To the Point
Balancing State Budgets or Union Busting?
Republican governors in several states continue their face-off with organized public workers. Is it just about their budgets? What's the role of partisan politics? How do Americans feel about the value of unions? Also, the opposition closes in on the Libyan capital, and General Motors turns a profit.
By Warren Olney • • 50m ListenRepublican governors in several states continue their face-off with organized public workers. Is it just about their budgets? What's the role of partisan politics? How do Americans feel about the value of unions? Also, the opposition closes in on the Libyan capital, and General Motors has announced its first annual profit since 2004. Is the government takeover working?
Banner image: Protestors Kieth Woodhouse (L) and Jamie Duffin sit among protest signs taped to the walls of the state capitol on February 23, 2011 in Madison, Wisconsin. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
In this episode
3 storiesOpposition Closes In on Libyan Capital
On a Libyan TV station today, Colonel Moammar Gadhafi blamed bloody violence on "hallucinogenic" drugs given young people by Osama bin Laden. Meantime, with half the country's coastal cities now in the hands of protesters, his mercenary and irregular forces are fighting back. Correspondent Bob Drogin is in Cairo for the Los Angeles Times .
Read the story8 minAre 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.
Read the story35 minGM's Balance Sheet in the Black
In 2009, General Motors lost $21 billion before it declared bankruptcy. Last year, for the first time since 2004, GM turned a profit of $4.7 billion. Even after today's announcement the bailout of General Motors remains one of the most controversial actions of the Obama Administration. Did the government bailout save the day?
Read the story8 min
