"Wis. governor proposes cuts in education, local aid, Medicaid; Budget avoids tax hike, layoffs" by Scott Bauer, Associated Press / March 2, 2011
MADISON, Wis. —Protesters on the floor below screamed, banged on drums, and blew horns....
Governor Scott Walker’s proposals have stirred a national debate over public-sector unions and drawn tens of thousands of protesters to the Capitol for three weeks....
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Yes, we are ALL ONE on this!!
Related: "polls show substantial opposition to the governor and his plan"
"Wis. Senate bypasses Democrats, strips bargaining rights; Maneuver sends bill to Assembly for a final vote" by Scott Bauer, Associated Press / March 10, 2011
MADISON, Wis. — Police and firefighters are exempt.
Another attempt at division.
Walker’s proposal touched off a national debate over union rights for public employees and prompted tens of thousands of demonstrators to converge on Wisconsin’s capital for weeks of protests. Spectators in the Senate gallery screamed “You are cowards’’ as lawmakers voted yesterday.
All in service to banks and well-connected corporations.
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"Unions to use Wis. setback to fuel national counterattack; Measure to curb bargaining rights heads to governor" by Scott Bauer, Associated Press / March 11, 2011
MADISON, Wis. — Yesterday afternoon, the Assembly followed the Senate’s lead, voting 53 to 42 to adopt the bill. Four Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing it. The vote drew shouts of “shame, shame, shame’’ from protesters in the gallery.
Shortly before the vote, police moved dozens of protesters who were sitting just outside the Assembly chamber doors, blocking the way for lawmakers. Officers dragged many of them away, but there were no arrests.
Also see: Wis. backs down from plan to close Capitol
Turns out the police were actually joining protesters.
The protesters have been a constant presence in the building for more than three weeks, with their numbers swelling to more than 80,000 for one weekend rally....
Yes, the Globe chose to ignore that one.
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"Wis. governor signs bill ending union bargaining rights" by Scott Bauer, Associated Press / March 12, 2011
MADISON, Wis. — Dozens of protesters returned to the Capitol yesterday, shouting “Recall Walker!’’ Another large rally was planned for today....
I'm all for a recall!
Walker’s success was a key victory for Republicans who have targeted unions in efforts to slash government spending.
Labor leaders and Democrats vowed to use the setback to fire up their supporters across the country and mount a counterattack at the ballot box next year.
More false division and diversion.
It is not left-right or Democrat-Republican anymore. The choice has become freedom or fascism here in AmeriKa.
The political drama surrounding the proposal was dominated by thousands of protesters who filled the Capitol for weeks, carrying signs, chanting slogan, shouting at lawmakers, and often sleeping on the floor.
That is WHAT MUST BE DONE!!
As rank-and-file and leaders of unions had descended on Madison these past few weeks, the push to limit union rights of public workers has spread to nearby states.
In Des Moines yesterday, the Republican-controlled House voted to overhaul Iowa’s collective bargaining law and the negotiating rights of public workers.
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Also see: Retirees fight Mich. governor’s plan to tax pensions
How about taxing banker bonuses instead?
"Labor unions say Wis. fight not over; Protesters push for GOP recalls after bill signed" by Todd Richmond, Associated Press / March 13, 2011
MADISON, Wis. — Thousands of prolabor protesters turned out for more demonstrations at the Wisconsin Capitol yesterday, undeterred by the fact that a contentious collective bargaining bill had been signed into law the day before....
Yesterday’s protest got a boost from a parade of more than 30 tractors driven by farmers supporting the union workers. Thousands of people lining the sidewalks cheered as tractors rolled by....
President Obama has kept a relatively low profile on the labor issues in Wisconsin and other states. Obama initially appeared to be stepping into that fight when he told a Milwaukee television station that Walker’s measure “seems like more of an assault on unions.’’ Around the same time, his political arm at the Democratic National Committee, Organizing for America, coordinated with unions that were mobilizing demonstrators.
But the DNC has played down its role, and Obama has left most of the criticism to his spokesman, Jay Carney.
Representative Keith Ellison, a Minnesota Democrat, and some union officials want Obama to go to Wisconsin to stand in solidarity with public unions.
Like the PEOPLE of the United States?
But White House officials believe the demonstrators have made the best case on their own and point to surveys that indicated support for bargaining rights.
Republicans already were portraying Obama as a tool of labor for his remarks to the TV station and for the logistical assistance that his political arm had supplied.
The false Democrat-Republican dichotomy no longer works because we went from Republican President-Republican Congress to Republican-Democrat to Democrat-Democrat to Democrat-Republican and the changes only make things worse -- all while the wars, Wall Street, and Israel are fully funded.
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Related:
How I Got to Madison, Wisconsin
The scene in Madison is nothing like what they are showing you on TV or in the newspaper. First, you notice that the whole town is behind this. Yard signs and signs in store windows are everywhere supporting public workers. There are thousands of people out just randomly lining the streets for the six blocks leading to the Capitol building carrying signs, shouting and cheering and cajoling. Then there are stages and friendly competing demos on all sides of the building (yesterday's total estimate of people was 50,000-70,000, the smallest one yet)! A big semi truck has been sent by James Hoffa of the Teamsters and is parked like a don't-even-think-of-effing-with-us Sherman tank on the street in front of the Capitol."
Governor to slash Wisconsin spending
Judge blocks Wis. law curbing workers’ rights
With new governor, Wis. does U-turn on health care
On to the next wedge of distracting division to be employed by the corporate AmeriKan media.
Also see: GOP-led states pursue dual strategy on health care
Unions offer concessions on health care
