Dear Wisconsin Tea Party,

 

By Jeff Simpson


The Wisconsin Republican Party hates you!

Signed,

Their Money


If you want to know, how the Wisconsin Republican Party feels about the Wisconsin Tea Party, just check the last two special elections.

Wisconsin District 21 - five republicans entered the primary to replace Mark "GTAC" Honadel..  Long time right wing extremist and founder of "Grandsons of Liberty" Larry Gamble was one of them.   Where did the money go?  Not to Larry!   Two of the biggest right wing moneybags, convicted felon Scott Jensen and Julainne Appling both endorsed the eventual winner, Jessie Rodriguez.

In convicted felon Scott Jensen's case he is spending big money on Rodriguez, so she doesn't have too!  

In the 21st District race, the $45,646 spent by American Federation for Children was nearly five times more than the $9,520 doled out by the six candidates. The group is putting its money on Republican Jessie Rodriguez. It’s spending about 198 times more than Rodriguez who reported spending $231 as of October 7 – the least of all the candidates.

 Its kind of amazing how much money the pro-voucher, anti- public education groups have to spend(think about that).   I am sure though, that just because American Federation for Children is trying hard to buy Ms. Rodriguez her seat, she will not be beholden to them at all.  

Wisconsin District 69 - where four republicans stepped up to fill the small but really dirty shoes of Scott Suder.   The long time tea party activist Scott Knoble was the first to declare, and the one who did not get any Republican money.   

In this race though, Jensen backed a loser, but in the end, kept his money and dirty influence as far away from Knoble as he could get. 

In the 69th District contest, the $45,095 spent by the group topped the $39,666 spent by the six candidates. The group has sent numerous mailings – some here and here – in support of Republican Alanna Feddick. American Federation’s spending more than tripled the $13,792 Feddick reported spending as of October 7.

American Federation’s electioneering activities in these races is similar to some of the strategy in other legislative and statewide races where they’ve spent an estimated $4.4 million since 2010 – inundate areas with daily mailings and talk about every other issue – job creation, health care, taxes, etc. – except school vouchers.

The republican party has done a great job of drmming up the hatred and anger on the right into a frenzied tea party and now realize that they are a blemish on society and their party so are starting to distance themselves from the group they got elected.   They finally realize that the short term gain, was great but it might not outweigh the long term damage these guys have done to the GOP.   They are now trying to cut their losses.




 

Palermo Continues Anti-Union Activity

Will this never end?

There has been a labor struggle at Palermo's which has lasted over a year.  The strife started when Palermo's tried to quash efforts by the workers to unionize.

During that year plus, the workers filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for the company's illegal actions.  While Palermo got away with firing scores of illegal immigrants, they still got pinched for illegal practices:

Gottschalk said he found reason to believe that the company did violate the law by telling “five or six” employees that if they left their jobs to join the strikers, “they would not have jobs to come back to.”

Gottschalk said he is recommending that the company “cease and desist” from engaging in such “retaliation” and restore those employees’ jobs.

Sadly, Palermo apparently did not learn their lesson and have started up again with their anti-union activities:

The charge filed with the local NLRB office alleges that since Oct. 18 Palermo Villa has broken national labor laws by “prohibiting employees from communicating with other employees about unions and unionization while at work” and “subjecting pro-union employees to pretextual disciplinary warnings,” according to a copy of the document provided by Palermo spokesman Evan Zeppos.

[...]

Neumann-Ortiz pointed to photos posted on the Palermo Workers Union website that she called “anti-union literature.” The website includes a copy of Palermo’s settlement with the NLRB, as well as a poster with the Palermo logo that includes statements about unions and the company.

The statements include “It is Palermo’s belief that an outsider will not help you and will only interfere with our relationship and communications” and “So are you good enough now because the union can get money from you?” and “The union does not deserve the right to be your spokesperson!”

Zeppos confirmed that those “informational signs” were distributed by the company within the last two months. He said the company does not consider them “anti-union.”
The signs were taken down about two weeks ago, Zeppos said.

What? No "Loose lips sinks ships" posters? And if the signs were simply "informational," why did Palermo take them down?

It's no wonder that Milwaukee County Emperor Chris Abele loves the company so much. They are almost as anti-worker as he is.

Move To Amend Movement Keeps Growing

As was previously reported, Move to Amend, the grassroots group that is fighting to have the Citizens

United ruling wiped out, and its allies were collecting signatures to have a referendum put on the ballot in Waukesha.  I am pleased to announce that the group was again successful, turning in more than 4,200 signatures and these have been certified by the Waukesha City Clerk.

But they aren't done yet!

On Monday, the City of Milwaukee's Judiciary and Legislation Committee will consider the resolution.  The resolution is being sponsored by Aldermen Tony Zielinski, Nik Kovac, José G.Pérez  and Ashanti Hamilton.

