The Democratic state senators in Wisconsin who fled the state to prevent passage of Governor Scott Walker's anti-labor budget bill are planning to return soon, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
The senators recognize that the bill will likely pass, but are betting that the reforms -- which include stripping collective bargaining rights from public employees in the state -- are so unpopular that it will create irreversible political damage for the Republican governor and legislators.
Sen. Mark Miller (D) said of the decision: "We are now looking at returning to the state capitol and requiring the senators to take a vote and have them declare who they're with — the workers or the governor."
Read the full story here.
UPDATE: Senator Miller's quote was taken out of context. According to a fellow state senator, Miller actually told the Wall Street Journal that the Democrats will only return when the attempt to eliminate collective bargaining is taken off the table.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
U.S. Lags Dreadfully Behind Other Developed Countries
A new must-read article at the Daily Kos asks a very important question: Why Isn't the United States No. 1 Where It Counts?
The premise is straightforward: Despite being number one in the world in terms of total Gross Domestic Product, the United States lags considerably behind other countries in education, health care, and even childhood poverty.
Among the notable statistics is the following rankings for the United States:
22nd in literacy;
17th in childhood poverty among 21 selected countries in the OECD;
47th in infant mortality;
47th in life expectancy at birth;
The article also points out that we are number one in certain categories, including the percentage of GDP spent on health care, which is twice the OECD average.
Having the largest economy in the world means little if it is all achieved on the backs of the middle class without a commensurate commitment to their well-being. When you consider that labor unions have been vital avenues for achieving substantive gains in middle class growth over the past century, it's shocking that anyone could view these statistics and think it's a good idea to continue attacking public employees by taking away their rights at the workplace.
The premise is straightforward: Despite being number one in the world in terms of total Gross Domestic Product, the United States lags considerably behind other countries in education, health care, and even childhood poverty.
Among the notable statistics is the following rankings for the United States:
22nd in literacy;
17th in childhood poverty among 21 selected countries in the OECD;
47th in infant mortality;
47th in life expectancy at birth;
The article also points out that we are number one in certain categories, including the percentage of GDP spent on health care, which is twice the OECD average.
Having the largest economy in the world means little if it is all achieved on the backs of the middle class without a commensurate commitment to their well-being. When you consider that labor unions have been vital avenues for achieving substantive gains in middle class growth over the past century, it's shocking that anyone could view these statistics and think it's a good idea to continue attacking public employees by taking away their rights at the workplace.
New Wisconsin Poll Shows Broad Support for Labor
A new poll in Wisconsin shows that nearly 60% of the state support public employees, while a majority of Wisconsinites (53%) have an unfavorable view of Governor Scott Walker (R), who is attempting to eliminate collective bargaining rights for public workers.
The poll also shows that 65% of voters in the state want Walker to compromise with the unions instead of standing strong in his push to cripple organized labor. Among independents, 68% support compromise over further demonization of the state's workers.
This latest polling comes as Tea Party groups are claiming the support fueling Walker's anti-worker agenda is beginning to crumble due to growing public opposition, which means this latest poll will only intensify the opposition to Governor Walker's budget "repair" plan.
Read more about the poll's findings at Talking Points Memo.
The poll also shows that 65% of voters in the state want Walker to compromise with the unions instead of standing strong in his push to cripple organized labor. Among independents, 68% support compromise over further demonization of the state's workers.
This latest polling comes as Tea Party groups are claiming the support fueling Walker's anti-worker agenda is beginning to crumble due to growing public opposition, which means this latest poll will only intensify the opposition to Governor Walker's budget "repair" plan.
Read more about the poll's findings at Talking Points Memo.
Why Efforts to Repeal Health Care Will Backfire
With the GOP in control of the House of Representatives, there is a constant drum beat for repealing the Affordable Care Act. The fact that repeal -- whether comprehensive or piecemeal -- has no chance of passing the Senate or getting past President Obama's veto pen clearly escapes the leaders of this legislative distraction, but there will nonetheless be much activity in the House on rolling back reform.
The Tea Party has demanded the GOP focus on repealing "Obamacare," and the Republicans are desperate to show their obedience. The staunchest opponents of health care reform -- Michele Bachmann, Eric Cantor, Mike Pence, Jim DeMint -- have drawn a line in the sand and declared that nothing less than full repeal will be acceptable.
