Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Florida Gov. Rick Scott have a lot in common. Both are Republicans. Both put corporate interests before the interests of people. And heck, when I went to google a pic of Rick Scott, I found this: The similarities are uncanny I tell yas. But here is where they ARE different: […]
Implementation of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul law has not stopped in Wisconsin, even though Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen declared the law dead earlier this week. … But Van Hollen is not able to order an end to implementation and he said Thursday that he has not advised fellow Republican Gov. Scott Walker […]
MADISON, Wis. — U.S. House Republican Budget Chair Paul Ryan of Janesville traveled to a secret California fundraising junket this past weekend run by billionaires Charles and David Koch, the major financers of the so-called tea party movement, the ThinkProgress news site reported today. “Paul Ryan has supported, in lock step, the big oil, anti-accountability […]
Mercifully, GOP Gov. Scott Walker’s “special interest” session is coming to an expensive end. Taking away rights for victims, less accountability for tens of millions of dollars in taxpayers funds, paybacks to corporate contributors and a $140 million spending spree that will likely create zero jobs have been the GOP’s offerings to deal with rampant […]
“That Gov. Walker’s new secretary in charge of these programs has both advocated for states ‘dropping out’ from federal Medicaid assistance and has not made a commitment to keeping SeniorCare is enormously troubling,” said Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now. [Wisconsin State Journal]
Scot Ross of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now says it’s troubling that Walker’s health secretary – Dennis Smith – has suggested in the past that states drop Medicaid altogether. Ross also said it’s troubling that Smith has not committed to keeping Wisconsin’s Senior-Care prescription drug program. [RiverTowns.net]
We all know requiring folks to present a photo ID before they are allowed to vote is an expensive solution to a problem that doesn’t exist — not to mention, fairly undemocratic. Editorial boards across the state have been giving the GOP’s “21st Century Poll Tax” due criticism; the latest comes from the Milwaukee […]
It is long-since known, JB Van Hollen will do anything, go to any length, dispatch any resource at the taxpayer-financed Wisconsin Department of Justice to further his partisan political agenda. We all remember how Van Hollen’s top lieutenant was seeking help on the health care lawsuit with the Republican State Leadership Committee — one of […]
“Gov. Scott Walker and the Republicans are willing to do anything to ensure the wealthiest Wisconsinites never have their taxes raised again,” said Scot Ross, One Wisconsin Now Executive Director. “The people of Wisconsin are once again seeing Republicans bend over backwards to address the corporate special interest wish list and ignore the promise to […] [Ashland Current]
But one of Walker’s political antagonists, Madison-based One Wisconsin Now, has slammed the three bills. In a Jan. 28, 2011, news release, the liberal advocacy group said: “Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled state legislature have added over $140 million in new special interest spending.” So, which is it? Tax cuts or spending? [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
MADISON, Wis. — Opponents of proposed legislation to restrict voter access to the polls, gathered at the State Capitol Wednesday to condemn so-called Voter ID legislation as a costly, unnecessary plan, which could lead to the disenfranchisement of untold tens of thousands of eligible voters in every corner of Wisconsin. Leon Burzynski, President of the […]
MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now released the following statements in advance of tonight’s Presidential State of the Union address and the planned response from U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. “I hope that Paul Ryan explains to us why we should trust him and his conservative allies with our finances after they nearly bankrupted […]
MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker’s misguided plan to create a supermajority for tax increases ignores that the taxes targeted have not been increased by the legislature in over 30 years. Similar supermajority measures in California have led to that state’s near economic collapse, a record-setting deficit and draconian cuts for critical public investments. “Gov. […]
MADISON, Wis. — Insurance companies across the state could see a mass exodus of existing Wisconsin customers if rates do not drop immediately after passage of an insurance lobby-supported bill to reduce the required insurance coverage for state drivers. The insurance lobby has blamed required insurance levels for raising rates, leaving customers to reasonably expect […]
In fact, progressive nonprofit organization One Wisconsin Now has already begun its attack campaign. In a Jan. 13 press release, the group claimed that voter ID is a “big government solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.” I disagree completely. [Green Bay Press-Gazette]
