Actually, it'll probably just be more of the same. Then again, the more mentions of "Koch", the better you seem to like it around here so, for you, it may be very interesting.

BTW, you do understand it's pronounced "coke" and not "cock", correct? Sorry if I inadvertently just made things less interesting for you.

McBride as usual through his incessant posting has no respect for this exercise in democracy, or for people for that matter.

Keith, I'm becoming very uncomfortable with the crush you have on me. Please stop monitoring my activities here. If you've got that much extra time on your hands, help an elderly neighbor or something.

Bob is simply projecting.

Yes I am Bren. In fact, right now I have the projector on and I'm holding my hand in front of it, creating a shadow as it casts a light on the wall. Guess how many fingers I'm holding up.

It is fitting this is one day past the M.L.K birthday as King died marching for Sanitation Memphis Union Workers. He was killed at his Hotel, but this is what he was there for. The greatest Civil rights person for decades is being honored to day as the people stand against the oppressive behaviors of the kind of people he marched against. Go Wisconsin lead the way across this nation to right, this wrong!

I think the idea that this should be CELEBRATED shows what is really wrong with the recall. This is fun and games for the lefties, what a sick lot. What will they do when it is over? I hope they take to the cliffs the moment that the recall is defeated.
As for your miscue on MLK, What rights and freedoms would he want restored. I think his words would be more like "Get a clue you moron".

@Greg -- If I"m not mistaken, Dr. King was shot on a visit to Memphis to support striking sanitation workers. So I think he might be in favor of the right to bargain collectively for decent compensation for your work.

The last I heard, he was also not in favor of extra impediments to voting.

Randy:

Public employees can still collectively bargain for decent compensation for their work...

@CowDung -- Aren't any wage increases capped to the COLA? After that, it requires a referendum. At least that's my understanding of the bill.

Yes, I think it was "Hannity" who was trying to frame MLK as anti-union. What would we do without Rupert Murdoch and his news-o-tainment? I frankly enjoy Hannity. Shortly after the 99% movement took off, he had an "analyst" look at one of their posters. She ignorantly stated it was modeled after communist propaganda, instead of the now-iconic photograph of the Chinese student facing down a phalanx of tanks in Tiananmen Square, which it clearly was.

Randy:

Yes, there are limits on what can be won through bargaining. Are you saying that they need to have more than cost of living to be compensated decently?

Aside from collective bargaining for wages, we now have a system where workers can be compensated according to their work--why is that such a bad thing?

Like CD says, there are other ways of negotiating ones salary and benefits. My village just shot caution to the wind and negotiated 9-10% increases for a couple of non-union employees for no particularly good reason. Perhaps some of these folks who've elected to continue to be unionized are shooting themselves in the foot by doing so and have been for a long time. And maybe if we weren't all so distracted by this nonsensical recall soap opera, we'd be paying closer attention to the kinds of things going on at the local level that drain resources unnecessarily. Maybe we could even afford to pay good public employees what they're worth, and get rid of the slackers and inept ones that are dragging the whole system down. What a novel idea!

@CowDung -- After taking at lest a 5% cut in overall compensation because a poor economy had caused a budget shortfall, yes, I would think that workers should be allowed to ask for more than the COLA when times improve. Collectively.

Sounds like a decent case for calling for a referendum...

I really hate that people try to put words in the mouths of people that have been dead for nearly 45 years. Get real, you have no clue as to how MLK would feel now.

Thank god someone finally said it, lets now leave those founding fathers and what they would have said out of it.

As for the the COLA, its actually the CPI and not inflation. CPI typically tails behind inflation, and therefor would project a continual decrease in cost based on inflation for wages for public workers unless it goes to a referendum. If the CPI sees a decrease over a year, public workers could be subject to those decreases. That is one heck of a bargaining chip for those unions.

Hi Kathy
I will be there also.

Poor Walker--He had to sit through this yesterday.
.......
The crowd erupted into loud and prolonged cheering when the guest speaker, Sherrilyn Ifill, a University of Maryland law professor, said King would have been against "onerous requirements" that require citizens to show government-issued identification to vote. King rallies in South Carolina and Georgia Monday also focused on such laws, with speakers criticizing them as attempts to suppress the black vote............

Read more: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/with-gov-walker-present-mlk-tribute-at-capitol-gets-political/article_81b11f96-40ad-11e1-aa18-001871e3ce6c.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#ixzz1jj0mwL4I
..........

Greg, Everyone is entitled to an opinion. My opinion is that Wisconsin is going to turn so blue the Badgers will be debuting new Blue Uniforms next season :)

In fairness it is big news, shawn. I think the agenda has more to do with getting the maximum number of eyeballs here as often as possible (hence the "live blog" versus a one time article).

Chenzo the reasons have been posted here and elsewhere quite a few times, as have the right-wing talking points you are once again sharing. Take a look at some other articles/posts, which will help get you up to speed.

