2-10-11 Walker introduces Budget Repair Bill

Scott Walker introduced his "Budget Repair Bill". This was accompanied by a volley of radio and TV ads supporting the bill. Walker planned to get the bill passed by Wednesday or Thursday.

During the weekend, shock quickly grew to horror, as public employees realized the scale of what was being proposed: 1. An increased contribution to employee pension and health insurance. 2. Several other concerning economic clauses, including giving the state the power to sell of public heating plants at no-bid contracts. 3. OH YEAH, AND AN EFFECTIVE END TO PUBLIC UNION COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Wisconsin Stands Up

In visiting Madison these last few days, I have actually felt in my bones one of the cliches we are bombarded with these days-we are at an interval in this country's history.

Being in Madison has been absolutely electric. I was outraged by the invasion of Iraq, and I was as vocal as I could in protesting. The most dynamic protest I went to pales in comparison to the level of energy being delivered in Madison nearly 24 hours a day for the last 8 or 9 days.

To a certain degree, people are fighting for their working conditions. However, the fact of the matter is nearly everyone who joins in the massive protests in Madison recognizes we are fighting for something more. We are fighting for our workers' rights. We are fighting against corporate power dictating our future. We are fighting against huge sums of money that corral people into ignorant cycles of thought that working people against each other, rather than rising up to improve all of our lives.

I hope to spread what we the good people of Wisconsin are creating in Madison. Contribute your thoughts and ideas here. Above all, help us to move Our Beautiful State forward!