Thursday, February 17, 2011

Walker's Budget Repair Bill

The Wisconsin constitution requires a balanced budget. In recent years, the legislature has knowingly operated with a budget deficit. Additionally, our representatives have robbed from Peter to pay Paul, including the recent raid of the patient's compensation fund which the state has been ordered by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to return to the fund. The time has come that something needs to be done before the state is insolvent. The question is, "should it come at the expense of state employee unions?"

Unions have generally served a significant and purposeful role in employment matters. The right to unionize has been recognized for the better part of the last century. Governor Walker has claimed the state and local governments can not bargain when they have nothing to offer. Do these circumstances give rise to disregarding collective bargaining agreements?

Regardless of one's position on this issue, one thing is clear: the time has come for our government to be fiscally responsible. Requiring state workers to contribute to benefits similar to those employed in the private sector would appear to be a better alternative than mass layoffs.