But in all the talk about repealing health care reform, the numerous benefits that the law creates have become more publicized than they ever were before the November elections. The sunlight on those benefits -- i.e. reducing costs for preventive care, increasing insurance access for children, ending caps on insurance payouts for patients with chronic diseases -- has forced advocates of repeal to say they actually support those provisions and will work to make sure they are once again made the law of the land.
In other words, the GOP is admitting that its predictions that America would fall into a socialist dystopia if health care reform were allowed to become law are completely bogus. More importantly, they must argue that the best path forward is to end the law's protections for the American people so they can turn around and try to re-implement them.
For people who are hyper sensitive about cutting the cost of government, it's interesting that they are endorsing the definition of inefficient government work.
The fact of the matter is that the Affordable Care Act is a net positive for America, in particular the working class folks who have struggled to obtain health insurance. Even the Act's most fervent supporters would admit that the law is not perfect, which is why there is a bipartisan effort, for example, to end the costly 1099 filing requirement for small businesses.
Repeal was always an exercise in political expedience instead of an attempt to pass a better national policy on health care. There are areas that need reformed, but the central planks of the law are both necessary and popular. Necessary because they help fix an inherently broken health care system, and popular for the same reason.
Moreover, repeal efforts have already backfired. There is now a risk of a government shutdown due to the GOP's out of touch priorities, and the ability of health care advocates to expose the hypocrisy of repeal has likely doomed the push for repeal (although the Republicans will continue to press forward with that losing effort.)
It's important, though, to recognize the benefits that the repeal effort has reaped. It's clear that enhancing the Affordable Care Act is a worthy enterprise, but ironically Americans support a stronger law, not a weaker one. Working to get a public option, for instance, should thus be the focus of all reform-minded health advocates, as only a public option will guarantee that all Americans have access to the health care that they need.
Oddly, supporters of health care reform should thank the GOP, as their radical efforts to reduce access to affordable health care will provide an enormous boost to the cause of expanding health coverage for all Americans.
The Tea Party has demanded the GOP focus on repealing "Obamacare," and the Republicans are desperate to show their obedience. The staunchest opponents of health care reform -- Michele Bachmann, Eric Cantor, Mike Pence, Jim DeMint -- have drawn a line in the sand and declared that nothing less than full repeal will be acceptable.
But in all the talk about repealing health care reform, the numerous benefits that the law creates have become more publicized than they ever were before the November elections. The sunlight on those benefits -- i.e. reducing costs for preventive care, increasing insurance access for children, ending caps on insurance payouts for patients with chronic diseases -- has forced advocates of repeal to say they actually support those provisions and will work to make sure they are once again made the law of the land.
In other words, the GOP is admitting that its predictions that America would fall into a socialist dystopia if health care reform were allowed to become law are completely bogus. More importantly, they must argue that the best path forward is to end the law's protections for the American people so they can turn around and try to re-implement them.
For people who are hyper sensitive about cutting the cost of government, it's interesting that they are endorsing the definition of inefficient government work.
The fact of the matter is that the Affordable Care Act is a net positive for America, in particular the working class folks who have struggled to obtain health insurance. Even the Act's most fervent supporters would admit that the law is not perfect, which is why there is a bipartisan effort, for example, to end the costly 1099 filing requirement for small businesses.
Repeal was always an exercise in political expedience instead of an attempt to pass a better national policy on health care. There are areas that need reformed, but the central planks of the law are both necessary and popular. Necessary because they help fix an inherently broken health care system, and popular for the same reason.
Moreover, repeal efforts have already backfired. There is now a risk of a government shutdown due to the GOP's out of touch priorities, and the ability of health care advocates to expose the hypocrisy of repeal has likely doomed the push for repeal (although the Republicans will continue to press forward with that losing effort.)
It's important, though, to recognize the benefits that the repeal effort has reaped. It's clear that enhancing the Affordable Care Act is a worthy enterprise, but ironically Americans support a stronger law, not a weaker one. Working to get a public option, for instance, should thus be the focus of all reform-minded health advocates, as only a public option will guarantee that all Americans have access to the health care that they need.
