March 9, 2011

"Gov. Scott Walker previously rejected calls to pass the collective bargaining provisions of the budget bill separately."

"Walker's position was not the most politically advantageous, because he left himself at the mercy of the Democratic state Senators who have deprived the state Senate of a quorum by fleeing the state.... At this point, if there is no breakthrough very soon, there is not much to be lost by splitting the bill...."

Says William A. Jacobson, noting Senator Lena C. Taylor's recent tweet saying she's just requested an absentee ballot for the April 4th election.

146 comments:

garage mahal said...

For the last two mush brains that thought this was about balancing the budget, there is your answer.

Anonymous said...

First, there was "Drill, baby, drill."

now comes . . .

"Split the bill."

What's next?

"Kill the Wikileakers for their spill."

"Grill ObamaCare on the Hill."

"Thrill us with an energy policy from Brazil."

AllenS said...

Go ahead, garage, explain to everyone how we balance the budget.

Unknown said...

To balance the budget, the union pensions and benefits, structured to protect the sweetheart deal between the union bosses and the Demos, have to be renegotiated.

Not hard at all.

Trooper York said...

To balance the budget garage wants to tax the millionaires until they are not millionaires any more or until the leave the state. Budget balanced easy.

It's not like those dirty nasty millionaires are entitled to have any money. It belongs to the state so it can be pay the demands of a bloated union fat cats who won't pay their bills because their quail is too small.

What's the matter with you? Everybody is behind that solution.

X said...

Allen, you haven't heard about garage's millionaire tax that exempts public employee millionaires?

Cedarford said...

Cornell Law Prof William Jacobson is not very bright:

"Walker's position was not the most politically advantageous, because he left himself at the mercy of the Democratic state Senators who have deprived the state Senate of a quorum by fleeing the state.

It's time for Walker to reconsider because Senate Democrats have no intention of negotiating on collective bargaining, or of returning anytime soon.


Gee, so all Walker has to do is move to Illinois as well with the Lieutenant Governor - unavailable to sign any budget or issue a single paycheck - thus placing Democrats at the mercy of Walker.

Forcing them to:

1. Give up collective bargaining.
2. Line up and sign a statement Walker demands be signed before he deigns to return to Wisconsin, alling union leaders 'poopie-heads', and admitting George Bush was right about everything.

Trooper York said...

Public employees are a protected speicies like the bald eagle or the snail darter or something.

Why garage wouldn't even eat one if it was roadkill that's how strongly he feels.

James said...

A conference committee is meeting right now to strip out the fiscal portions of the bill. The Assembly is scheduled to vote on the new bill affecting union activities tomorrow morning.

Anonymous said...

Elected government nearing establishing residency in another State-

Nearly every elected official subjected to recall-

Nearly every business subject to boycott

School kids bullied by their teachers..

This is what democracy looks like?

No, this is what Wisconsin looks like.

Quit screwing around and resolve this once and for all like adults.

Noon, Saturday-

Everyone take to the streets and duke it out.

TWM said...

Walker should have done this when they first ran away. But better late than never.

ambisinistral said...

I wonder how well the 14 absent Democrats are polling?

Anonymous said...

Nothing getting done has never been so dramatic and politically controversial... has it?

Chennaul said...

She's Only one of the 14, and April 4th is a little over 3 weeks away.

Tweeting about requesting an absentee ballot ...I wouldn't put too much on that.

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

About time.

chickelit said...

ambisinistral said...
I wonder how well the 14 absent Democrats are polling?

According to garage m'poll they're off-the charts positive!

Revenant said...

For the last two mush brains that thought this was about balancing the budget, there is your answer.

I'm guessing garage doesn't interpret that answer as "yes". :)

James said...

Heh....


MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Two Democratic state senators say they think Republicans plan to pass parts of Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to take away collective bargaining rights from public workers without them.

Senate Republican leaders weren't saying why they hastily created a conference committee that's meeting later Wednesday night.

All 14 Senate Democrats have left the state to prevent quorum on the bill. It takes at least 20 senators to take up any budget bill.

But not all parts of Walker's proposal are budget-related.

Democratic Sen. Bob Jauch says he thinks Republicans plan to "ram through" parts of the bill that take away collective bargaining rights but that don't cost any money. Sen. Jon Erpenbach says he thinks they will do anything they can to weaken public unions with or without Democrats there.

Christopher said...

I think I'm going to skip all of Garage's comments from now on and just assume that he wrote some variation of the following:

-Walker is a meany and a nazi;

-You're all doodyheads because I disagree with you;

-Generic elementary school insult replacing 'cock' with Koch


I can't imagine I'll be missing much.

Anonymous said...

"... mush brains that thought this was about balancing the budget,"

Tee hee. It's not.

It's about crushing the Democrat Party by eliminating its forced union thug funding.

