ALEC report rates Walker's Wisconsin high on ideology, bad to worse on Real World Results.

It’s now clear Republicans know their voters, because they know they can count on them never connecting the dots between real world facts and their bubble world lives in the echo chamber.

The American Legislative Exchange Council is all about "limited government, free markets and supply-side economics," and they love Scott Walker. 

Wisconsin business columnist and conservative Tom Still took a look at ALEC's new state by state report "The 2016 ALEC-Laffer State Competiveness Index, named in part for supply-side economist Arthur Laffer," and courageously told the truth; the more we're like ALEC, the worse our state output becomes. 

The results of a 50-state index ... put Wisconsin in a positive light for selected economic inputs. The economic output picture painted by ALEC, however, was a bit more restrained.

The positive economic input simply means the adoption of ALEC's pure ideological, supply side, free market political policy in the state. Before we get to that, ALEC first rated us by how much we bought into their mumbo jumbo:

ALEC ranked Wisconsin No. 9 among the 50 states based on 15 factors that included personal income, corporate, inheritance and sales taxes and debt service as a share of tax revenue ... conservative agenda items such public employees per 10,000 population; an overview of the state liability system; the state minimum wage; average workers’ compensation costs; “right to work” laws and tax expenditure limits baked into state law or the constitution.

ALEC then graded Walker's Wisconsin based on how well he adopted ALEC's agenda, described here as the input. You have to ask yourself, did Republicans ever have and original idea? 

The index ranked Wisconsin among the top 12 states for passing a right-to-work law, for keeping its minimum wage low, for not levying an inheritance tax, for passing tax expenditure limits and (perhaps surprising to some in-state critics) its low ratio of public employees per capita. While it wasn’t directly measured, ALEC spokesmen also praised Gov. Scott Walker and the Wisconsin Legislature for passage of the 2011 Act 10 legislation that crippled many public employee unions.

ALEC's Miserable OUTPUT - Cause and Effect: Proof is in the ALEC report, as Tom Still explains:

When it came to measuring economic performance, however, ALEC looked at “outputs” that placed Wisconsin where other rankings often do – toward the bottom of the 50-state class.

Wisconsin’s overall economic performance rank of 41st included a ranking of 35th for growth in state domestic product for the 10 years ending in 2014; 40th for non-farm payroll employment during the same cycle; and 38th in absolute domestic migration ... (which) measures how many people are leaving or entering the state, the so-called “brain drain” phenomenon. It showed a net loss of nearly 67,000 people over 10 years, with the peak coming in the recession year of 2010.

Economists on the political right and left ... generally believe there is a correlation between migration and economic prosperity. When people “vote with their feet,” it’s a sign they are not finding the jobs, wages and opportunities they want. Too many of the people who are being lost to Wisconsin are college-educated and earning higher incomes, which hurts the state’s ability to retain talented workers and to reinvest in itself.

Maybe that's why Republicans want to keep our kids out of college, because they quickly want to leave.

All of this must have pained Tom Still something awful, so to make up for it, he offered the typical Republican solution; tell "stories" "celebrating what's right about the state." You know, Scott Walker's one and only bragging point - the unemployment numbers - and good old American exceptionalism:

How can Wisconsin make itself more attractive to outsiders and natives alike? By building on existing assets; telling a compelling story about its people, companies and culture; and celebrating what’s right about the state – not fixating on partisan divides and what’s wrong.

Scott Walker working class Hero?

Making the rounds in conservative circles is a story filled with a mishmash of statistics that turns reality on its head; Scott Walker is a working class hero?

See for yourself in the short unintentionally humorous excerpt below from the NY Post:

How workers are winning in Scott Walker’s Wisconsin: Hillary Rodham Clinton shed her usual sunny demeanor on Monday and snarled, “Republican governors like Scott Walker have made their names stomping on workers’ rights … AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka snapped, “Scott Walker is a national disgrace.”

Liberals like Clinton and Trumka have it all wrong.

In all seriousness, reporter Deroy Murdock wrote this:

If there’s one thing workers value, it’s work.

But my whole reason for posting this exercise in tortured logic was the following worker “win” for...wait for it; women! Thank you Scott Walker:

In terms of “workers’ rights,” Wisconsinites now enjoy the right to work. 

