Wisconsin-Report

• MacIver Institute President Brett Healy: “We Owe Gov. Walker And All Of The Courageous Legislators
Who Voted For Act 10 A Big Thank You.” According to the MacIver Institute, “‘Act 10 refocused lawmakers on
what should always be their top priority: the Wisconsin taxpayer, who generously gives their hard-earned money to
fund this government,’ [MacIver Institute president Brett] Healy said. ‘We owe Gov. Walker and all of the courageous
legislators who voted for Act 10 a big thank you. Gov. Walker has reduced the cost of government in Wisconsin by
more than $5 billion - it is the gift that will keep on giving back to taxpayers long into the future. Five years and $5
billion in taxpayer savings later, it’s still working Wisconsin!’” [MacIver Institute, 2/11/16]
The MacIver Institute Had “A Month-Long Celebration Of Act 10.” According to the MacIver Institute, “It’s working,
Wisconsin. Taxpayers in the Badger State continue to benefit from Act 10 - collective bargaining reform - a full five years after
Gov. Scott Walker introduced the landmark law. To celebrate a half decade of taxpayer savings thanks to Act 10, the MacIver
Institute is kicking off a month-long celebration of Act 10 and the Wisconsin taxpayer.” [MacIver Institute, 2/8/16]
MacIver Institute Spokesperson Chris Rochester: “Act 10 Has Saved Taxpayers $5.24 Billion” By Requiring
“Government Employees Putting More Money Into Their Own Retirement And Health Benefits.” According to the
Badger Herald, “Proponents of the measure, including Chris Rochester, MacIver Institute spokesperson, said Act 10 has saved
taxpayers $5.24 billion. These taxpayer savings come from government employees putting more money into their own
retirement and health benefits, of which taxpayers previously pay a significant portion, Rochester added. ‘Act 10 asks for
relatively modest contribution to one’s own retirement — kind of like what most people in the private sector have to do,’
Rochester said.” [Badger Herald, 2/22/16]
Americans For Prosperity Complimented A New York Times Critique Of Act 10 For Highlighting Its
Supposed “Success”…
Americans For Prosperity Hailed Wisconsin As A “Success Story” In “Standing Up To Public Unions” And
“Limiting Collective Bargaining.” According to Americans for Prosperity’s It’s Still Working Wisconsin Budget Reform
blog, “The New York Times recently highlighted Wisconsin’s Act 10 and effects the law has had in the state. As other states
consider standing up to public unions, Wisconsin serves as a working success story. Limiting collective bargaining in the state
has saved taxpayers billions of dollars, but labor bosses continue to call it ‘devastating.’ Marty Beil, executive director of the
Wisconsin State Employees’ Union, has had a lot of things to say about the law in the last three years. Beil told the New York
Times that membership has plummeted 60 percent in his union, with others facing similar declines around state. He also said
the union might have to sell its Madison headquarters. ‘It’s had a devastating effect on our union,’ Mr. Beil, its executive
director, said of Act 10. He was sitting in his Madison office, inside the headquarters that his union, hard up for cash, may be
forced to sell. The building is underused anyway, as staff reductions have left many offices empty.”
[ItsWorkingWisconsin.com, 4/28/14]
Americans For Prosperity: While The New York Times Tried To Make “Readers Feel Sorry For Big Labor,” They
Brought To The Forefront The “Variety Of Success Stories From Wisconsin” From Act 10. According to Americans
for Prosperity’s It’s Still Working Wisconsin Budget Reform blog, “The New York Times recently highlighted Wisconsin’s Act
10 and effects the law has had in the state. […] While the goal of the article may be to make readers feel sorry for Big Labor, it
cannot help but bring up the variety of success stories from Wisconsin.” [ItsWorkingWisconsin.com, 4/28/14]
…Despite The Fact That The NYT Conveyed That Act 10 Resulted In A Sharp Reduction In Union
Rights And Consequentially Their Membership, Wages, And Benefits
NYT: Act 10 “Severely Restricted The Power Of Public-Employee Unions To Bargain Collectively” Causing Union
Membership Fall As Much As 60% In The Wisconsin State Employees’ Union And Take Home Pay To Fall More
Than 10%. According to the New York Times, “He gets no satisfaction from being right. Since the law was passed,
membership in his union, which represents state employees, has fallen 60 percent; its annual budget has plunged to $2 million
from $6 million. Mr. Walker’s landmark law — called Act 10 — severely restricted the power of public-employee unions to
bargain collectively, and that provision, among others, has given social workers, prison guards, nurses and other public
employees little reason to pay dues to a union that can no longer do much for them. Members of Mr. Beil’s group, the
Wisconsin State Employees’ Union, complain that their take-home pay has fallen more than 10 percent in recent years, a sign
of the union’s greatly diminished power.” [New York Times, 2/22/14]
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