Violent Threats Against Wisconsin Republicans Increase

Original Post: Yahoo

Kim Linton Kim Linton – Sun Mar 13, 7:29 pm ET

Several suspects have been identified, while obscene phone calls, threatening e-mails and other "thug-like" intimidation tactics continue to be used by union supporters to incite violence and anger toward Republican senators.

One particularly threatening e-mail warned Republican lawmakers to "put your things in order because you will be killed and your families will also be killed due to your actions in the last 8 weeks."

Why all the hate?

The heated battle started when Walker introduced his budget repair bill, which originally contained fiscal language designed to cover a $137 million budget deficit. Most importantly, the bill also placed limits on collective bargaining rights for state union workers, excluding police and firefighters.

Protests and death threats against Republican legislators intensified after a modified version of the bill passed the Senate and ultimately the Assembly. To make the vote possible in the absence of 14 Democratic colleagues, all fiscal language was stripped from the legislation leaving only collective bargaining restrictions.

Wisconsin protests turn ugly

Since Walker signed the anti-union bill into law, protests in Madison, Wis. have been anything but peaceful.

After causing an estimated $7.5 million in property damage to the State Capitol, Wisconsin protesters are now the stars of amateur videos springing up on social networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Earlier in the Wisconsin budget battle timeline, Massachusetts Rep. Michael Capauno told a group of Boston union members that collective bargaining battles were so important "every once and awhile you need to get out on the streets and get a little bloody."

On the other side of the fence, Sarah Palin told Fox News Wisconsin union bosses were "acting like thugs" and it's their responsibility to "turn down the rhetoric and start getting truth out there so that nobody gets hurt."

What happens now?

While recall efforts, lawsuits and political strategies are being discussed on both sides of the aisle, there's one thing Republican and Democratic lawmakers can agree on -- the battle over unions and collective bargaining has just begun.