Republican governors target public employee unions

[Elmore Furth]

Source: LA Times

The main opponent mentioned at the Republican Governors Assn. conference here — described in terms ranging from misguided to downright evil — is the other party, the Democrats.

But running a close second are the public employee unions, particularly the teachers unions.

The biggest laugh of the morning session came when New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie made a joke out of a union's opposition to his proposal to require teachers to pay a portion of their health insurance costs.

And among the lines most quoted and paraphrased among the governors was the comment in September from Scott Walker, now governor-elect of Wisconsin, regarding the need to trim the salaries and benefits of public employees: "We cannot and should not maintain a system where public employees are the haves and the taxpayers footing the bill are the have-nots."


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-republican-governors-20101119,0,7042324.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fnation+%28L.A.+Times+-+National+News%29

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Demonizing your opponents is the first step to crushing them.

Watch out, public employee labor unions.

[county worker]

1. Instead of bring everybody up they what to take everyone down.

It is just plain class warfare and the weapon is pitting working people against each other.

[safeinOhio]

2. The states with the best schools

have teacher unions. The ones with the lowest scores, don't. You can see where this is going.

[savalez]

3. Aren't Governors public employees?

[Maccagirl]

4. Yes, but they're members of an evil political party,, not an evil union

Plus, they will tell you, at every opportunity, that they are PUBLIC SERVANTS! Don't you forget that you socialist commie. :sarcasm:

[Omaha Steve]

5. I'm a public servant (AFSCME)

Because of an unfair state board (by law), I work for less than others in my profession. My benefits are less too. Many of my fellow city workers have the same problem. We are a right to work state. That doesn't help any.

Now an anti tax group want to change the rules that govern the way we bargain. It tilts the playing field even more against us: http://www.platteinstitute.org/

K&R!

[Monique1]

6. In Az

the Az Republic going after unions and pension plans

[Bill McBlueState]

7. they're used to it

Union men and women are tough folks who are used to being scapegoated for everything, even when Democrats are in power. I don't expect them to capitulate this time.

[okieinpain]

9. it's funny because eventually everyone will live on the east or

west coast because that's where the jobs are. the middle or bible belt will dry up and be nothing but a place for older white citizens to retire.

[OnionPatch]

8. Because no one in the middle class should have pensions, benefits and a living wage.

:eyes:

They're trying to pit us "little folk" against each other and sadly, it's working, thanks to the tea-party types who cheer this on. How pathetic to see middle class people fighting other middle class people for the measly crumbs that have managed to trickled down on us. :(

[Imajika]

10. It is going to get ugly...

Public employee unions and workers are going to get hit extremely hard.

The stimulus and state aid are running out, and there is no chance the Republicans will approve any more of either.