Republicans are breaking rank in Wisconsin.
The Wall Street Journal reports that one moderate Republican, state Sen. Dale Schultz, has proposed changing the budget proposal supported by Walker slightly but fundamentally: instead of losing their collective bargaining rights in perpetuity, as the governor wants, they would only lose the right to negotiate for benefits through 2013.
The unions shouldn’t take this either, but it’s a start.
If you want to give to Wisconsin Democratic Senators, you can do so here.
Suggest other things people can do to help in the thread. I’m going to write a letter to my newspaper, something I rarely do. This issue is a hill to die on.
Comrade Mary
It’s a start, but a dangerous one that the Wisconsin Democrats might just go for. You’ll remember that the Bush tax cuts were supposed to expire, too. So how did that work out for everyone?
bob h
Poor Walker- his chance to ascend to the Pantheon of Wingnuttery to join Governor Christie and Judge Vinson may be passing.
Cat Lady
You know what happens you overreach? You fall.
Yankee Buzzard
Former Deputy Sheriff Dale Schulz has been a public employee, so he has some sympathy. Not a lot of other former union members on the R side but there is increasing talk of recall efforts – on both sides so it could get to be a complicated and extended situation.
Another Commenter at Balloon Juice (fka Bella Q)
It is indeed a hill to die on, preferably the union busters. And I’m coordinating some carpools to Columbus for our protest here in Ohio, as well as working on a tiny email campaign to have people write to their state senators. Mine is a putz, but surprisingly on the fence on SB5, so I’m working on having him inundated with letters (emails) from locals. And I’m cheering my friends in Wisconsin who are promoting the good work there.
TenguPhule
In the immortal paraphrased words of a military leader.
“The object is not to die for your country. It’s to make the other SOB die for his.”
morzer
@TenguPhule:
Let’s be bipartisan about this.
This hill is our Cemetery Ridge, and the Klepto-Kochocracy get to be Pickett’s Division.
Mark F.
And Walker’s already shot that idea down.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/walker-rejects-moderate-goper-plan-to-break-wi-impasse-video.php
FeFiFo
Representative Diane Russell from Maine is driving out to Madison in support (she also correctly calls the union busting “class war”) and is taking donations for food for the protesters: http://solidaritywisconsin.wordpress.com/
The Madison Teaching Assistants Association is also taking donations for food and cleanup: http://helpdefendwisconsin.org/
Ian’s Pizza on State has been delivering pizzas ordered by supporters from across the world, check their blackboard to see if your country or state is represented yet: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ians-Pizza-on-State/187063310047
The SEIU as mentioned previously is holding solidarity rallies all this week: http://action.seiu.org/page/s/solidarityaction
And finally, get involved with US Uncut, a spinoff of UK Uncut which has been fighting austerity policies and corporate thieves on the other side of the pond. US Uncut started a week ago and already there are over 20 rallies nationwide scheduled: http://www.usuncut.org
matoko_chan
@Mark F.: still its a crack in the dyke. now they have to TALK about it, and cant bury it under shared-sacrifice patriotism.
they relly, relly dont want to talk about it.
BGinCHI
This compromise is the most dangerous thing that could happen right now.
Dems and union folks in WI need to hold as tightly as possible to their rights as fundamental. Letting them go “for a few years” is tantamount to agreeing that they are not essential.
But let’s be clear about the other reason not to compromise: for the GOP, this is not just about WI public employees’ right to collective bargaining.
It’s about middle class representation in this country tout court.
FeFiFo
Hey DougJ® I posted a bunch of helpful links and info but its caught in the mod filter.
matoko_chan
And actually, HCR was their hill to die on.
they are dead already, its just the tiny little second brains in their dinosaur hips havent gotten the message yet.
Corner Stone
Instead of giving to D Senators, I’d prefer to donate money to support the people protesting.
Anyone know of a solid way to do that beyond ordering a pizza?
TenguPhule
@morzer
At this point, my definition of bipartisan is that we only chope their necks half off instead of a clean cut.
It has pretty much come to final options already.
There is no compromise. There is no negotiation.
The Right wants us to eat Anthrax and tire rims.
Corner Stone
This isn’t any kind of a start at all. This is bullshit.
FeFiFo
@Corner Stone: look up helpdefendwisconsin.org. They’re taking donations for food and cleanup.
cyntax
Well the worst do seem still seem to be full of passionate intensity. Good to know the more things change, the more they stay the same.
rikyrah
here’s a warning to the troopers – remember the 9/11 responders..
that’s what the GOP REALLY thinks of your asses, and, if you don’t think it won’t happen to you, well….