This new law recognizes a woman’s right to choose whether or not to join a union. (This statute applies to men, too.) Wisconsinites no longer may be compelled to join unions as a condition of employment. Clinton and Trumka are anti-choice on union membership.

The truth is no one has to join a union. 

But even more basic than that is the argument we’re always getting from crazy Republicans, who can’t seem to see the connection; If you don’t like unions, don’t look for a job at a union shop. Look elsewhere, right? Choice, freedom and liberty! It's the same reason Republicans give when a worker doesn’t like the pay, benefits or working conditions provided by their employer. Look elsewhere...you can leave anytime...no ones forcing you to work there.

They should take their own advice.

Sen. Steve Nass already challenging academic freedom, calls for Professor's termination.

Before the ink is dry and the new rules on tenure are signed into law, Republican State Sen. Steve Nass was already asking the UW to fire a professor he did not agree with, accusing him of "partisan garbage research" and "hiding behind academic freedom."

Really, "hiding" behind academic freedom. Outrageous, what scoundrel. Tenure was in place to protect against this exact thing, ironically proving the point opponents made about the GOP changes back in March:

Tenure by definition offers protection for academic freedom, grounded in a conviction that creating knowledge and expressing ideas should be free from intimidation or retaliation. Under policy currently in state law, tenured professors can only be dismissed for just cause or a campus wide financial emergency.

Nass' iron fisted control over academic research is only the beginning:

State Sen. Steve Nass blasted a UW-Madison economics professor in a scathing email ... calling the academic's report on right-to-work legislation and economic performance "partisan, garbage research."

The email, sent to Senate and Assembly Republicans and UW System officials with the subject line "UW-Madison Professor Steven Deller Uses State Resources to Trash Right to Work," cites a two-page fact sheet written by a Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics faculty member.

"Attached is yet another example of wasted resources at the UW-Madison/UW Extension to issue a trumped up report from a partisan academic against Right to Work. Hiding behind academic freedom to issue partisan, garbage research is what we have come to expect from some of the overworked and stressed faculty at UW-Madison.

I will certainly forward this email on to UW System President Ray Cross and UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank, as just one suggestion of a faculty member with time to teach more courses. Or maybe not!"

Nass has been the enemy of public education for years:

Nass, an outspoken UW System critic who chairs the Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform, took issue with Deller's findings, the way they were presented and released to the public, says his chief of staff, Mike Mikalsen.

"Steve is frustrated with what we see as a faculty member abusing their position within the UW System to issue, frankly, just pure garbage research," Mikalsen says. "This piece clearly takes a side or a position."

Yes, research and facts eventually took a side...funny how that works:

Deller, who works with the UW Extension's Center for Community and Economic Development, says he wrote the report about a month ago with the intention of providing individuals with an overview of the controversial anti-union legislation. "I tried to make it as objective as possible," says Deller. The report summarizes the common arguments for and against right-to-work legislation, acknowledging that there is "little agreement within the literature that has attempted to empirically document the impact of [right-to-work] laws."

Does this sound like a partisan researchers to you?

Deller says the cooperation between UW System academics and government officials is a two-way street: Researchers shouldn't use the university as a "bully pulpit" to promote a political ideology, but lawmakers "shouldn't shoot the messenger."

"We try to provide information and ideas and let citizens make a decision," Deller says. "If we filtered everything that came out of the university based on whether or not it's going to pass through some political lens, then why are we here?"

Ever more proof this guy is pretty impartial:

Deller, coincidentally, says he declined to join a union when he taught at the University of Maine, opting instead to donate the dues he would have paid to a general scholarship fund that the university used to support low-income students. The donation option was the alternative the University of Maine offered to address the issue of "free riders," or employees who benefit from union contracts without paying for membership. "I think you could set up the same thing in Wisconsin," Deller says.

Using income, poverty and unemployment data from states with and without the anti-union legislation and comparing them using a statistical test to identify significant differences, Deller found that "right-to-work states tend to have lower manufacturing wages and overall income levels, higher poverty rates and lower education levels."

