Florida Gov. Rick Scott now says he'd like collective bargaining removed from Constitution

[seafan]

Source: St. Petersburg Times

TALLAHASSEE — Days after Gov. Rick Scott told a Tallahassee radio station that he was supportive of collective bargaining, he now says he wishes it weren't allowed in Florida.

.....

On Friday, Scott gave an interview with Bloomberg TV in Washington, D.C., and changed his tune. While Florida's Constitution protects workers from being compelled to join a union, it also protects union workers by guaranteeing their right to collective bargaining. Scott acknowledged the constitutional protections but announced he'd now like to see that changed.

"It'd be great to be able to change it,'' Scott said, according to a preview of the interview posted on the Bloomberg website. "Our state workers don't pay for anything into their pension plan. And we can't afford that — it's not fair to taxpayers. If you didn't have collective bargaining, would it be better for the state? Absolutely."



Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/gov-rick-scott-now-says-hed-like-collective-bargaining-removed-from/1153974

---

Here we go, Florida.

[plumbob]

1. Very interesting - official US government policy used to be pro-union,

and the destruction of unions was characterized as typical of Hitler, Mussolini, and Hirohito. See Why We Fight from WWII, well worth the watch. If you must, skip to about 12:30 in for the union comments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_w9YTyCK5g&feature=s2l

[wtmusic]

3. When was "official US government policy" pro-union?

AFAIK, it's been a constant battle.

[TBF]

47. It has been a constant battle worldwide. nt

[craigmatic]

60. When FDR was in office.

[AtheistCrusader]

74. Not in the public sector.

"All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management. The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with Government employee organizations. The employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives in Congress. Accordingly, administrative officials and employees alike are governed and guided, and in many instances restricted, by laws which establish policies, procedures, or rules in personnel matters."



http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=15445

[craigmatic]

75. true but the policy was still pro-union in some form.

[AtheistCrusader]

78. I would arge just in the private sector.

But unfortunately we are in a position where private sector unions are mostly non-existent now, and the public sector is about the only place they exist.

[AtheistCrusader]

79. -dupe.

No idea how I did that.

[MBS]

18. thanks so much for posting this

but union comments seem to come on at about 25 minutes, not 12 1/2

[sasquuatch55]

31. God help us all.

Teabaggers and the Supreme Court have enabled and released the Fascist beast!

[roguevalley]

39. how about we get rid of him instead. It would only be financially

harmful to one and not millions.

[SharonAnn]

96. Well, why not just remove the entire constitution.?

[underpants]

2. How about talking to them you Medicaid fraud

:eyes:

[global1]

4. He Must Have Finallly Got His Call From The Koch Brothers.....nt

[snappyturtle]

6. I think you could have something here especially after the Koch brothers'

statement yesterday about going after the people with both barrels loaded. They can't even disguise themselves as human.

[The Backlash Cometh]

21. They said that?

[snappyturtle]

54. They basically said they'd use their wealth to get what they want.

I'll see if I can find you a link.


Link: This isn't exactly the article I was trying to find but it clearly states their purpose!

[Electric Monk]

70. link fail

I think this is what you meant to post http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4748356&mesg_id=4748356

[snappyturtle]

71. Nope. SORRY: forgot to paste it! dah!

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/260685/koch-executives-speak-out-wisconsin-robert-costa

[shanti]

35. yup, he got the call

watch all the repuke governors follow suit. if california had elected meg whitman instead of jerry brown, we'd be in a world of hurt too! thank god, we kicked her ass out of here!

[onlyadream]

62. I was thinking the same thing. Just disgusting. nt

[QC]

5. I wonder who's been leaning on him?

This is about to get very interesting. Maybe Tally can be Madison II.

[Lucky Luciano]

7. Seems like they want to settle the score once and for all here and now,

I don't know much about what it really means to be in a union and I don't know any union people except my mother who was a teacher, but it doesn't look like the various public working people are asking for very much. These governor's should think a little harder about how to balance their budgets. I knew these state budget crunches were going to be the topic of the year for 2011, but I will admit that I never anticipated these protests - seems there has been a bit of a malaise that prevented people from standing up for themselves for a very long time. I guess this broker the camel's back - and I have no doubt that the European austerity protests along with the North Africa protests were inspirational.

[pacalo]

91. The governor of Wisconsin gave tax cuts to big businesses before he announced his plans

for state union workers. And he slipped into the emergency budget bill a no-bid contract clause for selling (privatizing) the power plants, with both the buyer(s) & the prices at his discretion.

Walker is as crooked as this teabagger's broom:

[Orlandodem]

8. This is a fight I'd like to have. Bring. It. On.

[axollot]

9. I knew this idiot would be next. Tallahassee here we come! n/t

[liberal N proud]

10. Lock-step they all falling in line

Walker - Wisconsin
Kasich - Ohio
Scott - Florida

Who's next? Look to see who the Koch's supported in 2010.

