Ohio GOP Gov. John Kasich's shameless plea this week to strike a bargain with public unions in order to save his own job managed to irk members of the anti-union Tea Party and insult workers who do not trust his bad-faith negotiating style.
After all his chest-thumping when he signed his anti-worker law, Kasich is sweating out a Nov. 8 ballot question that aims to overturn the GOP union-busting law that stripped public employees of many of their collective bargaining rights.
Kasich's appeal this week to unions to give him a break apparently looked like old-fashioned, tail-tucking cowardice to Tea Party types.
"The stunt by the governor is not helping our cause. I can't see what he gains out of this, he looks foolish," the anti-union Mason Tea Party boss Ray Warrick told ONN-TV.
For the unions, Kasich's ploy was seen as a ruse. The pro-worker We Are Ohio campaign rejected Kasich's call for a meeting yesterday to see if he could talk the leaders of the union group into selling-out their members and take a deal on a promise to water down the
The unions do not trust Kasich and his GOP sidekicks in the state legislature, a pair of national union organizers explained today. So with the majority of Ohioans on the side of the workers, Kasich's popularity melting like a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a hot August day and $7 million on hand to spend in the repeal vote campaign.
"A complete repeal would go a long way toward creating an environment for compromise, restoring trust in government by the electorate and setting the table for meaningful negotiations about creating jobs, rebuilding Ohio's economy and moving the state forward," We are Ohio director A.J. Stokes wrote to Kasich.
The deadline to remove a repeal question from the Nov. 8 ballot is Aug. 30. If yesterday's decision by the unions to ignore a request for a meeting with Kasick, GOP Senate President Tom Niehaus and House Speaker William Batchelder is any indication, the repeal vote will go forward.
Kasich tried to spin it like he was being magnanimous.
"Woody Allen says that 90 percent of life is just showing up. And they’ve obviously flunked that test today," Kasich whined.
Showing posts with label unions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unions. Show all posts
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Dems Pick Up Two Seats in Wisconsin Recalls, But Fall One Short of Goal
The pro-worker campaign in Wisconsin to put a halt to Gov. Scott Walker's union-busting programs fell just one race short overnight when the recall election bid came down to late-night vote-counting by the most notorious county clerk in America.
Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus arguably may be the most incompetent ballot tally-taker in America, but state Democrats indicated at this point they will not go after the woman who twice this year saw key elections come down to her suspect skills.
"We will not pursue questions of irregularities," said state Democratic Chairman Mike Tate, who in an earlier in a heated moment during the final, delayed vote-counting in six recall races accused her of "tampering with the results of a consequential election."
"The race to determine control of the Wisconsin Senate has fallen in the hands of the Waukesha County clerk, who has already distinguished herself as incompetent, if not worse," Tate said in a prepared statement.
In April, Nickolaus reversed the outcome of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race to favor incumbent Republican Justice David Prosser, when she announced a late-night vote-counting mistake in which omitted the results of the town of Brookfield.
In 2005, Nickolaus passed out sample ballot in a special election that included a mark showing a vote for the Republican candidate.
In 2002, as a staffer in the state Republican Caucus Nickolaus was at the center of a scheme in which officials from both major parties convicted of illegally using state equipment in elections. She escaped jail time when she flipped on her colleagues and was given immunity in exchange for fingering others in the scandal.
Nickolaus raised eyes last year when it became known she keeps vote tallies on her personal computer instead of county equipment.
When the dust cleared in the controversial suburban Milwaukee race, GOP state Sen. Alberta Darling defeated Democratic state Rep. Sandy Pasch, and Republicans won the fourth out of six races yesterday to maintain control of the state Senate.
Despite the setback, Democrats picked up two seats, but must defend two others in recall elections next week.
The next focal point will be the Tea Party- and big-money backed GOP governor. Recall organizers say they still will go ahead later this year with plans to collect the more than 500,000 signatures needed in order to trigger a recall election to remove the Walker
“I think the recall efforts will go forward. Maybe not with as much momentum as they would have had, had they regained control (of the Senate), but it was enough of a victory for the Democrats that they, I think, will still go ahead,” University of Wisconsin-Madison political scientist David Canon told public radio.
Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus arguably may be the most incompetent ballot tally-taker in America, but state Democrats indicated at this point they will not go after the woman who twice this year saw key elections come down to her suspect skills.
"We will not pursue questions of irregularities," said state Democratic Chairman Mike Tate, who in an earlier in a heated moment during the final, delayed vote-counting in six recall races accused her of "tampering with the results of a consequential election."
"The race to determine control of the Wisconsin Senate has fallen in the hands of the Waukesha County clerk, who has already distinguished herself as incompetent, if not worse," Tate said in a prepared statement.
In April, Nickolaus reversed the outcome of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race to favor incumbent Republican Justice David Prosser, when she announced a late-night vote-counting mistake in which omitted the results of the town of Brookfield.
In 2005, Nickolaus passed out sample ballot in a special election that included a mark showing a vote for the Republican candidate.
In 2002, as a staffer in the state Republican Caucus Nickolaus was at the center of a scheme in which officials from both major parties convicted of illegally using state equipment in elections. She escaped jail time when she flipped on her colleagues and was given immunity in exchange for fingering others in the scandal.
Nickolaus raised eyes last year when it became known she keeps vote tallies on her personal computer instead of county equipment.
When the dust cleared in the controversial suburban Milwaukee race, GOP state Sen. Alberta Darling defeated Democratic state Rep. Sandy Pasch, and Republicans won the fourth out of six races yesterday to maintain control of the state Senate.
Despite the setback, Democrats picked up two seats, but must defend two others in recall elections next week.
The next focal point will be the Tea Party- and big-money backed GOP governor. Recall organizers say they still will go ahead later this year with plans to collect the more than 500,000 signatures needed in order to trigger a recall election to remove the Walker
“I think the recall efforts will go forward. Maybe not with as much momentum as they would have had, had they regained control (of the Senate), but it was enough of a victory for the Democrats that they, I think, will still go ahead,” University of Wisconsin-Madison political scientist David Canon told public radio.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Walker Blowback: Six Wisconsin Recall Elections On Tap Today
A half-dozen recall elections today in Wisconsin will be the first real political test for Republican lawmakers who support the Tea Party's anti-public worker agenda.
Tens of millions of dollars from around the country have flowed into Wisconsin, where six GOP state senators are facing recall elections in reaction to GOP Gov. Scott Walkers' politically charged decision to strip collective bargain rights away from from public employees and cut their retirement and health care benefits.
Two Democratic state senators face recalls next week. A third Democrat survived a recall challenge last month. Republicans have a 19-14 advantage in the Wisconsin state Senate, so Democrats need to win five of the remaining eight elections to gain control of the chamber and put a lid on Walker's anti-worker agenda.
In a clear example of just how much of a national event this has become, President Obama's re-election operation, Organizing for America, and the GOP-backed Tea Party Express have had people on the ground in Wisconsin running get out the vote efforts. The Repuiblican National Committee is also lending its support.
Spending may reach $40 million, tripling the total cost of all 115 Wisconsin state legislative races in 2010, according to the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
A major backer of the Tea Party, the Washington-based Club for Growth, a right-wing group with a reputation for challenging mainstream Republicans, along with the anti-union organization Americans for Prosperity, another Tea Party sugar daddy funded by oil barons David and Charles Koch, are throwing the most money into the races on behalf of the Republicans.
