Wonder How The Scott Walker Recount Will Go?

[Kathianne]

Probably not too well, for the Democrats:

http://althouse.blogspot.com/2012/05/in-janesville-wisconsin-anonymous-flier.html


May 23, 2012 In Janesville, Wisconsin, an anonymous flier lists teachers' salaries and tells parents to ask for a "non-radical teacher" next year. (http://althouse.blogspot.com/2012/05/in-janesville-wisconsin-anonymous-flier.html) The flier names the 321 highest-paid teachers and tells readers to check on line to see if they signed the Scott Walker recall petition. (http://host.madison.com/news/local/education/extra-credit/extra-credit-anti-teacher-flier-stirs-tempest-in-janesville/article_dd95f6a2-a42a-11e1-9f25-0019bb2963f4.html)

The flier angered teachers, who were already targeted by a flier earlier this year accusing them of having a "Marxist, globalist agenda," said Ted Lewis, regional union representative for Rock County teachers.

"It's trying to intimidate them and make them feel guilty for earning salaries," Lewis said. "They're creating this witch hunt for people who engaged in their civic duty."...

Chris Kliesmet, executive administrator of Citizens for Responsible Government, said his organization isn't responsible for the content of the flier, but said... "The question in the back of a lot of people's minds is, 'Are my children being indoctrinated?'"ADDED: I've lost count of how many times pseudonymous lefties at the Isthmus forum have put up my name and my salary along with some argument that I ought to suffer some negative consequence. (Isthmus is the Madison, Wisconsin "alternative" newspaper.)
Posted by Ann Althouse at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://althouse.blogspot.com/2012/05/in-janesville-wisconsin-anonymous-flier.html" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" title="2012-05-23T10:14:00-05:00">10:14 AM</abbr> http://www.blogger.com/img/icon18_email.gif (http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=6329595&postID=1216337709193148581) (http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=6329595&postID=1216337709193148581)

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/school-districts-dont-see-disaster-in-budgets-for-next-year-9m5h00k-153259445.html


...Districts already have some picture of what will happen in terms of cuts and layoffs. When we did an in-depth look at 17 Milwaukee-area districts about the impact of the budget and its many changes, we also asked about how they are situated for the future.


It is one of many issues that are at the center of the debate between Walker and his June 5 recall opponent, Democrat Tom Barrett.


A PolitiFact Wisconsin survey of 17 school districts found some officials have deep concerns about how state funding cuts, past and future, will affect education long term.
But officials don't see fiscal calamity in their 2012-'13 budgets and say the freedom provided by Walker's union limits will provide new or continued chances to trim back employee costs from school ledgers.


Those controversial changes were a result of Walker and Republican legislators curtailing collective bargaining for most public employees in the budget, allowing districts to force employees to pay more for pensions and health care. The limits will extend to additional districts in 2012-'13, as more labor contracts expire.


But some aren't eager to push for deeper compensation cuts after many got significant budget relief already.


What does the future hold?


Perhaps most notably, districts will be in a position to eliminate or alter a variety of post-retirement benefits.


In addition, the second year of the state budget will restore a small piece of the cut that knocked down school revenue caps by 5.5 percent in 2011-'12.


Depending on taxing and spending decisions they make, districts are in line for an average 1 percent increase for the next school year.


Glendale-River Hills will get Walker's budgetary "tools" for the first time, and expects a surplus from the pension and health-care changes, said Larry Smalley, district administrator.
Still, Smalley said Act 10 is no long-term solution to the chronic budget squeeze on local schools, which have been under state-imposed revenue limits for two decades.


He said fixed school expenses, for things such as transportation, continue to rise and unless state funding policy is reformed, deep cuts to salaries and benefits will result.


Milwaukee Public Schools are in a different boat - teachers have a labor contract through next school year, leaving the district still unable to use Act 10 to knock down labor costs for that group.


That means more cuts there...

[Kathianne]

Glimpse of the future? You have to read the whole thing.

http://reason.com/blog/2012/05/24/reason-rupe-wisconsin-recall-poll-walker



Reason-Rupe Poll on Wisconsin Recall: Walker Leads Barrett 50-42, Obama Leads Romney 46-36 (http://reason.com/blog/2012/05/24/reason-rupe-wisconsin-recall-poll-walker)

Emily Ekins (http://reason.com/people/emily-ekins/all) | May 24, 2012



Gov. Scott Walker leads Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett 50-42 among those likely to vote in Wisconsin’s June 5 recall election, according to a new Reason-Rupe poll of 708 Wisconsin adults on cell phones and landlines.