Oddly, supporters of health care reform should thank the GOP, as their radical efforts to reduce access to affordable health care will provide an enormous boost to the cause of expanding health coverage for all Americans.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
NC Governor Uses Veto to Protect Affordable Health Care
North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue (D) has vetoed a bill passed by the state legislature that would block enactment of part of the Affordable Care Act in the Tar Heel State.
The state's attorney general, Roy Cooper, wrote in late February that the bill would hamstring the state's ability to administer Medicaid and children's health insurance programs. Perdue took note of Cooper's writings and based part of her decision on his belief that the bill as written could not be enforced.
"This is an ill-conceived piece of legislation that's not good for the people of North Carolina," Perdue said as she announced her veto, a praiseworthy decision that means residents of North Carolina will still be able to enjoy the protections of the federal health care overhaul.
Since the measure passed the state legislature on a narrow, mostly party-line vote, there is little chance that GOP leaders can find enough votes for an override.
The state's attorney general, Roy Cooper, wrote in late February that the bill would hamstring the state's ability to administer Medicaid and children's health insurance programs. Perdue took note of Cooper's writings and based part of her decision on his belief that the bill as written could not be enforced.
"This is an ill-conceived piece of legislation that's not good for the people of North Carolina," Perdue said as she announced her veto, a praiseworthy decision that means residents of North Carolina will still be able to enjoy the protections of the federal health care overhaul.
Since the measure passed the state legislature on a narrow, mostly party-line vote, there is little chance that GOP leaders can find enough votes for an override.
Anti-Worker Groups Are On Their Heels
With clear national support for labor unions and public workers, advocates of stripping workers' rights are beginning to show weakness in their misguided attacks on state employees.
The Tea Party Express is now warning that Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is "losing ground" because recent polling shows that his anti-worker budget reform bill is opposed by clear majorities of Americans and Wisconsinites. Moreover, TPE believes if Walker fails in his assault on labor unions it will force Republican governors throughout the country to "give in and capitulate."
Moreover, a report from the Wall Street Journal earlier this week suggests that at least three Republicans in the Wisconsin state senate may now oppose Governor Walker's bill.
The message is clear: Workers and their allies are winning, and victory in Wisconsin will indeed be a victory for workers throughout the country, especially those in states like Indiana and Ohio where similar rollbacks of workers' rights are under consideration by state legislatures.
If you haven't done so already, show your support for public workers and the sacrifices they make by signing the Standing Up for Public Service petition.
The Tea Party Express is now warning that Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is "losing ground" because recent polling shows that his anti-worker budget reform bill is opposed by clear majorities of Americans and Wisconsinites. Moreover, TPE believes if Walker fails in his assault on labor unions it will force Republican governors throughout the country to "give in and capitulate."
Moreover, a report from the Wall Street Journal earlier this week suggests that at least three Republicans in the Wisconsin state senate may now oppose Governor Walker's bill.
The message is clear: Workers and their allies are winning, and victory in Wisconsin will indeed be a victory for workers throughout the country, especially those in states like Indiana and Ohio where similar rollbacks of workers' rights are under consideration by state legislatures.
If you haven't done so already, show your support for public workers and the sacrifices they make by signing the Standing Up for Public Service petition.
Walker: Layoffs Will Begin Next Month in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker began his latest attack on public workers today by announcing that he would be sending out layoff notices to state employees. The layoffs, according to Walker, are due to the legislature refusing to pass his budget "repair" bill that would strip public employees' collective bargaining rights.
As the Washington Post reports:
As the Washington Post reports:
Walker sent letters to state employee unions saying that layoff notices would go out to state employees in 15 days. The governor also said that actual layoffs would occur a month from now if legislators do not pass his "budget repair" proposal.
Walker's bill, which experts say would eviscerate the state's public employee unions, has been at a standstill since 14 Senate Democrats left the state two weeks ago to block a vote.
"While these notices start the process needed to [lay off] state employees, if the Senate Democrats come back to Wisconsin, these notices may be able to be rescinded and layoffs avoided," said a statement from Walker's office.
The proposal would eliminate most collective bargaining for public employees across Wisconsin, while preventing unions from collecting dues with payroll deductions. Walker's bill would also prevent unions from requiring members to pay dues.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)