Outside Agitators Inside the Gates

Okay, kids. I'm not going to spoon feed this to you. You may have to actually follow some of the links to flesh out the story as I ramble on and on like the damn desert, but it's well worth the effort. Professor Wm J Cronon of the UW wrote an article showing that the curious timing of a national flurry of fundamentally similar bills could be traced back to a group calling itself American Legislative Exchange Council. (ALEC) ALEC issued a non-denial denial of involvement to a specific question.

Raegan A. Weber, an ALEC spokeswoman, replied via e-mail that ALEC had not worked with "Gov. Scott Walker or any of our members on any of the governor’s proposed legislation."

A snot-storm ensued which soon spread. But, "Why does this even matter?" you ask. How could such inside baseball affect me? Do you turn on the lights when you get home? Does your computer use electricity?

ALEC's sample legislation advances the interests of low wage employers, energy companies, prescription drug companies against drug importation, private insurers threatened by health reform, various and sundry polluters, the private prison industry, and anyone who doesn't want too many Democrats voting. Its bills oppose unions and favor privatization of public assets.

Does any of that sound familiar? "What's disgusting?!" Well, pretty much that whole litany of conservative boodle, now that you asked. Using tax dollars to fund for-profit schools. Maciver=Scott Jensen=ALEC Closing the Capitol to the people and issuing outrageous edicts. Mike Huebsch=ALEC Prisons for profit. Jeff Fitzgerald = ALEC Health care reform. Scott Fitzgerald+Leah Vukmir= ALEC

Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) currently serves as an ALEC state chair. Wisconsin State Rep. Leah Vukmir (R) is the "public chair" of the ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force, the "private chair" is Marianne Eterno of Guarantee Trust Life Insurance. Vukmir has a history of opposing mental health parity laws that would require insurance companies to cover psychiatric illnesses on par with other conditions.

Which brings me back to my point about electricity. We have a new PSC Chair for the next 6 years. He will "oversee and regulate" the energy policies that fulminate in the Walker administration.

"Phil will help protect ratepayers and ensure our state has a sustainable and economical network of power production facilities,” Walker said in a statement.

Everyone who believes that should sit down and rest a moment. But who is Phil Montgomery and why should we worry about a former legie joining the current administration? Well, in the first place Walker's budget cuts 10% of the headcount for the PSC making any oversight that much harder no matter who is in charge. And then you have that pesky Montgomery=ALEC=Privatizing Energy Generation equation. Scores of communities across Wisconsin are able to keep rates low and rate-payers happy because they own the generating plants. That's something Walker and the Fitz' can't stand and will seek to change. Write this prediction down. In the name of Economic Development the state will subsidize electricity for large end users but only if it's produced by an investor owned utility. Further, restrictions will be lowered to allow users to cross into the service areas of public utilities to cherry pick these subsidized rates. Public utilities will see large revenue losses leading to higher rates for residential users and calls to sell the generating capacity to investor-owned utilities. In the same way Walker will use municipalities to do to the Police and Firefighters that which he would not do, he'll use his new pet Dept of Economic Development to gut public utilities. I know you're tired of hearing about the Koch Brothers and AFP but the connections are here. I know you're weary of being beaten down by Wal-Mart stories but Wal-Mart is beating you down. And I know how cranky some folks get when you point out the definition of fascism in the dictionary. But giving in doesn't make your life better. The John Birch Society of the 50s and 60s were little more than a collegial bunch of goofs who believed Eisenhower was a Commie and got together now and again for a good book burning or two. This iteration is more tenacious and more ferocious and our ballots are the first line of defense against them. Never waste one again.

It's Hard In The House For A "Rising Star"

Sean Duffy is having trouble make ends meet in Congress. Duffy told an audience in Polk County...

I drive a used minivan. If you think I'm living high on the hog, I've got one paycheck. So I struggle to meet my bills right now.

Duffy makes $174,000 per year as a first term Representative. The average HOUSEHOLD income in Polk County is $50,520. Maybe they can vote him home for a reality check in 2012. It's time to take the pressure off this poor child.

And, Violet Eyes To Die For.

