i ought to distinguish between unions and public employee unions. unions of is the are critical. but in the public sector, public employee unions have an easy time getting benefits because nobody is pushing back all that hard road that is a problem for the democratic party. right now the way it is being framed is a whose side are you on, the public employee union or the taxpayers' side? >> nina? >> so it is the unions' fault that the managers kate? i don't know the details are, but in wisconsin, this is a manufactured crisis, because it governor cannot take yes for an answer. the unions have said we will give you all the cuts in benefits and salaries you want, we just want to preserve the collective bargaining rights, and he says now. >> colby? >> charles is right that this is an important moment. i would not say a bang of is that moment at all -- i would not say a magnificent moments at all. the question is whether this is going to be sustained or not. the governor of wisconsin is clearly out to break with the unions. that is his objective and there could all the states are watch

bargaining, this was an issue when meg whitman said that jerry brown was in the pockets of the public employees union, and that ronald reagan was the first to establish collective bargaining for municipal and county employees. from there, it expanded. brown did expand it, no question about it. but this is a line in the sand for public employees unions. >> does jerry brown say i have a machine to balance the budget that doesn't include the pension reform? >> he is talking about $12 million in cuts and he went to a budget committee meeting this week, first time ever a governor has done so, and what was described in the question time sort of session with these legislators and some of the republicans said we want pension reform. look, if i'm -- are you willing to do that? let's talk about it, put it up there. and immediately some retreated and said, well, we want to hear about -- this is an issue -- the fact is, public polls are showing that write now voters are standing with the unions. the idea of taking away collective bargaining does not sit with most voters, either in wisconsin or california. >> lab

think there is structural here that the way the system has developed over the years public employees and public employee unions have the upper hand when it comes to negotiation with state and local governments. do you think that the public worker unions have gotten too powerful? >> absolutely. there is no doubt about it. like i said, for eight years i was a local and county official. i saw first hand for every school district, every city, town board out there and they have been asking for this. this didn't just come up after republicans took thele majorities last november. for decades, local government officials have been asking for these sorts of controls to balance the budgets. the counter is and i saw this at the local level that they would try to force us to do this and say go ahead, lay five or six hundred people off, we don't care, you can't touch our benefits. if we don't do it in wisconsin, it is five to six thousand state government workers laid off and in a state that has a 7.5 unemployment rate which is better than the national level bastille to high to be acceptable in wisconsin. i can't have anybo

requiring public workers to pay more into their pension and health care plans and to end public employee unionst to collective bargaining. it's that attempt to weaken decades of public union clout that is bringing tens of thousands to the capitol building in madison day after day, and to rallies around the country today. the fear that unions may one day disappear from american life. >> i feel like we're the frog in the water and they're turning it up to boil. before we know it, it's too late. >> reporter: that's why state senator jon erpenbach has been on the run for 10 days now, one of the 14 democrats seeking exile in illinois, in effect, shutting down the senate to avoid a losing vote. >> what we did was a very extreme thing and i can't imagine any other issue that would cause us to say, "okay, we're out of here." >> reporter: public sentiment is saying you guys should be in the state dealing with this, not out of state. >> we're doing our jobs. we're standing up for, again, not only what we believe in but what the people of the state believe in. >> reporter: this divisive debate isn't isola

the bill that would cut public union bargaining rights and benefits, including 90,000 statewide teachers' unions. in 1936, the american federation of state, county, nvib employees was founded in wisconsin and in 1959 the state passed a comprehensive collective bargaining law. what is going on? >>this strikes me as the worst sort of power grab. i have sat athbaaing table and helped with givebacks because there was not any money. >>hi se reoun? >> i am working stiff. t vi sd that -- it is one thing to say you don't -- we don't have money and you will have to pay more and pensions d we have to lay offut anhething that we will not negotiate with the. been in ohio, john kasich is talking about the same thing. >> n' you get misty eyed about collective bargaining? you know who is against collective -- who was against collective bgain for public employees? franklin roosevelt. it is not like the private sector where you have management pushing back. not a fair fight. in the state, the union's controlling the legislature. it is not bargaining. they got what ever they wanted. one of the arguments against the government is if he had not given away tax breaks he would have

