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Wed Feb 23 06:33:41 PST 2011
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Reporter: Jeff Thelen jthelen@wsaw.com

The Budget Battle

Hi all...

So, what's new? Seems like a pretty silly question since after the Super Bowl hoopla died down all anyone is talking about right now is Wisconsin's budget battle.

I knew it was a big deal when it was the top story on "The Daily Show with John Stewart" Monday night. They called it "Crisis in the Dairyland, Revenge of the Curds." Even if given the opportunity to be that clever on Sunrise 7, I don't think I could be.

OK, I won't tell you how I feel about the issue. It's not my place. But I will ask a couple of questions.

1) During his campaign, didn't the Gov. subtly say this was coming? Why is anyone surprised?

2) Is a good wage and very good benefits plan for state workers and teachers REALLY what got us into the red in Wisconsin?

3) Gov. Walker, you've been offered the compromise, why are so quick to say no to it? Doesn't that add more fuel to the fire for those who believe this is more about busting the union than it is about fixing the budget?

4) Those who are anti-union, do you think corporations throughout history would have given workers safe working conditions, fair wages, health care, vacations and other bennies without it?

5) Unions, don't you share at least a little of the blame for our economic problems?

6) Doctors who hand out excuses to demonstrators, are you really surprised that infuriates people?

7) Senate Democrats who've left the state, are you really surprised that infuriates people, prompting some recall efforts?

8) People who call for cuts and not tax increases to balance the budget, are you willing to make cuts to programs that directly help you?

9) People who want tax increases and not cuts to balance the budget, why must we always look to the government for help?

10) People on either side who make comparisons of your political opponents to Hitler or any dictator for that matter, doesn't that hurt your credibility?

11) Fox News pundits, why are the demonstrators in Madison lawbreakers and Tea Party members who rally patriots?

11a) MSNBC pundits, why are the demonstrators in Madison patriots and Tea Party members who rally lawbreakers?

I'd love to hear what you think.

J

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  • by Sandy Location: Marshfield on Mar 24, 2011 at 05:12 PM
    People are scared, people are hurting and now they (Politicians) have us turning on each other. Why aren’t we looking at the health care industry? Should one industry have the power and capability to bankrupt our Nation? Why are bankers making millions off of a historic recession, why aren’t we talking about this? Why are we ganging up on public employees? And, where does it end? Do we start to attack the Walmart guy making $10 an hour. I get it. We have a deficit, but it’s not because of your neighbor that cleans the toilets at your local school. They’re many different public sector jobs and really, would you want to serve lunch to a murderer in a state prison? If you think it’s so great… Apply!!! I would love it if people would start talking about the creation of more and better paying jobs for ALL persons, so we can ALL pay our share… such an easy solution. Now, how do we get there?
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  • by Lena Location: Northern WI on Mar 8, 2011 at 08:27 AM
    WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! Thru unions workers have slowly thru the years gained rights that have benefited all workers. New boss doesn't like you? Without a union, you're out! Gave 20 years of faithful service and they want to hire someone for less wages? Too bad for you, at your age maybe McDonald's or Walmart will hire you! Jealous because union workers have good healthcare and retirement benefits? Maybe instead of voting the union out of your plant you should've opted them in instead of being at the mercy of your company! Why do most companies fail to give their workers benefits? Because they don't have to! Are union's perfect? Absolutely not! Bad apples abound everywhere!!! But, without unions, workers are doomed to the whims of a company. CEO salaries and bonus money are out of sight, maybe companies should skim off some of that cream and share with the people that labor to make their products! Want to be a 3rd world country? We're headed that way!!!

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts. J
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  • by jim Location: marshfield on Mar 6, 2011 at 07:31 PM
    Unions are by far, way out of date and out of touch. Anyone realize the Union President presiding over WEAC makes $300k per year? Does anyone realize how much teachers, police, fire, nurses, etc. pay in union dues every month? Heck, dump the union, buy their own health care and the union workers will still pocket extra money after it's all said and done. Both sides have NOT handled this well, there's no doubt in that. However, this state (along with this country) spent like drunken sailors the past few years and it has to stop. Does anyone realize what will happen if US Bonds lose their Triple A rating? Go look it up for yourselves.. it won't be pretty. Quit the spending and balance this state's and the nation's budgets NOW!!! before it is too late.

