House Democrats Votes to Restrict Unions in Massachusetts

It is nice to see Democrats backstabbing the unions. It is music to ones ear. LOL

(Boston.com) House lawmakers voted overwhelmingly last night to strip police officers, teachers, and other municipal employees of most of their rights to bargain over health care, saying the change would save millions of dollars for financially strapped cities and towns.

The 111-to-42 vote followed tougher measures to broadly eliminate collective bargaining rights for public employees in Ohio, Wisconsin, and other states. But unlike those efforts, the push in Massachusetts was led by Democrats who have traditionally stood with labor to oppose any reduction in workers’ rights.

Unions fought hard to stop the bill, launching a radio ad that assailed the plan and warning legislators that if they voted for the measure, they could lose their union backing in the next election. After the vote, labor leaders accused House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and other Democrats of turning their backs on public employees.

“It’s pretty stunning,’’ said Robert J. Haynes, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. “These are the same Democrats that all these labor unions elected. The same Democrats who we contributed to in their campaigns. The same Democrats who tell us over and over again that they’re with us, that they believe in collective bargaining, that they believe in unions. . . . It’s a done deal for our relationship with the people inside that chamber.’’

We Have Become a Welfare Nation, We Dont Make Things Anymore

It is really sad that there are more Americans settling to work for the comforts within the government than to work for the private sector in producing goods and services. This is why many states are going into bankruptcy. The government takes the tax payers money to pay these civil servants. The more the government grows the higher our taxes are needed to be levied to pay the government employee.

(WSJ) If you want to understand better why so many states—from New York to Wisconsin to California—are teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, consider this depressing statistic: Today in America there are nearly twice as many people working for the government (22.5 million) than in all of manufacturing (11.5 million). This is an almost exact reversal of the situation in 1960, when there were 15 million workers in manufacturing and 8.7 million collecting a paycheck from the government.

It gets worse. More Americans work for the government than work in construction, farming, fishing, forestry, manufacturing, mining and utilities combined. We have moved decisively from a nation of makers to a nation of takers. Nearly half of the $2.2 trillion cost of state and local governments is the $1 trillion-a-year tab for pay and benefits of state and local employees. Is it any wonder that so many states and cities cannot pay their bills?

Don't expect a reversal of this trend anytime soon. Surveys of college graduates are finding that more and more of our top minds want to work for the government. Why? Because in recent years only government agencies have been hiring, and because the offer of near lifetime security is highly valued in these times of economic turbulence. When 23-year-olds aren't willing to take career risks, we have a real problem on our hands. Sadly, we could end up with a generation of Americans who want to work at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Bolton: Obama Administration Has No Foreign Policy

The Obama Administration has no experience in Foreign Policy. The Obama foreign policy has been reactive than proactive. The chaos speading throughout the Middle East and North Africa is a prime example that our president is not ready to lead. The fact is that the chaos abroad is unamanageable. In addition, our president Obama has not quell the widespead union uproar in Wisconsin and many other states. Instead, Obama is having a huge gala at the White House celebrating Motown. This party started last Thursday and will conclude Sunday night with Gladis Night and the Pips. Obama thinks being president is an all fun partying and vacationing position.

Bolton: Obama Administration Has No Foreign Policy

Former US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton says President Obama has shown he has "no foreign policy."

Wisconsin GOP Will Force Wisconsin Democrats to Pick Up Their Paycheck

It seems the Wisconsin GOP will get the last laugh afterall. By changing the Senate rule, a senator that miss two consecutive floor days will have to pick up their paychecks in person. It is a brilliant idea and one way to flush these cowardly Democrats back to senate chamber.

(JSOline) Madison -- Senate Republicans voted Tuesday to make Democrats hiding out in Illinois come back to Wisconsin to pick up their paychecks.

The Senate Committee on Organization voted on a 3-2 party line vote, with Republicans voting in favor and Democrats against, to change Senate rules so that senators who miss two consecutive floor days can no longer have their paychecks dropped automatically into their bank accounts. The vote was taken by paper ballot, which allowed Democrats to cast their votes from out-of-state.

