Walker’s Big Bank Donors Take a Hit

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Nation

Walker’s Big Bank Donors Take a Hit
Mike Elk Mike Elk – 34 mins ago

The Nation -- The blowback from Wisconsin governor Scott Walker’s union-busting crusade has only just begun—and it may soon hit the governor where it really hurts: in the deep pockets of his biggest donors. Workers have begun organizing a “Move Your Money Campaign” against M&I Bank, whose employees are among his chief financial backers.

M&I Bank is the largest bank in Wisconsin, and was the recipient of $1.7 billion in TARP bailout money from the federal government. The bundled contributions from M&I executives were Walker’s second largest source of campaign funds. According to records provided by the Sunlight Foundation, executives at M&I Bank gave $46,308 to Walker’s campaign. And now, a group of local unions in Wisconsin have threatened to pull their money from M&I Bank unless it denounces Scott Walker’s attack on workers’ rights.

“Walker and his henchmen in the GOP have chosen to ignore the people of Wisconsin, but we all know now that they will listen to their big money donors,” says factory worker David Goodspeed, union member of Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 565."This is an opportunity for donors like M&I to be good corporate citizens and do what’s right for the citizens who bailed them out.”

On Thursday morning, several hundred protestors surrounded an M&I Bank across the street from the Wisconsin State Capitol shouting “You Got Bailed Out, We Got Sold Out.” International Association of Fire Fighters Local 311 President Joe Conway, Jr., told me two union members marched in and pulled a combined $192,000 dollars out of the bank. “Hopefully this sends a message to the bank,” says Conway. “We wanted to illustrate how serious our threat is by having just two of our members pull their money out. “ The union said it plans to escalate actions and will soon begin handing out flyers at protests asking people to move their money.




Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20110311/cm_thenation/159190

[madmax]

1. More, more

This is what they understand clearly.

Bank on Main Street - forget the big boys.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Put the $192,000 into credit unions!

[jacquelope]

6. Rec-worthy!!! n/t

.

[Roland99]

9. Credit *UNIONS*?!?

OMG!!!! OH NO!!!! AAIIIEEEEEEEEEE!!!1!1!!!111!!!!!

[sam sarrha]

46. i just moved my account to the TEAMSTERS UNION CREDIT UNION..!!

:toast: :bounce: :fistbump: :woohoo: :applause: :patriot:

[SammyWinstonJack]

65. +1000000!

:thumbsup:

[Evasporque]

82. M&I no longer a Wisconsin Bank...

It was bought by a Canadian bank last year....

[HDPaulG]

83. M&I Bank is still the M&I label...

Purchased by BMO Financial, which operates Harris Bank out of Chicago, needs regulatory approval, and is expected to close July 31, 2011.

It is still M&I Bank...Boycott, withdraw and protest.

[Turbineguy]

87. This would be

a "material change" if enough people join in. That could scuttle the deal. No doubt the top guys would be well compensated if the deal goes through.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

84. Yep, take the money to a credit union...

... and after withdrawing the funds, ask for directions to the closest credit union establishment. You know, toss salt into injury. Banks HATE credit unions and fight the regulators and credit unions every time regulation, privileges and issues concerning credit unions come up. The bankers HATE it that the credit unions offer better rates, service; and every time they expand credit union services.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

3. everyone needs to do similar things to all the companies that contribute Rethugilcans.

[Zorra]

16. I agree. Is there an accurate list of these companies anywhere?

Republican supporting corporations all need to be held accountable for the tyrannical actions of the leaders that they funded so generously in order to get them in office.

[MsPithy]

30. Try OpenSecrets.org

http://www.opensecrets.org/

[cui bono]

52. Or if they're just gambling with your money. That's what I did when WAMU had troubles.

Took all my savings and put in in a credit union. Very happy there. Except I did notice being in a credit union doesn't stop you from accidentally overdrawing your checking account.

[russspeakeasy]

4. Excellent !

[Historic NY]

5. Its not hard enough suck that bank dry, use your credit unions & union sponsored Credit cards.

starve them...

[aquart]

8. ?

How would it do that, exactly?

[Historic NY]

45. The bank issued ones so will lose the service fees...if they switch.

[aquart]

7. Move the money, NOW.

Frankly, they should have moved it the day they found out about the donations.

[Gin]

10. everything the rethugs do is about money...that is all they understand..

good...payback time

[Greybnk48]

11. Moved every penny to a credit union in Nov.

including our mortgage, thank goodness.

[demigoddess]

12. I would have moved my money from them

Put your money in a credit union!!!!

[Vinnie From Indy]

13. This is how to fight back!

K&R

[kestrel91316]

14. My sister and BIL bank at M&I. I am hoping this spurs them to change.

They just signed a recall petition for their RW state senator. Their state assembly rep is a Dem.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. K&R!!

:kick:

[Enthusiast]

17. K&R nt

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Shining Jack]

20. +1 n/t

[sybylla]

19. I intended to move my old IRA out when they moved their HQ out of WI in November

I was going to wait until everything matured. I'm thinking that it's worth the loss to get it out of there now.

