYOFF !!!!!

Walker is pathetic and he doesnt even know it.

jhigh - I don't think the "lefties" as you put it are complaining about the bonuses as much as they are complaining about the fact Walker did it when this entire time he has touted the fact the the state is in such a financial crisis and basically don't have a pot to piss in, yet he seemed to fine this kind of money to pay "merit increases?" From what I've read, several of those receiving this merit money were in his (Walker's) back pocket with regards to Act 10. Same ole political system of helping out your cronies!

Eagle1 said "as a devout Libertarian and borderline anti-government proponent I would never work for the enemy".
-
That is how public employees are viewed? Enemies? Eagle is more of an anarchist than a libertarian. When did it become un-noble to be a public sector employee? Wait, I remember. November of 2010.

Lefties complained when state workers had to take a "pay cut" by contributing to their benefits and pensions. Now they're complaining when state workers get a bonus. Which way do you want it?

Good for them, about time state workers started getting raises.

Eagle1, as a self-proclaimed "devout Libertarian," do you believe that the liberty of a person to own another person should be trumped by equal human rights? That is the position of David Boaz, executive vice president of the Cato Institute - a leading Libertarian think tank.

Do you believe the liberty of a person to own large amounts of property should be trumped by equal human rights? Jeffrey Friedman, editor of Critical Review, argues that if you accept Boaz's position on human rights trumping the liberty of owning another person, then you must conclude that ownership of large amounts of property is also trumped by equal human rights as, "The very idea of ownership contains the relativistic seeds of arbitrary authority: the arbitrary authority of the individual's 'right to do wrong.'"

As a devout Libertarian, how do you personally reconcile Libertarianism and capitalism?

Eagle1,
For 6 years prior to Walker's election the union leaders representing the state agency I work for collectively bargained (with our support) a wage freeze based on the information provided by the state government representatives regarding the economic status of the state. We did this in order to keep our benefits at a level of quality that we were comfortable with and to prevent us from losing any take home pay. We recognized the potential for the state's economic problems years before Walker ran for governor and we were willing to work with the state in order to do our part. Then along comes Walker who refused to negotiate or compromise. He never once recognized our willingness to be flexible and generous as a collective bargaining entity. Instead he protrayed us as greedy, lazy, and bad for the state. He forced us to give up take home pay and, to add insult to injury, told us our wage freeze was such a great idea that it would continue in perpetuity.

I think Gov. Walker gave these bonuses and merit raises now because he knows he's probably going to lose the recall election.

""It is a tool for a manager to go in and say this person truly set themselves apart," Huebsch said."

The real "TOOL" in all of this is Walker.

Eagle1, Because previously you weren't paying for those benefits and you were receiving your full check - now you're not, you're paying for those benefits. If I was making $100 and receiving my insurance and retirement and I am now receiving $90 and receiving those same benefits that's a decrease in pay. I'm sorry I can't make it any simpler than that.

If I am paying for MY benefits an MY retirement how are the deductions a pay cut? That money is still benefiting me. I point that out because I keep getting told the publIc sector took paycuts by kicking in small percentages. As far as me being a victim hardly I use myself as an example for those that do play the victim card, I am happy and content, but unlike the public workers you will not see me on a street corner with a sign begging for sympathy, I still have some pride.

loco vato has spoken Concerned it is more like Kiss Behind and you will be rewarded. Perform as the Gov wants and you get the money he took from the ones that do deserve it.

wislady that was your buddy who thinks the ones who really needed it got the cuts and his big friends got the money the public employees were robbed of. I think fedup is hiding as he has to justify his TAXES paying The ones that were not included in Walkers attack.

Can't wait till hypocrite Walker is ousted!

I must have missed something from a comment by MOUSE regarding WISLADY "her attire" & "drag" - now that is funny after a long day at work.

Wislady, Midnight_cowboy and fedup this is one you should like.Daily Kos: Wisconsin gives 218 state workers $765,000 in bonuses and raises after public workers too

Eagle1, the 50%? I was simply taking a percentage increase from your 40% that you cited, simply an arbitrary figure. I did this because you said you had trouble accepting the argument that contributions by the public employees amounted to a pay decrease when they weren't paying those deductions before. It seems simple to me. I hope I've made it understandable for you (if you're not taking home as much as you previously did and have the same benefits - that's a decrease in pay.

I wonder what the average salary of the bonus recipients were. The amounts listed seemed to be around 100k. It'd be interesting to see if the average worker got a bonus. While I don't oppose bonuses, I'm not sure this is a great political move. Then again, I just consider the source and it makes complete sense.

Eagle1, if you're doing times the workload for $35,000 less than a comparable worker in the public sector - you have nobody to blame or complain about but yourself. Who cares if people making more money than you feel they're being gipped? As long as you're happy about your situation, that's what counts. Stop acting like you're the victim.

THis has been an interesting social/political study, thanks to those that participated, it was very informative but not very surprising, just confirmed what I expected for responses.

