Wisconsin’s Budget Battle
Madison Asian American groups weigh in
Madison Asian American groups weigh in
| Laura Salinger |
By Laura Salinger
Wisconsin, sadly, is currently home to a whole lot of political rancor and divisiveness amongst
usually good natured Wisconsin residents. The root cause, of course, is the Budget Repair Bill
(and variations of) and the extreme politics playing out at the Capitol. There has been
substantial public outcry against the bill. There have also been those (dubbed the “silent
majority” by Governor Scott Walker) supporting the Budget Repair Bill, the governor, and
Republican lawmakers. So where do Asian American groups and leaders in the Madison area
stand on the issue? Those who have weighed in are pretty strong in their convictions.
Madison City Council hopeful (18th District) Peng Her gave a statement to Asian Wisconzine,
which summarizes his position. Below is a portion of that:
Wisconsin, sadly, is currently home to a whole lot of political rancor and divisiveness amongst
usually good natured Wisconsin residents. The root cause, of course, is the Budget Repair Bill
(and variations of) and the extreme politics playing out at the Capitol. There has been
substantial public outcry against the bill. There have also been those (dubbed the “silent
majority” by Governor Scott Walker) supporting the Budget Repair Bill, the governor, and
Republican lawmakers. So where do Asian American groups and leaders in the Madison area
stand on the issue? Those who have weighed in are pretty strong in their convictions.
Madison City Council hopeful (18th District) Peng Her gave a statement to Asian Wisconzine,
which summarizes his position. Below is a portion of that:
“First I would like to start off by stating that the claim by Walker that Wisconsin is BROKE and we
have a $4 billion shortfall is absolutely false. Even Scott Walker has publically said it’s a red
herring…He used this scare tactic to introduce his Budget Repair Bill/Budget Bill and many people
believe we are broke and need to get rid of collective bargaining. “Union Busting” has divided this
State like nothing I have seen before. It has pitted neighbors against neighbors, customers against
retailers, and parents against teachers.”
Peng Her, a former business owner and executive director of a non-profit, says he is quite familiar
with balancing budgets. He goes on to say:
“Scott Walker is using an old accounting gimmick to give the false impression that we have a $4
billion deficit. What Walker has done is added both the cost to continue and cost to implement new
initiatives budget requests from departments and compared the sum of both these two requests to
projected income revenue for 2011-2013. Of course, this would show a huge deficit because you
are now combining two budget requests to one income revenue. Even the Legislative Fiscal
Bureau, a nonpartisan department, has stated there is no budget crisis. In fact, the Fiscal Bureau
is predicting a surplus if the economy continues to improve as it has been.”
On education vs. corporate tax breaks, Peng Her concludes:
“What really bothers me about the Budget Bill are the cuts to our education and to the most
vulnerable in our State. Walker claims he wants to make Wisconsin more competitive to attract
business to Wisconsin but by reducing funding to schools, he, in fact, is doing the opposite.
Studies show the number one reason businesses choose a state to relocate, is not because of tax
incentives a State will give them, but how well-educated the residents are. Businesses want
have a $4 billion shortfall is absolutely false. Even Scott Walker has publically said it’s a red
herring…He used this scare tactic to introduce his Budget Repair Bill/Budget Bill and many people
believe we are broke and need to get rid of collective bargaining. “Union Busting” has divided this
State like nothing I have seen before. It has pitted neighbors against neighbors, customers against
retailers, and parents against teachers.”
Peng Her, a former business owner and executive director of a non-profit, says he is quite familiar
with balancing budgets. He goes on to say:
“Scott Walker is using an old accounting gimmick to give the false impression that we have a $4
billion deficit. What Walker has done is added both the cost to continue and cost to implement new
initiatives budget requests from departments and compared the sum of both these two requests to
projected income revenue for 2011-2013. Of course, this would show a huge deficit because you
are now combining two budget requests to one income revenue. Even the Legislative Fiscal
Bureau, a nonpartisan department, has stated there is no budget crisis. In fact, the Fiscal Bureau
is predicting a surplus if the economy continues to improve as it has been.”