[seafan]

11. Rick Scott: 'Florida would be better off if public employees couldn’t form unions.'

Bloomberg

By Julie Hirschfeld Davis - Feb 25, 2011 11:00 AM ET



Florida Gov. Rick Scott announces his new budget during a Tea Party event in Eustis, Fla. , Monday, Feb. 7, 2011 AP Photo

.....

(Scott) said Florida would be better off if public employees couldn’t form unions and that it’s unfair to taxpayers that state workers don’t contribute to their pensions.

While Florida’s constitution grants state workers the right to unionize and bargain for workplace rights, Scott said, “It’d be great to be able to change it.”

“Our state workers don’t pay for anything into their pension plan. And we can’t afford that -- it’s not fair to taxpayers,” Scott said. “If you didn’t have collective bargaining, would it be better for the state? Absolutely.”

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Ohio Governor John Kasich, Republicans who have sought to limit state workers’ union organizing rights, are “absolutely doing the right thing,” Scott said.

Florida, we are under siege.

[lark]

13. Fl has been under seige ever since Scott bought his election

He's a scary loathesome critter dedicated to getting his way and destroying the american way, hail, hail to the ultra rich, rulers of this country who deign (sometimes for some of us) to let us live and work here.

:puke: :argh:

[1monster]

42. Florida has been under seize ever since Jeb Bush managed to get elected.

While Florida has never been liberal, it has not always been teabaggerish. Remember, in the two elections BEFORE Jebbieboy, we elected Walkin' Lawton Chiles (read about him here: http://thehecoonwalks.blogspot.com/2007/07/blog-post.html).

Shortly before the end of Chiles second term, and after Jeb Bush had won the race for election, Chiles died. To me, it always seemed like he chose to go out just then rather and a couple of weeks later in order to make sure that the next governor WASN'T Jeb Bush, but was Jeb's opponent and Chile's Lt. Governor, Buddy McKay, if only for a few days.

I can imgaine that ole He-Coon chuckling away at that...

[The Backlash Cometh]

22. the sad thing is,

There isn't one civil servant in my local area that I think is worth fighting for.

They're not really civil servants. They're just placeholders.

So, if you all know of good civil servants in your Florida area, let me know because I need a reason to give a damn.

[remember2000forever]

27. Alex Sink was one. Too bad she lost to this monster. Scott was

serious when he bombarded the Florida airwaves with his millions of dollar's slogan "Let's get to work". yeah right.....let's get to work by destroying what's left of my state.

[The Backlash Cometh]

33. How many jobs has he created?

Why should he be allowed to destroy jobs without first making good on his promise? This is a royal bait and switch.

[indypaul]

29. Certainly hope you have no need of police or fire services anytime soon. n/t

This was intended to be in response to reply #11 above.

[The Backlash Cometh]

34. I agree.

I certainly hope I have no need of police or fire services anytime, period.

It's a hit or miss who will turn up.

[Lost-in-FL]

57. +1, nt

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

41. He looks like Gollum in a suit nt

[Historic NY]

87. floridia worker traditionally make less then their counterparts too....

I sure hope those old people don't fall for this one, they rely more on public servants.

[Sancho]

12. Good luck - it would take a referendum passed with 60%

I don't think that even Florida would vote for such a change. Florida is a rich state with low taxes and lots of loopholes for the wealthy. Scott is a crook.

[still_one]

14. No surprise, this regressive imbecile like walker do not want the high speed rail grant either.

What I find amazing is that residents of those states whose economies are not particularly robust aren't up in arms. Not only would the high speed rail supply jobs, it also is the future, not only for transportation, but also reducing energy usage

[peekaloo]

32. Notice how Scott pointed out we should be spending money on things

such as our shipping ports.

Also notice that in 2008 Scott purchased Drives LLC which are "Manufacturers of roller chain, oil field chain, conveyor chain, specialty conveyor chain, corrosion resistant chain, attachment chain, and auger products, ..." ??????

I'll bet he sees the office as just another business venture with the citizens of Florida as his employees.

Florida is a state of transplants with no real sense of homogeny, imo,or "God's waiting room" as a friend of mine calls it.

Strange and dark days ahead.

[ngant17]

81. Global warming should eventually turn Florida into a true swamp

so some day all these Northern transplants can learn how to become a real Florida cracker.

[seafan]

15. No, Gov. Scott Walker and Gov. Rick Scott. This is OUR moment.

.....

(Scott) Walker: .....The next question, you know, I talk to Kasich every day-John’s gotta stand firm in Ohio. I think we could do the same thing with (Rick) Scott in Florida. I think, uh, Snyder-if he got a little more support-probably could do that in Michigan. You start going down the list there’s a lot of us new governors that got elected to do something big.

