August 17, 2007
Volume #29, Issue
#28
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEETING - The Budget Conference Committee met Thursday
(8/16).
We've heard that legislative leaders met informally to discuss the budget and the process
but that little
movement was made.
The Capitol has been quiet lately, except for the dozens of AFSCME members who continue to
do vigils,
while carrying signs and wearing buttons to show our opposition to the budget that
Assembly Republicans
unleashed last month. Legislators and staff continue to be impressed with the dedication
of AFSCME
members from all corners of the state who come to the Capitol to express their anger at
the GOP budget
plan.
LAWMAKERS RESPOND TO AFSCME PRESSURE - We're getting signs from lawmakers
that they are
increasingly uncomfortable (feeling cornered?) with the pressure we're putting on them.
Just this week as
a result of pressure from members of Council 24, Representative Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan)
told an
AFSCME member in her district that she had sent a letter to Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch
(R-West
Salem)
"requesting that funding for the
compensation reserves be restored to the level approved
by the Joint Finance Committee. The letter also
requests that state employee contributions
for health care and retirement benefits remain
as they are under current law."
Rep. Ballweg's reply is significant; just a few weeks ago this same legislator wouldn't
commit and wouldn't
explain her vote for the budget to our members. This reply shows that grassroots efforts
work. This
legislator responded because members in her area -- who are active, organized and who vote
-- took the
time to contact her.
SPREAD THE WORD: YOUR INVOLVEMENT CAN CHANGE THE COURSE OF THE BUDGET - Our
goal should be to get more of these out-state Assembly Republicans to pressure Assembly
Republican
leaders on the Conference Committee to restore the cut in the Comp Reserves, to stop the
attack on our
collective bargaining laws (SELRA and MERA), and to restore all of the cuts Assembly
Republicans have
proposed in sick leave, health insurance, and pension benefits of state, county, and
municipal employees.
This week, we ask you to make the phone call, send a form letter or an email to your
legislator about these
three concerns. (There are countless harmful proposals in the Assembly's budget, so feel
free to comment
on other items as well). If you've already contacted your legislator or if you are in an
area with a legislator
who hasn't responded in the past, don't let that hold you back. We know they're getting
your emails, and
they're feeling pressure. Keep it up!
AFSCME SUMMARY OF HOW THE ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN CAUCUS BUDGET HARMS PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES, SLASHES PUBLIC SERVICES - To see an exhaustive list of the ARC
cuts in funding for
education, county and municipal aid, corrections, courts, health care services, the School
for Workers, and
many more -- read our "Summary of Items in the ARC Budget Package of Interest to
AFSCME Members"
on Council 40's website www.afscmecouncil40.org.
For more information, contact the AFSCME Area
Office 608-836-6666.
LEGISLATIVE WEBSITES. . .For those
"online", here are some good info spots:
Wisconsin State Legislature: www.legis.state.wi.us/
"Who Are My Legislators": www.legis.state.wi.us./waml/
State of Wisconsin: www.wisconsin.gov/state/home
Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau: www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/
Wisconsin Legislative Council: www.legis.state.wi.us/lc/
Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau: www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/
Wisconsin Ethics Board: http://ethics.state.wi.us