Mikalsen also questioned whether Deller, who has a doctorate in agricultural economics and a master's in economics, was even qualified to present findings on the topic of right-to-work.

Walker willfully misleads voters about his strong support for Right-to-Work.

WPR's Shawn Johnson found this classic Scott Walker comment on right-to-work, that leads us all to believe RTW is absolutely off the table.

Walker: "...we're not going to pursue it in the remainder of our term, and we're not going to pursue it in the future. Private sector unions overwhelming are my partner in economic development."

A caller in the clip below mentioned a few big name legislators who also ran against right-to-work. Guess they were hiding behind a bold face lie, something voters should remember about these courageous unintimidated Republicans:

Huffington Post: As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Bloomberg Politics have explained, Walker has a long history of professing no desire to see Wisconsin become a right-to-work state, even though he introduced such legislation as a state lawmaker. Walker has stressed that right to work is not a priority. He once called private sector unions his "partner in economic development." He even said in 2012 that he would do "everything in my power" to block right to work.

Here's another piece of strong evidence showing how far Walker will go to cover up what turned out to be a complete lie. Real presidential material:

During a 2012 gubernatorial debate with Democratic challenger Tom Barrett, Walker went so far as to declare that a right-to-work bill would never reach his desk.

"I've said it's not going to get there," Walker said.

Barrett insisted that Walker would sign it if it did.

"I'll say it right now," Barrett said. "If that bill hits his desk, he's signing it."

"And it won't," Walker said.

Rep. Cory Mason on Right-to-Work sloganeering: "Renamed corporate greed, 'freedom!'

In this great reframing of the supposed right to work, Cory Mason calls it what it is:



Rep. Robin Vos earned his reputation as the assemblies biggest asshole with amazingly tasteless statements like the ones below. Hear him turn the words freedom and liberty inside out, and claim that wage killing Republicans should be the ones wearing the orange shirts protesters wore defending labor rights.  

Rep. Dan Knodl says Republican bills are "good to go on day one," who needs a debate?

On WPR's newscast, Shawn Johnson played this mind blowing comment by Republican Rep. Dan Knodl, who seems to think his party's noble conservative calling doesn't require endless debates on bills that are already deemed "good. It's nice to know he thinks so anyway. Democrats, save this for next time you're in the majority. Here's the audio:

Knodl: "A good bill leads to good law which means it's good to go on day one."

Sen. Nass disagrees with UW economist on RTW report: "Partisan garbage research is what we have come to expect."

Nothing projects ignorance and unfettered authoritarian control like yesterday’s attack on a UW professor over his report disputing the benefits of right-to-work.

Seriously, dissent will not be tolerated. This is just the latest frightening Republican reaction that should send up a few red flags for conservative voters.

It’s beyond words really. WPR Shawn Johnson:

A Republican state lawmaker and outspoken critic of the University of Wisconsin took aim at a UW economist on Monday for producing research that disputes the benefits of right-to-work laws.

State Sen. Steve Nass sent an email to reporters, legislators, UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank and UW System President Ray Cross calling a report by UW-Madison and UW-Extension economist Steven Deller "yet another example of wasted resources" at the university.

Want to know what Republicans really think of a college education? 

Nass added that "hiding behind academic freedom to issue partisan, garbage research is what we have come to expect" at the UW.

Deller's two-page report found that wages -- and manufacturing wages in particular -- are lower in states with right-to-work laws, saying they're more symbolic than an actual economic growth policy.
 Deller called Nass' remarks another "my mind is made up, don't confuse me with the facts" reaction.

This is a manufactured dust up to justify Walker's proposed stiff cuts to the UW...again.

Here's a story that outraged Nass:

A UW-Extension paper estimates that workers in the manufacturing sector earn an average of $8,100 less in states that have right-to-work laws, and that right-to-work states have more poverty and fewer college graduates.

"Bottom line, right-to-work states tend to have lower manufacturing wages and overall income levels, higher poverty rartes and lower education levels," reads the UW-Extension right-to-work fact sheet (the PDF is attached) by Steven Deller, a professor of agricultural and applied economics.
  "In the end, right-to-work politics are more symbolic than an actual growth and development policy," reads the short report. "In and of itself, right-to-work laws really do very little. It's really more of a signal about how people think about business climate."