Murphy: You’re the first domino.

Walker: Yep. This is our moment.

.....

From transcript of prank Koch-Walker conversation

[Voice for Peace]

93. "you're the first domino" - what a great line

and he missed the joke.

[BR_Parkway]

16. Considering that someone just proved that WI employees totally self fund

their pension program, I'd love to see if this asshat is telling the truth about FL workers not paying anything into theirs. I expect, based on history, that's it's simply one more Republican lying his ass off to get his agenda passed for his corporate masters.

Anyone know more about this?

Here's the article about WI employees - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x514077

[Iris]

63. see quakerbill's post #19 below n/t

[CLANG]

76. I didn't see that, but just emailed my local paper (wi state journal)

I sent it to George Hesselberg, a very good reporter that's been around for years and told him to please verify the facts and then put it into the paper. The people of Wisconsin need to know this!

Thanks, BR_Parkway!

[sarcasmo]

17. The rights crusade to abolish unions continues.

[quaker bill]

19. actually

according to the letters I get from management every year, the contribution to the pension is part of my total pay for the work I do. Whenever management compares us to the private sector to assure salaries are competitive with the private sector they use my paycheck, annual leave, sick leave, holidays, insurance, all taxes to include the employer half of payroll tax, any other benefits, and pension contributions, all totaled together to make the comparison. The comparison is run against positions in the private sector that in the same field that require similar education and experience. They have on occasion, but rarely, made adjustments to the market but they have never taken us anywhere near 100% of total compensation in the private sector.

[DCKit]

20. How can there be so many (R)-Dumbass in this country?

It's a freakin' plague.

I'm not real good at math, but any moron who can't see the various economic benefits of having strong unions in their town or state should be ineligible for any public office.

This money stays in the local and state communities, and is recycled many times over, lifting all boats, not just the already wealthy and corporations.

[Dappleganger]

23. Told ya, he's a lying sneaky snake.

That's what happens when crooks are put into office.

[fascisthunter]

24. maybe we should amend the constitution to ban fascist republicans

[emulatorloo]

25. Good Idea.

[AlbertCat]

26. it's not fair to taxpayers.

So....BARGAIN.


Lame excuses.
"It'd be great if it were gone!"

How so? For whom?

[peekaloo]

28. Governor Zontar: Protector of taxpayer money!

:rofl:

[Roland99]

30. Good luck, asshole. But, he's already gone against the will of the people re:redistricting

What a fucking criminal piece of shit slimeball

[seafan]

36. Busting unions will 'wake sleeping giant,' local Florida boss says

In LBN this morning.


The ground is beginning to crack open.



I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know where I'm a-gonna go when the volcano blow.

[SoapBox]

37. Gov. Rick "Medicare FRAUD" Scott and Gov. Scott "Hosni" Walker...two shining TURDS, uh, gems...

...in the GOBPer, RushThug and T.HaterBagger world.

They make me sick.

And America? You should be sick too.

[seafan]

38. Koch Front Group Americans for Prosperity: 'Take the Unions Out at the Knees'

Koch Front Group Americans for Prosperity: 'Take the Unions Out at the Knees'


Got 'em on video.

[Initech]

40. Fucking traitors. Every last god damn one of 'em.

[PatSeg]

43. 2,619,335 people voted for this crook

Can there really be that many deluded voters in Florida?

[truthisfreedom]

44. Might as well change that to "Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants Obama in 2012"

Because waking the sleeping giant will guarantee Obama's win in 2012.

[JaneQPublic]

45. Conservatives claim they will "Defend the Constitution"...

...except the parts they don't like (nt), which they want to change, as long as it's changed to suit them.

It's interesting this hypocrisy exists on the state level, as well.

[RKP5637]

46. Recommend!!! n/t

[scribble]

48. Gossip isn't politics, boys and girls ...

... and we don't need gossip. We have enough real problems to deal with.

Rick Scott should be in Jail. He probably DOES want to end Unionism. We probably DO need to be on guard -- but this is an idle comment. It isn't news. He's doing other things we need to watch more closely.


sc

[seafan]

53. 'Gossip'? Hardly.

It perhaps would save you some time if you decide to join the workers' movement right now.

America's foundation was built on the labor of her people. That has been under constant right wing assault for decades.


Join us. It's a rising tsunami.

[Dappleganger]

85. It's not gossip because Scott refuses to speak with most media people.

[Kip Humphrey]

49. Spoken like a true corporacrat.

[yurbud]

50. somebody got an angry phone call from his masters.

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Wizard]

52. Medicare fraud is a crime

Rick Scott should go right to fucking jail.