[orwell]

21. I beleive you can move your IRA...

...to another custodian without taking a loss or selling any positions.

[sybylla]

28. Yep, it's just a matter of there being a bank penalty for closing a CD before maturity

But it's getting crap for interest and the penalty is three months interest. So it won't be that big a hit.

[BobbyBoring]

22. If they are leveraged to the hilt

Like every other bank, this could really put the screws to them.

AND, if YOU bank with B of A, PLEASE change banks!

[Maraya1969]

68. Are you talking about Bank of America?

[spinbaby]

23. The phrase that caught my eye was...

"...whose employees are among his chief financial backers."

What do you want to bet that the bank is run by a wingnut who REQUIRES employees to donate to the cause.

[BadgerKid]

24. An audit of TARP would be nice.

I wonder of much of that money ended up donated to GOP candidates.

[iwishiwas]

25. Lovely to see some GOOD news from WI. Thanks.

[callous taoboy]

26. How does one find out if his bank is donating to MEpublicans?

Link?

[livingonearth]

27. "Beautiful!"

[PatrynXX]

29. side effect of Japan earthquake

if the Republicans thought they were going to have the ball in the media for several days. this might not help. the idea in Wisconsin is do to this on state. Republicans are always talking about State first. okay. fine. Keep it that way. Let the Wisconsin people take Wisconsin back. With help from family, friends and former residents of the state :P OF course if suddenly the state troopers start beating people up illegally now thats something else.

[Roy Rolling]

31. Perfect

"You know, it occurs to me that the best way you hurt rich people is by turning them into poor people."---Billy Ray Valentine

[AKDavy]

32. Money is the razor that cuts the throats of the Rich

THAT is where the power is.

Their capital machine grinds to a halt when the masses stop spending.

Their dollars fall in value when the confidence in the system drops.

Wall Street's only link to Main Street is the dollars spent there.

Spending is the razor with which the Many can cut the throats of the Few.

[iwishiwas]

33. Walker asked for donations at his presser today.............

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110311/ap_on_re_us/us_wisconsin_budget_unions

............Walker, who has sharply divided the state just 10 weeks into his term, remained defiant Friday, issuing a message of his own seeking donations from supporters.

"The voters of Wisconsin didn't elect me to pass the buck or run away from a tough fight," said the governor, who asked for donations starting at $100 and said he hoped to reach $150,000 within a month.

"They elected me to get the job done. They elected me to get Wisconsin working again," Walker said. "I won't let their intimidation tactics stop us from turning our Wisconsin around."

[livingonearth]

37. So, Walker thought he was elected to bust unions?

Too bad he didn't run his campaign on that.

[iwishiwas]

50. He is a delusional poodle of the Koch brothers.

[cognoscere]

38. Walker said. "I won't let their intimidation tactics stop us from turning our Wisconsin around."

The ONLY reason Hosni Walker wants to turn Wisconsin around is so the Kochs and other wealthy parasites can fuck it in the ass.

[47of74]

34. If I was a customer of M&I Bank today I would be a former customer

I'd be switching over to a new bank right now.

[BEZERKO]

35. Yes!

Me Likey!

[myrna minx]

36. K&R n/t

[yesphan]

39. Don't threaten to do it.

Just do it, now.

[CoffeeCat]

56. Yeah, no kidding...

Don't ever tell them what you're doing, before you do it. For sure.

Nothing like checking your balance and finding that a decimal point has been moved to the left. Eeek!

[AllyCat]

40. Nice! Dammit, I have had it with people supporting the crooks that are killing us

I've been at a credit union for decades, but fully support this. In fact, I don't think I'd give M and I a warning.

[sarcasmo]

41. Right on.

[Vinca]

42. A great move considering money is the only thing the GOP understands.

[Uncle Joe]

43. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Judi Lynn.

[Blue Owl]

44. NOW DOUBLE IT

:kick:

[lark]

47. Ab-so-freaking awesome!!!

This is the best news - all Repugs care about is $$ so hit them where it hurts!!!!

:party: :bounce:

[AC_Mem]

48. This is BRILLIANT!

Take it nationwide! Oh my - Democrats are so smart!

MI - MOVE IT !!!!

Awesomeness - I'm so proud of these people!

Annette

[Corruption Winz]

49. Hopefully..

This is the just the beginning. Credit unions are the way to go. Screw these money-hungry, poor people screwing bastards.

[Zambero]

51. Crush those bastards!

Have you heard that expression before, Gov. Walker? Gee, I wonder where?
Well good, then you know what you and your enablers can expect.
"Push back" does not go far enough. This is all about CRUSH back!

[bloomington-lib]

53. Ive heard cons say that this is bullying by the liberals

This is voting with your money. Which is what they think is one of the best traits of capitalism...until it works against their agenda.

[cui bono]

54. The only thing I don't like about this is...

“We wanted to illustrate how serious our threat is by having just two of our members pull their money out.“

Why just two and why is it a "threat"? Don't threaten, just do it! (oh shit, didn't mean to use a corporate slogan there! ;) )
It's not like Walker will listen to threats, he needs to see the consequences of his actions.