We're amputating the pinky ring finger.

Is there anything you don't understand about this, Garage? It's no secret. It's our political platform. We intend to eviscerate your political party by stripping it of every cent we can find.

We're going to vote you out.

We're going to kick you out.

And we're going to fucking kick you when you're down.

We're going to fire you at work.

We're not going to date you.

You'll get no pussy.

We intend to crush Democrats in every way, on every front, with every tool we have at our disposal.

And if that doesn't do the trick, we intend to eviscerate you with other weapons in our arsenal that we so far have held in reserve.

Do you get the message boy?

Is it all clear to you now?

Automatic_Wing said...

He really doesn't have any choice. The Dems are not coming back as long as the issue polls reasonably well for them.

Walker has two choices: Pass the collective bargaining stuff separately or cave to the Dems.

chickelit said...

I wonder how well the 14 absent Democrats are polling?

They looked bad last month. It's unlikely that this particular question has improved for them. link

David53 said...

It has been proven that it is possible to survive assimilation. Drones can escape the collective. Picard did it, you can too Garage.

granmary said...

Finally! They are going to split the bill. Gov. Walker was more patient with the fleebaggers than I would have been. Public employees should never have been given the privilege of collective bargaining. It is legalized theft from the taxpayer and bribery of dem.politicians in order to perpetrate the theft in perpetuity.

Jon said...

A conference committee is meeting right now to strip out the fiscal portions of the bill. The Assembly is scheduled to vote on the new bill affecting union activities tomorrow morning.

Good. They should have done this weeks ago- it's what the Dems would have done. Walker made a tactical error by letting the stalemate drag on so long.

Leland said...

If Democrats were actually filibustering rather then missing a quorum call; they might prevent this from happening.

AllenS said...

Here's how Walker is polling according to The Journal Times.

Poll

Anonymous said...

"Walker made a tactical error by letting the stalemate drag on so long."

Agreed, he allowed the dems, media and unions time to mobilize.

Walker should have struck while the iron was hot.

Carol_Herman said...

Well, there goes Walker's kite at the republican convention in 2012. (I'm still Chris Cristie as viable.)\

And, what happens in Wisconsin? Stays in Wisconsin. Who is gonna elect anyone to office who raises property taxes?

Haven't the politicians all come up as scoundrels?

DaveW said...

I'm guessing the folks in Madison are about ready for this to be over. They need to go ahead and get this done so everyone can scream and kick the floor and have their tantrum, get over it, and return to some sense of normalcy. There will be another election in 2012 and the dems in Wisconsin can undo this then if they really want to and if they can win.

/shrug

It was been pretty entertaining for a while, I must admit, but that time has passed.

James said...

I think the reason that Walker is moving now to strip away collective bargaining is because a number of school districts and union locals are signing sweetheart deals intended to circumvent Walker's budget plans.

Several of the large school districts in south-east Wisconsin have suddenly signed new contracts after less than a week of negotiating.

former law student said...

So Walker is admitting that stripping government employees of collective bargaining rights will have no fiscal effect.

Interesting.

"The object of power is power.
Now do you begin to understand me?"

Clairvius Narcisse said...

i certainly hope they don't remove the provision that will allow the governor to sell the state's energy resources in no-bid contracts...the horror.

granmary said...

Hot Damn it is done! Just heard the senate passed the bill thru committee and then thru full senate.

kent said...

Fox radio reports the fleebaggers are coming back to Madison.

Update: FoxNews (TV) now reporting that as well.


For the mush brains who thought that drumming their collective heels on the linoleum, shrieking like scalded baby mice and continuously wetting themselves en masse could/would somehow miraculously change the actual budgetary numbers involved in all of this: here is your answer.

Heh.

HEH.

Alex said...

Anyways we all know that Walker is being recalled soon anyways.

Known Unknown said...

What about future fiscal effect?

Alex said...

Unions are dead in Wisconsin! Ding dong the wicked witch is dead! I'm gonna celebrate HARD tonight!

mrs whatsit said...

FLS, you know better than that. At least, you should, even if the "former" part of your law school experience was only a few weeks.

MayBee said...

If Democrats were actually filibustering rather then missing a quorum call; they might prevent this from happening.

Bingo.

Dose of Sanity said...

@ Leland and Maybee

Wisconsin has no filibuster. Quorum is the only similar option.

RE: The bill passing and dems returning.

We're in for a hell of a show now. I'm headed down there now. Going to be very interesting!

MayBee said...

Wisconsin has no filibuster. Quorum is the only similar option.

Yeah, I understand that. But people were comparing this to a filibuster. What just happened is one big way it's different.

Jeremy said...

Allen - "Go ahead, garage, explain to everyone how we balance the budget."

I think his point is that this has nothing to with that.

Reading comprehension lacking?

Anonymous said...