If the resolution passes in Milwaukee, it will be the fourth municipality in Milwaukee County - joining Whitefish Bay, Shorewood and Wauwatosa - to do so.

Obviously, the question is why it's just not a countywide referendum.

Well, that's because Milwaukee County Emperor opposes the referendum.  He doesn't feel that the citizenry should have a say in their lives or their rulers.  In fact, to show how whacked Abele is, he actually tried to extort money from Move to Amend to have it on the ballot.

Tell me how progressive he is again. It's real easy to forget.

The Abele/Clarke Feud - The Public Safety Edition

It is no secret that there has been an ongoing feud between Milwaukee County Emperor Chris Abele and the Sheriff of Nutty Ham David Clarke.  It could stem that they are very similar to each other. Both are tyrannical bullies that excessively reward their yes men and punish anyone who dares to stand up to them.  Maybe they're fussing at each other simply because they are fighting over the attention of their mutual BFF, Scott Walker.

Whatever the cause, their childish antics have continued this week in a social media fire fight.

It started when Clarke took to Twitter and posted this tweet and picture:

The funny thing about this picture is that there is one horse head but two horses' asses.

Clarke really doesn't have much to say about public safety though.  He would rather squander his severely slashed budget on horses like the one pictured than on something like highway patrols.  Furthermore, Clarke isn't very good at doing patrols himself, since he wouldn't know a drunk driver when he's helping one out of a snowbank.

And let's not forget when Clarke admitted the sheriffing is hard work:

Abele responded to this attack on Facebook when he turned it into a plug for Chris Moews, a candidate for Milwaukee County Sheriff:

Yesterday, Sheriff David Clarke posed an interesting question on his Twitter account: “Who would you trust with public safety decisions in Milwaukee County?” While it’s nice to hear from the Sheriff in a medium other than a press release, I think this is an important question. My response is simple: Public safety decisions for our county are not a game. We deserve those decisions to be made with discipline, by leaders who care more about outcomes over politics and personalities – leaders like Lieutenant Chris Moews for Milwaukee County Sheriff

This is again the flip side of the same coin.

Abele has no business speaking about public safety when he is just as bad, if not worse than, Clarke in that area.

Abele, for the second year running, is trying to foist park patrols on the City of Milwaukee's already overburdened police department, not to mention sticking the citizens of the city with the bill for his abdication of duty.

Abele is also evicting the patients at the mental health complex, even though there are not sufficient supports for them in the community.  We've already seen that this immoral, reckless stunt is actually endangering people.

Another alarming sign of how clueless Abele is when it comes to public safety is that his 2014 proposed budget has Emergency Preparedness being transferred from the Sheriff's Office to his office.  When the Finance and Personnel Committee asked about this part of Abele's budget, Abele's staff admitted that they didn't really have a plan on how to transfer these extremely important responsibilities, much less what it would look like or how much it would cost.

About the only thing Abele got right in the area of public safety is that Moews would be a far better sheriff than Clarke.

Although, if I were Moews, that is one endorsement I wouldn't be bragging about.

Walkergate: Sidebars

On Monday, the news broke that there was a second John Doe investigation underway regarding "a burgeoning, secret investigation into a wide variety of state issues, including possible campaign violations during the recent recall elections."

Precious little information came out about Walkergate V.2.0, except this:

It appears the state-related case opened in February 2012, meaning it was active at the same

time as the one focusing on Walker's county aides.

However, several sources said they became aware of the newer probe only in the past month and that much of the recent activity has taken place in Madison.

Sources familiar with the probe told the Journal Sentinel that it was scrutinizing a wide variety of state-related issues, including the recall races. Sources suggested the probe is looking at a current legislative leader and the governor's contest.

"This is activity that occurred since the 2010 election," said a source.

That leaves more open possibilities than it rules anything out.

On Tuesday, more news came out on the ongoing Walkergate.  That news was either no one knew about it or no one was talking (emphasis mine):

Gov. Scott Walker won't say whether he, his attorneys or any staff members have been contacted in a growing, secret criminal investigation into a variety of state issues.

Pressed three times on the matter, Walker said Monday that he wouldn't be distracted by questions on the John Doe investigation, which he called a "sidebar issue."

"In terms of a lot of the questions regarding that issue, I really don't have a lot to say," Walker said during a visit to Beechwood Sales and Service in New Berlin. "I'm going to stay focused, as I am today, on helping the people of this state create more jobs, create more opportunity and balance the budget, as we have."

Walker added that he didn't want to get "pulled into" a discussion of the John Doe because of its dicey secrecy rules. A John Doe probe allows prosecutors to gather evidence and compel testimony in secret.

"It doesn't make sense to be involved with that," he said.

The article went on to say that Mayor Tom Barrett and State Representative Robin Vos claiming they knew nothing about the investigation. However, when attention was turned to State Senator Scott Fitzgerald, the tune changed again (once more, emphasis mine):

Also refusing to answer questions about the secret investigation was Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald, who typically handles reporters’ questions head-on, declined several times on Monday to say whether he knew anything about a John Doe investigation or had appeared before it.