bill that would cut public union bargaining rights and benefits, including 90,000 statewide teachers' unions. in 1936, the american federation of state, county, an invisible employees was founded in wisconsin and in 1959 the state passed a comprehensive collective bargaining law. what is going on? >> this strikes me as the worst sort of power grab. i have sat at the bargaining table and helped with givebacks because there was not any money. >> which side were you on? >> i am working stiff. but having said that -- it is one thing to say you don't -- we don't have money and you will have to pay more and pensions d we have to lay off but another thing that we will not negotiate with the. been in ohio, john kasich is talking about the same thing. >> don't you get misty eyed about collective bargaining? you know who is against collective -- who was against collective bargaining for public employees? franklin roosevelt. it is not like the private sector where you have management pushing back. not a fair fight. in the state, the union's controlling the legislature. it is not bargaining. they got what ever they wanted. >> one of the arguments against the government is if h

some of the california public employee unions are standing in solidarity with workers but just hours ago this assemblyman introduced a bill taking away rights to collective bargaining for pensions so they'll have their own battle to fight. live in sacramento abc 7 news. >> thank you. >> there is more ground to cover for you tonight. up next a gang busting tactic that could place an entire oakland neighborhood under a court injunction. >>> a compelling look at life on the streets. a north bay man changing lives of the homeless by telling this story. >> get ready for more bay area snow that could arrive by week's end. there is a look at arriveals in the accu-weather forecast. >> and tonight one job for america. what would happen if every u.s. business owner put just one more person on the payroll? >> closed captioning brought to you by mancini sleepworld. >>> a battle of words is expected over a proposed gang injunction that would blanket the fruit veil district. the council public safety committee is meeting on the matter right now. >> this is looking like it's going to be a battle th

want to strike they should be fired. >> reporter: a recent poll shows national support for public employee unionss declining. and private sector unions fear they could be next on the firing line. >> this is a tax payer issue, right. >> no, it's a workers' rights issue. >> reporter: and wisconsin's fire and police unions have joined the fray even though they would not be affected by the bill. yesterday conservative and tea party activists showed up fearing their "cut it all cost" message, the message that helped elect governor scott walker, was getting lost in the raucous rhetoric. steve boss came from the small town. >> i know the majority is ready for these cuts. they're ready for things to change. sacrifice. >> reporter: another person doesn't believe the unions are necessary. >> i don't have anyone behind me like a union. i don't need it. it's my performance that speaks. >> this is what democracy looks like. >> reporter: as the protest moves into its second week, this is what democracy looks like in madison, wisconsin. one noisy day blends in to the next, and the crowds continue to grow. both

tens of thousands protest over the future of labor unions and public employees in wisconsin. as the battle heats up, could the fight be coming to your state? >>> high seas hijacking. new details on the four americans taken hostage by somali captives who vow to bring their captives to u.s. today. we'll have the latest. >>> gone with inwind. dangerous gusts toppled trees, fueled wildfires and bring down a national treasure in washington. >>> and look out, winter is about to return with a vengeance. about to return with a vengeance. today february 20th, 2011. captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> good morning, everyone. welcome to "today" on sunday, february 20th. >> i'm jenna wolfe. >> dropped the temperature a lot here. the wind chill. >> it did. it got really cold. i could just -- and we're good. >> we all heard the howling and with the gusts reaching 60 miles per hour a lot of damage and power outages. look at the national tree. the national christmas tree in washington. stood for decades in president's park next to the white house. but high winds snapped the 48-

no one was talking about public employee unions and their impact, but if you look on page 35 of the book i feel somewhat validated because i feel -- i talk about the coming meltdown that we will see as a result of the public employee unions and in the fact that against the private sector, wages are 30% better and benefits are 70% better in the corresponding private sector. i had been a governor for the 11 years. it became obvious that if you look at the long-term calculations here, it is unsustainable. in the same way that if a governor looks at the medicare program and sees costs going up anywhere from 6%-12% a year, and looks at the health plan -- in my stated would require all of the employees of walmart and tyson foods, the two largest corporations in arkansas combined, and they would not equal the number of state employees. in most states, the state- employed body is the largest entity and as they are unionized, it becomes a parasitic relationship with the states, and a symbiotic relationship with the federal government. i feel validated because you could see this coming. his playin