RIP, Elizabeth Taylor

The Bully's Defense

She made me do it. I'm not that kind of a person.

"I'll destroy you, bitch."

It's Hard To Be A Wingnut #12

You know that somebody is soft on the concept when they name their entire movement after The Boston Tea Party and then whine that boycotts are mean.



I linked to a sixth grade level article on the Tea Party in case Michelle Bachmann is reading.

More Value For Your Government Dollar

On Wednesday, Isthmus posted a story to its website saying that under the
settlement Walker did not acknowledge any fault but agreed to produce the
records and pay attorney's fees and costs of around $7,000.

Do you remember back when Scott Walker promised transparency and openness in Madison? Yeah, that's not what Scott Walker is known for. Back in 2005 he got a letter from the DOJ referring to the way Milwaukee County dealt with open records requests.

"In sum, this episode evinces a case of how government officials ought
not to do business...

"Whether they violated the public records law is a question largely
mooted by the later production of the waivers and the nearly inconceivable
notion that a repeat of this inglorious set of circumstances might be
forestalled by a judicial pronouncement on the matter.
"Nobody honored
to serve in public office ought to manipulate public records in this fashion --
that is the opinion of this office."

Interestingly, the news that Scotty had pissed away more than $7000 in a losing battle to keep from embarrassing himself the Dane County District Attorney filed and Open Meetings Law Violation complaint against the conference committee meeting last week which saw the non-fiscal parts of the Budget Repair Bill (Let's chew on that for a moment. Non-fiscal ad budget repair. All together right there, screaming at one another as if they didn't belong in a single sentence.)

This week also saw an open hearing that wasn't really open that included funding to repair the power plants the Governor intends to offer for no-bid contracts to his campaign contributors. He's going to sell them without open bidding because they'll cost too much to repair and there's not demand enough for open bidding, he says. But he's allocating money to repair them so they'll be ready for whoever buys them and uses them to generate electricty they'll sell to the state at a profit. Somehow, that wasn't important enough to warrant a meeting room large enough to hold a real hearing.

What was it Scotty said back when he was gutting the Department of Commerce in favor of a new system for funnelling tax dollars to contributors? "

We want to make sure that both from an ethics and open government standpoint
and overall in terms of accountability that we have full disclosure and
accountability, ..."

Yeah, see? Walker's not good at any of that. His track record in Milwaukee County is one of obfuscation and deception, of bending the rules he can't ignore and of doing everything in his power to block legitimate requests for information. Some people wanted to believe Walker without any reason or cause and it's costing all of us today.

Why bring all of this up? Why the downer? Because it's Sunshine Week, the week when we lobby for openness and transparency in government the same way we hope to build awareness for this disease or that condition in hope of finding a cure. It's Sunshine Week and our brand new Governor stepped on his pud three times at once. His case of deception may be beyond any glimmer of hope for a cure.

It can't be tough to do better than this. We've simply elected a man who has no idea how to follow through on his words.

When Faced With A Tough Choice...

...the GOPbaggers decide to make deep cuts to Special Olympics.

The House GOP's budget, which passed last month, takes a hatchet to programs
for disabled kids and Special Olympics athletes. The proposed cuts could force
the closure of at least one Special Olympics program, which is funded through
the Department of Education. Dubbed Project UNIFY, the program serves more
than 750,000 students in 43 states and draws from techniques used in Special
Olympics training for activities in public schools.

It's a shameful time to live in America.

Doesn't Mean What You Think It Means

When, "Obviously aware," means, "Didn't have a clue."

Seriously?

The flip side of that argument is, that if you think the NPR/O'Keefe kerfuffle means something dire, then you should be supporting charges against Scott Walker for the BuffaloBeast call.

Remember When It Was All About "One Vote For One Voter and Every Vote Counted?"

Now it's all about stopping college kids from voting.

It's Hard To Be A Wingnut #9

It's hard to reconcile a desire for making it easier to get a gun into the Capitol with seting up metal detectors at the entrances to keep pocket change and nail clippers out of the building.

J'Accuse!

