Speak Out: Like him or not Scott Walker proved you dont have to raise taxes to balance the budget.

Replies (20)

• Regret, That article mentions another point I've made before. The monies generated by lottery and casino taxes was to fix the short funding for education [if there was a funding problem for education and not a spending problem]. The tobacco settlement and taxes were to cover the expenses of tobacco related illness.

  The schools still cry about lack of funding and all that tobbacco money was spent for other things.

  -- Posted by Old John on Mon, Feb 20, 2012, at 11:33 PM

• I bet the far left really loved this one they had it thrown right back in their faces. The Ed Show and all of that bunch ranted and raving all the time about the governor. He is doing his job and it appears doing it well.

  -- Posted by swampeastmissouri on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 6:14 AM

• If Walker gets voted out for doing the right thing then WI is in trouble.

  This is all about 1 thing - unions and democrats. If you read the article it points out the previous governors slush fund to pay them back.

  I remember in 2001 when MO Gov. Bob Holden made an "executive order" - with NO approval from the Congress - granting 30,000 state workers the right to form and join unions. Payback for his election. He was a one termer and one of the worst governors I've seen. I actually thought at the time - "If this clown can get elected, I should run".

  -- Posted by not_sorry on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 9:09 AM

• OJ

  At least he didn't blow it on some downtown Madison fountain and benches. He paid bills with it.

  -- Posted by We Regret To Inform U on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 9:34 AM

• "If Walker gets voted out for doing the right thing then WI is in trouble."

  The governor is being voted out because he deliberately overstepped his bounds in denying workers the right to negotiate for working conditions. The pay issues were long settled prior to his taking further unnecessary actions. It is curious the both firemen and policemen have similar union contracts and rights, but the governor chose not to attack them.

  Clearly, opposition to his recall cannot be based on "a balanced budget" (which is required by state law anyhow) because the pay and financial issues were already settled and not contested.

  -- Posted by commonsensematters on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 9:53 AM

• Dug

  Walker did a fine job. Remember the paid protestors that had no idea what it was about? The local business were threatened to put pro labor signs in their windows or else. It was a riot staged by big labor and many followed like mice.

  -- Posted by We Regret To Inform U on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 9:57 AM

• "The governor is being voted out because he deliberately overstepped his bounds"

  He didn't overstep anything. All legal and supported by the state courts. Only an Obama follower would overrule or ignore court decisions.

  =======================================

  "It is curious the both firemen and policemen have similar union contracts and rights, but the governor chose not to attack them."

  It is also curious that you don't realize that firemen/police are NOT state funded. Education is. The state deficit wasn't related to fire/police workers. Nice spin move though!

  =======================================

  "Clearly, opposition to his recall cannot be based on "a balanced budget" (which is required by state law anyhow) because the pay and financial issues were already settled and not contested."

  And this is why Wisconsin had a $3.6 BILLION dollar deficit that is now gone?

  I'm having a rough day today. I need some of that kool-aid your drinking.

  -- Posted by not_sorry on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 10:11 AM

• "The state deficit wasn't related to fire/police workers...

  "...$3.6 BILLION dollar deficit that is now gone?"

  You still appear to have a serious comprehension problem. Who pays the workers, and the deficit were not the problem. The financial concessions were made at the beginning of the controversy, so the deficit was solved prior to the governor going off the deep end and insisting that collective bargaining be eliminated. That issue had nothing to do with money, and the fire/police were not stripped of their collective rights. Nice try though.

  -- Posted by commonsensematters on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 12:10 PM

• -- Posted by commonsensematters on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 12:10 PM

  Couldn't be more wrong. The deficit is a STATE deficit. You can't spin that. Education is funded by the STATE. The state did have a $3.6 Billion dollar deficit when Walker became governor. The deficit is gone with the changes Walker got thru congress and signed. This isn't too hard to comprehend.

  The fire/police unions that you brought up are not paid by the state. He didn't go after all the unions in the state as you suggest. He went after the deficit and fixed it.

  Why would you ask this question? "It is curious the both firemen and policemen have similar union contracts and rights, but the governor chose not to attack them." Either a) you are intentionally misleading or b) clueless. I'll let you pick.

  Do they teach a 3 hour course in spinamology at SEMO?

  -- Posted by not_sorry on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 12:38 PM

• "The deficit is gone with the changes Walker got thru congress and signed."