easing in washington, the for of wisconsin predicted his state would lead the way in weakening public employee unions cross the country. >> reporter: outside the wisconsin state capital sucks bad weather reduced the ranks rf protesters. >> i want to be able to bargain for my children. >> reporter: inside the capitol rotunda, protesters were in a festive mood. the governor has refused to budge in his effort to curb the bargaining power of unionized state workers. >> i want to give the local governments the tools to make sure we don't pass the buck on to our kids and grandkids. >> reporter: his fellow republicans in washington agree. they voted to cut spending in $61 billion in seven months. the measure has almost no chance of becoming law but sets up a confrontation with democrats. >> if we end up shutting down the government, that is an utter failure. >> i hope we will find a way to resolve this by reducing spending. >> reporter: the two parties will now be negotiating against the clock. abc news. >> alan: still ahead tonight, the prodemocracy uprising now underway in libba. an ominous new warning fr

the state's largest public employee unions now say they will pay more for their health and retirement benefits, but are refusing any limits to their collective bargaining rights. >> this is not about money. it's never been about money. it's about the republican party trying to squash democrats, trying to squash union rights. >> reporter: for the first time today, the governor's supporters joined the demonstrations in madison. >> i'm out here, because i work -- just graduated this spring, and i'm trying to save my money, i think it's about time the state does the same. >> reporter: the bill is stalled because all 14 democratic state senators left the state thursday and are holed up in illinois, without a quorom the senate can't vote on the bill. and the fugitive senators say they're prepared to stay away for weeks if they have to. >> this is chipping away at our middle class, at what our people have as a life in wisconsin. >> reporter: republicans aren't bulging. >> there was a time for debate. and the democrats in the senate decided they would rather go to illinois than be here and de

public employees. does this signal the weakening of public employee unions across the country? >> reporter: the decline of private sector unions have made public sector unions the most vibrant part of the labor movement and the most vibrant labor union contributor to the democratic party. but this is a potentially big blow. budget deficits across the country have put them in a very difficult spot. but one thing we know, lester, nothing in politics moves in a straight line. it will be a blow if they lose this fight in wisconsin but there are more chapters to go in this story. >> john harwood, good to have you on tonight, thank you. >>> old man winter is not done yet. this season has been long and it's been hard and now another major storm is moving into the midwest and great lakes region. and this comes on top of a wind storm that stoked wildfires here on the east coast. nbc's peter alexander has our story. >> reporter: the snowstorm taking aim at the upper midwest right now could rival some of the biggest storms to hit that area this season. up to 18 inches forecast in minneapo

thousands of public employee union workers continue to protest the governor scott walker's plan to balancethe budget by calling on unions to pay more toward their pensions, their health care, and give up their collective bargaining power for everything but wages. 14 state senate democrats have fled the state to deny a quorum for republicans to pass walker's bill. but it will only take one to cross party lines for the vote to be held. >> i will not be the 20th vote, i can assure you that. >> reporter: walker wants them back right now. >> the time is up. it's time for them to come back and participate in democracy. >> reporter: democracy that union workers say is being denied and it's a feeling that seems to be spreading. monday, similar union protests were held in statehouses, across the country, including oklahoma, west virginia, and in indiana where union leaders say they'll hold a week of protests against similar budget cut efforts. jay gray, msnbc news. >>> and now here's a look at stories making news early today in america. in ohio, a police officer feared for his life after being atta

a final decision probably won't be made until june and even if the public employee unions agree to salary concessions san jose will likely have to make big cuts to public safety and services. >>> while san jose and other bay area cities talk about their budget problems one city is grappling with a much different matter tonight. whether to invite a few former terror suspects to live there. robert liles on the battle taking up city leaders' time tonight. >> if the city council wants to go to guantanamo bay and meet the terrorists there we'll pay for their flights. >> he called the city council resolution to settle some of the guantanamo people here is just a contest as to who is the most liberal. >> even one member of council agreed. >> it is a gesture to goat attention. we have a lot of other problems. >> reporter: like being $11 million red in the next budget year. even the committee says it was a rush job. >> largely the commissioners weren't ready for this. >> reporter: but supporters say opening the city to detainees is necessary nonetheless. >> the united states are asking other count

