Governor Walker...Exactly How Does This Help Wisconsin?

At this stage in the WI union fight, both sides are looking for things to hurl at each other.

• Walker's backers would point out that their budget shortfall, is in fact, real.Contrary to what the likes of Rachel Maddow and TPM have been saying.
  
  This is true, although it does not address how WI could have shored up a 6 billion dollar shortfall in the last budget cycle by working with unions - while the projected $3 billion dollar shortfall Wisconsin has now requires a root and branch dismantling of union rights.
  
  Still looking for a straight up answer on that, but while you're chewing on that
  
  
• The Awl - would like to point out something else about Walker's "Budget Repair Bill"
  
  What has been widely ignored about Walker's bill (in part because of the speed with which he's fisting it down Wisconsin's gullet) is a sneaky provision that paves the way for him to cut, or eliminate, Medicaid and BadgerCare healthcare benefits for low-income people.
  
  
• And last but perhaps best, The Big Picture (Via GinAndTacos) draws your attention to a provision that will allow the "sale or contractual operation of state-owned heating, cooling, and power plants" and here's the kicker (emphasis courtesy of GaT):
  
  ...with or without solicitation of bids, for any amount that the department determines to be in the best interest of the state. Notwithstanding ss. 196.49 and 196.80, no approval or certification of the public service commission is necessary for a public utility to purchase, or contract for the operation of, such a plant, and any such purchase is considered to be in the public interest and to comply with the criteria for certification of a project under s. 196.49 (3) (b).
  
  That's allowing the state to sell state utility plants (or their operation) without bids, with the understanding that any sale will meet the legal hurdle of being in the public interest.

Does this really sound like the kind of bill that should become law in a mere 5 days?

Late Edit: I guess TBP's link is down. Rortybomb has the post.

Also, Yves Smith has some good follow up on the asset sales.

...the worst bit is that this language is likely merely to provide an official fig leaf (and therefore effective notice of intent) for actions it is likely Walker could have taken anyhow.

And Felix Salmon adds this:

There’s no reason to believe that the private sector will run those plants in a way that is better for the public, and every reason to believe that they will run the plants in a way that is worse (ie, more expensive) for the public. If the state wants to cut such a deal in return for a one-time check, that check had better be enormous. And there’s absolutely no reason to believe that it will be.