Wis. budget plan may tilt political playing field

[NeoConsSuck]

Source: Albany TimesUnion


MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The high-stakes fight in Wisconsin over union rights is about more than pay and benefits in the public sector. It could have far-reaching effects on electoral politics in this and other states by helping solidify Republican power for years, experts said Monday.

While Republican Gov. Scott Walker's plan to wipe out collective bargaining rights for most public employees has galvanized Democrats and union members in opposition, the GOP could benefit long-term by crippling a key source of campaign funding and volunteers for Democrats.

"It would be a huge landscape-altering type of action, and it would tilt the scales significantly in favor of the Republicans," said Mike McCabe, director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which has long tracked union involvement in Wisconsin elections. "This is a national push, and it's being simultaneously pushed in a number of states. I think Wisconsin is moving the fastest and most aggressively so far."

Nancy MacLean, a labor historian at Duke University, said eliminating unions would do to the Democratic Party what getting rid of socially conservative churches would do to Republicans. She called unions "the most important mass membership, get-out-the vote wing of the Democratic Party."


Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Wis-budget-plan-may-tilt-political-playing-field-1023719.php

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It was never about the budget deficit. It is about destroying unions *and* the Democratic party.

[Firebrand Gary]

1. This is EXACTLY what G.W. Bush did with his tax cuts!

Let me get this right. Comes into office and gives away tax cuts designed for big business, puts the tax cuts on the backs of the people and then states we have a budget deficit? So in essence takes a budget surplus that was given to him by a Democrat and runs it right into the ground? Sound familiar?

[Le Taz Hot]

2. Nice try.

They see the disappointment from progressives who voted for hope and change and ended up with bait and switch. It's an attempt to bring people back into the fold by threatening them with a boogey man. How about the Democrats allow progressives to run without interference from The Party? How about THEY run Democrats who DON'T kow tow to their corporate masters? It's pretty transparent. Watch for this to begin happening nationally.

[madrchsod]

3. duncan attacked the teachers unions and now we see the results

[Le Taz Hot]

5. I got literally ill when I heard Obama

appointed him as Secretary of Education. I and my husband have been involved in state and national education for a very long time and Duncan's Chicago reputation preceded him. He was, literally, the WORST choice possible, both from an education perspective and a union perspective. I was bitterly disappointed when he brought in Emmanuel as COS but I knew when he appointed Arne Duncan that we were in deep deep trouble.

[xchrom]

4. mr. president -- show your solidarity with teachers and fire duncan, now. nt

[pepperbear]

6. I take it no one has noticed that this would happen only if the union loses....

and the article seems to be written with that possibility exclusively in mind.