In right-to-work states, Deller says, economic policies are geared toward lowering the cost of doing business — cutting taxes, driving down the cost of labor and limiting regulation. But such policies also are at odds with promoting high-growth and high-wage industries.

The study compared the 22 right-to-work states that existed prior to 2012 — when both Michigan and Indiana adopted right-to-work laws — with states that didn't have right-to-work laws.

The comparison found that in right-to-work states, manufacturing jobs paid an average of $52,900, while in non-right-to-work states, manufacturing workers earned $61,000. Per capita income in right-to-work states was $3,875 less in right-to-work states, $33,101 versus $36,976.

The individual poverty rate in right-to-work states was nearly 2 percent higher: 13.9 percent versus 12 percent. And the percentage of people with a college degree was nearly 4 percent lower in right-to-work states: 24.4 percent versus 28.2 percent.

Right-to-Work Questions Stump Republicans, prove they're full of S**t!

Democratic Sen. Bob Wirch stumped Republican Scott Fitzgerald when he compared paying dues to Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, to paying dues to a company union. Fitzgerald had nothing. Which tells you one thing; RTW was meant to starve unions, and their support for the Democratic Party. That's it.

Don't forget this moment. It's important in the big picture, and proves GOP policy is driven by the desire to kill the opposition party's source of funding, not manage the government. This time, the private sector businesses got in the way of "big government corporate interests." Video courtesy of the Devil's Advocates Radio program:



Dumb Ron Johnson Stumped too!!! The Devil's Advocates radio show asked Johnson the one question that nobody seemed to be asking, and it was driving me crazy; Job seekers aren't forced to work at a union shop, so why don't they just look for a job somewhere else? It's like someone who doesn't like the pay, benefits or hours? That's freedom and liberty isn't it? 

Johnson didn't just bale abruptly, he fumbled It's really a classic answer - "Freedom:"

Devil's Advocate: "How does that analogy hold up sir?"

Dumb Ron Johnson: "I'm not sure it's a perfect analogy. But again, I'm...in general, I'm for FREEDOM. And the other point to make is, this is a state issue."

Puntttttt!!!! Sorry Ron, choosing not to work at a union shop is FREEDOM. 

Republican Senate RTW hearing a charade, passes bill anyway.

WKOW's Greg Neumann caught a few embarrassing moments that any normal party would be ashamed of, but not the ramrodding Republicans. Passing right-to-work without one Democratic vote is okay, passing the Affordable Care Act without one Republican vote is bad. Got it.

Oh, that's what Slick Scott Walker was saying about not dealing with right-to-work...

On top of his embarrassingly long string of non-answers, Scott Walker is now offering this convoluted explanation about his disinterest in right-to-work...according to jsonline's Dan Bice:

The famous Walker shrug.

Gov Scott Walker said Tuesday that his May 2012 pledge to "do everything in my power" to block right to work legislation was intended to apply only to his first term -- a statement that he didn't make explicit at the time.

Of course that's what he meant. The scariest part of this? His backers love this line of flip floppy bullshit.

It's also a game and source of Walker pride:

"I didn't denounce any of my support (for RTW) in the past. You all asked me 100 different questions to see if I would, and I didn't," Walker said.

Democratic Senators Chris Larson and Bob Wirch accuse Right-to-Work Corporate Cowards for hiding from the public.

State Senator Chris Larson confronted Steve Nass about "not seeing a single person that hasn't gotten money from the Bradley Foundation." That money provides cover for the donors pushing right-to-work. Nass defended anonymous Big Businesses, saying they were fearful of blowback, boycotts and retaliation by those unhappy with the legislation. But Larson and Sen. Bob Wirch said that was nothing new to them as legislators, so RTW cowards should stop hiding behind their front groups.

All of the business owners who appeared at the hearing speaking out against RTW put their names and companies on the line as well. Wirch reminded Nass how Republicans exacted their own retaliation against the Capitol protesters with regulations, arrests and fines. Nass had no comeback.



The massive protests in 2011 were blowback for Act 10, but Walker framed that uprising as intimidation. Public dissent, a 1st Amendment right, is now defined as intimidation.

the Bradley Foundation?