Actually Chenzo,
My beef is not just the removal of this option (collective bargaining), but that the unions had already agreed to take the same reductions that were requested prior to Walker taking their collective bargaining away. There was no need to do it, just his own petty need to do so (see his past attempts at this).
What I don't like is that he self imposed himself king to the utilities. Why is Kock so interested...he passed a bill that allows him, Walker, to decide, without any referendum, any vote, any notification to place the public utilities for sale or rent to whomever and whenever he wishes. That what's making the Kock brothers salivate. How is this good for WI? It isn't. No one should have that absolute power and not be accountable.
Not in the best interest of the people of WI, just of his corp pals.

No, the unions really didn't 'already agree' to make concessions.

In December 2010, Walker stated that he was going to have public employees pay 5% toward their pensions and 12% toward their health benefits, Marty Biel stated that the unions would not concede anything.

http://www.channel3000.com/politics/26049415/detail.html

Bren, so exactally what articles should I read? In this day and age everyone has a slant.I have formed my opinion from many sources including sites like this. You speak of Right winged talking points yet you don't answer any of the questions I posed.WhenDoyle was lord of the land and raided funds to help himself and friends out, where was the outcry? Where was the calling of his head? Thank you CD, for taking this one with Hectormon.
Hectormon, if you are so against absolute power in office, then I can assume you will be voting Obama out of office. Nobody has shown more absolute power and being control hungry than him.. This,as I said before is Unions flexing what little muscle they have left. Walker goes to Austin, Texas to help better our state and is met with Union "thugs" (yep I used thugs again) protesting him....And people here say it isn't a Union movement. HA!!

That would be because it is.

AMEN! If "moving the state in the right direction" means increasing your income and property taxes, then you'll look back at how stupid it was to petition this recall along with all the cost involved in it. Look at your tax bills for the years Walker has been in office and think about what you want them to look like going forward. Thank you Dr. Watson!

Al if your income tax went down it had nothing to do with the Radical agenda of Walker. Your property tax went down because the value of your property went down thanks to the failed REPUBLICAN policies over the last decade that allowed banks to devalue everyone's assets other than their own. The government not only bailed them out of their self inflicted debt, but did not require them to bail out the people who took responsible mortgages who are now paying for their lack of regulation. Walker is nothing but a drone for the koch snorting brothers. KICK THE ENTIRE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO THE CURB.

Right on Al.

Very well worded Al

Al, first of all I'm sorry about what is happening at Harley-Davidson. It's well known that the problems your company is facing had nothing to do with the awesome products you make, rather the incompetence of your "financial services" arm. If your company had stuck to what it knows instead of investing in shopping malls, etc., the story might be very different today. Unfortunately, it's the financial "industry" that has helped to create our economic crisis overall.

I don't know anyone who hasn't lost wages or benefits because of the recession, even attorneys. We didn't create the problem, but Wall Street is trying to put the solution on our backs, aided by their political puppets.

Until we return to balance in this state and country, the crisis will continue. We can start by recalling Scott Walker and sending a message to Big Business.

And, of course, the message that they want to send with the recall is "screw you, we're not willing to absorb our share of the misery." They'll talk a good line but they have no intention of making any concessions without a costly fight that results in chaos and and environment in which companies like Harley think long and hard about expanding (or for that matter maintaining) employment in a state which, if we're to believe the supporters of the recall, consists of people so rabidly opposed to having a Governor and legislature who are pro-business, that they'll take the unprecedented move of removing from office prematurely any of those folks that they can. Of course, that remains to be seen, but regardless, that's the face of Wisconsin the sore losers who actively support the recall would prefer to present to the world at large.

Bren:

How many public employees do you know that have lost wages and/or benefits because of the recession?

Cow, among my acquaintance of public employees, 1 received a 9% pay cut (DOT). One lost their job (corrections). Three teachers are uncertain of employment next year, and a sixth I haven't been able to reach, which concerns me. The others have all been affected in one way or another.

"1 received a 9% pay cut (DOT). One lost their job (corrections). "

So only 2 of the public employees you know have had significant changes to their financial situation because of the economy. Compare that number with the number of private sector employees that have lost jobs, had to take pay cuts, had to pay more for their health benefits, had their employer stop making contributions to their 401(k), etc.

Those in the public sector have not been facing the same economic realities as most people in the private sector have...

Al, I have worked for the City of Milwaukeee for 16 years and we have never, in that time, gotten a raise higher than the cost of living. The only ones who get those kinds of raises are the fire and police. They account for almost 3/4 of the City budget. Yet, walker left them their unions intact. The City of Milwaukee public unions, for our 2010-2011 contracts, bargained in good faith with the City going as far as to push us to accept a contract that was not even on the table. In that contract (which passed) we took a VOLUTARY two year wage freeze just to help the City with it's expenses during the recession. The taking away of our unions did nothing to put any money back into your pocket or the State. walker admitted that way back on April 14. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker Admits It - You Tube So, if it didn't effect you, why should you be so gleeful that it is being taken away from others? The Unions had already agreed to the financial concessions, the crippling of the Unions was purely political on walkers behalf. He figures only the Republicans should be able to take money from special interest groups and not the Democrats.

