Category Archives: Urban Politics

Dispelling the Voter ID Disenfranchisement Myth!

Posted by Wonder Woman on

Dispelling Voter ID Disenfranchisement Myth!

Some of my liberal friends would have you to believe that requiring Photo ID’s for voting would disenfranchise millions upon millions of voters and take away our right to vote. I disagree! Requiring Photo ID’s is a simple way to help ensure less fraud in elections. As we witnessed in 2004 and 2008 with the presidential elections, and even now with JoAnne Kloppenburg, voter fraud is a problem. Photo ID is at least one positive attempt to make sure the state of Wisconsin is actively working towards error free elections and fraud at the polls.

I admit I was back and forth on this issue until I went through a 30 day experimental trial of seeing exactly how many times I used my photo ID in any of my life dealings. Actually I was surprised at the times when I didn’t need it and then there were some times while shopping that I was upset it was not asked for. (I think when you spend over a certain amount the seller should ask to see your photo ID and should not settle for a swipe and even giving cash back all without asking to verify your identity, but that is for another day). Continuing on, I had to use ID at the bank obviously, for ALL government business, for my rental space contract renewal, for my car, the library, the doctor’s office, hospital visits-even the ER demands photo ID!! Seriously? Anyway, I also had to use my photo ID for WIC (Woman, Infants and Children program), registering for classes, for purchasing certain items at the gas station, and for a whole host of things that I thought were a bit silly, like a stop at local eatery (the bill was about $5 and I’ve spent more there in the past and was never asked for ID, so I guess it depends on who’s taking the debit card). None the less, there I was pulling out my ID over and over again. I even had to scan my ID and email and fax it to a couple of places for internet shopping or again with government business. It is a rather new ID but it looks worn already. I don’t consider myself some crazed shopper or an “on the go” type of person so I have to say in this society we are very dependent on photo ID’s. That being said why is it such an injustice to ask everyone to show up with a photo ID to vote?

This week the Wisconsin legislature has been working on this bill. The bill’s authors, Republican Rep. Jeff Stone and Sen. Joe Leibham, have modeled their bill after Indiana’s Voter ID law, which was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. According to the Supreme Court case upholding Indiana’s Voter ID bill, “99 percent of Indiana’s voting age population already possesses the necessary photo identification to vote under the requirements.”

Since we have many similarities to Indiana I am going to conclude we share this same population finding. We already have photo ID’s in most cases!

And to clarify, the Wisconsin bill does have a provision to provide free identification for some Wisconsinites.

 

So Let’s Dispel the Most Common Myths

1.    We would disenfranchise the Elderly:

Many of our elderly use Badger Care/Title 19, Medicare/Medicaid, and other government programs like Meals on Wheels. They are more likely to visit the doctor regularly, use debit and credit cards (they are the only ones with good credit left in some cases!). They tend to require medical equipment and services that all requires, you got it, photo ID’s.

Elderly poor are included in #2.

2.     We would disenfranchise the Poor:

Which poor, the poor receiving government services, Qwest, Badger Care, W2, or the other poor, the ones who ????

What I am saying that is if you are poor, we already require photo ID. This means somehow our poor folks out there are already disenfranchised daily trying to get food, medical support, and other government services. So without trying to sound like a heartless …itch, I am asking how are we disenfranchising the poor unless the day of an election they suddenly became poor?

I see very few of the “poverty pimps” in the trenches when the poor are standing in ridiculous lines and trying to get government services, meals, food, clothing, or shelter. Try going to SDC and getting assistance and see how disenfranchised they are for real. They are treated like scum, have to wait all day for a 5 minute interview to be made to feel less human and worse (some of those people at SDC are very miserable individuals), anyway… they go to other venues for assistance and still we have them stand in lines, treat them horribly and now we want the world to show compassion when they vote only? Give me a break!! Have you been to Vliet Street lately? In addition to photo ID’s you also need birth certificates, immunization records, and a few other items if you want specific services so that argument holds no merit with me. One thing you don’t need to have to apply for benefits in this state is the ability to speak the language of our country. Just an aside!!

I would also think if one were that poor, to the point of starvation, maybe voting is the least of their worries. I do think that would stop a few van drops from picking up the homeless from their dinner lines and common hangouts to go and vote for smokes or cash as we have seen in the past. Oh yes and that was Democrats who did that right? Yep it was!

