Katie Couric's Notebook: Unions

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

Right now, there's one thing the Wisconsin state legislature could truly accomplish in a bipartisan way: a resolution to honor the Green Bay Packers. Beyond that, it may be an uphill battle.

After a week of protests in Madison, state Democrats and Republican Governor Scott Walker still have horns firmly locked.

Like 45 other states, Wisconsin is facing a budget deficit. Governor Walker is proposing deep cuts in public employee pension and health care benefits, and has called for eliminating collective bargaining rights for everything but pay.

Wisconsin was the first state in the union to create a union for state workers. It won't be the last to have a showdown over public employee benefits.

In 2007, candidate Obama said he'd walk the picket line with any American workers "being denied the right to organize."

It won't be long before union leaders hand the President a comfortable pair of shoes.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.

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by Meter_Reader March 2, 2011 10:48 AM EST: I wonder what made this person worth so much?
Now I know why health insurence coverage is so high for cities in MA
Cleve L. Killingsworth, who abruptly resigned last March as chief executive of the nonprofit Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, collected $8.6 million in compensation from the state's largest health insurer in 2010.; Reply to this comment


by misty-2009 March 1, 2011 9:14 AM EST: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IF8xNhYS5I&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=MLGxdCwVVULXfaxnRPZYuE1WAa8A7sLs9q ;)

It's a long story... But a really good one ;); Reply to this comment


by welcomehomethomaas March 1, 2011 8:32 AM EST: This was the first time that the checks and balances didn't work in our Democracy. This sets an ugly precedent in the USA.; Reply to this comment


by misty-2009 February 28, 2011 9:03 AM EST: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMdwFkO8xA0 ;); Reply to this comment


by misty-2009 February 28, 2011 8:33 AM EST: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9098SMcOk8 ;); Reply to this comment


by welcomehomethomaas February 27, 2011 10:08 AM EST: When the Country was falling apart, Betsy Ross got it all sewed up.; Reply to this comment


by misty-2009 February 27, 2011 9:30 AM EST: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if1lXvE1Ufc ;); Reply to this comment


by misty-2009 February 26, 2011 11:05 AM EST: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_tcE4rWovI ;); Reply to this comment


by chrisauepp77 February 24, 2011 9:01 PM EST: Why is CBS you not reporting the union busting in Idaho? Is Idaho that insignificant? Idaho legislature just past an anti teacher union bill today, not going to but did, that should make the news!; Reply to this comment


by beavertonhilton February 24, 2011 8:00 PM EST: what is disgusting is the Republican party fighting to the death to implement and then preserve W's tax cuts for the uber weathy and now to go after the teachers unions(!) to balance their budget. Disgusting. Wake up people!; Reply to this comment