Wisconsin. Ohio. Michigan. New Jersey. New York. Budget-battle showdowns are coming soon to a statehouse near you.
Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) has provoked the ire of labor union leaders in Wisconsin, but he’s not alone. Governors across America are confronting budget shortfalls — and looking to public employees to help make up the difference.
Walker’s budget repair bill asks government workers to make a 5.8% pension contribution (about the national average) and 12.6% health insurance contribution (about half the national average). In New Jersey, Republican Gov. Chris Christie proposed that public employees pick up 30 percent of their health care premiums. And in neighboring New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, asked public employees to pay $500 million toward benefits they’re currently receiving for free.
It’s a scenario all too common after years of out-of-control government spending. To tell the story, Heritage partnered with Reason.tv to showcase how states were grappling with the problem and what the consequences would be for public employees.
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Did you or I create the federal and state budget woes? No! Those we trusted and elected into office created the federal and state budget crisis. Unions contributed more than their fair share to the nation and states problems. Public offices should have never been unionized let alone have collective bargaining. It's a conflict of interest. Unions support those who support them and in turn the elected politicians favor the unions. Obama is a great example that this is true. Unions are largely exempt from the Obama Health Care plan? Why? Payback for getting him elected. What's going on in Madison, Wisconsin should be taken nationally. Disband all government unions. Federal, state and local. Abolish the NEA.
Organized Labor, organized crime…. take your pick.
Protesters are partly correct. It is about "union busting"! Without ending
collective bargaining, Wisconsin along with almost every other state, will never solve their budget problems. Many of the these protesters don't realize that they are standing alongside of and supporting socialist anarchist and union rent a mob freaks that were bused in to ferment chaos. Some protesters intentions may be American, but they should understand that they are aiding those who's whole purpose to be their is to destroy our American way of life.
Excellant write, Mr. Jensen!
For the governors of each state to address a major problem of corruption (unions) is commendable. Leaves them a true title of American hero. Any Republican or democrat that refuses to accept the corruption of these unions are rinos and ignorant. Can't be trusted. These impostors (president) doesn't even acknowledge FDR's realization that UNIONS do not belong in public service! It's about corruption, union teachers and alot of your involvement regarding the corruption, union teachers. The perpetrators of corruption are the unions, any reasonable person would bust them to pieces if they care about the principles of America. Seems unions destroyed their members ability to reason. Who wants this weakness teaching children? They grab onto the corrupt, unfair benefits which means it has nothing to do with their love of educating children.
We must be more selective as to who teaches our children. Teachers must be screened and drug checked periodically. Tax money paid to fund teachers are benifiting the liberal agenda. Stop union dues going for political gain.
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Mr. Jensen is right in every aspect, the other thing is, our president needs to stay out of the governors budget. The president cannot handle his own budget.
The president is bought and paid for by the union bosses. Did they ever find Jimmy Hoffa?