Newly elected Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin recently proposed a budget
repair bill for all state employees to contribute to their health insurance and
their pensions. The budget repair bill would address Wisconsin's 137 million
dollar budget shortfall for the fiscal year. Many people gathered at the
Capitol to protest this budget repair bill saying that it goes beyond a budget
deficit fix. Some said that the unions are not necessary, forcing districts to
pay teachers more than they deserve. The budget repair bill has gotten national
attention that even figures such as Jesse Jackson came to speak. We decided to
go to the Capitol to testify so that our voices may be heard amongst the large
crowd.
An organized group of UW students including myself attempted to go into
classrooms to rally other fellow students to join the protest. Luckily, UW is bigger
than just one class. Students from both Madison High Schools, and UW, gathered to
protest against the bill. The budget repair bill also repeals the authority
of home health care workers, family child care workers, UW hospital and
clinic employees, and UW and academic staff to collectively bargain. The bill
would not require the Department of Health Services to tell the public when
they make changes which could affect over one million people.