"Wisconsin Senate Republicans plan to pass the most contentious parts of Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to take away collective bargaining rights from public workers without Democrats who have fled the state."

You can run, but we can vote.

Democracy will NOT be stopped by a bunch of corrupt thuggees, no matter how far they run.

BREAKING: Wisconsin Senate Votes to Strip Collective Bargaining Rights From State Workers

Faux has the know:

http://www.foxnews.com/

garage mahal said...

It has been proven that it is possible to survive assimilation. Drones can escape the collective. Picard did it, you can too Garage

Eh? The drones are on the opposite side of me. I hate lying douchebags, and I was wondering what took them so long to pull something like this. I wouldn't expect anything less from a Republican honestly. Question is, why are you attracted to lying douchebags? It seems to be the first qualification to be a Republican these days. Look around man, it's hard to miss.

Dose of Sanity said...

Well, I've been asking for it to be split for awhile.

I didn't think they'd break the law in order to rush the vote, but we'll see how this turns out. There are several republicans who probably cost themselves re-election (rightly or wrongly) by voting for this.

Okay, I'm off to the Capitol!

DEEBEE said...

Visions of grandeur – seeing yourself as two people Garage?

James said...

Wow...I'm shocked; the Senate has already voted on the new bill.


MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate voted Wednesday night to strip nearly all collective bargaining rights from public workers after discovering a way to bypass the chamber's missing Democrats.

All 14 Senate Democrats fled to Illinois nearly three weeks ago, preventing the chamber from having enough members present to consider Gov. Scott Walker's so-called "budget repair bill" - a proposal introduced to plug a $137 million budget shortfall.

The Senate requires a quorum to take up any measures that spend money. But Republicans on Wednesday split from the legislation the proposal to curtail union rights, which spends no money, and a special conference committee of state lawmakers approved the bill a short time later.

The lone Democrat present on the conference committee, Rep. Tony Barca, shouted that the surprise meeting was a violation of the state's open meetings law but Republicans voted over his objections. The Senate then convened within minutes and passed it without discussion or debate.

Spectators in the gallery screamed "You are cowards."

Before the sudden votes, Democratic Sens. Bob Jauch said if Republicans "chose to ram this bill through in this fashion, it will be to their political peril. They're changing the rules. They will inflame a very frustrated public."

Automatic_Wing said...

Time to break out the giant puppets again.

To the barricades!

Real American said...

Walker gave those Fleebaggers a chance and now they're gonna cry like little female dogs about not being there for the vote. Well F THEM! They had a chance and ran away.

But in a more surprise move, the Senate GOP should just call for a quorum on the original bill and chain the returning fleebaggers to their seats and vote on the entire budget repair bill and pass it.

Chef Mojo said...

@garage:

"Yes! YES! Oh let me taste your tears... mmmmm, your tears are so yummy and sweet, oh the tears of unfathomable sadness..."

Suck it, bitch.

Jeremy said...

Trooper - What it it with your lovefest with millionaires?

Why are you so intent on demonizing the teachers for wanting collective bargaining rights and a reasonable wage...and lavishing praise on the people who make the most?

What exactly are these millionaires doing for you or anyone else for that matter...especially considering what the teachers do for our children?

Other than the usual whining about "taxes" (and unless you yourself are a millionaire), the raising of taxes on the wealthy, by a small percentag, has no efffect on you or a vast majority of the others who live in Wisconsin or the rest of the country.

Other than closing the gap on balancing the budget.

Based on what one reads here, you would think this was a millionaire's blog site...and we all know that certainly is not the case.

kent said...

Time to break out the giant puppets

What... Michael Moore again -- ?!?

James said...

18 Ayes - 1 No.

This is riveting TV.

Senate is now adjourned.

Revenant said...

I didn't think they'd break the law in order to rush the vote

Oh, this I gotta hear. Don't tease -- gives us the FULL DailyKos talking point!

Anonymous said...

"So Walker is admitting that stripping government employees of collective bargaining rights will have no fiscal effect."

He's "admitting" no such thing.

Government officials enjoy no collective bargaining "rights" as you put it.

Goverment officials, in fact, have no rights. In the United STates, rights are reserved for the people who are governed.

So, get your facts straight FLS. There is no such thing as a collective bargaining "right. Collective bargaining is a privilege that we allow certain groups of people ... but not government officials.

The people are different from government officials. We have rights. Government officials (employees, whatever you wish to call them) do not enjoy the same rights that the people enjoy.

But even if they did enjoy those rights, collective bargaining wouldn't be one of them since collective bargaining isn't a right.

kent said...

@ Chef: Here ya go! ;)

Carol_Herman said...

On the other hand, it's only a Wisconsin story! It grew legs. And, I don't see how this played into the hands of the fleeing democrats. Since they ran from having to vote.

