The republican challenger in one of the Wisconsin state senate recall races has a familiar problem:

…VanderLeest has been delinquent paying taxes on that property since 2008, owing $24,584, according to the Brown County Treasurer’s office…

Well, that may or may not be a problem with voters, depending on location.

Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party, Susan Montee (center left) and Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor (right) at the pre-dinner reception for the Missouri Democratic Party’s Jefferson Jackson Dinner in St. Louis on Friday night.

Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor (D), one of the fourteen, was a featured speaker at the Missouri Democratic Party’s Jefferson Jackson Dinner in St. Louis on Friday night.

Video by hotflash.

The transcript:

Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor (D):  [applause] [cheers] Hello Missouri!  [cheers] Oh my goodness, it is good to be with friends. Thank you so much. [voice: “Solidarity!”] That’s what I’m talking about. Solidarity, man. Power to the people. [applause] [voice: “Yeah!”] I have to tell you Democrats it’s wonderful to be with you. I have been at ground zero. I have been right in the midst of the fight. And it is good to be among friends. Thank you for having me. [applause]

I’m here to remind you, Missouri, I’m here to remind you Democrat, Democrats that this is our wakeup call. Bzzzzzzzzzzzz. [applause] Hear me! Hear the clarion call that this is our wakeup call. This is our moment to stand, to lead, to act. Forty plus years ago Martin Luther King was fighting for workers’ rights. He was fighting for access for people. He died in that fight, in that struggle. And today, in twenty eleven we fight the same fights. This is a fight for our nation. This is a fight for America, for her Democracy, and for the American dream. Not as individuals, but as brothers and sisters of a party, of a party that must stand up and heed the call of a nation that must fight for what is right. Access to education, access to health care, access to resources, access to jobs, access to Democracy, yes, Democracy in the workplace [applause] for workers’ rights.[cheers] We need access in America not just for the CEO but for the average Joe.[applause] My governor picked up the phone thought he was talking to the Koch brothers, he’s a really smart guy. Twenty minutes he talked to the Koch brothers but he didn’t have time for the average person from our state to talk to him. He revealed that this is a national agenda for the GOP, corporations over people, profits over people, budget cuts over the needy, of our constituents, of the people, the ordinary, average Joe. Tax credits for corporations while we give tax increases to our constituents and cuts to services. This is a national fight, but it doesn’t just end with what you saw in the Spring.

They’re the party that says we can’t. We can’t believe in it, we can’t sustain it, we can’t build it, we can’t, we can’t, we can’t fund education, we can’t fund health care. They’re the party of we can’t. But, Missouri, I’m here to say, this is our wakeup call. We need all hands on deck. Or maybe I should say, like Sarah Palin, except I actually know who Paul Revere is [laughter][inaudible]. The Republicans are coming! The Republicans are coming! [cheers][applause]

We must stand, we must lead, we must vote, we must act. America doesn’t need a we can’t attitude, we need a we can do it kind of thinkers. People who’ll say we can have clean energy, we can educate every child in a quality way [applause]. We can keep peace without creating war, we can care about the poor without creating dependency, and yes, we can honor the dignity of work and the right to negotiate [applause][cheers] in the workplace.

Wisconsin got in the spotlight as fourteen senators left. And let me tell you, they said we left on a bus. We didn’t. We drove in our cars, but I drove with Senator Carpenter. And I just need to digress for one moment and say, ladies, I didn’t believe, and gentlemen, I didn’t believe the stereotype that guys don’t know directions, [laughter] they don’t know, they won’t stop. I didn’t believe the stereotypes. But since I was later, when I never made it to Rockford, but I was in Illinois, I turned to Senator Carpenter and I said, I think you need some help. [laughter] We finally got to Illinois and it was our haven. It was the place the place we went so we could slow the bill down so the nation, we didn’t know at the time, but so Wisconsinites could know what was happening. But in time Wisconsinites stood up and they made a movement. And the nation responded.

And now I need to say to you we need to have more individuals who have the kind of values that governors like Governor [Jay] Nixon [voice: “Yeah!”] [applause][cheers]. Yes. Like Governor Gaylord Nelson or Governor Bob La Follette or Governor Francis Perkins or how about President Roosevelt or President Clinton or, I know, Missouri’s all time favorite, President Truman. [cheers][applause] We [inaudible].

