Washington Post: MADISON, WIS. - President Obama thrust himself and his political operation this week into Wisconsin's broiling budget battle, mobilizing opposition Thursday to a Republican bill that would curb public-worker benefits and planning similar protests in other state capitals.
Obama accused Scott Walker, the state's new Republican governor, of unleashing an "assault" on unions in pushing emergency legislation that would change future collective-bargaining agreements that affect most public employees, including teachers.
The president's political machine worked in close coordination Thursday with state and national union officials to get thousands of protesters to gather in Madison and to plan similar demonstrations in other state capitals.[...]
"Some of what I've heard coming out of Wisconsin, where they're just making it harder for public employees to collectively bargain generally, seems like more of an assault on unions," Obama told a Milwaukee television reporter on Thursday, taking the unusual step of inviting a local TV station into the White House for a sit-down interview. "I think everybody's got to make some adjustments, but I think it's also important to recognize that public employees make enormous contributions to our states and our citizens." [MORE]
This is more of Obama exporting the Fed's fiscal irresponsibility to the states. States are in a major bind with pensions and Obama backing greedy union demands is not helping. Obama is more concerned with keeping union strength to help him in 2012, than in helping states balance their budgets.
Obama must be fully aware that weighing in on this debate is only adding fuel to the fire. Wisconsin and other states have their backs against the financial wall and have little choice but to curtail union's demands. Obama egging on the unions is only adding to the mayhem.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: The Washington Post