Marty Beil, never one to mince words when it comes to standing up for working men and women across Wisconsin, responded to the continuing assaults by the GOP shills at the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute against our dedicated public employees: ‘If Scott Walker wants to communicate with me, I would think he’s man enough to […]
If you’d like to send your message to the TEA Party, we’re organizing a mobile billboard that will display progressive messages from across our state to be displayed at a TEA Party event in Madison on April 15.
MADISON, Wis. — Citizens from across Wisconsin who are weary of the anger, divisiveness and misinformation of the Republican-led Tea Party movement can send a message on April 15 about “Why America Works” through a mobile billboard contest launched this week by One Wisconsin Now. “Wisconsinites are tired of hearing Sarah Palin and the Tea […]
The Wisconsin Voter Protection Act (WVPA) is a great piece of legislation that will, among other things, ensure veterans and their families have an equal chance to participate in the democracy they fight to defend. It also addresses unconscionable acts of voter intimidation and voter suppression. Sen. Glenn Grothman (R) says it assists ‘the lazy […]
April Fool’s. He hasn’t. Since we were previously denied access to one of Scott Walker’s recycled ‘Brown Bag’ campaign gimmick stops, we have been trying to get him to answer five questions regarding fiscal management, spending, job creation and priorities. Again, Scott, our phone number is 608-204-0677 One Wisconsin Now’s questions: 1. How will you […]
How would you feel if at the end of an exhausting 8-hour shift, your boss made you work another 8-hour shift, back to back? Sadly, nurses and other healthcare workers in Wisconsin face that situation all the time.In an effort to cut costs, many hospitals and other healtcare facilities in Wisconsin require nurses and other […]
250k jobs? Not without the passenger train to lure new businesses to the state. In case you missed it, Tom Still has a great column on the Wisconsin Technology Network site that points out all of the positive economic development that the passenger train through the state would bring about. It’s completely idiotic that Walker, […]
MADISON, Wis. — Citizens from every corner of Wisconsin spoke loud and clear in favor of the Wisconsin Voter Protection Act before a Joint Committee today, sending over 1,600 petitions circulated by progressive organizations including One Wisconsin Now and representing all 132 Senate and Assembly districts. “The people of Wisconsin have spoken unmistakably. They support […]
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Attorney General JB Van Hollen’s failing attempt to block health insurance reform through a partisan Republican lawsuit is in direct contrast to repeated criticisms Van Hollen made against former-Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager during his 2006 campaign. Van Hollen went so far as to file open records requests about several federal actions […]
For the most part, JB Van Hollen does little more than put out occasional press releases about small settlements he’s collected and press releases about larger settlements begun under his predecessor. Oh, and file Republican-inspired partisan lawsuits with tax dollars directly help Republican elected officials. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/content/wwjbdvideo/ In 2008, he infamously filed a suit against […]
Yesterday we were denied access to one of Scott Walker’s recycled ‘Brown Bag’ campaign gimmick stops in Fitchburg. We had just a handful of questions we were hoping Walker could answer for us regarding fiscal management, spending, job creation and priorities. We left him our phone number, but alas, he has not responded.One Wisconsin Now’s […]
MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now released the following statements following the passage of the historic health insurance reform bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. “This was a historic vote for progress over politics and people over profits. History will smile on Sunday’s action to pass this reform. Despite the limitless corporate resources, the […]
MADISON, Wis. — Contrary to calls for fiscal restraint in his latest television advertisement, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker voted to increase state spending 84 percent as a member of the state Assembly and has proposed 35 percent in increases to county spending since 2002. Walker voted for $200 billion in total state budget spending, […]
Here’s the Brown Bagger has to say today: ‘I don’t want bureaucrats in Washington or Madison picking my family’s doctor or healthcare plan. The best way to make healthcare more affordable is through patient centered solutions and not government mandates, and I encourage everyone to contact their Congressmen and Senators and say no to […]
If Davis wanted Tommy!’s endorsement for his bid for Lieutenant Governor, he should have thought twice about introducing a bill to reverse a 13-year old statute that Tommy! created, along with Scott Walker and the Republican controlled legislature back in 1997. And the RPW might have thought twice about throwing stones at a no-bid provision […]
Try to follow along as Scott Walker, Fred Luber (MacIver Institute Chair, Super Steel Chair, and Scott Walker Campaign Finance Co-Chair), and right-wing leaders play politics with job creation. Let’s watch. Right off the bat we see a little hypocrisy as the CEO of Fred Luber’s Super Steel admits the company ‘would benefit from a […]
MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker’s criticism related to the Talgo company comes just two weeks after the company owned by a top Walker campaign donor and finance co-chair of his failed 2006 gubernatorial campaign did not receive a contract from the Spanish train maker. Walker’s criticism, in which he also leveled charges […]