Americans for Prosperity has directly supported and counseled Walker on his anti-worker agenda.
On the Democratic side, unions, from around the country led by the AFL-CIO, and the local progressive pro-worker organization Greater Wisconsin Committee, have pumped millions of dollars to their candidates. The Greater Wisconsin Committee gets money from around the country from unions and left-leaning fat-cat funders.
It is considered extraordinary to hold nine state legislative recall elections within a month, since only 20 have been conducted nationwide since the early 20th century, political historians have noted.
Tens of millions of dollars from around the country have flowed into Wisconsin, where six GOP state senators are facing recall elections in reaction to GOP Gov. Scott Walkers' politically charged decision to strip collective bargain rights away from from public employees and cut their retirement and health care benefits.
Two Democratic state senators face recalls next week. A third Democrat survived a recall challenge last month. Republicans have a 19-14 advantage in the Wisconsin state Senate, so Democrats need to win five of the remaining eight elections to gain control of the chamber and put a lid on Walker's anti-worker agenda.
In a clear example of just how much of a national event this has become, President Obama's re-election operation, Organizing for America, and the GOP-backed Tea Party Express have had people on the ground in Wisconsin running get out the vote efforts. The Repuiblican National Committee is also lending its support.
Spending may reach $40 million, tripling the total cost of all 115 Wisconsin state legislative races in 2010, according to the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
A major backer of the Tea Party, the Washington-based Club for Growth, a right-wing group with a reputation for challenging mainstream Republicans, along with the anti-union organization Americans for Prosperity, another Tea Party sugar daddy funded by oil barons David and Charles Koch, are throwing the most money into the races on behalf of the Republicans.
Americans for Prosperity has directly supported and counseled Walker on his anti-worker agenda.
On the Democratic side, unions, from around the country led by the AFL-CIO, and the local progressive pro-worker organization Greater Wisconsin Committee, have pumped millions of dollars to their candidates. The Greater Wisconsin Committee gets money from around the country from unions and left-leaning fat-cat funders.
It is considered extraordinary to hold nine state legislative recall elections within a month, since only 20 have been conducted nationwide since the early 20th century, political historians have noted.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Wisconsin Dem Staves Off GOP Recall Challenge
One day, people in Wisconsin will say, "Do you recall the summer of 2011?"
But so far, if you are a Badger State Republican you may not want to remember the summer of the recalls.
The Democrats drew first blood in the recall elections touched off by GOP Gov. Scott Brown's anti-worker policies that cut into benefits for public employees. The Republican-controlled state Senate rubber-stamped Walker's notorious budget -- a move that painted a target on the foreheads of a half-dozen state GOP lawmakers.
After deflecting primary challenges last week by "fake" Democrats put up by the GOP to try to unseat the incumbent (and real) Democrats, the party of Obama and Pelosi appears to have the momentum.
Democratic Sen. Dave Hansen of Green Bay handily defeated Republican recall organizer David VanderLeest yesterday in the first of the recall general elections. Hansen claimed 66% of the vote to VendeLeests's 34%.
But in a lopsided buckraking battle, Hansen raised $318,000 compared to Vandereest's $2,000. It gave Hansen a huge advertising advantage.
Republicans will be beter financed and armed with ads in the next round of recalls.
Eight state Senate recall elections remain in Wisconsin: Six challenging Republicans and two against sittting Democrats. Those votes are set for next month.
"The people of Green Bay are sending a strong message to undemocratic leaders who are ramming through attacks on Wisconsin workers and communities," said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt.
"Wisconsin will not stand for it. Today’s results show that momentum is continuing to build for working family candidates as we head into the August general elections and that voters are serious about turning this state around," Neuenfeldt added.
But so far, if you are a Badger State Republican you may not want to remember the summer of the recalls.
The Democrats drew first blood in the recall elections touched off by GOP Gov. Scott Brown's anti-worker policies that cut into benefits for public employees. The Republican-controlled state Senate rubber-stamped Walker's notorious budget -- a move that painted a target on the foreheads of a half-dozen state GOP lawmakers.
After deflecting primary challenges last week by "fake" Democrats put up by the GOP to try to unseat the incumbent (and real) Democrats, the party of Obama and Pelosi appears to have the momentum.
Democratic Sen. Dave Hansen of Green Bay handily defeated Republican recall organizer David VanderLeest yesterday in the first of the recall general elections. Hansen claimed 66% of the vote to VendeLeests's 34%.
But in a lopsided buckraking battle, Hansen raised $318,000 compared to Vandereest's $2,000. It gave Hansen a huge advertising advantage.
Republicans will be beter financed and armed with ads in the next round of recalls.
Eight state Senate recall elections remain in Wisconsin: Six challenging Republicans and two against sittting Democrats. Those votes are set for next month.
"The people of Green Bay are sending a strong message to undemocratic leaders who are ramming through attacks on Wisconsin workers and communities," said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt.
"Wisconsin will not stand for it. Today’s results show that momentum is continuing to build for working family candidates as we head into the August general elections and that voters are serious about turning this state around," Neuenfeldt added.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
As Dems Prevail, GOP Urged to Pay for 'Fake' Wisconsin Primaries
Republicans cost Wisconsin nearly a half-million dollars to run six fake Democrats who were defeated in state senate recall primaries this week, prompting Badger State Democrats to call on the GOP to pay for the bogus balloting.
"It’s clear that Democrats have the momentum," said Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate of the half-dozen victories Democrats had over their faux opponent's in yesterday's primaries.
Those Wisconsin Democrats will face in recall elections Aug. 9 six GOP state senators who helped Gov. Scott Walker slam through a measure that stripped away benefits for state and local workers.
Unions and workers' rights advocates believe Walker's maneuver, under the guise of cost savings, was nothing more than union-busting on behalf of his corporate financiers, the notorious Koch brothers.
Republicans are also waging recall bids against three Democratic state senators targeted for fleeing the state to keep Walker from imposing his crackdown on public employees.
Republicans entered fake Democrats in all six primary races in an attempt to confuse voters and force an extra four weeks for the GOP incumbents to raise money before the Aug. 9 general election.
The episode in political hypocrisy, led by the purported budget-conscious Walker, may be one of the more questionable, if not immoral, expenses heaped on taxpayers since the fiscal crisis first struck the nation in the summer of 2008.
"The shameful and despicable GOP tactic to delay judgment day for the 'Walker 6' by running fake Democrats needlessly cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars," said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Stephanie Bloomingdale.
"This GOP trickery fell flat. (Tuesday's) result proves the people of Wisconsin are serious. On Aug. 9, we will recall the senators who chose to stand with Scott Walker’s corporate backers at the expense of working families," she added.
Tate said today the GOP "abused the electoral process" and should repay the taxpayers of Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel calculates the primaries came with a $475,000 price tag.
"It is time to officially call for Scott Walker and the Republican party to reimburse the taxpayers for the extra cost they were forced to bear yesterday for these fake candidates," Tate said.
But John Hogan, who is managing the GOP senators efforts to keep their jobs, fired back that Democrats and unions called for the recalls and should be paying the costs.
"This is all Mike Tate’s doing, so he should pay for the whole thing," Hogan told the Journal Sentinel.
So far it looks like the Democrats are out-raising the Republicans in the state senate races, according to Talking Points Memo.
