Last night, Wisconsin State Senate Republicans stripped most public employees unions of most collective bargaining rights. After insisting for weeks that busting the unions was essential to balancing the state's budget, they broke Governor Scott Walker's "budget-repair bill" into two parts. One part contained the anti-union provisions, the other the items that Republicans now deemed fiscal.
Then they jammed the anti-union provisions through a conference committee of the Assembly and Senate -- in the extraordinary tape you see above -- and had the Senate pass that bill moments later. The Assembly is expected to pass it this morning. Senate Democrats sound like they haven't yet decided whether to come back today. Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, whom you see above, is asking the attorney general to intervene in what Mr. Barca calls a violation of Wisconsin's open meetings law. Republicans insist that they played this one by the numbers. (Check out Ezra Klein on this question.)
The AFL-CIO is rallying people in Madison this morning. According to the indispensable WisPolitics, protests will be held across the state, at "the Dodge County Administration Building, Eau Claire's City Hall, Veterans Park in Fond du Lac, the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce, the La Crosse County Courthouse, the Milwaukee County Courthouse, Senator Mike Ellis' district office in Neenah, the Oshkosh Opera House Square, Platteville's City Hall, Monument Square in Racine, the Richland County Courthouse, in Ripon at 303 Blackburn St. and the River Falls City Hall."
Last night on the show, Michael Moore noted ongoing protests around the nation of union-busting attempts by other Republican governors. Mr. Moore called for a national student walkout on Friday, at 2 p.m. local time. The demonstrations must go on, he said. "This has to continue day after day after day, and these governors are going to have to step down," he said. "They're going to be recalled. They're going to be impeached. They have broken the law. There's no way they can get away with this."
(Full segment: Wisconsin GOP votes to strip union rights)
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Wisconsin Governor, Scott Walker is itching for a 1981 Air Traffic Controllers Reagan-style fight, and we must prepare for the worst, as the worst is all Mr. Walker can be expected to do.
Walker wants the unions to strike, so he can fire all the workers and privatize every public service.
In addition, Walker, whom I am convinced matches the description of a sociopath, desperately wants to call out the National Guard to quell uppity kindergarten teachers.
This morning, I asked the President to be ready to order the Wisconsin National Guard to stand-down when the Governor uses force to quell dissent. In addition, I have requested the President be ready to send in Federal Troops to Wisconsin as necessary to maintain the order Governor Walker is so hell-bent on shredding to pieces.
Please echo my request, and ask the President to stand ready. Libya is fine.
But this is America, and so-far the President's response to the going's on in Wisconsin has been disappointing to say the least.
Seeing what's happened in Wisconsin is the last straw for me. It's time for people all over this country to get back into the streets. It was THE PEOPLE who forced Nixon to get this country out of Vietnam and only THE PEOPLE can stop the destruction of our middle-class. Hell may freeze over before Obama has had enough time to ponder the matter. I'm tired of waiting for Democrats to do what's right. Count me as one who's getting back into the streets!
elections have consequences. hopefully voters around this great country are paying attention and now realize that when they vote a candidate into office, or for those who don't turn out to vote--those actions or lack thereof have a direct impact on election results. voters should choose wisely or they will have to deal with significant repercussions that they might not have anticipated. If Wisconsin is any indication of what happens when conservative republicans get voted into office then surely this gives the democrats a campaign slogan for the next election. the message is simple--vote for a republican and they will take away workers rights.
Can't wait to see what the recall elections do to the GOP majority in Wisconsin and any other state the GOP is trying to turn into a third world state.
