Back In Madison: That Was Easy

Wisconsin Republicans restructured the union-busting provisions as a non-fiscal measure and passed it.

That mechanism had been rejected by the governor weeks ago, but evidently he changed his mind.

Comments

[Jack is Back!]

Ground Zero for the first real battle on government spending, intrusion, unfunded liabilities, public employee unions and the quality of a public education. Lets see if the American public really, truly, honestly has the fortitude to see this through or whether they are the fickled mob the MFM wants to shape them to be.

[PD]

"union-busting provisions"?

Let's not accept the terminology of the left.

[DebinNC]

JS:
"Walker has said the benefits changes are essential to his plan to solve his budget for the next two years, which includes deep cuts to schools and local government to erase a $3.5 billion deficit. He says schools, municipalities and counties can absorb those cuts because of the cuts to benefits.
The school and local aid cuts will be at the center of the next major fight before the state Legislature. Fitzgerald said he is expecting such huge crowds at budget hearings next month that he is considering holding them at large sports arenas, such as the Bradley Center in Milwaukee and the Kohl Center in Madison."

The Hosts face off against The Leeches?

[PD]

Happy Birthday, Jim!

[Danube of Thought]

Interesting analysis by Mickey Kaus.

I can spot no difference between the Greek rioters and the imbeciles in Wisconsin. Once they're seated at the public trough, they become impossible to dislodge. Concern for those who are pulling their gravy train never enters their minds.

[Jack is Back!]

PD,

Who is Jim?

This must be sending a chill through the spine (sic) of public employee unions not because of the amended CB rules but the dues check-off. [Which is really what their main issue is and which the Dems themselves see as a death knell of public union political funds].

Also, I just saw on FNC that in New Jersey, the number one political contributor was the New Jersey Education Association at $6.9 million in 2008. Second was Verizon at $900+K. That sort of sums up the fright the unions and dems are suffering in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and New Jersey.

[Appalled]

This is the resolution that actually works the best for both Democrats and Republicans, given the circumstances on the ground. Democrats can honestly tell their union friends that they did all they could to prevent this, and they succeeded in making this event a tough issue for Republicans, even if they lost the battle. Republicans can say they tried to do everything in an honest and above-board way, but those nasty Democrats attempted to subvert the will of the majority with uniquely unpleasent tactics.

The interesting thing is how this will play out over the next year or so. Will the folks in Wisconsin forget, because they don't see much in actual harm resulting from the denial on union collective bargaining rights? Or can the Dems make this an issue in the same way the Republicans have made healthcare an issue?

Now, will the Democrats actually come home to debate a budget, or will they continue their strike?

[Ignatz]

Jim Rhoads, JiB.

[Ignatz]

--This is the resolution that actually works the best for both Democrats and Republicans, given the circumstances on the ground.--

Which is precisely why Walker should have done this 24 hours after the Dems flew the coop and proved they have no interest in either small "r" republican or small "d" democratic governance.

[Pofarmer]

The Republicans can make health care an issue, because Obama care is a stupid bill, pushed through sgainst the clear will of the people. If the Democrats want to make this about protecting the "rights" of those with far higher salaries, and far more perks, than the avg citizen of the state, then I suppose, let them go for it.

[Danube of Thought]

Next test will be the recall elections, which could be set in a matter of a few months. We know that the leeches will trot out every stratagem dear to the hearts of organized labor, from voter intimidation to outright fraud, with SEIU thugs bused in from around the country.

My hope is that what we are seeing on the TV are the emotions of the leftist community that has historically inhabited the university town of Madison. Although the polls in WI are not particularly favorable at this point, they tell us nothing about the depth of feeling on the issue on either side. I suspect that, apart from the leeches themselves and the usual run of leftists, your average dude in the state is really not that motivated to vote to keep the gravy train rolling.

I'd be interested to know the breakdown of the state income tax burden. Is it borne, as it is in the US and CA, almost entirely by high income earners, or are most people in the state actual taxpayers?

[DebinNC]

I hope every public employee speaking at the AFL-CIO rallies in WI today has their salary/benefits posted online.

[Ignatz]

--I'd be interested to know the breakdown of the state income tax burden. Is it borne, as it is in the US and CA, almost entirely by high income earners, or are most people in the state actual taxpayers?--

Regarding the schools and some other county services, if it's like most states the vast majority of their revenue is property tax derived at the county level. If that's the case just about everyone is a taxpayer even if most renters are too dim to know they pay their landlord's prop taxes.

