Friday, March 4, 2011

Don’t look now, but it’s getting worser and worser for Scott Walker!

 

March 4th, 2011 at 06:49pm Pat Cunningham

from Mr. Cunningham’s BLOG: http://blogs.e-rockford.com/applesauce/2011/03/04/dont-look-now-but-its-getting-worser-and-worser-for-scott-walker/

The political backlash against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s union-busting strategy seems to be approaching critical mass.

For example, Stephen Moore, an editorialist for the Wall Street Journal and former president of the right-wing Club for Growth, is becoming increasingly concerned

Moore WRITES:

Conservatives in Wisconsin are getting nervous that three Republican state senators may defect on the collective-bargaining reform vote. It’s still anyone’s guess as to when that vote will take place because Democrats remain in exile to prevent the necessary quorum. But Republicans in the Senate hold a 19-14 majority, so GOP Gov. Scott Walker can afford to lose no more than two Republican senators on this pivotal vote.

On Wednesday, Republicans held a “unity” press conference that was attended by all but one senator, Dale Schultz. But a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll showing that 62% of respondents oppose curtailing collective-bargaining rights for public-sector workers over health care, pensions or other benefits suggests that the GOP position may be losing some support among independent voters. Meanwhile, the unions have turned up the heat by launching recall efforts against at least five of the GOP senators.

And Greg Sargent of the Washington Post SAYS Walker’s threat to lay off state workers if Senate Democrats don’t cave might actually backfire on Republicans:

What if the layoffs will actually increase pressure on Republican Senators to reach a deal with Dems and labor?

I’m told that Wisconsin Dems are mapping out an aggressive plan to make that happen, if and when layoffs start happening — one designed to pin the blame for them direcly on Republican Senators.

“We don’t think Republicans want these layoffs to happen,” Graeme Zielinski, a spokesman for the Wisconsin Democratic Party, told me this morning. “They’re going to eat this, and it’s dawning on them.”

Pressed on whether the layoffs would increase pressure on Dems to return, Zielinski said Dems strongly regretted the impact layoffs would have on communities, but rejected the idea that it force Dems to come back.

“The public is not going to blame us for these layoffs — when they’re on a totally arbitrary timetable and have nothing to do with the fiscal solvency of the state,” Zielinski said. He added that Dems would respond aggressively.

Recall for Wisconsin Republican Senators may have begun

The following was posted as a comment  on The Wisconsin State Journal story on the current actions of the Wisconsin Senate Majority

SEE: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_2b03c590-4671-11e0-8f18-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=comments

 

tobeornot said on: March 4, 2011, 11:50 am
http://www.recalltherepublican8.com/
Weekend Staging Locations to Gather Signatures to Recall the Republican 8
Canvass times are 10am and 2pm Saturday and Sunday at the following locations
.
You can register to volunteer here.
Robert Cowles
Green Bay/De Pere/Ashwaubenon
Brown County Dems Office 1061 W. Mason St., Green Bay
Shawano Angies Main Cafe 132 South Main Street, Shawano
Alberta Darling
Milwaukee/Shorewood/Whitefish Bay Sweet and Associates 2510 E Capitol
Sheila Harsdorf
Hudson Hudson Coffee and Bagel 800 Carmichael Rd., Hudson
River Falls Earth Angels 321 N 2nd St, River Falls
Luther Olsen
Portage Home of Margo Miller 813 W. Carroll St., Portage
Waupaca Chez Marche 108 South Main Street, Waupaca
Ripon **This location has changed** The new location is United Steelworkers 443 Scott St., Ripon
Randy Hopper
Fond du Lac Winnebagoland Uniserv 325 Trowbridge Drive, Fond du Lac
Oshkosh UW Oshkosh Reeve Union 748 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh
Dan Kapanke
La Crosse/Onalaska Machinists Hall 1307 Market Street, La Crosse

Rasmussen poll: Wisconsin voters support collective bargaining rights | The Raw Story

A new Rasmussen poll found Thursday that a clear majority of Wisconsin voters oppose Gov. Scott Walker's (R) efforts to strip collective bargaining rights for public employee unions.

Fifty-two percent said they oppose weakening collective bargaining rights, while 39 percent were in favor of it.

Click on the following for more details:  Rasmussen poll: Wisconsin voters support collective bargaining rights | The Raw Story

New York Times Poll: 

Americans oppose weakening the bargaining rights of public employee unions by a margin of nearly two to one: 60 percent to 33 percent. While a slim majority of Republicans favored taking away some bargaining rights, they were outnumbered by large majorities of Democrats and independents who said they opposed weakening them.

Click on the following to read more of the NY Times Poll:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/us/01poll.html?_r=1&ref=politics

Northwest Herald | Wisconsin stalemate could drag on for months

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin’s budget stalemate over union bargaining rights shows no sign of resolution – and it could be a long wait.

despite talk of deadlines and threats of mass layoffs, the state doesn’t really have to pass a budget to pay its bills until at least May.

Republicans are becoming increasingly creative in their attempts to lure the 14 Democrats home. They’ve tried cutting off access to copying machines for their staff and requiring lawmakers to pick up their checks at the Capitol rather than having them deposited directly in bank accounts.

On Wednesday, the Senate passed a resolution imposing a $100 fine for each day the Democrats remain on the run.

Northwest Herald | Wisconsin stalemate could drag on for months

Sosnowski Announces Committee Assignments

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February 15, 2011

 

Springfield, IL -- With the 97th General Assembly fully underway, State Representative Joe Sosnowski (R-Belvidere/Rockford) is pleased to announce his committee assignments where he will serve for the next two years.  Sosnowski has been assigned to the Aging, Cities & Villages, Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges and Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committees.  Sosnowski believes he brings and unique perspective and experience to each committee. “I am very pleased with my assignments,” said Sosnowski.  “I believe serving on these committees will help me better represent the people of the Rock River Valley.  I am planning on using my position on the Transportation Committee to bring much needed improved infrastructure to the greater Rockford and Belvidere areas.” Representative Sosnowski also notes his experience as an Alderman to both the Cities of DeKalb and Rockford as a reason why he was selected to the Cities & Villages Committee.  As a member of the Aging Committee, Sosnowski wants to focus on the amount of people reaching retirement age and the impact on State finances.  Sosnowski will also bring his knowledge of education as Director of Institutional Advancement for Rockford Christian Schools with him to the Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee.  Committee hearings for the House of Representatives begin this week.

Rep. Joe Sosnowski, Illinois' 69th District