  Yes, and that happened before he went wild and insisted that collective bargaining be eliminated.

  "This isn't too hard to comprehend." But it could be since it had to be explained 3 times...

  -- Posted by commonsensematters on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 12:49 PM

• "This isn't too hard to comprehend." But it could be since it had to be explained 3 times...-- Posted by commonsensematters on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 12:49 PM

  Lying 3 times is not an explanation.

  -- Posted by not_sorry on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 12:51 PM

• Yes, and that happened before he went wild and insisted that collective bargaining be eliminated.

  "This isn't too hard to comprehend." But it could be since it had to be explained 3 times...

  -- Posted by commonsensematters on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 12:49 PM

  HE SIGNED A BALANCED BUDGET! It is state law. Part of the deal was to eliminate the burden his predecessors gave him including the teachers befits. It was on the front page daily for a month and you still say it didn't happen. I guess all states should maintain a huge deficit so Obama doesn't look so bad.

  It's time to cut the fat.

  -- Posted by We Regret To Inform U on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 1:40 PM

• Regret: I have never been for Public Service workers joining a Union, they are answerable to the public and the Public pays there salaries 24 they should be independent as they must enforce the laws of the land and also make sure rules are enforced. I feel like FDR did on this which he was against Public Service workers organizing.

  -- Posted by swampeastmissouri on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 3:27 PM

• Swamp

  You are right about FDR. In New york, one of the biggest problems they have is public sector unions. They now cannot fire a teacher for two years no matter how bad they are because of past agreements. This was all done by the politicians selling out to the unions for their money and support.

  It is dangerous to the public for their servants to be able to dictate the wages and conditions which they will give essential services for safety of the citizen or else.

  They are also responsible for the outlandish benefits that can not the afforded by the state but received because of the political pressure they can exert. Look at the mess they created in Wisconsin. It is easier to deny a benefit than take it back. Caving in is what past administrations have done and Obama is multiplying.

  -- Posted by We Regret To Inform U on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 6:32 PM

• Regret: Illinois is a prime example of these unbelivable public service worker Union contracts. The State is 13 billion dollars in debt has one of the highest tax bases in the Union but they do nothing in order to reduce the debt they have. California is another example far worse then Illinois. In Illinois the control lies with the Chicago Machine the folks down on the southern end are left out, which are more conservative.

  -- Posted by swampeastmissouri on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 8:23 PM

• Swamp,

  Get ready for the States like Illinois and California to threaten bankruptcy unless the Feds bail them out with the money of the people who try to live more conservatively.

  I say let them bankrupt. To hell with the notion that anybody or anything is too big to fail.

  -- Posted by Have_Wheels_Will_Travel on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 8:52 PM

• Swamp

  They always say it rolls downhill in IL.

  I have a good respect for the local unions but the days of the steel toe hardhat wearing working man is different from white collar and professional people.

  The government workers already have decent paying jobs and good benefits as good or better than the private sector.

  It isn't right for the union to set across the table from the citizens representatives and have a say in how the states money should be spent. They can also throw in the "we will vote you out if you don't abide to our wishes" at the table.

  The big deal was Wisconsin saying there would be no automatic deduction to pay the union. The union is not as worried about the people as much as themselves.

  -- Posted by We Regret To Inform U on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 9:08 PM

• Calif. & Illinois have large numbers of electoral votes. If they wish to be bailed out by the current regime in Wash DC, or the next, they will be bailed out. Granted, the regime will put on a dog and pony show for the people and fauning press about how they hate to have to do it, but will none-the-less bail out these states no questions asked. It's only money.........yours.

  -- Posted by FreedomFadingFast on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 9:52 PM

• Just caught this and it should make my point.

  "AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka stood a few blocks from the White House and issued a stern warning: Union members could not be counted on as the Democrats' foot soldiers anymore.

  "If leaders aren't blocking the wrecking ball and advancing working families' interests, then working people will not support them," he said in a speech at the National Press Club."

  -- Posted by We Regret To Inform U on Tue, Feb 21, 2012, at 9:54 PM

• In the 2004 Presidential election 60% of the rank and file voted for GW Bush and 40% voted for John Kerry. I look for about the same pertcentage for the 2012 election. That is the working membership now not the Union Bosses that sit in the regional and international offices.

  -- Posted by swampeastmissouri on Wed, Feb 22, 2012, at 5:04 AM