The faces of Wisconsin: young, old, families, strollers and walkers, canes and placards; the faces we see every day as we live our lives; the faces we see in the mirror. I saw the faces of Wisconsin today, more than a 100,000 strong: smiling, chanting, earnest, and polite. Eyes met and shared. I stood for a time under a tree at the capitol, just gazing about, drinking in the sense of my state’s people, and for a moment, what it most strongly reminded me of was a winter farm auction back in the 70’s when I was a child: the same faces, the same sense both of purpose and of enjoying being amongst each other.
I’m sure we’ve all heard references to the ‘slobs’ and college students that are ‘the protesters’ at the capital. What I saw was: Wisconsinites, from every walk of life, of every age, from every part of the state; from Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Madison, and LaCrosse – and those were only the people I chatted with.
Over the past days, I’ve seen not just handshakes between ‘politicians’ and the public, but smiles, and laughter, and hugs, shared amongst those needing to be represented and those representing us, as we work together. I’ve seen law enforcement officers put in the most difficult positions, but remaining calm, quiet, and helpful. I’ve seen people kept out of the capitol by those officers, but understanding of the position they’ve been put in, chatting with them, laughing, and even joking together. And, I’m proud: proud of the people in my state; proud of those who represent us who have shared these days and weeks with us; proud of those placed in situations that have called upon the best in them – and giving it; proud to be one of us.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Line in the Sand
Tonight without warning 18 Republican Senators voted and Wisconsin's State and Municipal employees no longer have Collective Bargaining.
Tonight, over Representative Barca's objections that not only was it against the rules, but because it violated open meeting requirements, it was illegal, the WI State Senate voted on a modified version of the 'Budget Repair Bill' that had stripped all fiscal items from it, so that a quorum would not be necessary. In doing so, our state's State and Municipal employees rights to bargain collectively have effectively been stripped.
Tomorrow morning, the State Assembly will vote on this measure (10:00 or 11:00). Even as the State Capitol is again currently being occupied by protesters, a rally against this measure has been called for 9:00 AM at the capitol. Like Michael Moore earlier tonight, I would call for any of us that can find a way to make it to be there.
We may not be able to stop the measure, but let us not go whimpering into the night that this GOP controlled legislature is bringing us into. I have heard people ask, "What next?" Ten days ago I would not have believed that our GOP representatives would so blatantly ignore everything we are saying as we throng to the capitol. Ten days ago I would not have believed that our GOP representatives would so blatantly ignore public opinion as revealed by every poll of the people here in the state as well as in the nation. As of tonight, shock and disbelief, as well as a resolute anger, seem to be the emotions many of us share. Tonight, I only half jokingly answer the question "What next?" with: 'Disbanding of the legislature and extending emergency powers to Gov. Walker."
If ever there was a day for any of us to act, tomorrow is it. We must draw a line in the sand, demonstrating that tonight's actions have far over-reached any sense of decency in legislative process. We can either show up at the capitol en masse, demonstrating our outrage, or demonstrate that whatever this GOP-controlled legislature chooses to ram down our throats, we'll 'take it'.
Tonight, over Representative Barca's objections that not only was it against the rules, but because it violated open meeting requirements, it was illegal, the WI State Senate voted on a modified version of the 'Budget Repair Bill' that had stripped all fiscal items from it, so that a quorum would not be necessary. In doing so, our state's State and Municipal employees rights to bargain collectively have effectively been stripped.
Tomorrow morning, the State Assembly will vote on this measure (10:00 or 11:00). Even as the State Capitol is again currently being occupied by protesters, a rally against this measure has been called for 9:00 AM at the capitol. Like Michael Moore earlier tonight, I would call for any of us that can find a way to make it to be there.
We may not be able to stop the measure, but let us not go whimpering into the night that this GOP controlled legislature is bringing us into. I have heard people ask, "What next?" Ten days ago I would not have believed that our GOP representatives would so blatantly ignore everything we are saying as we throng to the capitol. Ten days ago I would not have believed that our GOP representatives would so blatantly ignore public opinion as revealed by every poll of the people here in the state as well as in the nation. As of tonight, shock and disbelief, as well as a resolute anger, seem to be the emotions many of us share. Tonight, I only half jokingly answer the question "What next?" with: 'Disbanding of the legislature and extending emergency powers to Gov. Walker."
