Last night, I had a conversation with Leah's Dad. He is a lawyer, and worked for the legislature for a long time. I asked him some questions about the current stuff, and here's some useful bits:
1) Clarification: this is the Budget Repair Plan. The stipulations regarding pension, health insurance, furlough (no additional), etc, are until the end of this biennium (June 30). Obviously, the parts about collective bargaining, changing Medicaid, etc, will still affect the next biennium (and the one after, and the one after)
Walker has not yet unveiled his budget plan; we should look for it at the end of this month, or the beginning of next. The things that are promised now, may not be part of that plan.
What this probably means is that we won't have to take MORE furlough that we are currently supposed to, through the end of the FY, but next FY, who knows how much we'll be required to take.
2) As far as we know, any money that has already been put in the pension system (for example, if you are an LTE) remains there.
3) March 13th (aka, contract termination day): Walker may not have the right to cancel our contracts effective March 13. The way contracts work is that the terms of the previous contract apply until a new one is signed. So, this will probably get challenged. Because of this, it is EXTRA IMPORTANT to go vote tomorrow, and get Prosser off the Supreme Court!
In the meantime, if we are without a contract, that makes us at-will employees. It is not clear who will have the power to fire - it may be the "agency head" (confusing for teachers - is that the superintendent? the principal? the school board?), or it may be Walker, or something in between.
4) The effect on local governments is going to be HUGE. City of Madison employees, and Dane County employees, have already signed 4 year contracts. If this Budget Repair Plan passes, the state will not be required to fund local governments at the same rate that they have been....but these local governments will be locked into paying based on the terms of the contracts. (For example, the state may only give Madison X amount for staff health insurance, since employees are now supposed to contribute a larger percentage...but Madison can't just switch out of its contract, so it will take the hit)
5) There will be a public hearing tomorrow at 10am, on the 4th floor of the Capital. Go, get there early. Speak if you want - keep it very brief. Put your comments in writing so they can be entered into the official record.
6) No one seems to really know what the Health Risk Assessments are, but they probably can't charge different rates for individuals depending on their health. However, it does seem like they are going to be trying to cut health insurance costs, which may be less comprehensive coverage.
7) Leah's Dad says, as a parent "be careful". Don't get too visible; we don't really know what's happening, don't jeopardize your job.
8) There was an article in the Wisconsin State Journal yesterday that tracked the history of unions, especially public employee unions, in Wisconsin. Read it. Familiarize yourself with it. We're a state of firsts, and that can be used in the argument against this bill.
In conclusion: go to the hearing tomorrow, go to the rally tomorrow, go lobby tomorrow, go VOTE tomorrow.
Note: this is NOT legal advice. I may have transcribed things wrong, and he was not giving me the legal answer to these things, just what people seem to be able to tell so far.
1) Clarification: this is the Budget Repair Plan. The stipulations regarding pension, health insurance, furlough (no additional), etc, are until the end of this biennium (June 30). Obviously, the parts about collective bargaining, changing Medicaid, etc, will still affect the next biennium (and the one after, and the one after)
Walker has not yet unveiled his budget plan; we should look for it at the end of this month, or the beginning of next. The things that are promised now, may not be part of that plan.
What this probably means is that we won't have to take MORE furlough that we are currently supposed to, through the end of the FY, but next FY, who knows how much we'll be required to take.
2) As far as we know, any money that has already been put in the pension system (for example, if you are an LTE) remains there.
3) March 13th (aka, contract termination day): Walker may not have the right to cancel our contracts effective March 13. The way contracts work is that the terms of the previous contract apply until a new one is signed. So, this will probably get challenged. Because of this, it is EXTRA IMPORTANT to go vote tomorrow, and get Prosser off the Supreme Court!
In the meantime, if we are without a contract, that makes us at-will employees. It is not clear who will have the power to fire - it may be the "agency head" (confusing for teachers - is that the superintendent? the principal? the school board?), or it may be Walker, or something in between.
4) The effect on local governments is going to be HUGE. City of Madison employees, and Dane County employees, have already signed 4 year contracts. If this Budget Repair Plan passes, the state will not be required to fund local governments at the same rate that they have been....but these local governments will be locked into paying based on the terms of the contracts. (For example, the state may only give Madison X amount for staff health insurance, since employees are now supposed to contribute a larger percentage...but Madison can't just switch out of its contract, so it will take the hit)
5) There will be a public hearing tomorrow at 10am, on the 4th floor of the Capital. Go, get there early. Speak if you want - keep it very brief. Put your comments in writing so they can be entered into the official record.
6) No one seems to really know what the Health Risk Assessments are, but they probably can't charge different rates for individuals depending on their health. However, it does seem like they are going to be trying to cut health insurance costs, which may be less comprehensive coverage.
7) Leah's Dad says, as a parent "be careful". Don't get too visible; we don't really know what's happening, don't jeopardize your job.
8) There was an article in the Wisconsin State Journal yesterday that tracked the history of unions, especially public employee unions, in Wisconsin. Read it. Familiarize yourself with it. We're a state of firsts, and that can be used in the argument against this bill.
In conclusion: go to the hearing tomorrow, go to the rally tomorrow, go lobby tomorrow, go VOTE tomorrow.
Note: this is NOT legal advice. I may have transcribed things wrong, and he was not giving me the legal answer to these things, just what people seem to be able to tell so far.
No comments:
Post a Comment