This morning, Governor Walker signed into law the bill that will take away the majority of collective bargaining rights for public sector employees.
AP
This comes after a long battle from union members who, with this new law, won’t be able to bargain for fair health and pension benefits along with many other crippling limitations.
The fight is far from over, and recall efforts are rampant. Wisconsin TV ads aim to shed light on the Republican state Senators who voted with Walker, namely Jeff Stone (R-WI):
and Senator Luther Olsen (R-WI):
In other Wisconsin legislative news, the WI-14 are rumored to be returning home tomorrow.
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Anti-Labor bill law: this bull @!$%# where is are president Obama and isn't he going to do anything over all this with walker. I this is so wrong how this all is going down get the republican all out of there and life would be so sweet.
We know that our President is smart, leagues ahead of our last. So, there's gotta be an angle. Off hand I can only maybe think that if he were to get involved, first the Repubs would have a field day with that one, 'socialist' and so on, but maybe as soon as he get's involved, our protest stops, our revolt stops. Maybe he wants this thing to get a little bigger so as to get more and more people on his side. Like Dr Ann Adams says below...
The POTUS has no fight in WI. This is State business and he knows it. He sent a message through Trumka--don't you get it? And if he did interfere, more fuel for the repubs.
Your questioning of the President is exactly a repub tactic, divide and conquer. If they can get enough people to ask where is the pres., they're weakening the Dems support. They have psychologists working on the psyche of the voters. They've been doing this for a long time and people aren't getting it. The POTUS is showing us how to fight and win. Are we going to go through with a RECALL? Are we going to forget when it's time to vote? Are we going to get involved and write to our people in Congress? Look at what King, republican from Long Island is doing now with hearings against Muslims. Following republican tactics, they're testing to see what us citizens will do. Not very many of us have done anything about it. Get a move on. RECALL.
Watch out for the repub paid blogger. He's going from site to site, seeding poison. Do a "inflammatory" on this yokel joker--and the anti-walkers are keeping all of them busy. RECALL.
@ ANN
Can I ask where W. was during Katrina? Oh right, at his ranch in Texas. What was it for 3 weeks, 3 months, WTF... And how many aircraft carriers or warships did he send into the gulf to help aid? You still don't see anything wrong with your party?
I'm staggerd how misinformed you are. You
You call that an apoligy?...lol
Read your comment Sherry. I hope you're not a teacher.
Hey Ed, I saw that your show's ratings have gone up. You deserve it! Thank you for helping the people of Wisconsin. Keep it up! Fox's ratings are down and yours are up! Maybe people are finally realizing that clips with Palm Trees and Oceans are not acceptable when covering the State of Wisconsin.
My favorite Wisconsin protest sign so far: 'Walker Sucks Koch'
Mike: someone's messing up the videos. More repub dirty trix. Stay away from that annottheman repub paid blogger. He's infiltrating all the sites and not worth the hassle. Gets paid under the table, collects a disability check, unemployment, Medicaid and food stamps, and dips into the food pantries. Republican. RECALL.
Why is it, if you work for the state, you're on the tax payer dole? If you work for the state, you earn your money the same as working for anybody else.
Exactly Larry. I think if I'm understanding you correctly. It's like, I thought we decided a long time ago that we didn't have to live like barbarians. So we decided to come up with solutions for fires, crime, clean air and water, transportation of self and goods, education, and maybe most importantly, Freedom and Opportunity. We decided, I thought, that since this is for the greater good of the public; that every citizen will be affected by this in one form or another, at one time or another, that we would collect a minimum dues or tax from everyone. We call this comfortable way of life western civilization, I thought.
The problem is our government has over extended it self with agencies that overlap, very negligently I might add. Our dues being sent internationally annually, when it was intended for my fire station, and your police department. My middle school and your high school. Not for whatever it is that Egypt and all of the other countries that we give money to need. Because, guess what, either they didn't need it, or didn't use it like we thought, and it cost us. I'll admit some times other countries need help. But in emergency's only right? I think Japan is a good example. That is, whew... a scale of damage that is staggering. We need to get in there and exhaust all of our resources on a cause like that...