The crowds that came to the Capitol in Madison have diminished. So, it's possible there's no downside now, to proceed in such a way that what has been brought to HUMONGOUS ATTENTION (the public unions are destroying tax bases.)

How do they come out ahead, now?

It still remains for the voters of Wisconsin to decide what they want to do when they go to vote.

Teachers bullying kids? Here, I think the teachers gambled and lost good will. (You don't remember bake sales? You don't remember the PTA? You don't remember how parents held teachers to high esteem?)

Maybe ALL Walker did was move the ball?

DaveW said...

Will this undo the raids the unions have been conducting on the treasuries of municipalities all over the state in anticipation of this passing? Or are those a done deal?

JAL said...

Live blogging at Legal Insurrection

James said...

I'm pleased Walker took this route...he gave the Democrats ample time to negotiate and compromise and they refused. So any prior deals are now off the table.

kent said...

Don't tease -- gives us the FULL DailyKos talking point!

"KOCHTOPUS! WALKER = HITLER! THIS IS WHAT MY PLAY GROUP LOOKS LIKE! GIMME GIMME GIMME MINE MINE MINE MINE MIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNE -- !!!"

Crimso said...

"They're changing the rules. They will inflame a very frustrated public."

Yeah, but fleeing the state to prevent a quorum, well that was just good clean fun.

Lincolntf said...

WI Won!

James said...

The Assembly session is going to be very interesting tomorrow. The Dems will try to stall a vote like they did with the original bill but the Repubs will probably just call a snap vote.

Jane said...

I think people should have a "right" to work without paying a union. So there.

I had to shake my head when the Dems started screaming tonight about union "rights."

I also can't get the vision out of my head of that father of three (Eddie York) killed by the union and Trumka practically rejoicing.

I had a nightmare about union people last night. It was dark outside, and they were talking to me like I was a normal person. Then one of them shook my hand and punctured it with a sharp object and laughed and they all started chasing me. (Maybe I've been watching too many Meade videos.)

kent said...

"This is what WInning looks like."

Revenant said...

Rep. Tony Barca, shouted that the surprise meeting was a violation of the state's open meetings law [...] Spectators in the gallery screamed "You are cowards."

Which raises the question... if the meeting wasn't open, how'd those spectators get into the gallery?

Did the teachers' union dispatch ninjas to sneak in and monitor the situation from the shadows?

Chef Mojo said...

@Jeremy:

What exactly are these millionaires doing for you or anyone else for that matter...especially considering what the teachers do for our children?

Well, Jeremy... Those millionaires and billionaires are the ones that propel our economy. They're the ones that provide the jobs. Y'know? Jobs. How you make money to pay your mortgage/rent? Keep a roof over your head? Food in your belly?

That goes for corporate stockholders, too. Investment capitalists. When did you ever take a risk, Jeremy? They do that every hour of every day.

What? You really think the government does that, you pathetic piece of shit?

Teachers are just fine. No more and no less. When they produce results, I say they're worth more.

But as long as I'm paying the taxes to pay them - and I don't even have kids! - then they should not be allowed to form unions that pump money into political parties that I disagree with.

I'm all for private sector unions. Public unions are a blight on our nation, and should not be tolerated and supported.

And If you're a member of one of those unions? I say, "Fuck you," until you give me value for my money.

chickelit said...

Better dispatch the Meadia to the Capitol...the rabble is rousing again!

LawGirl said...

I'm thrilled the Legislature had the cajones to do this. The Dems forfeited their ability to affect the bill by fleeing the state.

And, no, this does not mean there is no fiscal impact to collective bargaining reform. It means there are no expenditures from the state coffers associated with it (quite the opposite, actually).

Woot!

DaveW said...

From Twitter:

Q: How many Fleebaggers does it take to pass a bill in Wisconsin?

A: Zero

Heh.

deborah said...

"The Senate requires a quorum to take up any measures that spend money. But Republicans on Wednesday split from the legislation the proposal to curtail union rights, which spends no money, and a special conference committee of state lawmakers approved the bill a short time later."

Oh, burn.


Here is a Dean Baker paper about union benefits and percentage of state gdp (linked in this Krugman piece).

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/the-truth-about-pensions/

Two excerpts:

"While state and local government pensions should be funded at levels that allow them to weather
the impact of cyclical downturns, it is important to recognize that the current downturn is by far the
longest and deepest of the post-war period. The managers of these funds obviously failed to
recognize the housing bubble and the dangers it posed to the economy, but this was true of the vast
majority of economic and business analysts at the time. Certainly state and local pension funds were
not well served by the professional managers who advised them. It might be reasonable to ask why
financial experts, who were often highly compensated for their services, failed to see such an
obvious threat to the economy and the stock market as the collapse of a housing bubble.2 However,
this is an issue of the failings of the financial industry, not the failings of state and local
governments, except insofar as they exercised poor judgment in buying the industry’s services."