But to Wisconsin progressives, Priebus is known as the state Republican Party operative who allegedly tried to suppress the votes of minorities and students in both the recent midterm congressional elections and the 2008 presidential election — in apparent coordination with David Koch’s Americans For Prosperity…. An audiotape of the meeting was obtained by the […] [Alternet]
It’s a goal that started as a campaign promise, one that drew scorn from critics such as the liberal group One Wisconsin Now. [Milwaukee Magazine]
MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now has prevailed in its lawsuit filed against Republican Juneau County District Attorney Scott Southworth for his withholding of open records after Southworth agreed to settle the case Wednesday. Southworth had failed to produce 170 pages of email records regarding a controversial March 2010 letter he sent to five Juneau […]
After the stirring job-creation effort put up by the new Republican-controlled U.S. House majority by reading the Constitution, Paul Ryan’s gang was going to have to really stretch to out-do that bit of uselessness. Turns out, they are more than up to that challenge. Today, the new Boehnerites in the GOP House Majority are wasting […]
MADISON, Wis. — State Rep. Jim Steineke (R-Vandenbroek), who has a long history of driving infractions including drunk driving, hit and run and driving without a license multiple times, when recently asked by a reporter if it was appropriate for him to head Assembly Republicans’ efforts to repeal car insurance requirement responded, “I don’t particularly […]
Job creation and reducing the state’s $3.3 billion budget deficit Payback to big business donors seems to be the top priority of part of Gov. Scott Walker. Today, the Senate is debating the corporate no-accounability bill, also known as tort reform. Basically, it creates a system in which the consumer will never be able to […]
Indiana’s bill served as the model for Wisconsin’s photo identification bill, said Executive Director of One Wisconsin Now Scot Ross. He added the comparison is faulty. “Close to 99 percent of the voting age population in Indiana had the required voting identification. It’s completely different in Wisconsin,” Ross said. [Badger Herald]
In September, a nonpartisan watchdog group called One Wisconsin Now filed complaints with the federal and state attorneys general, charging that state Republicans and tea party organizations had engaged in vote suppression, targeting minorities and college students. In a statement released Friday, Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, warned against the practice becoming […] [Christian Science Monitor]
The liberal advocacy group, One Wisconsin Now, has promised to challenge the law in court. The group says the bill will end up costing the state money because the Department of Motor Vehicles offices will have to extend their hours to meet the demand for the ID cards between now and the spring election. [Superior Telegram]
“The Republican Voter ID bill will waste tens of millions of dollars and create zero private sector jobs,” said Scot Ross, One Wisconsin Now executive director. “The Republicans have come up with a budgetbusting, big government solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.” [Milwaukee Courier]
One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross said, “When voter suppression allegations have surfaced in Wisconsin for the past decade, the name Reince Priebus isn’t far behind.” [Think Progress]
MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross released the following statements regarding Republican Party of Wisconsin Chair Reince Priebus’ election as chair of the Republican National Committee. “When voter suppression allegations have surfaced in Wisconsin for the past decade, the name Reince Priebus isn’t far behind. In 2002, the state Elections Board […]
MADISON, Wis. — Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac), who paid net state income taxes once in ten years, has proposed an end to capital gains taxes, which primarily benefit the wealthy and would cost $250 million a year, according to the non-partisan Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau. “How much less than zero does Randy Hopper […]
Not everyone was so gracious. Scot Ross, head of the Madison-based liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now, accused Priebus of trying to suppress voter turnout over the years in Wisconsin. “Now that Reince Priebus will have the RNC’s treasury at his disposal, those across the county interested in fair and clean elections will be on […] [La Crosse Tribune]
Republicans in the state Legislature introduced a measure on Wednesday that would require voters to show photo identification before registering or casting ballots. As WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson reports, already there’s a threat of a legal challenge if the bill passes. [WUWM]
Gov. Scott Walker is dead-set on repeating all of the mistakes of the Bush administration which caused the national economic collapse. Walker has called for over $5 billion in tax breaks, shifts and loopholes that will require drastic cuts to education, health care and yank cops and firefighters off the streets. Instead of prioritizing job […]
Republicans propose a voter ID bill that would require residents to show identification when registering to vote, a law Jim Doyle repeatedly vetoed. They say it will reduce fraud, but Scot Ross, director of One Wisconsin Now, says “Voter ID is the Republicans’ attempt to rig elections in their favor by disenfranchising minorities, students and […] [Isthmus]