[Henry]

Ignatz, renters get an income tax deduction for property tax based on the rent they pay... its on all WI tax forms including the EZ File.

[Rick Ballard]

DoT,

Wisconsin tax collection info from 2008:

• About 51% of tax filers had WAGI less than $30,000, but they accounted for only 12% of total WAGI, and 5% of net tax.
• At the other end of the income scale, the 0.4% of tax filers with WAGI in excess of $500,000 received 10% of total WAGI and paid 13% of net tax. Tax filers with WAGI between $100,000 and $500,000 accounted for 9% of all filers, 30% of total WAGI and 37% of net tax.
• The $30,000 – $50,000 income class accounted for roughly 18% of filers, 15% of total WAGI, and 12% of net tax.
• Those in the $50,000 – $100,000 income class were 22% of all filers, 33% of total WAGI and 34% of net tax.

There are tables which accompany that info which give detailed breakouts with great clarity. The burden falls most heavily on the $100 - $200K households.

Sales tax is also a large income producer for the state, raking in about $3.4 billion versus the almost $6 billion of income theft.

[Ignatz]

Well, I still maintain most renters are too dim to figure out what that means, but at least in WI they have less of an excuse. :)

[Danube of Thought]

OT--the gov't. in the Florida case has filed a brief memo in support of its motion for an expedited appeal in the 11th Circuit. You can find it at the ACA litigation blog. They play it straight; i.e. they don't squeal about being forced to do this. It also appears from their brief that expedited appeals have already been approved in the three other Circuits where district courts have ruled on the mandate (4th, 6th and D.C.). In FL the are proposing that the final appellate brief be filed on June 1; no hearing date proposed.

[Old Lurker]

That is very odd, allowing renters to deduct the landlord's RE taxes. I wonder if the landlord also gets to deduct the same tax? How do they avoid the double deductions?

[DebinNC]

Hmm..The mystery of how protesters gained entrance to the WI Capitol last night through a Racine Dem's office window, which the DOA had previously secured.

[Henry]

OL, I don't think they care about double deductions ... the rental property tax thing is not based on actual property taxes paid by the owner. Plus there is a cap on the amount of property tax that can be deducted by property owners / occupiers of $700 (last year, I haven't looked at this years form yet as corporate income taxes for the 57 states are due next Wednesday). Its mostly a sop to lower income people.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Henry-

It's more in tune with Progressive (Marxist) Theory than a mere sop.

More complicated and more later, working on something right now..

[Rick Ballard]

OL,

It's a nonrefundable credit rather than a deduction. They give renters a credit equal to 25% of the rent (unless utilities are included) and limit the credit to $300 for both owners and renters (page 12 of the report cited above). It's very, very progressive theft.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Over at Gateway Pundit, there is a copy of a death threat email sent to all the republican senators in Wisconsin.

That shouldn't be that hard to trace.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Thanks Rick, that's the gist I was thinking, strip the feudal lord of his rent.

[Ignatz]

Scott Sumner at the Money Illusion goes off on the self confessed "ignorant" Paul Krugman.

[Henry]

Rick & Mel, thanks. I really don't like thinking about taxes or the related paperwork.

[cathyf]

JiB -- I don't think that the dues check-off is the most important issue, because that is pretty transparent. The union dues are the price of membership in the union, and the members do get obvious benefits from the union. Whether those benefits are worth the price is a different issue -- they get something for their money. And the union thugs can only push the members so far. I think that the true target here needs to be the contract provisions where the government is forced to go to the high-priced union providers for health-insurance, etc. Because the skim there is pure graft -- and basically invisible to the union members in whose name the money is stolen.

[Henry]

Capitol closed to staff, state troopers even denied access to the Madison police chief while they clear access to the assembly chambers. LUN

[DebinNC]

while they clear access

"The officers would first ask protesters to leave on their own. If they refused, officers removed them. A state trooper said they were not being arrested, but escorted out of the Assembly vestibule and taken to an area beyond the hallways just outside the chamber."

Excellent, since they so want to be arrested.

[Tom Bowler]

Obama's goal was to be a "transformational" president. He may yet be, but in ways he never imagined. I wonder if states would challenge the unions this way if we weren't also facing these massive federal deficits.

[fdcol63]

Can any of you lawyers provide an opinion on whether or not all the waivers that the Obama administration have given on Obamacare to various states and entities would have any impact on the constitutionality of ObamaCare vis-a-vis the "equal protection" clause?