“Constance Milstein, a platinum-card Democrat, flew into Milwaukee a few days before the election to help Gore-Lieberman workers trade packs of cigarettes for votes at a homeless shelter.”

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2000/12/10/loc_bronson_marlboros.html

3.  We would disenfranchise Those of Other Cultures:

As a bi-racial female, my physical appearance is that of a person of non-Caucasian background. I can tell you that anyone of color who does not have ID is walking a dangerous line in certain situations. With certain common racist practices, in a most segregated state/city, and given the fact that we are of color, we get asked for ID more frequently than our Caucasian counterparts. That is a fact. So why are more Blacks than whites walking around without photo ID’s? Why more Blacks in particular do not have photo ID’s speaks to a long list of issues. We are also the same group that uses a big portion of government services so how can this be? If you need photo ID’s for government dealings, but yet we have 1/3 more Blacks walking around without them? Seems odd to me, but I am sure someone will point out what I am missing.

Our Hispanic Friends: The number of illegal aliens in the state of Wisconsin according to The Pew Hispanic Center says the state has 75000 to 115000 illegal immigrants. There is a tie between Wisconsin and Ohio for the 10th position on the most desirable states for illegal aliens to relocate to: 20 thousand more illegal immigrants reside in each of Wisconsin and Ohio. This is a 20% increase, and the eleventh highest in the nation. So would it be so wrong to wonder and want verify that you are a legal citizen? Maybe this could help us cut down on the number of tax dollars we spend taking care of illegals each year as opposed to taking care of natural born citizens which according to everyone from Obama to Walker we simply cannot do anymore. We are running out of money, actually we have been out of money; we are now screwing up our kids futures.

http://newworldorderdawning.lefora.com/2010/11/07/top-10-states-being-invaded-by-illegal-immigrants-/

So yes I know it is not PC to think out loud like this but better to be honest and say what I know many people think. Are illegal immigrants voting? Are they voting for candidates who will help them get in and stay in this country and thus take more of our discretionary spending? For example, Blacks are seeing less and less scholarship $$ as they have to now divide this money more and more particularly with illegal aliens. Is this fair? And really I don’t mean to sound racist but how are we discouraging illegal behavior and fraud?

4.  We would disenfranchise Young People:

Exactly what young people? Couldn’t be students because last I checked they needed photo ID’s to get loans, scholarships, and grants, and to arrange living on/off campus. Possibly the average 18-25 year old that is not quite sure what they want to be or is hindered by life circumstances would be a candidate for a “pass over” on this. This might be the only group I might consider as they need to be encouraged to vote and to get ID’s. But then again there is a provision to get free ID’s. Darn, back to photo ID’s for you!

As we saw with college students in the state protests, they sure have a lot of time on their hands, are quite inventive, and are so passionate about causes that affect them. So maybe they can make time to put their actions to something useful like getting an ID. We also have a high number of binge drinkers in our state universities so I am assuming they are all of drinking age and show photo ID’s regularly right? Yeah sure!

 

5.    Where’s The Proof?

Those who disagree on photo ID requirements say there is no wide spread proof of voter fraud and election tampering.

However I can think of many incidences in this state that require our immediate attention to this problem. JoAnne Kloppenburg being the latest victim of election fraud!!

“There are legitimate and widespread anomalies, and widespread questions about the conduct of (the Wisconsin Supreme Court) election, most visibly in Waukesha County, but also in counties around the state.” 

JoAnne Kloppenburg on Wednesday, April 20th, 2011 in remarks at a news conference.

http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/apr/29/joanne-kloppenburg/joanne-kloppenburg-says-anomalies-were-widespread-/

She and/or her legions of supporters, fans, and the like cited voter fraud and election tampering in her loss to Prosser. And yes she lost!! Now she is wasting money going after nuns and bs that is wasting more and more money. But more power to her!

I saw on my own FB page, read in the Journal/Sentinel and listening to all the talk shows how much fraud people saw. “It made me sick and we need to do something about it!” one man told a talk show host on a popular radio talk show.

Even the Milwaukee Police Department way back in 2004 documented rampant voter fraud. Being a logical thinker, if it was very bad then and nothing has been done since, what must it be like today? EVEN WORSE!