I'm saying, I think it's time for people to ask themselves if they really want to blame the old cliche that we'veheard for years of 'wasteful government spending' on our public workers that make on average of $50,000 a year...
I got an idea for Walker. You want to save money, try using one pen to sign bills...lol What is that about, I see that is obviously tradition, but why? It looks like he's signing one letter with each pen...lol
I think he learned how to do that from Obama. Guess you don't watch much CSPAN.
ALL presidents do it.
No, No sweetheart, the question was...why?
"No, No sweetheart, the question was...why?"
I thought I answered that..........Because Obama does it, of course. Don't we all want to be just like him?
You bet! Intelligent, insightful, wanting for Americans all the goodness we work for, caring for those unable to do for themselves. You know, all that stuff you christian republicans have been touting during Bush's admin, you know-the guy who mentioned God whenever Cheney told him it was time. Sell religion, it'll bring in as many and as much as sex. Bring in 9/11 so we can blame Muslims and always mention God and family values--big sellers to voters. That's the republican way. as Boner said SO BE IT. Repub theme, FOR ME, NOT FOR THEE.
RECALL RECALL RECALL. SHOW THE WAY WI. WE'RE BEHIND YOU.
"You bet! Intelligent, insightful, wanting for Americans all the goodness we work for, caring for those unable to do for themselves. "
You forgot to add the "I'll be walking right with you on the picket lines", the "I'll close Quantanamo Bay this year", the "I'll get everyone "Universal health care", the "I'll have them all tried in US courts", the "I'll be out of Iraq in 2010", and of course the "I'll still studying the situation" Obama.
THAT OBAMA!! No thanks.
This is just the first shot in the 2012 Presidentual Election. The GOP thought they could sucker O'Bama into this fight in Wisconsin, but he is too smart, he is keeping it at arms length. This the Wisconsin Democrates and the Citizens of Wisconsins fight.
President Obama sent WI a message through Trumka. You bet he's on our side. Now he wants to see if us DEMS are going to work for our country.
this is a video of Wisconsin Rep. Senator Scott Fitzgerald laughing it up over a steak dinner & drinks a couple hours after the Budget Bill was passed. In it he refers to the protesters as "long haired goofy mother f___rs".
Shows his true caring for WIites. Nero fiddled while Rome burned.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcGYFH4P2ZE
" In it he refers to the protesters as "long haired goofy"
Wow, from what I saw on TV he hit the nail on the head.
Long haired goofy? like the people who protested the Vietnam War and were shot at and 4 students killed by the Ohio National Guard? under orders of a repub president Nixon? How quickly we forget. 9/11 will go the same way--as will the money hungry repubs that profited from this attack. They certainly did clean up after WTCs fell, didn't they. Stay strong WI. RECALL! RECALL! The emotion dissipates but the will should stay strong. RECALL. Contact anyone in Congress to advise them that their job relies on your vote. RECALL WALKER, et al.
the video has been messed. suffice to say, pigs at the trough!
THE CHOICE IS CLEAR IN 2012
DEMOCRATS :
Stand up for what they believe in
moving forward exclaiming
YES
REPUBLICANS :
Tear down what they don't believe in
moving backward shouting
NO
THE CHOICE IS CLEAR IN 2012
DEMOCRATS :
Stand up for what they believe in
moving forward exclaiming
YES
REPUBLICANS :
Tear down what they don't believe in
moving backward shouting
NO
If all the Dems want this to stay status quo then why doesn"t Wisconsin just tax the Dems. They want to redistribute wealth let it be theirs. Instead of asking the union workers to pay toward THEIR OWN BENEFITS!! Let all the Dems pay for it that would be fair.
I have a better idea, if you dont like it, why dont you secede from the union, go live somewhere with all of your Tea Party buddies but dont forget to leave your ss check, your disability, your medicare/medicaid at the door when you leave.
Mike 1652. How come I don't hear you screaming about the GM execs that just got big bonuses while still owing the tax payer 25 billion dollars. They keep talking about making a profit how can it be profit while they are still indebted to us.
