Scott Walker WI governor vs the Packers & teachers (3 Viewers)

[snogger]

Saw about a dozen "Recall Walker" protesters along the side of the highway on my way into work this morning.Laughable. Go to work, go looking for work, or protest an actual cause, not the "boogeyman".

What's even more is they can't even start a Walker recall petition until January 2012!My guess is the people running around with "Recall Walker" signs have no clue about that tidbit of information.

 

[hooter311]

Saw about a dozen "Recall Walker" protesters along the side of the highway on my way into work this morning.Laughable. Go to work, go looking for work, or protest an actual cause, not the "boogeyman".

What's even more is they can't even start a Walker recall petition until January 2012!My guess is the people running around with "Recall Walker" signs have no clue about that tidbit of information.

Did you happen to see them on the overpass over I-90 on the MN/WI border over the weekend? There must have been at least 100 people up there.

 

[cr8f]

Corporate TV media blackout but Al Jazeera is covering us.

 

[cr8f]

Some of Fox's smears on this movement with Links if you want to see them.

Poor guys have to watch Fox all the time.

Fox Smears Wisconsin Pro-Union Protesters

Beck Cites Wisconsin Protests To Claim That "Evil [is] Spreading Around The Globe." Glenn Beck claimed that protests in Madison, Wisconsin, as well as in the Middle East and Mexico are part of "evil spreading around the globe." [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 2/16/11]

Fox Nation Calls Protesters "Rabid Leftists." Fox Nation described pro-union protesters in Wisconsin as "Rabid Leftists." [Media Matters, 3/9/11]

Fox Nation: "Howling Liberals Interrupt John Kasich Speech." A Fox Nation headline referred to the protesters as "leftist bullies." [Fox Nation, 3/8/11]

Fox Nation Calls Protesters A "Shrieking Leftist Mob." A Fox Nation headline referred to pro-union protesters at a GOP-hosted town hall event as a "Shrieking Leftist Mob." [Media Matters, 3/8/11]

Malkin: Protesters Engaging In "Thuggery." Fox News contributor Michelle Malkin accused the protesters of an "immense amount of power and thuggery." [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 2/17/11]

Fox Nation Calls Union Supporters "Despicable." Fox Nation called the protesters "Despicable Union Supporters." [Fox Nation, 3/4/11]

Fox Nation: "Judge Orders Union Agitators Out of Wisconsin Capitol." A Fox Nation post referred to protesters as "Union Agitators." [Fox Nation, 3/3/11]

Napolitano Calls Wisconsin Protests "Union Temper Tantrums." Fox News host Andrew Napolitano called the pro-union protests in Wisconsin "union temper tantrums." [Fox Business, Freedom Watch, 2/17/11]

McGuirk: Protesters Are "Act[ing] Like A Bunch Of Selfish Spoiled Europeans." Bernard McGuirk, producer of Fox Business' Imus in the Morning, said that the protesters were acting " like a bunch of selfish spoiled Europeans," which he said was "almost embarrassing." [Fox News, Hannity, 2/17/11, via Nexis]

FBN's Byrnes: Protests Could "Borderline ... Get Violent." Fox Business' Tracy Byrnes claimed that protests in Wisconsin are "actually, borderline gonna get violent, it sounds like." [Fox Business, Varney & Co., 2/16/11]

Fox & Friends Falsely Portray Wisconsin Protesters As "Violent"

Kilmeade: Protesters Got "Restless And, Dare I Say, Violent." Brian Kilmeade introduced a segment on a Republican Wisconsin lawmaker, Sen. Glenn Grothman, being heckled by a chanting crowd of protesters by baselessly claiming the protesters were "getting restless and, dare I say, violent." Co-host Steve Doocy claimed that, "If you put yourself in [Grothman's] shoes...it's absolutely scary." Doocy later claimed, "When you look at that and all the incivility there, you realize that to these people, elections have no consequence, mean nothing." During the segment, the on-screen graphics repeatedly referred to the "angry" protesters as "violent" or "attack[ing]" Grothman. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 3/3/11]

FACT: There Is No Evidence To Support The Claim That The Protesters Were Violent.

No Violence Is Shown On The Video. The video, which was shot by Wisconsin area photographer Phil Ejercito, show that Grothman was heckled by protesters, but no violence occurred. In fact, at one point during the video, a protester can be heard to shout "don't touch him" and at another, the protesters chanted "peace" and "peaceful." [YouTube, 3/1/11]

Grothman Himself Claimed "He Didn't Think He Was Ever In Any Real Danger." The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Grothman "told the [Cap Times] he didn't think he was ever in any real danger." [The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/2/11]

Photographer Phil Ejercito: I Condemn "The Use Of My Work To Distort The Truth About The Spirited But Non-Violent Protests Here In Madison." In a statement to Media Matters, Phil Ejercito, the local photographer who shot the footage of Sen. Grothman being heckled by the crowd, said he "condemn[ed] the use of my work to distort the truth about the spirited but non-violent protests here in Madison," calling it a "a genuinely dangerous narrative that Fox News is helping to create." [Media Matters, 3/3/11]

Fox Pushed Falsehood That Public Sector Workers Earn More Than Private Sector Counterparts

