Move Over Chris Christie - Scott Walker (R) Governor of Wisconsin – Breaking the Back of the Public Unions – A New Sheriff In Town

Scott Walker, R Governor of Wisconsin - image LA Times Blog


Governor Scott Walker, of the State of Wisconsin, has in the past few weeks, worked with his legislature to reduce the budget, and bring fiscal sanity to the State of Wisconsin. The problem he faces, that all State and Federal CEO’s face, is the hold on the public sector by unions, specifically the Teachers unions. From an increase in individual pension contributions, to an increase in the percentage an employee has to pay for health insurance (similar to the private sector), to, perhaps, the most important concept since unions no longer were a necessity with the exception of those laborers whose working conditions were so perilous that lives were at stake (the original intent of unions – see A brief history of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and it’s impact on organized labor from Cornell).

What Governor Walker is proposing is hardly unfair:

Pension contributions: Currently, state, school district and municipal employees that are members of the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) generally pay little or nothing toward their pensions. The bill would require that employees of WRS employers, and the City and County of Milwaukee contribute 50 percent of the annual pension payment. The payment amount for WRS employees is estimated to be 5.8 percent of salary in 2011.

Health insurance contributions: Currently, state employees on average pay approximately 6 percent of annual health insurance premiums. This bill will require that state employees pay at least 12.6 percent of the average cost of annual premiums. In addition, the bill would require changes to the plan design necessary to reduce current premiums by 5 percent. Local employers participating in the Public Employers Group Health insurance would be prohibited from paying more than 88 percent of the lowest cost plan. The bill would also authorize the Department of Employee Trust Funds to use $28 million of excess balances in reserve accounts for health insurance and pharmacy benefits to reduce health insurance premium costs.

Health insurance cost containment strategies: The bill directs the Department of Employee Trust Funds and the Group Insurance Board to implement health risk assessments and similar programs aimed at participant wellness, collect certain data related to assessing health care provider quality and effectiveness, and verify the status of dependents participating in the state health insurance program. In addition, it modifies the membership of the Group Insurance Board to require that the representative of the Attorney General be an attorney to ensure the board has access to legal advice among its membership.

Pension changes for elected officials and appointees: The bill modifies the pension calculation for elected officials and appointees to be the same as general occupation employees and teachers. Current law requires these positions to pay more and receive a different multiplier for pension calculation than general classification employees. Under the state constitution, this change will be effective for elected officials at the beginning of their next term of office.

Modifications to Wisconsin Retirement System and state health insurance plans: The bill directs the Department of Administration, Office of State Employment Relations and Department of Employee Trust Funds to study and report on possible changes to the Wisconsin Retirement System, including defined contribution plans and longer vesting periods. The three agencies must also study and report on changes to the current state health insurance plans, including health insurance purchasing exchanges, larger purchasing pools, and high-deductible insurance options.

General fund impact – Authorize the Department of Administration Secretary to lapse or transfer from GPR and PR appropriations (excluding PR appropriations to the University of Wisconsin) to the general fund estimated savings of approximately $30 million from implementing these provisions for state employees in the current fiscal year (2010-11). Segregated funds would retain any savings from these measures.

State and Local Government and School District Labor Relations:

Collective bargaining – The bill would make various changes to limit collective bargaining for most public employees to wages. Total wage increases could not exceed a cap based on the consumer price index (CPI) unless approved by referendum. Contracts would be limited to one year and wages would be frozen until the new contract is settled. Collective bargaining units are required to take annual votes to maintain certification as a union. Employers would be prohibited from collecting union dues and members of collective bargaining units would not be required to pay dues. These changes take effect upon the expiration of existing contracts. Local law enforcement and fire employees, and state troopers and inspectors would be exempt from these changes.

Career executive transfers – The bill would allow state employees in the career executive positions to be reassigned between agencies upon agreement of agency heads.

Limited term employees (LTE) – The bill would prohibit LTE's from being eligible for health insurance or participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System.

State employee absences and other work actions – If the Governor has declared a state of emergency, the bill authorizes appointing authorities to terminate any employees that are absent for three days without approval of the employer or any employees that participate in an organized action to stop or slow work.

Quality Health Care Authority – The bill repeals the authority of home health care workers under the Medicaid program to collectively bargain.

