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Former New York Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch on the new measures being put forth by organized-labor groups in the Great Lakes State.
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In my opinion.
Last year a state worker unions in Wisconsin this year Michigan the new battleground -- state organized labor.
-- unions successfully put a measure off on the Michigan November -- that could give them enormous knew how.
-- -- -- No new laws to limit unions' rights if this constitutional amendment -- -- Item two it could prevent Michigan from F up becoming a right to what state and number three.
He could give unions the ability to amount Angeles and I mean endless challenges to local governments.
Democrat and former lieutenant governor.
Crowd which he went head to head with the it's.
In Ponte did perhaps -- also went head to head with a -- -- as well all.
But he did say if the New York City transit system back in the eighties -- joins us now offers expertise on running and expect Richard -- welcomed the program.
Glad to be back if you look trying to wrong if you look part of the -- -- upper echelons of government in Michigan.
Would you want this constitutional amendment giving the unions this kind of power I'm not an expert at this put.
To the extent I read about it no I would not I do not believe in constitutional.
Origins in some cases statutory restraints.
On the ability of the political process to produce.
Results we've have serious problems.
In fiscal problems in most states.
I think it that you you you don't want to see.
Government's state governments go head to head with the unions you want a more of a consensus approach to solve these problems and and I'm gonna -- you so you cannot get a consensual.
Approach between these two sides it's got to be at all.
Well ahead on Monday -- -- term of -- there have to be negotiations.
Government has to disagree with the unions it should be.
They're gonna have to negotiate a lot tougher than they haven't repairs.
Would respect for the kinds of benefits that are offered.
On the other hand I find equally objectionable.
Any statutory.
Effort to limit collective bargaining.
I don't think in this day and age.
UK and the -- of nineteen million people who work.
The state and local governments the right to bargain collectively for their wages and terms -- for a -- -- -- denied.
Collected all collective bombing -- that could still unionized so there -- efforts to crew are trying to do Wisconsin in real -- you know it.
-- it in with bull all that's happened is that.
Rights to collective bargaining have been limited -- Eliminate it and that that's the way it is we have to do this because look I'm not prepared to foot the bill.
The system that we've gone in place has driven us to bankruptcy in many of the great state to these United States we can't allow that any longer and I don't want to.
I don't blame you but needed to lose the person who worked for government for 25 years and as a pension.
Of only 25000 dollars a year won his or her pension reduced.
To pay for the fact.
It you don't pay enough taxes if we don't reduce -- -- -- limited in some way you have to lay off young a look at us and not hide them in the first place and services get cut to relatives I am.
That you were absolutely right about that.
But -- in.
-- there -- three sources.
Of money to deal with them.
Money problem the problem was we don't have -- -- money to meet the obligations one is to take benefits away from people.
Who enjoyed of the deficits of government who worked for at a lavish event -- truth we know well I was they don't -- all lavish in some cases they are in some cases they are far -- modest.
And but also.
There were other people there are taxpayers we have the lowest taxes.
Of almost every any civilized society in the -- in the entire world.
And to suggest that we can get out of the -- were written without taxes being part of the solution.
I -- probably is loaded here and I haven't got time to explode back -- For the top 10% of American taxpayers pay more a great shaft of the -- in America than in any other industrialized country.
Don't tell me that we -- under taxed well I'm not so.
Hello.
Richard Ravitch we come back and and keep it by going to I would love it.
-- -- Richard Ravitch -- and thanks for joining us you do for having me.