"It’s clear that Democrats have the momentum," said Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate of the half-dozen victories Democrats had over their faux opponent's in yesterday's primaries.
Those Wisconsin Democrats will face in recall elections Aug. 9 six GOP state senators who helped Gov. Scott Walker slam through a measure that stripped away benefits for state and local workers.
Unions and workers' rights advocates believe Walker's maneuver, under the guise of cost savings, was nothing more than union-busting on behalf of his corporate financiers, the notorious Koch brothers.
Republicans are also waging recall bids against three Democratic state senators targeted for fleeing the state to keep Walker from imposing his crackdown on public employees.
Republicans entered fake Democrats in all six primary races in an attempt to confuse voters and force an extra four weeks for the GOP incumbents to raise money before the Aug. 9 general election.
The episode in political hypocrisy, led by the purported budget-conscious Walker, may be one of the more questionable, if not immoral, expenses heaped on taxpayers since the fiscal crisis first struck the nation in the summer of 2008.
"The shameful and despicable GOP tactic to delay judgment day for the 'Walker 6' by running fake Democrats needlessly cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars," said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Stephanie Bloomingdale.
"This GOP trickery fell flat. (Tuesday's) result proves the people of Wisconsin are serious. On Aug. 9, we will recall the senators who chose to stand with Scott Walker’s corporate backers at the expense of working families," she added.
Tate said today the GOP "abused the electoral process" and should repay the taxpayers of Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel calculates the primaries came with a $475,000 price tag.
"It is time to officially call for Scott Walker and the Republican party to reimburse the taxpayers for the extra cost they were forced to bear yesterday for these fake candidates," Tate said.
But John Hogan, who is managing the GOP senators efforts to keep their jobs, fired back that Democrats and unions called for the recalls and should be paying the costs.
"This is all Mike Tate’s doing, so he should pay for the whole thing," Hogan told the Journal Sentinel.
So far it looks like the Democrats are out-raising the Republicans in the state senate races, according to Talking Points Memo.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Riding high(er) in Winnebago, Prosser Now Leads in Wisconsin
This may take a while folks, so sit back and enjoy the spectacle of it all as we all as we seek to figure out what it all means.
Updated election returns from Winnebago County late yesterday now gives a 44-vote lead in the race for Wisconsin state supreme court to incumbent Justice David Prosser, the conservative candidate who was a shoe-in for re-election until Gov. Scott Walker picked a fight with state employees, their families, friends and supporters.
Now Prosser and other Republicans have become surrogates for Walker in the eyes on an angry electorate. GOP state senators had been the primary targets for recall elections, but the race for state supreme court, which may eventually have to rule on the legality of how collective bargaining was stripped from workers, made for an early test proxy vote.
Conservatives surely understood the significance of the race, greatly outspending the backers of Prosser's liberal challenger, assistant attorney general JoAnne Kloppenburg. "One liberal group seeking to elect challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg spent an estimated $1,365,340. Four conservative groups seeking to re-elect Justice Prosser spent a combined $2,216,120," The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University reported this week.
The drama surrounding the race shifted today amid reports that "updated election returns posted on a Wisconsin county's website would flip the winner of the Wisconsin state supreme court race," the Associated Press reported.
"The Associated Press verified unofficial Winnebago County election returns on Wednesday morning, but the county updated its numbers at 2:27 that afternoon to show incumbent Justice David Prosser with 710 more votes and assistant attorney general JoAnne Kloppenburg with 466 more," the AP explained.
"The county is now canvassing results to make them official as is every one of the state's 72 counties. But if the numbers hold up, Prosser would be ahead of Kloppenburg by 40 votes. Almost 1.5 million votes were cast in the race that is almost certain to be decided in a recount that could take weeks," AP said.
As the vote swings back and forth, each side naturally chirps that the other side is cheating without substantial proof at this point. Have no doubt that rainmakers on both sides will surely spend money to try to find examples of voter fraud, but for now the count continues.
Updated election returns from Winnebago County late yesterday now gives a 44-vote lead in the race for Wisconsin state supreme court to incumbent Justice David Prosser, the conservative candidate who was a shoe-in for re-election until Gov. Scott Walker picked a fight with state employees, their families, friends and supporters.
Now Prosser and other Republicans have become surrogates for Walker in the eyes on an angry electorate. GOP state senators had been the primary targets for recall elections, but the race for state supreme court, which may eventually have to rule on the legality of how collective bargaining was stripped from workers, made for an early test proxy vote.
Conservatives surely understood the significance of the race, greatly outspending the backers of Prosser's liberal challenger, assistant attorney general JoAnne Kloppenburg. "One liberal group seeking to elect challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg spent an estimated $1,365,340. Four conservative groups seeking to re-elect Justice Prosser spent a combined $2,216,120," The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University reported this week.
The drama surrounding the race shifted today amid reports that "updated election returns posted on a Wisconsin county's website would flip the winner of the Wisconsin state supreme court race," the Associated Press reported.
"The Associated Press verified unofficial Winnebago County election returns on Wednesday morning, but the county updated its numbers at 2:27 that afternoon to show incumbent Justice David Prosser with 710 more votes and assistant attorney general JoAnne Kloppenburg with 466 more," the AP explained.
"The county is now canvassing results to make them official as is every one of the state's 72 counties. But if the numbers hold up, Prosser would be ahead of Kloppenburg by 40 votes. Almost 1.5 million votes were cast in the race that is almost certain to be decided in a recount that could take weeks," AP said.
As the vote swings back and forth, each side naturally chirps that the other side is cheating without substantial proof at this point. Have no doubt that rainmakers on both sides will surely spend money to try to find examples of voter fraud, but for now the count continues.
John McCormack on The Blog at the conservative Weekly Standard points to the back and forth swings in the vote count in Minnesota's Senate race between Norm Coleman and Al Franken as a model.
"The point is that before liberals allege voter fraud this time, they should check the plausibility of the numbers by comparing the results now to the results in those precincts from previous elections. And that goes for conservatives too, should the lead swing back to Kloppenburg during the canvas," McCormack writes.
"The point is that before liberals allege voter fraud this time, they should check the plausibility of the numbers by comparing the results now to the results in those precincts from previous elections. And that goes for conservatives too, should the lead swing back to Kloppenburg during the canvas," McCormack writes.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Wisconsin Election Headed for Recount
Updated 4:45 p.m. est
Assistant attorney general JoAnne Kloppenburg declared victory today with a 204-vote lead over conservative incumbent justice David Prosser in the race for Wisconsin's state supreme court, with 100 percent of the state's precincts reporting results.
The slim margin and high stakes in the election leaves little doubt that the outcome will be contested.
“We owe Justice Prosser our gratitude for his more than 30 years of public service. Wisconsin voters have spoken and I am grateful for, and humbled by, their confidence and trust. I will be independent and impartial and I will decide cases based on the facts and the law," Kloppenburg said in a statement carrying by the blog at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
"As I have traveled the State, people tell me they believe partisan politics do not belong in our Courts. I look forward to bringing new blood to the Supreme Court and focusing my energy on the important work Wisconsin residents elect Supreme Court justices to do,” Kloppenburg said.
The result has to give Gov. Scott Walker and Wisconsin Republicans heartburn.