Child care labor relations – The bill repeals the authority of family child care workers to collectively bargain with the State.

University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics (UWHC) Board and Authority – The bill repeals collective bargaining for UWHC employees. State positions currently employed by the UWHC Board are eliminated and the incumbents are transferred to the UWHC Authority.

University of Wisconsin faculty and academic staff - The bill repeals the authority of UW faculty and academic staff to collectively bargain.

(Click anywhere in this section to view full proposal)

It is not so much that the Governor would want the State employees to join the private sector in making minor adjustments and paying more into both pension and health, it is the fact that employers are no longer required to collect union dues, (estimated at approximately $500 monthly) and that employees have the right to opt out of joining a union. So-long collective bargaining – for every conceivable public union in the State of Wisconsin with critical exceptions: The exempt employees are those that should be unionized (those whose jobs are hazardous (see Factory Fire history for edification) including Fire, Police (local and State).
The powerful teachers and public service employees went, for lack of a better word, ballistic. They have marched on the Capital, at the urging of groups such as Socialistworker.org, and as a contingency plan, should those teachers and bloated bureaucrats get a bit out of hand, the Governor has called up the Wisconsin National Guard. to keep the peace. Of course, the unions paint a picture of an oppressive regime in an attempt to get some sympathy from teh General Public: See Wisconsin Governor Threatens to Use National Guard against State Works at democracynow.org.

Herein lays the crux of the problem: Wisconsin is attempting to salvage its economy, Walker has a sensible approach which would merely add money (no union dues) to state employees, while asking them to contribute more to their health and benefit programs. The Unions, who use those dues to fund high salaries for management and donate to their favorite political party, are well, unhappy that they are about to be barred from taking advantage of workers who don’t need unions in the first place (say teachers specifically).
Public (general) sympathy would lay with the Governor, according with Gallup’s last Trust in Institutions Polling: In Brief: Gallup rates the public trust in institutions in annual polling: 2010 gave the lowest rank to Congress, Organized Labor was ranked slightly above Big Business at (19%) and below Television News (23%), the Public Schools were ranked under the office of the President at 38%, with the President in the middle at 51%. What this tells us is that in the case of Chris Christie in New Jersey and now Scott Walker the Bold, in Wisconsin, the public - the general public (i.e. taxpayer), is on their side. In addition, Union membership, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, is on the decline, and employees belonging to unions represent only 11.9% of the workforce, or those who, for the most part, work for the Federal and State and local governments in some capacity.

Killing two birds with one stone: Statistics bear out that the decline in U.S. educational standings bears a direct correlations between the growth of unions beginning in Philadelphia in the 1960’s, with test scores, dropout rates, and poor performance of U.S. students spiraling downwards as education unions grew. Logic follows that the success of Scott Walker, specifically against these types of unions, would allow for schools to fire incompetent and hire competent teachers at competitive salaries, sans union interference, putting the U.S. into a true “no child left behind” competitive state. At the same time, he forces those taking advantage of the taxpayers into the awkward position of having to work and receive compensation just like the “rest of us”. As Christie has proven in New Jersey, and now Walker in Wisconsin, one can, in times of financial crisis, reduce union influence and improve public schools (over time), then other like-minded states will follows suite. It is only a matter of time.

AP Questions Palin’s “Unconventional” Political Styles Future Success For White House Bid – Palin Tops First Western State Poll of GOP Possibles

Sarah Palin, unconventional because she is not only just a woman, but an attractive woman according to the AP, photo AP via Boston Globe


An article this morning from the AP viaThe Boston Globe, Sarah Palin, former Governor of Alaska, first Woman to run in a top slot on the GOP Presidential Ticket is drawing more than a little interest from the press regarding a 2012 presidential run. Palin, was only the second woman to run for a higher office on a Presidential Ticket since 1984 when Geraldine Ferraro ran as V.P. to Walter Mondale, Hillary Clinton, ran for President the same year Palin was the GOP party nominee, in an unsuccessful bid for the Presidency. Although Clinton won the Democrat primary popular vote, the Party rules allowed for “Super Delegates” to choose the nominee, and the male dominated delegates pushed Barrack Obama to the top of the ticket.