Aside from the fire and police, we (public workers) really don't make as much as you think we do. Fire have, if I'm not mistaken already accepted a 4% raise for tis year and the police have rejected a 5% raise as not enough. (The highest raise I EVER got was a 3%) I have co-workers who are barely above the poverty line, even with the benefits we had. Now they are in even worse shape. If this sort of situation for your fellow man, and those workers who contribute directly to your quality of life pleases you, then I must really question what kind of person you are. Most of us, regardless of the political spins of walker and his co-horts would have you think, are extremely dedicated to our jobs and in making this a better place to live.

Cow, two, likely three have lost their jobs, all lost income. The ratio is worse than my acquaintances in the private sector.

Apparently you know more lawyers than teachers, Bren...

@Hambone, as a public employee, I'm sure your views of the world are a bit skewed. This "collective bargaining rights" argument was aimed at state workers. The city of Milwaukee didn't have to take the changes.It was your beloved mayor, Mr. Barrett that adopted Gov. Walkers reforms to help his city budget. You talk of never receiving more than cost of living increases, and the most you ever received was 3%. What you don't say is so did everyone else in your respective dept. regardless of merit or dedication to work. In the private sector, we have made "voluntary" concessions with out union influence for a lot longer than we care to remember. Your "voluntary" wage freeze, was it at the direction of the union, or did Milwaukee labor stand up and say, we need to help our fellow man and city in this time of need?
I am sorry for your co-workers struggling like you state, but EVERYONE of us has. The irony in all of this is in your statement of Gov. Walker is only allowing the right to receive money from special interests, yet you defend one of the largest special interest groups known to our country, the unions!

I think that you are right! I hope and pray.

This is incorrect. The recall movement may include the way the collective bargaining issue was handled, but goes far beyond that. There are far more signatures collected than there are public employees.

Now, if I can only find a womb to legislate around here. WHAT? Kids are learning about STD's and how to prevent them? Everyone knows that abstinence works. Just tell the kids their wee wees will fall off. Hmm, I know there are more, I am sure someone else can chime in.

I'm not surprised in the least that my names and address will be visible. I say, bring it on, even though it DOES sound like a threat.

Poli sci, political contributions over a certain amount are already available online. The unions are definitely not the biggest "hoarse" in the race, it will be the super-PACs. Wisconsin's issue is that the legislature has gone completely out of balance--Republican governor and legislature, exacerbated by the fact that two members of the same family are the leaders of both Houses. The build-up to our current economic crisis occurred during similar circumstances nationally during the Bush administration.

Whatever your party affiliation, there has to be balance. When there is a slide too far to the right or left it leads to serious trouble.

The recall is about sending a message to Big Business that we will fight for what was so eloquently framed in the Declaration of Independence: "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." It is also to restore balance in our state government, and a measured, multi-year approach to addressing our financial issues.

Just the facts ma'am.

It is not a threat it is reality. Last estimate was over 9 million and rising. These are the facts, and nothing but the facts. It will cost every person in this state to watch this power play, and that is all it is.
A little history might help, Wisconsin passed one of nation’s first collective bargaining laws for public employees in 1959. It is and always has been a privilege, not a right. This union power was granted by state statute and was rescinded by state statute. Nothing but the cold hard facts.
Whatever else that comes out of some speech these are the facts that are indisputable. In short all of this is over unions wanting to maintain the status quo. Or to put in another way as the courts would say Stare Decisis.

I am fairly certain, Poli Sci, that this would be a violation of freedom of speech. And if this were legal, they should be able to publish your voting record. What I am guessing is that is also illegal. Can't wait!!

It Is moron

A thug is recall petitioner that throws eggs at cars when the driver won't sign their silly petition. A thug is liberal idiot that pours a beer over the head of a legislator. A thug is a union bully that shouts over someone that is speaking. A thug is a liberal howler monkey that occupies the capitol and prevents our lawmakers from conducting business. I have yet to hear of any conservatives acting this way.

You should not tell people what they can "STOP", If you do not see the union driving this recall, you are blind. This is ONLY about union power.
As for your claim of anxious republicans, who cares? I sure their were many more democrats tha didn't sign petitions. Look at the numbers, over 1.2 million of voted him into office and you are trying to remove him with 540,000.
And what does "REPUBLICAN THUGS WHO HAVE BEEN RUNNING OUR GOVERNMENT OUT" even mean? OUT where? If the left could come up with 1 good reason for the recall, I may even listen. But you continue to grasp at anything that sounds remotely good.

Karen:
Your capital letters and repeat post may indicate that you are a bit over the edge.

I am not sure what THUGS really mean but people chanting, blocking streets, crawling through windows, hiding out in neighboring states, faking medical excuses, leading their students into political situations, et.al. sounds more like THUGS than legislators voting to balance the budget without raising taxes.