On education vs. corporate tax breaks, Peng Her concludes:
“What really bothers me about the Budget Bill are the cuts to our education and to the most
vulnerable in our State. Walker claims he wants to make Wisconsin more competitive to attract
business to Wisconsin but by reducing funding to schools, he, in fact, is doing the opposite.
Studies show the number one reason businesses choose a state to relocate, is not because of tax
incentives a State will give them, but how well-educated the residents are. Businesses want
Peng Her
Sharyl Kato
educated people working for them because they want competent employees… (Moreover), by reducing funding to schools
we run the risk of weakening our education system because our best teachers will go elsewhere to teach, we will have
larger class sizes, less focus on value added learning and more on teaching kids to past standardized tests, and the racial
disparity gap will only widen.”
On his hopes for the future, Peng Her says this:
“My hopes for the future of Wisconsin and Madison is that the recent events at the Capitol-Walker’s Budget Repair Bill and
Budget Bill; the way in which our elected officials have been acting to stifle open government, and stifle open discussion
and debate; and elected officials seeing themselves as above the law and trying to circumvent the law-will cause voters to
stop and think how important voting is…
“Lastly, I hope Wisconsinites will realize that in order for Democracy to work, we must be willing to work for Democracy.
Many of us need to heed the call to serve our state and run for elected office. I truly believe that there are many smart men
and women in our state that should give a few years out of their life to offer their expertise to make this state and city great
again. To show the Nation that the recent political strife at the Capitol is not the Democracy of Bob La Follette and the
Wisconsin Idea and that Wisconsin is still the "laboratory for democracy" in which ordinary citizens can make a difference
by running for office.”
Peng Her also advises voters to come informed to polling places: do your research and know your candidates.
April 5th will give Wisconsin voters the first opportunity, since the introduction of the Budget Repair Bill, to have their voices
heard. Prominent Madison area Asian Americans (nearly 30 of them) signed on to endorse JoAnne Kloppenburg for
Supreme Court in the highly contested race between her and Justice David Prosser. The undersigned include non-profit
directors, UW-Madison faculty and staff, a publisher, a columnist, business leaders and Asian Americans who are very
active in their community in various ways. This is what they have to say.
“Wisconsin needs independent, impartial courts and judges that adhere to the principle that our laws exist to improve the
lives of ALL people in every community of our state. The 2010 census data show that Wisconsin’s population is growing
increasingly diverse. For example, during this period the state’s Asian and Pacific Islander population grew by 45 percent.
On April 5th, we must vote for a Supreme Court candidate who will insure our highest court serves today’s Wisconsin.
“JoAnne Kloppenburg is dedicated to assuring that every Wisconsin resident has equal access to their fair day in court. As
clear evidence of her commitment to open-mindedness and fairness, JoAnne’s primary campaign was funded solely
through public financing. In contrast, the Wisconsin Club for Growth, a major backer of Governor Walker’s campaign to take
collective bargaining rights away from Wisconsin public employees, spent $400,000 to support the campaign of JoAnne’s
opponent, Justice David Prosser.
“JoAnne Kloppenburg is not a politician. She is an experienced, well regarded lawyer with a nonpartisan record who is
devoted to insuring equal opportunity for ALL individuals. In contrast, Justice Prosser, a former legislator, said early in his
campaign that his aim was to protect the current conservative judicial majority on the court and act as a complement to the
administration of Governor Walker and the new Republican legislative majority. Justice Prosser’s record includes casting
a vote to block Justice Gableman’s prosecution for election campaign activities that the Wisconsin Judicial Commission
determined to be a violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct.
“Consider that Governor Walker has just dismantled the ability of Wisconsin public employees to collectively bargain. The
public employment sector historically has provided many job opportunities with decent wages and benefits to minority
individuals, so the Governor’s action will disproportionately harm them. So would other policies that are being proposed
with the support of the Governor and Republican legislators, like the Voter ID bill and Arizona-style anti-immigration
legislation that would legitimize racial profiling.
“Policies like these that restrict rights of ordinary Wisconsin residents are certain to be challenged in our courts. We need
our courts to provide checks and balances against ideological excesses of the executive and legislative branches. JoAnne
Kloppenburg stands for judicial independence and fair and equal treatment for all, not just the wealthy and powerful.
