In a press conference tonight, Gov. Scott Walker called the union concessions he was seeking a “modest request,” although he conceded that asking for them was “a bold political move.”
And he would like the Democratic state senators — who are currently holed up in a hotel in Illinois so that a vote on the relevant legislation cannot be held — to come back to Wisconsin
“I’m calling on the members of the state senate to show up and do the job that they’re paid to do as well,” said Walker. “They don’t have to agree with everything we propose, but they should on behalf of the people who pay their salaries show up to work.”
He also acknowledged the thousands of protesters who have been flooding the state capitol this week.
“Certainly, the thousands of people here and outside the capitol have every right to be heard,” said Walker. But I want to make sure that not for one moment are their voices drowning out the voices of millions of taxpayers all across the state of Wisconsin.”
But he defended requiring government employees to contribute nearly 6 percent to their pension funds and nearly 13 percent to their health-care plans, saying that the pension contribution was equal to the national average, while the health-care contribution would be only half of the national average.
Walker said the only alternative would be layoffs of 10,000 to 12,000 state and local employees.
He also said he would not back down on the legislation banning most collective bargaining rights, stressing the importance of allowing state and local leaders to have flexibility in negotiation with government workers.
Thus are Presidents forged. Sometimes.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI guess I don't have it in me to be a politician. I would have fired the AWOL workers already. Teachers, senators, whatever. The taxpayer is paying their salary.
If I just decide to not show up to my job without any sort of reason or prior approval, my employer is perfectly within their rights to fire me and get somebody else who will honor the terms of our employment contract.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTo the author:
Gov Walker's quote reads:
'everyone has a right to be HURT"
I am sure it should be- "HEARD"
Please correct and if from original source let them know.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI teach at an independent school in Wisconsin. I would have gone to Madison today to show support for Walker in his efforts to balance the budget, but I was busy doing my job: teaching. The governor's comment on the taxpayers' voices is particularly poignant and shows that he is in touch with those who elected him. The protest numbers only look impressive until you consider that those who would demonstrate in favor of his proposals didn't show up, not because they don't care, but because they refused to falsely "call in sick" and defraud their employers.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou also can't have conversations if you never met with the unions...
Dr. Horrible - the best American presidents forge law through consensus, not dictatorship. I don't think Mr. Walker will ever get anywhere near the White House.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHey Wisconsin Dems: ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Grow up and deal with the fact that your little conniving vacation from history - and your boy-king of a President - are finished. You've had 5 years of control of the House and Senate and 2+ years of the Presidency and you've completely failed to produce results. In fact, you can't even produce a semi-competent plan that *might* plausibly lead to results.
Face it, if the record of the last two years had been amassed by John McCain and a Republican-dominated, filibuster-proof majority you would all be BATGUANO crazy with impeachment dreams dancing in your head. You'd be caterwauling about closing Gitmo and crying like babies over Afghanistan and Iraq. Never mind the un and under employment figures...the worst sustained figures since the Great Depression...and no sign of relief! Unexpectedly, of course...
You've tried leading....if you can call it that. You've failed. Now it's time to follow...and if you don't like that, the least you can do is get out of the way so that the adults can clean up your messes.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYesterday the high speed rail to bankrupcy in Florida and now some sanity in Wisconsin. Been a good week. Keep at it Governors! You're our best line of defense!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is fantastic theater and most enjoyable to watch. The picture from the Tilted Quilt could not be better. Call Mark Steyn. He will love it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhen rats are backed into a corner, they attack out of self preservation. I can empathize with that. It is a natural reaction. But they still are rats.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat goes for State Legislators too, I suppose. Legislators fleeing to avoid votes is beginning to be an epidemic. I think there may need to be a change to the laws to prevent that.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe Wisconsin constitutions gives the governor the right to compel senators to report to work. They just need one Dem and there is at least one Dem who has returned. They can use telephone tower info to figure out where he is.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe Wisconsin constitutions gives the governor the right to compel senators to report to work. They just need one Dem and there is at least one Dem who has returned. They can use telephone tower info to figure out where he is.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAn obvious solution for Walker: Lay.them.all.off. and then pass his legislation anyway.
The unions want everything: in the end, they'll get nothing. This is truly Governor Walker's "PATCO Moment."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseState senators are elected and not hired so they can't be fired. The teachers showing up are local employees, not state employees, so the governor doesn't control their employment.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt would be wonderful if the Governor and the Republican legislators showed up tomorrow and cleaned up the mess left by the teacher after their little pity party. Great visuals - maybe enough that the MSM would pick it up and carry it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuseso, issue the layoff notices. Let the leftist union educators choose who stays and goes.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf the people of Wisconsin vote these same cowards back into office in the next election, then they deserve whatever stunts the Democrats pull again.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusewisceducator - thank you!
I am so concerned about the students who see this behavior from teachers who call in sick to go protest...meanwhile our troops are in harm's way, they are not AWOL.
The voters of Wisconsin spoke in November, our county is broke at the state and federal level. We need to be teaching our students personal responsibility, we need to teach them to be informed voters and to be critical thinkers...not sheep led to protests by teachers. I saw an interview with an 18 year old, when asked how he would solve the budget problem, he responded tax the rich, they can afford it. I wonder how much in taxes this 18 has paid, if he was old enough vote in Nov, did he? Does he understand basic math and economics? Does he understand the trillion dollar + pension problem across the country, does he honestly think there are enough rich to tax to pay for all the benefits?
These students need to understand that if they are not happy with elected officials, call, write, email and work towards the next election...just like those of us who spoke November 2010.
I don't have time to listen to an 18 year old who has so much to learn about our Republic, ecomomics and personal responsibility. If he is willing to listen, do his own research, I'm happy to engage in conversation and debate.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJan Maxwell, that's a pathetic example of soft-headed thinking by the left.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFirstly, a vast majority of Americans consider Lincoln to be among the best Presidents. The Civil War was hardly an example of consensus. Secondly, the only dictatorial activities on display in WI are by the public employees' unions. Thirdly, does that mean you'll concede Obama is among the worst presidents? Obama's health control law was rammed through without any input outside of the Democrat leadership. Lastly, the Democrats all ran away. Governor Walker can't speak with people who won't show up, or who only will do so with a bull horn and non-sensicle signs.
I am not Democrat nor Republican! I can read and spell and do arithmatic! But soon our children will have to be taught privately or home school because the public system is going down the tubes. WE need to fix it. All Teachers should be at the job they were hired to do and get paid a FARE wage. Just like the rest of society. If you need vacation or insurance or anything else then you pay for it. Just like everyone else. What you are doing by not showing up to work is in terrible taste! NO I call it a temper tanturm. The state did not get in to trouble by it self and so it needs to be fixed by everyone. EVERYONE! So that means even the elected people should be getting cuts too. The min wage needs to balance and top wages too. Please Mr walker and anyone involved do what is right for our country not just how much each one will loose! Maybe in a couple years we can get back on our feet! But this means everyone needs to help out.
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