Here's how a real Governor does it

[stevedeshazer]

Gov. John Kitzhaber of Oregon:

We can do better, but to succeed, we must do this together; respecting each other and restoring our sense of community. We cannot and will not allow the challenges we face in the month ahead to tear our state apart. And the most hopeful sign to date is the positive tone that’s been set in Salem. There’s been virtually no partisanship – and I commend President Courtney; Speaker Hanna; and Speaker Roblan for their leadership in this regard. I believe we are beginning to gain a collective sense that Oregon’s success depends on our willingness to pull together and develop new partnerships and new coalitions.

Let me also say that this state will not go down the road that Wisconsin has chosen. I have made it clear that I expect our public employees to make some concessions to help us through our current fiscal challenges – including contributing to the cost of their health care; and helping to absorb the increased employer contribution in the PERS system. But these concessions will be made across the bargaining table and through our collective bargaining process with mutual respect.

We will not solve our budget challenge or the structural problems we face in education and health care by attacking the labor movement or seeking to make scapegoats of our public employees. The labor movement helped create the middle class in the last century and it will play an important role in helping raised per capita incomes in this century. Oregon’s public employees are our neighbors, our colleagues, our families and our friends.

The entire speech is here from Friday 3/4/11: http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/media_room/speeches/s2011/city_club_030411.shtml

[MedleyMisty]

1. That is pretty awesome

Wish he would say that we will solve our budget challenge by taxing the people who have all the money. That would be even more awesome.

[msongs]

6. taxing the corporations who have all the power and untaxed income nt

[Beartracks]

9. True,public employees aren't somehow separate from taxpayers...

... the ARE taxpayers, just like most every other American with DNA. You know who are NOT taxpayers? Those corps that get all the tax breaks. Since they are apparently "people," too, go after THEM to balance the budget.

-------------------------

[Newest Reality]

2. Common sense and integrity!

Bravo! Thanks for a dose of sanity.

[snappyturtle]

3. THANK YOU! I am in an ongoing 'battle' with my nephew. His father is

a repub state senator here in IN. Of course, the nephew loves Mitch Daniels. Going to send this article. Daniels got rid of collective bargaining the first day of his office in 2005 by his personal directive/order...I've just heard it referred to as 'by the stroke of a pen'. I've only lived here about 7 months now and it ain't pretty.

[stevedeshazer]

4. Happy to oblige. Hope it helps.

Read the whole speech, it's not that long. There are a few things specific to Oregon like replacing the I-5 bridge to Washington, but this speech is chock-full of actual ideas and solutions, and even some of the Republicans are working with us (so far).

[buddysmellgood]

5. sounds so reasonable.

[tabatha]

7. Thanks.

The two governors I am watching are Kitzhaber and Brown - both democrats to the core, and both willing to think both out of the box and pragmatically.

[pacalo]

8. Wow! This should be sent to Walker & every Republican in Wisconsin's state legislature.

Big K&R!

[stevedeshazer]

10. .

[mdmc]

11. ..