Public Employee Unions: Breaking State and Local Budgets

For the past week, we’ve been advocating for passage of two legislative measures introduced by Nebraska State Senator John Nelson; LB664 and LR29CA. Both measures would prohibit collective bargaining by the State with public employees; LB664 would repeal certain Nebraska laws that provide for the practice and LR29CA would give Nebraskans an opportunity to vote in November 2012 to put that prohibition in the State’s Constitution.

The only way to ensure that government employees’ compensation and benefits – a major issue for any government budget – don’t eventually bankrupt our state and local governments is to ensure that collective bargaining is taken out of the equation.

Problems with the costs of public employees are not just a problem in the State of Nebraska; this segment from one of John Stossel’s show focuses on public employee unions and their impact on State and local budgets.

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Part 1

Part 2

Author Steven Greenhut, one of John Stossel’s guests, appeared on California talk show host Dennis Prager’s show last fall. The interview focused on some common misconceptions about two particular public employee sectors; fire and police. Most people rightfully respect public safety officers and appreciate the work they do.

It’s important to form opinions based on fact, not emotion, however, and the interview with Greenhut on this topic is illuminating. Click HERE to listen.

Stubborn_Facts

Shelli Dawdy is first and foremost the mother of three children whom she has taught at home via the classical method since removing her children from school in 2001. During her early years as a homeschool mother, she worked part-time as a freelance writer. Born and raised in the Iowa, Shelli and her husband moved to the state of South Dakota in 1997, attracted to its more limited government and friendly tax environment. In 2006, Shelli and her family relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska, when her husband’s employer offered a new position. She took a break from work and politics for a time, recognizing the need to focus solely on her childrens’ schooling with two now of high school age. Distressed by many things she was witnessing on the national political scene and disillusioned about the Republican Party, she decided to start writing again, this time online. Motivated to get involved with others at the grassroots level, she networked with activists on the social media tool, Twitter. She was involved in organizing the first tea party rallies inspired by Rick Santelli’s “rant” on CNBC in February 2009. Recognizing that activism should generate on the local level, she founded Grassroots in Nebraska in March of 2009. The group’s mission is a return to Constitutional, limited government, according to its original meaning. While the group has held several tea party rallies, it’s focus is to take effective action. Among its many projects, GiN successfully coordinated testimony for the hearing of the Nebraska Sovereignty Resolution, networked with other groups to ensure a large show of public support at the hearing, and coordinated follow up support to ensure its passage in April 2010. While working to build up GiN throughout 2009, she was asked to work as writer and producer of the documentary film, A New America, which lays out how Progressivism is responsible for how America has moved away from its Constitutional roots. You can see more of her work on Grassroots in Nebraska (GiN) and StubbornFacts