Highlights: Possible Govt shutdown in Iowa; FL Beats Back Worker Gag Bill and Anti-PLA Law, Sees UI Benefits Reduced, Voting Restricted; Education overhaul threat in Illinois; Most Texas dams would go unregulated under House-passed bill; Wisconsin Assembly to vote on expanding Milwaukee's school voucher program, eliminating cap; PA: Surplus emerging as obstacle in Pennsylvania state budget talks; Pension tax would violate constitution, Michigan government retirees say; concerted effort against SB 5 comes together in Ohio; full Scrooge Alert here: http://dailyscroogealert.blogspot.com/

Florida

FL Beats Back Worker Gag Bill and Anti-PLA Law, Sees UI Benefits Reduced, Voting Restricted

Pennsylvani

PA: Surplus emerging as obstacle in Pennsylvania state budget talks
Having more money than you thought is generally a good thing. But in the state budget talks, a surplus is emerging as one of the biggest hurdles.

Corbett touts school vouchers

WASHINGTON -- Teachers unions are undermining public education, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett told a sympathetic audience of school voucher supporters here Monday.

Corbett's budget hits those trying to get by the hardest

I'm a nontraditional student. I had a professor ask me this semester what exactly I meant by that. "Does that mean you have three legs or something?"

Analysis- The push toward privatizing

When officials in Connecticut needed to renovate 23 highway service plazas, they entered into a 35-year agreement with a private company that will invest $178 million in the repair work in return for a share of state revenues.

Michigan

Pension tax would violate constitution, Michigan government retirees say

One of the cornerstones of Gov. Rick Snyder's tax plan -- extending the state income tax to pension income -- is based on the notion that a simple, fair and efficient tax system treats income the same no matter where it comes from.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Assembly to vote on expanding Milwaukee's school voucher program, eliminating cap

The Wisconsin state Assembly is taking up a bill that would allow Milwaukee's voucher program to expand outside of the city limits.

Wisconsin panel approves voter ID bill

The latest version of a bill requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls cleared the Legislature's budget-writing committee on Monday after undergoing more changes that Democrats said will only lead to chaos and confusion.

How Wisconsin's War on Workers Hurts Farmers
AlterNet
In Wisconsin, 80 percent of dairy farmers sell their milk through cooperatives, which use collective bargaining to establish milk prices for their members. Sign up to stay up to date on the latest Economy headlines via email

State labor leader to address Democrats in Issaquah
Issaquah Press
“Washington state is not Wisconsin, but that doesn't mean working families here aren't facing similar attacks,” she said in a release. “This legislative session alone we have seen right-to-work legislation introduced, attempts to lower the minimum wage ...

Walker's plan detrimental to education
Green Bay Press Gazette
As teachers, we work diligently to ensure our students in Wisconsin score at the top of the nation in ACT and SAT scores, while states without collective bargaining have scored at or near the bottom. We believe it only makes sense that all who

Minnesota

GOP redraws congressional boundaries
MinnPost.com
Lawmakers may also act again on Walker's controversial plan stripping public employee unions of their collective bargaining rights. An earlier version, which led to massive protest demonstrations at the Capitol, has been left in limbo by legal

Ohio

Some small businesses pushing to repeal SB5
Lancaster Eagle Gazette
The stickers are part of the Proud Ohio Workers campaign, an effort to show Ohio's small businesses support collective bargaining rights for public employees, said campaign spokeswoman Rebecca Scott, and are placed on 600 business doors throughout the

Gov. John Kasich says federal workers have 'zippo, zero' ability to ...
PolitiFact
John Kasich's most consistent arguments in favor of Ohio's new collective bargaining law. The law, Senate Bill 5, will bring Ohio's public workers closer in line with private sector workers, who, on average, pay more for health care benefits and have

First-responder unions meet on SB5
13abc.com
They also met to garner support to repeal Ohio's new collective bargaining law. They believe the law would negatively affect the work of our first responders, causing crime to increase. Wagner says if the law is not repealed, it would be detrimental to

Police, fire unions urge referendum
Marion Star
"That was collective bargaining at its finest," Ralph said of the concession packages, which are expected to save the city's general fund $716776 this year. To put the referendum on the Nov. 8 general election ballot, supporters must collect 231147

Akron police, Summit deputies join forces to oppose Senate Bill 5
Akron Beacon Journal (blog)
He said the new collective bargaining limits come in a year when Ohio already has seen six officers killed in the line of duty. Across the nation, 66 officers have been killed. Union members will host are a public petition signing from 9 am to 1 pm

New Hampshire

Public employee pension reform off to slow start
The Union Leader
House-backed changes in collective bargaining that would cut into contract rights is “problematic,” Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, said during talks. The House version of Senate Bill 3 would let employers, like towns and school

Texas

Most Texas dams would go unregulated under House-passed bill

The vast majority of dams in Texas would no longer have to meet state safety requirements if a Fort Worth lawmaker gets his way.

Illinois

IL: Illinois education overhaul at risk
CHICAGO — A sweeping state education bill that passed the Illinois state Senate unanimously and had the support of teachers unions and education-advocacy groups could be derailed by claims it was altered at the last minute.

Maine

Lawmakers spent more time on whoopie pie bill than health insurance changes

Nuggets from the notebook while considering the alacrity of insurance reform versus the dense, sticky slog of legislating whoopie pies

Budget changes tackle $164M hole
Mainebiz Daily
It also includes repealing collective bargaining rights for child care workers, cutting the Maine Clean Election Act funds and proposes a number of changes ...

Iowa

IA: Senate Democrats raise prospect of Iowa government shutdown on July 1
A top Iowa Senate Democrat raised the possibility of a state government shutdown on July 1 if agreement can't be reached with Republican Gov. Terry Branstad on a new state budget.

Massachusetts

MA: Ensuring coverage for youngsters
Thousands of Massachusetts children remain without health care coverage despite the state's universal insurance law, a chasm that is prompting the launch today of a campaign by state leaders and consumer advocates to get all youngsters enrolled.

South Carolina

House bill would bar SC's state workers from unionizing
Charleston Post Courier
According to House Bill 4194, the proposed legislative amendment would prohibit "collective bargaining with an employee of the State or its political subdivisions, or an association or union advocating on behalf of an employee of the State or a

Montana

Republicans strike out on budget deal

After 88 days of Republican leaders repeatedly ignoring our input, it is not surprising to hear them now cry foul and blame the governor for "breaking the budget deal." Fact is, they didn't listen much at all this session, so disregarding the budget agreement they signed seems to be right on cue