Month: March 2011

Verbatim

Buck Banks

I hope today, all of you feel free to make yourselves at home. For those of you with a particular interest in the next election, I don’t mean that literally.”

— President Obama. The Wall Street Journal reported that When Obama gestured toward potential presidential rival Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R), the room erupted in laughter.

Even Bigger Majority Sides with Public Unions

Buck Banks

60% to 33%

Majority of Americans who “say they oppose efforts to weaken the collective bargaining rights of public employee unions and are also against cutting the pay or benefits of public workers to reduce state budget deficits.” While a slim majority of Republicans favored taking away some bargaining rights, they were outnumbered by large majorities of Democrats and independents who said they opposed weakening them. Those surveyed said they opposed, 56% to 37%, cutting the pay or benefits of public employees to reduce deficits, breaking down along similar party lines.” Key finding: 61% of those polled — including just over half of Republicans — said they thought the salaries and benefits of most public employees were either “about right” or “too low” for the work they do, despite rhetoric that they are overpaid or have generous benefits, according to a new New York Times/CBS News poll.