What do you think?

You'd do well to pass that information along to a number of folks on your side of the political fence first, Thirsty. Specifically, the enlightened masses who were in attendance at the Occupy events on the day Steve Jobs passed. What could be more ironic than stopping the protests against all things Corporate America to take time to mourn the passing of the poster boy for outsourcing?

That being said, I doubt the company would be around today if they were singularly forced to charge at a rate that allowed for domestically produced iPods, iPads or the various other assorted iDoodads, even given the willingness of those in certain market segments (the arts and education being two of the larger ones) to pay a premium for a misbegotten assumption about the company's "mission" - and of course its overall "coolness" factor.

Thurston III:

I am so glad that you know everything there is to know about international trade and its effect on my life.

I don't know if you have ever lived in a third world nation, but I did for 4 years.

The increase in their living standard due to US production is greatly appreciated by the people living there. It may not be what you want or expect BUT it is an upward movement and if not for US involvement, these people would be worse off.

You can try to eliminate this foreign involvement, bring production back to the US and reduce sales because of higher costs AND who will that help?

International trade is good for ALL...... and international rules prevail.

Don Van, my issue with profit-based globalization vs. humanitarian-based is that it is not done in a thoughtful way. For example, the countries that are "benefiting" from our economic life-blood are not taking (for the most part) the opportunity to be "green," which would save world energy and them money. The planet is rushing headlong to resource depletion. A Rexnord executive speaking at a Commencement I attended a few years ago described the work-camp living conditions at the Chinese factory vying for a big contract. To his credit, the exec. walked away from the situation.

America's problem has consistently been its apparent schizophrenia--government saying one thing, Big Business doing another. Ex.: a relative who lived in South Africa in the early '60s shared that, at the same time the U.S. government was anti-apartheid, all the big U.S. banks and companies were in Jo'burg, executives living high off the hog.

It's hard for ordinary people to trust a country that changes its political/social tune with every new president, and does business with civil rights-violating countries while purporting to stand up for democracy. U.S. diplomats and executives abroad live ostentatiously. I'm well familiar with this disconnect, having lived overseas.

It's about balance. I don't believe anyone here wishes ill on other countries. But there are too many struggling here to ignore the damage outsourcing has done to this country. Vote toward the end of corporate corruption!

@ Don Van:
"International trade is good for ALL...... and international rules prevail."
Tell that to the thousands of unemployed and underemployed workers!
Tell that to the thousands of people who have their homes foreclose by banksters, who turn around and abandon the properties, leaving taxpayers with the mess to clean up!
Same question goes to you. How many Pesos/hr. will you work for?

Do you remember the second amendment? The bill of rights? OUTLANDISH those Republican how dare they pass a concealed carry law!!! How dare they uphold the bill of rights and the second amendment.
There are two side to very political issue, it has always been my way to look at both sides without an emotional attachment. You must have a houses in this race and the ACT 10 law must have impacted one of your felt rights. I understand that, and yes you have the absolute right to redress. I have fought and have had three very close friends die for that right. I uphold your rights, just keep in mind that everyone else also has the right to redress what they think is wrong and that their point of view carries just as much weight as yours.
I am not a Republican lover nor a Democrat rally person. I am a moderate that looks at both sides of an issue and try to see what is best for ALL concerned. No matter what laws are passed, some people will have an issue. If you do not like what your representative is doing, tell him in a calm manner with facts. They do listen, but not with loud bull horns and riot like demonstrations. The calm and cool headed prevail in any dispute.

"Those supporting this corporate sold out lunatic, what are the issues they support him for? Why busting unions, there by rendering Democrats un funded and weak, and being able to carry a gun and kill anyone walking onto your property with no regard for the law."
That's a darn good start.
If the democrats want funding fine, get it, but not my tax dollars. Money laundering is illegal and that is what forced union dues is.
Just stay off of my property and you won't get shot.

Take off your tin-foil hat.

Sounds like the end of the world, kelley. Have you prepared? Have you got your regulation Nikes and purple square of cloth ready for when Do gives the order to follow the comet?

kellydee:

Get a life!

Your ranting is so "out to lunch" that whatever your cause is being hurt by what you blog.

You give a new meaning to "clueless".

Oh, so this is really about ambulance chasers. Let's see that petition, where do I sign.
You prove that the left has no focus and that your emotional recall is baseless.

And they say Liberals aren't thinking emotionally. Thank god we passed CCW, with the above comment from Kelleydee we are all going to have to defend what little we have left. I guess 2012 really is the end!

Right on oak creek. The Blatch is just another journal-sentinel liberal progressive mouth-piece.

Then why exactly have you chosen to exercise your constitutional right? It seems pretty obvious that the goal is to have a re-do the recent elections...

Wisconsin is in dire need of balance, CowDung. The corrupt nature of our politics right now has many Wisconsinites reeling. We need to correct it.