Democrats who have already missed two consecutive floor sessions will now have to come to get their paychecks directly from Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) on the floor of the Senate.

"The majority leader shall provide the checks only to the absent Senator and only on the floor of the Senate during a session day," the new rule reads.

Democrats have been holed up in Illinois to block a Senate vote on Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill.

Even President Reagan and FDR was Against Collective Bargaining and Public Unions

FDR and Ronald Reagan understood the negative impact with public unions. I just can't understand why Obama and the Liberal elitist don't get it? Reagan was right to fire the air traffic controllers in 1981. The government has an obligation to the public. Reagan said it best by stating, "we cannot compare labor-management relations in the private sector with government. Government cannot close down the assembly line. It has to provide without interruption the protective services which are government's reason for being."


In a letter to the President of the National Federation of Federal Employees, FDR said,

The desire of Government employees for fair and adequate pay, reasonable hours of work, safe and suitable working conditions, development of opportunities for advancement, facilities for fair and impartial consideration and review of grievances, and other objectives of a proper employee relations policy, is basically no different from that of employees in private industry. Organization on their part to present their views on such matters is both natural and logical, but meticulous attention should be paid to the special relationships and obligations of public servants to the public itself and to the Government.

All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It
has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management. The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with Government employee organizations. The employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives in Congress. Accordingly, administrative officials and employees alike are governed and guided, and in many instances restricted, by laws which establish policies, procedures, or rules in personnel matters.

Particularly, I want to emphasize my conviction that militant tactics have no place in the functions of any organization of Government employees. Upon employees in the Federal service rests the obligation to serve the whole people, whose interests and welfare require orderliness and continuity in the conduct of Government activities. This obligation is paramount. Since their own services have to do with the functioning of the Government, a strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent on their part to prevent or obstruct the operations of Government until their demands are satisfied. Such action, looking toward the paralysis of Government by those who have sworn to support it, is unthinkable and intolerable. It is, therefore, with a feeling of gratification that I have noted in the constitution of the National Federation of Federal Employees the provision that "under no circumstances shall this Federation engage in or support strikes against the United States Government."

Two-Thirds of Wisconsin Public-School 8th Graders Can’t Read Proficiently

If teachers stop complaining and protesting with unions about salary and benefits, our kids would be less likely to be stupid when they enter high school. It proves my point that many teachers don't know how to teach, but rather, they bide their time till they reach tenure, which make teachers impossible to fire.

(CNSNews.com) Two-thirds of the eighth graders in Wisconsin public schools cannot read proficiently according to the U.S. Department of Education, despite the fact that Wisconsin spends more per pupil in its public schools than any other state in the Midwest.

In the National Assessment of Educational Progress tests administered by the U.S. Department of Education in 2009—the latest year available—only 32 percent of Wisconsin public-school eighth graders earned a “proficient” rating while another 2 percent earned an “advanced” rating. The other 66 percent of Wisconsin public-school eighth graders earned ratings below “proficient,” including 44 percent who earned a rating of “basic” and 22 percent who earned a rating of “below basic.”

The $10,791 that Wisconsin spent per pupil in its public elementary and secondary schools in fiscal year 2008 was more than any other state in the Midwest.

Neighboring Illinois spent $10,353 per student in 2008, Minnesota spent $10,048 per student; Iowa spent $9,520 per student. Among Midwest states, Nebraska was second to Wisconsin in per pupil spending in its public schools, spending $10,565 per student.

Nationwide, only 30 percent of public school eighth graders earned a rating of “proficient” or better in reading, and the average reading score on the NAEP test was 262 out of 500.

Obama and Wisconsin Democrats are Fighting for the Wrong Reason

The arguement from the unions are considered ignorant, selfish, and arrogant. The union workers are saying the governor's plan have blindsided them by surprise. Also, they say Gov. Walker's is intentionally targeting public employees while giving tax breaks to businesses worth about $117 million, which provides jobs to many people. The class warfare that Democrats use with proficiency doesn't fly in this turbulent climate. Democrats must understand that giving tax breaks to businesses doesn't equate to owners pocketing the money. These tax breaks give the company room to grow by providing jobs and expansion. Also, the tax breaks will help lower the cost of the product that the companies would pass on to the consumer. The last time I checked public employees don't provide jobs.