One of the country's largest and most influential right-wing foundations, the Bradley Foundation is known for ... providing funding for a host of right-wing organizations, Bradley President/CEO Michael W. Grebe contributes to publications and "academic" research aimed at legitimizing far-right policy positions ... private school vouchers, faith-based social services, welfare reform … and a strong belief in personal responsibility." 

Senate Hearing ignores opposition to Right-to-Work by Private Businesses!!!

Right-to-work hit the fan today at the state Capitol. About 2000 protesters turned out to "intimidation" Governor Walker, hoping he would give in to their demands. Leaders don't back down though.

Like when he's been caught in a lie. Upfront with Mike Gousha dug this golden moment up:



The next clip from All in with Chris Hayes is a must see for everyone, especially Democrats...everywhere. The Progressive's Ruth Conniff said what every Democrats should say every time they get in front of a camera or microphone. We need to tell voters what the Republicans have done and why. This is how we change minds, go on the offensive, and give voters a reason to vote for Democrats. Memorize it:



Here's a detailed look at the local coverage from WISC and WKOW:



One of the most hard hitting speeches came from 34 year old Paul Christensen, owner of H&H Construction, who as a Republican voter, is unhappy to see his party interfering with his own personal choices and business decisions. The big takeaway? Unions that now pay for extensive training and apprenticeships will now be paid for by taxpayers:

Hearing Abruptly Ends: Our brave Big Government Republicans decided they'd had enough, and appeared to suddenly fabricate a union threat to disrupt the hearing, ending it abruptly. That left an angry room full of speakers who waited all day for their chance to address their senators. Again, these are all private businesses coming out against RTW:

At 6:20 p.m. Nass ended the hearing, saying union members had threatened to disrupt the hearing. Dozens of people who had been waiting all day to speak leapt to their feet, shouting profanities at the Republicans.

The committee chair, Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, said he was concerned a planned protest would become unsafe. Nass cited an article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel saying union groups planned to peacefully protest the end of testimony at 7 p.m., calling that a credible threat to the safety of the people at the hearing.

Mixing in the crowd of protesters, right-to-work proponent Republican Rep. Samantha Kerkman shook hands and enjoyed her time in the rotunda. And in the hearing today, Dr. Gordon Lafer of the Economic Policy Institute made his case:



Here's Big Ed Schultz and John Nichols:

Confused? Republicans argue Right-to-Work will Raise Wages and end up creating more Unions.

How do you know Republicans are lying about the benefits of right-to-work?

After listening to primary winner Republican Duey Stroebel on WPR this morning, I was struck by his reasoning.

He's telling us right-to-work will raise wages - which they oppose, and increase unionization - which they also oppose.

Think about it, businesses are telling Republicans they're ready and willing to move to Wisconsin once right-to-work is in place, because I can only assume, they can't wait to pay their employees more and become union shops.

They also expect us to believe that if unions do a really great job serving their members, conservative employees will gladly pay their union dues, instead of freeloading off everyone else on principle.

And finally, shouldn't conservative jobs seekers go elsewhere if they get an offer from a union shop? After all, isn't that what Republicans say we should do when we don't like the offered wages and benefits? No ones forcing us to work at a union shop. Just wondering.

Here's Republican Duey Stroebel, replacing Glenn Grothman, who makes all the above points:

"Right-to-work" for less fast-tracked, Walker's Big Government inserts itself into the private sector.

The big not so surprising move by the Republican legislature authority to pass a right-to-work law, inserting government into the private sector, is now getting a big thumbs up from our incidental governor. After right wing low information candidate Duey Stroebel won his primary, with no Democratic opponent, the senate is now confident it can pass right-to-work:

WKOW: In a surprise announcement Friday morning, Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald told WTMJ radio he has 17 votes to pass the bill now. He says it will be introduced later in the day and he plans to hold a vote either Wednesday or Thursday.

Walker is now feverishly stacking up his conservative presidential creds to become America's first dictator (think I'm not kidding?).

