Area residents join rally at Capitol in Madison
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Mike Martin of Madison got creative with his Wizard of Oz-themed sign at the Reclaim Wisconsin Rally on Saturday.
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Steve Woodstock, a Rock County Public Works mechanic from Janesville, hoists the American Flag during the Reclaim Wisconsin Rally at the Capitol on Saturday.
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Kathy Vincent, of Brookfield, carries an oversized license plate as she walks with her dog Nanuck around the Capitol at the Reclaim Wisconsin Rally on Saturday.
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Barbara Fett and her fiance Ed Timmer of Janesville march around the Capitol before the Reclaim Wisconsin Rally on Saturday.
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Cecilia Hladky, a first grade teacher at Jackson Elementary School of Janesville, cheers during a speech at the Reclaim Wisconsin Rally at the Capitol in Madison on Saturday.
MADISON — Dave Selck of Janesville missed the opening day of deer season last November. He hadn’t missed an opening day since 1966.
Instead of hunting deer, he went to a recall-the-governor rally.
“Ol’ Scotty got me riled up,” Selck said.
He was referring, of course, to Gov. Scott Walker.
Selck, a retired Teamster, was one of thousands of people with similar feelings who rallied in a “Reclaim Wisconsin” rally at the state Capitol on Saturday.
Also in the crowd was Janesville teacher Cecilia Hladky, who said she joined the cheering throng “because I wanted to be a part of something that’s going to change our whole state.”
Whether those thousands of demonstrators will translate into hundreds of thousands of votes to recall the governor remains to be seen, but the ralliers showed a strong core of support under sunny skies.
Some were angry, some sad, most determined and hopeful for the recall effort. They were marking the one-year anniversary of the Legislature’s vote for Act 10, which cut away much of the negotiating powers that most public-employee unions enjoyed for decades.
Proponents said the changes helped state and local governments balance their budgets at a time of declining revenues.
The mostly union crowd Saturday saw Act 10 as an attack on themselves, their families and the middle class. The crowd included public-sector and private-sector workers alike, from librarians and firefighters to steamfitters and plumbers.
“The governor needs to work for the 99-percenters, not the 1 percent,” said Steve Woodstock, a mechanic at the Rock County Highway Department. “They’re representing the ultra-rich, who don’t need any more help. They put all the blame on the teachers.”
Woodstock carried an American flag as he marched around the square with fellow union members.
“We need to let everybody know that we’re not going away,” said Janesville schoolteacher Stephanie Kortyna, who carried a sign touting Kathleen Vinehout for governor in the probable recall election later this year. Others were backing another Kathleen, Falk.
“We’re still here and still fighting and not going to stop until all the people who passed the laws are gone,” Kortyna said.
Another Janesville teacher, Sue Shotliff, said she sees the results of cuts to school funding every day, with fewer staff members asked to do more and low morale.
“There’s got to be a better way to make things work for our children,” Shotliff said.
Asked why the contract-protected Janesville teachers didn’t agree to start making pension payments that could have saved jobs, Shotliff noted that the state teachers union offered to negotiate concessions, but they were ignored.
“Barbara Fett, a retired school counselor from Janesville, said she would never forget how laws were passed at night, without hearings and what she believes was without proper notice.
“That was wrong. It was deceptive. It was deliberately secretive. The process was ignored,” Fett said.
Asked whether she thought Janesville teachers should have volunteered to make pension payments, she said:
“It seems a lot of people want to see us lose benefits, when in fact everyone deserves a good pension. Everyone deserves health care.”
Dave Selck, a retired Teamster from Janesville, had similar thoughts. He said he is benefiting from retirement benefits that were won by union members before him who fought for them.
“I tell you what, I got a darned good pension because of it, and I think everybody should have one,” Selck said.
Laurie Bauer, who was a librarian at Parker High School last year, is working in the Madison School District this year because of the staffing upheaval in Janesville.
“I am mad because I loved what I did there and I built a good program (at Parker),” Bauer said.
Bauer said she is commuting to Madison and is selling her house in Janesville.
Speeches were filled with references to spring and the renewal or rebirth of what one speaker called “the Wisconsin we know and love.”
Signs in the crowd took their digs at Walker and other Republicans, but few descended to vulgarity. One man was seen carrying a piece of paper showing Walker with a Hitler mustache.
No counter-demonstrators or angry confrontations were apparent to observers, although no one could tell with the widespread crowd. Police seemed at ease, and access to the Capitol was not restricted as it was during demonstrations one year ago.
Dona Palmer, a retired teacher from Lake Geneva, said she was on her union’s committee that bargained for wages and benefits with the school board. It was the ultimate in democratic decision-making, she said, but then the governor wiped all that away with Act 10.
