Category: On Wisconsin

Athenae, On Wisconsin, So Called Liberal Media

Wisconsin Legislative Committee: Screw You, Journalists

Allison Hantschel

Even for the “book learnin’ is for liberals” caucus in my home state, this seems random and pointless and cruel: The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism would have to leave the UW-Madison campus, under a Republican motion before the Legislature’s budget committe. GOP lawmakers were set to vote early Wednesday morning on the motion, which specifically named the center established by former Wisconsin State Journal investigative reporter Andy Hall. Currently the center has a small office in Vilas Hall on the floor occupied by the UW-Madison School of Journalism. Commenters are speculating that the teawads got all het up about … Continue reading Wisconsin Legislative Committee: Screw You, Journalists

Current Affairs, Doc, On Wisconsin, Scott Walker's Horcruxes, Stupid Republican Tricks1 Comment

GOP Logic: UW spending money is bad, but saving is worse

docphd

“It’s not how much you make. It’s how much you save.” This was the edict my great-grandfather passed down to my father and the one my father gave to me. Dad recalled the story at least once a month when I was living at home. Each time, he told it, I listened as if I had never heard it before, mainly because the story was so honest and truthful. As a young man, he had just gone to visit great-grandpa after being paid for some summer work. “I was telling him how much I made and how great it was … Continue reading GOP Logic: UW spending money is bad, but saving is worse

Current Affairs, Doc, On Wisconsin, Scott Walker's Horcruxes, Stupid Republican Tricks1 Comment

GOP Logic: UW spending money is bad, but saving is worse

“It’s not how much you make. It’s how much you save.” This was the edict my great-grandfather passed down to my father and the one my father gave to me. Dad recalled the story at least once a month when I was living at home. Each time, he told it, I listened as if I had never heard it before, mainly because the story was so honest and truthful. As a young man, he had just gone to visit great-grandpa after being paid for some summer work. “I was telling him how much I made and how great it was … Continue reading GOP Logic: UW spending money is bad, but saving is worse

Athenae, Economy, On Wisconsin5 Comments

I Wonder What This Could Mean

The suburbs don’t want to “subsidize” the city: Service consolidation has been a popular topic for local government, but the notion of a metropolitan form of government has sparked controversy. “Metropolitan government is tough,” Glendale Mayor Jerome Tepper said. “We have 20 municipalities including the county. People identify with their community” and some don’t want to give that up, he said. Rob Henken, president of the nonpartisan Public Policy Forum, said the controversial part about metro government in Milwaukee would be concerns from suburban communities that they would be subsidizing “much more intense levels of service in the city.” Right. … Continue reading I Wonder What This Could Mean

Athenae, Economy, On Wisconsin2 Comments

Job Creation! Walker Style

Allison Hantschel

He’s doing it so well: Gov. Scott Walker’s decision not to accept federal funding to expand the state’s health-care system could contribute to some state employers being collectively penalized by paying millions more in taxes, according to a report released Tuesday. The report, released by Jackson Hewitt Inc., looked into tax provisions state employers could be required to pay under the Affordable Care Act. The “shared responsibility” provision of the ACA would require employers to pay a tax penalty if employees seek aid from tax credits that help low-income individuals pay for their health-care coverage. And yet I’m sure this … Continue reading Job Creation! Walker Style

Athenae, Economy, On Wisconsin2 Comments

Job Creation! Walker Style

He’s doing it so well: Gov. Scott Walker’s decision not to accept federal funding to expand the state’s health-care system could contribute to some state employers being collectively penalized by paying millions more in taxes, according to a report released Tuesday. The report, released by Jackson Hewitt Inc., looked into tax provisions state employers could be required to pay under the Affordable Care Act. The “shared responsibility” provision of the ACA would require employers to pay a tax penalty if employees seek aid from tax credits that help low-income individuals pay for their health-care coverage. And yet I’m sure this … Continue reading Job Creation! Walker Style

Athenae, On Wisconsin, So Called Liberal Media2 Comments

Fuck Yeah, Scott Walker (No Really)

Allison Hantschel

That may be the only time you ever hear me say that: In another planned veto, Walker will allow the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism to remain on the UW-Madison campus. Lawmakers had added a provision to boot the center from Vilas Hall and bar university staff from collaborating with it. They declined to say which lawmaker was behind the idea, but said they believed the center had a left-leaning bias and they believed journalists should not rely on state subsidies. Critics called it an assault on journalistic independence and said it appeared to be payback for their stories, including … Continue reading Fuck Yeah, Scott Walker (No Really)

