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2011-02-19 Home Front: Politix

Recall Petitions Considered in Wisconsin

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Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2011-02-19 14:08|| || Front Page|| [11132 views ] Top

#1 So who's covering their little hissy fit road trip? The unions, the party, or will they expense it off to the taxpayers?
Because you know they aren't.

Posted by tu3031 2011-02-19 14:48|| 2011-02-19 14:48|| Front Page Top

#2 you can bet they'll put in for a per diem, tho'

Posted by Frank G 2011-02-19 14:52|| 2011-02-19 14:52|| Front Page Top

#3 Had a talk with our former mayor this morning at coffee. First, this has been done in the past by both parties. last time was about thirty years ago. Second, they are not having their motel/hotel/meals covered by per diem. It is most likely being paid by the State Democratic Party. Third, He said he was at a social event for a group of former state elected officials up to the level of govenor. From both sides of the aisle. And from what he told me the general consensus was that Walker has over reached. In the short run he will get what he wants but it will come back to bite him long term. He also opperated pretty much the same way in Milwaukee when he was County Exec. But there he had the County Board to use as a whipping boy when or if things did not work out as it was controlled by the Dems. Here he's got both houses of the State Assembly and is in the position that he should remember be careful what you wish for you might get it. Now I have to agree that WEAC and the local teacher unions really need to be reigned in. But you also don't want to get into the position where your school systems have a tough time recruiting and keeping good teachers. This is just my opinion but I think they should of been pushing for performance bonuses for the good quality teachers and at the same time a way to get rid of the ones just keeping time because they like the pay/benefits. This also applies to state and municiple employees. Plus there is more to this bill than just the stuff getting the media attention. A good part of the bill is reducing or eliminating state aid to counties/cities/towns/school districts. And if that happens it will wind up increasing local property taxes. Because even with the tax rates they are now the various taxing bodies will not have sufficent funds to operate even if they are able to get significant wage/benefit reductions. Plus a good portion of what local government and school boards are doing is required by state mandate. And unfunded mandates has been a topic that has almost everyone mad for a long time.

Posted by Cheaderhead 2011-02-19 15:31|| 2011-02-19 15:31|| Front Page Top

#4 apparently there's so many teachers available they can take sick time to protest. I belong (against my wishes) to a local gubbamint union, and rarely feel they represent me. We are prohibited from striking, and if others did, I'd enjoy crossing that line. We gave back salary in furloughs (understood - no issue), paid more to retirement (understood - no issue) and paid more in copays to our medical coverage (again). The WI Gov was elected based on his promises to do exactly what he's doing. If the Madison nutjobs want to defy the rest of the state - go ahead. I'll sit back and enjoy the smackdown of the libs, you're former Mayor included. It's time to get real. Landscapers, building maintenance, electricians, etc. should be farmed out to private which can do it cheaper

Posted by Frank G 2011-02-19 17:14|| 2011-02-19 17:14|| Front Page Top

#5 your, not you're. damn it. I hate when others do that....

Posted by Frank G 2011-02-19 17:15|| 2011-02-19 17:15|| Front Page Top

#6 There are some cities with 70% of home owners under water. Some areas have unemployment well into double digits.

City, county, state, and federals hired hands had better take a reduction NOW before or it will get worse, and I do mean worse. 5% reduction of 100,000 in teacher pay is not much to ask when parents of some students are recieving 0% income.

Posted by Enver Junter3689 2011-02-19 17:30|| 2011-02-19 17:30|| Front Page Top

#7 If someone discovers where they are hiding, they should order all sorts of pizzas and delivery goods for C.O.D. to them.

Posted by Anonymoose 2011-02-19 18:29|| 2011-02-19 18:29|| Front Page Top

#8 First, this has been done in the past by both parties.

And thus the Tea Party. That is not a defense. It is an indictment of the political class.

It boils down to this -

Do you exist to serve the state and its operators or does the state exist to serve you?

The first is slavery just dressed up in fancy terms. The second is true representative government.

Posted by Procopius2k 2011-02-19 18:59|| 2011-02-19 18:59|| Front Page Top

#9 I understand Cheddarhead's comments. I don't live in Wisconsin (I'm an inmate in the Peoples Republic of Greater Chicago) so I don't know the specific issues.

Is Walker overreaching? He might be; I know a lot of folks here in Chicago were having WTF moments yesterday. I think if I were in his shoes, I would have gone at this more gradually -- more like getting the frog into the pot of water and then turning the heat up gently. I would have framed the fiscal issue and gotten the health care and pension contributions fixed, and then later, if the unions proved unreasonable (a near certainty) used that to go after them more directly.

But again, I don't live there.

I will say this about the doctors handing out excuses today (Instapundit, Althouse and Drudge all noted it): I'm a physician. I take care of patients. Yes indeed, if I were to give a doctor's note to someone without conducting a proper medical evaluation (however brief), I'd be guilty of improper behavior and ethics and could be brought before the medical licensing board.

However, there's another name for this: FRAUD. The teachers will use these notes to justify their absences and collect their pay. Both the doctors and the teachers are perpetrating a fraud.

Wonder if the Wisconsin attorney general could be motivated to look into that? At the very least, demand that any teacher turning in a doctor's note over this work action also turn over the record of the medical 'evaluation'. That would put a stop to this real quick.

Posted by Steve White 2011-02-19 19:10|| 2011-02-19 19:10|| Front Page Top

#10 Dr. Steve, I'm personally acquainted with Wisconsin's AG (J.B. Van Hollen, who is a pretty sharp guy). Don't think for a moment the 'fake' notes won't be dealt with in a manner not unlike your suggestion by him and local school districts.

Gov. Walker's position is that he's trying to repair the budget because Wisconsin is broke. Senator Holperin, Senator Wirch, Senator Erpenbach, Senator Miller, and his other fellow Democrats are many of the same Senators who, two years ago, rammed through a billion dollar tax hike in 24 hours with no public input. At least Walker tried to hold hearings.

Posted by Mullah Richard 2011-02-19 21:47|| 2011-02-19 21:47|| Front Page Top

#11 It is actually quite amazing how many goldbrickers and redundant administrators are in the system. Giving the local district the ability to clear the deadwood will not only help get a grip on budget issues, it will be a motivator for those who consider themselves untouchable and clear the way for younger teachers who may be more motivated and frankly depending on the subject have a better understanding of the subject.

I have found through the years I went through one of the better public systems, and 7th grade on (when multiple teachers kicked in for us) I was assured 1 landmine each semester. That is, a tenured teacher where for whatever reason after the semester was finished nearly all students learned squat. There were electives nobody took because the risk of getting one of those teachers was too great.

I got to listen to people today whose friends are head'd ta Madi to protest..whatever or anything, its like a Renaissance Festival for old hippies without jobs, except dirtier and likely more expensive. Their deal was something like the only thing protecting a teacher is that bargaining. Well thats horseshit - job performance is the best protection against being layed off, just like everyone else in the world. They are getting their notes because there is a good chance they will lose and get their asses fired, and rightfully so. With the dems on the chicken run, they could have finished the week out and protested Saturday/Sunday but no. Had to throw a little fit.

Quite honestly is was easy for us to raise county taxes, we like our school and teachers. What we don't want is our school to be closed because we are tied into the cityphukups who cannot seem to get it right no matter how many damn schools they build. I hope our state legislature does this exact same thing.

Posted by swksvolFF 2011-02-19 22:21|| 2011-02-19 22:21|| Front Page Top

23:53 crosspatch
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21:47 Mullah Richard
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