I went up to a real working-class event where a crowd gathered outside JP Morgan Chase to demand good jobs in lieu of excessive executive compensation and anti-financial regulatory reform lobbying after we taxpayers bailed out the financial industry. As Mark Thomas of AFSCME Local 171 says: ‘When JP Morgan and Chase was in trouble, […]
The latest development in the ‘Brown Bag’ gimmick has emerged (again) as it has become clear that Scott Walker’s economic plan (bailing out corporations and the already-wealthy) isn’t the thing he’s willing to recycle. From Cory Liebmann’s original story: An anonymous Republican advised me that this new gimmick includes a direct mail component that is […]
Scott Walker’s blast at Tom Barrett and Jim Doyle over the award of a train contract that is bringing jobs to Milwaukee is hysterical in both senses of the word. Walker’s way-over-the-top news release, accusing Barrett and Doyle of everything short of racketeering, sounds like Walker may be hysterical, if not rabid. It’s also hysterical […]
The former CEO of Associated Bank and WMC board member made off with over $1 million upon retiring from the bank which recorded a $160 million loss. As one commenter put it, ‘Well, here’s to a job… done.’ From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: In his final year as chief executive of Associated Banc-Corp (ASBC), Paul […]
Over the weekend we heard about Scott Walker’s $24,500 ‘Brown Bag,’ Rebecca Kleefisch’s plan to cut gov’t waste by creating more gov’t, and the Sean Duffy camp kerfuffle at a Wisconsin TEA Party. Chalk it up to spring fever’¦ or just right-wing ridiculousness as usual. First up: Scott Walker’s $24,500 ‘Brown Bag’ From the AP: […]
Apparently, some editing gremlins at both the Wisconsin State Journal and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel feel confident that anti-tax zealot Grover Norquist is not an ‘anti-tax zealot.’ So much so they edited the description of ‘zealot’ from Saturday’s Associated Press story from this weekend’s round-up of the teabaggers’ latest ‘Republican Rally for Failure’ held in […]
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker wants to split Milwaukee Public Schools into 10 to 12 smaller, autonomous school districts, the news media report. Swell idea. There could be eight African American districts, two Latino districts, and two all-white districts, given the makeup of the current MPS enrollment and the city’s housing patterns. Or maybe Walker […]
I wonder if Ed Thompson agrees with what Grover Norquist has to say about the hardworking farmers in Thompson’s area. Namely, that they’re ‘welfare bums.’Thompson was in Eau Claire touting his Wealthcare tax pledge to Norquist again today. Since Norquist flew in from his home in DC to put Thompson’s pledge to the wealthy on […]
Just days from embarrassing national media exposure questioning its ethics and credibility, WPRI is back with another poll, coming your way soon. WPRI is the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, although some suggest it is We Push Republilcan Ideas, like school choice, which didn’t look as good in the last poll as the numbers WPRI decided […]
A new study from the Citizens for Tax Justice shows just how far Ryan is willing to go to sell out the middle class for the sake of Americas richest one percent. If the Roadmap were enacted, the federal government would collect $2 trillion less over 10 years, but the bottom 90 percent of all […]
MADISON, Wis. — The controversial polling project between the conservative, pro-corporate Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (WPRI) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Ken Goldstein, will continue to generate suspect and manipulated polling information, according to news reports this weekend. Goldstein confirmed in a weekend investigative story by the Associated Press that he would be continuing the […]
When the University of Wisconsin-Madison Political Science department announced a new polling partnership with the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, one of Wisconsin’s most prominent right wing think tanks, we were immediately worried about the credibility of the poll — and more importantly, the credibility of the UW. And when through a public records request, we […]
When Steve Walters was reporting for the Journal Sentinel’s Madison bureau, a lot of Democrats thought he just put Tommy Thompson’s news releases — or Jim Klauser’s memos — right in the newspaper, without bothering to edit them or ask anyone for an opposing viewpoint. So it was a pleasant surprise when Walters, now a […]
The latest talking point to trickle down from Fox News to the rest of the GOP is that an up or down vote, also known as reconciliation, on health insurance reform in the Senate is outside the Senate rules. GOPer talking heads have equated using reconciliation with the “nuclear” option — which, gentle reader, you’ll […]
Ed Thompson announced today that he’d be singing Grover Norquist’s ‘Taxpayer Protection Pledge.’ In his latest press release, Thompson raises the roof for Norquist and his group, Americans for Tax Reform, for championing a belief in anti-working class tax policies. Score another one for the fat cats.We’ve written about disciples of Norquist’s no new taxes […]
Good news, Wisconsin taxpayers. There are more swimming pools in your future. Look for one in a backyard near you — but not at the park. Campaign press release: Scott Walker, Milwaukee County executive and Republican candidate for governor, told a crowd of over 125 at Sheraton Hotel this weekend that as governor he would […]
Competition. The ubiquitous cry of rabid free-marketers, Ayn Randites and conservatives as the answer to all that ills us. Just undo regulation and UNLEASH THE POWAH of the free market and competition! I can hear the bellowing now. Despite the repeated failures of total deregulation (current recession, runaway credit card industry, stock market crashes, etc.), […]
