Sen. Glenn Grothman a real Scrooge like Conservative. Now, if he could just bring back the workhouses...

Glenn Grothman continues to offer us insight into how conservatives think, and where they might want to take us as a nation. He’s not that outrageous, or a loose cannon, as some like to portray him. He’s a real conservative with a unreal and frightening appreciation for a more Dickensian time. Like the work week:

Huffington Post: Wisconsin state Sen. Glenn Grothman (R) is attempting to roll back one of the state's progressive labor laws, arguing that workers should be allowed to work without a day off if they so choose. “…all sorts of people want to work seven days a week," he told The Huffington Post in an interview.

Wisconsin … businesses "must provide employees with at least one period consisting of 24 consecutive hours of rest in each calendar week." Grothman said he finds this law "a little goofy," and he argued that rolling it back is a matter of "freedom."

He's proposing legislation that "would allow an employee to voluntarily choose to work without one day of rest in seven."

Ross Eisenbrey, vice president of the Economic Policy Institute, said Grothman's proposal is problematic because it may lead to employers forcing their staff to work overtime. Grothman replied, "Well, they're not supposed to ... Maybe somebody will try to break the law."

Maybe?

State GOP to Roll Back Labor Law Progress by a Century.

(Note: I wish Democrats were this proactively rabid with their own agenda.)

Well, what do you know, state Republicans hope to roll back the last 100 years of labor progress.

Double-Whammy 1: In conjunction with State Sen. Glenn Grothman’s employee overtime bill that allows for a 7 day work week without time off, Rep. Joel Kleefisch would like to take that overtime money and replace with the promise of vacation time.

Double-Whammy 2: This all fits nicely in with the GOP’s two fold plan to block raising the minimum wage by increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit on the federal level, while reducing it at the state level. It's true, Republicans increased taxes, a platform no-no, on the poor by reducing the EITC. See here and here. WSJ:

“Why not give (private) employers and employees in the state of Wisconsin another way to be successful?” said Rep. Joel Kleefisch. Private employers could provide more time off rather than overtime pay if their employees agree to it.

“If they agree to it?” Of course employers will suggest…I mean “pressure” employees to take the comp time. And as we all know, employers pretty much dictate vacation times too:

…while forbidding such agreements to be used as a condition of employment, Democratic Rep. Chris Taylor said an inherent “power imbalance” between workers and employers would make the measure susceptible to abuse. “It’s just going to be made very clear to (workers), if you want this job, this is how we do it,” she said.

The powerful right wing lobbyist at the National Federation of Independent Business supports Kleefisch’s bizarre comp-time legislation, so you know this in no way benefits employees.

Ryan votes to cut Minimum Wage from $7.25 to $4.25 in Puerto Rico. Could it soon be part of his plan to fight poverty?

Paul Ryan says he understands poverty now more than he did in the past. With his new insights, Ryan is offering “solutions” that would force those lazy poor people to work for less. Like the Wisconsin State Journal editorial said recently about his detail-free plan:

(Ryan) unveiled a detailed proposal to inject more energy and innovation into helping more citizens succeed in American society. Democrats should embrace Ryan’s interest and enthusiasm.

Uh, Democrats have always embraced an interest and enthusiasm to reduce poverty, guess that doesn't get much coverage.

The WSJ editorial board says Ryan will be “helping more citizens succeed.” Alright, let’s take a look at an idea Paul Ryan supports, like reducing the minimum wage in Puerto Rico. Roll Call:

RESCUE PLAN FOR PUERTO RICO: The House passed a bill (HR 5278) that would establish a federal control board to help Puerto Rico restructure more than $70 billion in debt … In part, the bill authorizes a lower minimum wage for new workers under 25.

Ryan's even against overtime...that was our first clue.

Whoa, what was that? A LOWER MINIMUM WAGE? This isn’t just an idea Ryan is pushing for Puerto Rico, it’s a philosophical attitude and possible detail Ryan keeps leaving out of his house bills, because he knows it’s political suicide.

Democrats to the rescue? Well, they tried:

LOWERING OF MINIMUM WAGE: The House defeated an amendment to strip HR 5278 (above) of its provision allowing Puerto Rico to reduce its minimum wage for new workers under 25 from $7.25 per hour to $4.25 per hour. Backers said this would help businesses regain profitability, while foes said it would prompt young workers to flee their homeland.

Every Democrat, Mark Pocan, Ron Kind, and Gwen Moore voted to remove the lower minimum wage, preventing a possible flood of young workers into the U.S..

Wisconsin’s Republican House members are now on the record supporting a drastic cut to the minimum wage by almost half:

James Sensenbrenner, Glenn Grothman, Sean Duffy, and “moderate” Reid Ribble.

You’ll notice Paul Ryan’s name isn't listed. Could it be a misprint? Not a big surprise from a guy with strong “princibles” ...it's princiPles...P, not B.