(FoxNews) Wisconsin's senate majority leader says the chamber will convene to pass non-spending bills and act on appointments Tuesday even if minority Democrats remain out of state.

Republican Sen. Scott Fitzgerald told The Associated Press on Sunday that he would be reviewing which bills and appointees to schedule for action. He says senators can't wait around "twiddling their thumbs" until the Democrats return.

Protesters and Democratic lawmakers have likened Walker to a dictator, and demonstrators protesting the budget bill have waived signs comparing him to ousted Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak and Adolf Hitler.

Walker said he hoped "cooler minds will prevail" and lawmakers will come back to vote.

"Those senate Democrats should realize, if you want to participate in a democracy, you got to be in the arena. And the arena is right here in Madison, Wisconsin. It's not hiding out in Rockford, Illinois, or Chicago, or anywhere else out there. Democracy means you show up and participate.

And they failed to do that. They're walking out on their job," he said.

President Obama, whose group Organizing for America, has bused in some of the nearly 70,000 protesters Saturday, last week called the bill "an assault on unions."

Walker said the president should stay focused on fixing the federal budget, which is $1.5 trillion in deficit this year. The president's plan, rolled out last week, proposes $1.65 trillion in deficits next year.

Under the governor's proposal, unions still could represent workers, but they could not force employees to pay dues and would have to hold annual votes to stay organized. Only wages below the Consumer Price Index would be subject to collective bargaining, anything higher would have to be approved by referendum.

Wisconsin Teachers are Damn Greedy

With the total package these Wisconsin teachers are getting, they shouldn't be complaining. The prepared protest erupting around Madison, Wisconsin is all about greedy teachers and corrupt unions. Instead of thinking about the education of the children, the unions and the teachers are only thinking about themselves.

(Maciver Institute) Average MPS Teacher Compensation Tops $100k/year

[Milwaukee, Wisconsin] MacIver News Service – For the first time in history, the average annual compensation for a teacher in the Milwaukee Public School system will exceed $100,000.

That staggering figure was revealed last night at a meeting of the MPS School Board.

The average salary for an MPS teacher is $56,500. When fringe benefits are factored in, the annual compensation will be $100,005 in 2011.

Obama is Deliberately Dividing this Country by Supporting Wisconsin Unions

If Reagan was around, he would have fired these teachers just like the air traffic controllers. As I said before, Obama is no Reagan. Obama will never be known as the great communicator but the great divider.

(Washington Post) MADISON, WIS. - President Obama thrust himself and his political operation this week into Wisconsin's broiling budget battle, mobilizing opposition Thursday to a Republican bill that would curb public-worker benefits and planning similar protests in other state capitals.

Obama accused Scott Walker, the state's new Republican governor, of unleashing an "assault" on unions in pushing emergency legislation that would change future collective-bargaining agreements that affect most public employees, including teachers.

Their efforts began to spread, as thousands of labor supporters turned out for a hearing in Columbus, Ohio, to protest a measure from Gov. John Kasich (R) that would cut collective-bargaining rights.

By the end of the day, Democratic Party officials were organizing additional demonstrations in Ohio and Indiana, where an effort is underway to trim benefits for public workers. Some union activists predicted similar protests in Missouri, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Under Walker's plan, most public workers - excluding police, firefighters and state troopers - would have to pay half of their pension costs and at least 12 percent of their health-care costs. They would lose bargaining rights for anything other than pay. Walker, who took office last month, says the emergency measure would save $300 million over the next two years to help close a $3.6 billion budget gap.

Wisconsin Democrats Are a Bunch of Cowards

The Egypt revolution finally landed on American soil. Wisconsin is the new battle ground between Conservates and the Unions. The Democrat Legislators are bunch of cowards not wanting to vote on a bill. Instead, they got on a bus and cross states lines to a nice resort. It seems the Democrats didnt want to vote on a bill to eliminate union ollective bargaining rights, and making public workers pay half the costs of their pensions and at least 12.6 percent of their health care coverage, which is comparable with those in the private sector. The benefit is win-win situation to all Wisconsin resident because the savings the bill would achieve -- $30million by July 1 and $300 million over the next two years and it will balance the budget by fixing a $3.6 billion budget shortfall.