The bill’s critics say they’ll consider a legal challenge if the voter ID bill is passed. One Wisconsin Now director Scot Ross made that promise on Wednesday, saying that Wisconsin would have to expand the number of Department of Motor Vehicles stations in order to ensure there is enough access for people to get IDs. [Sheboygan Press]
Despite promises that their top priority is job creation, the new state Republican legislative majority is immediately trying to ram through a Voter Identification bill which will not create jobs and will likely cost tens of millions of dollars in order to meet constitutional requirements. “The Republican Voter ID bill will waste tens of millions […] [Winnebago Dems]
“That will potentially cost some additional money to the state and to state taxpayers…” [Sen. Leibham, WUWM News, 1/12/2011] MADISON, Wis. — State Sen. Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan) admitted to reporters the Republican Voter ID bill will deepen Wisconsin’s $3.3 billion budget deficit. Leibham has refused to give Wisconsin a total cost for this plan, nor […]
Many of you have written in response to our email yesterday about the voter ID bill. Some of you were very enthusiastic in your support of our efforts to fight back against this assault on our voting rights. But others of you had questions about the bill, and wondered why we oppose requiring qualified voters […]
Well, there’s one more industry we can add to Walker’s list of businesses and industries that AREN’T open for business in Wisconsin: wind turbines. But, his latest move does prove that if you’re a big campaign donor, you can have whatever you want! Develop wetlands? Sure! Don’t want to be accountable for your products giving […]
After waiting over seven hours, just before 8:30 Tuesday night, Dawn Kellner testified before a joint state legislative committee to offer her tearful opposition to Gov. Scott Walker’s first bill – which would provide unprecedented immunity from accountability for those who harm citizens. Dawn Kellner is the grieving mother of Jared Kellner, the 15-year-old boy […]
The head of a liberal advocacy group said a legal challenge will be considered if Wisconsin law is changed to require voters to show a photo ID at the polls. [WISN-TV]
The Wisconsin state Legislature is expected to pass a law requiring voters to show photo identification at polls. And one advocacy group says they are already considering a legal challenge. [WFRV-TV]
A liberal group says it might file a lawsuit if Republicans pass a law that makes Wisconsin voters show photo I-D’s at the polls [WHBL]
The head of a liberal advocacy groups says a legal challenge will be considered if Wisconsin law is changed to require voters to show a photo ID at the polls. [WKBT]
With large GOP majorities in both houses, the bill on photo ID is expected to pass easily. But Scot Ross, executive director of the group One Wisconsin Now, said he would consider filing a lawsuit once the Legislature acts, over concerns that the requirement would infringe on the right to vote. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Despite promises that their top priority is job creation, the new state Republican legislative majority is immediately trying to ram through a Voter ID bill.
Wisconsin Attorney General JB Van Hollen is doing what conservatives do best these days — wasting taxpayer dollars performing totally empty gestures in an effort to gin up the Tea Party base. See yesterday’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Van Hollen is pushing hard for Wisconsin to join the multi-state lawsuit against the historic federal health insurance […]
MADISON, Wis. — The Republican plan to give a tax break to high deductible private health savings accounts would increase the deficit $48 million in the next two years, create no jobs and would not increase access to health care. The plan is to be debated today at a joint legislative health committee. “Wisconsin deserves […]
Throughout 2009 and 2010, OWN documented the billions of dollars in corporate handouts that Walker was promising on the campaign trail, all the while he was promising to balance the state budget and put people back to work. So public expectations, if not OWN’s, were high that the first bills he would introduce in the […]
Scot Ross of One Wisconsin Now said his liberal group is among those that will attempt its own tally in an effort to determine which jobs Walker should and shouldn’t get credit for creating. [Wisconsin State Journal]
The article was e-mailed to me by One Wisconsin Now, a liberal advocacy group, whose Anna Landmark responded to my observation that it will be interesting to see how Smith administers programs he’s been so critical of. “Smith won’t be administering these programs, he’s been given the job by Gov. Walker to dismantle them,” she […] [Capital Times]
“Voter ID is the Republicans’ attempt to rig elections in their favor by disenfranchising minorities, students and seniors citizens,” said Scot Ross, director of the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now. He argued that in order for the law to be found constitutional, the state would have to spend millions of dollars to add additional […] [Associated Press]