Highlights: MN: Antitax extremism in Minnesota; Record-Eagle: Michigan County Commissioners Consider Right-to-Work “a Waste of Time.”; More negotiations, but no fix yet from Dayton and GOP; Union Workers Replaced With Prison Labor Under Scott Walker’s Collective Bargaining Law; RI: Chafee Tries to Defend Voter ID Law; Validation process begins for collective bargaining referendum; Budget Cuts Force TX Town To Lay Off Entire Police Force; full Scrooge Alert at http://dailyscroogealert.blogspot.com/

Minnesota

MN: Antitax extremism in Minnesota
How far will Republican lawmakers go to protect millionaires? Those who think a default on the federal government's credit seems implausible should take a sobering look at the "closed" signs dotting Minnesota. The Republican Party there readily shut down the state's government on Friday by refusing to raise taxes on the 7,700 Minnesotans who make more than $1 million a year.

Laid-off union workers to rally at Capitol against all-cuts budget
Minnesota Independent
Keith Downey, who authored legislation that would eliminate the jobs of 5000 state workers and threaten collective bargaining rights for public employees. Jennifer Munt, public affairs director for AFSCME Council 5, said the event will include street ...

More negotiations, but no fix yet from Dayton and GOP

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP legislative leaders are scheduled to meet privately Wednesday to talk again about ways to end their budget standoff.

Pennsylvania

When did public education become public enemy No. 1?

The notion that all citizens are entitled to an education is deeply rooted in the history of this country. Horace Mann espoused this concept while serving as the secretary of education for the commonwealth of Massachusetts beginning in 1837.

Michigan

Record-Eagle: Michigan County Commissioners Consider Right-to-Work “a Waste of Time.”

First, Michigan Guts Democracy. Now Aims for Workers' Paychecks
AFL-CIO (blog)
Now, extremists in the state are pushing for passage of a so-called right to work law that would limit the ability of the workers to maintain or attain the middle class. A new study by University of Michigan research scientist Roland Zullo illustrates

Michigan Democrats to judge Gov. Rick Snyder on job creation

Michigan Democrats intend to hold Gov. Rick Snyder and his business tax overhaul to the standard that Republicans deployed when a Democrat was in the office: job creation, or loss.

GOP leaders not surprised MEA is working on recall efforts, says union has waged 'clandestine war' for months

State House GOP leaders say they're not surprised that the teachers unions are taking an active role in attempts to recall lawmakers who approved an education reform package.

Ohio

Cleveland mayor says 'high possiblity' he will use new option to exempt ...
Plain Dealer (blog)
The collective-bargaining exemption -- given to Cleveland only, as the sole Ohio district under mayoral control -- would free the converted schools from union pay scales and work rules, including seniority requirements for layoffs and teacher callbacks ...

Validation process begins for collective bargaining referendum
WFMJ
They'll begin the process of certifying the validity of names on petitions seeking to strike down Ohio's new law covering collective bargaining for public employees. On Tuesday, Mahoning County Election officials brought back 37 boxes of petitions from ...

OH: New Ohio election law isn't awful, but the tactics of its passage leave a sour taste
The election-reform bill that Gov. John Kasich signed into law last week does some good things: It moves the state toward using the Internet to register voters and update records. It eliminates the confusing "golden week" when a person could register and vote the same day, and it moves the primary to May -- extra time that will be especially welcome after next year's redistricting.

Wisconsin

Union Workers Replaced With Prison Labor Under Scott Walker’s Collective Bargaining Law

Government Accountability Board to spend $750,000 on Wisconsin voter ID education

The state board in charge of running elections says it plans to spend more than $750,000 educating the public about the new photo identification law that fully takes effect next year.

Indiana

Congressmen: Don't risk Hoosier jobs in Asian carp action

U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., and a candidate for Indiana governor have teamed up to ensure any action taken to stop Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan and other Chicago-area waterways accounts for the impact on the region's economy.

Rhode Island

RI: Chafee Tries to Defend Voter ID Law
Governor Chafee, in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, said that requiring identification at the polls is a "reasonable request" to ensure the "accuracy and integrity" of state and local elections.

Texas

Budget Cuts Force TX Town To Lay Off Entire Police Force

Arizona

Phoenix mayor, council hopefuls take shots at unions
Arizona Republic
"When council members blame the unions for things it's a false statement because council members sit down as part of that collective-bargaining effort and accept or reject things for the betterment of the city, not for the advancement of one group or ...