Greedy Wisc Unions can't pay 5.8% of Pension costs???

[Reno Paul]

That $100 per day fine for the 14 Democratic State Senators being AWOL is chicken feed......I can see a hat going around by the unions and protesters to pay for the fines

Missing Wisconsin Democrats to face $100 per day fine

By David Ariosto, CNN
March 2, 2011 7:11 p.m. EST


"Every day we fail to act on this just adds more and more to the cost," Gov. Scott Walker said.


STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Republicans vote on a resolution that would fine missing Democrats $100 per day
• The measure could make them forfeit their parking spaces and discretionary spending accounts
• 14 Democratic state senators fled to Illinois to prevent a quorum on the budget bill
• The second vote is scheduled for Friday

(CNN) -- Wisconsin Senate Republicans on Wednesday adopted a resolution that would fine missing Democrats $100 every day they remain away from the state capital, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald told reporters.
The measure could also force the absentee lawmakers to forfeit their parking spaces and discretionary spending accounts.
The Democratic lawmakers were not immediately available for comment.
Fourteen Democratic state senators have fled to Illinois to prevent a quorum on a budget bill that would curtail the collective bargaining rights of most public-sector workers.
The state Senate has to pass a second round of individual resolutions that target each missing lawmaker before the fines will take effect, said Fitzgerald spokesman Andrew Welhouse.
The second vote is scheduled for Friday and would go into effect immediately after its presumed passage.
Republicans need a single Democrat to cross party lines and rejoin the 33-member legislature to meet the quorum of 20 lawmakers required in a vote on the controversial budget repair bill. Only 17 lawmakers are required for most other issues.
Meanwhile, the state's budget showdown showed no signs of abating as Republican Governor Scott Walker again took to the airwaves Wednesday to defend his belt-tightening measure.

RELATED TOPICS

• Wisconsin
• Scott Walker
• Collective Bargaining

"Every day we fail to act on this just adds more and more to the cost," Walker told reporters. "It's important for those 14, or at least some of those 14 state senators, to come back home."
Passage of the budget repair bill, which would apply to the current spending plan, would limit collective bargaining to wages. Any pay increases beyond the rate of inflation would be subject to voter approval.
It would also require public workers -- with the exception of police and firefighters -- to cover more of their retirement plans and health care premiums.
Union leaders have agreed to pay more for benefits, but view restricting bargaining rights as tantamount to an assault on workers' rights.
Walker has toured the state for days in an effort to pressure the AWOL Democrats to return, defending the measure as a needed reform to union influence. But Democrats have refused pending a compromise on a bill that has drawn thousands to the state capitol in protest.
Wisconsin is confronted with a looming $137 million budget shortfall at the end of the fiscal year, June 30. The state faces a $3.6 billion budget gap by 2013.
Lawmakers face a March 16 deadline to balance the budget, officials said.
But budget battles involving workers' rights are not limited to Wisconsin.
In Ohio, the state's Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that would curb the collective bargaining rights of public workers and strip away their power to strike. The legislation moves on to the Republican-controlled House where lawmakers are expected to take up the measure on March 10.
In Indiana -- much like in Wisconsin -- Democratic lawmakers fled to neighboring Illinois over a Republican-backed proposal that union supporters say will restrict workers' rights.
Amid the stalemate, Indiana Democratic House Minority leader Pat Bauer travelled back from Illinois Wednesday and met with Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma. The results of that meeting are unclear.
In California, lawmakers introduced a bill that would do away with collective bargaining of pension benefits for the state's public employees. The state's governor, Democrat Jerry Brown, has imposed a statewide hiring freeze across all government agencies.
Critics label the moves anti-union, while their supporters often describe the measures as overdue and needed reforms.

[thespeculator]

I think the Washington DC situation is worse.

They fired 75 teachers two years ago for incompetence. But that doesn't fly in Union World where everybody is entitled to a job. One teacher didn't show up for work for 6 weeks. Never said she was quitting, never said she was going on vacation, she was just awol and they let her go.

So now the union is coming back and suing for 2 years back pay and a job.

So those 22 year old teachers making 50K on average will get a 100K check cut in their favor and their jobs back if they want them. Because Union Slugs are entitled pricks who think the rules of nature don't apply to them.