"[footnote] 6 It is of course possible that the economy will perform markedly worse than most projections assume, in which case
low returns in the stock market may not be as implausible. However, there have been few sharp turns in growth paths
in the post-war period (there was a slowdown in growth from the mid-70s to the mid-90s and a speed up since the year
1995), so it seems reasonable to plan as though a sharp turn is not a likely event. Furthermore if growth fell far enough
below its projected pace, then even government bonds may not prove to be risk-free, since the federal government
may find it too costly to meet its debt obligations and consider a partial restructuring."

James said...

Now the Republicans should just create some mischief and pass a bill requiring presidential candidates to show their original birth certificates.

Almost Ali said...

Good news; the brave 14 are returning to Madison. To fight.

Come to Madison, witness their courage.

Punks.

PaulV said...

Rejoice Garage, the fleebaggers get to come home, democracy works and the will of the people is done

PaulV said...

Rejoice Garage, the fleebaggers get to come home, democracy works and the will of the people is done

Unknown said...

Jeremy said...

Trooper - What it it with your lovefest with millionaires?

They provide jobs.

Why are you so intent on demonizing the teachers for wanting collective bargaining rights and a reasonable wage...and lavishing praise on the people who make the most?

Because union teachers teach kids to put a rubber on a banana, but skip reading, writing, mathematics...

What exactly are these millionaires doing for you or anyone else for that matter...especially considering what the teachers do for our children?

Union teachers teach kids to be good little sheep. Millionaires provide a living for any willing to work.

Other than the usual whining about "taxes" (and unless you yourself are a millionaire), the raising of taxes on the wealthy, by a small percentag, has no efffect on you or a vast majority of the others who live in Wisconsin or the rest of the country.

Raising taxes has a ripple effect throughout the economy; even the IRS admits revenue goes up when taxes are cut.

Of course, Jeremy would have first had to pay taxes to understand this.

Fred4Pres said...

Scott Walker is getting things done!

Anonymous said...

IS the first bill that has already passed committee, and passed the Wisconsin House, officially dead?

What I want to know is, if the 14 fleeing Senators come back to challenge the "split bill", can they just be dragged into the Senate, and the Senate then have a quorum to vote on and pass the original bill?

paminwi said...

Thank goodness this FINALLY happened. To say it in a politically incorrect way "IT WAS TIME TO PULL THE TRIGGER!". Now, hopefully "moveon" to another issue. You know, another one that we can have outside interests spend all their money on. What's your bet?

Revenant said...

Deborah,

Krugman is spinning. Most state pension funds were insolvent long before the housing bubble burst. They just weren't admitting to insolvency, because on paper they claimed they'd be getting huge rates of return on their investments for decades to come. Nobody believed that; it was just a convenient lie that let them give away benefits without having to explain how they would be paid for.

States didn't make the mistake of trusting financial advisers -- they specifically went looking for financial advisers who would tell them what they wanted to hear. And what they wanted to hear was "oh, no problem, you can invest a piddly amount of money and be guaranteed a huge rate of return for decades".

There have been plenty of finance experts pointing out for many years now that both the state and federal government have unmeetable pension obligations.

dreams said...

Let the cry baby pussies cry. Cry baby cry.

Chef Mojo said...

Hey garage? I'm still laughing at you, dude. You guys wanted to play by these rules. Fine. We're playing by these rules.

Nice, huh?

chickelit said...

@Jeremy:

People by and large detest monopolies. Public workers have a monopoly and to top it off many perceive them as inflexible and unaccountable.

We all value teachers. The sad sad, thing is that their unions could have headed this whole thing off by publicly saying something last year like: "We have collectively decided that it would be in our best interest to not seek higher benefits and wages and in fact to pay more of our collective fair share for the time being until this fiscal crisis abates. Individual merit is exempt from this collective decision."

This probably would have earned them kudos and would have led to higher rewards down the road. But instead the Union leaders were taking orders from potus.

Anonymous said...

Idaho falls.

Pinky ring finger amputated.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/09/idaho-votes-phase-teacher-tenure-restrict-collective-bargaining/

Jason said...

I still cant believe they did it. The GOP had a spine, stood up to the unions, and did it. I thought for certain Walker would end up bucking somewhere. Very proud of him.

The way it sounds from Fitzgerald, Miller's letter to him and Walker earlier today was the back breaker. It was a letter at the height of ignorance and arrogance.

Carol_Herman said...

Drudge's top headline. The democrats LOST. He gives the win to Walker. And, the GOP.

Anonymous said...

As Idaho goes, so goes the nation.

GOP vows to amputate America's corrupt pink ring finger.