>> the republicans are going to overplay their hand and they're going to do so public employee union workers and ordinary people what >>> issue three, sea-tac launchpad. the 20 levannual conservative political action conference, sea pack, was held last week. nine presumptive presidential candidates spoke at the conference. haley barbour, mitch daniels, newt gingrich, ron paul, tim paw lenny, rick perry, mitt romney, paul ryan, and john thune. but one non-presumptive candidate did appear and held forth. >> if i decide to run, i will not be raising taxes. [cheering] we'll be taking in hundreds of millions of dollars from other countries that are screwing us. [cheering] we'll be creating vast numbers of productive jobs. [cheering] and -- thank you very much. and we'll rebuild our country so that we can be proud. our country will be great again. >> question, is he serious about a presidential bid authorize is a publicity ploy? >> well, certainly it's a publicity ploy. the question something, is he serious about it? >> i don't know. but he is at least speaking on economic nationalism in a

> and wisconsin today was the 6th day of protests against the governor's plan to roll back public employee union bargaining right its. wisconsin one of 44 states plus the district of columbia to doesn't its workforce and the governor is making no apologies for his plan to curb union power. cynthia bowers is in madison, wisconsin, with the latest. good evening to you. >> good evening, russ. they definitely tamped down prot test today in a city that for the last week has been billed as the heart of what is being called a national referendum on unions but it is also part of a national referendum on newly elected republicans and their level of commitment to cutting costs. >> on a bitter rainy day in madison, all the people, all the protests moved inside the capitol. >> raising the rotunda roof with vigor and venom against the newly elected governor scott walker. and his plan to balance wisconsin's budget by cutting benefits and collective bargaining rights for most of the nearly $300,000 public sector workers in the state. >> i want to say thank you to governor walker for mobilizing us. this movemen

taken to the public sector where union membership at a have to or thirty six percent is blamed for bringing down broke cities and states now you have certain unions specifically the public employee unions in many cases exploiting and abusing the taxpayers but some see this is the escalation of a war now hitting the working and middle class from all sides economists richard and max fraud wolf say public union salaries and pensions are simply being made a scapegoat for the country's economic woes it really is a crisis whose costs are being shifted on to public employees public workers are an easy target for officials who want to avoid the political landmine of raising taxes that means you have to potentially tax wealthy people who support your campaign which we have a hard time doing in the united states for reasons that you don't need me to explain to you explanations aside this war marches on leaving the jobs and benefits millions of workers have come to count on as a rights to health care the opportunity to retire and possibly even their ability to fight together in ruins or in the stor r.t. new york. so could this be the perfect opportunity to expose the white collar behind cl

employees, you have to give up your rights or give up your job. >> a lot of people are confused and have questions about the roles of public-sector unions. u raise a lot of money from public employees. that goes to finance campaigns, to try to get somebody in office that you can do business with. and ultimately, you are supporting someone, in some cases that you're ultimately negotiating with. they also know that political employees, rather public employees are politically active because they're organized by the unions, so they make concessions on things like pensions, on health care, knowing that the promises don't come due until well down the road. isn't this the cycle that we've gotten into, that public unions have to take some responsibility for? >> well public employees do take responsibility for t. and the governors that are willing to sit down and work with their employees can actually work out problems. we can solve them. but that's not what governor walker is doing. he's saying, i won't talk to you. i'll talk to all my big contributors, he talked to the coke brothers, but he won't talk to plies. the five states in this country th

union? it 2010, 7.6 million public sector employees belong to a union. compared to 7.1 million union workers in the private sector. more public-sector union workers and private sector. union membership rate for public-sector workers is 36%. a substantially higher than the rate for private, 6.9%. back to phone calls. indiana. james is a republican. good morning. caller: good morning. did i miss the big union meeting this weekend? host: what are you saying here, james? ong for if it's wr employers to dictate the terms of their pension and benefits, why is it ok when the union leadership strips away their right to vote on and ratified a proposal and say it is a done deal that they are going to take concessions on their pensions and benefits without a vote? host: does that happen in indiana? caller: no, wisconsin. friday -- they were not going to cave in but by monday everybody was reporting a done deal. host: we are here and protest are spreading to your own state. indiana. caller: i was a state employee when collective bargaining was issued as an edict from

