Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

[Riot]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

"Walker wants most public workers — except for police, firefighters and state troopers — to pay more of their pension and health care costs.Walker would also limit pay increases to the inflation rate (currently less than 2 percent) unless voters OK’d larger raises via referendum. Again he’d exempt police, firefighters and troopers from that pay lid. Most controversially, he wants to curb the power of public-sector employee unions, ending collective bargaining rights for state workers (other than law enforcement officers), except over the issue of wages."

Why the favoritism for certain professions? This is flawed. He's exempting people that probably didn't even have to go to college to get their jobs. What brilliant line of thinking resulted in this beauty?

The police and firefighters were exempted because those unions supported Walker's election. It's political payback.

The rank and file of those unions, however, are now standing hand-in-hand with the teachers, nurses and prision guards Walker is trying to union bust.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by SOREHOOF

Public sector unions are making political donations with taxpayer dollars nation wide. This is the biggest money laundering scheme in history.

It's legal for public-sector unions to donate to political campaigns. It's never been a secret.

I don't understand this: Why do you think they have taxpayer dollars? Since when do taxpayers give money directly to unions? What is money-laundering about it? Union members pay their due, but sorry, that is no longer "taxpayer money" the moment it goes into the paycheck.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Danzig

interesting article, on the stimulus, state govts, wisconsin, etc

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41650031/ns/politics/

You know every time Gov. Rick Perry down in Texas screams about how anti-federal government he is, how Tea Party he is, how "No Government Handouts!" he is, how states rights - seccesion he is?

His entire state is held up by federal dollars supporting the fact his state is broke. The federal government is enabling local police, fire, etc to be paid. The stimulus funds saved many a state, in the past two years, from having to lay off workers.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

The dismissive tone in this thread for teachers is a little unsettling.

If you've ever been in a classroom after 1990 or are friends with a teacher then you would know that they are up against it. These liberal p.ussy-fart laws have made it nearly impossible to maintain discipline and it has resulted in numerous teachers giving up.

These are your "bad" teachers. Sure there are some that are naturally bad, but the majority have given up. Frustrated and disillusioned and controlled by a central office that might as well be a Eunuch's den.

The reality is some of these kids should be post-natal aborted. They are a drain on society and their parents should be fixed like dogs.

God, I agree completely with Coach.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by wiphan

Imagine if the republicans acted like this every time one of obama's bills that they didn't agree with was up for a vote?

LOL - have you not watched the Republicans in the United States Senate for the past two years? Obstruction via every possible technical manouver was exactly what they did. Day, after day, after day

The GOP in the House are doing massive political manouvering right now - adding tons of amendments to the short-term financing extension bill, that they know the Dems don't like (defund Planned Parenthood, defund PPACA, etc) - because they know the Senate won't pass that, nor will Obama pass that, so when the government shutdown occurs March 4, the GOP can try and blame the Democrats. The Democrats will blame the GOP for larding up the short-term extension with political culture war issues. That's how it works

Good for the Wisconsin Dems for being smart enough to leave down (as other parties have done in other states, for the same reasons). They are fighting for the ability of people to unionize.

Walker did NOT campaign on the promise to break up unions and eliminate them.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

I believe

if you closed all of the public schools today

all the kids of parents that want their kids educated will and
the ones that just want free day care and free meals will still get that

in Illinois 4% of girls under 18 end up pregnant and living off the state.
this adds up to too fn many real damn quick.

the hell with schools
lets build prisons

Illinois put in time limits on how long people can be on welfare years ago. Did they rescind that?

[Riot]

From HuffPost (couldn't find any other "live" comments). That is alot of people!

Today 3:36 PM Musicians Coming To Madison To Show Support For Protesters
Rage Against the Machine and other musicians will be in Madison on Monday to show support for the protesters rallying against Governor Walker.

Today 3:35 PM Crowd Estimated At 60,000
Madison Police Department estimates that the crowd surrounding the Capitol has swelled to 60,000.

Today 3:34 PM Tea Partiers: Corporations Shouldn't Have To Pay Taxes From HuffPost's Amanda Terkel on the ground in Madison, Wisconsin
Tea Party protesters who showed up in Madison on Saturday want to help Wisconsin dig out of its fiscal hole, but they don't think that corporations should have to chip in.

Gov. Scott Walker (R) has argued that his proposal to strip public employees of virtually all of their collective bargaining rights is necessary in order to deal with the state's tough economic situation.

"I'm just trying to balance my budget," Walker told The New York Times. "To those who say why didn't I negotiate on this? I don't have anything to negotiate with. We don't have anything to give. Like practically every other state in the country, we're broke. And it's time to pay up."

But there is a source of revenue the state isn't tapping that could likely be far more lucrative.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, two-thirds of corporations in the state pay no taxes, and the share of corporate tax revenue funding the state government has fallen by half since 1981.

Tea Party protesters have been pretty much completely absent from the protests in Madison all week long, but today they were out in force (although still vastly outnumbered by anti-Walker protesters). Many of them pointed out -- and even carried signs underscoring the point -- that they had jobs they couldn't walk away from during the week to come out and protest, as many teachers had done for the past few days.

The Huffington Post asked some of these Tea Partiers if they thought corporations should have to pay taxes in order to help the state financially. All were unaware that this was the case, but they nevertheless said unions were a bigger problem.

"Corporations shouldn't pay taxes at all. That's a terrible idea," said Jay from LaCrosse, who identified as a libertarian and said that businesses would just raise prices and relocate to China if they faced higher taxes.

"No, they pay their taxes. They pay their taxes," said John from Milwaukee, when The Huffington Post asked if it was fair that he was paying taxes and corporations weren't.

