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Statements about Labor
State Democratic Party of Wisconsin

State Democratic Party of Wisconsin

Pants on Fire!

Um, they’re actually re-securing the building after damage was done

As part of efforts to rein in protesters, Republicans in Wisconsin have "bolted windows inside the Capitol shut."

Scott Walker

Scott Walker

Mostly False

Some accelerated a bit, but all were in the works and some are sticking to regular meeting schedule

"We've seen local union after local union rush to their school boards, their city councils, their technical school boards and rush through contracts in the past two weeks that had no contributions to the pension and no contribution to health care."

Jennifer Shilling

Jennifer Shilling

False

A few examples in her area, but it's far from common

Says many local governments in Wisconsin already require employees to pay 20 percent, 30 percent or even 40 percent of their health insurance premiums.

Scott Walker

Scott Walker

False

As a political argument, it may work. But as a financial one? Experts say not so much

"We’re broke. We don’t have any more money."

Ed Garvey

Ed Garvey

False

No evidence -- including from Garvey -- it was ever said

Claims Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said: "It is necessary to eliminate unions in order to balance future budgets."

Scott Walker

Scott Walker

Mostly True

Some fuzziness, but numbers appear to be on target

If public employees don’t pay more for benefits starting April 1, 2011, "the equivalent" is 1,500 state employee layoffs by June 30, 2011 and 10,000 to 12,000 state and local government employee layoffs in the next two years.

Mark Pocan

Mark Pocan

False

Experts say the figure is on target

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s estimate of a $3.6 billion state budget deficit is "manufactured" and a "bogus figure."

Scott Walker

Scott Walker

False

In unguarded conversation, some strategies and new information emerged

"The things I said (during the prank call by a blogger posing as GOP contributor David Koch) are the things I’ve said publicly all along" about the Wisconsin budget debate.

Scott Walker

Scott Walker

False

Law enforcement in Madison doesn't see it that way

When it comes to protesters in Madison, "almost all" are now from outside of Wisconsin.

Scott Walker

Scott Walker

True

When Democrats passed their budget repair bill, things moved lightning fast

In 2009, Democratic Wisconsin state senators "rammed through a billion-dollar tax hike in 24 hours with no public input."

Scott Walker

Scott Walker

False

For a campaign built on specifics, there were none to suggest the scope of his proposal

"I campaigned on (the proposals in the budget repair bill for Wisconsin) all throughout the election. Anybody who says they are shocked on this has been asleep for the past two years."

Reince Priebus

Reince Priebus

False

Even Walker acknowledges some unions are exempt

Says Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in his budget repair bill "is showing that no stone goes unturned as he asks everyone to tighten their belts."

Lena Taylor

Lena Taylor

Pants on Fire!

Extreme comparison, extreme rating

Hitler "abolished unions and that’s what" Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is "doing today."

Jon Erpenbach

Jon Erpenbach

Mostly False

Among other things, Medicaid funding will run out before then

When it comes to urgency on passing a budget repair bill, "there’s no rush on this thing" because the fiscal year doesn’t end until June 30, 2011.

Republican Party of Wisconsin

Republican Party of Wisconsin

Mostly True

The doctors were there, but no one has called a strike

At protests in Wisconsin against proposed collective bargaining changes, "phony sick notes (were) passed out to excuse striking union members."

Scott Walker

Scott Walker

Pants on Fire!

His own past statements contradict this one

Says under his budget-repair bill, "collective bargaining is fully intact."

Paul Ryan

Paul Ryan

Pants on Fire!

Everyone else says they're spirited but peaceful

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s move to limit collective bargaining rights has led to "riots" at the Capitol -- "It's like Cairo has moved to Madison these days."

Rachel Maddow

Rachel Maddow

False

On this one, you have to read the fine print

"Despite what you may have heard about Wisconsin’s finances, Wisconsin is on track to have a budget surplus this year."

Club for Growth

Club for Growth

Mostly False

Hmm. What about all those furlough days?

When it comes to taking cuts in tough budget times, Wisconsin "state workers haven’t had to sacrifice."

Ed Schultz

Ed Schultz

False

The math does not add up.

Under changes being debated, state employees in Wisconsin "who earn $30,000, $40,000, $50,000 a year might have 20 percent of their income just disappear overnight."

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