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Three states. One issue. Three different approaches.

by: Adam L

Thu Feb 17, 2011 at 05:30:00 PM EST

By now, we've heard about what's going on in Wisconsin, where the new Republican Governor has been causing a stir (and a deficit) related to perks for "the chosen few" and an attack on public workers. And on the ground in Wisconsin, protests at the Capitol Building started on Monday with 1,000 people and has reached upwards of 30,000 as of today. Democratic Legislators have left the state to prevent a quorum in the Legislature and block these bills from coming to a vote. Schools were canceled because so many teachers "called in sick". And most importantly, the public is siding with the teachers and public employees.

Up in Connecticut, new Governor and former prosecutor Dan Malloy has many challenges facing his state in trying to close a huge budget deficit:

Connecticut's new governor, Dannel P. Malloy, politely asks labor leaders for givebacks and wants to raise taxes on income and sales by $1.5 billion.

Mr. Malloy grew up with dyslexia and physical disabilities. He still cannot write or type. And as he closes a 20 percent budget deficit, he spends much of his energy finding ways to spare the most vulnerable.

In Wisconsin, there is an attack on public workers by a newly elected Republican Governor, much like New Jersey. In Connecticut, there is a newly elected Governor who is a former prosecutor and faces a huge budget deficit, much like New Jersey.

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Adam L :: Three states. One issue. Three different approaches.

Yet, in Wisconsin, this newly elected Governor, who won with almost 53% of the vote, is losing the PR battle with the public workers - including a teachers union with many members that has walked out on the job for 2 days now. And in Connecticut, the former prosecutor is actually looking out for those who are in need the most as opposed to defending tax cuts for those who need it least while raising taxes and fees on those who can afford it least - and looking to further decimate the middle class that is made up of many union workers.

But here in New Jersey, a former prosecutor, newly elected, Republican Governor that won with less than 50% of the vote not only has acted like his Wisconsin counterpart, but has been given praise for it - and has had the somewhat implied consent from many Democratic leaders, not to mention public support for his open attack on one of the country's very best public education systems.

Even NJ Senate President and Democrat Stephen Sweeney gave the following weak sauce statement that buys into the right wing frame at least as much as it tepidly supports public employees about the Wisconsin Governor's efforts to eliminate public bargaining for public workers:

"Public employees have a fundamental right to sit at the negotiating table and collectively bargain. Governor Walker's action would set a horrible precedent and is just plain wrong.
"Today's economic climate requires concessions from public employee unions. That is without question. But that doesn't mean a complete elimination of their right to bargain. It means working with them to establish policies and practices that are in the best interest of the taxpayers and employees.
"New Jersey will lead the nation in reforming public employee benefits. But we will do so in a responsible manner that respects employees and the taxpayers."

What a contrast between the actions of Democratic and Republican elected officials and the way they have approached a similar situation - and how one has somehow been able to snooker the public and be lauded for it.

Tags: Wisconsin, Scott Walker, featured, Connecticut, Dan Malloy, Chris Christie, Education, unions, (All Tags)

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Three states. One issue. Three different approaches. | 23 comments

Minnesota and Illinois (0.00 / 0)

also are taking the humane and socially just approach. Then you have states like Ohio and Florida, which are governed by right-wing nuts like Wisconsin.

by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Thu Feb 17, 2011 at 23:44:23 PM UTC

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A tale of 3 states (0.00 / 0)

Makes you think, you don't know what you've got til it's gone. People take for granted the great schools in NJ as well as the services they use such as parks.

by: muirron @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 17:03:58 PM UTC

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The difference between Sweeney and Christie (0.00 / 0)

is a few pounds.

by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Thu Feb 17, 2011 at 23:45:23 PM UTC

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Ignorant again (0.00 / 0)

Typical comment from a dedicated Sweeney hater.

by: firstamend07 @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 00:41:27 AM UTC

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Well said (0.00 / 0)

Excellent point. I've been mulling this over all day. WHY is Christie being lauded all over the media ( alleged progressive too). I just saw Jonathan Alter? on Hardball promoting our Governor??!! No discussion addressing Christie's assault on teachers. Please post this diary on Daily Kos. This well made point needs to be out there.

mmgth

by: mmgth @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 00:55:11 AM UTC

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Watching it on MSNBC (4.00 / 5)

Am almost envious of the Dem legislators in Wisconsin. Wow what a gathering, and congrats to the Wisconsin Senate Dems who made sure there was no quorum to get the Governor's bills through!

by: Senator Loretta Weinberg @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 02:33:59 AM UTC

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congrats indeed (3.00 / 3)

What does that say about our state's Senate President who delivered Democratic votes for Christie's draconian budget? What is the point of having Democratic majorities if they are only going to rubber stamp a Republican Governor's initiatives?

Christie Whitman didn't do nearly as much damage with a Republican majority and even had the guts to veto a legislation that would have banned late-term abortions even if the health or life of the mother in question was at stake, which nearly cost her re-election when most of her base voted for a pro-life "Libertarian" and the "Democrat" who ran against her kept his mouth shut and rode a narrow loss all the way to Drumthwacket four years later before having to resign in disgrace because only months after 9/11, he put the state's homeland security in the hands of his boyfriend, who didn't even have any security experience when he served in the public affairs sector of the IDF.

Does anybody remember who the Republican Senate President was during the Whitman years? Can anyone make an argument in opposition my belief that on every issue that matters, Donald DiFrancesco was more liberal than the current Senate President?

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 07:20:33 AM UTC

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How come no mention... (0.00 / 0)

of NY. Sounds to me that Andrew Cuomo (that hard line conservative), is following exactly in Christie's footsteps.

"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 14:19:49 PM UTC

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What's your point? (0.00 / 0)

Cuomo sucks too. It's not like some Democrats aren't as bad as Republicans. Look at some of the clowns in the NJ state senate.

I'm not sure Cuomo's following "exactly" in Christie's footsteps. But there are certainly some similarities.

by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 14:26:27 PM UTC

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Just trying to illustrate... (0.00 / 0)

that similar 'approaches' to the 'issue' are being tried by both parties in different states.

"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 14:35:22 PM UTC

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What is happening now in Wisconsin (4.00 / 1)

is what should have happened here in NJ a year ago. Instead we the people allowed the governor to get the upper hand in the PR war, and now face an uphill battle to get our state back, while CC enjoys national accolades at our expense.

Blog: Pick's Place

by: jeffpickens @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 15:16:33 PM UTC

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Where was the outrage? (0.00 / 0)

I went to Trenton with scores of others last spring but felt like one of the few non-union people there. I kept wondering why. I'm a manager, not a union member. I don't have children. I lead a comfortable life with my health being my only overriding concern. But I care about a state that still has one of the best overall public school systems in the country, that has a highly-educated work force, that benefits from a large high-tech and bio-tech industrial base, but which is now being wrecked by a man who seems to have taken the initiative at every turn. Where is the outrage? It certainly didn't seem, with a few exceptions made all the more poignant by how rare they have been, to be coming from our elected representatives.

by: Alex @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 16:05:14 PM UTC

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There was a big demonstration last May (0.00 / 0)

30,000 people at the state house.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.s...

The big problem was lack of follow up by Democratic elected officials. Because the Democratic leadership in Trenton, and in many places around the state, are active accomplices with the Christie agenda.

by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 16:15:04 PM UTC

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I was there... (0.00 / 0)

That's the demonstration I referenced in my comment. And nothing came of it, much as I feared.

by: Alex @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 18:27:41 PM UTC

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We need to head to Trenton again (0.00 / 0)

http://outspokenliberal.blogsp...

by: tabbycat31 @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 19:21:51 PM UTC

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we the people ? (0.00 / 0)

No, them the Democratic leadership in the state.

The largest demonstation at the state house took place in May, but it had no effect on most Democratic elected officials, who continued to enable Christie.

by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 16:18:03 PM UTC

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Washington State (0.00 / 0)

The Washington State constitution contains a clause requiring the state to provide education. Therefore the legislature has to make the K-12 system a priority and the counrts enforce. Unfortunately there are still court decisions that there is no money to implement. The voters passed a referendum a few years ago to limit class sizes and that still hasn't been done. The probelm is that the state also does not have an income tax.

Unfortunately health care has to compete against education to balance the state budget and Basic Health is more of the battleground in this state.

But there are some cuts in education and there were some teacher layoffs last year.

The state university is going to face a large budget cut but if they cut the salaries of overpaid executive administrators that could make up for the shortfall, but those salaries seem to sacred cows and what they end up cutting is courses and teaching. As long as there is no student protest this will continue. The problem is that the 1960s seems to be ancient history to today's young people. Why they are not protesting executive administrative salaries vis a vis tuition rates is a mystery to me.

by: proud2Bliberal @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 15:48:57 PM UTC

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New to BlueJersey (4.00 / 1)

I'm so glad of the timing of the story about Wisconsin as I am in training learning about blogging. Thanks for so much information on how to get a message out!

by: JmeVtime @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 17:01:39 PM UTC

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JmeVtime (0.00 / 0)

Welcome to Blue Jersey, new blogger!

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.

by: Rosi Efthim @ Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 17:05:49 PM UTC

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Three states. One issue. Three different approaches. | 23 comments