(WTMJ News) MADISON - Democratic State Senators who protested the budget repair bill by leaving the state have been found.

The lawmakers are in the Best Western Clock Tower Resort in Rockford Illinois.

Law enforcement officials have been looking for at least one Democratic senator to bring in for a quorum required for a fiscal measure, but Democratic Senator Jon Erpenbach confirmed to Newsradio 620 WTMJ that he and all of his Democratic colleagues boarded a bus and left the state.

"We're not in Wisconsin right now," Erpenbach said. "The reason why we're doing this is because there are some jurisdictional issues that we'd be dealing with."

The Senate's Sergeant at Arms cannot compel Senators' attendance in an open session if they are outside of state lines.

With the Democrats gone, not enough Senators are available for a quorum to vote on the bill.

The wait could happen for as long as hours, or even days, until a Democratic senator comes in.

Blizzard Paralyze NYC was a Deliberate Payback from Unions

The slow response to dig out NYC from last weeks blizzard was intentional by Unions. The Fed is investigating allegations of a work slowdown in retaliation for budget cuts and demotions of supervisors within the Sanitation Department. This cruel political stunt was not funny to many residence of NYC. Many suffered due to the blizzard. Some died from it because the fire department and paramedics were unable to navigate through the snow.

(Daily News) Federal prosecutors opened a criminal probe into allegations sanitation workers conspired to paralyze the city in last week's blizzard, sources said.

The investigation by the Brooklyn U.S. attorney's public integrity unit was prompted by the claim by City Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Queens) that guilt-racked workers told him a slowdown was ordered as vengeance for budget cuts and demotions.

If true, the feds could examine whether wire or mail fraud statutes were violated by workers pocketing overtime pay during an illegal job action, sources said.

GM's union recovering after stock sale

Bailouts never work, especially when government intervention is involved. When the government took over General Motors, they created a partnership with the unions. When the government(owner) made money, the unions benefit the most. When something looks too good to be true, it is. It proves that Obama's stimulus package and bailouts only benefited those group of people that helped him get the White House. It is also called a "pay-off".

(Washington Times)- General Motors Co.’s recent stock offering was staged to start paying back the government for its $50 billion bailout, but one group made out much better than the taxpayers or other investors: the company’s union.

Thanks to a generous share of GM stock obtained in the company’s 2009 bankruptcy settlement, the United Auto Workers is well on its way to recouping the billions of dollars GM owed it — putting it far ahead of taxpayers who have recouped only about 30 percent of their investment and further still ahead of investors in the old GM who have received nothing.

The boon for the union fits the pattern established when the White House pushed GM into bankruptcy and steered it through the courts in a way that consistently put the interests of the union ahead of many suppliers, dealers and investors — stakeholders that ordinarily would have fared as well or better under the bankruptcy laws.

“Priority one was serving the interests of the UAW” when the White House’s auto task force engineered the bankruptcy, said Glenn Reynolds, an analyst at CreditSights. The stock offering served to show once again how the White House has handsomely rewarded its political allies, he said.

The union’s health care and pension trust fund earned $3.4 billion through the sale of one-third of its shares in GM last week. Analysts estimate that it would break even if it sells the remaining two-thirds of its shares at an average price of $36 — close to where the stock traded shortly after the offering hit the market. GM shares closed at $33.45 on Wednesday.

For taxpayers to break even, by contrast, the stock would have to rise to at least $52 and by some estimates as high as $103 — levels that would take years to achieve.

In any event, after selling one-third of its shares last week, the U.S. Treasury has agreed not to sell any more of its GM stock for another six months, while the union fund is free to keep selling its shares.

Through the offering, the Treasury recouped $13.7 billion of its $49.5 billion cash infusion in GM, with another $1.8 billion possible by the end of the year. GM is repaying another $9.5 billion in loans from the Treasury, but that still leaves taxpayers a long way from breaking even.

Union claims ordinarily do not receive such special treatment in bankruptcies.