GOP: Union busted in Wisconsin without budget repair

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker removed all doubt as to what his real intentions were regarding his battle with his public unions. On Thursday, state senators removed all budget repair measures from Walker’s “budget repair” bill, and voted only on the part of the bill that revoked the collective bargaining rights of Wisconsin public unions. The legislation passed 18 to 1, with one republican voting no.

The 14 democrats that had left the state more than 3 weeks ago in support of Wisconsin workers say the move was illegal, and announced that they intend to file suite with the State Attorney General’s office to stop the measure.

Sixteen petitions to recall state senators have been circulating; 8 against republicans and 8 against democrats. Immediately following the vote, MSNBC reported that angry Wisconsin residents plan to petition to remove Governor Walker from office as soon as the one-year- in-office legal requirement has been met.

Walker made history on Thursday by working around the rules of democracy to force his personal agenda on the people of Wisconsin, despite overwhelming public opposition, according to recent polls.

Some believe that the action republicans took against unions in Wisconsin was more of a move expected from a dictatorship that a democracy. No democrats were present for the vote that stripped Wisconsin unions of their collective bargaining rights.

Koch, Walker phone tapes may spark ethics violation investigation

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A recorded telephone conversation between Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and blogger Ian Murphy suggest that Walker’s goal may be ‘troublemaking’ and union busting, not balancing the state budget.

Walker said, “I’m trying to keep out as many of the private unions as possible. I said this is about the budget, but this is about public-sector unions.”

The recorded conversation also raises questions of ethics violations. Walker admitted he was considering planting ‘troublemakers’ in the crowds of protesters, some of which are children, according to the transcript of the phone call, published in the Wisconsin State Journal.

Prank caller Ian Murphy claimed to be billionaire David Koch of Koch Industries. “Even before the new governor was sworn in last month, executives from the Koch-backed group had worked behind the scenes to try to encourage a union showdown,” according to the New York Times.

Koch Industries was one of Governor Scott Walker’s largest campaign contributors. The recorded phone call is raising questions of ethics violations, which may spark an investigation by the Attorney General’s office.