Patch's Poll: Should Connecticut Go The Route Of Wisconsin?

In light of Wisconsin’s recall election last week - in which voters in that state decided to keep the controversial Gov. Scott Walker in power — the New Haven Register published an editorial saying Connecticut should follow in that state’s lead when it comes to Walker's initiatives on unions.

Walker faced public scrutiny over the past year due to Wisconsin’s new law stripping public unions of the right to collectively bargain on benefits and giving state employees the freedom to choose whether to join the union or not.

But the Register argued those moves helped close a $3.6 billion budget gap to $143 million in less than a year, “without laying off any employees.”

“As a result of Walker’s initiatives, Wisconsin is one of the few states with net job growth and an unemployment number significantly below the national average,” the editorial said.

In contrast, the Register said that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the state Democrats have taken a different strategy in raising taxes and increasing spending.

“While last year’s agreement with the unions did increase some costs and reduce some benefits for the state’s union workers, it did not adequately address the main drivers of expense: health care and pension benefits,” the editorial said. “Consequently, Connecticut faces significant, future financial shortfalls and is not remotely close to balancing its budget.”

In a year when budget shortfalls, union benefits and controversial leadership all came to a clash, do you agree with the Register's assessment and think Connecticut should go the route of a system similar to Wisconsin? Or do you think that will cause too much backlash and that Connecticut’s approach is more appropriate? Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments.