Cross-posted at Pam's House Blend.
UPDATED to provide further information about Ohio's protests, and corrected a bad link. Thanks to alizard for the right one.
By now anyone who frequents the progressive blogosphere knows what's happening in Wisconsin. A "budget repair" bill is being considered that would effectively kill labor unions, and it has been met with mass peaceful protests since last week. People may or may not know that similar bills are currently being considered by the legislatures in Indiana and Ohio.
The bill put forth by Republicans in Wisconsin (opens as .pdf), at the behest and with the support of Teabagger Governor Scott Walker, is not a "budget repair" bill. First, there wasn't a budget crisis until Gov. Walker put a $140 million tax break in place for his wealthiest donors. Prior to that tax cut, Wisconsin actually had a projected budget surplus. In other words, this whole budget crisis is one of the Tea Party's own making. This bill not only places the financial burden on the backs of those who can least afford it. It's an unprecedented power grab by the Koch Brothers and their obscenely wealthy friends, who supported Walker in his Gubernatorial run, and now own him. This bill would strip unions of their collective bargaining rights. It would put public property and facilities up for no-bid sale to the corporation offering the best price, rewarding the richest corporate doners with yet more authority over the government. It would give DHHS authority to boot 50,000 poor people off of Medicaid without being subject to legislative review or oversight. This bill, and others like it, are an attack on the American people by corporate interests who want to make sure they never see a living wage again.
So what does this have to do with LGBT rights? More than you'd think. Come with me under the fold.