New Tea Party Leader Supports Walker's Bill

Over 30 people attended the new Greendale Tea Party meeting on Thursday night.

The group was started by Joana Briggs with the help of Tim Dake, a representative of the Wisconsin GrandsSons of Liberty.

The group will focus on national, state and local issues. The meeting had people from not only Greendale but also from surrounding areas. It is possible that the name might change, said Briggs.

Dake announced a counter protest is scheduled at the State Capitol for Saturday at noon.

Briggs was a sociology teacher at MATC for about 25 years and supports Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill. The bill proposes pay cuts and the elimination of collective bargaining rights for state union employees, excluding police and fire.

"There's a big difference from asking you to pay 5 percent of your pension cost and taking your pension away from you," Briggs said. "Anything that happens in the past stays in place, by law. So if you've been paying in, it's there. From the moment they accept the repair bill, you'll pay five percent, not big. The unions are lying. Mainly because their egos are hurt because Scott didn't go to them and beg them to along with the plan."