The Tools of Destruction….

Much has been made of Gov. Scott Walker’s “tools” used to balance the state budget on the backs of labor.

The biggest tool was a cut in pay via bigger contributions to health care and pensions. Not to mention the complete and thorough vilification of teachers and other public workers.

But the cost for health insurance is rising, at least until the Affordable Care Act kicks in, and that means only one thing; Those same tools will once again increase the amount employees pay into health care and their pensions. Can you say blackmail?

Patch: Mayor Jeff Scrima, in an e-mail sent to members of the Common Council, is recommending the city layoff 17 employees to balance the 2012 budget … Scrima had pushed for employees, who took a pay freeze in 2010 while increasing payments toward benefits in their current contract, to pay more toward health care and into their pensions. “We could then take the next 90 days to seek an agreement on a compromise with employees and bargaining units, and if such a compromise is reached the 17 employees that were laid off could be hired back,” Scrima wrote to the aldermen.  

Incredible isn’t it? Even before the ink is dry on the recent public employee increases to their benefits, Waukesha’s Mayor is already going back to the Walker tool kit.

It’s the never ending Walker gift. Oddly, what private sector employer will want to take a government contract if they can’t possibly compete with the low pay of public workers?