U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wisconsin, sent Gov. Scott Walker a letter Thursday asking him to withdraw his budget proposal to end collective bargaining for public employees.
"Collective bargaining - the chance for employees to negotiate for fair wages with management - is key to our state's success. It is a time-tested, reasonable process," Kind said.
"And let's be clear, public employees are not the reason state budgets are in trouble," he said. "We need to address the budget, but we can't just fix it by cutting the salaries and robbing the retirement funds of our nurses, teachers and public safety professionals."
Kind said he shared with Walker his concerns, including the impact on public education, pending the budget proposal. He also urged the governor to work with public employees to find a solution to the state's budget shortfalls.
"We're all Wisconsinites, and I know we can pull together to solve Wisconsin's problems," Kind said. "That's what we have always done best and that's what our leaders must recognize. The only way we can move the state forward is by listening to each other and by working together."
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