this as an opportunity to make their case even if they are not necessarily labor unions that represent public employees? >> i think labor unions are using this as an opportunity definitely. governor ted strickland lost by just two percentage points. a lot of people pointed to labor unions in ohio as a reason why saying they were not as mobilized as they could have been. a lot of labor unions are getting involved today. the protests were bigger today than they have been in the last week or so. a lot of private companies, steelworkers and other companies that employ private labor unions they were there as well. i think you are seeing an opportunity by labor unions to take this as a way to kind of seize power and maybe look forward into what might be done in the next year or two. and there's the possibility too that this could also go to the ballot if it does pass in the legislature then ohio voters might actually have to look at this in the next year two. >> ifill: that raises an interesting question, eric bradner, there in indiana, how much of this is about the unions seizing an opportunity. if that's t

coming up next, with states out of money, public employee unions are coming under fire.'ll put that in focus. n focus. hey what's going on? doing the shipping. man, it would be a lot easier if we didn't have to weigh 'em all. if those boxes are under 70 lbs. you don't have to weigh 'em. with these priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service, if it fits, it ships anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. no weigh? nope. no way. yeah. no weigh? sure. no way! uh-uh. no way. yes way, no weigh. priority mail flat rate shipping starts at just $4.95, only from the postal service. a simpler way to ship. oh, bayer aspirin? i'm not having a heart attack. it's my back. it works great for pain. [ male announcer ] nothing's proven to relieve pain better than extra strength bayer aspirin. it rushes relief to the site of pain. feel better? yeah. thanks for the tip. imagine a day when we can eat what we want and sleep soundly through the night. prevacid®24hr. just one pill helps keep you heartburn-free for a full 24 hours. >> couric: in wisconsin today, state employees cont

public employee unions are the largest outside founder of democratic candidates. going after their power as -- has political implications to weaken the entire democratic party and this has escalated to a national competition. host: we have statements by the president, nancy pelosi on this issue, how does it contribute to what is going on at the state level? caller: the political -- guest: the political class has the ability to support larger democratic candidates and it has a larger berber region beyond pension benefits. the implications have environmental issues, abortion issues, because it is about the ability of one political side to compete especially after the citizens united ruling which allows corporate donations and other donations to increase. the plain field has shifted. host: as far as the playing field is concerned and driving people out to protest at the state capital, how much would you say and that this is a pure grass-roots effort? adding to what we have been hearing about the organization, organizing for america? guest: msnbc and fox news are esca

protest governor scott walker's plan to cut wages and take away barring bargaining rights from public employee unions and it's what he calls an effort to fill the state's budget gap well tonight the wisconsin senate is also supposed to vote on walker's plan and schools are closed as teachers called in sick students walked out of classrooms to join those protests it's what many as you are describing as a war a war on unions but the people aren't going down without a fight so here discuss it with me is laura clawson contributing editor for daily coast laura thanks so much for being here now do you buy walker's statement here that this is by no means a political attack on public sector unions but it's all in order to just you know fill this budget gap that the state has not at all for one thing reporting has come out today that says that the budget gap is actually something that walker has manufactured in the six weeks that he's been in office the three point six billion dollars that it's supposed to be a. he they were on track for a surplus and he passed various tax cuts and spending measures and all o

wisconsin's governor is trying to pass legislation that would strip some public employee unions of most of their bargaining rights. >>> i am the union, you are the union. >>> more than 100 people attended a rally sponsored by the oakland education administration. the wisconsin governor warned today that up to 1,500 state workers could start receiving lay off notices. a newly released usa today gallop poll shows that 1/3 of those survey support taking away bargaining rights. >>> the santa clara city council is meeting with governor brown to preserve funding for the stadium for the 49ers. lloyd lacuesta is live where he learned the stadium is not a done deal, not yet. >> reporter: the city council voted 7-0 to approve this rest louis which makes council -- resolution which makes council members the authority of the stadium. but it did not happen without opposition. >> you are misusing our money. i think you need to stop. i think your run will be overrun by the government for. >> we knowjerry brown is going to take it from us. be ready for it. he's going to steal our money, and balance his