50K for a 22 year old teacher
3 months off for the summer
generous holidays, teacher work days
Job security
0% pension contributions

Yet the teachers complain to the kids that they are soooooo underpaid.

in ontario the government controls the liquor stores, a job where someone wouldn't be making more than 12 bucks an hour as cashier and stocking shelves, these people pull in a nice 22 an hour plus full benefits, pension. My old man worked like a dog in factory , it went under and now is left with 280 a month pension. We had a conservative government for 8 years and they cut everything but they wouldn't sell the liquor stores, why money!!!!
conservative ,liberal, repub, democrat , they are all the same

[Reno Paul]

Breaking News!!! The Wisconsin-Walker Senate Gestapo at work!!!!!

I call this bullshit!!!!!

Wisconsin Senate votes to detain absentee Democrats

By David Ariosto, CNN
March 3, 2011 2:36 p.m. EST

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• The state Senate approved a resolution that would allow police to detain missing Democrats
• 14 Democrats fled to Illinois February 17 to prevent a quorum on a budget repair bill
• The bill would curb the collective bargaining rights of most public sector workers
• Whether the measure is constitutional remains unclear

(CNN) -- The Wisconsin state Senate approved a resolution Thursday that would hold absentee Democratic lawmakers "in contempt of the Senate" should they not return to the Capitol by late afternoon.
The measure would allow state law enforcement to issue a warrant in an effort to detain them and return the lawmakers to Wisconsin, according to Senate Majority Leader spokesman Andrew Welhouse.
Fourteen Senate Democrats fled to Illinois February 17 to prevent a quorum on a budget repair bill that would curb the collective bargaining rights of most public sector workers.
Passage of the bill would limit collective bargaining to wages and require public workers -- with the exception of police and firefighters -- to cover more of their retirement plans and health care premiums.
But whether the contempt measure is constitutional remains unclear. The state Constitution prohibits the arrest of lawmakers while the legislature is in session, except for "treason, felony and breach of the peace."
Whether Wisconsin law enforcement would be allowed jurisdiction in Illinois to detain the missing lawmakers is also unclear.
The move comes one day after Senate lawmakers adopted a resolution that would fine missing Democrats $100 every day they remain absent, in an effort to pressure the lawmakers' return.
Wednesday's measure could also force missing Democrats to forfeit their parking spaces and discretionary spending accounts.
Republicans need a single Democrat to cross party lines and rejoin the 33-member legislature to meet the quorum of 20 lawmakers required in a vote on the budget bill. Only 17 lawmakers are required for most other issues.
Union leaders have agreed to pay more for benefits, but view restricting bargaining rights as an assault on workers'rights.
Republican Gov. Scott Walker also took to the airwaves Wednesday to defend his belt-tightening measure.
"Every day we fail to act on this just adds more and more to the cost," he told reporters, defending a move to curtail workers' power to negotiate as an integral part of fiscal reform.
Wisconsin is confronted with a looming $137 million budget shortfall at the end of the fiscal year, June 30. The state faces a $3.6 billion budget gap by 2013.

[rkelly110]

Love it. Smart move for the Dem's. If they aren't there, they won't vote. Workers should
take a weeks vacation to shut that state down. See how he likes that.

He's a state paid employee, is he cutting his wages and benefits? The goose/ gander
scenario.

[rsnnh12]

Workers should
take a weeks vacation to shut that state down.

This is the EXACT reason I have a huge problem with public unions. With private sector unions, there are plenty of other workers who can be brought in if there is a strike. It keeps both sides from arguing too much over small bullshit, because workers know they can be replaced, and business owners know that the replacements won't put out the same quality work. How many teachers could be scrounged up if they all strike during the school year? Firefighters? Police?

Why can't we just agree to pay public servants a respectable wage+benefits, with a set pay increase every year, and leave it at that? Good employees get rewarded by promotions/bonuses, bad employees get fired. Enough of every employee getting treated 100% equally, even if they are terrible at their job.

[LarryF]

If you, as the Dems in Wisconsin, blatantly did not go to work, what would happen to you? You would be summarily fired!
What are the taxpayers of Wisconsin waiting for?

[pronk]

What are the taxpayers of Wisconsin waiting for?

I know this, they're all waiting for their tax returns.

[rkelly110]

I agree rsnnh12.

Think of unions as a person selling something. He is going to ask
for a high price, knowing his customer is going to bargain him down. The seller
has a set price he wants to meet. If the agreed price is higher than he expects,
he takes the deal.

Unions haggling for a contract is no worse than the above example. Just like
buying a car. It's a common everyday occurrence.

