By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Hundreds of protestors, called into the streets and halls of the Wisconsin state Capitol today by union bosses, are trying to halt what appears to be almost certain passage of a bill intended to help the cash-strapped state by forcing drastic cutbacks in union workers’ exorbitant pension and health care plans.
The Associated Press is reporting that crowds are chanting “Kill the Bill” outside the Senate chamber of the Capitol building with the hopes of changing the minds of lawmakers who are planning to vote today on the bill designed to curb union excesses as a way to handle the state’s $3.6 billion deficit. Introduced only a week ago by Gov. Scott Walker, it cleared a major legislative hurdle last night and is now heading for a vote in the Senate and Assembly.
If passed, it will eliminate collective bargaining rights for state, county and local workers, with the exception of police, firefighters and the state patrol workers. It would also require public workers to start paying half the costs of their pensions and at least 12.6 percent of their health care coverage.
These concessions will save the cash-strapped state $30 million by July 1 and $300 million over the next two years.
Governor Walker calls these increases “modest” in comparison with those in the private sector and insists the measures are necessary to help balance the budget and avoid massive layoffs.
“We’re at a point of crisis,” the governor said, and promised to call out the National Guard if he had to in order keep state operations, including prisons, running.
If the bill doesn’t pass, Walker has already said the state will be forced to lay off more than 6,000 workers.
While protestors chanted “Recall Walker Now!” outside his office, the governor insisted the Republican controlled legistlature has enough votes to pass the measure.
Meanwhile, thousands of protesters, including children and teachers from more than two dozen schools that were actually forced to close due to high absences, marched through the streets of the capitol for the third straight day.
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