Here is the MPD published report:

http://media2.620wtmj.com/breakingnews/ElectionResults_2004_VoterFraudInvestigation_MPD-SIU-A2474926.pdf

So the next time someone gives you this tired mantra about disenfranchising voters, go buy a pack of smokes, or try to do some banking, or even try to get a damn library book and then tell me how it felt! Where your feelings hurt? Did you feel violated? Were you embarrassed? Did you feel like your civil rights were hindered?

Peace Family,

WW

 

Interesting Statistics from which I based my categories

Wisconsin’s population is substantially less likely to have a state-issued identification. Those without state-issued photo identification and who would need to obtain one under the Wisconsin Voter ID bill include:

  • 23 percent of all elderly Wisconsinites over the age of 65
  • 17 percent of white men and women
  • 55 percent of all African American males and 49 percent of African American women
  • 46 percent of Hispanic men and 59 percent of Hispanic women
  • 78 percent of African American males age 18-24 and 66 percent of African American women age 18-24

[Driver License Status of the Voting Age Population in Wisconsin, 6/05]

http://www.brennancenter.org/page/-/d/download_file_50902.pdf

Looking Like A Fool With Ya Pants On The Ground…SAGGING!

Posted by Wonder Woman on

Looking Like A Fool With Ya Pants On The Ground…

Sagging and Pop Culture’s Effect On Our Community

 

First off you need to support Black Media in Milwaukee! We need to continue showing allegiance to our local talkers, local writers, local griots, and all those helping spread the word!! We need to support the advertisers and the shows 110%. If you don’t have radio access there is an app for that, a podcast, or RSS feed, anything. Show that you are listening and pass it along! Sometimes we may not agree with the person, but it is better to have a voice than dead air and space. We could have no information being passed to the masses at all!

That being said, Earl Ingram is one of my favorite talk show hosts. No we do not see eye to eye on several things, but this brother represents our community, he backs up his words with action and $$$, and he is a man of conviction, showing uncharacteristic leadership in the Milwaukee Black Media by exposing us to a buffet of varying Black voices that until his show, were once demonized by the typical Dem loving Black media that for so long ruled the airwaves.

End of Rant!

Yesterday on 1290 AM WMCS’s Earl Ingram “Evening Rush (3pm-6pm weekdays), Mr. Ingram presented an interesting topic along with Frederick Alexander Meade, a national commentator, syndicated writer, scholar, and socially conscious brother. The topic was about “Sagging” and Meade was going off! Sadly, WW had to work and could not hear it all, but I got to hear most of it and the topic was too good to let it die, so I offer this up as an extension to the subject: Sagging Pants!

For those unfamiliar:

“Sagging is a manner of wearing trousers (slacks, shorts, pants or jeans) below the waist, hanging below the waist area and therefore revealing much of the underwear. Sagging is predominantly a male fashion. Women wearing low-rise jeans to reveal their G-string underwear (the “whale tail”) is not generally considered sagging. (WW says: “the G-string should be included, but that is for another day”).”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagging_(fashion)

 

He was right on many of the points he brought up, it looks ridiculous and it is something we as a community need to address. This should not have to come down to laws, penalties, and fines. However we are not addressing it and it we are 30 years into the fashion “trend.”  A little Google search and one can find videos, websites and everything in between all dedicated to sagging pants. “Pants On The Ground”-An American Idol legend!! Even Brett Favre has his own version of this song! YIKES!!

Should there be laws to address what the community seemingly allows? Our silence is compliance! Meade suggested fines and possible jail time. Some callers commented that we have enough Black men in jail already without adding more of them into this never ending cycle that does not rehabilitate anyone. As for fines, who will pay them and how much should we fine offenders of fashion? Where would they get the money to pay fines and then do we want them having records that follow them the rest of their lives? How do we get people to see this is a sign of ignorance? Not to mention no one wants to see your underwear, especially not anywhere near my food!

Some say “sagging” is a fashion started by the jail population who cannot wear belts because they could be used as weapons or to commit suicide. However our rap stars continue this fashion faux pas to make them look cool and connected to the streets and our young people emulate the look, and so it seems the look will never end. Meade cited other reasons as well that should be considered for banning sagging. One of which is we need soldiers not idiots and that sagging pants can be harmful for your health, if I understood him correctly.

In several published reports sagging pants have been the cause of quite a few freak accidents and deaths. Not to mention news stories that detail people trying to get away from the scene of a crime but get caught because their sagging pants prevented them from getting away. Of course that is a good thing, but still why would you be so stupid? Why are sagging pants associated with negativity and with Blacks, especially Black men?

