Wisconsin Capital Issues

The latest proposal that Scott Walker has come up with has divided the great state of Wisconsin. Everyone needs to do research before slamming public employees. It is very easy to say that it is only the public employees that caused this deficit the state is now facing.Here are some facts provided from the census bureau of labor statistics. The average High School Graduate in Jefferson Country earns $626 dollars a week which works out to an annual salary of $35,552. College graduates with a Bachelor’s degree have an average weekly salary of $1137 which works out an annual salary of $59,124 per year. In percentage terms, the average salary of a college graduate is almost 82 percent higher than someone who holds a high school diploma. This showing the importance of continuing education in this great state of Wisconsin. The average employer in the state of Wisconsin offers a 401k program with matching. The average employers usually have matching rates of 3% up to 6%. Let’s look at the private sector first line supervisor / operating employees in the production field. The average starting salary of an employee in Jefferson country is $38,577 per year. The average salary is $52,650 per year. The top end average salary is $59,686 per year. These positions do not require a degree.Then let’s break it down even further with in regards to our educators in Jefferson Country. A beginning educator has an average starting salary of $33,706 per year. The average educator earns an average salary of $50,960 per year. Then on the higher average salary with years of experience earns $59,586 per year. Then the educators are required to continue additional education to maintain there teaching license. They are required to earn 6 credits every 5 years. The cost per credit costs between $222.00 to $972.00 which the educators are required to pay on there own. So that adds up to $1332.00 and $5832.00 every 5 years. This is not reimbursed from the school districts. In the private sectors most companies offer tuition reimbursement plans for their employees. The educators can retire after 25 years per the state retirement as well as any other non-protected retirees.Now let’s look back to 1993. The Wisconsin legislature enacted the Qualified Economic Offer (QEO) law. The QEO law - and the revenue controls that restrict the amount of money school districts can raise - was enacted in order to limit school spending. Those measures were combined with a commitment that the state would provide two-thirds of the costs of schools on a statewide average (this figure varies by community). Under the QEO, school boards have the option of unilaterally limiting pay and benefits for K-12 teachers so long as the combined increase is 3.8%. The law allows school districts to avoid true collective bargaining regarding compensation and important school quality issues. As rising health insurance costs have eaten up most of the 3.8% total compensation target, teacher salaries in Wisconsin have stagnated and even declined. As a result, Wisconsin teacher salaries fell 6.8% from 1997-98 to 2007-08, when adjusted for inflation. For 2007-08, Wisconsin's teacher salaries ranked 21st in the nation at $49,051, down from 20th the year before, and below the national average of $52,308.This being said, none of us are the cause of this deficit that the state is now facing. It was caused by years of mismanagement. This Republican verse Democrat game must end. If you don't agree 100% in what Walker proposed, then you have to vote no. Just because you are one party or the other does not mean that you have to follow everyone else because you are in the same party. You have to follow what is right for the voters and citizens of Wisconsin. Just because someone jumps in front of a moving car does not mean everyone has to follow, Use some common sense. They all have been voted into office to stand up for and listen to the citizens of Wisconsin. I'm not saying that some things are not needed, because I agree that they do. But this has been pushed without thinking everything through item by item. What's good for one is good for all. It is time to stand together and work as one for the people of Wisconsin.What ever happened to Bipartisanship? If anyone forgot, it involves cooperation, agreement, and compromise between two major political parties. That is what made this county what it is today. What is taking place now is Dictatorship, a government controlled by one person, or a small group of people. In this form of government the power rests entirely on the person or group of people, and can be obtained by force or by inheritance. The dictators may also take away much of its peoples' freedom which Governor Walker is in the process of doing.Sincerely,Tom Mecikalski730 Crestview DriveWatertown, WI 53094(920) 261-0577
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  • Go here to sign our Voter ID petition and have it delivered to Wisc....

    I have belonged to unions all my life and support Gov. Walker.  He had tried to deal with the Democrats in Wisconsin about saving these jobs and balancing the budget, the Democrats refused to negotiate, NOT Walker not trying to work with the other side of the aisle. 

    Walker campaigned on balancing the Budget, saving jobs, and creating new ones, but it was the Democrat members that refused to bargain and headed to Illinois to avoid making tough decisions, just as Obama is doing now. There is NO justification to recall Gov. Walker, indeed, the Democrats that ran away and didn't fulfil their obligations for political reasons, are the ones that a recall would be justified. 

    I suppose if Walker gets recalled, and loses the new costly election, then we can just have another recall as well!   What the hell kinf of Republic is that?   Everytime people are not happy with an honest election, they can just have a recall?????  I think NOT!

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