Walker wins one for Wisconsin taxpayers

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has won a rare victory for taxpayers. Americans take note: the monopoly power of government unions can be broken.

How genuine were Democrats and union leaders about compromise? You decide. After the 2010 election the lame duck Democrat-controlled legislature and governor tried to ram bloated union contracts through before Governor Walker and a Republican legislature took office.

There is no excuse for union bosses who throw employees under the bus. Last year the Milwaukee teachers’ union sued the school board to keep Viagra in their health insurance plans at $800,000 a year, while teachers faced layoffs.

In the 2010 election union membership split their votes between Republican and Democrat candidates but union leadership spent 93% of their funds - $200 million - to defeat candidates half their membership voted for.

Simple truth: union bosses are apoplectic because members’ dues will not be automatically collected and plowed back into politics. Union members are free to direct their political contributions. They may also revisit their decision to unionize.

Imagine attempting to undo an election by staging protests in the Capital building, intimidation and death threats. In Wisconsin it’s a shameless tantrum against the will of the people.