I came today Missouri to say that this is our time to act. I want to paraphrase Ghandi for a second and say, we can, we must be the change we wish to see in our world, in our states, in our cities, in our communities. [Wisconsin] Governor [Scott] Walker [R], Governor Walker from my state has championed Robin Hood in the reverse, and I mean to say to you that we can do better. We must. And together [applause] we can, Democrats.

Do you see the need that I speak to? Will you be a part of that effort? Will you stand up with Wisconsin? Will you give another dollar to your party? Will you make more calls? Will you find some time to do a little more, to stand, to lead, to act? Will you help save America? ‘Cause this is our moment. You do realize that they’re watching what happens in ground zero in Wisconsin? And if they win there, they’ll use it as a template everywhere coming to a place near you. And I’m saying, bzzzzzzzz, this is our wakeup call [applause], Democrats.

In the midst of this entire battle Reverend [Jesse] Jackson came to Wisconsin. And he told us about the sanitation workers that Martin Luther King worked with. And I was really taken by that. But he said a small thing kind of in passing that really touched me. He said, you know, people don’t die in deep water because the water is deeper, they die because they stop kicking. Wisconsin, Missouri, I’ve come to report, has not stopped kicking. [cheers][applause]

I need you to know just yesterday in the middle of the budget hearing that we had people who actually locked themselves to the banisters. One by their, both by their neck, they locked themselves so that they could continue to chant in the chambers. Now, that was extreme. But I just want you to know that that’s what the people of Wisconsin are doing. That they are saying that they will not go easy, that they will kick all the way. And I’m coming to tell you that we need your help. Missouri, will you say it, with Wisconsin, to help us keep kicking? [applause][cheers] Will you say it with us? I hope the answer is yes. I believe that Democrats are the only way we can take it back. So when I say Demo, you say crats.

[Demo-crats cheer]

Who’s going to take America back?

[Demo-crats cheer]

Who’s going to take America back?

[Demo-crats cheer]

Thank you, so much Missouri. [applause][cheers]

Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor (D).

Around the Midwest Missouri’s reputation appears to be close to that of Mississippi.

The photo. On the north side of the capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri on February 26, 2011.

Last night we received a communication from an editor at the Wisconsin State Journal asking for permission to use a photograph that appeared in one of our February pro-labor rally stories.

Rallies in Jefferson City, Saturday, Feb. 26th: organized labor or teabaggers – photos (February 26, 2011)

Voices of Organized Labor in Jefferson City on February 26, 2011 (February 27, 2011)

The request from the Wisconsin State Journal:

We are in the midst of a six-day series about the union/collective bargaining/budget bill going on at the state Capitol now.

Our story for Thursday is comparing Wisconsin to Missouri, and the differences in how state government and public employees are treated. I am writing to request permission to use one of the photos from your website from the Feb. 24th [26th] rally at your state Capitol…it’s the one of the woman with a shirt that reads: “Wisconsin teachers educated me…”

We responded that we would give them permission and sent them a higher resolution version of the image. The photo appeared along with the story this morning. They credited the photographer and Show Me Progress:

Labor’s last stand? Missouri a prototype for Walker’s policies

Labor’s last stand? Missouri a prototype for Walker’s policies [larger image]

Okay, you say, big deal, we got a photo credit with another news organization. That’s a story?

There’s more. Some of the comments accompanying the Wisconsin State Journal story are cringe inducing:

I live in WI for a reason, because it’s nice to live here. If I wanted to live in a dump like MO then I’d move to MO. I’m happy to pay for a nice state to live in.

Ouch.

I’ve known some people from Missouri and I dread the day we have an educational system like theirs.

Ouch.

Wow this state is turning into Missouri a.k.a the worst state in the area? I’m sure this makes the un-educated republicans very pleased to see education is being thrown on the back burner!! I swear that inbred fox valley area just keeps growing and growing like cancer!!!!!!

Hey! Two words. Joe McCarthy. Wisconsin had Joe McCarthy, Missouri has John Ashcroft. McCarthy didn’t sing, so we’ll call it a draw.

The point is ,we need to be more like Missouri- in fact we to out-Missouri Missouri. They have a lot a meth labs – we need more here! Poor education in Missouri ? I think with Scott Walker’s culling of our own LAZY, UNION THUG teachers we will be able to overtake them there too. Environment?, please. I’m thinking of changing my own oil over a storm drain today. Let it run in the lakes !! If we put our minds and hearts into it , we can do this. because in the end , our taxes will be lower , and that is truly what’s important.

And, our General Assembly just loves puppy mills.

I lived in Missouri for about a decade. It’s a fine state with mostly friendly people and has a lot going for it. I miss it in some ways. But there are reasons I moved back to Wisconsin eight years ago. One of them is the education system…

I think the teacher of the woman in the picture forgot to tell her you only capitalize the first word of each sentence. So much for the union teacher.

Uh, it’s a protest sign, not an essay. So much for critical thinking skills in Wisconsin. Score one for Missouri.

I prefer UW quality over U of Missouri. I prefer strong elementary and high school education and don’t care to lower our standards to Missouri. I prefer Wisconsin the way it is. I’m willing to pay for that. Walker please move to Missouri and implement your backward thinking ideological policies there.

We don’t want him. We’ve already have more than our share just like him here.

After the posturing is done reality will hit. Truth is we will be lucky to sink only to Missouri’s level…

That really hurts. We’re the low bar right before abandoning all hope?

…we can do better than Missouri- we want to be like Mississippi.

It’s nice to have standards.

She spelled all those words correctly? That’s surprising. I think a non-union teacher asked her to insert “of.”

Again, it’s a protest sign.

All that disdain hurts. After all, some of us live in Missouri.

Working people will be rallying against SB 1, the right to get paid less bill, in Kansas City, Missouri at the IBEW Local 124 Picnic Grounds at 301 E. 103rd Terrace from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

We plan on being there.

The inherent weakness in the greed and avarice of the super wealthy is that enough will never be enough.

“…One thing is certain, Madison is only the beginning…”

“…The rich have overplayed their hand…”

“…The only thing that’s broke is the moral compass of the rulers…”

“…And, and that is the thing that the rich hate the most about America. No matter how hard they try to buy the votes, no matter how hard they try to own the political process, when it comes down to it, it’s one person, one vote. And there’s a hell of a lot more of us then there are of them. And never forget that, never forget that…”

Because posturing about something going on in Wisconsin and Illinois is more important than dealing with Missouri’s budget and job creation initiatives in our state:

@anonMOlib Anonymous MO Liberal

Seems unconstitutional RT @KOMUnews SJR 22/HJR 33 would vacate the office of lawmakers if they leave the state to avoid a vote 3 hours ago

Three individuals were sitting in a bar. Their conversation moved to their opinions of what constituted the greatest inventions. The first person advocated for the wheel, for, they said, without the wheel we would not have transportation or machinery. The second person differed and offered fire as the best example, stating, without fire we could not forge steel to make wheels and machinery. The third person said, “The thermos. The first person responded, “The thermos? The thing that keeps hot things hot and cold things cold?” The third replied, “Yes, but how does it know?”

The bills:

SJR 22 Provides that a member of the General Assembly shall vacate his or her office if such member leaves the state during a legislative session for the purpose of avoiding any official duty or vote

Sponsor: Parson

LR Number: 1753S.01I Fiscal Note:

Committee: General Laws

Last Action: 3/3/2011 – Second Read and Referred S General Laws Committee Journal Page:

Title: Calendar Position:

Effective Date: Upon voter approval

Current Bill Summary

SJR 22 – This proposed constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, would require a member of the General Assembly to vacate his or her office if the member removes himself or herself from the state during a session of the member’s respective body for the purpose of avoiding any official duty or vote.

JIM ERTLE

The House bill:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 33

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES CRAWFORD (Sponsor), LARGENT, ENTLICHER, SMITH (150), GOSEN, BERRY, ALLEN, KELLEY (126), HAEFNER, LICHTENEGGER, LAUER, BROWN (116), BROWN (85), DAVIS, LANT, WHITE, ROWLAND, FRAKER, CONWAY (14), FREDERICK, HOUGHTON, FRANKLIN, WELLS AND DUGGER (Co-sponsors).