In tense appearance yesterday Governor Walker accused Senator Mark Miller of obstructing Walker's plans to gut Wisconsin. Walker stood at the lectern, rolling a pair of ball bearings in his left hand and...

suggested - with no apparent irony - that perhaps Miller has been having
secret phone calls with special interest backers in organized labor.

You'll recall that it was Walker himself who got caught with his official hands in that particular cookie jar not so very long ago.

Before leaving for a prior engagement at Room 126 of The Country Springs Motel with Charlie Sykes, Walker was heard to blame Miller and Senator Jon Erpenbach for taking some strawberries out of the Capitol mess lockers.

Spin Away, Boys!

It was a surprise that the Rasmussen Poll showed such low approval for Governor Walker's overreach but to have WPRI's numbers show 2-1 against the scheme to strip collective bargaining rights it counts as shocking.

I would like to take a moment to disagree with the MJS characterization though. If Walker's 4 point win was a mandate then these numbers don't show division as much as they show solidarity of public thought against Walker and the Fitz'.

Meanwhile, In Other News

Scott Fitzgerald vows to hold his breath until Jon Erpenbach comes back to Madison. Really. He means it.

And he's not going to eat his vegetables, either.

For A Change, I'm Glad Walker Is A Hypocrite

Remember how Scott Walker says that all government spending is bad and that we have to cut, cut, cut? Yeah, not so much.

Walker Asks FEMA For Federal Aid For Blizzard Costs

I'm glad he's asking. Sharing the risk is one of the things that government spending does well. There is a long, long list of things that we can do as a government that we could never do as individuals.

I just hope that someone points out the irony of this request at this time to The Incurious Governor.

A Laser-Like Focus On Jobs

You'd expect this from The Onion but, no, it's from The Badger Herald

Although representatives deny any connection to the recent prank call on the
governor, two legislators began circulating a bill Monday that would ban making
trick calls masking the caller’s true identity.

Calls from running refrigerators and Prince Albert have, apparently, upset the imminemtly upsettable Mary Lazich and equally offendable Mark Honadel as they have now proposed adding one more task to the lists already dumped on underfunded DA's in Wisconsin.

Summing It Up

From Dana Milbank, writing in WaPo:

Under Walker's tribal political theory, governing is a never-ending cycle of
revenge killings.

Power Plant Sales Look Like A Done Deal From Here

Even though no one knew until a week ago last Friday that Wisconsin might be considering selling any power plants. And, even though there has been no approval to sell power plants by the Legislature and no offer to sell power plants by the state, it certainly looks as if someone believes they'll soon be buying themselves some power plants.

Posted today, Wednesday, on Thinkenergygroup.com, a job posting site for engineers,

Energy client is looking for experienced Plant Managers for multiple power
plants located in Wisconsin.

Not just looking for a power plant manager, mind you, but for multiple managers for multiple sites in Wisconsin. And after the normal expectations for experience and proficiency comes this telling requirement.

Strong Labor relations experience is a big PLUS (emphasis in the original)

Well, given the climate change in Wisconsin over the last ten days, that's probably an understatement.

Shouldn't somebody look into where these jobs will be opening up and see if some big energy company got an inside line on these no-bid sales that Governor Walker is pushing so very hard?

Maybe

Maybe if M&I Bank had contributed less to Scooter's campaign they wouldn't be trashing 143 jobs.

Just add them to the list of jobs lost under Walker's "Laser-like Focus."

What's Going On With You?

Some news for you.

The AFL-CIO has put up an online petition protesting the usurption of power and the violation of our workers' rights and our civil rights. By the way, the petition is insanely easy to sign.

State Senator John Erpenbach Listening Session
Middleton High School
2100 Bristol St, Middleton in the Courtyard Commons.
Sunday Feb 13 4-6 PM

“Governor Walker wants to introduce this proposal today and pass it tomorrow. The people of this state deserve better. Governor Walker should be bringing people together rather than tearing this state apart. I am hopeful we
will be able to make changes to the bill to at least remove the non-fiscal
items.” Senator Erpenbach will hold a listening session this Sunday at Middleton
High School at 4pm

Rally to Save Unions in Wisconsin
204 West Lake Street Horicon WI
Sunday, February 13 · 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Monday, February 14 · 10:30am - 1:30pm
Rally for Worker Rights - Deliver Valentines To Walker
Spaights Plaza on the UWM campus
Created By Milwaukee Graduate Assistants Association

The rally will address Walker's threats to all UW and state
employees,and will be our first response to his reckless campaign to
trampleworker rights and the Wisconsin economy.