“I can’t comment on it,” said the Juneau Republican.

While the non-comments from Walker and Fitzgerald might not seem a lot, especially as they are presented in the article, they actually speak volumes.

We learned from the original Walkergate investigation that if this had nothing to do with them, they would be free to talk their fool heads off.  The only time a person is not allowed to speak about a John Doe investigation is if they are the subject of the investigation or if they are involved as a witness.

The fact that they are saying they can't comment about it or are concerned about "dicey secrecy rules" would indicate that they could very well be involved in it.

As I pondered on the little we do know about the investigation and consulted with a few wise souls, there are a few areas that come into mind which might prove to be part of the investigation (or at least should be).

Walkergate West

One of these would fit perfectly into what Dan Bice wrote.  It occurred in Madison after the election and had to do with Walker.  In fact, when I originally wrote about it, I dubbed it Walkergate West:

In regards to Walkergate West, I wrote:

However, Graeme Zielinski, the Communication Director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, said that they have heard from lobbyists who work with both parties that they found it odd that instead of going through normal channels, they were being directed to contact Keith Gilkes, Walker's then Chief of Staff, using his email address from his consultancy group.

Zielinski also stated that there is reason to believe, just like what Walker did in Milwaukee County, his top advisors in the Department of Administration and cabinet members were privy to this.

That would go a long way to why he hasn't purged Cullen Werwie or Brett Davis from his administration.

This would also make sense given Walker's propensity to do politicking in office (see the phony David Koch phone call) and all the pay for play action that was going on, with tax giveaways, political appointees like Brian Deschane, sweetheart contracts and other sordid affairs like the attempted mining bill.

Scott Wittkopf, using an interview by Dan Bice and some of his own research, was able to flesh this out a little bit:

The most obvious connection to Walker staffers in Milwaukee County and current Walker staff in Madison is obvious – the possibility that campaigning is being conducted on the taxpayer dime. Recent emails from high level Walker staff regarding the mining bill drafting process may confirm that this type of activity is occurring, and thus confirm Bice’s “unconfirmed rumors.”

An email from then – Walker Chief of Staff Keith Gilkes pgs 11-12 of the document*) on January 30, 2011 from his Champion Group email to his new government email account references campaign fundraising to a lobbyist for Gogebic Taconite.

The email is follow-up on contact information for Marc Holtzman, a well-known GOP and conservative supporter and politician from Colorado, as well as Larry Wolk. Wolk is head of “Correctional Healthcare Companies,” heavily involved in nationwide privatization of state correctional facilities’ healthcare systems.

The email from Wolk to lobbyist Rogowski, then forwarded to Gilkes, refers to “Scott and Keith” (Walker and Gilkes, respectively), and states:

“Hopefully he will be interested in helping and/or contributing to Scott’s campaign…let me know if you hear anything more from Milwaukee County and anything else we can do to help.”

I have no doubt that what Wittkopf wrote is true. Just as I have no doubt that this is just the very tippy top of the iceberg. 

As I pointed out, this would fit in with the modus operandi that we saw from Team Walker when Walker was still county executive. And even though Walker knew he and his crew were under investigation, Walker is asocial enough to think he wasn't doing anything wrong and so there was no need for him to actually follow the law.

What is really ironic about this is that the court hearing regarding the tragedy at O'Donnell Park is underway this week.  The trial includes the emails that Walker's campaign head, Gilkes, shared with Walker's county staff, including Kelly Rindfleisch, who is also having her appeal heard.

Holy tangled webs, Batman!  That alone has got to be playing hell with Walker's ulcers.

All Contributions-cfis-xlsm

The next item of interest would bring in Fitzgerald.

From the transcripts brought up by Kelly Rindfleisch's trial was this wee tiny blurb:

Click on image to embiggen

As I wrote at the time:

Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce you to one of the smoking guns.

Judi Rhodes, aka Judi Rhodes-Engels, is someone else we know.  She is the Harley Davidson-riding GOP operative that specializes in raising funds for State Senator Scott Fitzgerald.  Rhodes sent a spreadsheet named "All Contributions-cfis-xlsm" to Rindfleisch, on what would be normally considered a work day during normal work hours. 

This means not only was Walker having county staff running his campaign and doing fundraising on county time, and not only were the same staff coordinating things with the Davis campaign, but also was coordinating with WISGOP staff, under the leadership of State Senator Scott Fitzgerald.  How was this arrangement approved and by whom?

[...]

Does anyone, honestly believe that Scott Walker, Brett Davis, Scott Fitzgerald and maybe even Reince Priebus, didn't know about any of this nor gave their blessings to it?

this would show collusion between Walker's campaign, Walker's county staff, Fitzgerald's campaign and WISGOP, which is most definitely a big no-no.

