Fenty (Democrat) backs Gov. Scott Walker in Wisc. union fight

Washington Post ^ | 3/8/2011 | Mike DeBonis

[Qbert]

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker this morning got some rare Democratic support for his high-profile push to eliminate most state workers' collective barganing rights -- from former D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty.

Fenty made his comments as a guest on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," making an in-studio appearance in New York with takeover mogul and ex-"car czar" Steven Rattner and former Republican presidential candidate Pat Buchanan.

When discussion turned to Walker's anti-union push, Fenty jumped right in.

"This is kind of what I faced in four years as mayor," Fenty told hosts Mike Barnicle and Mika Brzezinski. "He's right on the substance, I think. I tend to agree with him on the need for collective bargaining reform. But he's also right on the politics. I just don't understand why the legislature has been given this pass to go to another state and not do what they were sworn to do, and that's to take a vote. Unfortunately for Gov. Walker, he hasn't been able to get that out. He needs to point the finger a little bit more at them and say. 'Listen, they should take a vote. All I want is for them to vote up or down, and I will be fine with whatever they decide.'"

Brzezinski asked Fenty if he agreed with what Walker is doing.

"The substance of it, I do," Fenty said. "Most governors and mayors would love to be able to manage their team without the interference of collective bargaining. ... I believe that managers have the ability to set fair wages, and to set fair hours, and to reward people or hold them accountable. I think it's a new day. I think a lot of these collective bargaining agreements are completely outdated."

[Braak]

I miss Fenty...his replacement has been found wanting....

[wilco200]

I think the Republicans should just lie. Two or three of them should come out publicly and say that they want to reach across the aisle and side with the Dems.

As soon as the Dems return, lock the doors and take the vote with the R’s switching back to Walker’s position

[hondact200]

Scott Walker will be speaking in the 11:00 Hour on Newstalk 1130 (online) with Vickie McKenna. she is on daily from 10:00 - 12:00 just before Rush Limbaugh. if you want to hear what is happening in wisconsin by a conservative talk show host, she helped arrange the rally in Madison where breitbart, Herman Cain showed up

[SengirV]

I’m in Northern Virginia, so I didn’t get a vote. But of any DC mayor in the lat twenty years, I really liked Fenty. I may not have agreed with everything he did, but he did seem genuine in everything he tried to accomplish. His work with trying to reform the DC schools was second to none.

This alone confirms my belief that he chose what is best for the constituents, even if it conflicted with his personal beliefs.

I wish him nothing but the best in everything he does.