1841L.01I                                                                                                                    D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

JOINT RESOLUTION

Submitting to the qualified voters of Missouri, an amendment to article III of the Constitution of Missouri, and adopting one new section relating to a member of the general assembly removing himself or herself from the state for the purpose of avoiding any official duty or vote.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring therein:

           That at the next general election to be held in the state of Missouri, on Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2012, or at a special election to be called by the governor for that purpose, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of this state, for adoption or rejection, the following amendment to article III of the Constitution of the state of Missouri:

           Section A. Article III, Constitution of Missouri, is amended by adding one new section, to be known as section 13(a), to read as follows:

           Section 13(a). If any senator or representative shall remove himself or herself from this state during a session of the member’s respective body for the purpose of avoiding any official duty or vote, his or her office shall be deemed vacated.

[emphasis in original]

“…for the purpose of avoiding any official duty or vote…”

So, how would we know?

Maybe they’ll add an exception for checking your e-mail.

Well, mostly organized labor.

Previously:

Rallies in Jefferson City, Saturday, Feb. 26th: support organized labor or teabaggers, your pick (February 24, 2011)

Rallies in Jefferson City, Saturday, Feb. 26th: organized labor or teabaggers – photos (February 26, 2011)

Voices of Organized Labor in Jefferson City on February 26, 2011 (February 27, 2011)

The teabaggers announced they’d be in Jefferson City after MoveOn publicized their noon rally:

…The left via moveon.org and OFA are organizing protests in Jefferson City this Saturday, so the St. Louis Tea Party Coalition is joining the call from Tea Party and 9-12 groups across the state to counter protest on the capital steps.

  When: 10:30AM Saturday, February 26th

  Where: Steps of the Capitol Building in Jefferson City

Speakers are still being scheduled for Saturday. We will meet about 10:30AM to stake out our ground….

We made the drive to Jefferson City, timed to arrive at the capitol at about 11:00 a.m., which we did.

The teabagger rally site on the south side of the capitol at 11:04 a.m.

It was a little after 11:00 a.m. I approached a state trooper and what appeared to be a Jefferson City police officer who were standing back watching the teabaggers. I asked them if the rally had started yet. One of the officers told me, “The speakers are supposed to start at eleven.”

We walked over to the north side of the capitol, the announced site of the MoveOn organized labor rally scheduled for noon. There were a few people gathering. An individual pointed out to the river and told us that there was a bald eagle perched in a tree.

A bald eagle looking over the Missouri River.

We can all thank the Endangered Species Act for that moment of Zen.

After about fifteen minutes I walked back to the teabagger rally site. They had started. A speaker was droning on about the communists who sponsored the rally on the other (north) side of the capitol.

The teabagger rally site on the south side of the capitol at 11:20 a.m.

After a few minutes of teabagger rhetoric I walked back to the north side of the capitol to interview people participating in the MoveOn organized labor rally. And thanks to the teabaggers I had another question I could ask in those interviews.

It turns out that MoveOn and the organized labor folks were more punctual. They started at noon.

The MoveOn organized labor rally across from the north side of the capitol at 12:02 p.m.

IBEW, Local 2, from St. Louis.

Together we bargain, alone we beg.

People continued to arrive after the start of the rally. I even heard a few people, laughing, say that they had gone to the south side of the capitol and realized after a few seconds that they were at the wrong rally.

Slightly late arrivals to the MoveOn organized labor rally – at 12:03 p.m.:

The Koch brother are not our kings, don’t let them buy our democracy (left). Public or private workers have the right to organize (right).

Teachers are not parasites on the system.

Thank a union.

Walker is not healthy for children and other living things.

Previously:

Rallies in Jefferson City, Saturday, Feb. 26th: support organized labor or teabaggers, your pick (February 24, 2011)

Rallies in Jefferson City, Saturday, Feb. 26th: organized labor or teabaggers – photos (February 26, 2011)

Indications of the lunatic fringe, on a vehicle parked near the teabagger rally on the south side of the capitol building in Jefferson City.

From a teabagger web site:

On this Saturday the 26th of February the communist organization moveon.org is organizing a rally in Jefferson City to support  destroying our nation through deeper debt in the name of “protecting the working man”….