You don't want your buyer to come back later on and say, you charged me
too much, give me some money back. You'll laugh in his face. That's the
shit Walker is doing.

[newguy]

This is the EXACT reason I have a huge problem with public unions. With private sector unions, there are plenty of other workers who can be brought in if there is a strike. It keeps both sides from arguing too much over small bullshit, because workers know they can be replaced, and business owners know that the replacements won't put out the same quality work. How many teachers could be scrounged up if they all strike during the school year? Firefighters? Police?

Why can't we just agree to pay public servants a respectable wage+benefits, with a set pay increase every year, and leave it at that? Good employees get rewarded by promotions/bonuses, bad employees get fired. Enough of every employee getting treated 100% equally, even if they are terrible at their job.

Who decides what is "respectable"? Is a teacher in wisconsin that makes $30K respectable when the average salary is $40k in the state? What about $50K on a $40k average. Why do teachers need a union to begin with? Every state needs teachers - meaning there is as large a demand for teachers in this country as there is just about any other job. Lets say you work in finance, if you don't like the company you work for - you have options - suck it up, or find another job. Teachers have the same options - if they aren't paid enough in Wisconsin, move to a state that adequately compensates them. At some point, supply and demand will force each state to pay that respectable wage - but there isn't a need for a union to get there in my opinion.

[RubberKettle]

The real problem is this never ending circle of greed, selfishness and corruption, with the taxpayer footing the bill.

A large portion of Union dues go into the pockets of Democrats through union campaign contributions, which in turn allows the unions to “elect” their own bosses, who then repay their cronies by agreeing to union demands.

[rkelly110]

The 1st sentence tells all, Rubber. That sounds like ALL our elected officials.

Where does Republicans get their campaign contributions? That's what I thought.

[RubberKettle]

Where does Republicans get their campaign contributions? That's what I thought.

Don't you watch MSNBC they get all their $ from overseas.

/end sarcasm

[DwightShrute]

[rkelly110]

Don't you watch MSNBC they get all their $ from overseas.

/end sarcasm

That's worse yet. At least the Dem's are getting theirs from WORKING
Americans. Repub's are for corporations and big oil so they will look away
when corps want to move overseas and look away at the safety of an
oil rig.

Your sarcasm has merit.

[rsnnh12]

That's worse yet. At least the Dem's are getting theirs from WORKING
Americans. Repub's are for corporations and big oil so they will look away
when corps want to move overseas and look away at the safety of an
oil rig.

Your sarcasm has merit.

The only reason corporations move overseas is because Dems keep raising taxes on them. Corporate tax at 35%, most guys in charge being taxed 45-50+% (fed, state, SS, etc), and Dems still wanting to raise it more to "balance the budget". Who in their right mind would want to stay here and deal with that? Then they bitch and moan when companies move overseas and wonder where all the jobs went.

It takes everyone working towards the same goal (which should be, everyone working hard to provide a good life for their families) to make our economy work well. We need the rich to provide jobs, invest in other companies, and save money in banks to provide liquidity so they can loan money to others. Middle class/poor do the "grunt work" and if they work hard and smart, start their own business or advance to a higher position in their company.

Most importantly, for the health of our economy, we need government to stop spending so much damn money. Lower spending=lower taxes=more businesses=more jobs=everyones quality of life goes up.

Oh, and it was an Obama appointee who said that rig could skip its safety inspection... not Bush

[BeatingBaseball]

The real problem is this never ending circle of greed, selfishness and corruption, with the taxpayer footing the bill.

A large portion of Union dues go into the pockets of Democrats through union campaign contributions, which in turn allows the unions to “elect” their own bosses, who then repay their cronies by agreeing to union demands.

Kettle - on the money. You are the first intelligent Red Sox fan I have ever come across.

[rkelly110]

I'm drunk, I can't comment. Repub's suck, plain and simple. Get that baseball outta your butt,
baseball beater.

[Turd Ferguson]

The only reason corporations move overseas is because Dems keep raising taxes on them.

That old gag...

They move overseas because they want slave labor and the ability to freely dump their chemicals into the local river. You know like they used to have it here before those commie gov't regulations that prevent people from getting cancer?

It also helps their other main goal which is everyone except them being the working poor who are easily scared and manipulated.

Glenn Beck told me that if you drink water full of carcinogens just cure the cancer with your bootstraps!

