Union thugs pummeled the Wisconsin State House as the newly elected Governor and Republican majorities worked to balance the Wisconsin state budget. The unions were upset that they were being asked to accept small concessions like paying a portion of their benefits – like private business employees are asked to do – and bring the Wisconsin union’s collective bargaining in line with federal unions.
When the people rose up and elected Republicans last fall, they issued a mandate to the lawmakers to fix the broken and bloated state budget.
What had happened in Wisconsin and other states over the years is that the State Worker’s Unions had found that Democrats were willing to give the State Worker’s Unions huge handouts of tax dollars in exchange for the union support – and the cash that found it’s way back into the Democrats campaign funds as Union donations. The Republicans were elected to stop this corruption and protect the taxpayer’s money.
In attempting to fix the problem, Democratic lawmakers left town to prevent Republicans from voting on the bill, and bussed in Union thugs to occupy the capitol building in one of the most shameful displays of mob thuggery ever witnessed in America. And the Republicans eventually managed to get the bill through. Legally.
Yet, in an unprecedented move, the unions found a judge with union ties that was willing to ignore the law and halt the implementation of the Wisconsin Law. And they even went after one of the Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices in an attempt to stack the court with “union friendly” judges who would also be willing to ignore the laws of the state. This effort failed and the Supreme Court of Wisconsin was safely intact on the side of the law as Unions were unable to place their left wing judicial activist on the bench.
So, the next tactic for the union temper tantrum crowd was to gather signatures for a recall election to try to take the case to the people and allow the voters another chance to speak. Six Republicans were targeted for recall and the unions poured millions of dollars into their usual dishonest ads and massive effort to continue to legally extort Wisconsin taxpayers.
In order to take control of the Senate, Democrats needed to take 4 of the 6 seats. One was an easy pick for the Democrats as Republican Randy Hopper was having an affair, which was exposed in time to effect the recall election. And this race was the easy one, yet the Democrat, Jessica King only won it 51% to 49%.
Democrat Jennifer Shilling defeated Republican Dan Kapanke in the second and final victory for the Democrats of the day – 55% to 45%. This race may be more of a tip to the anti-incumbent mentality than the pro-union crowd as Kapanke has been a Senator since 2004.
The other 4 Republicans won their recall elections and the Wisconsin State House has survived a siege by the Union thugs. A true victory for the Republican mandate.
While this does manage to put the Democrats a bit closer to being even, down by only one – there is a recall election next week in which two Democrats face Republican Challengers in a tit-for-tat challenge. Since this recall election will not tip the balance of power in the Senate, the Union thugs are unlikely to spend the millions of dollars to get out the vote they spent in this week’s election. It is entirely possible the Republicans could pick up both seats and come out with no net loss despite the massive efforts of the unions.
The good news here is that the Unions have taken a financial bath in Wisconsin. The money spent there will be less that they can throw around in other states. Keep in mind, the majority of the dollars spent in their failed effort to overturn the last election was not Wisconsin money. It was outside money spent in an attempt to stop the trend of anti-union legislation passing in state after state. The free gravy train provided by Democrats is over for the union thugs. No longer will they be allowed to hold state taxpayers hostage, negotiating with fellow Democrats who were anxious and eager to throw as much tax money at the unions as possible, knowing they can count on financial assistance at election time.
In the private sector, unions and owners negotiate, and no one can accuse the business owners of being in bed with the unions. An honest bargain can be struck between two opponents. But in Democrat controlled states, this is not possible. Instead of “owners” who must balance the viability of the company with the demands of the union, the Democrats in charge of the negotiations are union supporters, willing to sell the taxpayers out for the reciprocating support.
This is the very definition of corruption. Taxpayers lose every time. The fox is watching the hen house.
Good on the people of Wisconsin for telling the unions to take a hike. And you can send an even stronger message next week by defeating the two Democrats in the recall elections to come!
Article written by: Tom White
