Is Scott Walker evil?

Is Scott Walker evil? I don't think so, but you be the judge.

From the Wall Street Journal:
"Why I'm Fighting in Wisconsin" by Scott Walker
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704132204576190260787805984.html?mod=djemEditorialPage_t#articleTabs%3Darticle

"Most states in the country are facing a major budget deficit. Many are cutting billions of dollars of aid to schools and local governments. These cuts lead to massive layoffs or increases in property taxes—or both.

"In Wisconsin, we have a better approach to tackling our $3.6 billion deficit. We are reforming the way government works, as well as balancing our budget. Our reform plan gives state and local governments the tools to balance the budget through reasonable benefit contributions. In total, our budget-repair bill saves local governments almost $1.5 billion, outweighing the reductions in state aid in our budget.

"While it might be a bold political move, the changes are modest. We ask government workers to make a 5.8% contribution to their pensions and a 12.6% contribution to their health-insurance premium, both of which are well below what other workers pay for benefits. Our plan calls for Wisconsin state workers to contribute half of what federal employees pay for their health-insurance premiums. (It's also worth noting that most federal workers don't have collective bargaining for wages and benefits.)"

"The unions say they are ready to accept concessions, yet their actions speak louder than words. Over the past three weeks, local unions across the state have pursued contracts without new pension or health-insurance contributions. Their rhetoric does not match their record on this issue.

"Local governments can't pass budgets on a hope and a prayer. Beyond balancing budgets, our reforms give schools—as well as state and local governments—the tools to reward productive workers and improve their operations. Most crucially, our reforms confront the barriers of collective bargaining that currently block innovation and reform."


Walker is uniquely qualified here. He ran Milwaukee County the same way and was very popular. He has fought these battles before. He knows that after the initial firestorm voters will see that the changes are for the better.

Furthermore, based on his experience as a county executive, Walker is acutely aware of what local governments need to be able to cut their costs. He is pursuing policies to give them the tools to control their budgets.

Unfortunately many government agencies are not acting in the interests of the taxpayers--they are signing long term contracts without waiting for these new tools. They are so beholden their union masters that they don't even want to reduce costs to the taxpayers. In fact, this is one of the reasons that the Democrats are stalling, to give their union masters the opportunity to extend these crippling contracts that will force governments to lay off employees.