Category Archives: Government

Unions: The Other Side of the Story

Some time ago, a ruling allowed corporations to contribute to political campaigns as individuals do.  That is, they can.

In fact, not only can they contribute, but they can actually take out advertising for these political campaigns.  Just like individuals.

And the Left went nuts.

But check this out:

Even more important than the money unions give directly to candidates, the Senate leader said, is the cash the unions spend on their own buying TV and radio ads in support of Democrats. By his count, Fitzgerald said the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state teachers union, dropped nearly $1.6 million in independent spending in four Senate races last fall.

In addition, two national unions – AFSCME and the Service Employees International Union – gave more than $1.3 million since 2008 to the Greater Wisconsin Committee, a liberal group that advocates on behalf of Democratic candidates.

Nice, huh?

And while corporations tend to give in rather equal amounts, Unions give upwards of 94-100% to Democrats.

Just sayin’.

Collective Bargaining and Test Scores

Labor strife continues to captivate the nation as Democrat lawmakers in Wisconsin are hiding out.  Similar actions have taken place in Indiana with their Democrat lawmakers heading to Illinois as well.  Votes are either underway or are being considered in a number of other states.

The movement is afoot.

But is it worth it? Continue reading

Who Is John Galt

There are few books that I consider must read.

Atlas Shrugged is one of them.

Now it’s a movie.

Wherein Pino Channels Barack Obama

Sometime ago a young President wannabe uttered the fateful words:

“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun,” Obama said in Philadelphia last night. “Because from what I understand, folks in Philly like a good brawl. I’ve seen Eagles fans.”

In the spirit of that cooperation, I offer you my plan on dealing with the Wisconsin situation.

Continue reading

Obama And Unions

In what is clearly a state issue, President Obama has decided he needs to weigh in on the proposed legislation in Wisconsin.

Long a fan and powerful ally of unions in general, it is no surprise that Obama would come out in favor of the specific debate in Wisconsin.

Further adding to the list of non-surprises is his choice of words and his tactic of rhetoric.

Continue reading

Behold The Unionista

These are teachers.

These are people who teach our children to love learning.  To respect others.  To play nice.

And this is what we get:  From Althouse

Unions!  Fire every single one of these union workers that called in sick to protest!

Caution Government at Work

Wanna know why the cost of Medicare is going up?

Raleigh, N.C. — If a wheelchair costs $160, why would Medicare pay eight times as much? That’s the question one local woman asked after her elderly father needed a wheelchair to get around.

As a WRAL investigation found, it’s all in the way Congress set up the spending plan.

A wheelchair seemed like a simple purchase for Jeanne Gunter’s 95-year old-father when he moved to assisted living, but she soon learned that Medicare’s payment system is not so simple.

Medicare rents to own equipment, such as wheelchairs. One wheelchair, for example, costs $104 a month for up to 13 months, which is about $1,300 total. Providers must maintain the liability to repair the chair during the 13 months of rental.

“We could’ve bought a wheelchair,” Gunter said. “I looked at a local pharmacy and looked at a wholesale club, and you could easily get one for $150 to $200 comparable to what we have.”

By all means, let’s have these people run my health insurance program.

Man Crush

A continuation of my love affair with Chris Christie:

A leader leading is something to behold.

Hat tip:  The Journal of the American Enterprise Institute

State Union Shennanigans

UPDATE:

A commenter noticed that I had incorrectly said that North Carolina State Employees have collective bargaining rights.

They do not.

stand corrected.

It’s the same ‘ol story;  The scorpion, needing passage across the steam, requests assistance from the frog.  The frog, justifiably suspicious of the scorpion demurs only to receive the promise from the scorpion that he will not sting him.

The rest shall we say, is history.

But the story is proving to be a fantastic parallel in North Carolina in specific and the rest of the states in general.

Continue reading

The Hits Just Keep Comin’

For better or for worse, it’s done:

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) on Friday evening introduced a revised 2011 government spending bill that the GOP said will cut at least $100 billion in spending this fiscal year, bowing to demands by Tea Party-backed House freshmen.

Kickin’ and screamin’ we’ll keep tryin’ to get this country back to where it needs to be!