Caucus Scandal circa 2011

Sticking with the Fitzgerald, Judith Rhodes Engels and collusion theme, I would turn the gentle reader's attention to some of the discoveries to come from the gerrymandering scandal.

In this scenario, we find that staffers for Fitzgerald and his brother, former State Representative Jeff Fitzgerald and a staffer from Congressman Paul Ryan were sharing emails on their private emails regarding the gerrymandering.

Also included in these emails was Rhodes-Engels, Fitzgerald's fundraiser.

So we have legislative aides doing state business using private emails.  Were they trying to avoid open records requests?  Add to that, there was at least one  political operative involved in state business.

What could possibly go wrong?

Just this:

Look at the first line of this missive:

To keep all of us in the loop at the staff level, I want to share with you the feedback I received from Congressman Ryan regarding the conversation he had this morning with the Speaker and the Majority Leader.

Well, that clarifies that they are doing this as staffers. But it also highlights the fact that they are doing so on private emails and with a political operative, Rhodes-Engels, in their midst.

Keep in mind that Rhodes-Engels has been discussed here before. She was first introduced when she pretended to be just a normal Milwaukee County-residing, Harley-riding woman who supported Scott Walker and went along for his campaign motorcycle ride. Her name also came up in Walkergate in that she shared Scott Fitzgerald's campaign donor database with Kelly Rindfleisch so that Rindfleisch could help raise funds for Walker and Brett Davis, Walker's choice for Lieutenant Governor. 

I have also become aware of the fact that she has often been witnessed to be in Scott Fitzgerald's office in the Capitol, which is a distinct no-no.

Now we find her involved with the gerrymandering scheme.

Was she involved in order to glean information to be used in fundraising for the inevitable court fights? Was she there to give insight on the possible political ramifications? Or is she simply a Jill-of-all-trades and used interchangeably between legislative and political business?

Oh, and Rhodes-Engels was involved in the first caucus scandal, so she really, really ought to have known better.

Koch-a Collusion

While pulling up the information for the above sections, it did remind me of one other well-known incident of obvious collusion....the time that Walker was talking to "David Koch."  Specifically, this part of that conversation:

WALKER: The other thing is more long term and that is after this, um, you know, the coming days and weeks and months ahead, particularly in some of these more swing areas, a lot of these guys are gonna need, they don’t necessarily need ads for them but they ‘re going to need a message out reinforcing why this was a good thing to do for the economy a good thing to do for the state so the extent that message is out over and over again, that’s obviously, that’s obviously a good thing.

Now, obviously, that was not the real David Koch. Not being a lawyer, I have no idea if this would be a prosecutable offense.

But think about this. While that David Koch was a fake, do you think that Walker has never had a similar conversation with the real one?

Also, let us not forget in addition to the Kochs, there are the groups like the Bradley Foundation (whose chair is Michael Grebe, Walker's campaign chair), the Sam Adams Alliance and all of their front groups like MacIver Institute, Wisconsin Reporter and Media Trackers.

Does anyone seriously believe that there was no cooperation, coercion and collusion between these groups, the campaigns of Walker and the other Republicans who were being recalled?

Summary

There are just a few of the top things that might or might no be part of the new Walkergate investigation.  With all of the corruption we've seen in this state in the past three years, this is by no means the end of all the possibilities.  But it is a place to start.

I have a feeling that the next few weeks and months are going to be interesting.

Leo Gerard on Mary Burke

Via Jud Lounsbury, here is Leo Gerard with Sly on the Mary Burke candidacy:




"Is that the best we can find?"

I did point out a couple of days ago that Labor is no longer providing cover for the corporate Dems.

Steve nASS Denounces Local Control

By Jeff Simpson

In case you did not know, Steve nASS(R-I don't like paying child support), has authored and had passed the Racist Mascot Preservation Bill.   Our friend Heather at Monologues of Dissent has been documenting this bill brilliantly:

When they aren't too busy focusing on creating jobs legalizing rubber duck races, Wisconsin Republicans are actual drafting legislation that would turn back the hard-fought advances toward equity in public schools by "rewriting" the law requiring schools to abandon racist mascot names, and shift authority on the matter from the Department of Public Instruction to (guess who?) Scott Walker's Department of Administration.  Because one belligerent district refuses to comply with the name-change requirement, our children will be subjected to continued humiliations and the unconscionably bad example of normalizing racism in the classroom.  Even in their own press release, Sen. Mary Lazich accidentally betrays the true purpose of the backward-looking bill: to ensure total control so that no schools will have to change their mascots, to "avoid imposing costly re-branding on school districts."  Using words like "treasured mascots" and referring to the "principled positions" of school districts who refuse to abandon their beloved traditions [of racism], the Republican legislators' complete disrespect for how deeply offensive these racist mascot names are to many Wisconsinites is now on display for all to see. The repulsive irony is best seen in the words of Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the blatant disregard for civility and equity is "the best path forward." 

