Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
There’s been a lot going on in Wisconsin in the past week. I hope most Americans are aware of the reason why so many Wisconsinites have converged on the state capital to hold demonstrations.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, a Republican, claims that the state is in financial trouble. He’s asking teachers, plow drivers, janitors, nurses, garbage collectors, and other public sector workers to contribute more to their pensions and to pay a larger amount of their health premiums. It appears many of those workers are willing to negotiate with the governor and to consider having more money taken out of their paychecks for their pensions and health insurance. What those employees are not willing to do is relinquish their right to collective bargaining.
I can understand why Governor Walker is asking public employees to have more deductions taken from their paychecks during these fiscally difficult times. What I question is his budget-repair bill that would strip public employees of their right to collective bargaining. If the governor believes that taking away that right will help with the state budget shortfall, why isn’t he demanding that police, firefighters, and state troopers give up their right to collective bargaining too? Could it be political payback? Does that sound like a possibility to you?
Here is an excerpt from an article that Todd Richmond wrote for Bloomberg:
Walker has introduced a bill that would strip public employees across the board — from teachers to snowplow drivers — of their right to collectively bargain for sick leave, vacation, even the hours they work. But absolutely nothing would change for local police, fire departments and the State Patrol.
The bill smacks of political favoritism for public safety unions that supported Walker’s election bid last year and sets up new haves and have-nots in Wisconsin government, said Paul Secunda, a Marquette University professor who specializes in labor law.
“That’s called ‘thank you, I got your back,'” Secunda said. “There’s no surprise there. This is the worst type of favoritism there could be.”
Well, Wisconsin firefighters are showing their solidarity with their fellow public employees. There’s a post at Mother Jones about an interview that Uptake’s Oliver Dykstra had with Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin. (Mother Jones also posted a video of the interview.)
Here are some of the highlights of that interview—which I’ve taken from Mother Jones:
- “The reason that we are here is because it’s important that labor sticks together. There was a message from the governor’s office to conquer and divide…collective bargaining is not just for us, police and fire, it’s good for all involved. It’s a middle-class upbringing.”
- “When firefighters see an emergency, one thing we do is respond. And we see an emergency in the house of labor, so that’s why we’re here.”
- “Every day, if you notice, we lead the AFSCME employees, the SEIU employees, all the public sector employees into the building, because we are here to fight with them.”
- “Collective bargaining is not about union rights; it’s about rights of workers…We ask Gov. Walker to come back and negotiate with the people, negotiatie with the state workers’ unions, and get things worked out, as opposed to just putting out this bill and we don’t hear from him again.”
- “Us as firefighters, we have been exempted from this bill…There’s a 5.8 percent pay into the pension, there’s a 12.4 percent pay into the health care premium benefits…For the betterment of the government, for the betterment of the state, we don’t mind helping to pay for that. We don’t want to price ourselves out of a job. Ever. What we want to do is have a fair and equitable treatment among our members.”
I have great respect for the Wisconsin firefighters who are supporting their fellow public employees—even though they have nothing to gain politically or financially by doing so.
“We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.” ~Benjamin Franklin
Sources
From Huffington Post
Gov. Walker Informed That Bill Targeting Unions May Cost State $46 Million In Federal Funds
By Sam Stein
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/22/walker-unions-wisconsin-protests_n_826908.html
Excerpt:
WASHINGTON — Budget referees and transportation officials in Wisconsin have informed Gov. Scott Walker (R) that if he were to pass his controversial anti-union legislation into law, he could be forfeiting tens of millions of dollars in federal funds for transportation.
Under an obscure provision of federal labor law, states risk losing federal funds should they eliminate “collective bargaining rights” that existed at the time when federal assistance was first granted. The provision, known as “protective arrangements” or “Section 13C arrangements,” is meant as a means of cushioning union (and even some non-union) members who, while working on local projects, are affected by federal grants.
It also could potentially hamstring governors like Walker who want dramatic changes to labor laws in their states. Wisconsin received $74 million in federal transit funds this fiscal year. Of that, $46.6 million would be put at risk should the collective-bargaining bill come to pass — in the process creating an even more difficult fiscal situation than the one that, ostensibly, compelled Walker to push the legislation in the first place.
The governor is certainly aware of this. While the potential loss of funds may have escaped the attention of many observers, sources familiar with the state’s transportation policy tell The Huffington Post that Walker’s office has been informed of the relevant legal language. Moreover, in an a nearly unnoticed report filed by the state’s Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the non-partisan budget scorekeeper, the stakes are laid fairly bare.
Elaine,
Yes, that Uncle Pat!
It does look like Gov. Walker has a lot of explaining to do. This guy is dirty and we haven’t even heard all of it yet. Wait until he takes the “next” phone call from Mr. Coke, er, I mean Koch.