[emphasis added]

I heard one of the speakers at the teabagger rally say the same thing, so, I thought I’d talk to some of the good working people at the MoveOn organized labor rally on the opposite side of the capitol.

The MoveOn organized labor rally on the north side of the capitol in Jefferson City.

Show Me Progress: So, why are you here today?

Robert Shoemyer : I heard there was gonna be a rally here to support the people of Wisconsin.

Show Me Progress: And you decided to show up?

Robert Shoemyer : I decided to show up.

Show Me Progress: What does, uh, what does collective bargaining mean for you?

Robert Shoemyer : I farm. And, but, collective bargaining, I mean, I’ve always been in favor of collective bargaining. I mean, without labor nothing would happen. So, I mean, you have to have your salesman, you have to have your labor. But then that’s it.

[….]

You’ve got to love the Teamsters.

….Show Me Progress: …What’s your affiliation.

Rod Herrmann: I’m with the Gas Workers 11-6 out of St. Louis. We represent with Laclede Gas, a public utility.

Show Me Progress: Uh, why are you here today?

Rod Herrmann: In support of unions and all working people. We deserve a fair shake. Uh, feel like, uh, we’re getting railroaded here a little bit and, uh, you know, we want to, we want an honest wage for an honest day’s worth of work. And, uh, it seems like the working man is being pushed down and put back.

Show Me Progress: What does collective bargaining mean to you?

Rod Herrmann: It means a contract with good benefits, good wages. Uh, you know we’re not asking for the world, we’re just asking for what we feel we deserve. Uh, it’s a, it’s a tough situation out there now a days with, uh, being competitive. And, uh, unions, uh, when they bargain, they bargain for safety, uh, productivity, we know, we’re not against any of those issues. And those are what big business wants and we spend a lot of money on training our members in safety and productivity. Something we all want.

Show Me Progress: The group on the other side, uh, uses rhetoric, uh, that sort of labels, um, the people over here. One of the terms that one of speakers said was that, uh, that there are, there are communists over here. Trying to, you know, agitate. Have you run into any communists that you know of?

Rod Herrmann: No, I don’t think there’s a communist in this group. Jimmy Hoffa pretty much sums that up for us in his day, uh, you know, there’s no communists here, uh, they’re basically riding the backside of the union worker that’s blazed the trail, uh, for the future of my kids and my grandkids. Uh, they’re just looking for a free ride.

Show Me Progress:All right. Well, thank you very much for your time.

Rod Herrmann: Thank you.

[….]

Show Me Progress: Why are you here today?

Wayne Parsons:  To stand up for the, uh, for the people up in Wisconsin. Show ’em that I’m their side, we’re on their side and we believe like what they believe.

Show Me Progress: Um, what does collective bargaining mean for you?

Wayne Parsons:  That means, to me, that means you’ve got people that can stand up against the bullies, that they can’t overrun you, and that you can fight for a right to, to, you know, to receive what you deserve.

Show Me Progress: …The, the folks on the other side, um, they use some interesting rhetoric. Uh, they’ve said that, uh, that they think that the communists are, are, uh, organizing this group over here. Have you noticed any communists around here?

Wayne Parsons:  Ah, I don’t believe there’s, really, I don’t really believe there’s any communists in America. And one thing about it, we’re all Americans. We’re not communists, we’re not socialists, we’re Americans. We’re people. You know, we want to be free. Communism is not free. We want to be free. We don’t want the rich man to tell us what we should do or not do. We want to be able to, to be free.

Show Me Progress: …Well, thank you very much for your time.

Wayne Parsons:  Thank you.

[….]

Show Me Progress: Why are you here today?

Chad Smith: Well, standing up for the middle class, for what’s right. It’s just plain common sense really.

Show Me Progress: Uh, what’s your affiliation?

Chad Smith: Uh, IBEW, Local 2.

Show Me Progress: And Local 2 is where?

Chad Smith: In St. Louis.

Show Me Progress: St. Louis.

Chad Smith: Yes, sir.

Show Me Progress: What does, what does collective bargaining mean for you?

