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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Are Republican Governors Union Busting?

    Republican Governors around the country are trying to solve state budget problems without raising taxes by weakening public-employee unions. They claim it's not a coordinated campaign, but union officials call it a scheme to undermine a key source of money and manpower for Democrats.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Republican Governors around the country are trying to solve state budget problems without raising taxes by weakening public-employee unions. They claim it's not a coordinated campaign, but union officials call it a scheme to undermine a key source of money and manpower for Democrats. In Wisconsin, unions have agreed to pay more for healthcare and retirement, but not to give up their bargaining rights. The Senate's minority Democrats have left the state to prevent a vote in the legislature. Last week, President Obama accused Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker of "an assault against unions," but the White House says it's not mobilizing its forces. We hear what's happening in several states and debate the politics. What do voters think about the pros and cons of union organization, public and private?

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Balancing State Budgets or Union Busting?
    1. 0:00Opposition Closes In on Libyan Capital
    2. 7:44Are Republican Governors Union Busting?You’re reading this
    3. 43:02GM's Balance Sheet in the Black
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • KCRW placeholder

      Karen Radziner

      Managing Producer, To the Point & Which Way LA?

    • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

      Sonya Geis

      Senior Managing Editor

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michael Fletcher

      Washington Post

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jonathan Weisman

      New York Times

    • KCRW placeholder

      Carroll Doherty

      Pew Research Center for the People and the Press

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Balancing State Budgets or Union Busting?
    1. 0:00Opposition Closes In on Libyan Capital
    2. 7:44Are Republican Governors Union Busting?You’re reading this
    3. 43:02GM's Balance Sheet in the Black
    Back to To the Point