“Wealthy corporate interests stand ready to spend large sums to support Justice Prosser, just as they did during the
primary. The only way to counter this is to go to the polls—and get as many friends, relatives and colleagues as you can to
go to the polls—on April 5th and vote for JoAnne Kloppenburg for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. If we elect JoAnne, we will
assure that our highest court will add a justice who understands and welcomes the aspirations of all Wisconsinites for full
civic and economic participation in the Wisconsin way of life.”
Sharyl Kato, who runs a child and family counseling and resource clinic-The Rainbow Project-signed the above
endorsement and added:
“Both the bill and actions (at the capitol) are the wrong way for any state…Turning back the clock several decades to
disempower labor and public sector workers bargaining power is not the solution. Although union practice of protecting
incompetent performance needs serious change, it does not mean we should do away with what I see as the heart of
collective bargaining and that is to ensure balance, fairness and equity.”
Kato says her father was a union carpenter for 30 years and without the union would have missed out on numerous
benefits that have now become norm in both the private and public sector thanks to labor movements. This includes
vacations, reasonable work hours, overtime limits, and health insurance options. She also worries that increased
privatization of services will affect the diversity of workforces. She adds, “The process of participation in developing
solutions has always been at the heart of democracy.”
Lynet Uttal (director of UW-Madison’s Asian American Studies Program), who signed the Kloppenburg endorsement, also
released a statement (letters of support at www.defendwisconsin.org) on Feb 26 on behalf on the UW-Madison Asian
American Studies program. Here is a portion of what they had to say:
“The faculty and staff members of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Asian American Studies Program stand in solidarity
with state workers and UW teaching assistants (TAs), research assistants (RAs) and project assistants (PAs), and the
Teaching Assistants’ Association (TAA). Governor Walker’s proposed budget repair bill would adversely affect all public
employees by eliminating the right to unionize. And we are especially concerned about the harmful impact this bill would
have on our graduate students and other state workers who would lose the right to collective bargaining.
The University of Wisconsin graduate TAs work for very low wages, teaching hundreds of sections and classes. RAs and
PAs are indispensable to the research that principle investigators are doing, to program support, as well as community
outreach projects. Our own program is highly dependent on our PA. These positions are also an important part of their
own professional development and supporting their education. Without their commitment to undergraduate education,
community outreach, and program development, the University would not be able to uphold its high standards, indeed
would not be able to function adequately at all. INDEED IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FUNCTION AT ALL because they are
integral mechanism in the running of this university. This bill would eliminate their right to unionize, a right which they have
exercised responsibly over the years. We already know that they are underpaid for what they do; to take away their collective
bargaining rights would be salt in an existing wound.”
I do want to end with this disclaimer; I did research to look for open letters of support for Governor Walker and the Budget
Bill by Asian American groups in Wisconsin (I spent more time on this actually) and reached out to Asian American leaders
who tend to be more conservative. My efforts were fruitless. Maybe they are part of this silent majority? Well, they are silent.
Whether those in support are the majority or not, remains to be seen.
we run the risk of weakening our education system because our best teachers will go elsewhere to teach, we will have
larger class sizes, less focus on value added learning and more on teaching kids to past standardized tests, and the racial
disparity gap will only widen.”
On his hopes for the future, Peng Her says this:
“My hopes for the future of Wisconsin and Madison is that the recent events at the Capitol-Walker’s Budget Repair Bill and
Budget Bill; the way in which our elected officials have been acting to stifle open government, and stifle open discussion
and debate; and elected officials seeing themselves as above the law and trying to circumvent the law-will cause voters to
stop and think how important voting is…
“Lastly, I hope Wisconsinites will realize that in order for Democracy to work, we must be willing to work for Democracy.
Many of us need to heed the call to serve our state and run for elected office. I truly believe that there are many smart men
and women in our state that should give a few years out of their life to offer their expertise to make this state and city great
again. To show the Nation that the recent political strife at the Capitol is not the Democracy of Bob La Follette and the
Wisconsin Idea and that Wisconsin is still the "laboratory for democracy" in which ordinary citizens can make a difference
by running for office.”
