What is everyone's thoughts on what is happening in Wisconsin?

 

Not sure I have ever heard of such a mess.

Wisconsin is out of money. There isn't any. The teachers, or at least their union, do not seem to understand that. Its always hard on people when their benefits are cut. However, the states are in dire financial situation on the verge of bankruptcy or collapse. There is no other option. I think Governor Walker has been steadfast and respectful in his statements to the media.

 

The strike is against the law, so I expect many of them to lose their jobs. Its also frivolous, and in the end, fruitless. Many of them were recorded dancing around and stating that it was "just like Egypt" and of course there were numerous "Hitler" signs and similar items. My response to that is that I cannot believe people allow dolts like that to teach their children.

 

The cowardly hiding by the Wisconsin Democratic Senators rather than show up and make an argument needs no further comment. Anyone who defends their actions on here need not converse with me any further.

 

Obama's butt-inski on this also hacks me off. A few days ago, he said over and over "we need to learn to live within our means," and then he comes out and says he supports the strike, and thus supports the breaking of the law, and says that the Governor is "assaulting" civil liberties.

 

There is no deeper story here. There is no hidden agenda. There is no political favortism. Wisconsin is out of money. Its executive has made proposals for very difficult cuts. It was debated. Now its ready for vote. Cowards want to hide from the vote, and those affected want to bay at the moon, but in the end, its unsustainable.

 

Incidentally, the average salary and benefits for a Wisconsin teacher is $89,500.

I can't say I'm intimately familiar with it. However, from what I understand the Governor wants to remove the rights to negotiate from the public employees union. I guess in order to prevent a vote from taking place many of the D state senators took off out of state. The gov sent the police out looking for them.

 

I heard the protest spread to Ohio and I'm guessing we'll continue to see more of them.

I can't say I'm intimately familiar with it. However, from what I understand the Governor wants to remove the rights to negotiate from the public employees union. I guess in order to prevent a vote from taking place many of the D state senators took off out of state. The gov sent the police out looking for them.

 

I heard the protest spread to Ohio and I'm guessing we'll continue to see more of them.

 

 

Perhaps I am incorrect, but my understanding was not that the Governor was proposing eliminating the right to negotiate, just that in this particular scenario the state was simply not going to negotiate. I may be wrong, if so I'm sure someone will correct me. In the end, the protest I think is much less about collective bargaining than it is about the fact of cuts.

Wisconsin is out of money. There isn't any. The teachers, or at least their union, do not seem to understand that. Its always hard on people when their benefits are cut. However, the states are in dire financial situation on the verge of bankruptcy or collapse. There is no other option. I think Governor Walker has been steadfast and respectful in his statements to the media.

 

The strike is against the law, so I expect many of them to lose their jobs. Its also frivolous, and in the end, fruitless. Many of them were recorded dancing around and stating that it was "just like Egypt" and of course there were numerous "Hitler" signs and similar items. My response to that is that I cannot believe people allow dolts like that to teach their children.

 

The cowardly hiding by the Wisconsin Democratic Senators rather than show up and make an argument needs no further comment. Anyone who defends their actions on here need not converse with me any further.

 

Obama's butt-inski on this also hacks me off. A few days ago, he said over and over "we need to learn to live within our means," and then he comes out and says he supports the strike, and thus supports the breaking of the law, and says that the Governor is "assaulting" civil liberties.

 

There is no deeper story here. There is no hidden agenda. There is no political favortism. Wisconsin is out of money. Its executive has made proposals for very difficult cuts. It was debated. Now its ready for vote. Cowards want to hide from the vote, and those affected want to bay at the moon, but in the end, its unsustainable.

 

Incidentally, the average salary and benefits for a Wisconsin teacher is $89,500.

 

How much of the $89k is actual salary?

 

After my post I read that the Governor wants the state employees to pay 12% of their healthcare costs and half of their pension costs. They would retain the right to use collective bargaining for pay.

How much of the $89k is actual salary?

 

After my post I read that the Governor wants the state employees to pay 12% of their healthcare costs and half of their pension costs. They would retain the right to use collective bargaining for pay.