[Zambero]

60. I believe it was a "Tip of the iceberg" threat

In that, if their institution insists on propping this guy up, these two significant withdrawals will be just the beginning of a massive money hemmorhage: "Kindly revisit and reject Toxic Scottie's recent actions, or else!".

[cui bono]

90. I understand, my point is they should just do it already! Every one of them.

Go and support credit unions who don't mess around with your money like banksters do. That's the same thing that's wrong with the Dem Party in Washington. All talk and no action. Harry Reid is a joke when ever he makes threats. No one believes him, and they shouldn't.

What do you think would have happened if the Wisconsin senate Dems had only sent two senators to Illinois with the threat to send the rest if Walker didn't compromise?

Why are Dems as a whole not as brave as the 14 in Wisconsin? They have set a good example and look at the results! Sure the bill got passed, but it will probably be in the courts since the Reps basically lied and cheated to get it through, but their action gave the people a chance to learn what was happening and woke up a lot of workers. We wouldn't have these demonstrations were it not for the Wisconsin 14.

[Zambero]

91. That's exactly what I would be doing

The ultimatum was intended to pressure the bank into rejecting Walker's actions. If they do so (which is unlikely), fine and dandy. Regardless of whether or not they heed the warning, it calls further attention to to the bank's role in helping get elected and the consequences of that support. At the same time, account holders can and should withdraw their funds and transfer them over to responsible institutions, regardless of what they bank says or does.

[L. Coyote]

55. Boycott union-busting Wal-Mart

[Bluzmann57]

57. Can't tell you how bad that makes me feel.

Oh wait, yes I can. Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!! Suck it walker, you dirty bastard. And just for the record, SOLIDARITY!

[matt819]

58. They shouldn't threaten - they should just do it

No negotiating, no compromises.

[craigmatic]

59. Good I hope they go broke.

[Snoutport]

61. Republicans always bite the hands that feed them....

It is good to be biting them back!

[det1ddd]

62. SCHEMIN' SCOTT KARMA

Besides the recall, this is the best move...

Money talks, make the Madison Republicans walk...

[Turbineguy]

63. That's no fair!

They are using "free-market" principles!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

64. I could have sworn this headline said, "Wanker’s Big Bank Donors Take a Hit"

Not that there's any difference...

[lonestarnot]

66. FUCKING PERFECT!

:woohoo: Yes! Fuck you M & I you bastards!

[RainDog]

67. k&r n/t

[Beartracks]

69. More power ro 'em. The MIDDLE CLASS is TOO BIG TO FAIL. n/t

[customerserviceguy]

70. There were already a hundred reasons

to get out of "too big to fail" banks, I'm surprised that this is the tipping point for some folks.

Having two members quit is just symbolism, without substance.

[Atypical Liberal]

71. Hooray!

Good. If money is what talks then let it ROAR!

[Phlem]

72. M&I deserves nothing less than

to get pounded back into the stone age.

I wish everyone would pull their $ from that institution and leave in it's place a nice toasted lawn.

F*ck M

-p

[realprogress]

73. Its a shame...

I actually live in Wichita Ks, where the horrible Koch brothers reside. It took my college years to convince the Kochs to do something for the school and the city they live in. I am in the WSU College Democrats as the Executive Director, we spend every day just trying to get the people around us in school to realize whats going on, and what we are slowly realizing is they just don't care. Anyone have ideas as to how to get people motivated?

http://lookingleftandfeelingright.blogspot.com/

[Phlem]

75. One cause might be media

which tries to set perception of current events. Maybe have them turn off the T.V. and listen to some good progressive on the radio. Set down the cell phone and read. It takes effort from the individual so the trick is connecting their lives with political current events and how it might play out long term for them.

I really don't think there's even 10 good answers for this question, but I do believe a lot of people live their lives with blinders on, happy and content. And some of those people you will never convince.

I swear, we're set up to fail now. People having to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet. Families preoccupied with survival, no one's got the time to spare.

Good Luck to you my friend.

As we've learned from history, we have to get them while they're young else, someone else will.

Peace

-p

[madmax]

74. Hit 'em again - HARDER

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[wial]

76. we pulled our money out of M&I yesterday

Not much, but every little bit helps!

[Phlem]

78. Bravo!!

I wish I had money in there to pull out.

Wial rocks the big boat!!

-p

[farmboxer]

77. It's about time!

I hate those criminals! I was at a party for the rich, been working for them most of my life, they are making fun of their supporters as fools! LOL! If only they knew..................

[Firebrand Gary]

79. I left Wells Fargo today for Navy Federal Credit Union!

The Republican Party can go fuck themselves. It's my money, I will place it where ever I want.

[Bozita]

80. This makes my heart sinnnng!

Terrific news.

[golfguru]

81. Very interesting...keep us posted

[kimsarah]

85. Don't forget

about the Georgia Pacific paper goods boycott!

[Rex]

86. Wow, just how many companies were too big to fail again?

Seems like they all got a slice of our flesh and blood.

[WillyT]

88. HUGE K & R !!!

:bounce::woohoo::bounce:

:kick:

[sarcasmo]

89. Kick.