"Given the political security that Wisconsin Justices usually enjoy, Prosser should have been re-elected easily as of just a few weeks ago. However, the political backlash against Republican Gov. Scott Walker's anti-public employee union legislation has galvanized liberal activists, who brought in a late but very energetic game for the election," writes TPMDC's Eric Keefeld.
end update
---[
Too close to call -- that is the optimal phrase this morning to describe the outcome of the Wisconsin state supreme court election that caught the attention of political junkies everywhere as it became a proxy fight between Gov. Scott Walker and opponents of his scheme strip collective bargaining rights from public employees.
With 99% of the vote counted, conservative incumbent justice David Prosser has a 585-vote lead over liberal assistant attorney general JoAnne Kloppenburg.
Both sides will surely lawyer-up ahead of what promises to be an exciting, and potentially lengthy recount.
"The potentially bad news for Prosser is that of the 34 uncounted precincts, most of them are in counties that voted for Kloppenburg, including 12 in Milwaukee and 1 in Dane," writes John McCormack in The Weekly Standard.
Turnout was a big part of the story, the Journal-Sentinel blogs:
"With 99% of the returns in, almost 1.5 million people had voted in the state Supreme Court race, which would represent a turnout of 33.5% of voting-age adults.
"That’s 68% higher than the official state prediction of 20% turnout, which was based on recent historical norms."
Assistant attorney general JoAnne Kloppenburg declared victory today with a 204-vote lead over conservative incumbent justice David Prosser in the race for Wisconsin's state supreme court, with 100 percent of the state's precincts reporting results.
The slim margin and high stakes in the election leaves little doubt that the outcome will be contested.
“We owe Justice Prosser our gratitude for his more than 30 years of public service. Wisconsin voters have spoken and I am grateful for, and humbled by, their confidence and trust. I will be independent and impartial and I will decide cases based on the facts and the law," Kloppenburg said in a statement carrying by the blog at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
"As I have traveled the State, people tell me they believe partisan politics do not belong in our Courts. I look forward to bringing new blood to the Supreme Court and focusing my energy on the important work Wisconsin residents elect Supreme Court justices to do,” Kloppenburg said.
The result has to give Gov. Scott Walker and Wisconsin Republicans heartburn.
"Given the political security that Wisconsin Justices usually enjoy, Prosser should have been re-elected easily as of just a few weeks ago. However, the political backlash against Republican Gov. Scott Walker's anti-public employee union legislation has galvanized liberal activists, who brought in a late but very energetic game for the election," writes TPMDC's Eric Keefeld.
end update
---[
Too close to call -- that is the optimal phrase this morning to describe the outcome of the Wisconsin state supreme court election that caught the attention of political junkies everywhere as it became a proxy fight between Gov. Scott Walker and opponents of his scheme strip collective bargaining rights from public employees.
With 99% of the vote counted, conservative incumbent justice David Prosser has a 585-vote lead over liberal assistant attorney general JoAnne Kloppenburg.
Both sides will surely lawyer-up ahead of what promises to be an exciting, and potentially lengthy recount.
"The potentially bad news for Prosser is that of the 34 uncounted precincts, most of them are in counties that voted for Kloppenburg, including 12 in Milwaukee and 1 in Dane," writes John McCormack in The Weekly Standard.
Turnout was a big part of the story, the Journal-Sentinel blogs:
"With 99% of the returns in, almost 1.5 million people had voted in the state Supreme Court race, which would represent a turnout of 33.5% of voting-age adults.
"That’s 68% higher than the official state prediction of 20% turnout, which was based on recent historical norms."
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Wisc. Supreme Court Race Early Proxy on Walker
Updated 10:15 p.m. edt
It is a close race and it will be a long night if the trend holds. Here is a link to results from Today's TMJ4. Refresh for updates.
end update
---[
Never has a state supreme court election drawn so much attention, but the highly charged judge's race in Wisconsin has become a referendum on Gov. Scott Walker and his anti-worker legislation that stripped collective bargaining rights from public employees.
The incumbent GOP judge on the high court, David Prosser, should have been a slam-dunk for re-election, but he is a close associate of the increasingly unpopular Republican governor. So Prosser has become a punching bag for Wisconsin workers, who are bent on throwing out the current crop of conservatives over the collective bargaining fight.
Assistant Wisconsin Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg has painted herself as nobody's puppet in an effort to cast Prosser as Walker's guy on the court. No one knows how it will turn out tonight, but you can bank on CNN and MSNBC following the vote count closely after they polls close.
“Before this campaign began, David Prosser was polling ahead of JoAnne Kloppenburg,” said Stephanie Taylor of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a group that’s been heavily involved in the race. “So if Prosser loses today, this will signal a real rejection of Republican policies by Wisconsin voters,” Taylor told Rachel Weiner of The Washington Post's The Fix blog.
Many conservatives believe it is unfair for voters to take their anger at Walker out on Prosser, but the state is torn and it is harder to find anyone who does not come down on one side or the other.
"In any other election in any other year, Prosser wouldn’t even be able to see Kloppenburg in his rear-view mirror. But in the past few months, Prosser’s life has turned into a horrifying Hilaire Belloc children’s story: 'David, the Justice Who Was Conservative and Was Devoured by the Public Employee Unions.' The calendar has sunk its fangs into him. And it alone may chart the future of Wisconsin," Christian Schneider, a senior fellow at the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, wrote on National Review Online's The Corner blog.
Some liberals feel the opposite. They say Prosser is an ideologue who has shown he will do Walker's bidding.
"Prosser has departed from the state’s best judicial values and traditions to identify himself as a conservative who will make decisions based on his political ideology and his political associations—particularly his association with Governor Walker—rather than the law," John Nichols writes in the liberal bible, The Nation. "His opponent, veteran Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg, has done the opposite, positioning herself as a rule-of-law contender who would serve as an independent jurist rather than an ally of the governor."
The Wisconsin Supreme Court could ultimately decide whether Walker's bill passes constitutional muster. A lower court judge has temporarily blocked implementation of the collective bargaining rules. Those rules were approved in a legislative procedural maneuver that went around Democrats in the state Senate, who had been hiding out in Illinois to avoid a vote on the measure. The Wisconsin Supreme Court tilts conservative by one vote, so tonight's results will potentially play out beyond the petty politics of the moment.
It is a close race and it will be a long night if the trend holds. Here is a link to results from Today's TMJ4. Refresh for updates.
end update
---[
Never has a state supreme court election drawn so much attention, but the highly charged judge's race in Wisconsin has become a referendum on Gov. Scott Walker and his anti-worker legislation that stripped collective bargaining rights from public employees.
The incumbent GOP judge on the high court, David Prosser, should have been a slam-dunk for re-election, but he is a close associate of the increasingly unpopular Republican governor. So Prosser has become a punching bag for Wisconsin workers, who are bent on throwing out the current crop of conservatives over the collective bargaining fight.
Assistant Wisconsin Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg has painted herself as nobody's puppet in an effort to cast Prosser as Walker's guy on the court. No one knows how it will turn out tonight, but you can bank on CNN and MSNBC following the vote count closely after they polls close.
“Before this campaign began, David Prosser was polling ahead of JoAnne Kloppenburg,” said Stephanie Taylor of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a group that’s been heavily involved in the race. “So if Prosser loses today, this will signal a real rejection of Republican policies by Wisconsin voters,” Taylor told Rachel Weiner of The Washington Post's The Fix blog.