Buddha,
Looks like the Governor’s got some splainin’ to do!
**********
Stamford Liberal,
Are you suggesting we may have genetically-engineered political operatives around?
🙂
Ouch! I’m smarting from that smackdown!!
And to be clear, by “uh oh”, I mean “totally awesome”.
Uh-oh.
Sounds like the Gov got something a bit stinky on his shoes.
Like conspiracy to incite a riot.
Madison Police Chief Angered Over Governor’s Comments
Wray Wants Explanation Of Walker’s Consideration Of Planting Protesters
http://www.channel3000.com/news/26979885/detail.html
MADISON, Wis. — Madison Police Chief Noble Wray said he wants some answers from Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
This comes after a prank phone call was released online on Wednesday, during which the caller, posing as conservative businessman and Walker supporter David Koch, asked Walker if he had thought about the possibility of planting people in the crowd to cause trouble during peaceful protests at the state Capitol during the past two weeks.
In response to prankster’s question, Walker said: “You know, well the — the only problem — because we thought about that … My only fear would be is that if there was a ruckus caused is that would scare the public into thinking the governor’s got to settle to avoid all these problems. Where I’ve said, ‘We can handle this. This is Madison, full of the ’60s liberals. Let ’em protest.'”
Walker’s office confirmed on Wednesday he was one of the two voices on the phone call.
In a statement released on Thursday, Wray expressed concern over the governor’s remarks during the call.
“I spent a good deal of time overnight thinking about Governor Walker’s response, during his news conference yesterday, to the suggestion that his administration ‘thought about’ planting troublemakers among those who are peacefully protesting his bill. I would like to hear more of an explanation from Governor Walker as to what exactly was being considered, and to what degree it was discussed by his cabinet members. I find it very unsettling and troubling that anyone would consider creating safety risks for our citizens and law enforcement officers. Our department works hard dialoging with those who are exercising their First Amendment right, those from both sides of the issue, to make sure we are doing everything we can to ensure they can demonstrate safely. I am concerned that anyone would try to undermine these relationships. I have a responsibility to the community, and to the men and women of this department – who are working long hours protecting and serving this community – to find out more about what was being considered by state leaders,” Wray said in a statement.
A dancing propaganda chicken with a Velcro butt?
And I was wondering what to get the nieces and nephews for Christmas.
Elaine,
“Lawerence must have multiple derrieres–unless he reattaches the one that he keeps laughing off.”
I think Larry paid a visit to Dr. Mephesto
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/103344/four-assed-monkey
Campaign funds? Oh no, Lawrence with a superfluous e. You’re not even smart enough to hold office. And considering Bush II was President, that’s a very short yardstick to measure against. The bad news for you is that not everyone with different ideas are correct simply because they are different. But please feel free to strut about like a preening chicken some more instead of cogently refuting the logic of why your boys are bad actors.
It’s really funny.
Lawerence,
You are under the delusion that ideas and talking points are the same thing … Lmmfao
You? Talking points? Absolutely.
Ideas? Uh, not so much
Lawerence must have multiple derrieres–unless he reattaches the one that he keeps laughing off.
eniobob & rafflaw,
You mean Pat the anti-Semite who blames Poles for the German invasion of their country in 1939?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawerence_Denney there are other entries as well in case you think I am him posting here so I can receive campaign funds from the Brothers Koch. ROLFMAO.
This has been great fun, thank you so much.
you all are simple tools. ROLFMAO
And the idea that I am someone paid to post conservative points on a blog is even more laughable. Got news for you “bright” bulbs, not every person with different ideas is paid.
Very funny, no wonder most of you are unemployed, who the hell would hire you in any responsible capacity with those critical thinking skills.
I have to get back to work, Uncle Charlie is calling. ROLFMAO
By the way, thanks so much for the spelling lesson. 🙂
Unlike the voices in his head (which sound remarkably like the Koch Bros. although it could be a prank), maybe the superfluous “e” is silent.
eniobob,
Uncle Pat is fun to watch! Every time I see him on the Tele, he reminds me of his old pal, Dick Nixon.
rafflaw,
“I want to know why we should listen to a guy who can’t spell his own “name” correctly?”
I was wondering the same thing but didn’t point it out because I didn’t want to bruise Larry’s fragile ego – and, for someone knocking other’s intelligence, he can’t even spell that right!!
Speaking of horses,can someone tell me when is MSNBC going to put Pat Buchanan out to pasture?
Why do they think this guy and IMHO Scaraborough have any relevance.
rafflaw,
As has been said many times before–sometimes truth IS stranger than fiction!
Elaine,
I saw that link on the other thread. Unreal. If I was writing a book on all of this, people would swear it was fiction!