Regretful Endorsement

The budget repair bill. Because apparently taking away collective bargaining rights is repairing the budget.

I heard an interview this morning with the leading Republican senator in the state. He was asked directly, "The unions have already agreed to the benefit concessions (which would double their health premiums and they would pay 5% into their pensions), but why take away the collective bargaining rights if the union leaders have already agreed to the monetary demands?"

The leading Republican, Scott Fitzgerald, replied that there are "deep cuts" in the governor's proposed budget bill ($900 million in education) and it would give school districts and local governments "the flexibility to restructure their budgets". So what he's saying is... they want public workers to make concessions. And then the governor is going to cut the budget even more and teachers and public workers will get slammed again.

Doesn't anybody else hear this?

I could just scream. I do not understand the need to take away their bargaining rights.

I know- how about NOT giving tax breaks to corporations. No? How about adding a 1% sales tax? No. How about finding some other way to restructure the budget where we actually tax corporations.

The Madison Police Department gave a press release- they regret endorsing Scott Walker.

I don't like to think it's a conspiracy to take down the unions- which are the only form of large group support to democrats. I don't like to think it's about power.

And I don't like that my instincts give me a very bad feeling about Scott Walker. A very heavy sinking feeling. He seems underhanded... sneaky. I don't like him. He's one of the few politicians I really feel is slimy.