Kinda funny that Fedup hasn't spouted off on the one. Maybe he got a job. Hmmmmmmm.......

remember to vote for anyone but Walker next month and again in June...

Even being a devote Democrat, I don't agree with this! About time some of you Republicans see him for what he is! He must be trying to garner some votes from the left for the upcoming recall vote!

nomoreres 50%? I can't wait to hear how you came up with that number.

concerned as a devout Libertarian and borderline anti-government proponent I would never work for the enemy, I know having principles above personal gain is rare nowadays. But let's say for kicks and giggles I took one of those positions, everyday I would know that job could be done much cheaper by a contracted private sector worker and I would be at the mercy of budgets supplied by a very unstable tax base. If and when that time came where the position was eliminated there would be no use complaining or panicing since a little common sense tells you that is always a possibility.
Talk to a private school teacher and see if they think the public equivilant makes less. Many positions in government are unique, they have no private sector equivelant. However the victim card being played by people making a good living and getting guaranteed retirement with the ability to start at 55 years old is falling on deaf ears why else is the state democratic party changing their focus as to why Walker needs to be recalled, it is no longer what it originally was.
Once again i will go with personal experience I see plenty of people with less education or experience than I have in my field working for government and having it pretty good, yet I am told by them how awful they have it and they make a hilarious assumption I am rolling in dough.

Eagle1, the QEO limited teacher salaries for about a decade. It's not a matter of buying the argument, it happened. If you had 50% of your check deducted before you receive it instead of 40% (as you have indicated) wouldn't you consider that a decrease in pay? I'm not doubting your numbers, your degrees or your duties, but not all job titles (even though they sound the same) amount to the same job. And if they are the same job then I totally agree with concernedwi - apply for the other jobs.

http://www.epi.org/publication/are_wisco...

One study says that Wisconsin public employees make 8.2% less than someone with comparable education and experience in the private sector.

I have to ask, if you could see a $35,000 a year raise for doing the same thing you're doing now, why not apply for it?

concerned I am not so sure I buy the gave up salary for benefits argument, in the past 12 months I have seen two postings for positions at government agencies in the state that are by the descriptions are exactly what I do, the pay rate was 35k more per year than I currently make with 15 years experience and 2 degrees, and that is only one of three positions I currently hold at my job. plus with my benefits, retirement and taxes I have 40% of my salary deducted before I see it. Just an observation in personal experience.

RAGE....SMILE...RAGE....SMILE

I've got some serious mixed emotions here. Walker's policies attacked the working-poor public employees. We are seeing educated, hard working, established, public safety employees being offered food stamps because they're the "bread winners" and their income for their family has dropped low enough to become eligible. Then we have Walker pawns (i.e. managers, directors, supervisors, etc)that are already making six figures and they are getting pay increases and bonuses. How is this good fiscal policy? How is this humane? (RAGE)

Then, a moment of sunshine, Gotta love the timing of this. This is going to make for some really, really angry public employees. This is going to make independents question Walker. And the best part....they will all vote!!! (SMILE)

This is going to get really interesting.....

And about ignoring it at the federal level, political cronyism is wrong no matter who does it and shouldn't be allowed.

Public employees have often taken benefits in the stead of pay raises. So the portion of retirement that would have been the employee's responsibility, 5.9% was paid for by the employer. With Act 10, the employees are now paying that 5.9% or effectively losing 5.9% of their pay. If they had taken the pay raise in the past, that wouldn't have been taken away.

concern, I see your point however like I stated you cannot point this out and then turn a blind eye to the federal level, it is that hypocrisy that drives me insane. Can you define paycuts? too often with public employees I am hearing they consider paying for a portion of their benefits as a pay cut, it is the only place I ever hear people say that.

Eagle, I think the Democrats have a fair complaint because this is unfairly being distributed. While many are taking pay cuts and layoffs, the select few "stellar performers" are getting bonuses.

It is so funny to sit back and watch the blind partisans here display their blatant hypocrisy. Republicans how can you defend this, there is a budget crunch, it has been eased greatly from where it was but it still exists. No bonuses should be paid out until we are in the clear the economy picks up and jobs begin to be created faster to expand the tax base, no sooner than that. Democrats how can you be against this, your beloved public workers are getting money, you can claim it is just cronyism yet in the same breath not speak a word of this about the President, you will blindly support him when he does the same thing (Wall Street bailouts, Appointed czars).

My take, this is bad I am not in support of this, however it is not enough for me to support the recall, considering the recall was started for the issue of collective bargaining but is now being argued for everything but that issue, shows me that the good out weighs the bad with keeping Walker.

I will never find a politician I agree with 100% that is the problem with having a two party system and the blind that continue to inhabit this site and give those two parties the power to remain the only options.

I just read a story about teachers in Oconomowoc getting layoff notices.
I thought the goal was to prevent layoffs.

just a question. Has police or fireman had any benefits changed?

Just some quick math, $765,195 split between 218 people is $3510 per employee. That's just about the same amount that public employees were forced to pay each.

