WISCONSIN— Wisconsin governor Scott Walker proposed a bill Tuesday that would take away virtually all collective bargaining rights for many Wisconsin government employees, including teachers and municipal workers. Walker reasoned that one must have money in order to bargain, and the government has no money; therefore, a halt on bargaining rights is necessary.
As a state once referred to as a “laboratory for democracy,” Wisconsin could be setting the tone for a nationwide trend in reducing the chokehold government employees have on state budgets.
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Jim Tobin appeared on CBS News Chicago Monday. After years of hushing up the scandal, it came to light that the IRS has permitted prisoners to scam millions of dollars from taxpayers. The IRS only recently admitted to the incompetence which organizations such as NTUI have been pointing out for years.
CHICAGO— Retired Chicago police and firemen receive lavish, gold-plated pensions, and, according to Jim Tobin, President of the Illinois Taxpayer Education Foundation (ITEF), the reason Governor Patrick Quinn signed Senate Bill 3538, the $500,000,000 Chicago property tax increase, is to pump more taxpayer dollars into extravagant city pensions. The bill also forces local governments to raise property taxes statewide to fund local pensions, instead of requiring real pension reforms.
“I acknowledge that firemen and police have high-risk jobs,” said Tobin, “but that is no reason to force taxpayers to fund pensions that are making pension millionaires of many of these retirees.”
Jim Tobin announces the top pensions for Chicago's Police and Firemen to WGN TV, FoxTV Chicago, and ABC TV 7 at a News Conference held at the ITEF office Tuesday, February 8.
