Many eyes across the country will be on Wisconsin. Wisconsin is projected to have a huge budget deficit over the next several years and needs to come up with inovative ways to deal with it.

Scott Walker, a republican and true conservtive, was elected the new governor last fall and wants to have the teachers start paying a portion of their retirement plan and health insurance. Currently they pay zero! Other state and government workers are included but it's the teachers and more specifically the teachers union that is fighting.

Scott Walker is asking that these workers pay 12.5% of their health insurance costs and 5.8% of their salaries into their pention plans. He isn't changing any plans or deleting any benefits but wants these workers to begin paying something. Average teacher salary in Wisconsin is $53,000 with another $20,000 in estimated benefits.

The republicans currently hold a majority in our house, 19-13, so the bill will pass but you need 20 senators to form a quorum before you can vote. So...what do the 13 democratic senators do? They flee to Illinois so they won't have to vote and shut down the government! Reminds me of kindergarten when someone doesn't like the game and takes their ball and goes home.

And...guess who ordered busloads of protestors from Illinois to go to the Wisconsin state capitol to protest? The Democratic National Committee. And whole school systems were shut down because teachers called in sick to go to Madison to protest. And...the Reverend Jessie Jackson shows up yesterday to support the teachers!

Scott Walker also wants to eliminate collective bargaining which will effectively destroy the unions and maybe, help Wisonsin get back on track to solving the budget issue and deficits. Teachers should be held accountable just like all other workers, with good ones receiving raises and poor ones sent packing. As it stands now, the union negotiates for everyone equally and doesn't matyer if you are good or bad. Unions had theire time and place but not any more in my humble opinion. I work in manufacturing and it costs 3-4 times as much to have a union crew install our product as a non-union crew! Ridiculous!

It's been very interesting and could set the stage for some other states to try something similar.

Last thing, they interviewed several teachers last night and when asked how Scott Walker should deal with the budget deficit, the resonse of many was to raise taxes! I'm sorry, I pay enough in taxes so you can have free health insurance and be able to retire at 55 years old with a great pension and free health care.

Sorry if I rambled or this isn't the correct post or forum. I'm pretty pasionate about this battle. Government can't continue to spend, spend, spend without consequences.