Repeating that theme of yours over and over again doesn't make it so.

CowDung -- You made me lol!! Funny. No comments on Walker's unbalanced, smoke-and-mirrors budget, though?

What exactly do you want me to say about it? According to the accounting methods 'long used by the state of Wisconsin', the budget is balanced. By a more stringent method of accounting, it isn't.

"Walker balanced the budget, and in a way that eliminated the state's structural deficit, under the manner the state has long used.

But GAAP, an accrual accounting method, is a tighter standard that counts future liabilities that flow from past budget actions."

Yeah that's a strike in support of unionizing a particular workforce. It would be expected that unions in general support unionization. Assuming the union is approved and the new union members go out on strike, that would be the time to see whether or not members of the other unions have any interest beyond increasing the numbers of the rank and file.

Bob -- I'd try to respond, but I honestly can't follow what you're sayin' here. :)

Did you bother to read the description of the event those pictures were from?

I'm very familiar with the Manitowoc Crane strike, but your post still doesn't make much sense. The union-busting provisions Manitowoc Crane wants added into the contract are being soundly rejected by the union members there. Al Watson claimed public employee unions aren't supportive of private sector unions. I was pointing out just one very recent example for him.

No, KT, that's not at all what Al said. Al said the following and it was specific. From above:

******************

"Where were the public employee unions when we had to make concessions at Harley. I didn't hear any drums or see any picket signs then. Now I should pay higher taxes to support public employees and their benfit packages that are better than mine. NO WAY!"

************************

Showing up to support swelling the ranks (aka, essentially a membership drive, union-style) is not the same thing as "I got your back in your struggle to actually gain some ground in a concession battle".

Based on what Al's saying, the public employee unions were nowhere to be found when Harley was having their issues. Yet now, folks like Al are being made to feel their own union solidarity is in question if they don't come out in support of a group that, in essence, is tapping Al's pocket in order to preserve their own deal.

I didn't realize Al was the one who posted earlier regarding Harley Davidson. Harley's threat to leave Wisconsin unless they got all those concessions shouldn't be blamed on unions. Corporate thuggery at its finest.

I'm sorry if Al felt public employee unions were in their corner. Part of the problem (for me, anyway) is that we don't get statewide Wisconsin news where I live. I've since learned where to go to search for it.

Al -- I'm nobody's sap. And I disagree that unions would've walked away if mandatory dues was left on the table. We'll have to agree to disagree. At least I'll disagree without feeling the need to hurl names at you. Have a good day.

in other words al, you took a management posisition that required that you leave the union and now your turning your back on your former union brothers and sisters. it's people like you that are the problem here in wisconsin.

@One Time: I am the editor the Patch sites in Milwaukee...Can you give me an example of how we "lean to the left"? Are you saying that by covering the recall that makes us somehow a liberal news outlet?
Did you know that Patch was the first media outlet to report on a big pro-Walker rally in Wauwatosa this Saturday? We plan to send 3-4 people there as well.
Give me some examples of the liberal bias...

As Colbert says, "truth has a liberal bias."

I can Mark. Within days of the accusations levied against David Prosser, one of your writers (I think it was Malard) wrote a headline asking if Prosser should resign when none of the facts were yet known. When it was discoverd that Abrahamson and her liberal hench-counterpart were "cooking the story" we did not see the a headline asking if they should resign.

Ordinarily information of this variety is reserved for those special folks who've already shown an interest in stuff like what you've had for breakfast or whether or not you've performed your daily constitution (aka, your Twitter followers). Thanks for letting us all feel so special and intimately involved with you by sharing it in this forum.

So, the right to work states have caught up? What is their trend over the last year or two?

No, your source was the short-waisted prevaricator Arthur Laugher (sic). Here's the real facts http://tinyurl.com/7npualw.

Besides, the macro facts show that median income has gone down and the middle class has shrunk in this country since the fascists have been inspired to go after unions.

Outlaw all unions, let's take our private sector back.

Steve,
There isnt a "lets" in the private sector without a union. Or maybe there is...So you are saying that you would like to organize a group of people with common interests to "take back" you work environment and make it what the group would like to see? Sounds like anti union.

al, those are private sector statistics. why don't you show the public sector statistics for those same states?

@$$andSense -- He never said he was going to lower your state income tax, although by doing away with the State EIC he did raise the state income tax for lower income workers. As for the property tax, all he did was give the local governments the 'tools' to keep it from increasing to make up for the cuts in state aid. which is our money too.

I'm not sure why so many people think Gov. Walker is 'saving' them money in taxes.

So you prefer contributing 100% to someone else's pension and health benefits?

/\ Proof that you can't fix stupid.

Would you have rather your income taxes go up. Governor Walker at least stopped the maddening increases under incredibly difficult circumstances (3.6 BILLION dollar deficit). The first step has been taken. Let's see what more we can do on the next one.