[dollarbill]

When did Unions form within the Goverment? Goverment Union workers salaries are paid by the Taxpayers, so would it not be realistic for the Taxpayers to have colective bargining when the Goverment Unions want a C.O.L.A.?

A union is an organization of workers who act together to secure benefits and rights in the workplace. Unionism is an important tool for worker's rights, and many trade unions are open to membership all over the world. Members of a union may range from machinists in auto-repair shops to in home care providers who belong to a service-workers union. Not all workers are unionized, but many are, especially when they work for large companies. Many unions are also quite powerful, since they represent thousands of employees, and unions have traditionally played a role in politics as well, by endorsing union-friendly candidates.
The first unions began to emerge in the 18th century, as industrialization began to rise in Europe

[rsnnh12]

That old gag...

They move overseas because they want slave labor and the ability to freely dump their chemicals into the local river. You know like they used to have it here before those commie gov't regulations that prevent people from getting cancer?

It also helps their other main goal which is everyone except them being the working poor who are easily scared and manipulated.

Glenn Beck told me that if you drink water full of carcinogens just cure the cancer with your bootstraps!

Then why is any company still in the US? There's PLENTY of slave labor available... why are any of them here? So much for your conspiracy theory, huh?

2nd highest corporate tax rate in the world. Tough to be competitive in a global economy when you're taxed at 35%... only thing you can do to significantly lower expenses is cheaper labor

[Reno Paul]

The Walker sponsored goon squad is out in force......
<object classid="clsid<img src=" images="" smilies="" biggrin.gif"="" alt="" title="Big Grin" smilieid="3" class="inlineimg" width="416" border="0" height="374"></object>
<object width="416" height="374" classid="clsid27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="ep"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="movie" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&vide oId=politics/2011/03/04/wi.lawmaker.tackled.wisn" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><embed src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&vide oId=politics/2011/03/04/wi.lawmaker.tackled.wisn" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="416" wmode="transparent" height="374"></embed></object>

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: The state Capitol was empty shortly after 6 p.m. Friday, a state agency says
• Gov. Scott Walker's office sends letters to 13 union heads warning of possible layoffs
• The letters say job cuts could be avoided if Democratic legislators return
• A judge has ruled demonstrators can no longer sleep inside the Capitol building

Read more about how unions and bargaining are as old as America.
(CNN) -- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's administration on Friday issued notices to unions, warning them of possible layoffs in early April if the budget impasse continues.
The measure "may be able to be rescinded and layoffs avoided" if 14 Senate Democrats return to the state Capitol, the Republican's office said in a press release.
"Without Senate action within 15 days, individual employees may begin to receive potential termination notifications," said spokesman Cullen Werwie.
Walker has warned that the state might have to lay off 1,500 state workers if the Democrats don't return to meet a quorum to vote on Walker's so-called budget repair bill. The initiative would restrict the collective bargaining rights of many public employees, as well as require state workers -- with the exception of police and firefighters -- to cover more of their retirement plans and health care premiums.
Republicans need a single Democrat to cross party lines and rejoin the 33-member legislature to meet the quorum of 20 lawmakers required in a vote on state fiscal matters. Only 17 lawmakers are required for most other issues.
Letters to 13 public union heads, sent Friday by State Employment Relations Director Gregory Gracz and released by Walker's office, state that "agencies must take action to decrease their expenditures to make up for the savings lost due to" the delay in the vote on the governor's bill.
While stating the cuts would not take effect before April 4, the letters don't specify exactly how many unionized employees could lose their jobs. Walker's office explained that individual employees had to be given a two-week notice before any "permanent" layoffs.



