highlight, tweak, copy, paste

It’s true they acknowledged working together to make Scott Walker’s anti-union budget repair (sic) bill better, but take a look at the remarks from State Sen. Van Wanggaard, (R-Racine), here, and State Sen. Dan Kapanke, (R-LaCrosse), here, and ask yourselves: Are constituents hearing words from the heart, or talking points edited, copied and pasted?

I note these similarities, among others:

 

Kapanke:

“Wisconsin is facing a $3.6 BILLION shortfall in the next biennium. We owe our good neighbors to our west, Minnesota, almost $60 million in reciprocity payments. The past administration and legislature stole $200 million from the Injured Patients Compensation Fund.”

Wanggaard:

“Wisconsin has a $3.6 billion deficit. We owe over $56 million to the state of Minnesota, accruing interest daily. We owe $200 million to the Patients Compensation Fund.”

Kapanke:

“Here are some of the key components of the collective bargaining aspect of the bill that should clarify some concerns:

• State and local employees will have civil service protections for grievance, discipline, and termination proceedings.
• Progressive Discipline still exists.
• Termination for just cause still exists.
• A worker still retains the right to have a representative present at any grievance, termination, or discipline hearing.
• Wages can still be collectively bargained.
• The union still exists.

Wanggard:

I have worked with my Senate colleagues to ensure that workers at the state and local level, including teachers, have these workplace protections. It is important to note that:

• State and local employees who have civil service protections for grievance and discipline retain those rights.
• Public workers serving without these protections will now have those protections.
• Progressive Discipline still exists.
• Just Cause is still required for termination.
• Workplace safety must be addressed at all levels of government.
• Workers retain the right to have a representative present at any grievance, termination, or discipline hearing.
• The union still exists.

But the best? Drumroll, please…

Kapanke:

“I have agonized and prayed for guidance on my vote.”

Wanggaard:

“I have agonized over this vote and I have prayed for guidance on this vote.”

James Rowen is a writer and consultant who‘s worked for newspapers and as the senior Mayoral staffer in both Madison and Milwaukee, WI. He blogs regularly at The Political Environment.