School boards now will be able to get rid of high quality, experienced older teachers and hire teachers with no experience at half the price, Palmer complained.
“People will be losing jobs to save money,” she said.
Roger Anclam, a retired UAW General Motors worker and chairman of the Turtle Town Board, said he was upset that Walker made changes without allowing input from the other side.
“It was simply: ‘We’re taking this away from you.’ I don’t think this is the way we do business here,” Anclam said.
“I know families that can’t sit down to Thanksgiving dinner together anymore,” Anclam continued. “People are so polarized that you can’t have a regular conversation about it.”
A few of the signs at the rally called for healing that rift, but most were intent on simply reversing a year of Republican rule.
But if the union coalition in evidence Saturday is to win this year, it will have to do better than in 2010, said Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin, who addressed the crowd Saturday.
Mitchell admonished the demonstrators, saying that 39 percent of union members actually voted for Walker in 2010.
“Will we make the same mistake twice?” Mitchell asked.
“No,” the crowd responded.
Lawmakers defend Act 10 action
Republican representatives Joe Knilans of Janesville and Evan Wynn of Whitewater stand behind their votes for Act 10 last year, wiping out much of the power that public-employee unions had to negotiate benefits and working conditions.
The legislators speak for many who were not represented at the union-organized rally Saturday at the state Capitol.
“We can all sit back and debate the method that was used, but in the end I think it was the right thing to do,” Knilans said.
Schools and other local governments were able to save on employee costs, and some even set aside money for merit pay for those who work hard and deserve a raise, Knilans said.
Wynn said the problem was that unions could organize very effectively to elect the very boards or councils that they would later negotiate with, and that led to abuses.
Some workers were getting excessive benefits, Wynn said.
Wynn said Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Falk has pledged to restore collective bargaining, but she hasn’t said how she would pay for it. The only choices would be to cut the workforce or raise taxes on people who are already strapped, Wynn said.
Without referring to the rally, Gov. Scott Walker posted this on Twitter on Saturday morning: “Some want to drag WI backwards and rehash debates of the past. We want to move WI forward.”
Those who oppose the aims of Saturday’s Capitol rally will have their turn as the year progresses.
Americans for Prosperity Foundation plans a “Defending the American Dream Summit” on March 24 in Milwaukee, and a tea party rally is scheduled for April 14 at the Capitol.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Mar 14, 2012 at 4:50 p.m.
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Koch_Bros,,, Your business/investing ignorance is shinning through. A 30 year+ investment by investors require more than a gnats thought. If you were a investing chartist, this LONG TIME chart would say something to you (http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?c...).
Besides, they didn't drop the idea of opening a new mine, just to move it 80Miles north into MI. Guess they need 80 miles more space from MINBY idiots that hate that their car is made from what they mine. Walk much?
Mar 14, 2012 at 12:36 p.m.
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RichE95, so your a pharmacist? Ah self medication,and posting would explain it! Go over to the wall by the doorway, that little switch that flips up light goes on,flip down light goes off (unless it's a newt switch, three way) where does that magic come from?
Mar 14, 2012 at 12:06 p.m.
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4th sentence "“Ol’ Scotty got me riled up,” Selck said."
Whole article is crap anyways. Looks like all the whiners are coming out of hiberation to begin protesting again. Nothing but air thieves!
Mar 14, 2012 at 11:04 a.m.
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mteg, the fourth sentence of the article: "...rally at the state Capitol on Saturday."
Numbskull
Mar 14, 2012 at 10:56 a.m.
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Where does lightkeeper work? Back in the 50's when most jobs were 9-5 Monday thru Friday. Even professionals such as pharmacists have schedules that include multiple shifts over a 7 day week. Another Liberal Democrat Reactionary has spoken. Living in the past you are. As far as Cullen and jobs go - his actions say it all.
Mar 14, 2012 at 10:14 a.m.
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What a coincidence....People taking off work to screw around at the capital, and nice 70 degree weather this week.
Mar 13, 2012 at 10:05 p.m.
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Um, RichE95 sorry I didn't read your high noon post, your "Friend with physical challenges" who works at Walmart. I know very few people at Walmart work 8 hour days ( saves on the payment of benefits). So just forget about my pointing out that your post was in the middle of the 8 hour work day.
Mar 13, 2012 at 8:34 p.m.
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Dear RIchE95, like so many on the right, who are not right in the head, really explaining to me what hard work is at 11:36 during the work day, classic!
Mar 13, 2012 at 5:26 p.m.