Chad Smith: Well, it means my whole life. It means, uh, everything that the middle class has to work for. I mean, without it, you know, you got corporations, they got millions to sit around and have attorneys on retainer and, uh, regular working Americans can’t afford to have attorneys on retainer. And that’s what unions are there for, so, to make a level playing field for everybody.

Show Me Progress: Now, now the folks on the other side use some rhetoric that’s, uh, they think that, that, that this organization over here, this, this crowd here is, uh, basically being prompted by people that have motives, uh, other than what you state. They use the term, calling the people that are organizing this communists. Have you noticed any communists over here?

Chad Smith: I haven’t seen a one. Actually, I , I seen the guys on the south side and, uh, it’s pretty much, you know, basically all I got to say about them is, uninformed voters.

Show Me Progress: Well, thank you very much for your time.

Chad Smith:  Thank you.

[….]

Bobby Wright: I’m from Local 1887 in St. Louis, UAW.  Uh, we came down to show our support for the Wisconsin fourteen and the Wisconsin, uh, public service employees. And, uh, we think what’s going on here’s an attack on the middle class. I think it’s shameful of where our government’s headed. It seems to be organized by corrupt corporate agenda.  And, uh, basically I’m just fed up with it. You know, I’m out here, show my support for what’s going on in Wisconsin.

Show Me Progress: Uh, what does collective bargaining mean for you?

Bobby Wright: Collective barg
aining means for me, is that, uh, as a worker on the lowest level we can collectively get a voice on, uh, efficiency and operations within corporations ’cause we are on the front lines of, of their ability to make money. In my opinion, uh, as a union employee we don’t thrive unless the company survives, so we’re, we’re, our best interest is that the company stays involved and, in collective bargaining issues so that we can progress as a, as a community within the corporation. And talking away that right pretty much, uh, leads to what I would call a dictatorial state, not necessarily Democracy.  And that’s just my opinion and, and, you know, the way it’s headed I think the more information that gets out there I think we’re headed to a renewed labor movement. And I think it’s best what’s for the middle class. It’s a shrinking conglomerate. And, uh, and any time we can step forward as a society and start to get informed on what goes on at the highest levels I think we’ll be better off.

Show Me Progress: All right, thank you very much for your time.

Bobby Wright: Thank you.

Uh, I don’t think communists wear jackets like these, at the MoveOn organized labor rally on the north side of the capitol:

Sprinkler Fitters and Sheet Metal Workers.

American Federation of Teachers.

United Steelworkers of America.

Sheet Metal Workers.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Teamsters.

International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers.

Those are working people’s jackets.

A right wingnut bumper sticker, on a vehicle parked near the teabagger rally on the south side of the capitol:

And, and communists, too, so there.

There is a distinct difference between the south side and north side groups, eh?  

Previously:

Rallies in Jefferson City, Saturday, Feb. 26th: support organized labor or teabaggers, your pick (February 24, 2011)

It was cold. But the day in Jefferson City exceeded my expectations.

There weren’t very many teabaggers, though they did have banners and a beefy sound system. Do you think some billionaire patrons paid for that through an astroturf front organization? Just asking.

Today really wasn’t about the speeches. It was about showing up.

Though a teabagger speaker seemed a tad bit concerned about the “communists” on the other side of the capitol.

The teabagger rally in support of republicans and corporate interests on the south side of the capitol.

The organized labor folks on the north side of the capitol had greater numbers and one barely audible bull horn. I estimate the MoveOn organized labor crowd numbered from 350 to 400.

The MoveOn and organized labor rally in support of Wisconsin workers on the north side of the capitol.

Stop the war on teachers, we are not the enemy. On the north side of the capitol.

On the north side of the capitol.

On the north side of the capitol.

I’m in love with a union man. On the north side of the capitol.

From Egypt to Jeff City. One world, one pain. On the north side of the capitol.

Mo public workers in solidarity. On Wi[sconsin]! On the north side of the capitol.

On the north side of the capitol.

On the north side of the capitol.

Walker is addicted to Koch. On the north side of the capitol.

Tea party Taliban. Koch sucker. On the north side of the capitol.

What the teabaggers lacked in numbers they made up for with their sound system:

The teabagger rally. On the south side of the capitol.

On the south side of the capitol.