wisconsin's governor is trying to pass legislation that would strip some public employee unions of most of their bargaining rights. >>> i am the union, you are the union. >>> more than 100 people attended a rally sponsored by the oakland education administration. the wisconsin governor warned today that up to 1,500 state workers could start receiving lay off notices. a newly released usa today gallop poll shows that 1/3 of those survey support taking away bargaining rights. >>> the santa clara city council is meeting with governor brown to preserve funding for the stadium for the 49ers. lloyd lacuesta is live where he learned the stadium is not a done deal, not yet. >> reporter: the city council voted 7-0 to approve this rest louis which makes council -- resolution which makes council members the authority of the stadium. but it did not happen without opposition. >> you are misusing our money. i think you need to stop. i think your run will be overrun by the government for. >> we knowjerry brown is going to take it from us. be ready for it. he's going to steal our money, and balance his

state educators and public union employees are also planning to attend the event. has 325,000 members. >>> in the meantime, thousands of protesters in the wisconsin state capitol building there are there again to let their voices be heard on the controversial budget plan. public employee union workers are protesting governor scott walker's proposal to pay more for benefits and eliminating their collective bargaining rights. the democratic senators have fled the seat to avoid a vote on the issue. protests were held in statehouses across the country on monday as well. >>> some good news for credit card hard holders this morning. the findings come from the consumer financial protection bureau. it will share three key e updates from the year-long study today. it says penalty charges are down over the past year. over-the-limit fees are also down with two-thirds of card companies cutting the fees. >>> meanwhile, a different law, one that protects kids from bad toys may be struck down. scott mcgrew is here with more about this. >> good morning. it seemed like a good idea

host: we have talked about the idea of unionizing what is going on with public employee unions. how does this play out in your community? guest: from the city government perspective, our eenses are personnel-driven. we don't fund a lot of social programs. if you are asking cities to tighten their belts, you're asking cities to cut expenses, if you are talking about salaries and benefits for police officers and firefighters or less of them peridots are decisive decisions t mayors have to make and they are no fun. guest: one of the first things i did when elected in 2009 was assemble a group of citizens to look at our budget. one of the things that they warned us about was over the next couple years our public safety plan was going to be a challenge. so we are working through those issues now. guy think that nick is right. salaries and benefits of a lion's share of how the property tax dollars are used in our area. we are paying careful attention. host: talking about the economy, her issues happening in your cities, a budget shortfalls. you can join the conversation. numbers on yo

. >> san jose is asking for concessions from public employee unions. 's a large step away from actually trying to get rid of collective bargaining and other rights that are typically endowed to unions. >> reporter: he said what's happening in wisconsin isn't likely to happen here in california. still as protesters arrive on the steps of the wisconsin capitol tomorrow, californian there's stand with wisconsin workers at a rally in sacramento tomorrow evening. >> it is not about california. it is not about wisconsin. it is not about union unions or organized labor. it is about talk on the middle class. that's where we say no. we're in this together. we support you. >> reporter: for as long as it takes as the nation watches. >>> now to our developing story, actually. we'll get to health watch in a moment. our developing story. we led this newscast with. the earthquake in new zealand. the city of christchurch, new zealand. a 6.3 magnitude earthquake. just five minutes earlier there was a 7.1 earthquake. a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in the city of christchur

hoping to find the least one that would come back to a low on a vote to curb the power of public employee unions. below, protesters were promised the biggest turnout yet. union leaders were expecting tens of thousands of workers from that state. teachers, union workers, state employees have been protesting air for over one week. guion lesbian couples in hawaii will have the same sex as mary parker ski-couples. the mayor-may with gay couples in hawaii. there will be the seventh state with civil unions and legal recognition 40 couples. battles 40 couples. >> for gay couples-- >> after all of this time to be able to advance to the essence is something that i truly treasurer and honored with my signature. >>pam: hawaii beat also tried to in 1993, was almost the first state in the union. however, voters band that. >>pam: the death toll in the earthquake in new zealand is about to rise, significantly. 4200 people are missing. one to zero bodies could be with the amount of allthe amount of peope missing. 200. recovery? 120. infrastructure is trying to be restored. wikileaks, julie had a son, that he is

