1st Jun 2011 at 16:08 | By dena
Did 80% of Federal Stimulus Funds Go To Public Unions?
Several months ago Rush Limbaugh claimed that over 80% of the federal stimulus funds Wisconsin received went to public unions. Limbaugh said that Wisconsin received $701 million in stimulus money and $600 million went to public sector unions. Is this true?
courtsey of live radio streams
Yes, in a round about way.
To back up his claim, Limbaugh cited statistics put out by former Gov. Jim Doyle that showed that retaining government (public) employment was paramount. Seventy-five percent of the 8,284 jobs attributed to the stimulus money were public sector positions.
For the Democratic administration, keeping public employees was key. Of course any Governor would want to reduce unemployment, but reducing public sector unemployment created a chain reaction that ultimately benefited the Democratic party.
Because public sector employees are forced to join their respective union, and union dues are automatically deducted from their paycheck, it stands to reason that preserving public sector workers, preserves the unions. Limbaugh arrives at his number by watching the flow of money through the funnel. And to take it one step further, we can also extrapolate that the stimulus money was in essence the government paying the government. Because once the union coffers were filled, they had the funds necessary to fund Democratic candidates in the 2010 elections.
In addition to seeing how the stimulus money flowed in Wisconsin, the case also shows why the unions were so up in arms when Gov. Scott Walker’s collective bargaining bill (which is currently pending before the Supreme Court) passed the legislature in February. While most of the media noise centered on employees having to pay for a percentage of their pension and healthcare, and the elimination of many collective bargaining rights, for unions the elimination of mandatory dues is the real killer.
When Gov. Mitch Daniels changed the laws in Indiana to stop mandatory dues it decimated the unions. Unions saw their revenues cut by 90 percent. In 2005 16,408 people paid union dues, today it’s a mere 1490. Ouch!
For any politician and party dependent on big government, history proves that it must maintain the status quo in union structure. Today’s union isn’t about protecting the average worker, it’s about protecting the progressive movement in America.
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Discussion | 16 Comments on "Did 80% of Federal Stimulus Funds Go To Public Unions?"
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Johnny said
Jun 1, 2011 at 8:31 PM
This whole ponzi scheme is sure to collapse as soon as the tipping point is reached where so much money has been siphoned out of productive industry and funneled into the liberal cess pool (unions and democrats) that we all begin choking on the waste swirling about. How can those in Washington DC tell us with a straight face that they are doing the “people’s” work?
They send tax money (in the form of “stimulus”) to the unions (who’s membership is guaranteed because those in certain vocations have no choice but to join and pay union dues) who, in turn, spend the money to re-elect democrats. How is this in any way a reflection of what America was supposed to be?
Jeff said
Jun 2, 2011 at 8:25 PM
This is why those of us in Wisconsin are broke. The liberals created jobs that benifited them. It never crosses their minds on who creates jobs. Tax and raise licenses to do buisness in Wisconsin to allow them to spend money on their friends and forget the real middle class. Thank GOD Walker is creating a Wisconsin open for buisness!
Greg said
Jun 3, 2011 at 12:31 AM
AMEN Jeff! Governor Walker has already drastically changed the business climate in WI, which in turn means JOBS! The libs are crying because the public sector pukes are being asked to do what the rest of us in the private sector have always had to do. Walker had to make some tough decisions to reverse the collossal mess Doyle left behind.
Concerned Citizen said
Jun 3, 2011 at 4:22 AM
Holy false-ness, Batman ! This is your objective analysis? Please take a look at this site and re-think your conclusion: http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/44713312.html
chas615 said
Jun 3, 2011 at 11:19 AM
I have looked at the link you posted. I am not seeing how the article confirms or rebukes this article. I do see MOST of money going into public agencies. The question is where does it go from there??? How was it put to use??? You need better sources to rebuke this article.
Johnny said
Jun 3, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Took a look at the site, but am scratching my head even more now. Look at the chart that shows the top 20 programs receiving stimulus dollars. Not many “shovel-ready” projects in there. It reads like a laundry list of hand out programs for democrat voters.
Doug the Chicken said
Jun 19, 2011 at 1:54 AM
Funny, I was just on the site posted by Concerned “Batman” fan. Inside the website is this link: http://recovery.wisconsin.gov/MoneyTracker.aspx
Notice that the “education”, which in Wisconsin is French for: Obama voting Teachers’ Unions is nearly half the total and sum of the other 7. Now for the real fun! Select Dane County on the blue map (the example I used), select the tab at the bottom “Sub recipients, sort by dollar amount. 45 of the top 60 awards are to Schools! U of W gets a lions share and Dane, one of the lowest in unemployment gets by far the most money, proportionately considering population. Why? Because it’s where they waged the war on sanity and played rent-a-mob for all the GE owned TV stations to run their lecherous propaganda game. And the fact it’s a swing state. What a slush fund. A little homework please “Mr. Concerned”.
jeremy said
Jun 26, 2011 at 3:49 PM
ok so about 75 percent went to government employees who were FORCED to pay union dues which is what 10 percent of their paychecks? the math isnt adding up for me can any one clarify this?
Raul said
Dec 28, 2011 at 3:42 PM
Oh my, data from Rush Limbaugh……I laughed , and laughed, and laughed…
Ruthie3 said
May 3, 2012 at 2:43 PM
You “laughed, and laughed, and laughed”. Cannot refute only deflect. No need to confuse YOU with facts. You’ve got your mind made up. Research? What’s that?