Athenae, Immoral Values, Law/Justice, On Wisconsin, Stupid Republican Tricks8 Comments

Tort Reform

Allison Hantschel

Jesus: Wahl has spina bifida, is brain damaged and paralyzed from the chest down. At age 32, he lived at a group home in Menomonie, where he loved coloring and going on picnics, said his mother, Karen Nichols-Palmerton. One evening in October 2011, she visited the home and found her son’s room empty. Wahl had been rushed to the hospital for treatment of a bedsore so severe that doctors feared he would be permanently bedridden. A state health department investigation report later found he had the bedsore for four months before being hospitalized. But the staff who cared for Wahl … Continue reading Tort Reform

Athenae, Immoral Values, Law/Justice, On Wisconsin, Stupid Republican Tricks8 Comments

Tort Reform

Jesus: Wahl has spina bifida, is brain damaged and paralyzed from the chest down. At age 32, he lived at a group home in Menomonie, where he loved coloring and going on picnics, said his mother, Karen Nichols-Palmerton. One evening in October 2011, she visited the home and found her son’s room empty. Wahl had been rushed to the hospital for treatment of a bedsore so severe that doctors feared he would be permanently bedridden. A state health department investigation report laterfound he had the bedsore for four months before being hospitalized. But the staff who cared for Wahl never … Continue reading Tort Reform

Athenae, Economy, On Wisconsin3 Comments

Wisconsin is Broke!

Allison Hantschel

So very broke. Take pay cuts, everybody: Madison– Gov. Scott Walker is setting aside $25 million in his two-year budget bill to boost venture capital investment in the state but isn’t putting forward a plan for doing that. The Republican governor got praise for the financial commitment from Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council and a member of the Wisconsin Growth Capital Coalition, which has been pushing for such an investment proposal. WHY WOULD THAT EVER BE A BAD IDEA? Venture capital legislation failed to pass the Legislature last session because Republicans in the Senate and Assembly could … Continue reading Wisconsin is Broke!

Athenae, Economy, On Wisconsin3 Comments

Wisconsin is Broke!

So very broke. Take pay cuts, everybody: Madison– Gov. Scott Walker is setting aside $25 million in his two-year budget bill to boost venture capital investment in the state but isn’t putting forward a plan for doing that. The Republican governor got praise for the financial commitment from Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council and a member of the Wisconsin Growth Capital Coalition, which has been pushing for such an investment proposal. WHY WOULD THAT EVER BE A BAD IDEA? Venture capital legislation failed to pass the Legislature last session because Republicans in the Senate and Assembly could … Continue reading Wisconsin is Broke!

Athenae, Big Damn Heroes, On Wisconsin4 Comments

Solidarity Singalong: The Newspapers Are Bored

Allison Hantschel

The Wisconsin State Journal is bored with your free speech, and thinks it is silly, and can no longer support any freedom of expression because OMG OLDSAUCE: Last week’s repeated arrests of singing protesters — by Friday, the total number of arrests was above 50 and climbing — bordered on the silly and was only a note or two away from embarrassing. The ever-faithful eclectic group that began gathering at the Capitol each noon hour to sing various songs of protest against Gov. Scott Walker and the majority Republicans has driven a nice idea into the ground. Now, the effort … Continue reading Solidarity Singalong: The Newspapers Are Bored

Athenae, Economy, On Wisconsin5 Comments

I Wonder What This Could Mean

Allison Hantschel

The suburbs don’t want to “subsidize” the city: Service consolidation has been a popular topic for local government, but the notion of a metropolitan form of government has sparked controversy. “Metropolitan government is tough,” Glendale Mayor Jerome Tepper said. “We have 20 municipalities including the county. People identify with their community” and some don’t want to give that up, he said. Rob Henken, president of the nonpartisan Public Policy Forum, said the controversial part about metro government in Milwaukee would be concerns from suburban communities that they would be subsidizing “much more intense levels of service in the city.” Right. … Continue reading I Wonder What This Could Mean

Athenae, Big Damn Heroes, On Wisconsin, Stupid Republican Tricks4 Comments

Obama, Michigan and ‘Right to Be Shitcanned’ Legislation

Allison Hantschel

I suppose better when he doesn’t have anything to lose anymore, than never: And by the way, what we shouldn’t do — I just got to say this — what we shouldn’t be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages and working conditions. (Applause.) We shouldn’t be doing that. (Applause.) These so-called “right to work” laws, they don’t have to do with economics; they have everything to do with politics. (Applause.) What they’re really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money. (Applause.) I mean that. I do. Should Obama … Continue reading Obama, Michigan and ‘Right to Be Shitcanned’ Legislation