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I don't cowtow to union demands and because Cullen did not capitulate to special interest demands - neither does he apparently. But I support employee union representation and collective bargaining rights regardless of the car employees own or where they shop. It's a free country. But you RichE95 hold resentments against that. That's your cross to bear. I'm a snob because I encourage workers to strive for the best pay and benefits they can get in exchange for their work - you honor them if they work for less. Big difference. As far as the mine is concerned - nobody is stopping Gogebic Taconite from doing business in Wisconsin but their own greed.
Mar 13, 2012 at 5:05 p.m.
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youkillme - since you support workers in all areas , am I to presume you wrote Tim Cullen to vote in favor of the mining bill to create PRIVATE SECTOR WELL PAID UNION JOBS? As of this moment, Cullen is still opposed to those jobs. You and Cullen are actually against all jobs because that might make Scott Walker look better. You are a sad example of what things have come to.
Mar 13, 2012 at 4:39 p.m.
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RichE95, try as you might but don't try to pickle your way out of your own words and insert them in my mouth. I'm a liberal socialist elitist snob because I support employee organizations and representation in all sectors. I won't deny that.
Mar 13, 2012 at 4:16 p.m.
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Hmm - "dues paying public sector employees driving non union foreign cars" with union slogans no less. Rather an odd concept. Thank You to youkillme - you really do sound like a snob - you don't even promote solidarity with private sector union members - Do you consider them lower class beings like Walmart workers?
Mar 13, 2012 at 4:03 p.m.
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“The Bad Old Days of Collective Bargaining: Why Act 10 Was Necessary for Wisconsin Public Schools,”
http://educationactiongroup.org/wp-conte...
Mar 13, 2012 at 3:58 p.m.
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According to RichE95, all work is honorable unless you're a dues paying public sector employee driving a foreign made car. And what better way to reconcile those harbored resentments than to shop at the largest importer in America to re-enforce his own bigotry by towering over his disadvantaged and disabled friends at Wal-Mart with, “the lower the pay, the more honorable the work” ethic. That’s the real American patriotism. If you disagree, you’re a liberal socialist elitist snob.
Mar 13, 2012 at 3:27 p.m.
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Lets make that clear - you blog under an assumed name of someone you hate - and you call others liars. The real Koch Bros create job - you are the liar. But liberals always resort to calling others liars. That is what happens when your bigotry is exposed.
Mar 13, 2012 at 1:34 p.m.
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Schools and other local governments were able to save on employee costs, and some even set aside money for merit pay for those who work hard and deserve a raise, Knilans said.
Knilans will be replaced when he comes up, the statement above is an outright LIE!
Mar 13, 2012 at 12:50 p.m.
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I love it when the liberal snobs show their true colors. Work is honorable and supplying honorable work is also honorable. Resentment towards an economic system that has provided the greatest good for the most people of any system in the history of the world? - that resentment is not so good.
Mar 13, 2012 at 12:32 p.m.
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Wal-Mart is a huge American success story and business model for all crooked-nosed capitalists to emulate. They are the largest importer in the nation with the largest percentage of their workforce whose wages must be subsidized with government poverty and health care programs while the company rakes in billions in profits. What's not to like?
RichE95 defends them.
Mar 13, 2012 at noon
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Walmart workers are real workers. I know a person with physical challenges who in proud of his/her job at Walmart. Once again we see who has the real elitist bigotry against real working people. It is the leftist snobs who infect society with their disdain for the workers and entrepreneurs who make America Great. As the "snob in chief says" - "we hide behind our guns and religion".
Mar 13, 2012 at 11:36 a.m.
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Dear Lightkeeper - like so many on the left you need things explained to your very simply. Real work is a line worker, office worker, teacher, truck driver, mechanic, physician - get it - most anything except perhaps a union official or "gulp" a lawyer. It is sad that you don't understand all this. You remind me of the GM Union Officials. They forgot what real work was. They would go to Madison and do kissy face with lobbyists and liberals who held real American workers in contempt. Is it no surprise that non union Toyota has been number one in Dane County for 20 years. People concerned about real work didn't try to boycott Janesville based Woodmans. Real leaders (unlike Cullen) who support jobs for union workers don't stand in the way of a mining bill that would have created jobs in Rock County. Your question would better be addressed to the likes of San Liebert and Yuri Rashkin - they are a bit short of appreciating real workers. I was a union member at 16 before I had a driver's license. Yes, I am a real worker.
Mar 13, 2012 at 10:28 a.m.
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Gandy -- I am hoping that you will understand this and not take this as a negative comment -- but what you are seeing from many is not that people dont value the work, but when the balance of private vs public employees and benefits is not on par or at least the perception, and then you see the type of protests seen coupled by the national protests and specifically the type of protests, people lose respect for the protestors, and it primarily is the methods, which overshadow any message.
