Wisconsin Speaks

Gov. Walker has threatened to call out the National Guard against workers who protest his radical plan to cut benefits of middle class workers and strip them of their rights. 

Stand in solidarity with tens of thousands of workers who have been protesting -- sign the open letter on the right.

Letter text:

Members of the Wisconsin Legislature,

The Associated Press reports, "Gov. Scott Walker says the Wisconsin National Guard is prepared to respond if there is any unrest among state employees in the wake of his announcement that he wants to take away nearly all collective bargaining rights."

The Governor’s decision to ask the Wisconsin National Guard to be prepared for a fight against nurses,* teachers,* and other public employees puts Wisconsin firmly on the wrong side of history. The idea that a governor can use the military to impose his personal, political will on the people he governs is a primitive relic of the past -- one that resulted in almost a century of bloodshed in this country. It must not be repeated again.

*YOU GO GOV...GIT AFTER 'EM EVIL NURSES, TEACHERS, FIRE FIGHTERS, and POLICE!  The nerve! harrumph!

Trying to ram through cuts to the health care and pensions of Wisconsin nurses and teachers – and take away their right to negotiate for fair benefits – is already unacceptable. But the Governor's threat of military force against Wisconsin citizens who serve their state proudly is even more shameful.

We say "no" to the Governor's budget -- and "no" to the use of the National Guard against the people of Wisconsin. And we ask you to join us.

Sincerely,

o The Progressive Change Campaign Committee
o VoteVets
o CREDO Action
o Markos Moulitsas, Daily Kos
o Patrick Landgraf, President/Business Manager Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #18 AFL-CIO
o Mary Rehwald, former Ashland City Councilor
o Kent Johnson, Walworth Village Board member
o Tammy Downing, President of AFSCME Local 145
o Roger Christensen, Past President Local 309 IP&GCU
o Justin Givens, AFSCME Local 122, Council 24
o Steve Arnold, member UFAS (AFT local 223), member Fitchburg, WI Common Council
o Phil Hansotia, Chair: Issues and Resolutions Committee, Door County Democratic Party
o Jane Sorley, Shawano County Demoncrats Vice-Chair
o Joanne Williams, Sec. Treasurer Walworth Co Democratic Party
o Chris Narveson, 2nd Supervisor for the Town of New Glarus, WI
o Nathan Timm, Founder of Dane County Grassroots Network
o Cindi Haag, Town Clerk, Town of Wilson, Eau Claire County
o Ed Garvey, founder Fightingbob.com
o Loren Molling, United Transportation Union Local 311: President
o Bruce Penny, Past UAW Local 95 President-Janesville, Wi
o Val Campbell, Past General Chairman, Green Bay and Western Railroad Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
o Sandra Small, former member of the Milwaukee Public Schools Board of Directors; District 5
o Christian Vettrus, AFSCME Local 82 Union Executive Board member
o Ernest Korpela, Former State Representative-Ashland, Bayfield, Iron and Price Counties
o Dorothy Krause, Fitchburg, WI Common Council Candidate
o Richard Spindler, Eau Claire Progressive 93rd Team Leader
o David Conley, Douglas County Board Supervisor
o Ed Wagner, Alderman, City of Marshfield, Supervisor, Wood County Board of Supervisors
o Barbara Hazlett, Secretary, Waushara Area Democratic Party
o Daniel Wilcox, Member, Board of Directors, Writers Guild of America, West
o Susan Covarrubias, Madison Teachers, Inc. Union, Faculty Representative
o Dennis Brault, Vernon County Supervisor
o Judy Farrell, past Vice-President Whitewater Education Association
o Susan Healy, MTEA Building Rep
o Michelle Kleppe, Organizing for America, Regional Field Director
o Catherine Frederick, Steward, MATC Part Time Teachers Union
o David Hamel, Vice Chair, Marquette county Democratic Party
o Steven Pfundtner, Union President, AFSCME WSEU Local 1800 Northeast Wisconsin
o Terry Bobbe, Secretary, Democratic Party of Door County
o Linda Riesen, Past President, Council 10, WEAC
o Shelley Anderson, Vice President, Stoughton Education Association
o Yvonne Schutte, Union Steward, National Association of Letter Carriers
o Thomas Bauknecht, Langlade Co. Democratic Party Chairman, Antigo Alderman
o Elizabeth Marshall, American Federation of Musicians Local 166, board member
o Kim Jordan, New London Education Association, WEAC
o Colleen Hansen, Past Union President of the Ashwaubenon Education Association
o James Collins, Former Chair - Chequamegon Dems of Ashland and Bayfield Counties
o Andrew Voelzke, Executive Board member of United SteelWorkers Local 2-209
o Denise Ehren, Secretary, AFSCME Local 1131
o Gail Lando, Burnett County Democratic Party Vice Chair
o Barbara Woodriff, Recording Secretary, Green County Democratic Party
o Debbie Kinder, Alder, Wisconsin Dells City Council
o Tom Crofton, Chair, Rural Caucus Democratic Party of WI, Richland County Board Supervisor
o Susan Lucht, Chief Steward AFSCME local 555