Some states and school districts already have laws/rules against “sagging.” The ACLU says that “sagging” laws would be challenged by their organization because they are profiling and racist. Are they? If we start down this slippery slope, where do we stop? Do we create laws about tats? What about those silly jackets with huge brand logos on them? Mohawks? God knows I didn’t like them in the 80’s and now I am looking at grown men with them? Have you seen Matt Barnes with that silly Mohawk? You are a Laker now, get rid of it!! Ron Artest got rid of his! (Sorry it’s playoff season had to sneak it in.)

It is bad enough parents are allowing this, but as a society where do we step in? MPS and other school districts already assume the roles formerly held by parents. They are parent, guardian, law enforcement, and now the fashion police? Don’t they have enough to deal with and is it really racist to ask our kings and queens to start dressing the part? Should we start enforcing uniform policies and/or have all out uniforms?

Just prior to the 2008 US Presidential Election, then-candidate Barack Obama appeared on MTV and stated that laws banning the practice of wearing low-slung pants that expose one’s underwear were “a waste of time”. However, he did follow that up with the statement: “Having said that, brothers should pull up their pants. You are walking by your mother, your grandmother, your underwear is showing. What’s wrong with that? Come on. Some people might not want to see your underwear. I’m one of them.”

So family, what do you think? Should we enact laws to curtail this fashion mistake? Should we continue to wait for parents to do their job and stop letting their kids out of the house with sagging pants? What about adults who wear sagging pants and the people who love them? After all this would not be a popular fashion if those of us in relationships with “saggers” stopped seeing this as a turn on and if we as a community started actively protesting this. How we do that without getting the “lovely feedback” that would follow? I have no clue. I have enough problems trying to get my oldest to keep his damn pants up. Publically, I give the look and then a comment, but unless we get it into their minds that no good can come from “sagging” they won’t stop. Even skinny jeans didn’t do the trick (Kanye wore “sagging” skinny jeans) and then we could start a whole other topic on skinny jeans, tight shirts, cleavage, G-strings, holes in your jeans, hair coloring, weaves, short-shorts, and right on down the line.

I think our young people are waiting for us to show up and lead them or guide them. They are tired of going it alone, or knowing that we are afraid of them and therefore allow them to do whatever they want. Time for the collective belt whooping! They need mentors and they need to see positive people doing positive things, dressed like professionals, acting like professionals. They also need us to stop bickering so much and see a community united. They need to see jobs with good managers and real families and all the things that lead to fashion trends and not fashion staples.

Yes that’s a lot to deal with but we must start somewhere. Pulling up your damn pants is a good place to start becoming “a beloved community” (St. Paul/MLK once called us to be) and begin taking back what is ours. Our youth would be phase one! Let’s not destroy another generation!!

Peace Family,

WW

Our goal is to create a beloved community and
this will require a qualitative change in our souls
as well as a quantitative change in our lives.
~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 

“Earl Ingram Jr. & The Evening Rush”

http://www.earlingramjr.com

“Sagging”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagging_(fashion)

Droopy Pants Can Kill

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/02/nyregion/02nyc.html

Prosser Pulls Ahead! BREAKING NEWS

Posted by Wonder Woman on

AP and many other sources now confirm Prosser lead is legit!

Breaking news for those keeping up with the State Supreme Judicial race.

Net Prosser lead as of 4pm is 24 votes. UNOFFICIALLY!

But wait….Even more Breaking News:

The entire City of Brookfield votes were not counted. Prosser ahead by 7,381.

Stay tuned as Wisconsin is about to turn Florida in 5, 4, 3, 2….

 

More reports of uncounted votes and other breaking news

http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/119430664.html

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/264209/breaking-computer-error-gives-prosser-7381-more-votes-almost-certain-victory-christian

Prosser picks up 7,582 votes in Waukesha County

http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/119424759.html

Peace,

WW

HOOD WINKED! In the hood, more and more people are starting to see 2+2 DO NOT = 4.

Posted by Wonder Woman on

HOOD WINKED!

In the hood, more and more people are starting to understand or realize 2+2 DO NOT = 4.