Huckabee: "Public Union Workers [Make] 30 Percent Better Wages [And] 70 Percent Better Benefits Than Their Private Sector Counterparts." Fox News contributor Mike Huckabee claimed Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's efforts to end collective bargaining power for public sector unions is important because "he's having to balance the budget." As evidence, Huckabee falsely claimed public union workers make "30 percent better wages" and "70 percent better benefits than their private sector counterparts." [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 2/25/11]

Carlson: Public Sector Workers "Make More Than You Do" And "Won't Even Consider Taking Any Kind Of Cut". Fox News contributor Tucker Carlson said:

Here's, in my view, the politically effective and the true argument. They make more than you do, right, these public sector employees, they can never be fired, their benefits are things you can't even imagine, and by the way, they won't even consider taking any kind of cut in the face of the worst recession in our lifetimes and they expect you to pay for it. You can win that case. [Fox News, Special Report, 3/9/11]

FACT: EPI Found That "Wisconsin Public Employees Earn 4.8% Less In Total Compensation Per Hour Than Comparable Full-Time Employees In Wisconsin's Private Sector." A study published February 10, 2011, by the think tank Economic Policy Institute (EPI) found that when "[c]omparisons controlling for education, experience," and other factors are taken into account, "Wisconsin public employees earn 4.8% less in total compensation per hour than comparable full-time employees in Wisconsin's private sector." [EPI, "Are Wisconsin Public Employees Over-compensated?" 2/10/11]

The EPI report also included a graphic showing the average compensation for public and private sector employees in Wisconsin by education:

 

[ElGatoLoco]

Newsweek: Do we still need unions? yes

But unions still have a crucial role to play in America. First, they give workers a voice within—and, when necessary, leverage against—their employer.

Pssssst, in this case the employers they're leveraging are the taxpayers of Wisconsin.

Unions are a cancer in America, and the symptoms are visible all over. See: Detroit.

Weren't you the one saying that anybody not from Wisconsin doesn't have the whole picture? Where do you get off saying anything about Detroit?

 

[Statorama]

Weren't you the one saying that anybody not from Wisconsin doesn't have the whole picture? Where do you get off saying anything about Detroit?

I have the internet

 

[snogger]

to offset the posts of he who shall not be named..

UPDATED Tuesday, March 15, 2011 --- 2:40 p.m.Democrats, Republicans make moves to work together'MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Wisconsin state senators are starting to take steps to reconcile following the Democrats' decision to flee the state for three weeks to block passage of a bill taking away most collective bargaining rights for public workers.On Tuesday Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said he would rescind contempt orders placed against the Democrats when they were gone. That will allow Democrats to have their votes in committee action counted.Fitzgerald says he's comfortable doing that after Democrats made assurances to him they won't flee the state again.Also on Tuesday, Democratic Sen. Tim Cullen drafted a constitutional amendment that would lower the number of senators needed to vote on budget bills. Fitzgerald says he supports that idea, which would prevent lawmakers from fleeing the Capitol to block bills.

 

[Statorama]

Slinger teachers contract re-opened to include some concessions

Maybe this whole episode is helping the unions "get it"

The Slinger School Board and its teachers union approved an agreement that modifies the teachers' existing contract to save the district $1.35 million in the upcoming school year, Superintendent Robert Reynolds said.

Both the union and the board agreed to the modifications Monday, locking them into place before a new law that eliminates most of the teachers' collective bargaining rights can go into effect.

Reynolds praised the teachers union for its agreement. Other districts that have existing contracts in place have avoided reopening talks out of fear of the impact.

"This is maybe a model of how things of this nature can be handled," Reynolds said. "It's more like we didn't sit across the table from each other, we sat around the table with each other and figured it out."

Reynolds said it was a negotiator for the teachers union who reached out to him after reading about his concerns about the effects that state education funding cuts could have on the district, given that it had a four-year teachers contract that would remain unaffected by any changes to collective bargaining or benefit levels. Under the state constitution, the Legislature can't enact any laws that affect existing contracts.

Together, Reynolds said district officials and the teachers union agreed to have teachers pay 5.8% of their salaries toward their pensions and increase their health insurance contributions to 12.6%. Teachers also will see their salaries virtually frozen for the next two years.

Reynolds said the $1.35 million in savings put next school year's budget "in the doable ballpark."

"I am so proud of them," he said of the teachers. "I am so happy that people can see that they were willing, for the good of the system, to come forward and help us out. They could have just as easily said a deal is a deal."

 

[Dr. Awesome]

The Lib Secretary of State will delay publication of the law so all the Libs running the schools will give their lib union pals sweetheart deals.

Our grandchildren aren't strapped in debt quite enough, let's pile on some more!

This tactic needs to be bumped and not buried by one of cr8f's latest pinched loafs.

I don't fault the unions for feeding while they can, but I question the Secretary of State. I don't know how long it typically takes him to publish a bill but huge thumbs down if he's delaying this thing longer than normal. I don't want to vote for any Democrats in California based upon the actions of Democrats in Wisconsin.

They're typically published in a day, but the SoS has up to 10 days to publish them. It's going to go the full 10 days due to it being a Democrat.The most important thing to the unions is that the money keeps flowing. If these local communities sign contract renewals, then everyone is still under the same old system where you have to be in the union whether you want to be or not. It kills me that Democrats hate freedom of choice. The world would be such a better place if Democrats believed in giving people the freedom to make choices in their lives.

