If Walker Did it, Why Won't You?

Senator Lieu, I believe that one of the largest and most protracted obstacles to budget reform in the state of California is the public sector union lobby. Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin, with his determined party caucus, passed budget reform and limits to public sector unions' collective bargaining rights. The state of California must invest in implementing similar measures quickly if the state every hopes to recover from the economic malaise sickening the state.

I am aware that service unions, public works associations, and peace officer unions have quite a strong hold on the levers of power in Sacramento.

I am also well aware that the number one goal of a legislator is to get reelected. The voters in this state are growing tired of legislators who pay attention to interest groups, not the best interests of the state and her citizens.

The taxpayers in the state of California deserve a legislature that responds to the needs of everyone, born and naturalized. The votes, the committees, the money that goes into Sacramento must be diverted to supplying the well-being of everyone.

We have schools in disrepair, we have roads crumbling under the weight of increasing traffic without proper reparation, and we see the business climate improving at an anemic pace, too slow to generate adequate job growth.

The power of the public unions has frozen the freedom of the legislature to enact fiscally responsible decisions which would benefit everyone in the State of California. The time is now for the legislature to begin enacting right to work laws, voluntary dues for union members, and an end to the power to strike during labor disagreements.

The public employees in this state have every right to form associations and discuss the needs of their members. However, the union leadership and the Establishment elements in the Democratic party have betrayed a blatant disregard for the growing issues except sound fiscal policy and limited government.

California was the golden state when miners streamed across the country looking for wealth. She can be a prosperous state again, but not if one section of the public sector is permitted to live without reason or regard off of the rest of the state and her residents. If the leadership in the Dairy State could pull off the necessary limits on state power, then what is preventing you and your progressive minded colleagues in Sacramento from pursuing the same policies?