It's Working! The 60 second Commercial

Please see www.itsworkingwisconsin.com. The website is committed to providing the facts to Wisconsin taxpayers. Every week there are more examples of how It's Working. Together, the Americans for Prosperity Foundation and the John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy have chronicled success stories from across Wisconsin.

We also arm you with the facts to explain why the reform was necessary.

• Category

  News & Politics

[MacIverInstitute]

Happy to take part in a productive discussion of the issues. But the profanity serves no purpose. Comments will be moderated from here on. F Bombs will not be tolerated.

[jlg1jlg1]

Thank you Scott Walker for having the courage to utilize the taxpayer's money wisely so that we can have hope for the future of Wisconsin! The silent majority supports you.

[MacIverInstitute]

Pay should be comensurate with what the market deems appropriate. Some teachers with those credentials may merit twice their pay. Some may be lousy teachers. Time on the job should not be the primary standard for increasing compensation. Quality and efficacy must be the drivers, especially when you consider the fact that most educators have one shot (one year) with each student. Fortunately, the new reforms not only help the budget situation, it allows for merit pay.

[Nerfball6]

Actually it is. Sorry, I know you were hoping for it to fail because you hate Walker and can't stand the thought of being wrong.

[MacIverInstitute]

Superintendent says 200 jobs could be saved with pension concessions By Karen Herzog of the Journal Sentinel

June 29, 2011

If the 5,600 members of the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association would agree to pay 5.8% of their pay toward pensions, the superintendent estimated the district could save $20 million and about 200 teaching jobs.

[MacIverInstitute]

You can call it whatever you wish. We call it fact. And we're not alone. google "Politifact MacIver" (since we can't post links here).

"Let’s return to the MacIver Institute claim.

The conservative think tank said the average annual compensation for a Milwaukee Public Schools teacher would exceed $100,000 in 2011. As of July 1, 2011, according to the school district, that figure will be $101,091.

MacIver’s claim is True.

[friedbolognahat]

You know what facts I do have? That the MacIver Institute is just another Republican mouthpiece with ties to the Koch brothers and funding through John Birch Society founder Harry Bradley's Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. You are a puppet in an organization that is made up of rich people looking out for rich people. The disparity between rich and poor in this country, and in Wisconsin, is disgusting and only continues to backslide as it has for three decades now. Shame!

[hawksocc8]

Let's not let the facts get in the way of a good story. "The total layoffs - about 5% of the district's full-time employees - are the result of a number of budgetary factors, including the loss of $84 million in state aid to MPS for the next fiscal year, Thornton said." (Thornton reveals 519 layoffs, including 354 teachers, JSOnline.com, June 29, 2011.) Apparently Scott Walker's version of "reducing the strain on local governments," as your video says, is taking $84 million.

[friedbolognahat]

I've been writing about school districts in Wisconsin for 10 years now. I know what I'm talking about. Using capital letters to make it appear that you are SHOUTING and throwing F-bombs does not make you sound any smarter or your arguments seem more compelling.

[friedbolognahat]

School districts across Wisconsin are still facing huge shortfalls because of reduced funding and HUGE unfunded mandates. It's not the teachers' faults. That's an oversimplification of the argument (that's a logical fallacy you should have learned about in school). Walker has a bent on busting unions and an eye on privatizing education. It's everything we're against in this state. If a teacher is required to have a masters +30 districts must pay accordingly.

[GearheadZ Mechanical]

I am calling BULLSHIT on the 100,000 a year shit..you are an uneducated IDIOT!..where's your facts ASSHAT!..