Thanks. So it will still get published soon enough.

 

[Mr.Pack]

The Lib Secretary of State will delay publication of the law so all the Libs running the schools will give their lib union pals sweetheart deals.

Our grandchildren aren't strapped in debt quite enough, let's pile on some more!

 

[Mr.Pack]

The Lib Secretary of State will delay publication of the law so all the Libs running the schools will give their lib union pals sweetheart deals.

Our grandchildren aren't strapped in debt quite enough, let's pile on some more!

This tactic needs to be bumped and not buried by one of cr8f's latest pinched loafs.

I don't fault the unions for feeding while they can, but I question the Secretary of State. I don't know how long it typically takes him to publish a bill but huge thumbs down if he's delaying this thing longer than normal. I don't want to vote for any Democrats in California based upon the actions of Democrats in Wisconsin.

They're typically published in a day, but the SoS has up to 10 days to publish them. It's going to go the full 10 days due to it being a Democrat.The most important thing to the unions is that the money keeps flowing. If these local communities sign contract renewals, then everyone is still under the same old system where you have to be in the union whether you want to be or not. It kills me that Democrats hate freedom of choice. The world would be such a better place if Democrats believed in giving people the freedom to make choices in their lives.

Thanks. So it will still get published soon enough.

LaFollett who is supposed to publish it, said he won't do it until March 25th.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

LaFollett who is supposed to publish it, said he won't do it until March 25th.

If what statorama posted is true (taking 10 days), I really don't like the idea of delaying this publication longer than you normally would. Do your damned job, whether or not you like the bill.

 

[cr8f]

Saying we're broke is like a homeowner with a large mortgage saying he is broke.

If we were broke why is Walker taking the private plane all over the state with police escorts when he could be driven?

 

[jon_mx]

I think we just witnessed a new record for the most incredibly awful posts by one posters in a day. Congrats!

 

[The Kerminator]

I think we just witnessed a new record for the most incredibly awful posts by one posters in a day. Congrats!

Breaking his own record.

 

[Fishboy]

Saying we're broke is like a homeowner with a large mortgage saying he is broke. If we were broke why is Walker taking the private plane all over the state with police escorts when he could be driven?

Not sure why I'm taking the bait here...... If the homeowner no longer has the income to pay the mortgage and other bills, they will be foreclosed on and be broke. Wisconsin isn't taking in enough taxes to pay their "mortgage and other bills." The Governor will not raise taxes to cover the difference, unlike his predecessor.Do you really not get this?

 

[parasaurolophus]

Saying we're broke is like a homeowner with a large mortgage saying he is broke. If we were broke why is Walker taking the private plane all over the state with police escorts when he could be driven?

Not sure why I'm taking the bait here...... If the homeowner no longer has the income to pay the mortgage and other bills, they will be foreclosed on and be broke. Wisconsin isn't taking in enough taxes to pay their "mortgage and other bills." The Governor will not raise taxes to cover the difference, unlike his predecessor.Do you really not get this?

he threw that analogy out there like 5 times. He finally hooked somebody.

 

[The Kerminator]

Saying we're broke is like a homeowner with a large mortgage saying he is broke. If we were broke why is Walker taking the private plane all over the state with police escorts when he could be driven?

Not sure why I'm taking the bait here...... If the homeowner no longer has the income to pay the mortgage and other bills, they will be foreclosed on and be broke. Wisconsin isn't taking in enough taxes to pay their "mortgage and other bills." The Governor will not raise taxes to cover the difference, unlike his predecessor.Do you really not get this?

If the home owner owes $75,000 yet on his mortgage, has monthly expenses of $1000 and a monthly income of $800, but has $12 in his checking account he is not broke.

 

[Fishboy]

Saying we're broke is like a homeowner with a large mortgage saying he is broke. If we were broke why is Walker taking the private plane all over the state with police escorts when he could be driven?

Not sure why I'm taking the bait here...... If the homeowner no longer has the income to pay the mortgage and other bills, they will be foreclosed on and be broke. Wisconsin isn't taking in enough taxes to pay their "mortgage and other bills." The Governor will not raise taxes to cover the difference, unlike his predecessor.Do you really not get this?

he threw that analogy out there like 5 times. He finally hooked somebody.

LOL, I knew I was taking the bait. It's getting late and my defenses are lowered. Maybe it's time to put my first poster on the ignore list.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

I think we just witnessed a new record for the most incredibly awful posts by one posters in a day. Congrats!

Breaking his own record.

I'm to the point of just scrolling past his posts without reading them.

 

[The Kerminator]

I think we just witnessed a new record for the most incredibly awful posts by one posters in a day. Congrats!

Breaking his own record.

I'm to the point of just scrolling past his posts without reading them.

I enjoy his posts. They are always good for a laugh.

 

[cr8f]

It's starting to look like Walkers Wackenhut private security is back. They look like the ones he had in Washburn.

When he was administrator in Milwaukee he fired security guards and hired them(Wackenhut) from the UK, the guards sued and he was foreced to give them them their jobs back with back wages-costing the county almost half a million dollars(but could be more in the end).

If they are saying they are cops and are not could be other laws broken by this guy.

