Scott Walker Challenger Tom Barrett Calls for Wisconsin State Worker Benefit Cuts

Every campaign evolves away from core talking points, but Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is sticking by a plan that could mean up to $14,000 in compensation cuts for state workers.

After a campaign rally here Monday, as Barrett attempts to energize his supporters ahead of Tuesday's recall election, he stood by his plan to “Put Madison on a Diet,” a 67-page document he issued during his 2010 run for governor.

"The underlying tenets are still there,” Barrett told Wisconsin Reporter about the plan. “They’re very much what we’re looking at.”

As part of the plan, Barrett says he wants to “rightsize” — see also: layoffs — state government and put public-worker pay and benefits more in line with private-sector compensation.

"We can change the culture in Madison by ... keeping state employee compensation and pensions in line with the private sector," Barrett wrote on his 2010 website.

Scott Walker Challenger Tom Barrett Calls for Wisconsin State Worker Benefit Cuts

Ummm...isn't this what Scott Walker is being recalled for? For reducing government waste and saving money for the taxpayers of Wisconsin? Yet if Walker is recalled, his replacement will do the exact same thing.

A May 30 study by American Enterprise Institute's Andrew Biggs, resident scholar, and Jason Richwine, senior policy analyst, showed that “pension benefits for Wisconsin public employees are roughly 4.5 times more valuable than private sector levels while health benefits are about twice as generous as those paid by larger private sector Wisconsin employers.”

In all, the report said, public workers make about 22 percent more than the state’s private employees.

To put all workers on a level playing field, public workers would be in for a drastic benefit and compensation cut.

So Barrett will cost Wisconsin more money and public workers will make less money.

I guess it's OK if you're a pro-union Democrat. But be damned if a Republican is gonna do it!

/TOA

Ummm...isn't this what Scott Walker is being recalled for? For reducing government waste and saving money for the taxpayers of Wisconsin? Yet if Walker is recalled, his replacement will do the exact same thing.

Why yes it is and that makes them quite the hypocrites,and when it comes to public sector unions they have the only right's that the public dictate meaning since they are getting paid by local taxes, and property taxes they forfeit any "collective bargaining rights".

Rather simple since other people are footing the bill the burden on those people should be reduced.

Walker does not stand a chance of winning, especially since unions run this country...i smell a fix coming.

Originally posted by oneness86
Walker does not stand a chance of winning, especially since unions run this country...i smell a fix coming.

Polls show Walker ahead by ~3%. I think it's likely he'll stay the legally and dutifully elected governor of Wisconsin.

If not, it will be a travesty of democracy. The same democracy that liberals and progressives whine that there isn't enough of in the U.S.

/TOA

reply to post by The Old American


could not agree more

Looks like it's all moot now. Scott Walker was victorious in defending democracy. Good job, Scott.

/TOA