The article outlines Palin’s “unconventional” style, her ability to connect with the those outside the political class, Hollywood class, and the east and west coast “elite”, despite what the AP suggests is a limited following:

But Palin's fans -- a narrow slice of the electorate -- seem to like her style.
Listen to Sandy Parten of Honey Grove, Texas, a conservative who likens Palin to the title character that James Stewart played in the movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Says Parten: "I like her because she's not part of the establishment. She's more a woman of the people than a woman of the elite."
To her, Palin is refreshing -- and authentic. "I'm tired of everybody trying to please everybody all the time," says Parten, 66. "She doesn't."
And hear from Donald Dixon, 74, a Republican from Little Falls, N.Y., who likes seeing Palin do the things he'd do, like hunting and fishing. "It's like she doesn't have an ax to grind politically," he says. "She isn't out there to please any entity. She's one of us."

The article appears somewhat conflicted, on the one hand attempting to marginalize Palin vis a vis her following and political tactics that may or may not succeed. On the one hand, they draw on GOP sources such as a former Chief of Staff to Ronald Reagan who is somewhat skeptical of her ability to take her style (calling her a “conservative diva”) into the political battle of a run for the Presidency. On the other hand the article notes that she has more media outlets than any other potential GOP candidate, that her style is one of taking punches (criticism) and “leaning into them” (AP) in other words, Palin is possibly looked askance by GOP party insiders, the entire base of the Progressive Democrats (Palin Derangement Syndrome) and the press, while pressing on and past anything and everything that is thrown at the potential candidate.

What appears to irk the media most is her refusal to play the political game as expected and set a date to announce whether or not she will run for the Presidency. Palin, whether one agrees or disagrees with her political ideology of conservatism, does, refreshingly, take everything head on, no excuses and for one who has such a limited base, as suggested by the article, other GOP candidates are noted as wondering whether shewill be candidate or kingmaker”.

The AP goes on to point out why she may or may not run - on the one hand she has hired Michael Glassner, an attorney and longtime adviser to former Kansas senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole,“, who also played a role in the 2008 McCain campaign, as the Chief of Staff for her PAC . On the other hand, they point out the she skipped CPAC (the annual conservative convention), which may mean she is not considering run, or possibly jeopardizing her run.

One must note on CPAC, not every candidate who intends to run for the White House visits CPAC, and CPAC’s Straw Poll routinely goes to Ron Paul, the perennial candidate from Texas. (Mitt Romney did finish a strong second, against Ron Paul, in that same CPAC Straw Poll.)

Therefore the article gives Palin praise for her own style, while at the same time, pointing out why she may not be running. The main point against Palin, however can be found in the 7th paragraph of the article describing her:

“Palin certainly doesn't look the part of a traditional candidate. She's a woman -- an attractive one -- in a male-dominated industry. With her "You betchas," she doesn't sound like most politicians. She's from Alaska, a state hardly known for producing presidents. She's no longer an elected official; she quit 2 1/2 years into a four-year term.”

Therefore, she’s unusual as a candidate because #1 she is an attractive – woman, she doesn’t sound like a politician is second, the fact that she comes from Alaska (which to date has not produced a President) is third and fourth her decision to step down from the Governors’ office.

She’s unusual because she is a woman; she is unusual because she is an attractive woman.

Considering that women make up over half of the population, one might find a woman to be “not so unusual”, of course, that would be if women were paid equally to those men who “dominate” certain fields. It is a reminder to all those who would consider backing a woman for higher office, that the United States may just be a tad too bigoted to consider hiring a woman for the top job – Witness: Hillary Clinton.

In certain polls, referred to by the AP, Palin is running second to Barak Obama – by points: A Quinnipiac University Poll released 11/22/10 shows the following: At that time a majority of American’s felt that Barak Obama did not deserve a second term, and against a list of potential candidates: Romney topped Obama 45-44%, Obama topped Huckabee 46-44% and Sarah Palin by a wider Margin: 48 to Palin’s 45%. The poll goes on to factor that overall 51% of the respondents do not give Palin high favorability ratings.