Charlie, in case you havent been watching the news, they arent asking for status quo, they agreed to the concessions that Walker asked for, but thats not really what he wanted. The other thing you are unaware of is union workers are also Republicans....well except for those who have now switched parties to Dem or Independent after Walker's last move. Its really no use responding to Tea Party posters because they dont have a clue as to what is really going on and that is big corporate has their hand in your back pockets and you dont even realize you are being robbed blind by them. All those commercials you watch trashing union workers? Go look at who's funding them. Koch Brothers, Kar Rove, Americans For Prosperity, Crossroads, a bunch of rich corporate Republicans who want you to think they care about you...and you've bought into it.
Almost paid back, with interest. Stay in touch. The bonuses paid to Wall streeters was under rules during Bush's administration when he was 'bailing' them out. Don't you bloggers stay updated? This was years ago.
I am, I have to many things to scream about. You act as tho you caught me saying otherwise, just because I don't hit on a subject, doesn't mean I don't have something to say about it.
Which is more than we can say for the banks. 0.0% intrest rate for the banks.
It's called "corporate finance". Very few corporations operate debt free. You learn all about it in econ 101, assuming you're not a conservative who thinks "edjukation" is a liberal plot to brainwash our youth so they laugh when they hear Faux News say "fair and balanced."
Remember you are not the majority, 64% of people do not belong to a union.
Actually according to even conservative polls, the majority of Americans and Wisconsites agree Walker has over-reached and gone too far. Perhaps that explains they they already have enough signatures to begin recall proceedings on one Repub Senator as well as being close to be able to start with one other Senator. Walker is next.
But most of WIites are workers, or trying to get a job. Let's see Walker come up with 250,000 jobs, another lie as when he was county exec. RECALL. Say repub Boner, WHERE ARE THE JOBS.
WALKER RECALL, REPUBS RECALL
Sit back and watch. Who's going to be laughing when the CONservatives get recalled. Being unemployed for over 99 weeks might give them a more realistic view of the world.
A good example of how terrible the RepubliCON education plan is, stands out in the open. How on earth do you get Bainer out of Boehner. Maybe that explains why Newt gets confused. All that hard work screwing the country, made him forget when to stop screwing.
Mike:
FDR (he was the president in favor of unions long ago) and George Meany (he headed the AFL-CIO long ago) believed that gov't workers should not unionize because they could financially support and vote in the political candidates and parties that made repaid them at the bargaining tables. Once the people in a democracy have the ability to vote themselves the treasury (which is now empty by the way except for the IOU's from the gov't), the union becomes divided between the looters and the depositors. As a depositor that has never had anything remotely resembling the golden employment packages that you union thugs do, you can see why gov't unions are going away now. Not to mention that you union thugs seem to believe you have no responsibility to behave! What a bunch of p.i.g.s., figuratively and literally.
Good day sir (loosely on the sir part)
I wish I could bitch like you republicans do about where my tax dollars go. I don't want to pay for the birth of illegal aliens, I don't want to pay for the billions of dollars in international aid, I don't want to pay for these two wars.
And I understand it was obvious a liberal who started the alien baby thing, but YOU people started a war on false pretence. Two of em actually. You people are all about fear, it's alot easier to control us when we are 'together as a nation' scared. We brain washed senators to justify prolonging the Afghan war. We took one guy for his word that there were WMD's in Iraq. The republicans needed this war to benefit their friends who had stock in Haliburton and what was it HGR? or KNR? among others. Remember how we were going in no matter what, in the name of 'liberators'? They don't care about you or your freedom's, unless you have money, or might vote for them. Katrina showed us that.
I just have a hard time listening to anything you people have to say about unions when the republican party takes so much from so few. Whats the vested interest in those few? Why would the koch brothers spend so much money, yet be up in arms about a teacher that makes $50,000?
What's with this reverse psychology, it seems as tho that's the only thing that you people have left. Sad really.
And if it is the 'unions' that are so evil and the reason why were in the state were in. Why are you people going after and cutting medicare, medicaid, school funding, programs that help the elderly, and programs that help the poor?
