Democratic governors try to enlist labor's help in dealing with budget crises

[nofurylike]

By Peter Wallsten and Brady Dennis
February 25, 2011

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...01888.html

In contrast to Wisconsin's Republican governor, who has targeted public-worker unions as the chief villain of his state's budget-cutting drama, Democratic governors across the country who face similar fiscal challenges have tried to sidestep such confrontations with a key constituency by quietly cutting deals with labor leaders.

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"I'm not saying the unions are happy about this," said Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who has angered public-worker advocates by his push to overhaul state pensions as he tries to cut billions from the budget this year. "But it's not like we're locking each other out of the statehouse or stopped talking with each other."

-snip-

The decision by Walker and some other new Republican governors, such as Ohio's John Kasich, to take on public-worker unions carries some risk. For example, their efforts have mobilized liberal activists in two states likely to be critical battlegrounds in President Obama's 2012 reelection campaign.

-snip-

Brown, perhaps more than other Democrats, has sought a full partnership with public-sector unions. He has proposed slicing $12.5 billion from the state budget, with deep cuts to universities and human services and pay reductions for state workers, but unions like his plan to ask voters to approve in June $12.5 billion in temporary taxes. Public-sector unions, such as the powerful California Teachers Association, have signaled they would fund the media campaign in support of passage for the taxes.

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[NJMaverick]

Imagine trying to work together to solve a problem rather than exploit a problem to push a horrible people hating ideology.

[nofurylike]

(02-25-2011 07:35 AM)NJMaverick Wrote:  Imagine trying to work together to solve a problem rather than exploit a problem to push a horrible people hating ideology.

why, how ... how ... Democratic!!!

thank you, NJMaverick