    Thanks for joining in. J
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  • by Nancy Location: Athens on Mar 3, 2011 at 02:23 PM
    Whatever sympathy I may have had for the protestors has turned into contempt for what they are doing at the capitol. Their total disrespect for our leaders is shameful to say the least. Calling our Gov. another Hitler, Stalin, Mubarak and even satan, did nothing to endear me to their cause. What ever happened to civility? I am in complete support of our governor and the taxpayers of this state. Things need to change and hopefully when these blackmailing senators return, we can get on with our lives again.

    Thanks for sharing your opinion. J
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  • by chris Location: rib lake on Feb 28, 2011 at 03:47 PM
    While everyone if looking at the collective bargining part of the bill no one is looking at the rest of it. The repair bill will take away from low income an seniors when you look at what it will do to badgercare,medicaid and medicare, but nobody is bringing up these issues. There is no middle class any more. Just upper and lower and no one is watching out for the lower class. If walker is worried about the budget just ask how much monet is being spent going around the state trying to drum up support and recalling the democratic senators. We are paying for it!!

    Thanks for joining in the discussion. J
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  • by jeff Location: antigo on Feb 27, 2011 at 11:01 PM
    I am self employed, and I am sick and tired of paying 100% of the insurance and pension benefits for public sector workers and not able to afford it for myself. I'm also tired of seeing substandard teachers being kept on the payrolls while the better teachers are not properly rewarded thanks to collective bagaining. The people of Wisconsin voted for the hope and change that they could believe in when they elected Gov. Walker. The 14 Democrats are acting like spoiled little brats. I signed a recall Holperin petition earlier today and I hope they go through with it. They don't deserve to be senators. We also don't need the unions and the union boss's to do the money laundering for the Democratic National Committee.

    Thanks for the comment. J
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  • by Bill Location: WisconsinRapids on Feb 25, 2011 at 01:21 PM
    as a retired union member I know first hand that collective bargining can work against you. the ones that benifit the most are the big union boss' . It feels real good to be retired, now I can recover some of that money those stuffed shirts have been stealing from me for years.

    Thanks for the perspective. J
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  • by Jo Location: northern wisconsin on Feb 24, 2011 at 06:21 AM
    First, no one who peacefully demonstrates is breaking the law, that is a constitutional right. As for the democratic lawmakers, they are the only hope for allowing this issue to be resolved sensibly. Have called my republican reps, and they have vowed to vote with the Gov. who appears to not be open to the pay concessions (thought this was about balancing the budget?) certainly this is all about union busting. Giving concessions to special interests is a waste of money. Calling the state open for business, after the last administration gave everything away for years to keep open Janesville GM plant and received nothing in return but a goodbye letter ought to be a wakeup call. Workers were not the problem, they built products that people no longer wanted to purchase. Blaming workers for all of the problems just masks all of the giveaways to wall street. All workers have suffered through this recession, and fighting amongst ourselves makes a race to the bottom.

    Thanks, Jo. J
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  • by Joy Location: Weston on Feb 23, 2011 at 09:17 PM
    GM, Chrysler, Ford, didn't we learn anything? Unions, for the most part, are no longer in business to protect the workers that have to buy into the organization. Unions are now in business for themselves. The private sector is seeing jobs eliminated, salaries decreased, hours cut, premiums rising, retirement packages dwindling but that's ok. The public sector is suppose to be protected from this? I have all sorts of respect for the teachers that educate my children, the police and firemen that keep us safe and so on and so forth, but the balloon has burst. And for the record, I was a public service employee prior to choosing to stay home with my daughters.

    Thanks for the input. J
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  • by ron Location: stevens point on Feb 23, 2011 at 05:17 PM
    here is my question why is he giving 140 million dollars to special intrest groups if we are in need of money in my opinion this was a stupid move and these groups got him elected so who is wasteing money the gov is

    Appreciate you joining the conversation. J
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