A great retort from AFSCME’s Marty Biel about WPRI’s attack on the state pension system that their president, George Lightbourn, a 20-year public employee himself who managed and now receives benefits from the system, posted by Sly this morning: Your State Pension Under Attack Executive Director Beil Blast’s Opponents of State Pension PlanDefends Public Sector […]
So ‘Wisconsin’s Free Market Think Tank’ released yet another report reinforcing the pro-corporate agenda of conservatives. Big surprise.In its latest report, the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (WPRI) wants the public to be outraged at the government for offering pensions that are too ‘rich’ compared to the private sector. OWN and other progressive leaders have called […]
MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker is claiming he will create “250,000 jobs” in Wisconsin, which if done would essentially reduce the unemployment rate to zero. The lowest recorded unemployment rate in recent Wisconsin history is 2.4 percent in 1999. “This is just another ridiculous claim by Scott Walker that cannot be backed […]
The health insurance industry has once again reminded the American public why we ever started talking about health insurance reform in the first place. A new report shows that WellPoint ‘ the nation’s largest health insurance corporation by membership ‘ will increase premiums in Wisconsin by 17 percent.The report by the Center for American Progress […]
If theres one thing new Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce board chair Tom Howatt and his corporate cronies at WMC enjoy more than anything, its a big ole handout from the government. Take Howatts company Wausau Paper. In the final quarter of 2009, Wausau Paper reported its best earnings quarter in ten years, $9.2 million, the […]
MADISON, Wis. — Unlike the millions of Americans whose incomes were adversely affected by the collapsing economy due to the failed policies of George W. Bush, former Gov. Tommy Thompson appears to have earned more in 2008 than any previous year, according to figures obtained by One Wisconsin Now from the state Department of Revenue. […]
The Republican Party of Tommy! has registered its great displeasure with One Wisconsin Now’s press release from yesterday congratulating former Gov. Tommy Thompson on the incredible cashing in he’s done since leaving the corrupt Bush administration. Tommy!, whose greatest achievement as Health and Human Services Secretary was helping the Bush Administration lie about the cost […]
State Rep. Kevin Petersen, a Waupaca Republican who clearly believes in individual responsibility, has an idea to solve the problem that has stumped the nuclear industry, scientists and the government for 50 years: What to do with the deadly nuclear waste produced by reactors? It’s such a small quantity, Petersen seems to say, that maybe […]
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has been was as virulent against the Recovery Act funds for Wisconsin as the dopey ex-Governor of Alaska was about her state’s share. You know who hasn’t been against the Recovery Act? The Wisconsin Road Builders.Yep, the same gang that Walker is traveling all the way to Florida to grovel […]
MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now released the following statements from Executive Director Scot Ross on the one-year anniversary of the successful America Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). ARRA has provided $2.76 billion to Wisconsin for job creation, schools, transportation, health care, energy and public safety among other critical needs. Over 44,000 Wisconsin jobs have […]
The Wisconsin Council on Children and Families has put together detailed information about the more than $2 billion Recovery Act funding that counties in Wisconsin received to start digging us out of the hole created by the failed economic policies of the Republican Congress and George W. Bush. Check out the county data here. WCCF […]
MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker’s call for Wisconsin to reject federal Recovery Act funds for critical job creation and railway infrastructure needs reflects Walker’s long-time failure on transit issues, which have led to among other things, the nation’s highest transit fees for already-struggling Milwaukee County residents. “The train has passed on Scott […]
During some downtime between creating super awesome and totally relevant Ayn Rand fanboy videos and posting them on Facebook, Paul Ryan managed to find time to offer up the latest GOP lead-balloon plan for propping up the rich and corporations while selling out the middle class. Ryans Roadmap for America was brought to the forefront […]
With rail on the mind as Joint Finance meets today to discuss establishing a high-speed rail line between Madison and Milwaukee, this seems to be an appropriate time to point out that Scott Walker received a $10,000 contribution from a railroad chief who happens to be a very visible advocate for using Recovery Act dollars […]
MADISON, Wis. — Newly-minted Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce chair Thomas Howatt, Chief Executive Officer of Wausau Paper Corporation, has yet to issue public thanks to Democrats controlling the state legislature and the U.S. Congress who enacted policies to both provide his company with $2.6 million in Recovery Act funds and coinciding with the company’s best […]
“This is not a case where there was a fatality or serious injury,” Marks said. Her department is taking seriously the concerns raised by the investigation, she said. No apology to the victims at the mental health facility who were sexually abused, just, well gee, there’s been no murders so what’s the big deal? Sexual […]