@Anti-Alinsky -- Were the state income tax rates going up every year the way the property taxes were? As far as I'm concerned, if I have income, I'm willing to pay a percentage of it to the state. It's when the property tax doesn't match the income that it gets to be a problem.

$$ no sense. Tax rates from Walker went into effect January 2012. You can't effect tax code when you start mid month of a fiscal year. You really do need an accountant.

You guys keep crying that taxes need to be higher but since you all are hypocrites when it comes to your taxes you complain. The poor teachers and here you are complaining about paying for their salary and benefits. Typical.

Yup, that's fascism for you. Eliminating unions.

Way to go Keith, ya hit that one outta the park.

99% of people voted Governor Walker in? Man, I must have been asleep for the last two years.

NO. Not even close. By limiting collective bargaining Governor Walker gave control back to local governments. They can now:
1) make health care decisions without bargaining with the union (notice how many dumped WEA)
2) Fire bad employees without long drawn out processes
3) Control calendar and work times

Many local governments took advantage of these tools to lower levy's.

Incidentally, levy limits have been in place since the early 90's. Diamond Jim Doyle eliminated the Qualified Economic Offer, which meant teacher's could strike again if they didn't get their way.

With walkers and Rascals?

AND STOP SUFFRAGE!! Oh, I thought we were yelling nonsense based off our lack of understanding of the current political climate and facts.

Petition to Recall The Giants:

Aaron Rodgers 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Vince Lombardi 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Bart Starr 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Clay Matthews 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Jan Stenerud 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Aaron Rodgers 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Charles Woodson 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Aaron Rodgers 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Mike McCarthy 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Aaron Rodgers 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Aaron Rodgers 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Mike MCarthy 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Aaron Rodgers 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Ray Nitschke 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
A.J Hawk 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Aaron Rodgers 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Max McGee 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304
Aaron Rodgers 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay WI 54304

Remember: don't break the the rules, only 20 signatures allowed per petition....

@$$andNonsense, that made very little sense.
You must not have read my post very well. What community do you belong to? I live in Muskego where tax rates went down for City, County and Schools. The school just recently changed carriers to gain savings of 2 Million dollars a year.

Madison recently spent thousand of dollares in legal fees to fire an employee that had child porn on his work computer. The union fought tooth and nail to keep his salary for the short time he has before he goes to jail. Now they can write their own rules for termination.

I am neither pro or anti union. I am all for people organizing for better work conditions. But because public sector employer do not have the options private comapnaies do, there needs to be reasonable limits.

And you are using 20 million of mine for a pointless recall. You can make a check out to Steve, I also accept paypal

steve,
are you footing the whole bill? Make it 30 million and I will take 10 off the top to "organize" the recall reviewers. I wont stop to every last one of the fake signatures are challenged, and when he is still recalled, it'll be too bad. anywho, I would chip in 20 bucks to cover my share of the signatures.

Hey Dirk
Perhaps Walker will share some of his money he gets from fund raising in NY today with us??

Gov of the Year? ha ha.
mikeconrad1 Mike Conrad
Aaaaand Scott Walker has run off to New York. "When the going gets tough, run into the loving arms of Wall Street. - Walker '12" #WIrecall
22 minutes ago

slow down there Morninmist!!! wasn't it your wonderful Senators that fled to Illinois when the"going got to tough" here?

You're just worried the the majority of the state is conservative which will beat your liberalism down again.

I'm very concerned as well Nancy. No doubt they'll cheat. They always do.

Is there a particular reason you identify yourself as Lakeshore Area, Nancy instead of Northshore, Nancy?

Anyone hungry for the BBQ?

You're welcome, Bob. What's relevant to you?

Here is their press release:

I think you are joking-his district is scarlet red.

Committee to Recall Scott Fitzgerald: Recall petition filed against Scott Fitzgerald
1/17/2012

Lori Compas, Chair, Committee to Recall Scott Fitzgerald

920-397-9749 | RecallFitzNow@gmail.com



Jill Bakken, We Are Wisconsin communications

608-770-0498 | jill@wearewisconsin.org


 20,600 constituents signed to recall Senate Majority Leader


Madison, Wis.—Leaders of the campaign to recall Sen. Scott Fitzgerald have filed petitions containing 20,600 signatures to oust the Senate Majority Leader, one of the chief proponents of Scott Walker’s divisive budget policies. 



The number of filed recall signatures represents 123% of the needed 16,742 signatures, a figure that Committee to Recall Scott Fitzgerald Chairperson Lori Compas called “overwhelming and decisive.”



Compas, a small business owner and mother of two from Fort Atkinson, said that most of the constituents who signed the petitions were not motivated by partisan politics. “More than 20,600 of his own constituents—Republican, Democrat, and independent alike—signed a recall petition because Scott Fitzgerald stopped listening to them,” stated Compas. “Individually they were not heard; together, their call for open, honest government cannot be ignored.”




