Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

[wiphan]

Originally Posted by Riot

Why shouldn't it exist on a state level? It's the states that entered into these agreements, too. The states gain by collective bargaining, that's shown by how their workers tend to get less than the private sector in nearly every case.

State workers have every right to collectively bargain. What are the reasons NOT to allow it? Especially when the current Republican House is trying to decrease minimum wage, decrease workplace protections (EPA and OSHA) Looks like unions may become more necessary if the GOP has their way with the current law..[/b]

If you do not limit collective bargaining with the teachers union then there is no negiotiating with them. If the teachers union had in the last 30 yrs actually given on some items we would not be in this situation. They have a monopoly. Do you know who the healthcare provider is for the teachers in WI? It is WEAT trust ie.- the teachers union plan. If you government were allowed to shop this plan with the same benefits they could save millions of dollars to the tax payers. The teachers union would not allow it. The average time to negotiate a contract with the teachers union is 15 months. Since Gov Doyle and the democrats put us in this situation and used Pres Obama's stimulus $ to fill the holes of the budget instead of create stimulus/jobs we do not have 15 months unless you would like to see mass layoffs. It is your choice either pass the bill or people lose jobs.

The people of WI voted last November. Our state is a tax hell. Most teachers when they retire (which they get the average of their last 3 yrs pay for lifetime and if they die their surving spoust gets it) move out of state because of the tax issues. WI people are tired of paying taxes, seeing corporations move large portions of their operations (Harley, Miller/Coors, etc.). Increases taxes does not create revenue and is not a viable long term solution since it is a never ending cycle since no revenue is created. Gov Walker is not a dictator. He is doing what he was elected to do by the people of WI. He won easily and ran on the very campaign items that he is doing today. Unlike most politicians he puts his $ where his mouth is. Elections have consequences as we all know.

Just to give you an example of the taxes a typical home married tax payer who owns a $200k house in Milwaukee and makes $75k annually pays in WI taxes not including federal taxes

Sales tax 5.1%
$5200 annual property taxes
$6318 state income tax

WI is a great state, but a tax hell and things need to change otherwise we will end up like MI

[Riot]

Originally Posted by wiphan

If the teachers union had in the last 30 yrs actually given on some items we would not be in this situation.

You're not saying that the unions have caused the budget deficits, I hope. That's certainly not true.

Wisconsin had a $136 million surplus this year, until Walker gave $140 million of unfunded tax incentives to corporations in his first month of office.

There is a 3.6 billion deficit projected over the next few years, which is far less than the 5.something billion deficit the last governor dealt with. In other words, there is no drastic or acute emergency right now as Walker maintains. That's a lie.

Walker has instituted this "budget repair bill", but there isn't enough deficit to trigger the need for a "repair bill" according to Wisconsin's own independent office of budget that consults to the state assemblies (repair bill is a technical term)

Since 1981, 2/3 of Wisconsin's corporations no longer pay any taxes at all.

Think that could be affecting state finances?

Maybe corporations could start paying some taxes. Rather than putting all taxes on working people.

This bill isn't about the deficit at all. It's just about union busting, and everyone knows it, even the Republicans now say that (as revealed on Walkers tape with "Koch" - will is leading to ethics violation charges for him)

[Riot]

The Wisconsin Senators are still refusing to come home so a vote can be held (especially as Walker revealed on the phone call with "Koch" that he intended to trick them by lying to them about talking of compromise) So this bill is not yet passed, as it needs the Senate to pass it.

But the Republicans in the Assembly, late last night, while debate was literally going on on the floor quickly sneaked and gaveled a voice vote and passed the bill literally in seconds The Dems were not told a vote would be called, the GOP was. Most Dems didn't even get to vote, although they were all in attendance literally standing on the floor waiting to speak.

While they were still debating amendments, the speaker literally and suddenly out of nowhere gaveled and called for the vote: the GOP were prepped so they all immediately called out "aye". The speaker then said, "the ayes have it" and gaveled the vote to a close.

Dave Weigel, Slate:
Video: Assembly GOP Passes Budget Repair Bill

MADISON, Wisc. -- The debate in the Assembly appeared to be a few hours away from ending when Speaker Pro Tem Bill Kramer interrupted their speeches and called the vote. It was gaveled in with lightning speed, less than the standard 15 seconds -- it was so fast that 28 members did not even vote on it, some out of protest but some failing to reach their buzzers. There were 51 ayes and 17 nays, and the nays included Republicans Dean Kaufert, Lee Nerison, Richard Spanbauer, and Travis Tranel.

