Scott Walker Gives 218 State Workers $765,000 In Bonuses and Raises After Public Workers Took Cuts

Laura Clawson on Fri Apr 20, 2012

Wisconsin's budget crisis was so severe that, according to Gov. Scott Walker, pay cuts for public workers across the state were an absolute must. Pay cuts for rank-and-file public workers, that is. For teachers and librarians and snowplow drivers and custodians. The state's managers and lawyers, though, are a different story:

An analysis of data The Associated Press obtained through an open records request showed Wisconsin agencies have handed out more than $765,000 in bonuses and merit raises this year to nearly 220 employees.

The money was awarded under a program former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle suspended but Walker reinstated last year.

That includes nearly $300,000 in raises and bonuses to staff at the Department of Justice, which had previously tried to cut its Sexual Assault Victim Services program's grants by 42.5 percent for budgetary reasons. Assistant Attorney General Maria Lazar and Deputy Attorney General Kevin St. John got raises of $3,000 and $5,000.

The Republican governor's top aide, Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch, said Walker brought the program back because he felt it was important to mirror the private sector and provide rewards for outstanding work.

Scott Walker is literally, explicitly promoting two different systems for public workers: If you're already high up the food chain, you should be eligible for more, regardless of the state's budget situation. If you're just another worker making sure kids are educated or streets are safe, you should face cuts and be blamed for budget problems.

Make a $5 donation to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin to help defeat Scott Walker.

^{Originally posted to Daily Kos Labor}

Technorati Tags: Scott Walker,Wisconsin,Labor,Budget Cuts,Current Events

Friday Funnies: Early Edition

  Another week of only the best stand-up comedy from the Republican Comedy Club.

Conan O'Brien: "Did you hear how they caught those Secret Service agents with prostitutes in Colombia? Apparently the men were walking around wearing nothing but their sunglasses and those earpieces."

"Mitt Romney has already begun the process of choosing a running mate. Romney wants someone with a different ethnicity who appeals to women, so his first choice is President Obama."

"Today Newt Gingrich is blaming the failure of his presidential campaign on Fox News. Newt's also blaming the failure of his diet on Cinnabon.”

–Stephen Colbert: "The Democrats accuse the Republicans of launching a war on women. Then the Republicans accuse the Democrats of the same thing. At this point, who can remember who enacted reproductive health restrictions in 36 states including mandatory transvaginal ultrasounds?"

Jimmy Kim

mel: "At the St. Louis Zoo, Newt Gingrich got too close to one of the animals and was bit on the hand by a penguin. If you're named after a lizard, you have to assume birds are going to try to eat you."

"There's certainly nothing fun about paying taxes, but you have to remember... all the money goes to a good cause, like paying the salaries of the meter maids who give you our parking tickets, and keeping welfare checks going to the Octomom, and important things like that."

Bill Maher: "New Jersey Mayor Corey Booker last night personally rescued a woman from a burning building. Or as Fox News reported it, ‘black man loots house, steals white woman.’"

"It's that time of year again, April 15, taxes. I know it's depressing, but just remember, you're paying for roads, bridges, hospitals, and an army to keep the nation free. Unfortunately that nation is Afghanistan."

"Speaking of problems taking care of itself, Rick Santorum dropped out of the race. Rick dropped out, but said he was going to keep fighting against liberalism, against secularism, and against the urge to blow Jon Hamm."

Jay Leno: "President Obama released his tax returns. It turns out he made $900,000 less in 2011 then he did in 2010. You know what that means? Even Obama is doing worse under President Obama."

Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney,Republicans,Newt Gingrich,Rick Santorum,Late Night Talk,Political Humor,Conan O'Brian,Bill Maher,Current Events