Wisconsin Republican floats 'compromise' (that isn't a compromise)

[ProSense]

Wisconsin Republican floats 'compromise'

by Barbara Morrill

Right on cue, the "compromise" that isn't a compromise:

With Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker maintaining a hard line on his budget bill and Democratic senators refusing to return to Madison to vote, attention is turning to a group of moderate Republican senators to negotiate a compromise to the stalemate that has drawn thousands of protesters to the state capital for a sixth straight day.

The proposal, written by Sen. Dale Schultz and first floated in the Republican caucus early last week, calls for most collective bargaining rights of public employee unions to be eliminated – per Mr. Walker's bill – but then reinstated in 2013, said Mr. Schultzs's chief of staff Todd Allbaugh.

"Dale is committed to find a way to preserve collective bargaining in the future," said Mr. Allbaugh in a telephone interview.

Here's how you preserve collective bargaining for the future: you don't take it away today.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. In politics, nothing is "temporary".

Ladies and Gentleman, I give you the PATIOT Act . . . .

[Auntie Bush]

2. And the tax cuts for the rich.

That will be taken away when a pig wears lipstick.

[chowhound]

9. now why did u have to bring sara palin into this

[mrmpa]

11. In Pennsylvania we're still paying the 1936 Johnstown Flood tax on Alcohol...eom

[FBaggins]

3. They're just trying to appear reasonable.

Get out guys into the room and the game is over.

It's a game that both sides play of course. Our guys have offered to give up all of the financial concessions in exchange for maintaining bargaining rights. This too is just positioning to move the ball in the right direction. They aren't empowered to make such a deal, and it would never happen that way, but making the offer puts the pressure on the governor to explain why he's fighting over the pieces that are left.

[Angry Dragon]

5. He says he will not bargain

He says that there is no wiggle room on his side
Take it or he will fire 10,000 to 12,000

[FBaggins]

7. Right. And the Democratic senators say they won't return unless he relents.

At least one of the two isn't telling the truth.

He very well might lay off thousands. Plenty of other states are doing it... but we know that his real goal definitely includes busting the unions.

[Angry Dragon]

8. My money would be on him lying

Did you happen to see the part in his great bill about being able to sell public utilities with no bid and no oversight??
It was in a couple of OPS this morning. It sounds like this whole bill is just one great big giveaway.
The only reason that Wisconsin finds itself with no money is because he gave away the surplus he entered office with to corporate tax breaks.

[FBaggins]

10. Of course he is.

But this isn't an either-or thing. They're just public positioning statements.

The rest of your statements are preaching to the choir. There are lots of reasons to oppose the legislation. That doesn't mean that we're going to win, it means that we have more issues to run on for the next election.

[el_bryanto]

4. I gather the theory is that in 2013 they will have even greater majorities

and can revisit this. And get rid of them permenantly.

Bryant

[Inuca]

6. And Walker right away says NO

even to this (heard earlier today on MSNBC).