It is historically worth noting that many of the rights Walker wants
torestrict, roll back, or eliminate, including collective bargaining rightsand
union dues deduction, were precisely the rights that Memphis'municipal waste
collectors were striking for in 1968 when Dr. Kingjoined them. It was in that
struggle for worker rights that Dr. King was assassinated.

Please join MGAA, AFSCME, and our student allies at the rally on
Monday.We will begin with a rally in Spaights Plaza to exercise our First
Amendment Rights about all of the devastating news from Governor Walker today.
Then we'll show Gov. Walker just how much he's broken our hearts by hand
delivering valentines.

For more information, or to RSVP for the bus ride to deliver the
valentines, contact Paul Sickel, MGAA staff member, at pfsickel@gmail.com.

WSEU Statement re Tuesday and Wednesday Lobbying Days in Madison

The world of state employees and their rights as workers comes to an end
under Scott Walker’s budget repair bill. His proposal, for the most part,
creates no savings, but is full of political paybacks, anti-worker provisions,
and a general disdain for public workers’ rights. If this bill passed as
proposed, it will turn all of our worlds upside down. Something as simple
as the grievance procedure will be replaced with the civil service procedure,
which establishes the agency head as the final decision maker on your
grievances. Everything will be in the hands of and controlled by the
employer, without employee
recourse.

There are other rights and protections aside from the grievance procedure that
are nullified in Walker’s proposal. To make things even worse we were
officially notified that effective 3/13/2011 the contract extension will be
cancelled. This means that all of us will have no contract
protections. All local agreements and memoranda of understanding are
unilaterally cancelled. Everything affecting your daily work life is in
jeopardy.

We, along with WEAC, AFT, AFL-CIO and other unions are doing everything possible
to avert this disaster. We are meeting with legislators and we would
strongly encourage all of you and your members to reach out to their State
Senators. The message is clear: “Why are you taking away my
rights?”

We will be up on T.V., both commercial and cable, starting Monday, as well as
radio.
On Tuesday, 2/15 and Wednesday, 2/16 we will be having lobby
days at the Capitol. Watch this website for specific pick up
locations. Buses will run from every corner of the state on both days,
arriving in Madison for a briefing at approximately 10:00 a.m., followed
by a rally at the Capitol at noon. The afternoon will be spent visiting
legislators. This rally should be the biggest we have ever
held. We have multiple unions, community groups and citizens joining
us. We would encourage you and your members to extend invitations to our
allies and ride the busses with us. There is no
charge.
We
know that Walker is trying to bait us by mobilizing the National Guard, hiring
an Ohio security firm to staff any facility and instructing the capitol police
to meet with legislators and “advise” them not to meet with constituents in
their districts.
This budget repair bill is an all out
assault on you, your families, your careers, your rights and your union.
Walker keeps talking about the “good and decent people who work for the State of
Wisconsin”, but his actions speak a different message of divisiveness, cronyism
and servitude.

AFSCME Bus schedule to Madison

WSEU-SEPAC Info Page

WEAC Bus schedule to Madison

SEIU Bus schedule to Madison

AFT Bus schedule to Madison

There will also be vigils each afternoon on the Capitol Square from 3-7 pm each afternoon/evening, with speakers towards the end of the vigils. In addition you should take the advice of my friend Chris.

Finally, you can call 877-753-5578
and get connected with your legislator. Or you can find their numbers
here. Call them and ask them, politely, to stop the insane attack on working families, using the facts that I laid out a little earlier.

However you do it, make sure your voice is heard along with the rest of
ours.

First and foremost, make sure you get out to vote on Tuesday before you head for Madison. Given Justice Prosser's confession that he will serve as a complement to Walker's power grab it is more important than ever that you look at the candidates running against him and make what is a clear choice to repudiate the activist judiciary that Prosser and Gablman represent.