In the presidential race, 49 percent of all adults surveyed approve of the job President Obama is doing and 45 percent disapprove. President Obama leads Mitt Romney 46-36 in Wisconsin, with 6 percent selecting the Libertarian Party’s Gary Johnson. Obama’s margin over Romney shrinks to 45-41 among those likely to vote in June’s recall election, with Johnson taking what would be a crucial 5 percent of the vote.


The Reason-Rupe poll finds voters overwhelmingly support many of the key changes Gov. Walker and the legislature implemented on public sector pensions and health care last year. Reason-Rupe finds 72 percent favor the change requiring public sector workers to increase their pension contributions from less than 1 percent to 6 percent of their salaries. And 71 percent favor making government employees pay 12 percent of their own health care premiums instead of the previous 6 percent.


Taxpayers actually wish state lawmakers had cast an even larger net with their reforms. Police and firefighters were exempted from the pension and health care adjustments but 57 percent of taxpayers say they should not have been.


The public supports asking government workers to pick up more of the tab for their own retirement benefits, as 65 percent say public sector workers receive better pension and health care benefits than private sector workers. 22 percent say benefit levels are about the same, and just 7 percent believe private sector retirement benefits are better than those in the public sector.


When asked what state and local officials should do if pensions and health benefits are underfunded, 74 percent favor requiring government employees to pay more for their own health care and retirement benefits. In sharp contrast, 75 percent oppose cutting funding for programs like education and 74 percent oppose raising taxes to help fund government worker benefits.


To deal with rising retirement costs, 69 percent favor shifting future state employees, those who haven’t been hired or promised pensions yet, to 401(k)-style retirement plans instead of the current defined-benefit plans.


If state and local governments have to reduce spending, voters were asked what should be cut first: 38 percent say public employee pension benefits, 29 percent believe prison and court cuts should be made first, 17 percent would reduce funding for roads and infrastructure, 5 percent chose education, and 4 percent would target health care spending.


Government employee unions are viewed favorably by 35 percent of those surveyed and unfavorably by 31 percent. Voters remain split on limiting the collective bargaining power of public sector unions, with 47 percent in favor of, and 46 percent opposed to, restricting unions’ ability to negotiate things like health care and pension benefits...

[4horsemenrule]

Considering how the Democrats are acting right now - I would say Walker by alteats 5 points

I have not seen any poll - including the Daly Kos poll - that shows Walker behind.

[tailfins]

Considering how the Democrats are acting right now - I would say Walker by alteats 5 points

I have not seen any poll - including the Daly Kos poll - that shows Walker behind.


I agree, I also don't think they will need a recount in the recall. Since the polls and money have demoralized the Dems in WI, I see Walker winning by double digits.

[4horsemenrule]

I agree, I also don't think they will need a recount in the recall. Since the polls and money have demoralized the Dems in WI, I see Walker winning by double digits.

But the liberal media and DNC will still offer up excuses like the elction was stolen, Voter ID kept many anti Walker voters away, talk radio and Fox News drwoned out the unions message; outside money from secret sources tiltled the election to Walker; Walker goons stuffed the ballot box - and so on

Funny how the WI budget now has a surplus with a tax increase, and some polls show about 25% of union hosueholds wil vote for Gov Walker

[avatar4321]

Considering how the Democrats are acting right now - I would say Walker by alteats 5 points

I have not seen any poll - including the Daly Kos poll - that shows Walker behind.

Last poll I saw he was ahead by 7 points. I dont know how accurate it is. I dont take much stock in polls. But the left isnt happy. And they are already trying to claim it's being stolen.

[4horsemenrule]

Last poll I saw he was ahead by 7 points. I dont know how accurate it is. I dont take much stock in polls. But the left isnt happy. And they are already trying to claim it's being stolen.

I have noticed few liberals are talking about the issue that led to their recall attempt - the union reform bills that balanced the state budget without tax increases

That is a sure sign they are woried and desperate to find a new issue to try and get their side out to vote

[Thunderknuckles]

Funny how the WI budget now has a surplus with a tax increase, and some polls show about 25% of union hosueholds wil vote for Gov Walker
That is probably the single biggest reason why Walker isn't going anywhere. His policies are actually working and are putting the state back in the black.

It's hard to argue with results.

[4horsemenrule]

The way things are looking now, it mught not be a bad idea to watch PMSNBC on Tuesday night just to enjoy the reaction of liberals

Meanwhile a musical tribute to the union goons, and liberal media that were so cocky about this recall election



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj_9CiNkkn4&feature=player_embedded