"With access to the Capitol restricted by the Department of Administration last week a group of demonstrators went to the Capitol access tunnels below the Risser Justice Building. The rumors were that GOP legislators and Governor Scott Walker had been using the tunnels to access the Capitol. They were approached by a security detail and were informed that the parking garage was a private parking ramp. The demonstrators argued that it wasn't and claimed to be parked in the building. One of the members of the security detail said that if the demonstrators were lying they were "obstructing justice" because they "lied to a cop." (video below)

The man, wearing a golden eagle pin on a red background, similar to Wackenhut Security's logo, was asked for proof that he was a police officer. He simply replied "I am a cop, so..." and began dialing his phone. It sounds like he says into his blue tooth ear piece "Dave speaking" at the 1.47 mark. He eventually walks away and doesn't return.

I called the Madison Police Department and spoke with Officer Howard Payne who said that if the the man is private security, "he has no legal authority to identify as a police officer." Payne added that even if he was a plain clothed officer he is obligated to show identification when he identifies himself as a member of law enforcement.

To be clear, it is not known if he is actually with Wackenhut, but the logo seems to match up with this one. It wouldn't be a surprise if this is Wackenhut, because Walker has a long history with the firm going back to his days as Milwaukee County Executive.

Citing a fiscal emergency in 2010 the then County Executive Walker privatized security at the Milwaukee County courthouse and brought in Wackenhut. In January of this year a court ruled against Walker's emergency justification and as a result the outsourced county security was brought back on board. Due to contracts with Wackenhut Milwaukee County is now paying for both the private security and the county security and the cost to taxpayers is $95,000 per month. Overall the reversal of Walker's emergency outsourcing measure is expected to cost $430,000.

It should be noted that Wackenhut is in the process of a name change to G4S...."

 

[cr8f]

Saying we're broke is like a homeowner with a large mortgage saying he is broke. If we were broke why is Walker taking the private plane all over the state with police escorts when he could be driven?

Not sure why I'm taking the bait here...... If the homeowner no longer has the income to pay the mortgage and other bills, they will be foreclosed on and be broke. Wisconsin isn't taking in enough taxes to pay their "mortgage and other bills." The Governor will not raise taxes to cover the difference, unlike his predecessor.Do you really not get this?

he threw that analogy out there like 5 times. He finally hooked somebody.

LOL, I knew I was taking the bait. It's getting late and my defenses are lowered. Maybe it's time to put my first poster on the ignore list.

It's called an analogy.Please pass them by and I'll do the same with yours. Most of what I post here are updates on whats going on and not opinions anyway.This will probably be settled by the courts and at the voting booths not on message boards.

 

[The Kerminator]

It's starting to look like Walkers Wackenhut private security is back. They look like the ones he had in Washburn.

When he was administrator in Milwaukee he fired security guards and hired them(Wackenhut) from the UK, the guards sued and he was foreced to give them them their jobs back with back wages-costing the county almost half a million dollars(but could be more in the end).

If they are saying they are cops and are not could be other laws broken by this guy.

"With access to the Capitol restricted by the Department of Administration last week a group of demonstrators went to the Capitol access tunnels below the Risser Justice Building. The rumors were that GOP legislators and Governor Scott Walker had been using the tunnels to access the Capitol. They were approached by a security detail and were informed that the parking garage was a private parking ramp. The demonstrators argued that it wasn't and claimed to be parked in the building. One of the members of the security detail said that if the demonstrators were lying they were "obstructing justice" because they "lied to a cop." (video below)

The man, wearing a golden eagle pin on a red background, similar to Wackenhut Security's logo, was asked for proof that he was a police officer. He simply replied "I am a cop, so..." and began dialing his phone. It sounds like he says into his blue tooth ear piece "Dave speaking" at the 1.47 mark. He eventually walks away and doesn't return.

I called the Madison Police Department and spoke with Officer Howard Payne who said that if the the man is private security, "he has no legal authority to identify as a police officer." Payne added that even if he was a plain clothed officer he is obligated to show identification when he identifies himself as a member of law enforcement.

To be clear, it is not known if he is actually with Wackenhut, but the logo seems to match up with this one. It wouldn't be a surprise if this is Wackenhut, because Walker has a long history with the firm going back to his days as Milwaukee County Executive.

Citing a fiscal emergency in 2010 the then County Executive Walker privatized security at the Milwaukee County courthouse and brought in Wackenhut. In January of this year a court ruled against Walker's emergency justification and as a result the outsourced county security was brought back on board. Due to contracts with Wackenhut Milwaukee County is now paying for both the private security and the county security and the cost to taxpayers is $95,000 per month. Overall the reversal of Walker's emergency outsourcing measure is expected to cost $430,000.

It should be noted that Wackenhut is in the process of a name change to G4S...."

If it weren't for all those pesky little death threats from the unions . . .

 

[The Kerminator]

Saying we're broke is like a homeowner with a large mortgage saying he is broke.

If we were broke why is Walker taking the private plane all over the state with police escorts when he could be driven?

Not sure why I'm taking the bait here...... If the homeowner no longer has the income to pay the mortgage and other bills, they will be foreclosed on and be broke. Wisconsin isn't taking in enough taxes to pay their "mortgage and other bills." The Governor will not raise taxes to cover the difference, unlike his predecessor.

Do you really not get this?

he threw that analogy out there like 5 times. He finally hooked somebody.