All state workers have taken on increased workloads and responsibilities, yet only a select few, most of whom are already in upper-level, high-paying positions received these "merit" increases. The workers who received the biggest percentage decrease in wages, those near or at the bottom of the payscale, get handed about a 15-20% paycut and because they didn't do something to further the Gov's agenda they get no increase. Just more of the Walker quid-pro-quo game going on behind closed doors. This is unbelievable...when will the people of WI wake up and realize you're all being lied to at the expense of yourselves, your neighbors, your family and your friends. Say what you want about Doyle, but this program was frozen by Doyle to save money and allocate what was already budgeted to more important needs. It only gets worse from here, folks. Pay attention!

"Mouse.....it's "John Doe", not "Jon Doe"', you idiot....."

My, my , my. It's much easier for 916WI to call someone an "idiot" for a simple typo than to address the facts stated in the article. At least wislady has the courage to call out Walker when his rhetoric doesn't match his principle. Fearful of losing your place in the flock 916WI?

Too me this shows the rampant cronyism that continues in this admnistration. If I were Walker this would have been something I would have sat on till after the recall election. This is more ammo against him. Very dim bulb we have in the Gov office, if Wisconsin re-elects this clown we get what we deserve , one of 2 states in the nation losing private sector jobs.

Wasn't act 10 supposed to allow merit pay for public employees? While I realize that this isn't a result of Act 10, isn't it a direct comparison? Why so much outrage about people being paid based on performance? This is what I've heard is so great and what is coming for the public sector. Perform and you will be rewarded. Now it happens and people are up in arms that money is being paid in bonuses. And for the record, I am against the bonuses and merit pay in the public sector.

i was for walker, but now i'm not so sure. this was wrong in my opinion

So I'm confused. I thought the state was broke. Something about a 3.6 billion dollar deficit? But not for people who fight for my stupid laws in court?

With Scott Walker it's not John Doe. It's "DOH!

Thousands of Wisconsin workers take pay cuts, but Walker purposely brings back a discontinued program that pays out bonuses?

He ups the pay an average of $4,000/year for those processing rape kits, but hacks the funding of programs almost in half for the actual rape victims? Thank goodness for public outcry in shaming him to reinstate funding.

According to DOJ Executive Assistant Steve Means, "....raises and bonuses are crucial to retaining star performers...." But "retaining" quality educators for our kids isn't a priority.

The Assistant Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General received raises, not one-time bonuses, raises. Any state official already making over $100,000/year doesn't warrant a raise when there is a glaring shortfall of almost $150 million.

With this kind of "leadership," the recall can't come soon enough.

belman,
The following is from this story's comments section:

"
wislady
Apr 20, 2012 at 12:04 p.m.
Suggest removal

In this economy, I don't agree with anyone (lucky enough to have a job) getting a merit pay increase. Maybe everyone who got a merit pay increase, should donate the money back to the state, or school.
"

There is a statement of disapproval from wislady. Let's try to keep things civil here.

RECALL THE HYPOCRITE.

So, it almost sounds as though bonus's went to those with the upper income brackets.
Kinda like the Government took from lower income folks and gave it upper income folks.

Well wislady and all the right winger. How do you feel about this. I don't here one of you so far saying a word.

Americans (79%) continue to believe abortion should be significantly
restricted. http://www.kofc.org/un/en/resources/comm...

This really sucks!!!!

One word: RECALL!

Really?

Stellar performance = workers who are rank and file walker puppets.

There are some key items in this article.
1. “DOJ Executive Assistant Steve Means defended the awards…. Raises and bonuses are crucial to retaining star performers like Lazar and St. John, he added” STAR PERFORMERS?
2. “Lazar…defended Walker's collective bargaining law in an open meetings challenge and has handled the state's defense of Republican redistricting legislation”
3. “St. John… defended the collective bargaining law in front of the state Supreme Court”
It would appear as though Walker is ok giving raises to people who do not question him and simply nod and agree. Essentially we are broke unless you help me take away from the other people you work with, then money is not an issue here have some more!

Was the comment in the first paragraph purposely overlooked in the expainations about the public workers getting their pay cut and eliminating thier union rights? Where are all the Walker defenders now who are usually jumping on the band wagon in these comment sections? How can anyone support cutting someones pay while handing out bonuses and merit increases when there is no money for that? And I noticed the article said he did this quietly. I tell you what, I am going to bite my toungue and forbid my fingers to type what I think of the guy simply because I already know that my post will be removed by the staff if I do. How can anyone, anyone support such a .............

Walker just keeps adding insult to injury to the people of WI. Recall Walker....he keeps proving he deserves it.

"Agency managers must find the money within their own budgets to cover the compensation, he added; the state budget doesn't provide money specifically for merit compensation within the agencies."

What completely stupid logic. The money all comes from the same place...the tax payer. Their budgets are obviously too big.

Walker: Do as I say, not as I do.

In this economy, I don't agree with anyone (lucky enough to have a job) getting a merit pay increase. Maybe everyone who got a merit pay increase, should donate the money back to the state, or school.