Athenae, Big Damn Heroes, On Wisconsin, Stupid Republican Tricks4 Comments

Obama, Michigan and ‘Right to Be Shitcanned’ Legislation

I suppose better when he doesn’t have anything to lose anymore, than never: And by the way, what we shouldn’t do — I just got to say this — what we shouldn’t be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages and working conditions. (Applause.) We shouldn’t be doing that. (Applause.) These so-called “right to work” laws, they don’t have to do with economics; they have everything to do with politics. (Applause.) What they’re really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money. (Applause.) I mean that. I do. Should Obama … Continue reading Obama, Michigan and ‘Right to Be Shitcanned’ Legislation

Athenae, Economy, On Wisconsin7 Comments

‘Generous’ With Pensions

Allison Hantschel

Clarence Page, everybody, being oh-so-reasonable and Very Serious: But the Walker race is a dramatic example of a trend that doesn’t need super-PAC money. Public workers cannot rely on voters to be generous about their pensions and other benefits when so many of the voters’ own wages and benefits are suffering. I am just going to get a fucking T-shirt that reads ASK ME WHAT DEFERRED COMPENSATION MEANS, so that I can start posting pictures of myself wearing it whenever somebody writes one of these stupid columns about overpaid teachers and firefighters who expect handouts from “the taxpayers” or in … Continue reading ‘Generous’ With Pensions

On Wisconsin, Scoutprime

Unity Rally pt. 2

scoutprime2014

Here are some photos from the Unity rally along with some commentary.

John Nichols was one of the speakers and he is always great to listen to because he can get quite fiery.

251

I love the reaction of this young member of the audience to the fiery Nichols:

269c

Senator Fred Risser, one of the WI 14 and the longest serving state legislator in our nation’s history, is beloved here.

197

199

Mahlon Mitchell, who was a Madison firefighter, is the current President of the Fire Fighter’s Association and now the Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor, has been continually present since the early days of the protests and is also very well liked and respected here.

217

219

More after the cut…

Continue reading “Unity Rally pt. 2”

Diary, Doc, On Wisconsin7 Comments

The Greatest Country in the World…

vffilak

The Fourth of July here was hotter than hell. Last year, I sweated my ass off while I drove the mayor in the Mustang for the city parade. This year, I couldn’t even think about getting inside the car. We went to the parade, which was well attended, although it seemed shorter than usual. Fewer classic cars and one of those that did make it had to give up half way when it overheated and blew its radiator. The Midget was too hot to want to get candy, although many shirtless little boys kept giving her stuff. This was my … Continue reading The Greatest Country in the World…

Current Affairs, Doc, On Wisconsin, Scott Walker's Horcruxes12 Comments

Scott Walker, Precipitating Factor

vffilak

As I battled a hangover and tried to make sense of what happened Tuesday night, I started to worry less about Governor Deadeyes and more about what really might be happening here.I argued about this time last year that if the Dems were going to come for the king, they’d best not miss. And boy, did we miss… The numbers revealed that even with massive turnout and massive outrage about Walker’s tactics, the election was no different than it was in 2010. In fact, Tom Barrett lost by a wider percentage this time than he did last time. The people … Continue reading Scott Walker, Precipitating Factor

Athenae, On Wisconsin4 Comments

Judge Tells Walker, Sit Down Like You Supposed To

Allison Hantschel

This is how we Bucky: Act 10, the controversial law that took away most collective bargaining rights from public employees, was struck down for being unconstitutional by a Dane County judge on Friday. In his ruling on a lawsuit brought against the legislation by Madison Teachers, Inc. and Public Employees Local 61, which represents teachers in Milwaukee, Circuit Judge Juan B. Colas said Act 10 “violates the Wisconsin and U.S. constitutions’ guarantees of free speech and freedom of association.” If money is speech, and corporations and unions are people, then you can’t infringe on their right to free speech. You … Continue reading Judge Tells Walker, Sit Down Like You Supposed To

Athenae, On Wisconsin4 Comments

Judge Tells Walker, Sit Down Like You Supposed To

This is how we Bucky: Act 10, the controversial law that took away most collective bargaining rights from public employees, was struck down for being unconstitutional by a Dane County judge on Friday. In his ruling on a lawsuit brought against the legislation by Madison Teachers, Inc. and Public Employees Local 61, which represents teachers in Milwaukee, Circuit Judge Juan B. Colas said Act 10 “violates the Wisconsin and U.S. constitutions’ guarantees of free speech and freedom of association.” If money is speech, and corporations and unions are people, then you can’t infringe on their right to free speech. You … Continue reading Judge Tells Walker, Sit Down Like You Supposed To

Athenae, On Wisconsin11 Comments

Ready, Aim, Turn Left … Fire!

