Elections have Consequences

The people of Wisconsin last November elected a Republican Governor along with a Republican State Assembly and State Senate which had been Democratic for years. Like many people across the country they realized that continuing spending and mounting government deficits were unsustainable and had to stop. The decided it was time to change the leadership of their state government.

Governor Scott Walker had campaigned on solving the states financial woes which included dealing with the states public sector unions. The unions were asked to contribute more to their pensions and pay more towards their benefits to help reduce the states deficit. The Governor also introduced legislation to make Wisconsin a right to work state and that’s were the battles lines have been drawn. Right to work laws significantly reduce the power and finances of unions allowing workers to have a job without forcing them to join a union.

Its no secret that unions especially government sector ones had contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to Democrats which has been a major cause of these looming deficits in state budgets. If fact during the 2010 elections unions contributed over 400 million dollars to Democratic candidates. Over the years this cozy relationship has had Democratic politicians voting for wage and benefit packages for public sector union employees which far exceeded those in the private sector.

Lets examine some facts. Rust belt states which includes the mid west have been steadily losing jobs and population to mostly southern states which have right to work laws. The unemployment rates are lower in states with right to work laws and income taxes are lower.  In fact 3 of the fastest growing states Florida, Texas and Tennessee have no state income tax at all.
Getting states financial house in order and creating a better environment for businesses is what these rust belt states are trying to do to prevent more businesses from leaving their state.

I have never been in favor of public sector unions, but I have no problem workers in the private sector forming unions in the work place. In fact I have belonged to a union years ago following in the foot steps of my father. People who work in the public sector should be beholden to the taxpayers and not to the unions or to any political party. Government workers should not be paid more than the workers in the private sector. Their job security and benefits are generally better than those in the private sector.

The state senators from Wisconsin who are hiding here in Illinois are cowards.The November election clearly gave the Republicans a majority in state government and they were going to move forward on their agenda. Lets look at the US Congress when in 2008 the Democrats were swept in to power. When the Democrats called for a vote on Obamacare did the Republicans run and hide because they did not like it. No, they stayed and voted and voiced their opinion even though they new they would loose the vote. In Illinois the Democrats hold all the power and when they proposed an huge income tax increase which the Republicans opposed they did not run and hide they did the same as those in Congress the voted because it was their duty as an elected official.

The State Democratic Senators from Wisconsin can continue to avoid their duty by hiding out in Illinois which will force the Governor to lay off thousands of state workers to balance the budget. How can they look those people in the eye and say I stayed away for you when by their actions they put thousands of people out of work. Elections have consequences.

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