LOL, I knew I was taking the bait. It's getting late and my defenses are lowered. Maybe it's time to put my first poster on the ignore list.

It's called an analogy.Please pass them by and I'll do the same with yours. Most of what I post here are updates on whats going on and not opinions anyway.

This will probably be settled by the courts and at the voting booths not on message boards.

Thanks for keeping us updated. You got any information on the recall petition in Merrill last Thursday? You know, the one where the union protester tore up recall petitions and wrote "F*** you" across them. Google it and post it for us.

 

[Mr.Pack]

I think we just witnessed a new record for the most incredibly awful posts by one posters in a day. Congrats!

Breaking his own record.

I'm to the point of just scrolling past his posts without reading them.

 

[snogger]

I think we just witnessed a new record for the most incredibly awful posts by one posters in a day. Congrats!

Breaking his own record.

I'm to the point of just scrolling past his posts without reading them.

Not worth responding to any more..

 

[cr8f]

Wow many teachers considering retirement

Mass exodus from classrooms is possible as teachers consider retirement

Thomas Bindl, a fourth-grade teacher in Sun Prairie's Royal Oaks Elementary, called his last-minute decision to retire this year "gut-wrenching."

Bindl, like many other teachers around Dane County and the state, are choosing to retire this summer — years earlier than they planned — due to uncertainty about what Gov. Scott Walker's budget will mean for their health care and retirement benefits.

"I felt like it was almost like a gun to our heads," said Bindl, who is 57 and has been teaching for 34 years. His tentative post-retirement plan is to teach in Europe or China.

Some districts have extended their retirement deadline to give teachers more time to make their decision. In Madison, the Tuesday deadline was extended to April 15 as close to three times the usual number of teachers consider retirement.

The Madison School District usually sees about 120 teacher retirements annually. So far this year, 350 teachers have attended informational meetings about retirement, said John Matthews, executive director of Madison Teachers Inc.

"That's a major brain and skill drain," Matthews said of the prospect of more than 300 teachers retiring. "That will have a major negative impact on the educational program."

The Middleton-Cross Plains School District also anticipated a spike in retirements this year as teachers weighed concerns about future retirement benefits and salaries and how state aid cuts may affect class sizes.

"After this year, we don't know what's going to be there," said Chris Bauman, president of the Middleton Education Association. Typically, the district sees 10 to 15 teachers retire each year. The district had approved 32 teacher retirements as of Monday's deadline, officials confirmed.

The Monona Grove School District extended its retirement deadline to April 1; so far, 16 teachers have filed for retirement.

"It's the largest number in quite a while," said Kristine Wollermann, president of the Monona Grove Education Association. She described the work environment as "extremely stressful" as teachers prepare for possible cuts in their salaries and, in some cases, their jobs.

The deadline to retire in the Sun Prairie School District was Feb. 28. Brad Lutes, president of the Sun Prairie Education Association teachers union, said that before Walker's budget bill and collective bargaining proposal were released, the district had nine retirements - the usual amount. By the end of February, that number had grown to 29.

"When people have put in 25 to 30 years of teaching ... all of a sudden to have that uncertainty hanging over you is a very scary thing," he said.

 

[cr8f]

I think we just witnessed a new record for the most incredibly awful posts by one posters in a day. Congrats!

Breaking his own record.

I'm to the point of just scrolling past his posts without reading them.

Not worth responding to any more..

What I was referring to is the state being broke. It isn't. Like individuals with a mortgage it was more cash debits than cash assets due to the economic crash. But being broke says you have no reserves-it has many. Wisconsin could sell assets and get money. About 1/4-1/3 of the land here are forest that could be sold to create cash. It would happen and don't want it to but we're not broke. The state has a lot of resources besides cash that coukd be sold and some may be if parts of the state are privatize.If Walker does sell power plants(option in his budget) to privatize them he would get cash there.When someone is broke they have no assets and all governments in this country have a lot of non cash assets-that's what I meant and was misunderstood.

 

[jon_mx]

That homeless bum on the street ain't broke either. He could easily sell his body parts for money if need be.

 

[snogger]

That homeless bum on the street ain't broke either. He could easily sell his body parts for money if need be.

All issues would be resolved if Walker just sold Wisconsin to say, Canada... Then Health care cost will subside also!!

 

[jon_mx]

That homeless bum on the street ain't broke either. He could easily sell his body parts for money if need be.

All issues would be resolved if Walker just sold Wisconsin to say, Canada... Then Health care cost will subside also!!

Maybe we can pawn off Florida to Cuba, I hear they have a great health care system too.

 

[Phase of the Game]

I think we just witnessed a new record for the most incredibly awful posts by one posters in a day. Congrats!

Breaking his own record.

I'm to the point of just scrolling past his posts without reading them.

Not worth responding to any more..

What I was referring to is the state being broke. It isn't. Like individuals with a mortgage it was more cash debits than cash assets due to the economic crash. But being broke says you have no reserves-it has many. Wisconsin could sell assets and get money. About 1/4-1/3 of the land here are forest that could be sold to create cash. It would happen and don't want it to but we're not broke. The state has a lot of resources besides cash that coukd be sold and some may be if parts of the state are privatize.If Walker does sell power plants(option in his budget) to privatize them he would get cash there.When someone is broke they have no assets and all governments in this country have a lot of non cash assets-that's what I meant and was misunderstood.