People are waking up to understand that supporting rich union white men means less and less WE get in government benefits and discretionary spending for those of us needing government assistance just to get by these days. Yes this means you, you waiting on Vliet to get your Quest and BadgerCare. I’m talking to those of you who are waiting to get scholarships and aid for school, daycare, and medicine. Those of us holding our breath to see what kinds of co-pays we will be assessed for BadgerCare after this mess is over with. Make sure you understand what is really at stake before you go out there and keep supporting that tired old mantra about Republicans and who is against us. It is going to cost us big time if we keep supporting those who do not support us! Who else do you think they will pick on if we don’t stand one good time and voice our objections to this new union master?

Surprisingly I hear this more and more and I think people are getting it!! We are either for rich white men getting more money and keeping their billions, or we are united in a joint effort and alliance to support this Republican governor for the good of our own cause….US!

Located in the heart of the Inner City of Milwaukee Wisconsin is the JUSTUS League Headquarters and right there is where I sit in my fortress of solitude and ponder over this mess of an urban dwelling that used to be so vibrant and full of life. I can only think what one thing remains constant.

The DEMOCRAT Party’s Choke hold On the Black Community!

Blacks move in and out, other races move out, jobs gone, drugs, crime, and disease back and festering to higher levels than ever before. The only thing that remains the same is our love for Democrats and everything they tell us to support. I have already embraced a different path and if not for those of us who call out this relationship gone bad, some people would just be happy with the same old, same old. I may not be any more right than the next person, but I see the devil in ALL his forms and this is not what the hell Democracy looks like when I walk down North Avenue.

Lena and Spencer talk, run, and they hide, but at the end of the day we all see the same thing. The hood is still the same as it ever was. They have made little if any impact, they throw us a bone every once in a while to make sure their Couriers, Journals, and Times keep their names visible but what do they really do for YOU?

They keep telling us “it’s the rich business wealthy, evil corporations” and those types raping our communities and taking our opportunities and jobs. Don’t you get tired of hearing the same ish over and over again? When will they own some of this problem and stop getting paid off the backs of blacks?

But WE need to call out the real demons if we’re ever going to get somewhere. I see the real criminals being OUR black representatives first and foremost! Another criminal of the black community is the talking head at the main “news” paper that seems to never do too much here in the city for our young black boys or writers, but sure knows how to stay paid. The other criminals are those black “blue blood” families and bougie negros who want to seem like us (when convenient), but are in bed with the devil himself. Those are the leaders of the attack and rape on black Milwaukee and black everybody! 

Ask yourself this question, they had it their way in this state for almost 2 decades and what did they accomplish? What good did you see from this state in its 2 decades of Democracy? Or will you let them off the hook by blaming GWB and other Republicans? The easy marks!

Let’s break it down shall we?

  • Increased costs for insurance for those of us driving. Thanks black representatives!
  • Payday loan scandals that directly hurt US because who else needs a loan. Thanks black representatives!
  • Lena, Spencer, Tamara are all union funded and branded. They also accept PayDay loan money and love a little something, something from the Arabs as well. Did you really think those corner stores and gas stations just opened up over night without some help? As much as Willie Hines worked to try and keep them at bay, his counterparts in the state worked equally as hard to make it easier for them to open up shop and avoid taxes OUR businesses must pay to do the same business.
  • Finger printing by police at random stops to place US in their databases to be called up when they need to pin something on US. Thanks black representatives!
  • Millions of dollars funneled to Cadillac pensions of white men running unions at the cost of our kids educations and futures.

So I say all this to start a discussion about what is OUR reality and what we expect and how do we use this next election to get what we need to not just maintain but to say ENOUGH!

They say people support them but if we look, there are more of us coming out to show some concern for our own way of life. What about you? Did you notice that Lena spent more time on getting Alberta Darling recalled than on your needs, finding jobs, and helping the truly poor? Does it concern you that she and our other black elected get big money to keep us “in line?” Are we sheep and they are our herders or are we going to back it up and flip the script to show them the muscle we have in this community.

Now I am not saying Republicans got it right all the time, but on this one issue, for this brief moment, we need to rise up and be counted. We need to say to hell with the Democrats this one time and start a new trend and take back both parties (possibly add a new party) and remind them who the hell is in charge and whose money counts in the end.

Family, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

April 5th I am asking for your voice and your vote. Do not sit by idly and let them get away with the biggest lynching of all time on OUR poor. Will you join me? Will you send them a mandate that unions have their fair share and it is time we gets ours too!