  


As he has been known to do, Republican Senator Dale Schultz(R-last bit of sanity), has seen how controversial this bill that overturns current law is and has offered up a compromise.

“As a member of the State Tribal Relations Committee for the past couple years, he has found a new appreciation and understanding for the Native American community,” said Schultz’s chief of staff, Todd Allbaugh. “He just thinks it’s the right thing to do.”

Schultz, of Richland Center, will offer a compromise when the Senate meets Nov. 5. His proposal would require the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to review all school nicknames and mascots, rather than waiting for a complaint to be filed. There are roughly 35 schools in the state that use Indian nicknames and logos.

Under the Schultz compromise, if DPI feels a name could be race-based, it would turn its findings over to the local school board. The local school board could then work with the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council to negotiate an agreement, arguably avoiding any lawsuit.

Allbaugh said Schultz had discussions with Ho-Chunk President Jon Greendeer, who testified against the bill at an Oct. 9 Senate public hearing. Greendeer worked with the Wisconsin Dells School District to reach a compromise on its use of the nickname Chiefs.

Greendeer's discussions with the district led to the tribe presenting a traditional headdress to Wisconsin Dells High School, where it is displayed along with a description of the school’s tribal connection to the community.

So Dale Schultz (R-only "R" listens to his constituents) has seen controversy and the need for compromise, has studied the issue, talked to all sides, watched how it has played out successfully in history and pulled all of this together into a palatable solution for all involved.  

As Schult'z Chief of Staff correctly puts it:

 
“His bill forces a true discussion at the local level,” Allbaugh said. “As Republicans, we are always preaching about local control. So let the issue be worked out on the local level like it was in the Dells.”

 Well palatable to all except for the furthest end of the right wing spectrum.  Unfortunately, thanks to district gerrymandering, that is who is making our laws.   Let's here from Steve nAss, I mean Mike Mikalsen speaking for Steve nASS or himself or well whoever does the thinking in their domestic partnership.

Mike Mikalsen, Nass’ chief of staff, said Nass does not support the compromise.

“At this point, he has already compromised as much as he’s going to,” Mikalsen said. “Remember, his bill was initially a complete repeal (of current law).”

The bill proposed by Lazich and Nass would largely undo a 3-year-old law passed under former Gov. Jim Doyle that required schools discontinue using their nicknames, logos or mascots if they were found to be offensive. Once one individual filed a complaint, a review process would be triggered by the DPI to determine whether the school's use of native imagery was offensive.

Through compromise, Nass has agreed to allow for a complaint process. However, it shifts the responsibility for proving something is offensive to the complainant by requiring an individual to collect signatures totaling 10 percent of the school district’s student population. Those who sign the petition must by 18 or older.

Nass’ bill also would cut DPI out of the process by allowing the state Department of Administration to assign a hearing examiner to the complainant’s case.

There we go, Mike nASS is in favor of Big Government dictating exactly what you have to do and to what level you can be offended.  Mike nASS is against the decision being made by the local democratically elected school board.   The local school board of course is elected by the voters of the actual school district that would be making the decision about the fate of the Mascot. 

 

 Apparently, Mike nASS thinks that he is much more qualified to decide the issues of  your school district than you or the people you vote for are.   

 

 

Why is Mike nASS against local control?  Let's let Jason Priest, Republican Montana Senate candidate, explain.

 

Here is Mike nASS in his own words and immensely outclassed by Representative Jon Richards:

Contemptible

The Honorable Juan Colas had ruled over a year ago that Act 10 was unconstitutional and struck it down.

In the year following that ruling, most of the state has thumbed their nose at the ruling, counting on the Wisconsin Supreme Court to again ignore the facts of the case and overturn it as they did with  the initial lawsuit against it.

The exception to that behavior was Dane County and the City of Madison. It is not coincidental that this is also the part of the state that is doing the best economically.

Last month, the case again came before Colas who clarified his ruling.  Despite this clarification, Scott Walker's administration again thumbed their nose at the ruling and refused to follow it.

Thus the unions filed yet another petition before Judge Colas, this time to find Walker's people in contempt of court for not following his ruling.  And find them in contempt he did:

A Dane County judge found Gov. Scott Walker's employment relations commissioners in contempt of court Monday for repeatedly defying the judge's finding last year that Walker's signature labor law was unconstitutional.

Monday's ruling by Circuit Judge Juan Colás will give teachers and local government workers the ability to immediately enter labor negotiations with their bosses; likely result in the cancellation of union recertification elections set for November; and grant official state recognition of a Kenosha teachers union that had been decertified.

Much remains uncertain about Act 10, the law approved by Walker and his fellow Republicans in 2011 that all but eliminated collective bargaining for public employees. State officials promised to immediately appeal Monday's ruling, and the underlaying [sic] case is already heading to the state Supreme Court, with oral arguments set for Nov. 11.

