Wisconsin By The Numbers

Feb 17th, 2011

Gov. Scott Walker

As the controversy over Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's plans to balance the state budget on the backs of his workers heats up, the likes of Glenn Beck and Michelle Malkin are attempting to demonize his government's employees for not rolling over and taking what amounts to a 7% wage cut. 

It's just another part of the current Republican war on the rights of labor. Here is a little perspective.

From the NY Times:

"Mr. Walker said he had no other options, since he is facing a deficit of $137 million in the current state budget"

From The Wisconsin Budget Project:

"At least eight new or expanded state tax cuts and tax credits will go into effect at the beginning of 2011. These tax changes add up to an estimated $210 million cut in state taxes over the 2011-13 biennium. After adding in other tax reductions with different effective dates, we calculate that tax changes contribute more than $320 million to the structural deficit for the coming biennial budget."

Uh huh. Looks like more Reaganomic upward redistribution to me.