Wisconsin Union Talking Points: More Myths Than Facts

“What did Hitler do first? He busted the unions. Right? First you take away the unions, then you take away the Jews, then you take away, you know, that’s where it starts.” -Union protester in Madison, Wis.

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Protesters are making outrageous claims in Madison, Wis., where thousands of public-sector union workers have gathered to protest Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal.

To help document them — and set the record straight — The Heritage Foundation sent a team to the state capital. What we found was a highly organized effort with signs posted throughout the Capitol building providing “media talking points” for protesters. At least one instructed protesters “how to talk to teabaggers.”

Pro-union protesters insist this isn’t a debate about government spending — Walker’s argument and a point even acknowledged by liberal media outlets. For the people chanting on the streets of Madison, it’s the equivalent of Nazi Germany. Walker apparently is a modern-day Adolf Hitler trying to shut down unions.

Yet several news outlets — MSNBC, The New York Times, Reuters, CNN, BusinessWeek and NPR — have all acknowledged that Walker is currently facing a budget deficit of $137 million or $3.6 billion shortfall by 2013. Those are hardly conservative sources of news.

Then there’s the claim made by union workers that Walker’s proposals unfairly target them. But the fact is that taxpayers currently contribute about 99% to public employee pensions, according to a report from Minnesota Public Radio. Walker merely wants them to pay 5.8%, which is still below the national average.

And how about those pricey health care premiums? Public employees currently pay about 6%, while Walker’s proposal would increase it to 12%. But even after the increase, it’s still about half the national average, according to state government figures.

When the protesters were challenged on these points, some stopped talking. “You’re against everything we stand for,” one said. Another added, “In case you don’t know, you work for an organization with a bad reputation.”

It seems hurling insults is much easier than telling the truth.