Mafia hit hardest.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/09/gop-senators-introduce-national-right-work-restrict-unions/

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

Nice. Protesters chanting "General Strike! No work tomorrow!"

My only reply would be "Fine. No pay tomorrow. Oh, and if you are under contract you will most likely be violating any 'No Strike' clause in your contract, and if so, you're fired."

traditionalguy said...

Wow! We just saw the amazing power of courage to do what you know is right in face of slanders called in by every public media that the Obama/soros Gang has under its spell. Walker is another Sarah Palin.

Unknown said...

@ edutcher

Because union teachers teach kids to put a rubber on a banana

To funny. Now, I have to wash the laptop. That ain't to bad.

The dryer is a bitch though.

Durex.. Get It On

Methadras said...

Just heard that they split the bill and passed to guy collective bargaining. Bravo.

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

Oh, don't look now, but the Hairy Smelly Drum Corps is back in action. Yay.

Anonymous said...

GOP rams government official union busting bill right up the ass of corrupt Wisconsin Democrat Senator fleebaggers.

Government hit hardest.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41996994/ns/politics-more_politics/

Almost Ali said...

Remember the air-trafiic controllers.

Go 'head, strike, parasites.

chickelit said...

But instead the Union leaders were taking orders from potus.

"Taking orders" is too strong; more like "taking advice"

LawGirl said...

Shaaaaaark sez ""Nice. Protesters chanting "General Strike! No work tomorrow!"

My only reply would be "Fine. No pay tomorrow. Oh, and if you are under contract you will most likely be violating any 'No Strike' clause in your contract, and if so, you're fired."


Amen to that. I know that, if I don't work (which means doing something billable -i.e., something a client is willing to pay me to do), I don't get paid. The tax payers who pay their salaries should not be willing to pay state employes to protest, so they should exercise their political voices on their own time and get to work on ours.

Alex said...

The fun part is the die is now been cast. Either the GOP just committed political suicide or the Dems did. But now we will get an honest reckoning in 2012.

Anonymous said...

well, Wisconsin is about to become very interesting.

Anonymous said...

"The vote in the Senate was 18-1. Sen. Dale Schultz was the sole no vote."

Now we need to get busy and kick this fucking asshole Dale Schultz out of our Republican Party. He's clearly on THEIR side.

Fucking traitor.

Anonymous said...

"Either the GOP just committed political suicide or the Dems did."

Republicans were ELECTED to do this. They promised to do this. This was their PLATFORM.

It's why they were put into office.

There is no surprise here. We WANT these government officials union busted because it is CORRUPT.

The people of Wisconsin are taking back their government today and it's just the beginning.

Today Wisconsin.

Tomorrow ...

Alex said...

Ut - the polls seem to indicate otherwise. Did Walker really run on union busting?

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

Well, video is showing the unionmprotesters bringing sleeping bags into the capitol building again. Seems to me the judge who allowed access also specifically clarified they were not to do that, and could only stay in there while the building was open for business.

This is gonna get interesting. Especially since the fleebaggers are so upset, they're gonna actually go to work now.

Anonymous said...

"Either the GOP just committed political suicide or the Dems did. But now we will get an honest reckoning in 2012."

ha! will know before then. long about July, or so by the latest.

And I expect it will not be so clear cut. Clearly Walker has national ambitions and doesn't care if he's re-elected in Wisconsin. I expect some state Republican party senators will have electoral issues, as much of Wisconsin is a swing state. In fact, I'm fascinated that some of them just committed career suicide.

What is about to happen will be interesting to anybody who studies direct forms of democracy/ recalls/ the history of progressive reform.

Alex said...

In fact, I'm fascinated that some of them just committed career suicide.

It's called having principles. Some people still have them and aren't all about careerism.

Stephanie said...

To all the union loving dipshits I'd like to say...

BWHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHA!

retire05 said...

So............

did Walker and the Wisconsin Republicans just pull the largest head fake on a bunch of Dems acting like petulant children?

Unknown said...

AllenS, did you really link to an ONLINE poll? Jesus man, is your head a hollow shell of nothing?

Revenant said...

Either the GOP just committed political suicide or the Dems did.

Or, more likely, neither did.

The unions are so far up the Democrats' ass that it doesn't really matter how angry they are at Republicans. They were going to vote for Democrats anyway.

The rest of the public is unlikely to care one way or the other 18 months from now, because it doesn't personally affect them.

Alex said...

Walker shoots, he scores! Game, set, match Walker. Hole in one. Slam dunk. Hat trick. Scott Walker just won the Super Bowl. Scott Walker is going to Disney World.

Anonymous said...

"Did Walker really run on union busting?"

Nope - I expect that's one of the reasons that a substantial portion of Wisconsin is upset with their political representatives.

Wisconsinites are a let's compromise, negotiate, and get-along types. They are a Tommy Thompson type of place -- not a New Jersey in-your-face type of place. This sort of behavior is going to really piss people off.

