Thought you find the article link below useful about the Wisconsin pension fund and how it is among the most solvent in the nation.
I am in Wisconsin to try and understand the situation better — how this seemingly spontaneous reaction occurred. It was not, of course, spontaneous. College students and the Teachers Assistant Association (college TA’s) were already organizing to respond to the governors budget because he had been very clear he would have major cuts to college education (he has proposed decimating colleges in Wisconsin, taking apart one of the better state college systems in the country). When the governor came out with his proposal to end collective bargaining rights of public teacher unions their organizing went on hyper speed. After the first day they were joined by public employee unions and the protests grew to the largest in Wisconsin history. Quite amazing.
On Monday the governor ordered the capitol closed to visitors. The police refused to remove protesters inside. On Tuesday a court issued a restraining order opening the capitol to the public — as is required in the state’s constitution — the governor did not change his order and had very, limited, restricted access. When I got in yesterday we had to have an appointment with a legislator, be escorted by an aide and by a police officer to the legislators office. Today the court will rule on whether that is open to the public as he required and the Constitution required.
The governor’s extremism has unified liberals and progressives, Greens and Dems to focus on the governor and his party. There is strength in the unity but as I look at the situation it will be hard to defeat this right wing extremism. 14 state senators are out of state preventing quorum. The senate cannot work on fiscal matters when they are out of town but can do other business. They decided to fine the senators $100 a day yesterday and the governor is now overseeing their staff members. There are a bunch of right wing bills they will push forward including restricting voting rights with very hard (for poor and minority people) to get voting identification. This will effect elections for a long time.
Recalls are being started against 8 Dem senators. Most likely the vote will occur during the primary next year, which will be a Republican primary since Obama will not be challenged (seriously) within his own party. So, the turnout will greatly favor the Republicans. While the senate is closely divided the Assembly is very Republican. Recalls are being planned for Republican senators as well and for the Governor, these votes will occur during the presidential vote because those seeking recall will time it to make sure it does not occur during the primary vote. So, it is going to be two years of major hostility and division in Wisconsin where people are usually very friendly and placid about politics.
Very interesting to see and understand.
KZ
pension in Wisconsin
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_811ac9e0-4515-11e0-bd7e-001cc4c03286.html
sheriff refuses to let his officers serve as “palace guard”
http://www.thenation.com/blog/158954/why-wisconsin-sheriff-refuses-serve-governor-walkers-palace-guard%E2%80%9D
Wisconsin Dem legislators take office outside because constituents can’t get inside the capitol
http://progressive.org/rc0302b11.html