Different pollster, different day: In a recent batch of state by state polling, pitting possible GOP contenders, alone and against Obama, Public Policy Polling, finds Palin, leading in favorables in GOP matchups, (using GOP primary voters) however, down in favorability with all candidates except Mike Huckabee), when polls are taken with the target states mix of Democrats, Independents and Conservatives. That said, in the latest poll today gives Palin the edge, in of all states, New Mexico. This is the first Western State that Romney did not top the field, Palin took 20% to Huckabee’s 17% and Romney 16%. In all PPP polls, Palin’s favorability among Republican’s and Republican Leaning Independents continues to run high (contrary to other pollsters).

One has to hand it to her: Palin refuses to be defined, and to her credit. As a candidate she may be “polarizing’, however she also has the “star power” factor, more than anyone is the current crop of possible contenders, which works so well with today’s realty TV based electorate. She knows how to use the media to her advantage, specifically so called new media, like social networking. Contrary to the AP story and one GOP insider, no other candidate is more “battle” tested than one Sarah Palin. One would have had to be living under several rocks for the past three years not to witness the media’s assignation attempt, aided by members of the Beltway to Broadway crowd, and it has – obviously only made Palin more prepared. Clinton, when asked about her “past” in one of the DNC debates in 2008 noted that (paraphrasing) she was an open book, that everyone knew and had seen everything. It is safe to say that vis a vis, the media (includes bloggers, etc.) Sarah Palin, fared much worse than Clinton, and has managed to come through apparently unscathed.

Should Palin decide to run, one thing is certain, this will be the most watched (great for ratings) political season, bar none.

Indiana Senate Committee Passes Immigration Enforcement Law, SB590 - Florida & Other States Enact Similar Bills – Time to Streamline Immigration.

The State of Indiana’s Legislature is pushing an Immigration Enforcement Law similar to Arizona’s – it has been passed by one Senate Committee and must be run through the State Senate Appropriations Committee and before a final vote by both Indiana Houses. The Bill SB590 (Text here), cracks down on employers who hire illegal immigrants, revoking licenses, requires law enforcement to ask for identification at traffic stops, and disallows those here illegally from receiving state benefits, including tuition and clearly states “ Sec. 4. This chapter shall be enforced without regard to race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or national origin.” (source: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2011/sb/sb0590.1.html) – The later being largely ignored by Illegal Immigration proponents who use insist the bill will be used for “racial profiling”.

Meanwhile, Florida’s Bill, SB 136 (Text here) is similar in scope to Indiana’s, from cracking down on employers to police verifying citizenship at traffic stops. There are, according to an article in the Huffington Post as of last July 20 states considering laws similar to Arizona’s.


In the case of the Florida legislation, a man from Northampton, MA who is of Hispanic decent and lists his occupation as a “student”, sent a life threatening email to one Florida state Legislator and is now in custody. Seriously, a "student". it is estimated that Massachusetts (according to 2010 census data), has a radio of 1.3 illegal immigrants to every 100 residents.

As the Federal Government continues to refuse to enforce immigration laws, and with the economy affecting States Budgets, those state that cannot afford the costs of Illegal immigrants, let alone run vital state programs, are rethinking policy. Costs associated with illegal immigrants are astronomical, specifically the border states where crime in rampant. It is possible, with Arizona now filing suit against the Federal Government for failing to protect the citizens of the state may catch on as well in other states.

The solutions are obvious – build a fence, use the military to secure the borders (and give them some teeth – say the same allowed other nations in border enforcement), and finally immediate deportation upon detection, regardless of which nation one is from. There are legal ways in which to enter the U.S., so many individuals fight to gain entry legally, though the courts. Although the illegal immigrants are now being used as a political tool by both major parties, the time has come to set some reasonable standards: As to the citizen’s ship process, lower the fees require classes only, and a valid green card or visa, and fast track those who wish to become citizens, without breaking any national laws. It is as if, by leaving the situation unchanged, for political purposes; those that appear to support “illegal immigrants” are guiltier of enslavement and manipulation for political purposes. When all is said and down, the aforementioned offers a reasonable, expedition and fair process. For those 12 to 20 million already here: a first class flight to country of origin (one way) would be cheaper than incarcerating the felons, and those here working for 5 or more years, should be, with a system in place, asked to denounce citizen ship to all other countries and be given an expedited period of time to compete a citizenship requirement test. To think that one could manually move millions is not reasonable.
Sooner or later, something has to give.