Colás in September 2012 found key portions of Act 10 unconstitutional. Despite that, the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission acted as if the law were still in effect for most unions by scheduling union recertification elections.

"I think that is contempt — that's an intentional disregard of the court's order," Colás said of the commission's actions.

"I think this conduct was nothing more than an attempt to elude the application of a judgment of the court the commissioners knew full well applied."

The best part is that the ruling applies to ALL local and teacher unions. That worst part is that state workers are still getting the shaft:

For the time being at least, much of Act 10 is not in effect for teachers and local government workers. It remains in place for state employees because they were not part of the original lawsuit and before Act 10 state workers were regulated by a labor law that was different from the law regulating municipal workers.

Somehow, I don't expect that Chris Abele or even Tom Barrett will be on the phone with AFSCME tomorrow morning to get down to business. Especially not Abele, who has shown time and time again that he sees workers as nothing more than human capitol to be exploited and kicked to the side.

Actually, I don't expect too many local governments or school boards to be too keen to resume negotiations with their respective unions.  Not that they don't agree with collective bargaining, but because Walker and his fellow Teapublicans have looted their funding and gave it to the corporate special interests that have bought them off.

As noted above, the case will be going before the state supreme court on November 11.  Even though the constitution is in favor of the unions, it is doubtful whether David "Chokehold" Prosser and the rest of the corporate justices will even bother with the facts of the case.

It should be noted that regardless of whether the Supreme Court rules by using the Constitution or by their campaign ledgers, their ruling won't be the end of this case as it proceeds to the federal court level.

It' should also prove interesting and enlightening to see how various candidates respond to this ruling.  Will any of the Democratic candidates urge responsibility and say bargaining should commence?  Or will any Republicans admit they did a great disservice when they overreached on this attack on the workers in this state and caused the economic downturn and the loss of tens of thousands of jobs?

Did Burke Outsource Jobs Or Not?

Daniel Bice of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a report that Trek might have outsourced jobs to China:

If you're around Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke on the campaign trail, you're going to hear a lot about Trek Bicycles and the 1,000 jobs it has created in Wisconsin.

This you won't hear:

Trek — a company founded by Burke's father and a place she worked for nine years — is fighting a petition filed by a state official saying the firm outsourced some 15 to 20 jobs from its Waterloo plant to China earlier this year.

In August, Lynda Paasch, a staffer with the state Department of Workforce Development, submitted a petition for special federal aid for the former Trek workers through the Trade Adjustment Assistance program in the U.S. Department of Labor.

The program provides such benefits as government subsidies for job retraining and relocation expenses for people who have lost their jobs due to foreign competition or outsourcing.

Paasch wrote that most Trek employees working second and third shift making composite lugs and mountain bike frames were laid off March 16. These are the only layoffs the company has had this year.

"The Workers were told if production numbers would not start to rise, then Trek would have to close the line down and shift the line to China, after all the bike frames (were) produced," Paasch wrote. "The production numbers could not be met due to the decrease in orders."

Federal officials are currently investigating the matter to decide whether the ex-Trek employees are entitled to benefits.

A spokeswoman for the company said it is fighting the petition.

Sigh.

But to be fair, the timing of this story seems rather convenient, especially on the trail of the return of Walkergate.  But then again, I have been hearing about Trek outsourcing jobs for a long time, so it is equally plausible.

So far, the leading candidate in my mind is still "None of the above."

Teacher!

By Jeff Simpson

Today we lost another real American Hero -  Michael Landsberry! 

Today, Mr. Michael Landsberry died, in what is slowly, and sadly, becoming a conventional way to die as a teacher.  In yet another school shooting, protecting his(and our) kids!   

 It came as no surprise to Michael Landsberry’s family that the Sparks Middle School math teacher is being called a hero for trying to get a student to put his gun down before being shot and killed.

“To hear he was trying to protect those kids, that he stepped up and tried to stop the situation, doesn’t surprise me at all,” said Chanda Landsberry, who is married to Michael’s younger brother, Reggie. “He could have ducked and hid, but he didn’t. That’s not who he is.”


“He was trained to help.”


A former Marine, 45-year-old was also a member of the Nevada Air National Guard. He leaves behind his wife and two step-daughters.


Tom Robinson, deputy chief with the Reno Police Department told reporters at a news conference Monday “in my estimation, he is a hero. We do know he was trying to intervene.”


Chanda Landsberry said her brother-in-law, who received bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2001, loved teaching.

Once again, a child was bullied.  Once again, a child felt he had no other option, but to punish those who had been bullying him.    Once again, someone who had no business having a gun was able to get a gun.  Once again, the wrong person brought the gun to the wrong place and the gun did exactly what it was made to do.  Once again, someone brought this gun to school and used it.  Once again, a teacher died trying to intervene and protect his students.  Once again, people will say its too early to discuss sensible gun control.  Once again, people will wait and then forget all about Mr. Landsberry when the next school shooting happens.   Once again, people will try and arm teachers, as if that is the cure all.   Once again, there is a teacher who will not be home for supper tonight, who will not be able to tuck their children into bed and who will not be in the classroom tomorrow to greet his students with a friendly "Good Morning".   Once again, we will bury this teacher and pretend we care what happened today.  Once again, we will do nothing as a society to stop this.  Once again, sometime soon, this same story will play out - Once again. 