: Mike Moore's reference to 1981 R. Reagan's attack on organized labor, firing,using military personnel and replacement workers in the air traffic controller's labor dispute. Thank you Michael Moore! (I was a PATCO union rep. 1981)
Today, I am very sad :( I am sad for my kids, my family, my friends and even my political enemies :( I watch the Rachel Maddow Show because Rachel helps me feel better about my country that I defended as part of the USN. The first time I heard Rachel's opinions and explanation of our political processes was on Air America back in 2005. Her words gave me hope and inspiration :) Today I am short on hope and inspiration:(...but not defeated....I have rejoined my fellow progressives and am taking to the street in support of hard working American people. I beg you to do the same. I apologize for abandoning the fight...I promise that I will be bullied no more :) Keep up the great work!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU
I hope that the people of Wisconsin also vote with their dollars. Check out what your local merchants and the big box stores support!
Rachel and people everywhere, you need to wake up and see that unions are what ruined this country not politicians, they have way too much power and are severely overpaid.
You want to know why there's no factories or industry left in America? Because of unions, that's why there's no jobs here, not because of anything else.
People deserve a decent wage, I agree with that, but you don't deserve what amounts to over 100 dollars an hour with benefits. Unions demanded and received raises last year, shut down job sites and prevented businesses from running. Who deserves a raise during a recession? Apparently if you're in a union you do.
If businesses are losing money, why are people getting raises?
If you're going to speak on the air about unions and about how they supposedly saved this country, why don't you get someone on the air who knows what the hell they're talking about, instead of Michael Moore, get some actual business owners and actual managers that deal with unions and have seen how their companies have been degraded because of unions, then America will see why there's no middle class, your own greedy hands destroyed the middle class, not a bunch of guys on wall street. Your own inabilities to make budgets and stick to them and not live outside your means is what caused this recession we're in, and nothing else. Banks can't give bad loans without consumers.
And to anyone who is going to comment back on this, because I know people will, if you aren't a business owner or don't understand how business works, you should shut up and do your f**king job, rather than posting useless nonsense about how your unemployed or underpaid, if you're union, you did it to yourself, and if you live in a union dominated region, you allowed it to happen to yourself. Businesses, people who know what you have to do to make a profit and actually create jobs, are not the reason there's no jobs here, unions are. Nobody is moving a business to China because of politics, they move their businesses to China because of all the union a**holes in this country.
I applaud the republicans for finally standing up for the democratic bull@!$%# that has ruined this country.
I just have one question, when will unions become entirely illegal, and how do I contribute to that person's political campaign?
Riveting television last night, Miss Rachel. Kudos all around. Now, all y'all stand back while I brandish my fan and swat that "businessman" paid troll upside the head. Repeat after me: "F" Scott Fitzgerald! "F" Scott Fitzgerald! This delicate belle is fighting mad now!
"We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike.”
- Adolph Hitler, May 2, 1933 ...... add in shock doctrine and propaganda fueling and feeding upon fear and hate and look where you're at ................ just saying
The recall effort is very active here in Wisconsin. Should be a huge protest in Madison, and around the state today. I kept wondering why during the last election, average middle class folks were voting for the GOP. It's like handing your ake to the ake murderer.
Keep up the fight for our rights.
I co-sign RCnyc:
We have the mindless sheep of the conservcative movement to that for this. Most importantly, we have the scores of lazy, stupid, ignorant, whiny, short sighted "left" who decided to phone it in in November.
The republicans won these seats in legit elections...elections we would have crushed because we have the numbers by far.
I'm starting to believe this simple truth: The republican party is desperate...but they see something. They see that the majority of Americans have given up; they are content to be screwed harder and harder every year. Why else would republicans ever hold office in America?
Michael Moore is "winning" just like Charlie Sheen. Rachel, are you one of his "goddesses"? Looking forward to seeing you on Ustream.
See, Democrats, running away like scared little girls is never a viable option.
My name is Jesse Banks and I'm one of the students organizing the walkout on the Madison end, if you have questions or would like to help get the word out, contact me at jesse.m.banks@gmail.com
USA, RIP.
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I did not speak out;
As I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I did not speak out;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
As I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I did not speak out;
As I was not a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
In response to Patroit I think there will be a lot more than just teachers coming out.
I agree with Michael More the sleeping giant has finally woke up.
Heck they are even forming in FL. It is called Awake the State. I lived here for over 35 years and never thought anything could awake most of these FL residents except is the surf up! But wonders never cease! Long over due! I am retired and intend to get involved. I keep telling my SS friends we are the next Boogie Men and Alan Simpson has proved me correct! The Greedy generation of SS receipents.
Dear Rachel,
I don't think this is the right place for this but I couldn't find an appropriate place to post this dilemma.
The wrong question: Why did the banks approve so many home loans for people who couldn't afford them?
The right question: Why can't so many Americans afford a home?
I have a lot more discourse on this subject, but I'd like to see the topic brought up before devote more time to discussion.
Sincerely hard working American,
Chad Ferguson
Yes. And to further expand upon your point:
There's a bigger picture, a bigger agenda at play: a one party / one religion / two class (uber-rich and extremely poor) country.
a) First they erode the job market, creating unprecedented unemployment and an environment of desperation. What better time to point out intra-class disparity? Don't look at the elite, they create your jobs!!
b) Now they can characterize public sector workers as being "overfed" and greedy; in essence, turning Peter against Paul so they can rob them both. States are using legislation to undermine worker's rights so they can ultimately expect and accept less, touting that they're saving the job market when they're really reforming it.
c) By lowering worker expectations and rights, and removing their ability to do anything about it, they can allow Republican loyalist big business to open up the job market with lower wages and no benefits under the guise of "American Global Competitiveness". Remember that corporations claim that doing business in America is too expensive due to high wages/benefits and corporate taxes.
d) This is about privatizing government. Look at Michigan where the Governor is now appointing "City Managers", essentially one person with the power to dissolve local government, stripping elected officials in towns and municipalities of any power to stop them. The governor calls it an "emergency" when it's really a hostile take-over.
e) Get the public sector to revolt; get the education system to revolt...now they have justification for calling a state of emergency and privatizing education, government and fiscal responsibility and duties.
f) The health care reform was a distraction; an instrument to outrage citizens into a voting frenzy, ultimately pushing out more and more Democrats. With everyone's heads turned, the Repubs quietly slit the working class' jugular and crippled their support network.
g) Corporations are enjoying unprecedented profits while whittling away the middle class.
This is nothing more than a coordinated and hostile take-over of Democratic states and state governments by radical Republicans who believe that equality and rights belong only to the rich.
I have done my civic duty by serving my country. I supported and believed in our President but my faith in him and the system is dying along with my ability to tolerate it. America, let's do something about this before we lose all our fighting power; before we are all too tired, desperate, angry and disillusioned to organize a true revolt unlike any other in history.
Governor Walker fully intends to use the National Guard and will lower himself to any pretext to do so.
President Obama must be prepared to order the National Guard to stand down if and when the Governor uses military force to quell legal dissent.
In addition, the President must be willing to send in Federal troops to maintain and restore order.
It is coming to that. Make no mistake.
I watched and listened carefully to the video last night of Wisconsin's Republicans ignoring the Democrat speak about the rule of law, talking over him, and voting while he was trying to uphold the state's laws on Rachel Maddow's show.
I witnessed the beginning of the death of democracy in America.
I'm shocked and dismayed by the amount of misdirection here and by Rachel Maddow. The issue isn't union busting. Not remotely, it's taking bargaining rights away from GOVERNMET employees, people who should never have had bargaining rights in the first place.
I for one do not want my government to be able to go on strike. How would you like it if the military were unionized? Don't want to fight in that war, so they just strike? Why don't people get that government employees are not auto workers? (Who, as an aside, managed to kill the American auto industry thanks much).
You Do know this is only the beginning, Bugs always wins and fudd well he's fudd.
Your Show Rachael Rocked tonight spot on!
what i would like to know are the people that voted the newly elected govornors in to office exactly how staified are you with then now?