You know what happens when cheese heads get angry....

Almost Ali said...

Just so we're clear: I'm assuming folks here understand the context and ramifications of "collective bargaining" - specifically...

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

Now seeing reports that protesters mobbed a bus used by GOP members leaving capitol building, protesters refusing to leave, windows being broken etc. Now reports of doors and walls being pounded on shaking offices, people trying to get in through windows etc.

I guess since the "Hold my breathe til I turn blue" thing didn't work, the children aee now starting the ugly destructive tantrum.

garage mahal said...

"Yes! YES! Oh let me taste your tears... mmmmm, your tears are so yummy and sweet, oh the tears of unfathomable sadness...

Uh, no thanks you fucking weirdo. And kent wants to cut glass with his/her nipples? Sheesh. This is a family blog asshole!

MayBee said...

I bet the Democrats are relieved. They had left themselves no other out. So now they can come back in anger, not having to vote.

Anonymous said...

"Scott Walker is going to Disney World."

no, no. Scott Walker is planning on going to Iowa. When is the caucus?

Anonymous said...

"Now seeing reports that protesters mobbed a bus used by GOP members leaving capitol building, protesters refusing to leave, windows being broken etc. Now reports of doors and walls being pounded on shaking offices, people trying to get in through windows etc."

Link please.

MayBee said...

Pretty sure garage is on CNN right now. Or the talking point that this was never about balancing the budget has travelled quickly.

A teacher is saying he knows Walker is trying to "privatize" public education. No teachers should give street interviews.

retire05 said...

When you shoot your mouth off about how tough you are, and then when Mohommad Ali climbs in the ring and you run off to the Motel 6, you can no longer tell the world how tough you are.

Walker is Ali and the big mouths are hiding out in Motel 6.

Walker, floating like a butterfly, stings like a bee.

deborah said...

Thanks, Rev. Yes I figured he was spinning, with this line especially lame:

"However, this is an issue of the failings of the financial industry, not the failings of state and local
governments, except insofar as they exercised poor judgment in buying the industry’s services."

Besides saying the stock market will pick up, the kicker is the very last line of the piece:

"Furthermore, when expressed relative to the size of their economies, most states are facing shortfalls
that appear easily manageable."

Starting on page 12 are the actual percentages by state. He makes it sound so logical...'hey, the unfunded liability (a 7 billion shortfall on a 27 billion total) for Alabama is only 0.14% of Alabama's income.' That sounds fairly reasonable. Can you put it in perspective?

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

Having trouble linking with my iPhone - stuff I'm seeing is on Fox 6. Links about this stuff is mqking the rounds on Twitter.

Anonymous said...

General strike, eh? We are becoming Greece in baby steps, it's coming.

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

Although, I hope Walker does the "Belt" thing like Aaron Rodgers after he signs that bill.

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

UWPD apparently just delivered hundreds of plastic handcuffs to capitol; Union leaders calling emergency meeting to discuss general strike; Hundreds trying to push through west entrance to capitol, etc; crowd being whipped into frenzy; Protesters claiming "GOP Celebrating at (hotel name) let's make life difficult for them" etc...

All unconfirmed reports, just posting as FYI. Anyone (on either side) going down there, be careful.

Anonymous said...

"Uh, no thanks you fucking weirdo. And kent wants to cut glass with his/her nipples? Sheesh. This is a family blog asshole!"

This right here is worth the price of admission,heh.

Garage unhinged.

garage mahal said...

Well.

Methadras said...

Canuck said...

You know what happens when cheese heads get angry....


Yeah, they ask Garage McDouche to bring the carraige of Budweiser his saddled mother hauls around so they can drink more beer and talk about how angry they are going to get. It's like watching an episode of family guy.

Chef Mojo said...

@garage:

Well.

Well, what?

Hey, it was your bozos that ran off to Illinois. The other guys stayed and did their job.

They voted.

This is what democracy looks like, garage.

Methadras said...

garage mahal said...

Well.


God you are one clusterfuckingly stupid human being.

Revenant said...

Deborah,

I can't speak to the overall validity of all the state numbers. I do know that the total underfunding at the bottom of page 14 ($647 billion) is far lower than any credible estimate I've seen. I suspect the report is relying on the numbers reported by states rather than the real numbers.

That's certainly what was done for the Calfornia numbers. This lists CalPERS as being 86.9% funded and having only a $35 billion shortfall -- and those are, indeed, the numbers CalPERS claims. Unfortunately those numbers assume robust economic growth combined with risky investments paying off (i.e., they assume the state can follow the same strategy that got us into this mess, only it'll work THIS time). The probable CalPERS shortfall, according to Stanford's independent study, is not $35 billion but $240 billion.

