Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
Democratic state legislators are now leaving Indiana, to avoid voting on public employee union reforms. I wonder what Ricochet's own Governor Mitch Daniels is going to make of this.
House Democrats are leaving the state rather than vote on anti-union legislation, The Indianapolis Star has learned.
A source said Democrats are headed to Illinois, though it was possible some also might go to Kentucky. They need to go to a state with a Democratic governor to avoid being taken into police custody and returned to Indiana.
Today’s fight was triggered by Republicans pushing a bill that would bar unions and companies from negotiating a contract that requires non-union members to kick-in fees for representation. It’s become the latest in what is becoming a national fight over Republican attempts to eliminate or limit collective bargaining.
So it's official: public employee union reform is now the single most important domestic political issue, and it's the bright, fat line that divides us. After months and months of groping around for a powerful, clear political message, Republicans have one. If they keep pressing and pressing, by the end of the month we'll see victory, which will come in the shape of a gaggle of Democratic governors and senators all arguing for the same public union reforms.
The closest historical analogy I can think of is the wave of tax-cutting state propositions that started in California in the 1970's -- the famous Proposition 13, which cut property taxes -- and the "prairie fire" it started, resulting in a slew of similar propositions in other states, and especially in the crystal-clear message of presidential nominee Ronald Reagan in 1980.
Dividing lines are clear. Clear is good.
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Jul '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
And the Genuine Beauty of this issue comes with the fact that There is NOTHING for the Republicans to loose!
Union money supports Democrats and does not, will not, and never will support Republicans. (other than some token funds thrown RINO's way to say they are balanced sort of)
Republican's can only win with this issue.
Oct '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
The union is caught in a beautiful catch 22; lose their power or bring public focus to their agenda. Any state that is contemplating breaking the union chokehold ought to force the issue right now.
Who knows? A nationwide migration of Democrat lawmakers will stimulate the hotel and entertainment industry. The Democrats have introduced a stimulus plan I can heartly support and they're doing it with their own private funds.
Hope and change I can live with!
Jul '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
Rob, I think this issue is a perfect example of how the Internet, talk radio and Fox News, by breaking the monopoly of legacy media, have transformed American politics.
It's unimaginable that the legacy media, left to its own devices, would have broken the story of public-sector workers' outrageous compensation and public sector unions' incestuous relationship with politicians (of both parties, I might add.).
The single revelation that, contrary to what most of us had always believed, government workers actually make far more than workers in the private sector might have gotten momentary play on broadcast news or in the back pages of the Washington Post.
But it took the echo chamber of new media - and the legions of new voices for which that media is a channel - to raise awareness and outrage among the electorate and stiffen the spines of elected officials.
Edited on Feb 22, 2011 at 10:45amSep '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
Suppose you could create an American political party. You need to decide which cause(s) the party will fight for till the end. Choose from the following list.
(a) unyielding defense against tyrants, terrorists and other enemies
(b) freeing Americans from undue governmental oversight
(c) increasing taxes and sending the money to your supporters in public sector unions who are walking off the job on the public dime
The Democrats have chosen (c). Beautiful. What a clarifying moment for the voters. I hope this fight continues all year. Better yet, through the decade.
Jun '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
I think the Republicans are going to lose big on this issue. I'm not against breaking the union's grip on power, but I believe the Republicans are making a mistake in the way they are handling the issue. Time will tell.
Oct '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
I hope that Mitch was reading the thread started by Paul the other day. The consensus there was for the Republicans to bring forward legislation dear to the hearts of the Democrats which would not requre the quroum which the Democrats were attempting to deny to the majority. A good parliamentary maneuver if the Repbulicans can pull it off. Are you listening, Mitch?
May '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
Please elaborate. What is it you think will not play with the public?
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
What is taking place is an unmasking of the Democratic Party as an unabashed and uninhibited opponent of the democratic process. This is -- as Barack Obama taught us to say -- a teachable moment. No less significant is the fact that it unmasks the Democratic Party as a defender of aristocratic privilege. Almost no one in the private sector has tenure in his job and contributes next to nothing to his pension and for his health insurance. The beauty of this is that it also unmasks the mainstream media as a disinformation operation -- for local people in places like Wisconsin and Indiana can see clearly what is going on in their own states and can observe and reflect on the media spin.
May '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
It's the siege of Petersburg. It can only end one way...and Walker should say, "I propose to fight it out on this line, if it takes all summer"
May '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
I posted this as a separate item on the Member's Feed only because I had an illustration to go with it but it fits here:
Elected Democrats feel comfortable in their socialist extremism, while Republicans do everything that they can to avoid that tag. The trouble, therefore, lies in the negotiations. If a Republican's opening gambit is to move from the moderated center to the Leftist's position he has already lost.
Enter Scott Walker, Wisconsin Ranger. Start on the far right and make the leftists move to you. Is this really a new, calculated tactic or just an accident?
In these times that are bankrupt in both ideas and cold, hard cash are Republicans about to embrace their inner Chuck Norris?
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
The AWOL legislators have a theme song:
May '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
They are all "fleebagging" to Illinois to help drive dead people to the polls for vote for Rahm.
Aug '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
I agree. People see the Democrats for what they are, and the unions for what they are. Now as long as the Republicans in those states don't cave this could be successful. I do hope it catches and spreads to other states.
I also agree with Kenneth's statement above in comment #3.
Oct '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
Check out Ricochet BFF Jonah Goldberg’s column in the LA Times calling for the abolition of public sector unions. My favorite quote:
Jun '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
Unless I'm misreading this, I'm not so sure Gov. Daniels is up for the battle.
May '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
I understand that Gov. Daniels has decided that the time is not right for this battle. Its a shame but he understands Indiana a lot better than most of us. I suspect that we will not lack for other similar battles to take the place on Indiana. Given the economic track record of right to work states versus the others, its hard to see how anyone could make a credible case for enforced union participation as a good thing.
Like Rob said, clarity is good.
May '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
The GOP should be running wall to wall ads of "Milk Cartons" with the missing Democrats on them and "Amber Alerts" for the missing pols. Point out the despicable nature of these elected officials who are spitting on the Republic with this cowardly tactic. If the GOP can't win this PR battle it really is hopeless.
Sep '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
Is it not true that the legislature has the votes necessary to pass the bill?
Edited on Feb 22, 2011 at 1:42pmDec '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
Steve MacDonald: I understand that Gov. Daniels has decided that the time is not right for this battle. Its a shame but he understands Indiana a lot better than most of us. I suspect that we will not lack for other similar battles to take the place on Indiana. Given the economic track record of right to work states versus the others, its hard to see how anyone could make a credible case for enforced union participation as a good thing.
Like Rob said, clarity is good. · Feb 22 at 1:34pm
He's also defending the Indiana fleebaggers.
I don't get it, this is manifestly stupid politics.
If I were advising him, I'd dunk his head in a bucket of water. This makes no sense at all.
Dec '10
Re: Wisconsin, now Indiana: Public Union Reform is the Next Political Prairie Fire
From the article it is unclear to me if the Indiana bill applies only to government worker's unions or to all unions.