Check this video out from Wisconsin Eye, courtesy of the Wisconsin State Journal, showing just how eager Republicans were on Friday to strip 50 years of collective bargaining rights away from public workers.
How eager were they? So excited that they decided to move Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill toward final passage without waiting for Democratic lawmakers to even enter the chamber and vote.
Amazing. Unprecedented. Insulting. Disgusting.
South Milwaukee Blog 
I used to think that you were pretty moderate in your views but now I realize you really lean quite liberal. I guess it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise here in SM. Any chance you can link to some facts as opposed to the union propaganda in that video?
Randall: On this issue, yes, you are correct, I am liberal. I attribute some of this to my life experience. A former union member myself, I am married to a public school teacher. My father is retired after a long career as a unionized social worker in the Wisconsin prison system. My stepfather is retired from the U.S. Post Office. My sister is a unionized social services worker in Walworth County. Also, my mother is a nurse at the VA and, while not a union worker, she benefits from a strong union there as well.
So, yes, I side with unions in most cases … and certainly on such a fundamental issue of preserving collective bargaining rights. (And I assure you that none of my family members got rich working as public employees. Far from it.)
I’d like to link I am like most of America — liberal on some issues, conservative on some issues, centrist on some issues. I am conservative on many social issues, for instance, while liberal on others like commuter rail (a purely economic development issue for me).
I hate that everyone these days is labeled “liberal” or “conservative,” and it’s assumed they are, or must be, completely left-leaning or right-leaning all the time. That’s certainly not the case with me, nor many of the people I know.
Moreover, I like to think my vision for South Milwaukee is apolitical. That’s why aldermanic races are non-partisan.
It is equally disgusting that all the Democratic Senators have left the state.
Well maybe they shouldn’t have left the state like petulant little children.
I hear that there is a “Recall Chris Larson” group forming. Unfortunately an elected official cannot be recalled until in office for a year. A side from that, the teachers need to stop WHINING! It has not come out that in the SM School District teachers who retire receive EIGHT (8) YEARS OF FREE HEALTH CARE!!! Come on people, how many get that in the private sector. I have almost $200 every pay period deducted for health insurance. Now Obama is “helping” the protesters in Wisconsin because he is going to have to do the same. Erik, I sure hope you do not give the kitchen away when it comes to local negotiations! SM’s tax rate has gone up a lot over the past few years. Lets get this voted on and move on!!!!
Rich: I wouldn’t agree with a recall of Chris Larson, or any lawmaker over this, for that matter. I would agree that we need to take a closer look at some of the benefits union workers receive. As you know, figures have shown public workers are paid less than their private counterparts, leaving benefits as the only way they can make up that gap. The question is has that gap been bridged and then some? One could argue it has. As to local negotiations, I think contracts have to be fair and reasonable, reflecting the economic realities of the times — in good times and bad. I thought our current contracts were a great example of that: Facing a series of tough budgets, the city sought, and unions agreed to, 0 and 2 percent pay increases and increased benefits contributions. In better times, could pay raises be higher and benefit impacts smaller? That’s something we’d need to negotiate. But I can assure you and all of my constituents: I would never give away the store. Keeping taxes low is and will always be a priority for me.
On another note, WEAC had former Gov. Doyle controlled by puppet strings. I am proud to say I voted and supported Walker because I know good things are going to come under his leadership.
I believe there is a bit more to this story. Another version states that before this vote attempt, the democrat law makers decided they didn’t want to talk any more (imagine that) and left. It was at that time the vote was called as a means of bringing them back – which is why they were running back into the room. It should also be noted that the vote was postponed not as a victory of the dems, but because the assembly was told that their security could not be guaranteed after 5:00.
Also note that this was done after an “amazing insulting disgusting” stunt was pulled by the democrats in the senate…and is still being pulled as we speak.