.

http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=258282

@morninmist -- no, that was me having a senior moment. I never understood why they called the GOP 'red' and the Dems 'blue' -- it should be the other way around, and I always get it mixed up. What I meant is, Fitzgerald's district if very conservative, so I didn't think they'd hit their goal.

Randy\
No problem. Those senior moments are coming to me at times also.

Yes, I had my doubts but each week, they gathered more and more and the push at the end really was wonderful to see. Lots of volunteers for a good cause.
Later,
M.

+1. Also, make teachers work 12 months out of the year. There is a lot of summer time work that can be done and sitting at home getting a paycheck for no labor is theft.

Oppression? How about admitting they are treated like Kings and Queens. Pension plans that are better than Corporate American has, Health coverage in the top 1%. I think it is time to take it all away! Make them contribute 100% to retirement- do away with the pension and let them have a 403(b) plan.
They weren't happy with the little nick to their benefits, so they chose to hurt the whole state with their tantrum. I say F them, take everything away to offset the waste of $ caused by this nonsence. Payback is a bitch, and money is due to the taxpayor!

Well I think we should set the house slaves free. I'd be willing to bet we'd get a whole new batch of folks who'd gladly take their places in no time. Willing to take a chance on that, Davie?

I'm glad I'm "rich" so I can show you the absolute low amount of taxes I pay.

lololol

It's so unfair to write the check I do every year.
Become rich like me and we can be unfair together. Hell I basically pay no taxes I just fly around on private jets taking from the poor and leaving the needy hungry.

Nobody cares, craig. Have a nice day.

Keep believing that dribble you read on the interweb. As designed it will keep you in the unions pocket for a lifetime.

I know they tell you how to vote down at the Hall. Does your mother lay your clothes out for you also?

Typical liberal death threats. So desperate when socialism is at threat of falling apart.

Yes, I do speak for everyone craig. Thanks for asking. Nobody cares. Have a nice day.

It's not an issue at all with some folks getting something that I didn't. Private sector unions are free to collectively bargain for whatever they can get from the employer of their membership.

Public sector unions are a different story. Their political contributions end up electing the people that are sitting on the other side of the bargaining table. The lack of an adversarial relationship between the parties can (and does) result in the abuse of the collective bargaining system. Nobody is effectively representing the interest of the taxpayer, and we end up having to pay for unsustainable compensation packages.

It's pointless to explain logic to these people Cow. They have been told when to work, eat and sleep their entire life by the union. They think money grows on trees and an unlimited amount can be taken from business.

See how much you love your union when you are unemployed like HD or Briggs. You looney lefties will draw unemployment for 2 years without trying to find work. I do not wish loss of income on anyone, but people like YOU need to wake up. Not everyone is raping the taxpayor, but those that are need to give up the fight. We taxpayors can not afford to subsidize lifestyles of Kings and Queens with higher taxes.

A local Vet can help you with your deworming process. It is gross and uncomfortable but you have been spewing from your other end anyway.

Craig -
You forgot to add some ##' and 15WVR.it's to your post

I'm so glad that you could be there this day! No matter the outcome of this recall effort, it is wonderful to know that the warm, welcoming, and generous people of the Wisconsin I know and love are still out there, willing to stand up for what we believe!

I especially want to thank Adolph Hitler and Mickey Mouse for making this possible. Without their names this historic day just would not have come to fruition.

Good, I'll take those compliments to my non union boss. I am a paid poster by the Kochs, it's good money, non union work from home kind of stuff.

Wages are only one part of the total compensation. Compare the compensation levels of public and private school teachers as an example. Private school teachers earn about 75% of what public school teachers earn...

I can't take it any more, Craig, learn to spell, or use spellcheck, something please. It is better for people to think you are an idiot, then type on a small keyboard and remove all doubt!

I appreciate your compliment. As a proud union member you are very familiar with the Rat.

And now he shows his true colors. This is why you need a union, single digit IQ's and the bottom of the barrel are the ones who need it most.
At least you can feel good you are getting your monies worth on them dues there hey.

Scotty, we're coming for YOU. YES we are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkVRSzeaqvU&feature=youtu.be

They also do it part time and usually have another job teaching or are in the private sector. Craig my friend, just become a bus driver in Madison. 100+K per year with benefits. You don't even have to know how to type or read and it's UNION! omgomgomg

Including Mickey mouse and Adolph Hitler? WOW impressive

Why does he substitute l's for i's?

To be accurate, the number of signatures on the petitions equal 46% of the electorate, not necessarily the number of signers...

@Steve -- I'll be interested to see how many times Mickey and Adolf signed. If I heard Mr. Kennedy right, the petitions will be available public in pdf.

Cheer up, soon your daily production rates will be outstripped thrice over by Huan Wong for about $1.50/day. Then we'll see who's "wining". On the upside, maybe you'll be able to go back and finally get your GED.

Benefits, compensation and insurance are not tax code genius.

You don't want to pay more taxes, that's the point. You just want everyone else to including the job creators.

Taxes are too damn high

Amen Steve, anem to that.