Peng Her also advises voters to come informed to polling places: do your research and know your candidates.
April 5th will give Wisconsin voters the first opportunity, since the introduction of the Budget Repair Bill, to have their voices
heard. Prominent Madison area Asian Americans (nearly 30 of them) signed on to endorse JoAnne Kloppenburg for
Supreme Court in the highly contested race between her and Justice David Prosser. The undersigned include non-profit
directors, UW-Madison faculty and staff, a publisher, a columnist, business leaders and Asian Americans who are very
active in their community in various ways. This is what they have to say.
“Wisconsin needs independent, impartial courts and judges that adhere to the principle that our laws exist to improve the
lives of ALL people in every community of our state. The 2010 census data show that Wisconsin’s population is growing
increasingly diverse. For example, during this period the state’s Asian and Pacific Islander population grew by 45 percent.
On April 5th, we must vote for a Supreme Court candidate who will insure our highest court serves today’s Wisconsin.
“JoAnne Kloppenburg is dedicated to assuring that every Wisconsin resident has equal access to their fair day in court. As
clear evidence of her commitment to open-mindedness and fairness, JoAnne’s primary campaign was funded solely
through public financing. In contrast, the Wisconsin Club for Growth, a major backer of Governor Walker’s campaign to take
collective bargaining rights away from Wisconsin public employees, spent $400,000 to support the campaign of JoAnne’s
opponent, Justice David Prosser.
“JoAnne Kloppenburg is not a politician. She is an experienced, well regarded lawyer with a nonpartisan record who is
devoted to insuring equal opportunity for ALL individuals. In contrast, Justice Prosser, a former legislator, said early in his
campaign that his aim was to protect the current conservative judicial majority on the court and act as a complement to the
administration of Governor Walker and the new Republican legislative majority. Justice Prosser’s record includes casting
a vote to block Justice Gableman’s prosecution for election campaign activities that the Wisconsin Judicial Commission
determined to be a violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct.
“Consider that Governor Walker has just dismantled the ability of Wisconsin public employees to collectively bargain. The
public employment sector historically has provided many job opportunities with decent wages and benefits to minority
individuals, so the Governor’s action will disproportionately harm them. So would other policies that are being proposed
with the support of the Governor and Republican legislators, like the Voter ID bill and Arizona-style anti-immigration
legislation that would legitimize racial profiling.
“Policies like these that restrict rights of ordinary Wisconsin residents are certain to be challenged in our courts. We need
our courts to provide checks and balances against ideological excesses of the executive and legislative branches. JoAnne
Kloppenburg stands for judicial independence and fair and equal treatment for all, not just the wealthy and powerful.
“Wealthy corporate interests stand ready to spend large sums to support Justice Prosser, just as they did during the
primary. The only way to counter this is to go to the polls—and get as many friends, relatives and colleagues as you can to
go to the polls—on April 5th and vote for JoAnne Kloppenburg for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. If we elect JoAnne, we will
assure that our highest court will add a justice who understands and welcomes the aspirations of all Wisconsinites for full
civic and economic participation in the Wisconsin way of life.”
Sharyl Kato, who runs a child and family counseling and resource clinic-The Rainbow Project-signed the above
endorsement and added:
“Both the bill and actions (at the capitol) are the wrong way for any state…Turning back the clock several decades to
disempower labor and public sector workers bargaining power is not the solution. Although union practice of protecting
incompetent performance needs serious change, it does not mean we should do away with what I see as the heart of
collective bargaining and that is to ensure balance, fairness and equity.”
Kato says her father was a union carpenter for 30 years and without the union would have missed out on numerous
benefits that have now become norm in both the private and public sector thanks to labor movements. This includes
vacations, reasonable work hours, overtime limits, and health insurance options. She also worries that increased
privatization of services will affect the diversity of workforces. She adds, “The process of participation in developing
solutions has always been at the heart of democracy.”