Many conservatives believe it is unfair for voters to take their anger at Walker out on Prosser, but the state is torn and it is harder to find anyone who does not come down on one side or the other.
"In any other election in any other year, Prosser wouldn’t even be able to see Kloppenburg in his rear-view mirror. But in the past few months, Prosser’s life has turned into a horrifying Hilaire Belloc children’s story: 'David, the Justice Who Was Conservative and Was Devoured by the Public Employee Unions.' The calendar has sunk its fangs into him. And it alone may chart the future of Wisconsin," Christian Schneider, a senior fellow at the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, wrote on National Review Online's The Corner blog.
Some liberals feel the opposite. They say Prosser is an ideologue who has shown he will do Walker's bidding.
"Prosser has departed from the state’s best judicial values and traditions to identify himself as a conservative who will make decisions based on his political ideology and his political associations—particularly his association with Governor Walker—rather than the law," John Nichols writes in the liberal bible, The Nation. "His opponent, veteran Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg, has done the opposite, positioning herself as a rule-of-law contender who would serve as an independent jurist rather than an ally of the governor."
The Wisconsin Supreme Court could ultimately decide whether Walker's bill passes constitutional muster. A lower court judge has temporarily blocked implementation of the collective bargaining rules. Those rules were approved in a legislative procedural maneuver that went around Democrats in the state Senate, who had been hiding out in Illinois to avoid a vote on the measure. The Wisconsin Supreme Court tilts conservative by one vote, so tonight's results will potentially play out beyond the petty politics of the moment.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Recalls Are Workers Play in Wisconsin
Stunned workers and their supporters in Wisconsin asked the courts to reverse Gov. Scott Walker's union-busting law, but they admit that recall elections aimed at ousting state senate Republicans is their priority.
The law, written into the state budget, goes on the books this afternoon, seriously curtailing collective bargaining rights for about 175,000 state and local workers. It passed in the legislature on a procedural move, bypassing the 14 Democratic senators who fled to illinois to avoid having to vote on the bill.
"This is not over," said former SEIU President Andy Stern.
"It did not ends as perfectly as unions had hoped, but it's not over," Stern said on MSNBC today. "It's an American moment."
The workers and their allies have at least one case pending in the courts, but as the Courthouse News Service reports, it is long-shot challenge to Walker's law, at best.
The law, written into the state budget, goes on the books this afternoon, seriously curtailing collective bargaining rights for about 175,000 state and local workers. It passed in the legislature on a procedural move, bypassing the 14 Democratic senators who fled to illinois to avoid having to vote on the bill.
"This is not over," said former SEIU President Andy Stern.
"It did not ends as perfectly as unions had hoped, but it's not over," Stern said on MSNBC today. "It's an American moment."
The workers and their allies have at least one case pending in the courts, but as the Courthouse News Service reports, it is long-shot challenge to Walker's law, at best.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Wisconsin Democrats Ask Walker for Meeting
Updated 2:20 p.m. est
As far as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is concerned there is to be no playing nice.
Walker and state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald rejected an appeal to negotiate that came earlier today from the leader of the Senate Democratic caucus, calling the letter penned by state Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller "absolutely ridiculous."
"Sen. Miller is misleading the public, just like he misled us," Walker said at a news conference in Madison. "The problem is Sen. Miller."
end update
----[
Wisconsin state Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller is asking for a face-to-face meeting with Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald to see if there is a way got negotiate a settlement over the issue of stripping workers of collective bargaining rights.
Miller wrote the GOP leaders today requesting talks "to reach a bipartisan solution to our differences," Reuters reports.
But do not think Miller's goodwill gesture is a signal that it is time for a group hug in Cheeseville, as Greg Sargent reports. The state Democrats want an ethics investigation into Walker's conversation with a prank caller that raised questions about the governor's political agenda and intent.
As far as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is concerned there is to be no playing nice.
Walker and state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald rejected an appeal to negotiate that came earlier today from the leader of the Senate Democratic caucus, calling the letter penned by state Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller "absolutely ridiculous."
"Sen. Miller is misleading the public, just like he misled us," Walker said at a news conference in Madison. "The problem is Sen. Miller."
end update
----[
Wisconsin state Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller is asking for a face-to-face meeting with Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald to see if there is a way got negotiate a settlement over the issue of stripping workers of collective bargaining rights.
Miller wrote the GOP leaders today requesting talks "to reach a bipartisan solution to our differences," Reuters reports.
But do not think Miller's goodwill gesture is a signal that it is time for a group hug in Cheeseville, as Greg Sargent reports. The state Democrats want an ethics investigation into Walker's conversation with a prank caller that raised questions about the governor's political agenda and intent.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Will Walker Grenade Blow Up GOP?
It is thumbsucker Sunday in the universe of Wisconsin labor disputes, meaning there is a featurey feel to the coverage, rather than a lot of hard news to report.
Gov. Scott Walker remains the focal point in the local and national press, where the question du jour is:
Has the GOP governor re-ignited the American labor movement and restored our deep-rooted respect for the groundbreaking battles against greedy and selfish owners and bosses that have led to better wages, benefits and health and safety regulations (which, of course, non-unionized workers have cashed in on, as well).
“The challenge for us is to take this moment and turn it into a movement,” Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, tells The New York Times.
But Harry C. Katz, dean of the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, says in the Times' story that he thinks the odds are stacked against a union comeback. “I would worry more about whether unions can hold off the onslaught than whether they can get a big snapback,” Katz said.
A survey of all the polls taken in Wisconsin over the nearly three-week standoff between the workers and the Walker-led state GOP shows the governor is losing the public relations battle for the hearts and minds of independent, centrist swing voters.
Craig Gilbert writes in the Journal Sentinel, "In other words, opinion has sharply polarized around Walker within two months of his taking office, with staunch opponents now outnumbering staunch supporters."
The damage already may be spreading for Walker to other states, where his overreach may make him a Republican pariah, Rick Ungar blogs for Forbes.
Gov. Scott Walker remains the focal point in the local and national press, where the question du jour is:
Has the GOP governor re-ignited the American labor movement and restored our deep-rooted respect for the groundbreaking battles against greedy and selfish owners and bosses that have led to better wages, benefits and health and safety regulations (which, of course, non-unionized workers have cashed in on, as well).
“The challenge for us is to take this moment and turn it into a movement,” Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, tells The New York Times.
But Harry C. Katz, dean of the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, says in the Times' story that he thinks the odds are stacked against a union comeback. “I would worry more about whether unions can hold off the onslaught than whether they can get a big snapback,” Katz said.
A survey of all the polls taken in Wisconsin over the nearly three-week standoff between the workers and the Walker-led state GOP shows the governor is losing the public relations battle for the hearts and minds of independent, centrist swing voters.
Craig Gilbert writes in the Journal Sentinel, "In other words, opinion has sharply polarized around Walker within two months of his taking office, with staunch opponents now outnumbering staunch supporters."
The damage already may be spreading for Walker to other states, where his overreach may make him a Republican pariah, Rick Ungar blogs for Forbes.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Walker Divides Wisconsin Families
When Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker set out to be a tool of the Tea Party he probably never intended to become an anti-family values Republican at the same time.
But apparently that is just where his union-busting bill has taken him, according to one GOP state senator from Wisconsin.