If ever there was a day for any of us to act, tomorrow is it. We must draw a line in the sand, demonstrating that tonight's actions have far over-reached any sense of decency in legislative process. We can either show up at the capitol en masse, demonstrating our outrage, or demonstrate that whatever this GOP-controlled legislature chooses to ram down our throats, we'll 'take it'.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Hide a State Senator
Some days make for more whimsical mental images than others. Tonight, I’m finding myself imagining the Senate's sergeant at arms turning over hay bales, checking up in the loft, peeking into grain bins; looking for our erstwhile state Senators. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald apparently said that at some point, if needed, Republicans will use the State Patrol to round up Democrats to bring them to the floor. So, if you see the State Patrol in hot pursuit of a Senator in your area, you might just want to think of some good hiding places for this fugitive being sought. After all, on your behalf, he or she is trying to avoid sitting in reluctant attendance on what amounts to an unprecedented assault on unions in this state.
Senate Bill 11, the bill our scattered Democratic Senators are trying to delay a vote on, would strip most government workers of their collective bargaining rights. Only wages could be bargained for – and then only to the extent that a wage increase would be limited to the cost of living unless approved by referendum. The bill would also repeal the authority of home health care workers, family child care workers, UW Hospitals and Clinics employees, and UW faculty and staff to bargain collectively entirely. Unions would need to be re-certified every year and could only collect union dues on a voluntary basis.
State employees earning middle class incomes might have 6.8 percent to 11 percent of their income just disappear overnight. As a result, a worker earning, for example, $40,000 a year today could see their earnings reduced to somewhere around $36,500 a year if this bill passes without further negotiation.
The argument has been made that state workers’ pension and health insurance contributions are out of line with those of workers in the private sector. However, what gets overlooked in this argument is that benefits constitute a larger proportion of a state worker’s compensation than they do for workers in private industry. We might want to keep in mind that it costs us less as taxpayers to compensate a state worker through benefits than it does for us to compensate that same worker through wages. The cost of benefits is generally lower than it is for wages as compensation.
This bill should be a cause of alarm for all of us. The effect of unions has been to ‘set’ the standard for wages, benefits, and working conditions – a standard that affects the prevailing wage, benefit package, and working conditions for all workers. If our state employees’ unions get eviscerated, the stage gets set for other unions to come under assault next. If this bill passes, it will be a roughly 9% reduction in earnings for state workers now, but a similar reduction will likely be coming to a house near you in the not too distant future.
References
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/source-wis-dem-state-senators-walk-out-blocking-budget-quorum.php
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/JR1SB-11.pdf
http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/day-doesnt-go-as-planned-for-state-senate
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_3d93e6aa-363a-11e0-8493-001cc4c002e0.html
Senate Bill 11, the bill our scattered Democratic Senators are trying to delay a vote on, would strip most government workers of their collective bargaining rights. Only wages could be bargained for – and then only to the extent that a wage increase would be limited to the cost of living unless approved by referendum. The bill would also repeal the authority of home health care workers, family child care workers, UW Hospitals and Clinics employees, and UW faculty and staff to bargain collectively entirely. Unions would need to be re-certified every year and could only collect union dues on a voluntary basis.
State employees earning middle class incomes might have 6.8 percent to 11 percent of their income just disappear overnight. As a result, a worker earning, for example, $40,000 a year today could see their earnings reduced to somewhere around $36,500 a year if this bill passes without further negotiation.
The argument has been made that state workers’ pension and health insurance contributions are out of line with those of workers in the private sector. However, what gets overlooked in this argument is that benefits constitute a larger proportion of a state worker’s compensation than they do for workers in private industry. We might want to keep in mind that it costs us less as taxpayers to compensate a state worker through benefits than it does for us to compensate that same worker through wages. The cost of benefits is generally lower than it is for wages as compensation.
This bill should be a cause of alarm for all of us. The effect of unions has been to ‘set’ the standard for wages, benefits, and working conditions – a standard that affects the prevailing wage, benefit package, and working conditions for all workers. If our state employees’ unions get eviscerated, the stage gets set for other unions to come under assault next. If this bill passes, it will be a roughly 9% reduction in earnings for state workers now, but a similar reduction will likely be coming to a house near you in the not too distant future.
References
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/source-wis-dem-state-senators-walk-out-blocking-budget-quorum.php
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/JR1SB-11.pdf
http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/day-doesnt-go-as-planned-for-state-senate
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_3d93e6aa-363a-11e0-8493-001cc4c002e0.html
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