Corner Stone
@Comrade Mary:
Disastrously?
Punchy
Here’s the thing–Wisky has never been a hotbead for this fringe Republican asshattery. They’ve voted blue, or at least purple, for some time. They somehow snuck in a teabag gov, but the rest of the Leggy and the state itself is very moderate in general. I’d expect this shit from MS or TN, but never Wisky. I’d like to venture a guess that WI voters are suddenly looking at their TV and saying, “just what fucking monster did I vote for?”, and the WI state legislature in DEEP DEEP blue Madtown realize the problem.
jwb
@Comrade Mary: I doubt the Dems will go for it without the approval of the unions. But you never know. My own sense is that this is being floated because polling indicates this is a losing issue for Republicans. I have no direct evidence, but only a feeling about how the discourse shaped up over the weekend, especially Walker’s refusal to address what he is actually trying to do, always deflecting it into an issue of benefits (a point the unions have already ceded) and the strong pivot by the GOP to try to make this about Obama. Basically, the Republicans are not talking about what’s going on in Wisconsin in a way that makes me believe they have a strong hand.
jwb
@Corner Stone: No, it’s not a start, but it’s a sign.
Corner Stone
Does anyone know why Doyle didn’t run for re-election in WI?
I’ve seen polls showing him likely defeating Walker and some showing a tough race. Not sure if he’s said anything specific about his choice.
Corner Stone
@jwb:
If this is agreed to we can all kiss our collectively bargained asses goodbye. All across the country.
Done bones.
DJShay
@Corner Stone: Go here. They are taking donations for a lot more than food. These people are camping out over night, so things like toothpaste, cleaning supplies, etc are being donated
Corner Stone
@FeFiFo: Thanks for the tip. Not a lot of info there but it probably can’t hurt too much to drop them a donation.
Corner Stone
@DJShay: Yes, I just gave them a hundy for RALLY ORGANIZING FOOD & SUPPLIES.
FSM bless ’em.
Sad Iron
I’m a public employee is Wisconsin and have been fighting this every day. Ideas?
1. Well, for starters, we could raise the sales tax a mere .5%. (The current debt crisis works out to be about an average of $35 per person in the state.) But as we know, doing that would be tyranny.
2. Next, we could actually have businesses pay a cent in taxes. I don’t know, even $100 per business would be $100 more than some are paying now.
3. In addition to bringing benefits “into line,” you could bring public workers pay into line as well, so then there would be true equality. Public sector pay lags behind private (mine does, significantly). So he could pair the benefit reductions with scalable pay increases over 5 years to eventually have those two balance once the “crisis” passes.
4. Did I mention that a .5% sales tax would help? Figures show that even a 1% sales tax would wipe out most of the deficit. But that only happens when the Packers need to renovate their stadium, but hey, they were union folks.
Sad Iron
And there’s this chart to show the compensation lag: http://www.epi.org/economic_snapshots/entry/wisconsin_public_servants_already_face_a_compensation_penalty/
Sue
Idea:
I sent this to my union rep earlier today.
‘Also, what about taking this local? There are a lot of local elections coming up, people should start calling candidates and asking them where they stand on the union-busting portion of this law.
“What is your stand on the loss of collective bargaining rights for Wisconsin Public Employees”
“Do you support taking this action into the private sector”
“Do you think the State will cut shared revenue if local governments see savings from local cuts”
“What is your opinion on the possibility of Wisconsin becoming a right-to-work state”
These questions should be asked of candidates in phone calls, if you receive a visit, at candidates’ forums, during candidates’ calls, everywhere. Don’t wait to start working on recalls, let local candidates know that the fallout will start with them.’
Tsulagi
Guessing not. Just tweaking their tactics to achieve the same strategic goal. Appear to compromise. Kumbaya time.
Soon will be redistricting. Guess how creative that will be in WI and other states with R legislatures. Could be this R state senator is thinking they get what they want now then just might be able to pick up one more seat after redistricting so they won’t have this unsightly problem in 2013 of needing one D in order to have a quorum. Could then make it permanent.
DJShay
@Corner Stone: they are fighting for all of us.
Mattminus
As Admiral Ackbar would say, “It’s a trap!”
Jim C.