[Dave (in MA)]

IANAL but maybe he can give waivers for the equal protection clause.

[Henry]

Althouse has pic of Jesse Jackson blocking the door to the Capitol (LUN) -- the troopers didn't let him inside either. More reporting from Meade on her main site.

[Janet]

Henry's link -

Comment at Althouse -
"That scarf could probably feed a working family for a week."

[MayBee]

Oh, the irony that Obama is having his big anti-bullying symposium today.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

How do you guys keep all the b'days straight?

I now confess. In the early 70's I was a union buster. A big part of my job was getting injunctions against mass picketing and violence and breaches of no-strike clauses. Most states have statutes regulating time place and manner of picketing and other demonstrations like this. These regulations forbid mass picketing that impedes the general public from ingress and egress to buildings and other places of business. The Court's prior order was likely under the authority of such a law.

Meade's terrific videos provide ample evidence that this mob is in breach of the court order and that the mobsters are in contempt of court. The rabble rousing bull horn speakers urging a general strike were pure gold for union busters like me.

I hope the state's lawyers are on the case.

[Rob Crawford]

Ah, Jesse Jackson in his primary element: microphone in hand, inciting violence.

(And what's with the blow-up doll to his right? Is it a Wisconsin thing to put a knit cap on them?)

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

It is ironic, MayBee. Obama sure has some vivid examples of bullying in both WI and Libya. But the crickets continue to chirp.

[centralcal]

Jane: I saw an excerpt of that email over at Michelle Malkin.

The MFM aid and abet this kind of thuggery by their silence. That email should be splashed all over every newspaper and broadcast on every news show (radio or TV).

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

In Jackson's picture he looks like he is in pure ecstasy. I hope he is moving towards his last hurrah.

[DebinNC]

At his just-concluded presser, Walker seemed cool, calm, and collected. Not triumphant, not apologetic, just the facts ma'amish.

[Rick Ballard]

Happy Birthday, Jim! How's the little granddaughter doing?

[jimmyk]

Interesting analysis by Mickey Kaus.

I have the same reaction to Kaus as CH's to Althouse, which is: "Yes, of course, but how the h*** do you live with voting for Obama and why should I care what you say? Do you have your fingers crossed behind your back when you say these things?"

[maryrose]

This is a victory for every hard-working taxpayer in Wisconsin. Just one look at these protesters tells you all you need to know about the caliber of these pro-union thugs. My dad was a railroder for New York Central so I know what it is like to grow up in a union household. Frequently when I was very young my dad would be laid off because of seniority. the union didn't help him very much then but our local catholic church did.
Also I saw some of the best teachers lay-off in the public school where I worked because of seniority. Then someone at the high school would take every Friday off because of his accumulated sick days. it was a travesty. Offer buyouts, that's one way to get rid of the dead weight. Also they won't riff coaches especially football or basketball.

[maryrose]

should be railroader.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

That death threat is over the top. It almost reads like a parody of death threats from the mob.

I would take it seriously until it is proven a hoax. Whoever wrote it should be under the jailhouse.

[DebinNC]

It's getting comical in WI's Capitol as Dems fear the Reps will "sprint" into the Assembly and vote before Dems take their seats.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

Thanks Rick. I now have two granddaughters, one nearly 15 months and one 11 months on Saturday.

Mrs vet and I are momentarily on our way to meet the younger and her mom for lunch:>)

[Rob Crawford]

It's getting comical in WI's Capitol as Dems fear the Reps will "sprint" into the Assembly and vote before Dems take their seats.

They should wait for the Dems to sit down then immediately hold the vote.

(I guess the Dems are concerned they won't get their chance to throw things and make death threats like last time.)

[MayBee]

I might be crazy, but I believe this is a victory for teachers in Wisconsin.
ISTM the union overhead and federal government requirements for administration take money out of the pockets of teachers. Especially good teachers.

I have no problem with teachers being paid, and paid well. It's just that we also know there is a limit to how much people are willing to pay in taxes. So given a limited pool of money, how can that money best be spent? Paying too much for union run insurance plans? Keeping teachers on the payroll while they sit in rubber rooms? Paying administrators to fill out paperwork for the DoE? Making sure bad teachers stay while new teachers get kicked out of the system?

I don't think so. I simply don't believe the current system is best or most lucrative for (good) teachers.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

Or get those orange tee shirts on and yell "shame" after the vote, Rob.

[macphisto]

you want to talk about irony? how about Jesse Jackson standing in the courthouse door?

