Legislative thuggery reveals true goal of Walker and his puppets

March 10, 2011
Contact: Bob Allen
608 206-9535

Last night’s blitzkrieg attack by Republican legislative leaders has laid bare their contempt for the rights of working people and the democratic process in Wisconsin.

“Gov. Walker and his puppets have taken a baseball bat to the rights of Wisconsin workers. They have left no doubt that their highest priority is to take away rights from all Wisconsin public employees. Their assault on workers and the democratic process has nothing to do with balancing the state’s budget,” said Marty Beil, executive director of the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME Council 24.

After arguing for weeks that radical changes in public employee rights were an integral fiscal cog in his budget repair bill, Gov. Walker’s allies abruptly separated out the union bashing provisions and abruptly passed them with no prior notice and no debate.

“Early on, our members agreed to every fiscal concession in the governor’s proposal. We have always insisted that Walker’s attack on our rights has nothing to do with the budget. By separating these provisions, Walker’s puppets have proved our point – this isn’t about money, it is about undermining workplace democracy,” Beil said.

“This is a dark time for Wisconsin. This is not how Wisconsin works. Walker has driven the state far away from its core values. But after each dark night, there comes a new day. And this new day starts today, as Wisconsin citizens across the state answer this insult by pouring their energy into recalling Wisconsin Senators who have sold their souls to the highest bidder,” Beil said.

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