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Public employee unions, in their defense, say politicians have unfairly made them into simplistic bogeymen, responsible for problems that have myriad causes. Not all government workers receive generous pensions, they note.

I promised to empower the taxpayer - instead of a handful of big government union bosses.

I really don't think that the public-sector employees should be unionized.

Public unions are big money.

Too many people in government seem to think they are above regular folks, and I said I would expect humility in the way each member of my team served- that they would recognize that the taxpayer is boss.

There has been a huge attack against private sector unions. Actually, that's been going on since the Second World War.

We have seen a central government promote the power of labor-union bosses, and in turn be supported by that power, until it has become entirely too much a government of and for one class, which is exactly what our Founding Fathers wanted most to prevent.

I recognize that as governor, my job is to sit on the other side of the table from the public sector unions and negotiate effectively on behalf of all the taxpayers of the state, including all of you.

I think it's unrealistic for public-sector employees to believe that they are immune from modifications to their pay and benefit packages.