[Rob Crawford]

you want to talk about irony? how about Jesse Jackson standing in the courthouse door?

No irony there. Same motivations, different crowd.

[MayBee]

"Shame" is a big union word. Around here, some hotel or car dealership will fall afoul of a union for some reason, and the unions will set up a perma protest across the street with a few guys holding a banner that says "SHAME".

It's such collectivist thinking they even used pre-approved criticisms.

[glasater]

I think that the true target here needs to be the contract provisions where the government is forced to go to the high-priced union providers for health-insurance, etc. Because the skim there is pure graft -- and basically invisible to the union members in whose name the money is stolen.--CathyF

That was so good it just had to be said again.

[jimmyk]

That was so good it just had to be said again.

And the appropriately named Davis-Bacon Act should be mentioned in connection with this, though it's a federal thing. Nothing can be done about it now, but why it was left intact when Bush had Republican majorities in both houses is inexcusable.

[Appalled]

"Shame" is a big union word.

Like a teenage boy, I guess the unions like to go on about something they haven't experienced...

[Jack is Back!]

cathf,

Not accoding to Kaus who is a big Union sympathizer. LUN

[cathyf]

That's one reason why it's so important for the union members to be paying some of the health insurance premiums -- so they are getting ripped off directly by their union. Suppose the employees pay 12.5%. If the union plan of health insurance plus graft is $1000/mo while the regular state employee plan is $800/mo, then the rank-and-file member saves $25/mo by cutting out the union graft. Even better would be a system where the district sets up a cafeteria plan and says that they will pay for whatever the state plan premium is, so if the employee chooses the union plan then they can pay the graft themselves.

[Jack is Back!]

cathyf,

Cadillac and captive but the real money is the political contributions. Look at New Jersey. Teachers union wasted $6.8million trying to re-elect their sugar daddy, Corzine. I wonder what the WEA contributed out of those captive, non-voying dues?

[MayBee]

I've mentioned that two teachers unions are sponsoring Yearly Kos (Netroots Nation, I guess) this year, right?

[centralcal]

I am so glad all my children are grown. About 1/3 of the grandkids go to private Catholic School, but sadly the others are in public schools. Disturbing to know that teachers (not just their unions) might be KOS kids.

[PD]

Capitol lockdown is over: link

[Jim Ryan]

Oh, CC, there are plenty of lefty moonbat teachers. I don't think I could handle the stress if I had kids in public school, or private for that matter.

If Sarkozy greases Qaddafi, I will drink only expensive French wine for a month.

[PD]

Just heard the death threat reported on local radio news.

[Danube of Thought]

they get something for their money.

But they don't get to say how it is spent, or to whom it is given in the form of campaign contributions.

The whole public-sector bargaining system is fundamentally corrupt: the taxpayers aren't at the table, they're on the menu. (Sure what like to see that rise to the level of a campaign slogan.)

[jimmyk]

Wow, Jim Ryan's link about Sarkozy seems both like a big deal and a huge embarrassment to the US. Why is France the first country to recognize the rebels (who are now "grateful to France")? Too bad BO couldn't have located his pair and done this. Will he now?

[glasater]

On the Live Stream Jesse Jackson got just done speaking stirring up the crowd--likening this WI fight with Selma.

How in the world can the man make such a comparison?

[Henry]

Wispolitics reports the assembly chamber is full, just waiting to start the show.

[Neo]

Define "soon" ...

Another action that provoked the GOP senators to act was Democrat Senator Lena Taylor’s very public decision to have a spring election absentee ballot sent to her in Illinois. The spring election is scheduled for April 5th, which indicated Taylor’s desire to stay out of the state for another month. “That sure didn’t help,” said one GOP source.

[Rob Crawford]

How in the world can the man make such a comparison?

He's a shameless whore?

[DebinNC]

WI Capitol webcam

[Jim Ryan]

Jimmy, I thought last week that we should send a dozen jets in to kill Qaddafi. Unless locating him is impossible, I don't see why we don't do that now.

[PD]

How in the world can the man make such a comparison?

Maybe Jesse's really cleo.

[Army of Davids]

Kudos to Scott Walker.

Since 2005 we have gone from around 35% of GDP to around 45% for state, local and federal government.

The core of the Marxist rot in this country is the public sector (Soviet) unions. Grinding them down will be a process and not an event.

Kudos to Christie, Scott, Kasich and Mitch Daniels and state legislators as well.

This is just the early innings.

