Steve from Waukesha, on Walker, right-to-work

I occasionally post guest blogs, and posted one a few years ago, due to special circumstances, without a full author ID.

This will be the second such posting. Suffice it to say that I know who the person is and will post it as he wishes, by "Steve from Waukesha."

Scott Walker's Presidential Bid May Be Over

Wisconsin Republicans are positioning to rush through Right to Work legislation over the next week. Governor Scott Walker has said he will sign it. And this time, there will be political fallout.

Governor Walker has changed his position on RTW for the third time. But his latest flip-flop is different. This time Walker misled conservative union voters to get re-elected and he darn well knows it.

In Wisconsin, Scott Walker is certain to lose this major voting block. Blue collar conservatives voted for Walker and his famous anti-government union legislation, myself included, in his last 3 elections. No more.

Conversely, RTW legislation being pushed by Republican legislators in politically polarized Wisconsin will win no new voters for Scott Walker or the party. In all likelihood Republican legislators have unwittingly taken out Walker’s political future.

Many conservative supporters are cheering this legislation and will disagree with me. They have supported Scott Walker through thick and thin. Those voters will continue to support Walker. For the blue collar conservatives, Walker’s vow has exposed a wound of deep distrust and dishonor for which there is no mend. 

In his 2013 Wisconsin State of the State address, Scott Walker was joined in solidarity by union miners from northern Wisconsin. The Governor was pushing for legislators to clear hurdles for union mining jobs at the proposed Gogebic iron mine. Walker now seems unfazed attempting to dismantle their union through RTW legislation and willing to lose a major voting block in Northern Wisconsin.

In his re-election bid in 2014, Walker counted on his firewall in the Fox Valley, a corridor of communities in east central Wisconsin. Mercury Marine is a union manufacturer in the Valley. In 2009 union membership gave significant concessions to keep 1000 jobs from relocating to Stillwater, Oklahoma. In December 2014 the union signed a 5 year contract extension. Had the union known what Republicans were up to during negotiations, the negotiations likely would have died. Walker is likely to lose control of the Fox Valley over RTW.

 Organized labor across the nation will mount yet another political assault on Walker. Walker will be characterized as a special interest candidate controlled by oligarchs, a politician sent to crush the dwindling middle class, a destroyer of technical and vocational opportunities for the next generation through union skilled trade apprenticeships. Even worse, his character will be cast as a misleading betrayer of his own supporters for his own personal gain.

I fully expect the presidential primary will have a major influence from crossover voters aiming to take Walker out since their heir apparent is Hillary.  The scorned Wisconsin conservative union voters will either sit out or vote for another candidate.  

Wisconsin's well organized Democrat machine will seek majority gains in our deeply polarized state. Republicans are likely to lose some legislative districts.

It's difficult enough attracting young people into blue collar jobs as baby boomers retire.

If Republicans think RTW legislation will help alleviate a growing fear all Wisconsin manufactures and contractors have, a shortage of skilled blue collar workers, they’re wrong. Supply and demand of the labor pool will heavily favor the companies offering the best wages, training, and benefits to the next generation of blue collars workers. Whether they are union, or not is immaterial.

There is no upside of RTW legislation for Wisconsin Republicans and Governor Walker. I'm sure some get that. Others are willing to throw their baby out with the bath water.