MoveOn is organizing rallies at every state capitol on Saturday in support of organized labor in Wisconsin. There’s one in Jefferson City:

Rally to Save the American Dream

In Wisconsin and around our country, the American Dream is under fierce attack. Instead of creating jobs, Republicans are giving tax breaks to corporations and the very rich-and then cutting funding for education, police, emergency response, and vital human services.

On Saturday, February 26, at noon local time, we are organizing rallies in front of every statehouse and in every major city to stand in solidarity with the people of Wisconsin. We demand an end to the attacks on worker’s rights and public services across the country. We demand investment, to create decent jobs for the millions of people who desperately want to work. And we demand that the rich and powerful pay their fair share.

We are all Wisconsin. We are all Americans.

This Saturday, we will stand together to Save the American Dream. Be sure to wear Wisconsin Badger colors-red and white-to show your solidarity. Sign up today to join in!

State Capitol in Jefferson City, Capitol Building on High Street

Jefferson City, MO 65109

Saturday, February 26th, 12:00 PM

[emphasis added]

Sure enough, teabaggers are doing the same thing:

March on the State Capital

The left via moveon.org and OFA are organizing protests in Jefferson City this Saturday, so the St. Louis Tea Party Coalition is joining the call from Tea Party and 9-12 groups across the state to counter protest on the capital steps.

   When: 10:30AM Saturday, February 26th

   Where: Steps of the Capitol Building in Jefferson City

Speakers are still being scheduled for Saturday. We will meet about 10:30AM to stake out our ground. The moveon.org rally is scheduled to for noon. Bring signs, banners, and bottled water/snacks.

We have to draw the line now before the fiscal problems in the country worsen. With Right-to-Work (RTW) legislation pending in Missouri, we have to support our conservative legislators. We can do that Saturday as we stand with fellow patriots from around the state to show our support for Gov. Scott Walker and the conservative legislators of Wisconsin who are trying to restore fiscal sanity.

It should be interesting.

Update:

Yep, it’s getting interesting.

On this Saturday the 26th of February the communist organization moveon.org is organizing a rally in Jefferson City to support  destroying our nation through deeper debt in the name of “protecting the working man”.

It is very, very important that you and I, the true lovers of freedom and liberty, step up to the plate and let our voices be heard!  We are tired of having our government being hijacked by a small minority!  We are tired of the middle class always having to pay for the unions’ demands of higher and higher wages, which they continue to demand even though those wages and benefits are 2 or 3 times higher than that of the private sector or fair market value!  We want to STOP driving ourselves and our posterity into crushing debt just because some people refuse to tighten their belts!….

[emphasis added]

I thought accusing someone of being a communist went out with high button shoes. Evidently not for fascists.

Now, they did write “union” and not “public”, but since they are organizing against the MoveOn rally in support of public sector collective bargaining in Wisconsin it’s probably safe to assume they were including public sector employees in the mix.

The following does compare public and private sector compensation:

Study: Public employees better-educated, more skilled, earn less

Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 8:00 AM by Laura Northrup

Are workers in the public sector really overpaid and too comfy for their own good? According to a new study from the Center for State and Local Government Excellence and National Institute on Retirement Security, not really. Analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed that state and local government employees are generally better-educated than their counterparts working in the private sector, but earn less overall, even including benefits such as health care and pension plans.

From the study:

       * Public and private workforces differ in important ways. For instance, jobs in the public sector require much more education on average than those in the private sector. Employees in state and local sectors are twice as likely as their private sector counterparts to have a college or advanced degree.

       * Wages and salaries of state and local employees are lower than those for private sector workers with comparable earnings determinants (e.g., education). State employees typically earn 11 percent less; local workers earn 12 percent less.

       * Over the last 20 years, the earnings for state and local employees have generally declined relative to comparable private sector employees. The pattern of declining relative compensation remains true in most of the large states we examined, although some state-level variation exists.

       * Benefits (e.g., pensions) comprise a greater share of employee compensation in the public sector. State and local employees have lower total compensation than their private sector counterparts. On average, total compensation is 6.8 percent lower for state employees and 7.4 percent lower for local workers, compared with comparable private sector employees.

[….]

So much for two to three times…