“It’s tearing up families. It’s tearing up friends,” state Sen. Tom Larson told the local Chippewa newspaper.
Democratic state Sen. Mark Miller told The Wall Street Journal (the biggest anti-union paper in America) that Walker's decision to lay off 1,500 people was "a new level of hostility," adding that the governor "is using human beings as political pawns."
Walker has given workers an ultimatum: Give up their collective bargaining rights or else he will start firing people.
But apparently that is just where his union-busting bill has taken him, according to one GOP state senator from Wisconsin.
“It’s tearing up families. It’s tearing up friends,” state Sen. Tom Larson told the local Chippewa newspaper.
Democratic state Sen. Mark Miller told The Wall Street Journal (the biggest anti-union paper in America) that Walker's decision to lay off 1,500 people was "a new level of hostility," adding that the governor "is using human beings as political pawns."
Walker has given workers an ultimatum: Give up their collective bargaining rights or else he will start firing people.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Walker Treads on Future of His GOP Brethren
There are signs Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has begun to look for a face-saving way to dig out from what a majority of people believe was a colossal overreach to abolish collective bargain rights.
But there is a long way go to go before the epiphany.
Even as Walker put in motion today the process of laying off 1,500 public employees over the unions' refusal to accept his anti-labor edict, he is beginning to look for a compromise that might spare his GOP colleagues some tough races amid the public relations debacle he has caused for the Republican Party in Wisconsin.
“It has come to a point where there could be a breakthrough,” state Sen. Chris Larson, on of 14 Democrats who fled the state to avoid a vote on the union issue, told The New York Times.
Walker continues to say the layoffs can be avoided, but only if workers give up their rights. "While these notices start the process needed to [fire] state employees, if the Senate Democrats come back to Wisconsin, these notices may be able to be rescinded and layoffs avoided," said a statement released by Walker's office.
The unions have long believed that Walker would sink center-right Republicans with a draconian approach to public employees' job security in a bad economy.
"As you can imagine, it’s no surprise that folks think (Republican) senators may abandon Walker, as the polling numbers show – including even Rasmussen – are driving them off a cliff," AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale said in an email.
Meanwhile, protesters are complying with a judge's order to clear out of the Capitol at night.
But there is a long way go to go before the epiphany.
Even as Walker put in motion today the process of laying off 1,500 public employees over the unions' refusal to accept his anti-labor edict, he is beginning to look for a compromise that might spare his GOP colleagues some tough races amid the public relations debacle he has caused for the Republican Party in Wisconsin.
“It has come to a point where there could be a breakthrough,” state Sen. Chris Larson, on of 14 Democrats who fled the state to avoid a vote on the union issue, told The New York Times.
Walker continues to say the layoffs can be avoided, but only if workers give up their rights. "While these notices start the process needed to [fire] state employees, if the Senate Democrats come back to Wisconsin, these notices may be able to be rescinded and layoffs avoided," said a statement released by Walker's office.
The unions have long believed that Walker would sink center-right Republicans with a draconian approach to public employees' job security in a bad economy.
"As you can imagine, it’s no surprise that folks think (Republican) senators may abandon Walker, as the polling numbers show – including even Rasmussen – are driving them off a cliff," AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale said in an email.
Meanwhile, protesters are complying with a judge's order to clear out of the Capitol at night.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Walker's Deal: Take It or 1,500 Layoffs
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is promising his showdown with state and local workers comes tomorrow, standing by his ultimatum to fire 1,500 government employees if the unions don't forego collective bargaining rights.
"I can't take any of that off the table," Walker said of his demands in an interview with the Associated Press.
The battle over workers rights have continued to escalate since both sides began arming for what is expected to be a viscous round of recall elections.
In another siogn of the bad blood, Wisconsin state Senate Republicans slapped a mostly symbolic $100-a-day fine on Democrats refuse to allow a vote on GOP Gov. Scott Walker's plan to take away state and local workers' rights to collective bargaining.
The GOP senators also want Wisconsin state police to cross into Illinois and take into custody the 14 Democrats who are hiding out. A police union official scoffed at the idea of using cops to wrangle the state lawmakers.
"The thought of using law enforcement officers to exercise force in order to achieve a political objective is insanely wrong and Wisconsin sorely needs reasonable solutions and not potentially dangerous political theatrics," said Wisconsin Professional Police Association Executive Director Jim Palmer.
"I can't take any of that off the table," Walker said of his demands in an interview with the Associated Press.
The battle over workers rights have continued to escalate since both sides began arming for what is expected to be a viscous round of recall elections.
In another siogn of the bad blood, Wisconsin state Senate Republicans slapped a mostly symbolic $100-a-day fine on Democrats refuse to allow a vote on GOP Gov. Scott Walker's plan to take away state and local workers' rights to collective bargaining.
The GOP senators also want Wisconsin state police to cross into Illinois and take into custody the 14 Democrats who are hiding out. A police union official scoffed at the idea of using cops to wrangle the state lawmakers.
"The thought of using law enforcement officers to exercise force in order to achieve a political objective is insanely wrong and Wisconsin sorely needs reasonable solutions and not potentially dangerous political theatrics," said Wisconsin Professional Police Association Executive Director Jim Palmer.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Recall Maneuvers Overtake Wisconsin Battle
The battle over collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin is escalating at warp speed.
A day after Gov. Scott Walker unveiled a belt-tightening, job-slashing budget, the state GOP and Democratic parties in Wisconsin are moving closer towards recall elections for state senators on each respective side of the labor dispute.
Wisconsin Democrats sent out a fundraising appeal today to help pay for their effort to recall Republican senators: "In 60 days we can take Wisconsin back by recalling the Republican Senators who have decided to push Scott Walker's divisive, partisan power grab that strips teachers and other workers of their rights and his disastrous budget that will cut millions from our schools and universities."
And according to The Hill newspaper, the GOP ATM machine in Washington will likely be tapped to help fund the Republican-sponsored recall effort. Republican State Leadership Committee President Chris Jankowski said his group will "do whatever it takes to protect our incumbents."
Another poll, meanwhile, shows most Americans think public employees should pay more into their retirement and health care plans, but those workers should not have their collective bargaining rights stripped away.
A day after Gov. Scott Walker unveiled a belt-tightening, job-slashing budget, the state GOP and Democratic parties in Wisconsin are moving closer towards recall elections for state senators on each respective side of the labor dispute.
Wisconsin Democrats sent out a fundraising appeal today to help pay for their effort to recall Republican senators: "In 60 days we can take Wisconsin back by recalling the Republican Senators who have decided to push Scott Walker's divisive, partisan power grab that strips teachers and other workers of their rights and his disastrous budget that will cut millions from our schools and universities."
And according to The Hill newspaper, the GOP ATM machine in Washington will likely be tapped to help fund the Republican-sponsored recall effort. Republican State Leadership Committee President Chris Jankowski said his group will "do whatever it takes to protect our incumbents."
Another poll, meanwhile, shows most Americans think public employees should pay more into their retirement and health care plans, but those workers should not have their collective bargaining rights stripped away.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Protesters Ready for Civil Disobedience in Wisconsin
Updated 7 p.m. est
Police sympathetic to Wisconsin's state and local workers so far are declining to arrest demonstrators who are staging a sit-in at the state Capitol over collective bargaining rights.