It's a fire sale: Starving public schools funding, cutting off our public colleges and freeing taxpayers from the burden of owning their own state parks, Walker is leaving government in the control of special interests. All that for a $5 property tax cut savings and bad budgeting. Not even private businesses are exempt from Walker's intrusive oversight:

AP: Gov. Scott Walker backed a surprise move Friday by Republican legislators ... an action the likely 2016 presidential candidate initially said should be delayed to avoid re-igniting massive pro-union protests.

And today, after so many non-answers about his support of right-to-work?

"I've never said that I didn't think it was a good idea. I've just questioned the timing in the past and whether it was right at that time," Walker told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in a Friday

True, he never said...anything really.

Remember, Walker's austerity small government vision can't fail, because there's always something else to throw overboard as revenues sink. In the words of Sen. Alberta Darling:

Walker plagiarizes Gov. Rick Snyder's Right-to-Work "distraction" ploy.

After a massive campaign by outraged conservative voters to portray Scott Walker's challenger Mary Burke as a plagiarist, our clueless governor came out swinging with a wonderfully plagiarized talking point used by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. "Right-to-work is not a priority..." is even getting major media attention, an oddity to say the least. Pic from the WSJ.

Our incidental governor will probably sign a bill into law in a heartbeat out of shear frustration, just to get it off the table so he can continue to focus on jobs, jobs, and his job to become president.

And when you hear Sen. Scott Fitzgerald talk about how much he's asked about right-to-work from voters, like Diane Hendricks below, it's easy who he's rubbing shoulders with:

William Jones, a UW-Madison history professor, cited comments Walker made to Beloit billionaire Diane Hendricks, a prominent GOP donor, in January 2011. Hendricks had asked Walker whether lawmakers could make Wisconsin a “completely red state” and “become a right-to-work (state).” Walker replied that the “first step” was public employee unions, “because you use divide and conquer.”

“I think it’s clear that he supports this type of thing,” Jones said.

The MO is the same too, as GOP governors basically retaliate against their opponents when huge crowds of protesters turn out. A kind of "lesson" they're trying to teach us, the rabble and uninformed.

Gov. Snyder had repeatedly said right-to-work legislation was a divisive issue, wasn’t a priority for him, and was not on his agenda. Then he signed the Michigan bill in December 2012, the same day the measure passed in the GOP-controlled statehouse, which was filled with protesters.

Walker sponsored a right-to-work bill as a freshman Assembly member in 1993. But he has said in recent months, and repeated Friday, that he would prefer lawmakers focus on his priorities, such as cutting taxes, expanding school choice, and passing a state budget.

Right-to-Work gets fast tracked because voters are asking for it?

Republicans will take immediate action on right to work legislation early in the next session. It's basically an in your face taunt directed at the now even smaller Democratic minority. 

Republicans are free at last to expand government regulations without a peep coming from their small government voters. Hey, a new law is big government, or don't they get it?

Senator Scott Fitzgerald admitted he and many other lawmakers are constantly being asked when they're going to make Wisconsin a right to work state. Sure, that's tops on my list of concerns too.

"I think out on the campaign trail this summer many of the candidates and the senators that were reelected continued to hear the question, 'are you gonna do the right to work stuff and how are you gonna do it?" 

WKOW:



Democrats would be wise to add some form of accountability to the legislation, like yearly income updates so Wisconsinites could evaluate just how right to work is effecting their pay and benefits. With promises of bigger paychecks, that would seem like a fair and logical thing to track.

But I'm not afraid to suggest the following as well:

Dave Branson, executive director of the Building and Construction Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin says a repeat of the 2011 Act 10 protests could become a reality.

Sen. Fitzgerald says Gov. Walker has expressed similar concerns to him that such a scenario may discourage businesses from expanding or relocating to Wisconsin. "So that's a real concern," said Sen. Fitzgerald. "I mean, the converse of that would be hey, people think we're doing the right things and we're on the right track in Wisconsin and certainly I think proponents of right-to-work legislation would say, 'that's why it's time to take a look at this.'"

Unafraid and unfiltered, Fitzgerald made it clear only a few favored unions would be exempt:

Sen. Fitzgerald also believes some trade unions may be exempted from the legislation, specifically because they are involved in developing and providing technical college training in areas like plumbing, carpentry and steam fitting. He says legislators will have to sit down with officials from those unions before crafting a bill.