<cite class="expCaption">U.S. union membership</cite>

RELATED TOPICS

• Wisconsin
• Wisconsin State Capitol
• Scott Walker
• Jobs and Labor

Meanwhile, the state Senate has approved a resolution that would hold absentee Democratic lawmakers "in contempt of the Senate." The measure allows state law enforcement to detain the Democrats and bring them back to Wisconsin, according to Andrew Welhouse, a spokesman for Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald.
But whether the contempt measure is constitutional remains unclear. The state constitution prohibits the arrest of lawmakers while the legislature is in session, except for "treason, felony and breach of the peace."
Whether Wisconsin law enforcement would be permitted jurisdiction in Illinois to detain the missing lawmakers is also unclear.
Democrat State Sen.Jon Erpenbach said Friday that the move threatened to derail any productive discussions between fellow Democrats and Republicans, including representatives from the governor's office.
"We were pretty close to an agreement" but "then the Senate puts out arrest warrants," he said, blaming Senate Republican leadership for impeding negotiations.
The stalemate has appeared increasingly contentious in recent days as Senate lawmakers adopted a resolution Wednesday that would fine absentee lawmakers $100 every day they remain missing.
A similar resolution passed a day later in Indiana, where House Republicans have imposed a $250-a-day fine against the AWOL Democrats who -- like their Wisconsin counterparts -- fled to Illinois in protest of a labor bill.
Walker's budget-repair bill has drawn fierce and spirited opposition from unions, Democrats and others, hundreds of whom have demonstrated inside and outside the state Capitol in recent weeks in Madison. Some of them even slept inside of the building, prompting an order Thursday from Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge John Albert that barred demonstrators from staying in the state Capitol after business hours.
On Friday night, the state's Department of Administration noted on its website that the Capitol closed at 6 p.m., with Capitol Police Chief Charles Tubbs speaking to five people who left shortly thereafter.
Some 4,653 people visited the building on Friday -- about four times more than the previous day. One person was arrested for trying to bypass weapons screening despite repeated warnings, according to the state agency. The Capitol will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with more large crowds expected.
A Wisconsin Democrat was tackled by Capitol police Thursday night as he tried to walk through a door in the state legislature, which has been closed to the public.
Nick Milroy, an assembly member, admitted Friday that he was "aggressive in attempting to re-enter the Capitol, and law enforcement was aggressive in trying to keep me out."
"This armed-palace environment created by Gov. Walker has everyone feeling very tense, and emotions are running high," Milroy said of the incident, captured on camera by Milwaukee-based WISN-TV.
Police closed the facility after crowds demonstrated in and around the building, contributing to $6.5 million in damage and other costs since mid-February, according to Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch.
Milroy "was attempting to gain access without showing his ID," said Huebsch. He "was using his own political agenda to get himself arrested and make a point."
The state is confronted with a looming $137 million shortfall at the end of the fiscal year, June 30. The state faces a $3.6 billion budget gap by 2013.
CNN's David Mattingly, Eric Fiegel and Katherine Wojtecki contributed to this report.

[Reno Paul]

This is the latest from a poll that leans Republican......

Rasmussen: Walker's Approval Rating Dips to 43%


Saturday, 05 Mar 2011 02:45 PM
Article Font Size



Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker won his job last November with 52 percent of the vote, but his popularity has slipped since then.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely Wisconsin voters finds that just 34 percent strongly approve of the job he is doing, while 48 percent strongly disapprove. Overall, including those who somewhat approve or disapprove, the new Republican governor earns positive reviews from 43 percent and negative reviews from 57 percent of voters statewide.

In addition to the usual partisan and demographic breakdowns, it’s interesting to note that Walker, now engaged in a budget battle with unionized state workers, receives a total approval rating of 46 percent from households with private sector union members. However, among households with a public sector union member, only 19 percent offer their approval. Among all other households in the state, opinion is nearly evenly divided — 49 percent favorable and 51 percent unfavorable.

It’s also interesting to note that among households with children in the public school system, only 32 percent approve of the governor’s performance. Sixty-seven percent disapprove, including 54 percent who strongly disapprove.

This may be partly due to the fact that 77 percent of Wisconsin voters have a favorable opinion of the state’s public school teachers. However, only 50 percent have a favorable opinion of the teachers’ union.

Seventy-three percent of Wisconsin Republicans approve of the job Walker is doing. Eighty-nine percent of the state's Democrats and 56 percent of voters not affiliated with either of the major parties disapprove.

Among those who voted for Walker last November, 77 percent approve of his performance, with 67 percent who strongly approve. As for those who voted for his Democratic opponent, Tom Barrett, 93 percent disapprove of how Walker is governing, including 88 percent who strongly disapprove.

Polling released earlier shows that the governor is struggling in the court of public opinion in his dispute with the state’s public employee unions. Other polling shows that voters in the state prefer spending cuts over tax hikes when it comes to reducing the state’s budget deficit.

President Barack Obama is viewed favorably by 55 percent of voters statewide. Typically, a president’s reelection vote total is similar to his job approval rating. Therefore, if the election were held today in Wisconsin, Obama would be heavily favored to win the state’s Electoral College votes.

The survey of 800 likely voters in Wisconsin was conducted on March 2, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95 percent level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research LLC.