Wisconsin Gov. Walker Ginned Up Budget Shortfall To Undercut Worker Rights

[cali]

Brian Beutler | February 17, 2011, 1:47PM

Wisconsin's new Republican governor has framed his assault on public worker's collective bargaining rights as a needed measure of fiscal austerity during tough times.

The reality is radically different. Unlike true austerity measures -- service rollbacks, furloughs, and other temporary measures that cause pain but save money -- rolling back worker's bargaining rights by itself saves almost nothing on its own. But Walker's doing it anyhow, to knock down a barrier and allow him to cut state employee benefits immediately.

Furthermore, this broadside comes less than a month after the state's fiscal bureau -- the Wisconsin equivalent of the Congressional Budget Office -- concluded that Wisconsin isn't even in need of austerity measures, and could conclude the fiscal year with a surplus. In fact, they say that the current budget shortfall is a direct result of tax cut policies Walker enacted in his first days in office.

"Walker was not forced into a budget repair bill by circumstances beyond he control," says Jack Norman, research director at the Institute for Wisconsin Future -- a public interest think tank. "He wanted a budget repair bill and forced it by pushing through tax cuts... so he could rush through these other changes."

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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/wisconsin-gov-walker-ginned-up-budget-shortfall-to-undercut-worker-rights.php

[BonnieJW]

1. Recall?

Just do what California did. Kick him out.

[somone]

2. The Koch Bros are using Wisconsin as their clinical trial

before a nationwide rollout

[dkofos]

3. That should be worth a recall.

[RKP5637]

4. Sure sounds dishonest to say the least! n/t

[eleny]

5. The workers have done so much but the wealthy have their powerful agenda and puppets to carry it out

KR

[OHdem10]

6. Keep eyes peeled toward Ohio. and Gov Kasich.

Demonstrations going on now.

[denverbill]

7. Does Wisconsin have a recall provision for their governors? n/t

[Luciferous]

8. They have to wait a year nt

[a kennedy]

9. yes...

read it here:

http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=11827&locid=47

[upi402]

10. No budget crisis "It was way worse 2 years ago" -Runaway Dem

Maddow called this BS agitprop out tonight.

[drm604]

11. K&R

:kick:

[WillyT]

12. HUGE K & R !!!

:kick: