What's at stake in Wisconsin

What bill would do
1) Eliminate collective bargaining rights for most public workers. So while unions still could represent those workers, they would not be able to seek pay increases above those pegged to the Consumer Price Index unless approved by a public referendum.

2) Unions also could not force employees to pay dues and would have to hold annual votes to stay organized.

3) Local police, firefighters and state troopers would retain their collective bargaining rights.

4) Public workers would have to pay half the costs of their pensions and at least 12.6 percent of their health care coverage. That represents an average of 8 percent increase in state employees' share of pension and health care costs.

In exchange, public employees were promised no furloughs or layoffs. Gov. Scott Walker has threatened to lay off up to 6,000 state workers if the measure does not pass.

Estimated savings
$30 million by July 1 and $300 million over the next two years to address a Republican-projected $3.6 billion budget shortfall.

Background
The proposal marks a dramatic shift for Wisconsin, which in 1959 was the first to pass a comprehensive collective bargaining law for public employees and was the birthplace of the national union representing all non-federal public employees.

When voters last year elected Gov. Walker, an outspoken conservative, along with GOP majorities in both legislative chambers, it set the stage for a dramatic reversal of the state's labor history.

National significance
New Republican governors and legislatures in other states have proposed cutting back on public employee costs to reduce budget shortfalls, but Wisconsin's move appears to be the earliest and most extensive.

Source: Associated Press and Reuters

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41664858/ns/us_news-life/

This all started 30 years ago when Reagan busted the air traffic controllers union. They have been whittling away at unions since then.

lowest quality of life standards in the country.
Lowest in Education, Health Care, Highest rates of
Poverty, Lowest Salaries. The Republican Vision
of all that is wonderful for the Working Class.

We don't have access to the same social advantages here, so before hating on us people should check their privilege and think about what advantages they've had that my fellow rural Southerners didn't.

All that energy used to hate us and blame us for what the neocons have done could be used much better to fight the problem at its source instead of blaming the victims.

Blaming the victim.