Lynet Uttal (director of UW-Madison’s Asian American Studies Program), who signed the Kloppenburg endorsement, also
released a statement (letters of support at www.defendwisconsin.org) on Feb 26 on behalf on the UW-Madison Asian
American Studies program. Here is a portion of what they had to say:
“The faculty and staff members of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Asian American Studies Program stand in solidarity
with state workers and UW teaching assistants (TAs), research assistants (RAs) and project assistants (PAs), and the
Teaching Assistants’ Association (TAA). Governor Walker’s proposed budget repair bill would adversely affect all public
employees by eliminating the right to unionize. And we are especially concerned about the harmful impact this bill would
have on our graduate students and other state workers who would lose the right to collective bargaining.
The University of Wisconsin graduate TAs work for very low wages, teaching hundreds of sections and classes. RAs and
PAs are indispensable to the research that principle investigators are doing, to program support, as well as community
outreach projects. Our own program is highly dependent on our PA. These positions are also an important part of their
own professional development and supporting their education. Without their commitment to undergraduate education,
community outreach, and program development, the University would not be able to uphold its high standards, indeed
would not be able to function adequately at all. INDEED IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FUNCTION AT ALL because they are
integral mechanism in the running of this university. This bill would eliminate their right to unionize, a right which they have
exercised responsibly over the years. We already know that they are underpaid for what they do; to take away their collective
bargaining rights would be salt in an existing wound.”
I do want to end with this disclaimer; I did research to look for open letters of support for Governor Walker and the Budget
Bill by Asian American groups in Wisconsin (I spent more time on this actually) and reached out to Asian American leaders
who tend to be more conservative. My efforts were fruitless. Maybe they are part of this silent majority? Well, they are silent.
Whether those in support are the majority or not, remains to be seen.
Bangladeshi Statement in Support for Wisconsin Workers
While those weighing in on the Budget Bill and Governor Scott Walker are prominent in Wisconsin. The global
outreach as been astounding. From England to Australia to all over the United States, letters of support for
Wisconsin workers have come pouring in. Here is one from Bangladesh that can be found at www.
defendwisconsin.org. From Bangladeshi Trade Unionists (undersigned by Amirul Haque Amin, President of the
National Garment Workers Federation):
“We stand in solidarity with the workers in the United States resisting the assaults on their rights. We applaud the
workers in Wisconsin, Ohio and elsewhere who have taken to the streets and Capitols to reject the attempts to
deny them of their rights to collectively bargain, and to decide on the conditions of their labor. Their resistance has
been inspirational to the labor movement and to working people all over the globe.
“Further, we reject attempts by governments to balance budgets at the expense of working people. These are
clearly attempts by the owning class and their allies to weaken the labor movement, which has historically been
the counter-balance to the power of big business and their control, not only of economic power, but also political
power. We also reject efforts by governments and business groups to split the working class, either by
distinguishing between public sector and private sector, or American, foreign, or immigrant workers. This division
only serves the interests of big business. We wholeheartedly support the statement “an injury to one is an injury
to all.” Only through a strong working class movement can we defend against the current assaults on working
people all over the globe.”
While those weighing in on the Budget Bill and Governor Scott Walker are prominent in Wisconsin. The global
outreach as been astounding. From England to Australia to all over the United States, letters of support for
Wisconsin workers have come pouring in. Here is one from Bangladesh that can be found at www.
defendwisconsin.org. From Bangladeshi Trade Unionists (undersigned by Amirul Haque Amin, President of the
National Garment Workers Federation):
“We stand in solidarity with the workers in the United States resisting the assaults on their rights. We applaud the
workers in Wisconsin, Ohio and elsewhere who have taken to the streets and Capitols to reject the attempts to
deny them of their rights to collectively bargain, and to decide on the conditions of their labor. Their resistance has
been inspirational to the labor movement and to working people all over the globe.
“Further, we reject attempts by governments to balance budgets at the expense of working people. These are
clearly attempts by the owning class and their allies to weaken the labor movement, which has historically been
the counter-balance to the power of big business and their control, not only of economic power, but also political
power. We also reject efforts by governments and business groups to split the working class, either by
distinguishing between public sector and private sector, or American, foreign, or immigrant workers. This division
only serves the interests of big business. We wholeheartedly support the statement “an injury to one is an injury
to all.” Only through a strong working class movement can we defend against the current assaults on working
people all over the globe.”