@Zuma
I see @Steve above is still hoping to see lots of Micky and Adolf signatures (2x he posted about this silly delusion).

I have had many a Republican come up to sign the petitions this last few months. And the GOP wants to see the sigs with the intent of harassing folks who signed (see below). I know there are Republicans--and Democrats who did not sign out of fear that the names would be public. It is sad, but fear did work on some. I know because they told us-the volunteers.

But come next summer the voting booth will be secret. All the ads and intimidation by Walker fans can not change that fact.

Cheers

http://www.milwaukeelabor.org/in_the_news/article.cfm?n_id=00227

Walker flipped recall off, now opposed by a million points of light

Posted January 17, 2012

The numbers are staggering – Some duplicates surely.
...more than 1,932,000 signatures
...

Factually, the signatures reflect about as many citizens as voted in 2010 for his Democratic opponent, Tom Barrett, and within 125,000 of all who voted for Walker.

The results are particularly overwhelming when you realize that the highly publicized GOP intention to scrutinize and record every name on the petitions was actually a warning to disgruntled Republicans not to sign -- and most took the hint for fear of being drummed out of the party or getting midnight calls from right-wing neighbors. They knew there would be a GOP man going ‘round taking names........

@poli sci
You forget that FOUR TeaGOP Senators are to be recalled (I have no fear the numbers will be OK even if a few duplicates are found). The point is The DEMS won 2 seats last time and will win at least one or two this time around. Walker's ALEC-Koch inspired agena will end. Simple as that.

Cheers.

Thank you sir for proving a perfect example of my point. emotional politics always obscure the reality of the situation, and comes down to name calling and other such emotional responses. I simple made a point that no matter who wins or loses, we all will lose.
As for my party affiliation I have none, I am not for or against one party or the other. My point that you have seemed to miss is that the Stare Diesis in the end is the better path when it comes to politics. You may or may not agree, but base it on the premise not on an emotional hatred.

I have never said the people are incorrect in pursuing a recall. I am simple stating that the status quo is the better outcome as opposed to recall after recall and a continual election process. In short: "Stare Decisis" (Latin for "to stand by that which is decided) seems to be the point exactly. The people do have every right to a recall, just as we have many rights, but the exercise thereof in given situation is not always the prudent one. As an example, saying what were once described as “fighting words” to a group of folks that ends up as a riot may be exercising your freedom of speech and court protected, but not a real great idea.
The point if I may to keep it simple for you, is let it stand until the next election may be the better course of action. There are other bigger fish to fry, spending money on a recall depletes valuable resources from other bigger and more important fights, such as the presidential election. That is the bigger fish in this case

The opposition to the right to recall, from the very people who take the right to firearms and pervert the crap out of it by pumping more of them into our streets.

And we are supposed to listen to these people?

When we start experiencing casualty counts in the triple digits daily, maybe your comparison will make sense, Keith.

You children abused the use of the toy. The adults, eventually, are going to have to take it away from you. Trust me, it will happen. You may be surprised to see those on your side complicit in it if they suspect it might be used in kind by your opposition.

@Zuma Bound -

And you honestly believe that the left is any different? You must be living in a huge cloud of ignorance and denial!

@Zuma Bound -

Last I checked, there was only a recall effort, but no election that Walker benefited from in gaining his position as Milwaukee County executive. And just as is the situation now, people are stepping to challenge the person being recalled, just as Walker did in Milwaukee Co. What's so hypocritical exactly?

I support Walker and I'm all for having the recall election as quickly as possible, as not a single potential candidate stands a chance in hell of defeating Walker if the election is made about the issues and the records of the candidates running. The Dems current frontrunner, Barrett, utilized Walker's reforms in addressing his budget in the city of Milwaukee. You may want to take note of this, as this is representative of a real hypocrisy, and not the crap that you're spewing.

And that's the situation Zuma. Instead of living in the land of the Daily Kos, you may want to try joining the rest of us in the consensus reality for a change.

OH James.
Walker took advantage of the Milw recall and you know it. He made a big speech saying how proud he was of the people of Milw for giving their voice to the recall.
Yes he benefited from it and only you and those living in la la land will deny it.

Your gig is up James R. Hoffa.

........

James R Hoffa

6:45 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012

@Zuma Bound -

Last I checked, there was only a recall effort, but no election that Walker benefited from in gaining his position as Milwaukee County executive. And just as is the situation now, people are stepping to challenge the person being recalled, just as Walker did in Milwaukee Co. What's so hypocritical exactly?

You still haven't answered the question. A simple yes or no will suffice. You are a police union shill, aren't you?

No, I am not a police union shill. I didn't agree with Governor Walker's view that since Police and Firemen put their lives on the line all the time they should be exempt. I wrote to my state Senator and told her as much. 99.9% of Act 10 is good legislation, so I can live with it.

I wish all the folks on Patch would take time to read it and reflect upon it.

About the Pack- they have a grand team and will be back next year. Take care.