A reply like this shows why you should just stick to cutting and pasting the crap you do. This is one of the dumbest answers I have seen for a state to help solve budget issues.

 

[hooter311]

That homeless bum on the street ain't broke either. He could easily sell his body parts for money if need be.

All issues would be resolved if Walker just sold Wisconsin to say, Canada... Then Health care cost will subside also!!

Now is not the time to sell. We need to round up some cash and put a bid in on the UP.

 

[Slapdash]

I think we just witnessed a new record for the most incredibly awful posts by one posters in a day. Congrats!

Breaking his own record.

I'm to the point of just scrolling past his posts without reading them.

Not worth responding to any more..

Then just put him on ignore instead of spending the last 10 pages #####ing about one poster you think sucks. It isn't that hard. Personally, I don't know how you guys can stand political threads like this without a few of the biggest clowns on ignore.

 

[jon_mx]

That homeless bum on the street ain't broke either. He could easily sell his body parts for money if need be.

All issues would be resolved if Walker just sold Wisconsin to say, Canada... Then Health care cost will subside also!!

Now is not the time to sell. We need to round up some cash and put a bid in on the UP.

Although it would be a geographical challenge for Wisconsin, Detroit would be much cheaper to pick up.

 

[snogger]

I think we just witnessed a new record for the most incredibly awful posts by one posters in a day. Congrats!

Breaking his own record.

I'm to the point of just scrolling past his posts without reading them.

Not worth responding to any more..

Then just put him on ignore instead of spending the last 10 pages #####ing about one poster you think sucks. It isn't that hard. Personally, I don't know how you guys can stand political threads like this without a few of the biggest clowns on ignore.

My mistake was responding to his previous posts.. Yesterday finally decided enough was enough. I've never used the "ignore" feature and don't plan on giving him the satisfaction of being the first

 

[hooter311]

That homeless bum on the street ain't broke either. He could easily sell his body parts for money if need be.

All issues would be resolved if Walker just sold Wisconsin to say, Canada... Then Health care cost will subside also!!

Now is not the time to sell. We need to round up some cash and put a bid in on the UP.

Although it would be a geographical challenge for Wisconsin, Detroit would be much cheaper to pick up.

We already have Racine, no thanks.

 

[sho nuff]

Ive been begging the State of Tennessee to sell Memphis to Arkansas for some time.

 

[Socrates11]

After watching 'Waiting for Superman' all I can say is screw teacher's unions*. They are a pox on this country.

*Still a fan of teachers though, so don't go getting your knickers in a twist

 

[cr8f]

After a month of these protests I would think everyone has made their minds where they stand on these policies.

On friday there will be a hearing as to the legality of the bill passed when the 14 were in Illinois.

If it is thrown out it can be changed or just re-submitted. When that happens 2 more GOP senators may vote against it with recalls in the works.

This is where this seems to stand now. Would collective bargaining exclusion pass now? Friday seems to be the next step.

 

[larry_boy_44]

Wow many teachers considering retirement

Mass exodus from classrooms is possible as teachers consider retirement

Thomas Bindl, a fourth-grade teacher in Sun Prairie's Royal Oaks Elementary, called his last-minute decision to retire this year "gut-wrenching."

Bindl, like many other teachers around Dane County and the state, are choosing to retire this summer — years earlier than they planned — due to uncertainty about what Gov. Scott Walker's budget will mean for their health care and retirement benefits.

"I felt like it was almost like a gun to our heads," said Bindl, who is 57 and has been teaching for 34 years. His tentative post-retirement plan is to teach in Europe or China.

Some districts have extended their retirement deadline to give teachers more time to make their decision. In Madison, the Tuesday deadline was extended to April 15 as close to three times the usual number of teachers consider retirement.

The Madison School District usually sees about 120 teacher retirements annually. So far this year, 350 teachers have attended informational meetings about retirement, said John Matthews, executive director of Madison Teachers Inc.

"That's a major brain and skill drain," Matthews said of the prospect of more than 300 teachers retiring. "That will have a major negative impact on the educational program."

The Middleton-Cross Plains School District also anticipated a spike in retirements this year as teachers weighed concerns about future retirement benefits and salaries and how state aid cuts may affect class sizes.

"After this year, we don't know what's going to be there," said Chris Bauman, president of the Middleton Education Association. Typically, the district sees 10 to 15 teachers retire each year. The district had approved 32 teacher retirements as of Monday's deadline, officials confirmed.

The Monona Grove School District extended its retirement deadline to April 1; so far, 16 teachers have filed for retirement.

"It's the largest number in quite a while," said Kristine Wollermann, president of the Monona Grove Education Association. She described the work environment as "extremely stressful" as teachers prepare for possible cuts in their salaries and, in some cases, their jobs.

The deadline to retire in the Sun Prairie School District was Feb. 28. Brad Lutes, president of the Sun Prairie Education Association teachers union, said that before Walker's budget bill and collective bargaining proposal were released, the district had nine retirements - the usual amount. By the end of February, that number had grown to 29.

