I agree with Mr. Hermes that it is curious that Governor Walker exempted the firefighter and police unions from the budget bill, but speaking as someone who was at the rally on Tuesday, the firefighters and police know that their unions are next as they showed up to the rally in full force. In fact, it was the firemen who led the march into the Capitol building saying, "When there is an emergency, who is the first to respond - the firefighters are, and we are going to be the first to respond to this emergency. Follow us into the Capitol building as we march to put out this fire."

It was a beautiful thing. What is ugly is that this bill not only doubles contributions of state union workers to their pension and health care plans, but unfairly strips them of all collective bargaining rights, which is the main concern of the protesters.

It about time we start somewhere, whether it is Scott Walkers intention to exclude the Fire and Police Union at this time or not. In respect to the issues at hand, the Teachers of this State have a duty to their job as well as our children. I say we FIRE them if they do not report to school on monday. I am fed up with their can't touch me additude.

I see now they are going to bring in the Corporate America/Tea Party leaders to hold a rally (with the money and time they have it will seem like they are the bigger voice, but the immediate grassroots response of just plain working class people who are actually living in Wisconsin has been amazing!). How much devastation of the middle class will be enough for these people? With 80% of Americans sharing only 7% of the country's wealth but providing 37% of the tax revenue it won't take long before the Corporate interests (who now get to be considered "people") will strip us of any rights that might actually hold the wealthy accountable for our social health as well as the middle class. Shameful!

Here's what Scott Walker has done so far.
“Since his inauguration in early January, Walker has approved $140 million in new special-interest spending that includes:

“• $25 million for an economic development fund for job creation that still has $73 million due to a lack of job creation. Walker is creating a $25 million hole which will not create or retain jobs.

“• $48 million for private health savings accounts, which primarily benefit the wealthy. A study from the federal Governmental Accountability Office showed the average adjusted gross income of HSA participants was $139,000 and nearly half of HSA participants reported withdrawing nothing from their HSA, evidence that it is serving as a tax shelter for wealthy participants.

“• $67 million for a tax shift plan, so ill-conceived that at best the benefit provided to ‘job creators’ would be less than a dollar a day per new job, and may be as little as 30 cents a day.”

And now he seeks to take away the right of workers to negotiate their compensation and other employment issues. I personally have gratitude for the teachers my children have been lucky to have. Further they have in the last 3 years taken cuts in wages and even further according to the Taxpayer Alliance they currently make (in wage and compensation) about 4.6% less than people in the private sector with the same level of education and professionalism.

This whole business is political payback on Walker’s part. If he were true to his word (“Wisconsin is broke”), there would be no carve-outs for any unions. And those Democrat senators that “ran away from home” should be voted out of office when their term is up. COWARDS.

If collective bargaining "works", then why is the state legislation necessary in order to negotiate similar health care and retirement contributions from our police and firefighters? I agree that there should be uniformity for all state workers. However, it's up to their unions and the village of Greendale to show us that they can agree on contracts that match the contribution percentages that other state workers will have. Show us that collective bargaining works for both the employees and the residents of Greendale. We greatly respect the job that they do, but when tax revenues are decreased, we need to cut back. When our revenues increase, we can talk about raises.

Lory, the teachers in the Greendale School District already pay 12% of their health care costs, and their current contract extends one more fiscal year. Also, since public employees already receive a salary 5-7% less than those in the private sector, why should they take a pay cut? Why not generate revenue for the state by increasing taxes on the 90,000 millionaires who reside in the state and pay low levels of income tax? Right now the income tax rate for someone earning $30,000 is 7%, the income tax rate for someone earning $3,000,000 is 7.5% - seems a little out of whack to me.

7% of $30,000.00 = $2,100.00.

7.5% of $3,000,000.00 = $225,000.00.

Now if you encouraged them to make $4,000,000.00, it would be $300,000.00
Unless of course, they are Chris (I'm for the middle class) Abele. Then you don't have to pay ANY state taxes.

i don't appreciate Jason Patzfahl's condescending attitude toward Debbie, regardless what you think of her comment. i understand this is a free forum to share thoughts. and i'm interested in what you have to say, Jason, but that doesn't mean you're the only one with a thought that's of any importance. "grading" comments? "teacher" comments? really?

PS - if i were grading your comments:
knowledge/intelligence = A
presentation = D. no, D-

PSS - it's my opinion that collective bargaining is not a right but a job perk. otherwise we'd all have them.

Very strange, It seems from the comments that Hermes supports Walkers bill except for the fact that it does not include the Police or Fire Fighters. However Hermes signed the Recall Walker petition.......