Personally -- my experience which is specific in nature has shown me that some public employees (mainly federal) are extremely over compensated vs private. WHen it comes to state employees, there is a very wide spectrum, some very over compensated and some under compensated. Which leads me to the conclusion that the unions are not accomplishing what they have promised for state public workers as there is a fairly wide disparity. My perception is that the union leaders are in survival mode to retain their power and financial resources. These are just observations and conclusions.
I have also seen disparity at the local level that sometimes is illogical.
Mar 13, 2012 at 10 a.m.
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roco, that is disgusting. Are you ashamed of that comment after reflection?
Mar 13, 2012 at 7:40 a.m.
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public parasite's? Robochick I really hope you get injured in a car wreck and those police officers, EMT and firefighters provide you the care you deserve after calling them parasites. If the person who hits you happens to be a drunk driver, I'm sure the parasite prosecutor's will work overtime for you, since you value public employees so much.
Mar 13, 2012 at 4 a.m.
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This is like biting the hand that feeds you. Public employees parasite off of the taxpayers money, and then protest against the taxpayers' system that gives them a free ride. How ironic is that.
Mar 12, 2012 at 9:14 p.m.
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I'm not even going to bring up the death threats against the state senators and thier families, or the trashing of the Special Olympics, or giving Nazi salutes at a veterans ceremony, or terrifying the Governors' children at their family home....I'm just going to focus on the past month:
Attacking WWII Vets and trying to prevent them from entering their fundraising dinner in Beloit;
trying to get a part-time custodial worker fired for having a Walker sign in her car;
using a leftist radical Dane County Judge to try to overturn the will of the people in Voter ID;
trashing thousands of good paying mining-related jobs for Wisconsin families in order to vent their hate for Gov. Walker.
You lefties are going to get your recall charade..and the people of Wisconsin are going to eliminate the liberal democratic party once and for all.
Mar 12, 2012 at 8:17 p.m.
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totellthetruth: I'm an teacher unionist and have no idea what you are talking about with your MA theory. Wow! Conspiracy theory.
Mar 12, 2012 at 7:44 p.m.
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Having the rally on a Sunday saved the taxpayer thousands of dollars in sick pay for public union represented employees that would have called-in sick and abandonned their students just to go belly-ache in public..
Mar 12, 2012 at 7:10 p.m.
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RichE95 so what do you consider real work? Sitting behind a desk?
Mar 12, 2012 at 4:55 p.m.
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Good Comment bowlgal. You have identified the simple truth that union hacks and their political pals (Cullen etc.) have no regard for those of us who do the real work. They are only interested in power and padding their own wallets.
Mar 12, 2012 at 4:27 p.m.
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I wonder if the private unions that were thrown under the bus by the Democrats joined this protest? I highly doubt it.
We now have seen the Democrats are more then happy to play politics then fight for workers of Wisconsin.
Mar 12, 2012 at 4:26 p.m.
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What the liberals and unionistas prove is their lack of respect for the Democratic process when election results go against them. 9 Million Dollars for the ridiculous recall - think how many people that money could have helped. The intolerant left will wind up in the ash bin of history.
Mar 12, 2012 at 4:06 p.m.
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What a bunch of whiners. Deal with it, you lost. I stand with Walker but don't waste taxpayer money by protesting and trashing the Capitol resulting in cleanup costs and overtime for police and staff. Reject the recall!
Mar 12, 2012 at 3:48 p.m.
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Steve Woodstock-I got news for you-You are part of the 1%er's.
Mar 12, 2012 at 3:17 p.m.
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Wow- so they didn't "skip" school this time??
Mar 12, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.
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Go home- don't you have work to do???
Mar 12, 2012 at 12:47 p.m.
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Webster's definition of a patriot is one who is faithful to his country. Marching at the state capital without fear of retribution for more taxpayer funded benefits sullies the term patriot in my opinion. Bully may be the more appropriate term.
Mar 12, 2012 at 12:11 p.m.
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officerfriendly1, thank you! DONE
Mar 12, 2012 at 11:56 a.m.
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I said it before...Gov. Walker is like a breath of fresh air.......straight out of the 1950's. Once we were a progressive state on the cutting edge of the future. Now we are regressing, and not for the better. AND WALKER DID NOT BALANCE THE BUDGET BY ELIMINATING UNION POWER.
Mar 12, 2012 at 10:47 a.m.