"When people have put in 25 to 30 years of teaching ... all of a sudden to have that uncertainty hanging over you is a very scary thing," he said.

this is more similar to how in Milwaukee County there were mass retirements when people realized if they retired now they got ridiculously good benefits in retirement, where if they waited a year or two they'd get normal retirement benefits in line with most everyone else in the world... So everyone suddenly retired and hammered the county with a HUGE bill to pay their out of control retirement costs...Wasn't it Walker who put a stop to that, too? (I honestly don't remember...)

These teachers are retiring because their retirement benefits will be better if they retire today than they will be if they retire 3 years from now, which is somewhat understandable... The problem is that them retiring today isn't going to magically make the money appear out of thin air, just like the "last second" contracts all these school districts are signing before the "deadline", they're just going to harm the school districts, the states, and most importantly the students in the end...

 

[larry_boy_44]

I think we just witnessed a new record for the most incredibly awful posts by one posters in a day. Congrats!

Breaking his own record.

I'm to the point of just scrolling past his posts without reading them.

Not worth responding to any more..

What I was referring to is the state being broke. It isn't. Like individuals with a mortgage it was more cash debits than cash assets due to the economic crash. But being broke says you have no reserves-it has many. Wisconsin could sell assets and get money. About 1/4-1/3 of the land here are forest that could be sold to create cash. It would happen and don't want it to but we're not broke. The state has a lot of resources besides cash that coukd be sold and some may be if parts of the state are privatize.If Walker does sell power plants(option in his budget) to privatize them he would get cash there.When someone is broke they have no assets and all governments in this country have a lot of non cash assets-that's what I meant and was misunderstood.

the state isn't broke in that it has nothing left... it is broke in that it has more money going out than coming in...If you're making $35,000 a year and have expenses of $50,000 a year you have two choices. 1. find a way to make more money or 2. find a way to cut expenses.We can't raise taxes any further in Wisconsin without harming the economy of the state (we've already been losing businesses thanks to Doyle)... So we had to cut expenses, which is what we did...Now we aren't heading to "completely broke"...

 

[Mr.Pack]

That homeless bum on the street ain't broke either. He could easily sell his body parts for money if need be.

All issues would be resolved if Walker just sold Wisconsin to say, Canada... Then Health care cost will subside also!!

Then we would be the Quebec Packers.Man that would suxor.

 

[Statorama]

After a month of these protests I would think everyone has made their minds where they stand on these policies.On friday there will be a hearing as to the legality of the bill passed when the 14 were in Illinois.If it is thrown out it can be changed or just re-submitted. When that happens 2 more GOP senators may vote against it with recalls in the works. This is where this seems to stand now. Would collective bargaining exclusion pass now? Friday seems to be the next step.

Dane County judges are just an arm of the Democratic party, so there's no doubt the bill will be struck down as unconstitutional initially. All Conservatives are aware of this, so it won't come as a shock. Liberals and the newspapers (but I repeat myself) will see this as a victory for unionized labor and rejoice. Once the arguments regarding the legalities of the bill are heard by an actual judge, it will obviously be found constitutional and legally binding.So of course there will be liberals racing to this thread to post the "I told you so" messages, but their joy will be shortlived and their posts mocked once the bill comes to it's final judgement.Not much to see on Friday really. In fact I wouldn't be surprised to find that Governor Walker's legal team is already working on the appeal.

 

[Fishboy]

What I was referring to is the state being broke. It isn't. Like individuals with a mortgage it was more cash debits than cash assets due to the economic crash. But being broke says you have no reserves-it has many. Wisconsin could sell assets and get money. About 1/4-1/3 of the land here are forest that could be sold to create cash. It would happen and don't want it to but we're not broke. The state has a lot of resources besides cash that coukd be sold and some may be if parts of the state are privatize.If Walker does sell power plants(option in his budget) to privatize them he would get cash there.When someone is broke they have no assets and all governments in this country have a lot of non cash assets-that's what I meant and was misunderstood.

So, I lose my job and have no income, but I have a 12 and 10 year old daughter. Wonder what they would fetch in the open market? Are they considered a non cash asset?

 

[The Kerminator]

On a lighter note, among the farmers protesting at the Capitol on Saturday was this guy:

Tod Pulvermacher, 33, who lives on a farm in Spring Green, drove more than seven hours from Bear Valley with a manure spreader to participate in the tractor parade. "It really stinks, but it smells better than what's coming out of there," Pulvermacher said, pointing to the Capitol.

Well it looks like he could be in troubleProtest ride in Madison could mean trouble

Protest ride in Madison could be trouble for dairy farmer

By Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel

March 15, 2011 |(176) Comments

Tod Pulvermacher drew cheers from the crowd and plenty of attention from the press on Saturday, as he chugged around the Capitol Square on a tractor pulling a manure spreader.

The attention may soon take a different turn.

A check of online court records shows that a Tod Pulvermacher has been convicted of drunken driving four times and has no valid drivers’ license. The license was revoked for 33 months on July 2, the date of his fourth conviction for operating while intoxicated.

The unusual spelling on the name, the age and the home town listed in the online court records all match information that a man who identified himself as Tod Pulvermacher provided reporters during the protest march at the Capitol. Both the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin State Journal featured Pulvermacher in their reports on the rally.

That Tod Pulvermacher, wearing a green plaid shirt and dark sunglasses, drove around the Capitol Square roughly a half-hour before the rest of the tractorcade appeared.

