Save Stephanie or Keep Klett

By Jeff Simpson

There has been some push lately, for Tony Evers to keep Stephanie Klett, as head of the Department of Tourism.   I would like to state that I publicly agree with this idea, with some context. 

While I have been critical of some of her decisions, I think that Ms. Klett has done a very admirable job running the Department of Tourism.   In an era where her boss has been openly hostile to public employees, unions, teachers, LGBTQ community, people of color, the English language etc...  she has still found a way to market our great state despite the obstacles.     Stephanie  has done such a good job, that it amazes me that it was a hire Scott Walker actually made.

Now some quick caveats, I am all for bipartisanship but it has to work both ways and there has to be some sanity and logic involved.   I hope everyone on the right who wants Governor Evers to show some bipartisanship and keep Ms. Klett on, also calls Vos and Fitzgerald and tells them to not redefine the Governors powers. 

Let's also remember that Scott Walker, and the rest of the GOP, would not give you the time of day if you signed the recall petition.   If Governor Evers keeps Ms. Klett on board that everyone recognizes that he is not the partisan petty child that his predecessor is. 

Finally, as we see by the crony appointment of Schimel to a cushy judgeship,  that competence has never been in any job description that Walker has ever written,   

I am on board, I thoroughly recommend keep Stephanie Klett on as head of the Department of Tourism.

I am also of the strong belief that anyone else that Scott Walker has hired or appointed in our Government, gets walked to the door the second Governor Evers gets sworn in.   

It can not happen soon enough!   

*  Full disclosure, Stephanie and I attended Beloit College together in the 80's, and while I would not say we are friends, I would say we are acquaintances. 

The $200.009.75 Wisconsin Fish Fry

By Jeff Simpson




On the heels of a devastating $250 million dollar cut to the UW system, Scott Walker, working with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism(our tax dollars), the University of Wisconsin Athletic department(our tax dollars), Levy restaurants (winner of the Scott Walker pick a private company winner) and JP Cullen (winner also of the Scott Walker pick a private company winner) have teamed up to build and operate a new food stand, available for people lucky enough to attend an event at the Kohl Center.

The stand, which underwent a $90,000 remodel, is located outside of Section 112 at Gate C and includes a neon sign outlined in small light bulbs. Another $110,000 is being spent on radio, social media and other advertising associated with the venue, said Lisa Marshall, a tourism spokeswoman.

No mention of royalties coming back to the tourism department with food sales, were there RFP's other sites considered or how I can get the WI Department of Tourism to spend $200,000 taxpayer dollars marketing my business.

I am sure the donations to Scott Walker and his friends by Compass Group(Levy Restaurants) and JP Cullen, sure did not hurt.

Even though this "partnership" seems to have caused Scott Walker to through free market principles out the door,and shows that Mr. Walker is a strong supporter of socialism by using the Government to compete against private business, the worst part is WHY we have to spend this kind of money advertising locally.

“It’s really about our brand, and our brand is fun,” said Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett as she chewed on a deep-fried cheese curd. “In advertising, we can’t forget to advertise to our own folks. Fifty-one percent of our (tourists) are from Wisconsin, so we want to keep them here. It’s important that we advertise in our own state.”

In a state that is ranked the worst state for a black people to live in, that is widely know for slashing education budgets, an inept partisan Supreme Court, one the biggest declining middle classes in the country along with massive layoffs almost daily, lakes that are contaminated and a Governor who thinks building a wall around Canada is a good idea, it is no wonder, we have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to get Wisconsinites to stay in Wisconsin.  

At least it beats bringing in B-list stars,and a blow up doll, from an 80's movie that has not been relevant in 25 years to try and reach the younger generation of tourists!

I am sure that the people who head to the Kohl Center to watch the Alaska Nanooks play Hockey V the Wisconsin Badgers, will be swayed by $8.50 pot roast, to spend their hard earned vacation dollars on Lake Namakagon!

It all smells a little fishy to me!  

Escape to Wisconsin

 

By Jeff Simpson

Scott Walker, in his never ending quest for less government yet one that works, as he told Morning Joe yesterday:

"That’s the difference between Washington and Republicans at the state level. We may as Republicans want less government, but we want the government we have to work.” - Gov. Scott Walker

Now Scott Walker and Mike Huebsch, after clearing the halls of 80 year old women who wear socks with sandals, have decided to start arresting public servants(and apparently yelling at everyone else).  

After spending tons of money, rewarding a right wing Hollywood director, to film a "tourism" commercial displaying Wisconsinites as bumbling dolts....The Capitol Police and the Dynamic Duo of Huebsch and Walker drive the point home:

The crackdown also focused press attention on the standoff between protesters and police. (Isthmus put together a storify and local activist and photographer Leslie Peterson captured good photos of the event.)

Meanwhile Erwin and his second-in-command have grabbed headlines with hefty raises, made legal through a bureaucratic shell game, prompting speculation that Erwin is being rewarded for arresting the state's most visible critics of Walker. The state Department of Administration denies the crackdown has anything to do with Erwin's pay raise.

Last week officers targeted the Raging Grannies singing troupe — comprised, you might have guessed, of elderly women — as well as a Madison alderman and a leftie journalist.

Capitol police is recent days appear to be making the point that anyone connected with the Solidarity Sing Along is game for arrest, with no exceptions for the young, the old, elected officials, journalists and now fellow protective services personnel.

As Madison Police Officer Brian Austin said: 

“I’ve been watching this with growing alarm,” says Austin, who is a leader with Cops for Labor. “This is unprecedented for a governor. I don’t recall anyone behaving like this and stifling free speech before. This is the most public of all places for dissent, and people of all political stripes should be outraged.”
He said this is “the ultimate in big government abuse,” adding that Walker is violating “the most sacred rights that make us Americans.”