I would like to comment that Gov. Walker has just given Wisconsin corporations another unfunded and unpaid for 140 million in tax breaks over the special session that just occurred. I guess that somehow magically doesn't contribute to his terrible deficit, however.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Riot

.

It's a pretty common idea, considering all the GOP Governors came out of their annual conference with the order to do it. Watch what every other GOP Governor is doing. It's the cover of deficit (deficits are real) but it's union-busting plain and clear.

With the Citizen's United ruling, private citizen contributions hardly matter any more. Who controls the money has a huge influence over elections.

Of the top ten political contributors, 7 are corporate Republican, and 3 are corporate Democratic. The 3 Democratic ones are the unions these GOP governors are trying to break up. Everyone knows unions historically vote and support Democratic.

Break up the unions, break up dues paying, get the money out of the hands of the unions, unions cannot contribute to candidates, the GOP financially controls the elections with no opposition.

Witness the Koch brothers financing and bussing in their Tea Party to counter-demonstrate.

Walker clearly isn't interested in the budget deficit here - the union has said it will gladly give up benefits, has no problem with Walker's desires if Walker will talk to them, negotiate and maintain collective bargaining rights.

Walker has completely refused. It's all about union busting. Not budget.

Yeah it is an elaborate ruse. It is hardly a secret that unions are not GOP friendly but that doesn't mean that this isn't chiefly about the budget deficit. Killing the unions is just a nice little party gift.

And the idea that the unions financial contributions somehow "balance" the playing field is laughable.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Riot

Good for the Wisconsin Dems for being smart enough to leave down (as other parties have done in other states, for the same reasons). They are fighting for the ability of people to unionize.

So the GOP is doing this strictly to bust unions and eliminate them as political donors (political reasons)

but...

The Democrats are fighting for the poor, oppressed union worker (altruistic reasons)


Uh ok.

This is why debating topics with you is so pointless.

[AeWingnut]

Originally Posted by Riot

Illinois put in time limits on how long people can be on welfare years ago. Did they rescind that?

Illinois is corrupt
did they rescind that?

[dellinger63]

All reports nationally and locally, all peaceful in MadTown... And I'm sure there was a muslim or few among them.


http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/wisc...2/19/id/386753

[AeWingnut]

Chicago Communists join the others in Wizconsin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-nxSRQNmjs

[AeWingnut]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

All reports nationally and locally, all peaceful in MadTown... And I'm sure there was a muslim or few among them.


http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/wisc...2/19/id/386753

"Sorry, we're late Scott. We work for a living."

I think this is the major point. When you have students and weirdo leftists doing protests it is no big deal but when the working man gets motivated to spend his free time protesting, it's a big deal.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

Chicago Communists join the others in Wizconsin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-nxSRQNmjs

good find

Revolution against everything and yet at the same time nothing!

True communists.....

[AeWingnut]

what should happen to the doctors that sign fraudulent releases for fraudulent illnesses?

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

what should happen to the doctors that sign fraudulent releases for fraudulent illnesses?

IMO 8 Hrs community (non-reservation) service (indigent health care) for each release signed. They should be happy to serve and it's a win-win and learning opportunity.

[richard]

Public unions should be outlawed. They serve no usefull purpose.

[Danzig]

heard yesterday on the radio that last year, for the first time ever, that govt workers now make up the majority of union membership. unions have been decreasing for years now, they certainly don't want govts trying to bust them. personally, i think unions are an anachronism. with govt regulations of workplace safety, hours, overtime, etc, are they necessary any more?
also, it's time for those feeding at the public trough to have their salaries, benefits, etc match comparable jobs in the private sector. most states have govt workers who make above the average for their job-why? typically, benefits are also better than in private areas. again, why? on another point, there's a city (i believe in ct) that has their cops up in arms because the mayor has suggested cutting the force a bit. with crime decreasing, it certianly makes sense. so the police are furious and demonstrating. again, why? just another example of people recognizing cuts must be made, which they agree with-til they're the group that gets the cutting. local, regional, state and even the fed have been allowed to grow too much over the years, it's time to cut back.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Riot

It's legal for public-sector unions to donate to political campaigns. It's never been a secret.

I don't understand this: Why do you think they have taxpayer dollars? Since when do taxpayers give money directly to unions? What is money-laundering about it? Union members pay their due, but sorry, that is no longer "taxpayer money" the moment it goes into the paycheck.

Teachers are paid by taxpayer dollars. When they pay their union dues they are paying with taxpayer dollars unless they have some sort of side business. When the union then turns around and buys their business agents new cars and sends them on retreat to HI with the Badger football team, they are bought and sent with taxpayer dollars.

BTW You seem upset Walker is exempting Police and Fire unions because you claim they supported him yet seem fine with Obama exempting unions subscribing to the Obamasocialistcare Plan who supported him?

Walker is doing what he promised to do and for a politician that is so refreshing. Great job Governor and On Wisconsin! BTW This is the same guy that sent back the unwanted Federal Rail money feeling the funds would be better used paying down debt. If only we had a Scott Walker for each state.

Today winter has returned to WI, we'll see how tough the teachers are.

With the teachers planning to sit out another week it is obvious THEIR benefits and contracts trump the children and like the former Fed Flight Controllers they need to all go and be replaced. Planes didn't fall out of the sky as predicted and I'm sure the students will be fine as well. Education is broke right now so we should have no fear fixing it. When teachers fail to teach 50% of students how to read and do basic math in 12 years time they deserve nothing!

[The Bart]

Originally Posted by Riot

There were a couple high school students interviewed on TV yesterday (you're a student, why are you here thing), they spoke clearly and concisely about what the issues were, and gave their opinions. I would have been very proud of them if they were my kids. So their teachers did their job very well.

It took them 3 hours to find 2 students who could talk like they were smart!