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Let me add my voice of support for our courageous Governor. Once in a great while a public figure steps up to the plate to restore fiscal sanity. It is only natural that the intolerant totalitarian inspired liberals and union hacks will try to demonize responsibility. We may well be on the same road with the Federal government. Obama is bankrupting the country and someday someone will have to step up and bring about reform. Watch the liberals and the unions demonize that future President.
Mar 12, 2012 at 9:55 a.m.
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VOTE Walker OUT OUT OUT He has destroyed this State and it is Time to Get on with the recall election as more then a Million says so..
Mar 12, 2012 at 8:47 a.m.
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gbwbill
Only to the Socialist and Marxist crowds.
*SOCIALISTS IN WISCONSIN REVOLUTION*
http://youtu.be/d_ik0m_Ep_E
Mar 12, 2012 at 8:44 a.m.
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The Journal Sentinel paper this morning took the position that Walker cannot be blamed for the poor jobs situation in Wisconsin. They did include a different opinion blaming Walker. Either way, those effected by his cut to prosperity system showed up in Madison, and hopefully in June to the ballot box. Well done and stay strong!
Mar 12, 2012 at 8:36 a.m.
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These people who went to the Capitol are the real patriots! God bless them!
Mar 12, 2012 at 8:06 a.m.
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I'm embarrassed that anyone would even participate in something like this. I am proud to stand by Scott Walker and what he has done. The unions better watch out, the silent majority are coming in June.
Mar 12, 2012 at 6:40 a.m.
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Actions speak louder than words...we have seen an entire year of what democrats (unions) are all about.
I would like to see the final tally of the past year that the democrats/unions have cost the rest of Wisconsin workers and residents. Meanwhile, they continue to lament THEIR loss of entitlements.
Walker Recall Crowd Promotes Redistribution of Wealth, Global Tax
"In case you thought the effort to recall Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is really about Wisconsin, think again. The AFL-CIO and Canadian unions have been criss-crossing the state and brought up issues such as the redistribution of wealth and an international transaction tax."
http://youtu.be/L1ZGudEtKB0
Mar 12, 2012 at 1:27 a.m.
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toasty2k...nice to see someone telling it. As for the the quote, “I tell you what, I got a darned good pension because of it, and I think everybody should have one,” Selck said.---How would the people of Wisconsin pay for all of that Mr. Selck????
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As for, "Roger Anclam, a retired UAW General Motors worker and chairman of the Turtle Town Board, said he was upset that Walker made changes without allowing input from the other side."---You can't talk to the bureaucrats and union thugs. They refuse to be reasonable, and the conservatives in this state know it, so they made the move they had to.
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The people of this nation, including the people unknowingly getting sucked into the propaganda, have been allowing for too much push and leverage from the union affiliations and tax-based spend-all types in our government...for too long. Walker is being attacked from all directions because special interests groups, even more "evil" than his own, are at stake here. I hope Wisconsin citizens are intelligent enough to separate this and keep Walker as our Governor. I am paying more now for my retirement, and I am happy to help with my part to balance the budget.
Mar 11, 2012 at 11:43 p.m.
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Scotty has not even balanced the budget -- the whole ruse for the rammed through legislation. He's taking the money from the settlement for mortgage foreclosed victims to help -- and only help -- balance the budget. The American dream for the middle class is going down the toilet thanks to the likes of Scotty and the Fitzgeralds.
Mar 11, 2012 at 10:38 p.m.
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First of all, We have already Reclaimed Wisconsin when we elected Walker as Governor and will re-affirm that in June. Secondly, as a life long resident of Turtle Township my family doesn't support that union socialist puppet Anclam. The fleecing of the majority of the working force bu Unions are over!
Mar 11, 2012 at 10:18 p.m.
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wow yuri got 5 ppl to sign
Mar 11, 2012 at 9:42 p.m.
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What a waste of time. Oh, I have nothing to do today so guess I will go up to the bubble and walk around.
Mar 11, 2012 at 9:32 p.m.
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It was an inspiring event to attend. Another gathering of like-minded citizens who will not just roll over. Many failed to vote in the last election. Many who did, will be changing their vote in the recall.
Mar 11, 2012 at 8:37 p.m.
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Good thing those republicans stand by their votes, so they know come election time they're fired.
Mar 11, 2012 at 6:19 p.m.
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Thanks for your support, Roger Anclam. On to Joe Knilans, I would expect him to be a one termer. We have not went away, have we Walker?
Mar 11, 2012 at 5:16 p.m.
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Kathleen Falk and Kathleen Falk signed the same petitition.
http://images.iverifytherecall.com/image...
Mar 11, 2012 at 4:55 p.m.
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Dave Salck and Yuri Rashkin signed the same petition.
http://images.iverifytherecall.com/image...
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