[Janet]

Deb, thanks for all your webcam links through this whole show.

[Danube of Thought]

Jesse can't address a mob on any aubject without comparing it to Selma. It's his version of rolling the steel balls in his hand.

[Henry]

per Wispolitics, roll call is underway

[Minimalist Poster]

Thanks for the WI Capitol webcam link, DebinNC.

[Jim Ryan]

This is just the early innings.

Inning two will be state elections in Wisconsin, when the Dem base will more than energized and well funded. Wisconsin voters who support Walker will have an enormous campaign and GOTV task on their hands. If somehow Walker can show some budgetary results or some hiring companies moving into Wisconsin before the election, that would help.

[Henry]

Thanks for the webcam link Deb (some idiot is praising Jesse Jackson)

[Janet]

JJ is gonna offer a PRAYER to the Wisconsin State Assembly! Maybe...someone objected.

[rse]

I was in Florida earlier this week and my neighbor had been at a dinner with Rick Scott recently. She said it was so cool because he wants to do right long term by Florida and he owes his election to no special interset groups.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

We had my state rep on the show today. He's a good guy and a republican. I was fairly amazed at how adamant he was that dems in Wisconsin are doing the wrong thing. He was pretty appalled by the dems running away since there entire job is to be there to vote. Perhaps I expected him to see their point of view - but he didn't at all.

[Janet]

I thought the left was prayerphobic?

[Frau Steingehirn]

Not a proud day for unions IMO. I'm concerned about the proposed recalls.

Comments from Althouse:
"I see white people."
"It is Wisconsin. Their local Black Panther Party is probably 75% white."

[Jack is Back!]

I for one am with Rob on tihis, what is the rationale for public employee unions for civil service employees? I remember, as a kid, when they tried to send up the Vanguard rocket but had to destroy it down range. The joke was that the Vanguard was like civil service - expensive, won't work and you can't fire it. This was the late 50's. My how somethings never change.

Hearing Trumka bitching about Walker and Repubs paying back their corporate masters for taking rights away from teachers, firefighters, EMTs and snow plow drivers. I guess that privatization of public services in Wisconsin got done without anyone hearing about it. What can't Walker do?

[Henry]

The orange shirts make them look like Bears fans ...

[Sue]

I just listened to the Reverend Jackson (use your Rush Limbaugh voice here) on Fox. And the democratic strategist that was on after him. Very interesting how history always starts and stops when they want it to.

[DebinNC]

CSPAN2 Live WI Assembly

[Henry]

Thanks Deb, the other link locked up.

[DebinNC]

I hope to goodness there's a time limit on Barca. Sheesh, and to think people diss Haley Barbour's accent.

[Jim Ryan]

I don't know, Deb, I like the upper midwest accent. It's so quaint and homey in a comically kooky way. "WisCANsin". Ha!

[PD]

From what I've seen of Barca on TV, his role in life is to try to interrupt other people who have the floor.

Just heard an amusing thing on the radio news. Apparently one of the Dem assemblymen arrived this morning to find the chamber locked. He went into a screaming fit, "LET US DO OUR JOB!!!!!!!!!!!"

Gosh, assemblyman, why do you suppose the doors were locked? Because of all the dangerous Tea Partiers mobbing the capitol?

[Janet]

I could not be a politician. I couldn't sit & listen to the endless pontification...blah, blah, blah.

[centralcal]

So what is the significance of the orange t-shirts? To correctly identify who are union thug supporters?

[DebinNC]

Oddly, Reps. Fitzgerald and Sudor'a accents are pleasant. But Barca and Seidel's are Abu Grabish, i.e. a form of torture...I think because there's no much whine mixed in.

[Janet]

shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!

[Henry]

Has Barca asked where the strawberries are yet?

[MayBee]

I've been posting this at HotAir, but I'll post it here, too.

As you all remember, Pvt William Long was murdered in Arkansas by a recently radicalized recently converted Muslim man. The administration does not talk about this often, and in fact issued a statement of sorrow only to the Arkansas press. The shooting occurred within days of the murder of Dr. Tiller, an event which prompted Obama to issue a statement of outrage and a reminder that the issue of abortion is divisive but should not result in murder.

The murderer, Muhammad, was born with the last name Bledsoe. Today Mr Bledsoe testified at King's hearings, and afterwards made a statement to the press that he feels it important that we find out what happens to young men like his son, and that he hopes to spare any other family from going through what his family went through.
I say good for him. That has to be one of the toughest things- to watch your son become a murderer.