@Sad Iron
I would suggest something other than a sales tax increase. Sales tax is a regressive tax. It impacts lower income folks more than higher income ones.
Corner Stone
@DJShay: I agree. My dad worked for 33 years for the railroad and his dad was in the local union as a painter for the school district.
The last 5+ years of my dad’s career he worked as union rep who represented workers being punished, fined or threatened with termination for various things.
I thanked the FSM when his union boss lost the election. Probably saved his life.
People don’t understand how stressful it is to go to bed every night worrying about some poor guy’s job/family and waking up every morning knowing you’ve got to fight corporate management for every god damned penny.
DJShay
@Corner Stone: Have you seen Harlan County USA? If not it is not to missed. 70s doc about striking mine workers in Kentucky Great song came out of it too. Which Side Are You On?
Sad Iron
@ Jim C. Point respectfully taken. I just want to make the point that no other options at all are being explored. The budget crisis, to Walker, is so deep that he’s making the most important choices first–for example, he eliminated the Poet Laureat position today, with its stipend of $2000. We’re that much closer!
chopper
certainly, this issue is a bill hill to fight for. as a federal employee, my ‘union’ is quite limited, but still appears to have more bargaining power than walker wants any union to have. this is sad.
i don’t worry about my job, but the demonization of public employees is starting to make my spider sense tingle. we’re turning into the last bastion of middle-class america left who hasn’t had their job, security and futures packed up, shipped out or given away as a CEO bonus.
Sad Iron
Here’s one thing that everyone can do–email the “Wisconsin 14” Democratic senators who are holed up in Illinois. Tell them that you’re watching and stand by them, even if you don’t live in Wisconsin. They are under a lot of pressure, have put their jobs on the line, and are already facing recall petitions from the baggers. Their emails:
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
dww44
@Corner Stone: I sorta disagree if you mean the 14 Dem holdouts in the Wisc. Senate. If they don’t hold together, and long enough, then it almost doesn’t matter about the demonstrations, which isn’t to deny their importance. All Walker needs is for at least one of them to fold.
@Punchy: Maybe so about the blueness to purplesness of the Wisc. electorate, but remember, Feingold also lost his seat, and the Dems are in an underwhelming minority in the State Senate right?
I say it still remains to be seen how far right and for how long the country continues to vote majority Repub. In all seriousness, the blue to red results of last fall decimated the Dems at the local and state levels portending unfavorable results with upcoming redistricting.
Dems here lost big time at the state level. Not a single state-wide office went Democratic and we are one of the states who stand to gain another seat in the Congress as a result of population shifts. And, then 8 statewide re-elected Dems switched parties almost immediately afterwards. There was one supposition that the GOP lobbied for the party switching in an effort to expand its moderate ranks,given that the electorate put some genuine “whackadoodles” into office. They were seeking to marginalize the extremist element, which is in full public display in the legislature right now.
The only good sign here is that this state has now become the state with the largest Black population, knocking New York off the #1 perch, and that’s the result of continuing migration back South of the Black middle class primarily to the Atlanta metropolitan area.
How nice it would be if Dems had a larger stake in that redistricting. I’ve long believed that process ought to be strictly non-partisan with an eye only to divying up the state so as to insure that districts reflect the geography of the voters. The rest will take care of itself. No more carving out of safe districts, for anyone.
Corner Stone
@dww44: It’s IMO, but the 14 D Senators are only holding out as long as the public support via protesters maintains.
Kind of a chicken/egg scenario, I grant.
If you have 30K, 50K or whatever through this Friday then IMO the Senators can hold.
patroclus
For purposes of comparison, Illinois just re-elected a Dem governor and a Dem legislature, and instead of a Wisconsin-style fight, we got an across-the-board state tax increase. The new tax revenue will pay for the increased medical costs and education etc…
russell
PATCO supported Reagan in ’80. Suckers.
If the cops think they’re immune, guess again.
asiangrrlMN
@DJShay: Thanks for the link. Just donated.
DougJ, you are right. This does feel like “last stand” time.
SteveinSC
@DJShay:
and Matewan
Spaghetti Lee
@Sad Iron:
Done and done. I’m also shooting off e-mails to Walker, Fitzgerald and Schultz and giving them a piece of my mind.
Ben
@DJShay:
For Corner Stone and others who want to see it, Harlan County USA is on Hulu: http://www.hulu.com/watch/166744/harlan-county-usa
There are ads during it, but not too much of them.