 

I don't know what the salary/benefits breakdown is, but why does it make a difference? Total compensation package is total compensation. The national average for non-public sector employees is $61,000.

 

The 12% payment for healthcare if about half the national average for what other employees pay for their own healthcare.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_wisconsin_budget_unions

 

From the linked article

 

 

Under Walker's plan, state and local public employees could no longer collectively bargain over any issue except wage increases that are no higher than the Consumer Price Index. It would also make workers pay half the costs of their pensions and at least 12.6 percent of their health care premiums. State employees' costs would go up by an average of 8 percent. The changes would save the state $30 million by June 30 and $300 million over the next two years to address a $3.6 billion budget shortfall. Unions could still represent workers, but they could not force employees to pay dues and would have to hold annual votes to stay organized. Local police, firefighters and state troopers would retain their collective bargaining rights.

 

Hearsay, I pretty much agree with 100% of your first post.

I don't know what the salary/benefits breakdown is, but why does it make a difference? Total compensation package is total compensation. The national average for non-public sector employees is $61,000.

 

The 12% payment for healthcare if about half the national average for what other employees pay for their own healthcare.

I believe I pay 1/3 of my healthcare.

I don't know what the salary/benefits breakdown is, but why does it make a difference? Total compensation package is total compensation. The national average for non-public sector employees is $61,000.

 

The 12% payment for healthcare if about half the national average for what other employees pay for their own healthcare.

 

1. Just curious. I think some see $89k and think that equates to salary.

2. I thought 12% seemed low compared to average. However, the health care contribution is one part of the total compensation package so individual components mean less to me than the total package.

3. I did some searching again and it does look like one of the big , if not the biggest, issues is the loss of collective bargaining for anything other than wages.

I believe I pay 1/3 of my healthcare.

 

I pay all of mine.

I pay all of mine.

 

It's not always good to be king.

I could be wrong but didn't Mitch Daniels do the same thing in Indiana when he was elected?

I can't say I'm intimately familiar with it. However, from what I understand the Governor wants to remove the rights to negotiate from the public employees union. I guess in order to prevent a vote from taking place many of the D state senators took off out of state. The gov sent the police out looking for them.

 

I heard the protest spread to Ohio and I'm guessing we'll continue to see more of them.

Me too, I am not too familar with it, yet, but you cannot just remove the right to negotiate!

 

If you are expecting a certain about of money and benefits, it's very hard to just sit there an do nothing, it's not your fault the state is broke!

 

How would this play out in KY?

 

I know KY is talking about changing their state pension plan, BUT everyone who is either an employee now or already receiving benefits will not be effected, it will be new hires after mid 2012, the last I heard. But take benefits away from the people already in the system is wrong!

I pay all of mine.

 

And what is your hourly fee? Public sector employees are under compensated when compared to their private sector co-horts with similar education and training. One way to offset that pay discrepancy is with benefits. If you want to do away with the benefits then you must start with the compensation.

 

How big of a tax break did he give to businesses last week? From what I understand, because of legislation passed LAST WEEK the governor created a false emergency and now wants to make changes.

 

How does eliminating collective bargaining to anything to fix the budget? This is in the budget "fix" bill.

Me too, I am not too familar with it, yet, but you cannot just remove the right to negotiate!

 

If you are expecting a certain about of money and benefits, it's very hard to just sit there an do nothing, it's not your fault the state is broke!

 

How would this play out in KY?

 

I know KY is talking about changing their state pension plan, BUT everyone who is either an employee now or already receiving benefits will not be effected, it will be new hires after mid 2012, the last I heard. But take benefits away from the people already in the system is wrong!

 

Why? It happens in the private sector all the time. If a company cannot afford to pay its employees what they were paid in the past, they cut their benefits. Plain and simple. Its certainly better than being fired. You are not guaranteed a right to work in this country, and benefits are not guaranteed, either. To opine otherwise only echoes my belief that public sector employees maintain this sense of entitlement which is bankrupting the states.

 

I totally disagree with you on the "its not their fault the state is broke" comment.

 

 

Collective Bargaining is a creature of statute. What a statute creates, a statute can take away. It is not a constitutional or moral imperative.