RIP Mr. Landsberry -  You truly are a -   



        Teacher!    

The Return Of Walkergate

Welcome back, John Doe! (emphasis mine):

A former top-level assistant U.S. attorney has been appointed a special prosecutor in a burgeoning, secret investigation into a wide variety of state issues, including possible campaign violations during the recent recall elections, multiple sources said.

Francis Schmitz — who spent nearly 30 years as a federal prosecutor and was once a finalist for U.S. attorney in Milwaukee — is leading the widespread John Doe probe, according to sources.

Overseeing the case is Kenosha County Circuit Judge Barbara A. Kluka, who has been used by Milwaukee County judicial officials in past John Doe cases.

Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Bruce Landgraf, whose office initiated the probe, declined to answer questions about the John Doe on Friday. Insiders said the investigation covers several jurisdictions, including Dane County. Police and prosecutors in these other counties have been lending a helping hand.

"It's now spread to at least five counties," said a source familiar with the probe, adding that Landgraf has been investigating "all over the place."

Another source said one reason that these other counties have been roped into the investigation is a new state law that allows elected officials to be tried in their home counties for violations of ethics, lobbying and campaign laws. Ex-Assembly Majority Leader Scott Jensen had his case moved to Waukesha County under a Supreme Court ruling because of the law.

Sources said the investigation is following up on a number of leads turned up by an earlier John Doe probe, which was led by Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm into the former and current aides of Gov. Scott Walker during his time as Milwaukee County executive.

The article goes on to point out that the special prosecutor, Francis Schmitz, takes away Walker's ability to scream politics because she didn't sign any recall petitions and she was considered for the US Attorney position by George Bush. Apparently she wasn't corrupt so she didn't get the position.

But hold on to your seats, boys and girls! As we all know, when it comes to all things Walker, there is more. There is always more:

It appears the state-related case opened in February 2012, meaning it was active at the same time as the one focusing on Walker's county aides.

However, several sources said they became aware of the newer probe only in the past month and that much of the recent activity has taken place in Madison.

Sources familiar with the probe told the Journal Sentinel that it was scrutinizing a wide variety of state-related issues, including the recall races. Sources suggested the probe is looking at a current legislative leader and the governor's contest.

"This is activity that occurred since the 2010 election," said a source.

Whooee! It looks like we are going to have to put in a rush order for extra popcorn.

As the gentle reader is aware, Cog Dis have been following the Walkergate saga closely .  This new level of a probe could be looking at numerous players - ranging from Robin Vos to Scott Fitzgerald to Brett Davis.  It could include things like the pay for play Walker and his staff were doing, the politicking out of the Capitol,

Someone might want to check with the GAB and see who might have filed legal cooperation defense funds.

The Tennessee Tax Cut

By Jeff Simpson

We brought you the story of who was truly carrying water for Scott Walker, the elected Democrats.  Then we also showed you how easy it was to take an issue that Scott Walker loses in and turn it into an easily understandable story about gumballs.

Now we find out that while we get to share a gumball weekly, our friends in Tennesee get a whole Gumball truckload thanks to Scott Walker and Democrats who gave him cover!


While most Wisconsin taxpayers will see a cut of pennies to a whopping $13.00 this year, all while burdening the Wisconsin Taxpayers with more future debt and a larger structural deficit.

The best part though is whole Scott Walker is giving you an $.08 pay cut this year, he is giving his friends in Tennessee $18,000.

 And CBL Properties of Chattanooga, Tenn., owner of East Towne and West Towne malls, will enjoy an $18,000 savings. Each mall is assessed for about $81 million, according to city tax records, with the owners paying almost $4 million total in property taxes last year.

Nothing says "create" jobs in WI, like sending an $18,000 check to TN.  I wonder how much the rent at East Towne and West Town will come down now?  Or what kind of sale the stores will run to help spark the economy because of this "tax cut"?

Or will CBL properties just add it into their bottom line and bonus the CEO because of improved profitability?  

Why Scott Walker is Beatable & Why The Democrats Won't Beat Him!

By Jeff Simpson

I pointed out yesterday, that what is really hurting the cause in WI is when Scott Walker advances "crap" bills and the dems give him political cover by overwhelmingly supporting it.

This LTE was in the Baraboo News Republic recently:

MAILBAG: Thanks, governor, for free gumballs

 

October 15, 2013 4:29 pm

Huh, you say? Let me explain.

