Thursday, February 17, 2011

Boycotting the Senate Vote Is An Excellent Tactic

The tactic to block Scott Walker's radical budget bill is legal and smart.

Republicans in the US Congress mastered influencing legislation while in the minority.

This is Politics 101.

Kudos to the Senate Dems.

The budget 'crisis' is artificial and serves as cover to attack unions and cities.

Stand your ground.

7 comments:

Zach W. said...

Yeah, good for them! I'm glad they decided to take a stand in support of Wisconsin's public employees, instead of just caving in to Republicans. Finally some Democrats with heart!

John P said...

Give me a break,this is a gutless move. They are paid to work, not to run away because they do not like what is going to happen. They cannot stay away forever.

Reagan's Disciple said...

Just delaying the inevitable...

I guess like their teacher brethren, these democratic senators are also skilled at walking off their job and quitting. Meanwhile the people who pay their wages continue to work and support these childish union members and senators.

In my opinion Walker and the other adults in charge should just give in on this issue and instead lay off 1000's of the workers.

Hey teachers, how do you like those apples?

Anonymous said...

James, I think a lot of your readers would be interested in following the reportage and analysis of the Wisconsin budget wars on talkingpointsmemo.org, especially this article, just published a few minutes ago:

Wisconsin Gov. Walker Ginned Up Budget Shortfall To Undercut Worker Rights.

A couple of quotes:

The Capitol Times newspaper editorially commented yesterday:

"In its Jan. 31 memo to legislators on the condition of the state's budget, the [non-partisan Legislative] Fiscal Bureau determined that the state will end the year with a balance of $121.4 million.

"To the extent that there is an imbalance -- Walker claims there is a $137 million deficit -- it is not because of a drop in revenues or increases in the cost of state employee contracts, benefits or pensions. It is because Walker and his allies pushed through $140 million in new spending for special-interest groups in January."

TPM then has a link to the Fiscal Bureau's full report, addressed to the Joint Finance Committee. TPM then notes the report "...Holds that 'more than half' of the new shortfall comes from three of Walker's initiatives:

"$25 million for an economic development fund for job creation, which still holds $73 million because of anemic job growth.

"$48 million for private health savings accounts -- a perennial Republican favorite.

"$67 million for a tax incentive plan that benefits employers, but at levels too low to spur hiring."

Here's another facinating post from today's TPM:

Paul Ryan On Wisconsin Protests: 'It's Like Cairo Has Moved To Madison' (See VIDEO on TPM)

"Speaking on [MSNBC] Morning Joe Thursday morning, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) compared the current situation in Wisconsin, where Gov. Scott Walker (R) has inspired days of protests by proposing a budget that would remove key bargaining powers for public employee unions, to the recent unrest in Egypt that toppled the 30-year authoritarian rule of Hosni Mubarak, saying it's 'like Cairo has moved to Madison these days.'

Ryan explained it this way: "So [Governor Walker] is basically saying, I want you public workers to pay half of what our private sector counterparts are, and he's getting, you know, riots."

Is Paul Ryan really saying that we should favorably compare Walker to despot Mubarek? Feel sorry for Walker because he hasn't been able to quietly dictate his terms as Mubarek has done over the last 30 years? Should Mubarek really be our governor's role model?

James Rowen said...

Thanks, George. I have referenced the fake budget crisis but will go to TPM.org.

Anonymous said...

Interesting mindsets, JP and RD. It is actually a great move, because if there is one thing we do know, the longer the delay, the longer the delay.

God Bless Wisconsin.

Anonymous said...

If I were Walker I would start the process of laying off the 8,000 workers. The Senate Dems can stay in Illinois and rot for all I care. I did not vote for Walker or Barrett, put after seeing how the Dems are acting (can they be more beholden to the Unions), I will vote for him in 4 years. The Dems have no credibility, they talk about civility and then compare Walker to Hilter.