Allison Hantschel

My favorite stage of post-election grief:Blaming the people who atually worked their asses off, rather than the angry, ignorant-ass ‘necks who voted the other way: Actually, it began to disintegrate the moment the leaders (and who were they, exactly?) decided to pour everything into the Democratic Party channels rather than explore the full potential of the power that was latent but present in the streets back in February and March of 2011. There were both strategic and procedural blunders that need to be accounted for. Procedurally, decisions were made (again, who made them?) in a very undemocratic way. Here we … Continue reading Ready, Aim, Turn Left … Fire!

Athenae, Big Damn Heroes, On Wisconsin4 Comments

Caring for Veterans for $500 a Week

Revolting: Have you every worked 16 hours in a row? Have you done 16 hour shifts every other day or every 3rd day? Would you like to keep that up for 7 months straight? That is life as some care staff know it at King Veterans Home located about 30 miles Southeast of Stevens Point near Waupaca. Twenty-five staff spoke-up about conditions at the King Veterans Home at a listening session for the public on July 26th at their union hall. This morning one of the staff members, Sara Goodhue, was put on a “disciplinary track” forspeaking to WTDY recently … Continue reading Caring for Veterans for $500 a Week

Athenae, Big Damn Heroes, On Wisconsin2 Comments

Dems Take Over Wisconsin Senate

Allison Hantschel

Think the recall elections didn’t do any good? Lookee here. Also, Mike Ellis is just a penis with a suit on: The position of Senate Majority Leader now goes to Mark Miller (D-Monona), who promptly named Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) as the new Joint Finance Committee co-chair, a position she will share with Republican Rep. Robin Vos. “You’re the Majority Leader. You can do whatever you want,” Ellis told Miller. Miller countered that it was the job of the Majority Leader to respect the voices of the minority party and the general public, too. A. Continue reading Dems Take Over Wisconsin Senate

Athenae, Big Damn Heroes, On Wisconsin2 Comments

Dems Take Over Wisconsin Senate

Think the recall elections didn’t do any good? Lookee here. Also, Mike Ellis is just a penis with a suit on: The position of Senate Majority Leader now goes to Mark Miller (D-Monona), who promptly named Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) as the new Joint Finance Committee co-chair, a position she will share with Republican Rep. Robin Vos. “You’re the Majority Leader. You can do whatever you want,” Ellis told Miller. Miller countered that it was the job of the Majority Leader to respect the voices of the minority party and the general public, too. A. Continue reading Dems Take Over Wisconsin Senate

Athenae, Big Damn Heroes, On Wisconsin10 Comments

If I Can Last 30 Rounds There’s No Reason You Should Ever Have Your Head Down

Allison Hantschel

It was a small moment but a telling one, on the Capitol Square, when the one Walker supporter waving a lawn sign (stakes still attached) around got tired from holding the thing over his backwards-capped head and let it slip. It struck the union-t-shirted fellow standing beside him right in the head. “Whoa, sorry man,” said the Walkerite, as everyone around him went tense and silent. The union fellow smiled. “It’s all right,” he said, and people took deep breaths again. “I’m fine.” Once NBC and MSNBC called the election for Walker, the crowd of a thousand faded, people walking … Continue reading If I Can Last 30 Rounds There’s No Reason You Should Ever Have Your Head Down

Diary, Doc, On Wisconsin7 Comments

The Greatest Country in the World…

The Fourth of July here was hotter than hell. Last year, I sweated my ass off while I drove the mayor in the Mustang for the city parade. This year, I couldn’t even think about getting inside the car. We went to the parade, which was well attended, although it seemed shorter than usual. Fewer classic cars and one of those that did make it had to give up half way when it overheated and blew its radiator. The Midget was too hot to want to get candy, although many shirtless little boys kept giving her stuff. This was my … Continue reading The Greatest Country in the World…