Peace Family,

WW

 

Analysis shows emails to Walker favored budget repair bill

 

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_ca97c286-fe25-5074-8cb0-5f9a2c240df8.html

Gov. Scott Walker was right: The angry crowds in Madison didn’t tell the whole story of how Wisconsinites felt.

In the week after Walker announced his plan to dramatically curtail public employees’ collective bargaining rights in the state budget repair bill, a wide majority of the emails to him expressed support, an analysis of those emails indicates.

They ALL know the only force to be reckoned with, the true silent, majority is the working poor and poor. We get dumped on, just because, by both parties because we are somehow content with the scraps we are given. I am not content to let the rich get richer.

Striking the right bargain in Wisconsin – The Governor’s case

Posted by Little tortillas on

I am posting the Governor’s case so that TMD readers can read it for themselves instead of listening to biased spin. While I don’t expect it to change the minds of the ideologically rigid, my hope is that some of you will question the false assumptions and see the misinformation regarding the Governor’s plan.

Is it no wonder that the community continues to overwhelmingly support liberal politicians and solutions when all the Black media outlets frame issues from the same perspective! When the other talk radio station and news outlets carried the Governor’s press conferences explaining his rational, Black media like 1290 AM ignored it (I know this because I’m a regular listener).

So here is the Governor in his own words:

Striking the right bargain in Wisconsin

By Scott Walker, Wednesday, March 16, 8:11 PM
Imagine the outrage if government workers did not have collective bargaining for wages and benefits. Consider the massive protests that would be staged by labor leaders all across the country.
Think I’m talking about Wisconsin? No, I’m talking about the federal government.
Contrary to what the Obama administration would lead you to believe, most employees of the federal government do not have collective bargaining for wages and benefits. That means the budget reform plan we signed into law in Wisconsin on Friday is more generous than what President Obama offers federal employees.
Our reform plan calls for a 5.8 percent pension contribution from government workers, including myself, and a 12.6 percent health insurance premium payment. Both are well below what middle-class, private-sector workers pay. Federal workers, however, pay an average of 28 percent of health insurance costs.
It’s enough to make you wonder why there are no protesters circling the White House.
My brother is a banquet manager and occasional bartender at a hotel. He pays nearly $800 a month for his family’s health insurance and can put away only a little bit toward his 401(k). He would love the plan I’m offering to public employees.
As my brother recognizes, our plan is a good deal for government workers when compared with what other middle-class workers are paying for benefits. It would be a great deal for federal workers.
Nearly every state in the country is facing a large budget deficit, just like the federal government. Many states are cutting billions of dollars in funding for schools and local governments, resulting in massive layoffs or massive property tax increases — or both.
In Wisconsin, we are choosing a different way. The Wisconsin way allows local governments to balance the budget through reasonable benefit contributions. These reasonable contributions will save local governments almost $1.5 billion.
The financial savings in our budget reforms will protect 1,500 jobs this fiscal year and 10,000 jobs over the next two years. The savings come from giving state and local governments the tools to manage benefit costs through collective bargaining reform.
Some have questioned the need to reform collective bargaining. After all, they say, the union bosses in Washington said publicly that their workers were ready to pay a little bit more for their benefits. But the truth is that as the national union bosses were saying one thing, their locals were doing something entirely different. Over the past several weeks, local unions across Wisconsin have pursued contracts without new pension or health insurance contributions. Some have even pushed through pay increases.
Their actions leave one wondering how tone-deaf and out of touch union bosses are with what’s happening in the private sector. Even the president instituted a pay freeze on government workers this year, something he was able to do only because federal employees enjoy fewer collective bargaining rights than do Wisconsin workers — even with our recent reforms.
Beyond balancing budgets, our reforms give schools — as well as state and local governments — the tools to improve their operations. We allow them to reward merit and performance instead of facing the barriers of collective bargaining that all too often block innovation and reform. Because of our reforms, government will become more efficient and effective for the people.
Ultimately, our budget repair bill is about the next generation. We are making the difficult decisions now so that our children don’t have to make even more difficult choices to balance the budget we left them.
A lot of people have made their voices heard during this debate, including the president and the union bosses. But middle-class taxpayers who want a government that works for them also deserve a voice. Now they have one.
The writer, a Republican, is governor of Wisconsin.