New Local Government Leaders Needed

What we are seeing in Wisconsin underscores why local government matters and why we need a new generation of local government leaders.

The Left, particularly the Labor Movement is readjusting its focus to the local level.  Labor already has control of many school boards and other local government bodies across the nation. That’s why there are so many collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) being rushed through and passed at the local level here in Wisconsin.

The Budget Repair Bill, which was signed into law last week, provides local governments with the tools they need to cut spending.  The Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) just released estimates of the savings available to local governments through utilizing the employee contribution component of the bill.  The LFB found the City of Sheboygan, for instance, would save $987,600 just from having the public employees contribute 5.8% to their pensions.  The Milwaukee Public Schools would save over $24 million dollars.

Yet locality after locality, from Chippewa Falls to Madison, are rushing through agreements that preempt the application of the Budget Repair Bill (which is helped by Democratic Secretary of State Doug La Follette’s delay in publishing the law until March 25 to allow local governments more time to pass these measures).  The result of these contracts being rushed through is that local governments will have significant gaps between their expenses and revenues, as state aid will be decreased under the Budget Bill.  Then these governments will be forced to lay off workers or raise property taxes (Gov. Walker’s Budget Bill could limit this option).

The Left even had a bill passed in December 2009 to train teachers how to brain wash children about collective bargaining.  Here is a video discussing how this law will help the Labor Movement in the future:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NFGzWcq5VyE

In places where CBAs are not being rushed through, the unions are going to find candidates of their own to run for local office.  The Left understands that they can control the process if they have ”their” candidates on your local school board, city council, county board, etc.

Conservatives can make a difference if we engage at the local level.  In Wauwautosa, hundreds of taxpayers attended the Common Council meeting and voiced their opinions that new union contracts should not be rushed through.  Their voices were heard and the Common Council voted against a new collective bargaining agreement.  It is amazing what an organized group of taxpayers can accomplish if they coordinate their efforts.

But reforming local government goes beyond attending meetings when a big issue comes up, which I should add is absolutely necessary.  We need a new generation of liberty-minded leaders to run for local office.  We need to replace the elected officials who simply do what the unions tell them to do. We need leaders who will stand up for fiscal responsibility, less government spending, and lower taxes!