Under orders from beleaguered Gov. Scott Walker, police are being asked to clear the Capitol of Wisconsin of workers and their supporters so the building can be cleaned. The two-week occupation of the Capitol in Madison is a result of Walker's unpopular decision to take away the right of workers to negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
Union leaders began spreading the word earlier today that some of the police are not happy with Walker's order, but have no choice to carry out the unpopular directive. The building was closed at 4 p.m. local time and Walker ordered the State police in to clearer out the protesters.
"At 4:00pm they were told to leave. Some did, but many others including clergy, police and firefighters said they would not leave and would engage in peaceful civil disobedience if they tried to remove them," said AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale. "They were not removed. They will not be removed tonight. The people of Wisconsin held their Capitol building against the governor."
End update
---[
“Law enforcement working at the Capitol has been impressed with how peaceful and courteous everyone has been,” Wisconsin Professional Police Association Executive Director Jim Palmer said in a statement.
“The fact of that matter is that Wisconsin’s law enforcement community opposes Gov. Walker’s effort to eliminate collective bargaining in this state, and we implore him to not do anything to increase the risk to officers or the public. Security cannot come at the cost of conflict,” Palmer added.
In response, many of the workers plan to engage in civil disobedience, refusing to leave the building while agreeing to go peacefully should police decide to physically remove the demonstrators.
“First Gov. Walker tried to take away workers’ rights, now he is trying to take away our Constitutional right as Americans to peacefully assemble,” steelworker Roy Vandenberg said in a statement. “I have a message for Gov. Walker, your plan to silence us won't work. We are not going away, and we will not be silenced.”
Even Walker, when pressed this morning on NBC's "Meet the Press" news program, admitted the workers have been peaceful and orderly.
"We've had, you know, a week ago, 70,000 people, we had more than that yesterday, and yet we haven't had problems here. We haven't had disturbances," Walker said. "We've just had very passionate protesters for and against this bill, and that's OK. That's a very Midwestern thing."
Police sympathetic to Wisconsin's state and local workers so far are declining to arrest demonstrators who are staging a sit-in at the state Capitol over collective bargaining rights.
Under orders from beleaguered Gov. Scott Walker, police are being asked to clear the Capitol of Wisconsin of workers and their supporters so the building can be cleaned. The two-week occupation of the Capitol in Madison is a result of Walker's unpopular decision to take away the right of workers to negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
Union leaders began spreading the word earlier today that some of the police are not happy with Walker's order, but have no choice to carry out the unpopular directive. The building was closed at 4 p.m. local time and Walker ordered the State police in to clearer out the protesters.
"At 4:00pm they were told to leave. Some did, but many others including clergy, police and firefighters said they would not leave and would engage in peaceful civil disobedience if they tried to remove them," said AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale. "They were not removed. They will not be removed tonight. The people of Wisconsin held their Capitol building against the governor."
End update
---[
“Law enforcement working at the Capitol has been impressed with how peaceful and courteous everyone has been,” Wisconsin Professional Police Association Executive Director Jim Palmer said in a statement.
“The fact of that matter is that Wisconsin’s law enforcement community opposes Gov. Walker’s effort to eliminate collective bargaining in this state, and we implore him to not do anything to increase the risk to officers or the public. Security cannot come at the cost of conflict,” Palmer added.
In response, many of the workers plan to engage in civil disobedience, refusing to leave the building while agreeing to go peacefully should police decide to physically remove the demonstrators.
“First Gov. Walker tried to take away workers’ rights, now he is trying to take away our Constitutional right as Americans to peacefully assemble,” steelworker Roy Vandenberg said in a statement. “I have a message for Gov. Walker, your plan to silence us won't work. We are not going away, and we will not be silenced.”
Even Walker, when pressed this morning on NBC's "Meet the Press" news program, admitted the workers have been peaceful and orderly.
"We've had, you know, a week ago, 70,000 people, we had more than that yesterday, and yet we haven't had problems here. We haven't had disturbances," Walker said. "We've just had very passionate protesters for and against this bill, and that's OK. That's a very Midwestern thing."
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Scott Walker's Really Bad Day
Updated 10 p.m. est
The Wisconsin AFL-CIO wasted little time making a TV ad showing an embarrassing side of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, highlighting an anti-worker agenda and his loyalty to fat cat GOP financiers the Koch Brothers.
Meanwhile, yet another poll shows that Wisconsin's tradition of standing by working people appears to be holding: 56 percent of respondents say workers should have collective bargaining rights (and, as Talking Points Memo pointed out late today, this is a right-wing shop that conducted the poll).
And, just to top off the day, here is a wicked editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that says in part: "What wasn't funny was the revealing look the incident provided behind the veil of the Walker administration."
Friday, February 18, 2011
Scott Walker: GOP's Man of the Moment
Updated 7 p.m. est Saturday
Depending on which side you tune into for the moment, what is happening in Wisconsin is either a GOP war on the American worker, or a Republican-led belt-tightening epiphany. Either way, it is clearly the latest case of elected leaders pitting neighbor-against-neighbor with no assurances that either side can foresee how it will all play out.
Protesters opposed to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's bill to strip collective bargaining rights from state workers withstood a smaller but boisterous counter demonstration by Tea Party backers today, vowing to remain at the Capitol until the measure is withdrawn. Local authorities said there were upwards of 70,000 protesters in downtown Madison.
A spokesman for Walker, meanwhile, urged Democratic state senators who are on the lamb to return to take a vote on the controversial measure aimed at tearing into union membership. The state workers have signaled a willingness to make a deal on employee contributions to health care and pension funds, but the Republicans say they have no intention of compromising.
Expect the standoff to last for days, if not longer.
The latest updates:
The New York Times on Walker's desire to fight the union-busting battle
The Washington Post on the battle to win public opinion in budget fight
The Wall Street Journal on Democratic senators on the run
All Politics Blog, Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee, Wisc.
Wisconsin State Journal live protest blog
Reuters on dueling protests
Associated Press via Press-Democrat: Hell no, no union-busting in California, Jerry Brown says.
Bloomberg Businessweek
END UPDATED MATERIAL
-----[
Scott Walker was the Milwaukee County executive who rode the nationwide Tea Party wave to defeat Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in an incendiary campaign for governor of Wisconsin last fall.
Now the freshman governor has propelled himself to the national spotlight with controversial legislation that would take away the collective bargaining rights of his state's public employees, including school teachers.
Late Friday, the unions said they would agree to pay into their pension and health care plans, but Walker signaled no deal, holding out until the public workers agree to give up their collective bargaining rights.
"The reality is we do have a financial crisis in this state," Walker said this evening in Madison, unfazed by the 10s of 1,000s of protesters gathered outside his offices who oppose his bill.
Organized labor says Wisconsin is the front line in a union-busting battle that could soon spread to other states, and they want to stop its progress early. Walker and his allies, including some of the high rollers in GOP money world, are equally committed to standing their ground.
The Latest Updates:
MSNBC Walker signals no compromise (video and text)
The New York Times
All Politics Blog, Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee, Wisc.
The Los Angeles Times
National Journal
Think Progress on Koch's Connection to Walker
Grover Norquist, president of the anti-tax coalition Americans for Tax Reform, on the virtues of Scott Walker
Politico on 2012 GOP Field
The Washington Post on President Obama's role in the Wisconsin uprising
The Business Journal, Milwaukee
AP via Watertown Daily Times
More About Scott Walker
Official Wisconsin Office of the Governor Bio
Project Vote Smart bio, speeches, positions, etc.