Democrats exploded as soon as the vote was called, yelling "Cowards!" and "Shame!" at the Republicans filing out of the room.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/wei...pair-bill.aspx

The above includes a cool video of it happening, the Democrats, some Republicans and gallery yelling at the Republicans, being escorted safely out by state troopers.

[wiphan]

Originally Posted by Riot

While they were still debating amendments, the speaker literally and suddenly out of nowhere gaveled and called for the vote: the GOP were prepped so they all immediately called out "aye". The speaker then said, "the ayes have it" and gaveled the vote to a close.



http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/wei...pair-bill.aspx

The above includes a cool video of it happening, the Democrats, some Republicans and gallery yelling at the Republicans, being escorted safely out by state troopers.

How long did they debate? Really? The video shows how idiotic and unprofessional the democrats are. Try not showing up for your job for a week when you disagree with your boss or co-workers and see what happens.

[Cannon Shell]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...022406520.html

[wiphan]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...022406520.html

I thought Chris Farley overdosed on Coke with a hooker years ago. It looks like he has been reincarnated as an assembly democrat.

[geeker2]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...022406520.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiZdY9rw-uo

[Riot]

Originally Posted by wiphan

How long did they debate? Really? The video shows how idiotic and unprofessional the democrats are. Try not showing up for your job for a week when you disagree with your boss or co-workers and see what happens.

No. The video shows how Assembly Republicans deceive and put politics before you and your fellow citizens, and their oath of office. A pre-planned secret vote? In literally seconds? Purposely not informing the other party? Yeah, that's democracy in action. Do you support that action in a democracy? Seriously?

And you support your governor kicking out the legislature, and taking single control, with no accountability, for selling or leasing your state utilities for whatever price he wants? That doesn't worry you?

And your governor kicking out legislative oversight, and taking complete control over who qualifies for Badgercare and public aid, and how much? With no oversight?

Wasn't Walker supposed to be a Tea-Party backed conservative? Why is he executing a Big Government Takeover? By the Governors office? Wasn't this supposed to be an "emergency" fiscal bill?

Let's go back to picking on those evil teachers (and prison guards and nurses) that have "ruined" Wisconsin's budget (while cutting taxes for corporations, so that most don't even pay any taxes, somehow magically hasn't made any negative revenue impact on the budget at all, over the past 30 years, apparently).

Those teachers and nurses that have exactly the pay and benefits that the State of Wisconsin has chosen to give them over the years. After all, these guys didn't steal it - they have exactly what Wisconsin agreed to give them. Let me share someone else's thoughts:

With regard to teachers, let's get one thing clear: you get what you pay for. But in Wisconsin, that's not quite true. In Wisconsin, you get *much more* than you pay for.

In cost-of-li­ving adjusted terms, Wisconsin teachers' pay ranks 28th of the 50 states. That's right: 28th. (http://tea­cherportal­.com/teach­er-salarie­s-by-state)

High school graduation rate in Wisconsin is 89.6%. That puts them in position #1 among the 50 states. (http://eco­nomix.blog­s.ny...173;-and-race/)

So, we have Wisconsin teachers ranking 28th in pay, but achieving the highest graduation rate.

You get what you pay for.

Except in Wisconsin, where you get far more than you pay for.

[wiphan]

Originally Posted by Riot

You're not saying that the unions have caused the budget deficits, I hope. That's certainly not true.

your right the pension benefits to teachers which they made zero contributions to and receive the average of their 3 highest years for the rest of their lifetime has nothing to do with the budget deficit. Not to mention the amount of baby boom retirees coming in the near future. Coupled with the rising health care costs that most pay zero dollars in premiums. However I am not blaming this entirely on them, our lovely governor doyle should take a lot of the blame for the last 8 yrs of disaster.

If you had your way we would have taken Obama's $800 million for "SLOW RAIL" (yes it would have been slower than a car) from Madison to Milwaukee that would have caused the state more budget deficits in operating profits because no public transportation systems pay for themselves.

In the end our Governor will not back down and this bill will pass. This is why he was elected.

[Riot]

In the end our Governor will not back down and this bill will pass. This is why he was elected.

The other GOP govs have already started jumping ship yesterday and today on supporting Walker. Enjoy him before the ethics violation hearings start, the state AG starts investigating him, and next January's recall.