Because Republicans need that forced union money for campaigning.

Believe It or Not: Big Business wants Right-to-Work so they can give us a raise?

Think about this one thing in the right to work “debate” just hitting the fan; Republicans want you to believe the Koch brothers, Americans for Prosperity, its offshoot clone Wisconsin Right to Work, along with big business and their corporate lobbyists, are desperately trying to pass right-to-work laws so they can pay their employees higher wages. Really, seriously?

The right to work myth depends on wishful unsupported conclusions that claim to be thoroughly researched. Rep. Chris Kapenga, part of the disgruntled “accountant class” in our legislature, will be pushing his outdated flawed data to fellow in-the-tank RTW Republicans who are supposedly still sitting on the fence (give us a break). Here's what he said on WPR's morning show, along with Rep. Cory Mason (audio). Check out what Kapenga says at around 3:38:

Mackinacdotorg: “According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, nominal personal income grew by 209.3 percent in right-to-work states and by 148.5 percent in non-right-to-work states from 1990 to 2011.”

What’s this “nominal personal income” stuff?: According to the Business Dictionary, it’s Income unadjusted for the effects of inflation or deflation, part of a salary or wage paid out not including benefits such as subsidized meals or transportation.

But who would not apply the above factors into income averages for employees? Someone selling RTW.

Imagine adopting the RTW idea 35 years ago: 

Really? 

Income levels would be on the order of $3,000 per person higher today … For all states, the median income loss per capita is $3,278, or more than $13,000 for a family of four. Even if that conclusion seriously overstates the results of RTW laws, the true effect is still likely quite substantial.

There counting children too? Crazy stuff. 

Right to work lowers wages and benefits, it's that simple. Big business doesn't want to pay people more money for gods sake:

EPI: Elise Gould and Heidi Shierholz, researchers at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), studied what they called "the compensation penalty of 'right-to-work' laws" and concluded: "Right-to-work" laws are associated with significantly lower wages and reduced chances of receiving employer-sponsored health insurance and pensions -- are based on the most rigorous statistical analysis currently possible … workers in "right-to-work" states have lower compensation -- both union and nonunion workers alike.

McClatchy: workplace safety suffers in right-to-work states, where workers are less likely to secure job safety enhancements beyond federal and state regulations. McClatchy Newspapers, 2/16/12

Congressional Research Service: Workers In Right-To-Work States Make An Average Of $7,000 Less Than Those In Non-Right-To-Work States. Citing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Congressional Research Service reported that the average wage in a right-to-work state was $42,465, compared with $49,495 in "labor security" states. Congressional Research Service, 6/20/12

Economic Policy Institute: Wages for Union And Non-Union Workers Are Lower by "An Average of $1,500 a year." For every $1 million in wage cuts to workers, $850,000 less is spent in the economy, which translates into a loss of six jobs. Economic Policy Institute,9/16/11

Hofstra University's Lonnie Stevans: Wages and personal income are both lower in right-to-work states, yet proprietors' income is higher. As a result, while right-to-work states may maintain a somewhat better business environment relative to non-right-to-work states, these benefits do not necessarily translate into increased economic verve for the right-to-work states as a whole -- there appears to be little 'trickle-down' to the largely non-unionized workforce in these states. Review of Law & Economics, Volume 5, Issue 1, 2009

Researchers Find That "Right-To-Work" Laws Have "No Significant Positive Impact Whatsoever On Employment."  2/2/12

EPI: The most recent and most methodologically rigorous studies conclude that the policy has no statistically significant impact whatsoever. Economic Policy Institute, 3/16/11

AP: "The reason we don't have clear views (on right-to-work laws) is because it's always being debated at its extremes," said Gary Chaison, a professor of labor relations at Clark University in Massachusetts, who assigns his students to analyze the issue each year. In the end, when it comes to jobs and the law, "we don't know causation," he said. Associated Press, 1/28/12

MYTH: Right-To-Work Laws Protect Workers From Supporting Political Spending

FACT: Workers Can Opt Out Of Full Union Membership And Prevent Fees From Supporting Political Spending … employees who object to full union membership may continue as 'core' members and pay only that share of dues used directly for representation, such as collective bargaining and contract administration. Known as objectors, they are no longer full members but are still protected by the union contract. Unions are obligated to tell all covered employees about this option, which was created by a Supreme Court ruling and is known as the Beck right. National Labor Relations Board, accessed 12/11/12

CWA v. Beck: Unions Cannot Force Non-Members To Pay Dues For Political Action. , 6/29/88

Locke v. Karass: Non-Union Workers At Organized Work Places Cannot Be Forced To Pay For "Political, Public Relations, Or Lobbying" Activities By Unions.  1/21/09

Republicans take up annoying Right to Work legislation they're not even interested in passing...so the incidental governor can sign.