Were broke because this war didn't go the way you people thought it should go. Remember 90 billion dollars and were out of there in a year Mr. Bush?I do. Remember this war would be paid for by their oil? I do. Remember when we would be greeted as liberators? I do. And when all of that blew up in our face, we look at 'our' teachers and say 'what have you done'?
Wake up....
I'd just like to clarify something. Reading my above statement, it sounds like I don't care about Japan. I want to be over there helping as much as we can;I'm glad of Obama's response to the tragedy. Money isn't an option in a situation like this. I'm talking the 'annual' aid we give countries like some kinda allowance. Like 'ok it's been a year here's your billion dollars to do with whatever you want...
Ed, why not try another headline...
Walker makes a Pro-taxpayer Bill.
I live in Wisconsin, I pay a lot of taxes and I am glad for this legislation.
No one is pointing a gun to anyone's head and say you must work for a public sector job. If people feel they can get a better job somewhere else, they are free to make that choice. There are plenty of people here in Wisconsin and in other states as well who would be very glad for a government job in Wisconsin under the new legislation.
I have heard rumors that there will be a lot of "job actions". If they occur, I would hope they all get fired and replaced by people who would welcome the opportunity.
Thanks for listening, have a nice day.
Our taxes aren't going to go down, Old Dog -- just our services. That means garbage collection, taking our own recyclables to a junk dealer, seeing the costs of our own healthcare go up as the hospitals have to absorb more bad debt from the people thrown off BadgerCare, paying more out of our already empty pockets for our aged parents. All so people like the Koch's can make a bigger profit on their business activities in our state.
Because they can't be expected to do with a little less, but we sure can.
If you think this is going to help the individual middle class taxpayer of Wisconsin, then you need to learn some new tricks.
How about turning that logic in the right direction? If all the conservatives bitching about how great teachers have it think it's such a gravy train, why don't they get a teaching job? I have a teaching degree, but I have never taught. Why? Because right out of college I was offered a job in the private sector (in Madison by the way) at way more than I could make teaching. And through the last 30 years, I have always made more money working for some corporation than I could have made teaching. My wife is a teacher, and I can tell you that she works much harder than I ever have and for much less pay.
I was raised in a union family but have worked for 40 years in a variety of non-union jobs. What I have seen is "executives" are given large bonuses while the folks doing the work receive raises that barely keep up with the cost of living. When the markets slow down so profits stagnate, it's the workers who are laid off so the execs can make their financial targets and receive their bonuses. I am still non-union, but I strongly support the Wisconsin protestors and all labor in general. Corporation management is greedy and heartless. Wisconsin Republicans seem governed by $$$ and selfishness.
What a load of nonsense. Walker's policies left Milwaukee County in a mess, and now he's going to do that to the state. NOT gain financially or politically? He may be through in Wisconsin, but this was merely a springboard to the Republican Presidential nomination. I can only hope that American voters are smarter than that, but I'm not holding my breath.
Milwaukee County, which had experienced Walker's administrative skills and philosophy as County Executive, voted 62% for Tom Barrett.
I say All The Union Employees should walk off thier job!!! Including Police, Fire, Trash etc. Lets see Walker and his cronies fight fires, police the streets, and pick up Garbage!!!
recall recall recall recall
Like Obama said to McCain, You lost, deal with it. Walker has done what he said he would do during his campaign. Where were the Dems in Nov?
Walker never once mentioned an end to collective bargaining for public workers during his campaign. See Politifact.
Where were the Dems in November? I don't know about everyone else, but I was out voting for Barrett. Independents and some Republicans who fell for Walker's sleight of hand about job creation and balancing the budget are regretting their votes.
If you knew that by passing this the governor had saved 3,500 jobs, would you think differently? This is what he did and why he did it. He could have passed out pink slips! This is a time for everyone to share in the cuts and the burden. We have to get past the union non union mentality and work together!