. >> assembly man has introduced a bill that would strip public employee unions over negotiating powertheir retirement funds. it is the only way to fix the budget. state workers say that they fear for their retirement. >>> well, many california schools are struggling with terribly high drop-out rates and teachers blame budget cuts and lack of support. >> buildup one district is proving that despite all of the problems we can do better for our kids. and ann takes us to long beach to show us how it is done. >> reporter: long beach unified, in many ways a typical urban school district with 86,000 students. 72% live in profit and 28% don't speak english as a first language. this district wasn't making the grade in the 90s. >> hundreds of parents were leaving our school system, mainly why parents to be honest with you. >> we were a system that consistency was not there. >> reporter: more than a third of their students were not graduating. fast forward to today. long beach unified has turned itself around. it was the first public school district in the country to require school uniforms. and

out of wisconsin, where you're just making it harder for public employees to collectively bargain generally seems like more of an assault on unionsk it's important for us to understand, public employees are our neighbors and friends. they make sacrifices. they make contributions. i think it's important not to vilify them or to suggest at the all the budget problems are due to public employees. >>> president obama igniting a national conversation about which americans should feel the pain of the budget ax. with pitched battles going on right now in washington and state houses from florida to wisconsin to california. with me now, our "roundtable." george will, congressman steve southerland, a freshman from florida. he was elected to public office for the first time last november and sent here to washington on a mission to cut spending. also with us abc senior political correspondent johnathan karl, and political strategist donna brazile, who calls herself labor democrat. is this the political and philosophical debate going on right now? >> it would have been even in the president hadn't intervened. in the span of three days, he fir

public employees. in the case of fire and police unions, greater numbers of them vote republican. they are not so angry at them for organizing and having their voice heard. >> we are a right to work state. in texas, our public employees are well thought of. they are not surrounding the capital. we have people come to austin all the time. police come. we like them to be there and be interactive and go back and expressed their opinions. how boring with it the of people were not holding signs expressing themselves. ? i keep going back like a broken record. our states being able to compete against each other is going to be the future of how strong america is. if we truly believe that the laboratories of innovation are in the states and that states are different and that people should be allowed to decide where they want to live -- i go to san diego almost every summer sometime between july and august. they have better weather than we have in texas. i am sitting there and thinking, how can you screw this up so bad that people would leave this. it is beautiful. [laughter] the fact is, it

public employee unions are the largest outside founder of democratic candidates. after their power as -- has political implications to weaken the entire democratic party and this has escalated to a national competition. host: we have statements by the president, nancy pelosi on this issue, how does it contribute to what is going on at the state level? caller: the political -- guest: the political class has the ability to support larger democratic candidates and it has a larger berber region beyond pension benefits. the implications have environmental issues, abortion issues, because it is about the ability of one political side to compete especially after the citizens united ruling which allows corporate donations and other donations to increase. the plain field has shifted. host: as far as the playing field is concerned and driving people out to protest at the state capital, how much would you say and that this is a pure grass-roots effort? adding to what we have been hearing about the organization, organizing for america? guest: msnbc and fox news are escalating

public employee unions are bankrupting our state, and we're hemorrhaging jobs and people at an alarmingate. the trend rhine is good -- line is good even in illinois, which is the good news. people are hungry for politicians who will speak the truth and articulate clear, thoughtful solutions to the serious problems we face. chris christie is a great example of this. [applause] and much like the country as a whole, illinois' fundamentally center right. before we were the land of taxes, we were the land of lincoln. before we were home to president obama, we were home to ronald reagan. whose legacy we celebrate tonight. [applause] and we recently lost a tough gubernatorial election, but it was very close, and we sent a handful of tea party freshman to congress here in d.c. and a republican to president obama's former senate seat. [applause] and this was all done with the substantial game-changing tea party participation in illinois. is anyone here from illinois? got a few in the back. they're probably getting lunch. [laughter] all right. i'm here to suggest the goal for us in illinois, some

president, that it is the public employees' union contracts that states are grappling with today. several of our states are literally facing bankruptcy because of the expensive and burdensome government union employee contracts. illinois, nother, california -- the governors on a bipartisan basis are struggling to get out from under these burdens and to free their states from these expensive public employee union contracts. they're causing the bankruptcy of states. now, in the united states government, we have the ability to deficit-spend, and that's quite a problem. we'll spend $1.5 trillion this fiscal year that we don't have, and the american public is demanding that we do something about it. it is unimaginable to me that under those circumstances, the obama administration is taking action which can only make t.s.a. more expensive and make dealing with our employees there more costly and add to the debt. i don't see any way around it. as states and localities are moving in one direction, here comes the obama administration and swimming upstream on this issue, proposing to add to