Equal Protection Violations by Republican Governors

    
     Have you noticed? There seems to be a developing trend among republican governors: Immediately, following their inaugurations, they tell the citizens “I have a mandate—The people elected me to cut the state debt and balance the state’s budget.” Then, almost simultaneously, they begin giving away a healthy portion of the state’s savings to rich corporations, while at the same time placing the entire burden of paying the state’s debt on the backs of the poor and the middle class (cutting their salaries, cutting their benefits, and cutting the services to their communities). These governors seem to feel that these types of actions are well within their rights. Little do they know – they are wrong!



     The “equal protection” clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (1868) protects all citizens against discrimination by state governments—especially when it can be shown that the state’s policies are meant to discriminate:

     Consider, for example, Governor Scott Walker's (R-WI) economic policy: According to the Governor, Wisconsin is broke, deeply in debt, and many of its citizens are unemployed. It is his job, he argues, to pay-down the debt, balance the state’s budget, and create the economic climate that culminates in jobs for the unemployed citizens.


     While, on the surface, the Governor’s policy appears to serve a “legitimate state purpose” and the Governor appears to have a “rational basis” for his actions, it is quite clear that the method by which the Governor is attempting to accomplish these goals fails a “strict scrutiny” test. For instance, many important forms of revenues that have zero negative impact on the Governor’s policy, but could help to lessen the middle class’s burden of paying the debt, the Governor refuses to discuss and utilize. This, along with several other similar factors – like the Governor’s past history and the Governor’s real aim, as stated in his speeches—makes the Governor’s policy “suspect” at best!

     What is even more alarming is the fact that Governor Walker isn’t acting alone. Instead, it appears that his actions are part of a growing republican conspiracy against the middle class and the poor in United States. I am hoping that someday, soon, the democrats and other civic-minded groups would begin filing discrimination law suit against these republican governors.  I believe the democrats will prevail in court (a setting of authentic transparency), but even if the democrats don’t win, the court cases would serve as genuine forums for creating public awareness of the enormous magnitude of the unfairness of republican policies.

     In the meantime, I am going to keep my fingers cross and hope for the best!


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