A previous writer suggested that people choose to work for the govenment was right on!! If you think you are that good, go somewhere else, there are many who would be glad to have your job. If you doubt that come to Michigan, many people have left that state to work while their family stays here.
STOP COMPLAINING! Be glad you have a job...
Oh earthgirl you are so right about the Repubs having pschs work on the minds of the regular people...why else would these people go to the polls and vote against themselves. I see people who are so poor or struggling vote Republican as if the Repubs care anything about them. The Repubs are very clever and ruthless. See how the Repubs want to cut the programs that help the poor and their war on women.. they use social issues to divide the middle class.
BTW, as a democrat, anything you'd like to cut?
Yes hand outs to oil companies. Might help with the drug war. A little less Koch to pass out to the RepubliCON Koch Whores.
Diane... do you really believe Gov Walker? he showed what a liar and bully he is and has no integrity or principles at all...it is all about his rich masters and their wishes.
TruthSquader: Of course I know what the people now marching in Madison are protesting about. Do you?
Resentment over executive compensation has NOT been raised as an issue in the fight over the Wisconsin legislation, but I can assure you that it bothers folks greatly when those barely making enough to support a family are accused of being paid too much, of being greedy, of being lazy and of not caring for the taxpayers they serve..
I have NEVER encountered a teacher who wasn't worth every dollar he/she was paid. I spent a number of years as an elected member of a Board of Education, where I was on the "other side" of the table during negotiations. The School Board and the Teachers Union reps respected each other and negotiated fairly. We reached contract settlements that were fair ro our teachers and to our taxpayers through collective bargaining.
Selfrishness? $$$$ ? I have seen government social programs gutted and in some cases eliminated. Who do these programs beneifit? The poor. The disabled. The elderly. All folks who can't afford to pay for the services themselves.
I recognize and celebrate the contributions of those who actually do the work of government- who teach our kids, fight our fires, save lives, help the homeless, tend to the disabled, fix the potholes, purify our drinking water - far more than I do those who sit all day in a comfortable office and get paid far more for doing much less.
I'll close by writing that I was a Republican supporter since the days of Eisenhower. My first vote was for a Republican Straight Party Ticket. I supported that party with my vote for more than 25 years. Never again. I am proud to accept the label of a Liberal
TruthSquader, show me a group of Republicans who are taking steps to help the less fortunate in our society.
Thank you for recognizing that I am a Liberal. In this situation, I regard it as a Badge of Honor. It demonstrates that I care about others in this society who are less fortunate than I am.
Ed keep the good work up being our voice , I think they want to much from our President and give very little themselves. I'm glad to see the people out now fighting for their rights and not being uneducatoinal like all Rep want us to be
that's why they don't want more educationa people in this country.That's why Bush put in no child left behind but himself he wanted all poor children left behind.
That's what the test about. they are not learning the basic any more only for the test . I will be talking more to you we are on the same page
Good Luck enjoy Va
I use to live thier also.
Truthsquader...you are attacking the person who is posting their views....I attack the party and the leaders which is fair game. You are showing what you are by these attacks...but it is not working....I stay strong in my beliefs that the Republican party supports the corporations and the wealthy and care nothing for the working class people. Have you seen them working or even talking about jobs as they promise. I will not waste any more of my energy to respond to you...I know who you support. I am so happy people are getting their eyes open
Republicans are the ones that are delusional. You just keep your head down in that sand. That way you won't see when the corporate masters shoot your you-know-what off.
Truthsquader. Two words: Sarah Palin. You might want to think about intelligent discourse while you have giants like her speaking for your party.
"I read everything"
If brains were gun powder that woman couldn't blow the wax out of her ears.
If you want repetion try listening to the RepubliCON's." Death panel's, Obamacare, he wasn't born in America, he's not a christian" etc. The RepubliCON party of not one original though. You all sound like sheep.
But speaking of dimwits your one of the mental giants that want to give Palin and Bachmann the countries check book. I don't think there much more to say on that one. If you believe that, you really are as much an idiot as "I read everything" Sarah.
They are the spokes people for your party after the Koch brothers. Have you had you head up you A$$ for the last 4 years?