Press Release

One Wisconsin Now Statements on Leinenkugel, Wisconsin Recovery Efforts

One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross released the following statements calling on former Gov. Doyle Commerce Secretary Dick Leinenkugel to oppose regressive taxation plans for Wisconsin as the state continues to work through the national economic collapse due to the failed policies of the Bush administration and the Republican Congress.

One Wisconsin Now Members’ Message to the Tea Party: ‘I AM My Brother’s Keeper’

MADISON, Wis. — Citizens from across Wisconsin have joined One Wisconsin Now in sending a decisive message to the Tea Party and conservative elected officials who want less investment in the middle class and less support for children and working families: “I AM My Brother’s Keeper.” One Wisconsin Now will display responses of its members […]

WISTAX Watch Exposes ‘Tax Freedom Day’ Fraud

One Wisconsin Now is urging the media to review its report showing both the flaws of the Tax Foundation numbers and the connections between WISTAX, Tax Foundation, and Americans for Prosperity.

Van Hollen Has Yet to Produce Records on Frivolous Health Reform Lawsuit

Van Hollen said Lautenschlager’s recent public support for the Open Records Law should ensure her prompt response to his request. Just this week, Lautenschlager filed suit against a Republican legislator alleging he took too long to respond to one of her requests. “I would expect to receive the requested information within ten business days,” Van […]

One Wisconsin Now Contest Allows Public to Tell Tea Party ‘Why America Works’

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 […]

Over 1,600 Petitions Delivered to Legislature Supporting Wisconsin Voter Protection Act

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 […]

Candidate’ Van Hollen Repeatedly Attacked Federal Lawsuits

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 […]

One Wisconsin Now Statements on Passage of Historic Health Insurance Reform Bill

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 […]

Walker’s Record of Massive Spending Hikes Is in the Bag

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, […]

Walker Voted for Train Bidding Statute He’s Railing Against

Scott Walker’s hollow criticism of the Talgo bidding process, which was not awarded to the company of his $13,000 donor and 2006 gubernatorial co-chair, is even more hypocritical given that Walker voted to create the no-bid statute in the 1997 state budget.

Media Alert: WPRI Junk Polling Project to Continue

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 […]

Will $2 Billion Buy Walker a Standing Ovation from WMC?

MADISON, Wis. — At Tuesday’s Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce lobbying luncheon Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker will likely find support from the corporate lobby for his $2-billion, budget-busting, deficit-doubling plan for tax breaks that mostly benefit corporations and the wealthiest Wisconsinites. What is less likely, is that Walker will explain which drastic cuts he would […]

While Economy Collapsed, Health Industry Insider Tommy Thrived Financially

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. […]

One Wisconsin Now Statements on the Success, Anniversary of the Recovery Act

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 […]

Walker’s Transit Record: The Road to Failure

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 […]

Will New WMC Head Thank Democrats for $2.6 Million in Funds, Decade-Best Earnings?

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 […]

Walker Takes $120,000 from Health Industry, Opposes End to Health Insurance Stranglehold

MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has strongly opposed measures to provide more Wisconsin children, pregnant mothers and uninsured adults have affordable health care, at the same time taking more than $120,000 in campaign contributions from the health care industry in just the last six months alone. “The health insurance industry knows they […]

Walker’s Plan for State’s $2 Billion Deficit: ‘Let’s Make It $4 Billion’

MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker wants to double Wisconsin’s projected $2-billion state budget deficit with a series of tax breaks that mostly benefit corporations and high-income people. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau reported Wisconsin faces a $2 billion deficit in 2011-13, making Walker’s budget-busting tax breaks for the rich a doubling of the […]

Records Suggest WPRI-UW Poll Materials Deliberately Removed References to Statewide Opposition to Private School Vouchers

MADISON, Wis. — A University of Wisconsin polling project downplayed opposition to private school vouchers after a conservative think tank paying for the polling raised political concerns, documents obtained by One Wisconsin Now show. The poll is an on-going project between the state’s leading conservative think tank, the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, and the University […]

State of Shock: Milwaukee County’s Suffering Under Scott Walker’s Failed Leadership

MADISON, Wis. — If Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker is interested in providing an honest assessment in his 2010 “state of the county” address, it will be a long apology to the people of Milwaukee County for his failed leadership, skewed priorities and playing politics with county operations. “Under Scott Walker, the state of Milwaukee […]

Walker Spending Increase Eclipsed Doyle, Barrett

MADISON, Wis. — As Milwaukee County Executive, Scott Walker proposed budgets to increase spending 35 percent, far ahead of the more modest spending plans of Gov. Jim Doyle and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, according to an analysis by One Wisconsin Now. “Walker poses for holy pictures when discussing taxes and spending issues, but the devil’s […]

Davis-Vukmir Record for Milwaukee Public Schools: Tens of Millions of Dollars in Cuts

MADISON, Wis. — A call for reform of Milwaukee Public Schools by Wisconsin Assembly Reps. Brett Davis (R-Monroe) and Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa), ignores recent anti-MPS votes by the duo, including the 2007-09 Assembly Republican budget which would have slashed a plan to give $15 million to Milwaukee Public Schools and an additional $85 million to […]

Why Would Walker Want to End Children’s BadgerCare Safety Net?

MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker’s recent call for limits on critical BadgerCare health benefits for low-income or displaced workers and repeated criticism of state spending raises concerns he may favor cuts to BadgerCare programs that cover children and expectant mothers. “Scott Walker’s message is that the nationally-recognized BadgerCare health care program for […]

Multi-Millionaire Wall Blames Great Depression on FDR

MADISON, Wis. — Republican multi-millionaire Terrence Wall claims in this month’s In Business magazine that Franklin D. Roosevelt was responsible for the Great Depression, despite Roosevelt taking office over three years after the Depression began and enacting policies which lowered the unemployment rate from 25 percent in 1933 to 10 percent by 1937, saving the […]

Terrence Wall’s Wall Land Investment ‘Pumpkin Patch’ Looks Like a $34,000 Tax Loophole

MADISON, Wis. — Wall Land Investment, LLC, one of multi-millionaire Madison developer Terrence Wall’s companies, has reclassified $2 million in prime Dane County commercial real estate into “agriculture” property, which allows the company to eliminate $34,000 in local property taxes. Wall is already under criticism for using a Delaware post “office” box to possibly avoid […]

GAB Coddles All Children Matter with ‘Pathetic’ Wrist Slap

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board could be opening Wisconsin’s doors to an avalanche of future illegal campaign activity after settling for a miniscule fine of $500 from All Children Matter, ignoring evidence the group possibly funneled Wisconsin corporate contributions through a Virginia political action committee in violation of Wisconsin campaign finance law. […]

Teabaggers’ Latest ‘Republican Rally for Failure’ Fueled Again by Partisanship, Racism, Ignorance

MADISON, Wis. — The latest “Republican Rally for Failure” hosted by the self-identified “teabaggers” is scheduled for Saturday in Milwaukee. The “Failure Rally” will feature numerous incendiary speakers, including fact-challenged Michelle Malkin, who will join other partisans to try and defeat the agenda of President Barack Obama. “The latest ‘Republican Rally for Failure’ is just […]

Memo to Media: MacIver Institute’s Journalistic Misrepresentation

As you are a respected member of Wisconsin’s media, we at One Wisconsin Now wanted to make sure you had heard about a disturbing media misrepresentation by the MacIver Institute, a conservative Milwaukee organization linked to former Republican Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen. According to a weekend story broken by Wisconsin State Journal, a newly-hired staff […]

One Wisconsin Now Launches Redesigned WMC Watch Website

MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now launched an update and redesigned version of its WMC Watch – a comprehensive watchdog website of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. Located at www.WMCWatch.org, the site includes new contributions, revenue and expenditure totals, as well as additional research and analysis of the influence of Wisconsin’s most powerful pro-corporate lobby. “Wisconsin […]

One Wisconsin Now’s Statements on Tonight’s ‘Republican Rally for Failure’ with John Stossel

MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now released the following statements about tonight’s Americans for Prosperity health care opposition event, the ‘Republican Rally for Failure,’ hosted by corporate-accountability foe, ABC’s John Stossel: “Tonight’s ‘Republican Rally for Failure’ is central in the Republican strategy, bankrolled by Republican interests, to defeat the Democratic President at any cost. They […]

Van Hollen Plays Politics with Flip-Flop on Domestic Partner Protections

“The Legislature or the governing body of a political subdivision or local governmental unit is not precluded from authorizing or requiring that a right or benefit traditionally associated with marriage be extended to two or more unmarried individuals; for example, family health insurance benefits, certain probate rights, or the ability to file joint tax returns.” […]

Over $172,000 in Scott Walker Contributions Violate Campaign Finance Reporting Laws

MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker’s gubernatorial campaign failed to report the required employer information of top donors who gave him over $172,000 – a violation affecting one of every six dollars he took in his first finance period. Under chapter 11.60(1) of the Wisconsin Statutes, each violation can result in a $500 […]

Petri Risks Teabagger Wrath with Opposition to ‘Birthers,’ Support for Public Option

MADISON, Wis. — U.S. Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI6) might find himself the victim of health insurance industry financed “teabagger” protests after video of him supporting a public option for health care reform, and rejecting the argument of so-called “birthers” was released today by One Wisconsin Now. “We applaud Rep. Tom Petri for standing up against […]

Domestic Partner Foe Appling: Lying to Us Then, Or Now?

Appling: “If the state Legislature wants to take up adoption and inheritance rights, it can do that” if the amendment becomes law, Appling said. “Nothing in the second sentence prohibits that.” [Associated Press, 12/8/05] Appling: “Contrary to the message being given by opponents of the amendment, the second phrase does not ‘ban civil unions.’” [Daily […]

Leah Vukmir Nabs ‘Award’ by Anti-Health Care, Right-Wing Corporate Front Group

MADISON, Wis. — The awarding of ultra-conservative Rep. Leah Vukmir with the American Legislative Exchange Council’s “Legislator of the Year” reflects her embrace of extremist policies which increase pollution, hurt workers and prevent access to affordable health care for all. “For the right-wing fringe, Leah Vukmir is the total package,” said Scot Ross, One Wisconsin […]

Estate Tax Repeal Plan: $800 Billion in New Debt to Cut Taxes on Ultra-Wealthy

“The estate tax can’t have much effect on hiring by small businesses because hardly any owners ever face the estate tax …only 100 small businesses and family farms will pay any tax in 2009” —Tax Policy Center MADISON, Wis. — A discredited report being circulated by Scott Jensen’s MacIver Institute is calling for $800 billion […]