The head of the Wisconsin state employees union is outraged at results of Wednesday’s legislative vote on state labor contracts. The Assembly narrowly approved the deal while the Senate’s 16-16 split prevented the contracts from going further. Russ Decker, along with Jeff Plale, are Senate Democrats who voted with side Republicans against the contracts.
“My only comment is that Russ Decker is a whore,” says Marty Beil, the union’s executive director.
He questions Decker’s reasoning, “My hunch is that he (Decker) wanted to give Chuck Chvala a pardon and Governor Doyle wouldn’t give it to him and he’s continuing that saga.”
Chuck Chvala is former Senate Majority Leader convicted in 2005 in a legislative scandal.
Beil accuses Plale of swapping an opposing vote for an appointment in the upcoming Walker administration.
Democrats, angered by Decker’s actions, removed him as Majority Leader and replaced him with Dave Hansen.
The union head also takes a swipe the future Republican “regime” as all GOP lawmakers voted against the long overdue contracts despite earlier statements in support.
Decker who lost his re-election bid said he felt “the people have spoken” referring it should be the incoming legislature who decides the contracts.