[Athena66]

55. I agree, but

What are the odds of that happening? In a just world, Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld, Rice, et al, would all be in jail. If you're rich and powerful enough in this country, not only can you get away with financial fraud, you can get away with torture and murder.

[gordianot]

56. Almost exactly on time in the modern day Friedrich Gustav Emil Martin Niemöller countdown.

Let's see according to RW FOX propaganda, centrist President Obama is a Socialist and Marxist at the worst.
Now let's go after the Trade Unions.
Next let us go after the Trade Unionist. (National Guard if Police do not respond)

At least this time the Unions and Unionist will not be too quiet in the countdown.

[Lost-in-FL]

58. There are unions in FL?

:sarcasm:

[last_texas_dem]

59. That didn't take long.

He just said several days ago that he had no interest in altering state employees' collective bargaining rights. Some Koch must've gotten a hold of him and done some smacking around.

[marew]

61. What a jerk!

My blood, sweat, and tears and the fact that with a graduate degree, I took a government job with a lower salary BECAUSE of the pension. I definitely 'paid' into it!

[steve2470]

64. sigh....time for us to fight in Florida too nt

[DeadEyeDyck]

65. let the fights begin

this is going to get ugly in a hurry

[Initech]

66. What other states have teabagger governors? I'm witnessing a pattern here.

[Monk06]

67. The GOP want the Chinese model. Billionaire party hacks at the top and everyone else at the bottom

So Teabaggers are actually Maoist Cultural Revolutionaries

Who would have thought? Now all they need is a little Red Book
called, "The Thoughts of Chairman Walker"

Collective Bargaining is the work of Counter Revolutionary Bourgeois
Intellectuals and their Union Thug running dogs. - Chairman Walker,
the Great Helmsman.

[Bill USA]

68. recommended. Please see link: "Burning down the Reichstag and the Trickle Down disaster"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x590135

[FailureToCommunicate]

69. So...will supporters in Cairo now have to send pizza to Florida?

Go ahead, Gov. Scott, wake the 'sleeping giant'...

[defendandprotect]

72. Walker: Whatever is going on, I'm ignoring it -- !!! GOP, the destroyers--!!

[perdita9]

73. A Republican wants to change the Constitution

Also known as GOP SOP

[eringer]

77. Htpocrite. Florida picked a real loser for Governor

I guess that when he takes his family to Disney World, it doesn't cost the state near as much as it did New Jersey.

[ngant17]

80. someone should remind him that Disney World's union

the Service Trades Council has collective bargaining.

[left on green only]

82. I wonder if it has occurred to anyone else.....

that all of this bravada could be just a romantic overture from the governor of Florida unto the governor of Wisconsin? I mean, it they were to get married, the governor of Wisconsin could simply change his name to Scot Scott, and thereby end any future speculation as to his "state" of sanity. But, as I understand it, in order to be recognized, the ceremony would have to take place in some other state, besides Florida. Perhaps a closet in Wisconsin would be the perfect place.

[russspeakeasy]

83. This from a guy that should be in prison.

[Beartracks]

84. Do people really think govt employees aren't taxpayers?

Just curious.

---------------------------------

[StarsInHerHair]

86. Our corporations don't pay anything into State taxes & we can't afford that

& it isn't fair to those who DO pay State taxes.

[DirkGently]

88. Must have got The Call. Creep.

[pam4water]

89. No, and fuck you for asking! K&R

[blackspade]

90. Another idiot entering 'Union Busting Lake'

Here's to hoping he drowns in it. Politically speaking of course.

[wial]

92. Stuff and nonsense

Pension plans are part of the relatively small amount of compensation public employees get. Making them "pay into" it is just a pay cut, pure and simple.

[dotymed]

94. Can you imagine

( if you're 50 you can remember) if these Bastards actually taxed the wealthy at a progressive rate? My, things were much different and amazingly, I remember wealthy people, in interviews, bragging about how they helped the American economy and still enjoyed their wealth. What a difference a generation of greed and bought politicians can change things; terribly.

[BreweryYardRat]

95. Florida is God's waiting room. God needs to call the teabaggers into his office en masse.

I voted for Sink, as did anyone in FL with a scrap of sanity. (Not that voting necessarily does us a lot of good, when the voting machines are unverifiable electronic devices, and tight elections have this mysterious tendency to go to the Republicans...)

This isn't intended to be an ageist insult. I know there are a lot of elderly people who vote Democratic. I'm just pissed off at the senile, greedy, brainwashed, old fools -- but "teabagger" says the same thing much more simply -- who "voted" for Scott.

[Vinca]

97. Amen.

[yellowcanine]

98. States pushed for the benefits packages to get wage concessions, now they are reneging.

It wasn't the fault of the unions. These were concessions given by the unions.