Walker’s much-ballyhooed $100 million tax cut, as everyone should know by now, translates into roughly $13 per household. That $13 per year equals 3.5 cents per day, so if you save it up for a week, you’ll end up with a full entire quarter. That’s just enough to buy a gumball at any of our local grocery stores. If your house is particularly nice, you might end up with two or three gumballs. Of course, if you’re poor and don’t own a home, sorry, no gumballs for you.

But for the sake of argument, let’s say you’re a one-gumball person. Most of us are. Looking forward to it? Think again. Since state and local taxes are deductible from your federal taxes, every tax cut you get from the state means you'll have to pay more in federal taxes. If you’re in the 25 percent tax bracket, then you’ll have to send every fourth gumball to the IRS. Now you’re down to just three a month.

But hey, a gumball is a gumball. Which would you rather have, better schools for Wisconsin’s children, or a handful of gumballs? Personally, I’m grateful to the governor for this. I’d write him a thank-you note, except that my tax savings won’t cover the cost of a postage stamp.

Tom O'Brien, Reedsburg

See, more people then ever are paying attention. Which means more people "get it".  Unfortunately, our elected Democrats, approach with job with cowardice, and treat the people of WI like they are ignorant.   Not everyone thinks that getting a "Gumball a week", while our infrastructure crumbles, our public schools suffer and there are no jobs, is such a great thing. 

So as long as the democrats keep playing defense, worrying about how the republicans will campaign against them and keep trotting someone out as the next great hope who will not take a position on anything, we will continue to lose. 


For me I will look at my weekly gumball and think about what might have been!

Labor's Growing Resolve

At Political Carnival, there is a post regarding Labor's resolve regarding Social Security and Medicare, including this video:



 The author, GottaLaff, pointed out this money quote from the AFL-CIO's Damon A. Silvers, the director of policy and special counsel, as he takes on the squawking heads of the corporate media (emphasis mine):

You're talking about people who themselves are more afraid of paying higher taxes than they are afraid of being poor in retirement. You're talking about essentially rich people. If you want to have a democracy of rich people, I suppose you're statement is true.

Sadly, that seems to be the way this country is headed. And the Democrats are increasingly becoming nothing more the flip side of the same coin. Fortunately, all is not lost. From the article, one can see that the unions, despite the assaults it has suffered across the nation, are still standing. And not only are they still standing, they're rolling up their sleeves and are ready to do what needs to get done, which does not including going along to get along (again, emphasis mine):

We're being really clear. We're not going to give cover to Democrats who think it's a good idea to take away economic security from our most vulnerable citizens. We're extremely clear about that and we are not embarrassed about it whatsoever. We want a really clear message out there: If you cut Social Security benefits or Medicare benefits to our seniors, to our most vulnerable people in our country, you are going to get no cover from the American labor movement. We're happy to say that all day long. We think the reality is that it is by only treating our most vulnerable people fairly that there's going be any chance of progress on public policy issues facing our country going forward. That's the reality.

And this is not just on a national level. This is going on at state, regional and local levels as well.
During the Spring 2012 Elections, I pointed this out, when the Milwaukee Area Labor Council chose to not endorse all the candidates they used to and also endorsed some upset candidates.

And that year, we saw a lot of people that turned their backs on the people lose their seats, including Jason Fields and Elizabeth Coggs.

More recently, there is less tolerance for such poor decisions, such as the foolishness of going along with AB110 or other maleficent actions taken by the Teapublicans.

Even more recently, you see the unions standing up to profiteers and plutocrats like Chris Abele, especially when he wants to exploit our most vulnerable citizens.

I've said it for a long time now, and will say it again, that this is way overdue.  Things are way out of control and getting worse.  The Democrats are sliding down to be the flip side of the same coin as the GOP.  Hell, the Democrats haven't even blinked an eye when Chris Abele was handing money out to rabid teabaggers like Joe Sanfelippo and Dale Kooyenga and holding fundraisers for Deanna Alexander.

There is only one way for the Democrats to win and that is to get the people involved.  Instead of doing that, they are alienating people to go after big money, even though they'll never be able to compete with the GOP in that area.

At least one group is still out there fighting for the people instead of kissing up to the plutocracy - the unions.

It's The Thought That Counts, Right?

Despite what Teapublicans, plutocrats and other haters might say, public sector workers repeatedly have shown that they are not only the most cost effective but also provide the highest quality services.

This was proven again when the good men and women of the Milwaukee County Department of Aging were recognized with a number of awards by the Milken Institute:

Eventually, the office of County Executive Chris Abele got around to acknowledging this.  Sort of.  I think.

Anyway, this is what was sent:

Odds are that Abele himself didn't write this.  It might have been easier to take if he had.  Instead, this was probably written by one of his office staff, who he has and/or wants to give big raises, even as he cuts the pay of the people he is supposed to be honoring.

Given the poor spelling and grammar, this actually adds insult to injury.

Of course, Abele would only call this efficiency.