A few other points:

1. Even these sunny estimates assume a tax increase of $.02/$10 GDP will be required. We currently pay around $0.26/$10 in total state taxes. I.e., even in a best-case scenario we're looking at a substantial jump in our state taxes (our federal taxes are due for a bigger jump, of course, since Social Security has a funding level of 0.0%).

2. The study relies on the fact that the stock market has risen over the last two years. This is a period in which the Fed has been firehosing money into the economy. When that firehose gets turned off this summer the stock market will probably collapse again.

Leland said...

Yeah, I understand that. But people were comparing this to a filibuster. What just happened is one big way it's different.

Yep, my thoughts as well. Then again, filibuster isn't exactly a rule itself. The actual rule is unlimited debate prior to a vote. If WI Senate doesn't have unlimited debate, that's not really a bad thing.

But a quorum call is meant to prevent the majority from blocking out the minority. When the minority blocks itself out; well, now you see what happens.

Anonymous said...

I'm gonna give Garage a pass on "well".

The guy has just been keelhauled....

garage mahal said...

This is what democracy looks like, garage.

Nope, this is. Looks to be reoccupied again. This will all be fought in the courts, anything that happened today won't take effect immediately. The vote appeared to clearly violate an open meetings law. Keep your nipples at half mast, excitable one.

Chef Mojo said...

open meetings law

You're kidding, right?

So, let's say; you're invited to a meeting. No, let's say you're required to be at a meeting, but you decide to blow town because the idea of going to the meeting offends your sensibilities or something. The meeting gets postponed by the guys holding the meeting in hopes you get your collective shit together. They let you know that the meeting is still on. You ignore them. They give you every chance within reason to attend the meeting. You refuse.

They have the meeting without you.

And you start screaming that they took actions at the meeting that weren't fair because you weren't present at the meeting?

Really?

garage, I'm starting to think you are stupid beyond redemption.

You got nothing. It's done.

deborah said...

Revenant, thanks, very helpful.

madAsHell said...

This guy garage is over the top.

Is garage a plant?...to drive traffic?

Nobody can put up that abuse, and be that stupid!

Oh.....I wait.....just answered my own question.

Revenant said...

My pleasure, deborah.

kent said...

This is a family blog asshole!

Ahhhhhhhhh... savor, if you will, the glorious, full-bore petualance and incoherence of that single, sulky whinny of loss and dismay.

Your anguish is my ambrosia, troll. MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmm!

WV: sayin. "Just sayin', is all."

former law student said...

.he gave the Democrats ample time to negotiate and compromise and they refused.

the young Scott Walker if he had his present negotiating and compromise skills:

Lunchtime, Fifth Grade...

Scott Walker: Hey Frank, is that a ham sandwich?

Frank: Yes, yes it is.

Scott Walker: Give it to me.

Frank: Screw you, get your own sandwich.

Scott Walker: OK, I'll compromise. Give me half your sandwich.

former law student said...

But as long as I'm paying the taxes to pay them - and I don't even have kids!

Too bad. Who's going to visit you in the nursing home if you don't have kids? Further, realize once you're there, you be cared for by other people's kids whose education you begrudge them now.

Alex said...

FLS - 52% of cheese-heads elected Walker. Let's not pretend he's some usurper/tyrant that staged a coup in November 2010.

former law student said...

I also can't get the vision out of my head of that father of three (Eddie York) killed by the union and Trumka practically rejoicing.

I know. I haven't been able to shop at Walmart since they let Jdimytai Damour get trampled to death, just to enhance their corporate profits on "Black Friday." And they didn't even want to pay the $7000 fine that OSHA assessed. Imagine, a human life not worth even $7000 to Walmart.

Which is surprising, because normally a human life is worth $80,000 to Walmart. That's how much one of their "dead peasant" life insurance policies paid off when one of their cake decorators passed away.

Methadras said...

Chef Mojo said...

garage, I'm starting to think you are stupid beyond redemption.

You got nothing. It's done.


Now you are just coming to this conclusion? :D

Methadras said...

former law student said...

.he gave the Democrats ample time to negotiate and compromise and they refused.

the young Scott Walker if he had his present negotiating and compromise skills:

Lunchtime, Fifth Grade...

Scott Walker: Hey Frank, is that a ham sandwich?

Frank: Yes, yes it is.

Scott Walker: Give it to me.

Frank: Screw you, get your own sandwich.

Scott Walker: OK, I'll compromise. Give me half your sandwich.


Are you trying to chase down Garage's title for biggest idiot with this nonsensical hypothetical?

Lgbpop said...

We Floridians would like to thank the Wisconsin unions for their recent conversion to civility and participation in the Wisconsin legislative process. There has been a marked uptick in residential purchases the past two weeks here, and the few I've spoken to from the Badgered State say they are selling there and relocating here. Almost worth their lousy driving!