Come on, it's not even on Scott Walker's radar. And no one wants to write the Right to Work legislation they're sure will pass, if and only if someone can "make the case" it's good for the economy, which doesn't necessarily mean it'll get to the governors desk for Walker to sign right away. 

Here are the speed bumps poor old right to work has to "overcome" first...don't laugh, they really think we're idiots. AP:

1.  Republican lawmaker has promised to introduce right-to-work legislation during the upcoming session. Rep. Chris Kapenga said he plans to introduce a bill but isn't sure when. 

2. He says he needs to make the case that the legislation would help the state's economy to the GOP caucus.

3. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said in July he didn't intend to pursue the issue in 2015 but on Monday issued a statement saying he looked forward to discussing the benefits of becoming a right-to-work state. 

4. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald's spokeswoman said Monday he's open to the idea but she had no immediate comment Tuesday, either.

5. Gov. Scott Walker has said right-to-work isn't a priority but hasn't said he wouldn't support a bill.

A Few GOP Convention Side Issues Walker wants us to Ignore....

Real issues like jobs and health care take a back seat to these important votes at last weekends GOP convention in Milwaukee. jsonline:

Without debate, the convention passed a resolution opposing the Common Core.

Any alternative plans? Nope.

Oh, and here are a few "side issues" Scott Walker said should get all caught up in:

The convention approved resolutions that included backing "right-to-work" legislation, election reform, gun rights and an expansion of charter school and voucher programs across the state "without limits or strings attached."

Just to recap:

Delegates rejected a measure that demanded Wisconsin pass a bill to declare the Affordable Care Act null and void in the state and forbid state and federal agents from enforcing the act. One delegate said on the floor, "If we pass this, we'll be the laughingstock of America."

Walker said that when Democrats were in charge in Madison, the state's unemployment rate was 9.2%. It's now 5.9%, he said. In December 2010, Doyle's last month in office, the unemployment rate stood at 7.8%, as the state and country were recovering from the Great Recession.

The Journal Sentinel is one of the few papers to note how the Great Recession affected jobs under Gov. Doyle. 

Where's Fox News now on Video Fight with Union Member in Michigan.

While conservative talk radio played up another possibly false and edited video as "real," the story took an ugly but honest turn for the teabillies.

Provocateur and Fox News comedian Steven Crowder got caught in another Breitbart inspired video lie. He was with the Americans for Prosperity thugs in Michigan, taunting union members about right-to-work. The plan was to cause trouble. 

I didn't post this story originally because let's face it, everything from the right has been phonied up for immediate impact. But now that I know just a little bit more, thanks to this video interview on Canada's  Sun News, you can now see a Michigan union member get pushed to the ground by... well, that push came from Crowder’s direction. Surprise surprise. 

Confirmed; Crowder admits he pushed union members, thus causing the union guy in the video to fall, who then got up and slugged Crowder. I admit, I would have pretty much done the same thing. These smug truly clueless dunderheads don’t really seem to understand anything else. It’s insulting to think they think were that stupid. They want to freeload off the hard work of union representatives.

Even more insulting is the fact that these freeloaders think middle class Americans should just roll over, and not fight back. Having lived through the 60's war protests, these teatards don't have any idea of what's coming, and it is.

Check out the push, fist fight and admission. Hey, Crowder really is a comedian:

From Little Green Footballs: 

From Crowder’s own words, in this smug, self-aggrandizing interview with Canada’s Fox News imitation, Sun News. The thing about dimwits like Crowder is that if you let them keep talking long enough, they’ll eventually out themselves. They can’t help it.