Kate Zernike's Blog, page 30

Democrats See Wisconsin Loss on Unions as Unifying Force

In a push to raise money for their candidates, Democrats hope Wisconsin will be for them what the health care overhaul was for Republicans in last year's midterm elections.

As Goes Wisconsin...

The protesters who camped out in the Wisconsin Capitol building in Madison for nearly three weeks hung a handwritten placard over the marble bust of Robert La Follette, the state's titan of progressivism. ''What Would Bob Do?'' it begged, a plaintive appeal to recall the state's history on the forefront for workers' rights as the protesters try to fend off Scott Walker, the new Republican governor, who insists that he will not compromise in his bid to all but eliminate collective bargaining for...

Wisconsin's Legacy of Labor Activism and Conservative Pushback

The Midwest's histories of labor activism and conservative pushback are both in play today at the Capitol in Madison.

Unions Debate What to Give to Save Bargaining

Republican lawmakers have won concessions by fighting what labor sees as a basic right.

In Midwest, Little Work Amid Standoff

While a bill limiting collective bargaining rights was passed in the Wisconsin Assembly, the measure stalled because Senate Democrats remained out of the state.

The Standoffs in the Midwest

Latest developments in fights over public unions across the states.

Standoffs, Protests and a Prank Call

A debate about the rights of union workers is growing increasingly heated and threatens to spread to other states.

THE CAUCUS | INDIANA; A Tea Party Challenge to Lugar

Richard Mourdock, the state treasurer of Indiana, announced on Tuesday that he would challenge Senator Richard G. Lugar in the state's Republican primary next year, one of several anticipated Tea Party challenges to incumbent Republican senators in 2012. Mr. Mourdock officially announced his candidacy with a speech in Indianapolis, and a video on his new campaign Web site portrayed Mr. Lugar, who has represented the state in the Senate since 1977, as ''Obama's favorite Republican.''

Standoffs Over Union Rights Continue in Wisconsin and Indiana

To prevent a quorum on a vote allowing private-sector workers to opt out of unions, lawmakers fled to Illinois.

Wisconsin Leads Way as Workers Fight State Cuts

The unrest in Wisconsin this week over Gov. Scott Walker's plan to cut the bargaining rights and benefits of public workers is spreading to other states.