Depending on which side you tune into for the moment, what is happening in Wisconsin is either a GOP war on the American worker, or a Republican-led belt-tightening epiphany. Either way, it is clearly the latest case of elected leaders pitting neighbor-against-neighbor with no assurances that either side can foresee how it will all play out.
Protesters opposed to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's bill to strip collective bargaining rights from state workers withstood a smaller but boisterous counter demonstration by Tea Party backers today, vowing to remain at the Capitol until the measure is withdrawn. Local authorities said there were upwards of 70,000 protesters in downtown Madison.
A spokesman for Walker, meanwhile, urged Democratic state senators who are on the lamb to return to take a vote on the controversial measure aimed at tearing into union membership. The state workers have signaled a willingness to make a deal on employee contributions to health care and pension funds, but the Republicans say they have no intention of compromising.
Expect the standoff to last for days, if not longer.
The latest updates:
The New York Times on Walker's desire to fight the union-busting battle
The Washington Post on the battle to win public opinion in budget fight
The Wall Street Journal on Democratic senators on the run
All Politics Blog, Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee, Wisc.
Wisconsin State Journal live protest blog
Reuters on dueling protests
Associated Press via Press-Democrat: Hell no, no union-busting in California, Jerry Brown says.
Bloomberg Businessweek
END UPDATED MATERIAL
-----[
Scott Walker was the Milwaukee County executive who rode the nationwide Tea Party wave to defeat Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in an incendiary campaign for governor of Wisconsin last fall.
Now the freshman governor has propelled himself to the national spotlight with controversial legislation that would take away the collective bargaining rights of his state's public employees, including school teachers.
Late Friday, the unions said they would agree to pay into their pension and health care plans, but Walker signaled no deal, holding out until the public workers agree to give up their collective bargaining rights.
"The reality is we do have a financial crisis in this state," Walker said this evening in Madison, unfazed by the 10s of 1,000s of protesters gathered outside his offices who oppose his bill.
Organized labor says Wisconsin is the front line in a union-busting battle that could soon spread to other states, and they want to stop its progress early. Walker and his allies, including some of the high rollers in GOP money world, are equally committed to standing their ground.
The Latest Updates:
MSNBC Walker signals no compromise (video and text)
The New York Times
All Politics Blog, Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee, Wisc.
The Los Angeles Times
National Journal
Think Progress on Koch's Connection to Walker
Grover Norquist, president of the anti-tax coalition Americans for Tax Reform, on the virtues of Scott Walker
Politico on 2012 GOP Field
The Washington Post on President Obama's role in the Wisconsin uprising
The Business Journal, Milwaukee
AP via Watertown Daily Times
More About Scott Walker
Official Wisconsin Office of the Governor Bio
Project Vote Smart bio, speeches, positions, etc.
Wisc Gov and Public Employees Draw Battle Lines
"Some men rob you with a six-gun;others rob you with a fountain pen." Woody Guthrie
Not since the patriot farmer Daniel Shays felt the economic squeeze brought on by obsolete laws and the indifference of profit-driven merchants in post-Revolutionary War America have citizens who toil for their nation faced a governor so bent on cutting into their livelihood while sparing people of wealth the same hardship.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to take away most collective bargaining rights from state workers with the intention of cutting their benefits to save money is the latest (very loud) salvo in the ideologically driven debate on how, and how much, to fund government.
“We are confident this is the right thing to do,” Walker told local WTMJ-AM radio host Charlie Sykes this morning.“The bottom line is we’re doing this for the right reasons.”
Walker, a newly elected conservative governor, hopes to tap into the understandable anger among Americans with Tea Party values being choked by their own unforgiving economic conditions, seeking to shift their vitriol on public employees who he argues have “a stranglehold” on the state.
The labor movement hopes to reach Wisconsinites' better angels, appealing to middle class sensibility to recognize that public employees are their friends, neighbors and family and they are victims of union-busting and class warfare.
"Our job, and the role of the legislature, is to expand rights, not deny them," said state Senate Democratic leader Mark Miller.
Walker's critics contend it would be the right thing to do if the public employee' salaries and benefits were responsible for adding to Wisconsin's budget deficit, but that is not the case. The state's own legislative auditors' scorecard show it is Walker's tax cuts and pet projects that are taking the biggest bite out of the budget.
Until they can convince Republican lawmakers to break with Walker over the changes to the collective bargaining rules, Democratic state senators are hiding out to avoid having to take a vote to pass the law.
So the showdown is set, with Walker refusing to budget and thousands of public employees promising to demonstrate in the streets for weeks to come.
Shays, a Colonial Army captain who fought at the battles at Lexington and Bunker Hill, took up arms to rally citizens against a government-sponsored chokehold on the pocketbooks of the agrarian workforce. Even after Shays was convicted and slapped with the death penalty, a wiser state government stayed the sentence of Shays and set in place regulations to protect the farmers.
Wisconsin's public employeees, armed with numbers, organization and passion, say they need only to convince their neighbors, friends and family that it will not improve public services or save them a nickel if Walker is allowed to change the rules for negotiating contracts.
Not since the patriot farmer Daniel Shays felt the economic squeeze brought on by obsolete laws and the indifference of profit-driven merchants in post-Revolutionary War America have citizens who toil for their nation faced a governor so bent on cutting into their livelihood while sparing people of wealth the same hardship.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to take away most collective bargaining rights from state workers with the intention of cutting their benefits to save money is the latest (very loud) salvo in the ideologically driven debate on how, and how much, to fund government.
“We are confident this is the right thing to do,” Walker told local WTMJ-AM radio host Charlie Sykes this morning.“The bottom line is we’re doing this for the right reasons.”
Walker, a newly elected conservative governor, hopes to tap into the understandable anger among Americans with Tea Party values being choked by their own unforgiving economic conditions, seeking to shift their vitriol on public employees who he argues have “a stranglehold” on the state.
The labor movement hopes to reach Wisconsinites' better angels, appealing to middle class sensibility to recognize that public employees are their friends, neighbors and family and they are victims of union-busting and class warfare.
"Our job, and the role of the legislature, is to expand rights, not deny them," said state Senate Democratic leader Mark Miller.
Walker's critics contend it would be the right thing to do if the public employee' salaries and benefits were responsible for adding to Wisconsin's budget deficit, but that is not the case. The state's own legislative auditors' scorecard show it is Walker's tax cuts and pet projects that are taking the biggest bite out of the budget.
Until they can convince Republican lawmakers to break with Walker over the changes to the collective bargaining rules, Democratic state senators are hiding out to avoid having to take a vote to pass the law.
So the showdown is set, with Walker refusing to budget and thousands of public employees promising to demonstrate in the streets for weeks to come.
Shays, a Colonial Army captain who fought at the battles at Lexington and Bunker Hill, took up arms to rally citizens against a government-sponsored chokehold on the pocketbooks of the agrarian workforce. Even after Shays was convicted and slapped with the death penalty, a wiser state government stayed the sentence of Shays and set in place regulations to protect the farmers.
Wisconsin's public employeees, armed with numbers, organization and passion, say they need only to convince their neighbors, friends and family that it will not improve public services or save them a nickel if Walker is allowed to change the rules for negotiating contracts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)