Governor Ritter has decided not to run for a second term.
What does this mean for WINS?
The union has just lost its creator. They now have to take their battle to the General Assembly, mostly democrats, who will now focus, according to the WINS charter, to create legislation making state employee unions law. They fear that the next governor, if a republican, independent, or tea party member, will trash the executive order that allowed their existence (Scott McInnis has already stated he would do just that). And trust me…they do not want to see the millions of dollars spent to create WINS flushed down the drain. And, more importantly, they don’t want to lose the, up to, thirteen million dollars, they could receive annually from dues, vanish at the stoke of a pen.
WINS is already showing that they are in dire straits by going up to peoples’ homes and, thuggishly, pushing for membership (which has fallen off). They received just under 8,000 votes (out of 31,000) to be here, but have fewer than 3,500 members (and I wonder if that number is accurate).
The governor has already stated he will do things that are necessary to balance the budget…things that will not please everyone. What does he care…he’s gone now. That places our PERA in jeopardy. Do you really believe WINS is going to change that? NOT!
WINS has NO power, but they sure talk it up, don’t they. All they want is YOUR money.
Can you do something? Sure you can. Watch for my blog to keep informed about what WINS is up to. When it gets to the point that they present their issue to the general assembly, call and write your state representatives to let them know that you are against it.
Dave