The online records also show a Tod Pulvermacher, of Plain, was convicted of marijuana possession in 2007 and 2008. The former case included his third drunken driving offense, which occurred on May 27, in Sauk County.

A conviction for causing injury by drunken driving in 2002 is listed as his second OWI offense, in the online court records.

It is illegal to operate a tractor on public roads without a valid drivers’ license, unless the activity is authorized as farming use.

Pulvermacher’s tractor was pulling a manure spreader, but the only thing being spread was opposition to Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill.

Calls made to Pulvermacher and his attorney Tuesday morning had not been returned as of 2:30

 

[Mr.Pack]

On a lighter note, among the farmers protesting at the Capitol on Saturday was this guy:

Tod Pulvermacher, 33, who lives on a farm in Spring Green, drove more than seven hours from Bear Valley with a manure spreader to participate in the tractor parade. "It really stinks, but it smells better than what's coming out of there," Pulvermacher said, pointing to the Capitol.

Well it looks like he could be in troubleProtest ride in Madison could mean trouble

Protest ride in Madison could be trouble for dairy farmer

By Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel

March 15, 2011 |(176) Comments

Tod Pulvermacher drew cheers from the crowd and plenty of attention from the press on Saturday, as he chugged around the Capitol Square on a tractor pulling a manure spreader.

The attention may soon take a different turn.

A check of online court records shows that a Tod Pulvermacher has been convicted of drunken driving four times and has no valid drivers’ license. The license was revoked for 33 months on July 2, the date of his fourth conviction for operating while intoxicated.

The unusual spelling on the name, the age and the home town listed in the online court records all match information that a man who identified himself as Tod Pulvermacher provided reporters during the protest march at the Capitol. Both the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin State Journal featured Pulvermacher in their reports on the rally.

That Tod Pulvermacher, wearing a green plaid shirt and dark sunglasses, drove around the Capitol Square roughly a half-hour before the rest of the tractorcade appeared.

The online records also show a Tod Pulvermacher, of Plain, was convicted of marijuana possession in 2007 and 2008. The former case included his third drunken driving offense, which occurred on May 27, in Sauk County.

A conviction for causing injury by drunken driving in 2002 is listed as his second OWI offense, in the online court records.

It is illegal to operate a tractor on public roads without a valid drivers’ license, unless the activity is authorized as farming use.

Pulvermacher’s tractor was pulling a manure spreader, but the only thing being spread was opposition to Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill.

Calls made to Pulvermacher and his attorney Tuesday morning had not been returned as of 2:30

It's obviously a Conservative conspiracy!

 

[Dexter]

Is this still going on?

 

[cr8f]

Biz Beat: Louisiana firm in line to run state energy program

The state Public Service Commission is poised Friday to approve selection of a Louisiana corporation with a history of environmental violations to manage Wisconsin's popular Focus on Energy program.

Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure Inc., a subsidiary of the Baton Rouge-based Shaw Group, was selected by an evaluation committee that included four representatives of Wisconsin's investor-owned utilities.

Shaw also has some ties to Koch Industries, the Wichita, Kan., firm that has been a big booster of embattled Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. But there is no indication that Koch Industries would profit from the deal.

Focus on Energy is a statewide energy efficiency and renewable program launched in 2001. Using money collected from a tax on utility ratepayers, Focus works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

The contract for administering the program is worth up to $5.2 million this year and $7.8 million in 2012, according to the PSC. The program has an estimated budget of $52.2 million for the rest of 2011 and $77.8 million in 2012.

According to PSC documents, Shaw was selected over two other competing bids, including the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp., a non-profit based in Madison. Shaw scored highest in a presentation and follow-up interview.

Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp. has been involved in the Focus on Energy program since it was launched. Founded in 1980, the group is headed by Mary Schlaefer, a top staffer in the administration of former Gov. Jim Doyle. Schlaefer did not return a phone call for comment Thursday about Shaw's selection.

Focus on Energy is a statewide energy efficiency and renewable program launched in 2001. Using money collected from a tax on utility ratepayers, Focus works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

The contract for administering the program is worth up to $5.2 million this year and $7.8 million in 2012, according to the PSC. The program has an estimated budget of $52.2 million for the rest of 2011 and $77.8 million in 2012.

According to PSC documents, Shaw was selected over two other competing bids, including the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp., a non-profit based in Madison. Shaw scored highest in a presentation and follow-up interview.

Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp. has been involved in the Focus on Energy program since it was launched. Founded in 1980, the group is headed by Mary Schlaefer, a top staffer in the administration of former Gov. Jim Doyle. Schlaefer did not return a phone call for comment Thursday about Shaw's selection.

The committee that made the selection is called the Statewide Energy Efficiency and Renewable Administration (SEERA). It was created in 2005 under Wisconsin Act 141, which required utilities to competitively bid for the Focus on Energy administrator. Act 141 also allowed for-profit groups to bid on managing the program.

During meetings that concluded on Dec. 9, the administration made significant changes to the Focus on Energy program that were included in a request for proposals.

More on this act

hidden in SENATE BILL 11, at the bottom of page 23, ...

16.896 Sale or contractual operation of state−owned heating, cooling, and power plants. (1) Notwithstanding ss. 13.48 (14) (am) and 16.705 (1), the department may sell any state−owned heating, cooling, and power plant or may contract with a private entity for the operation of any such plant, with or without solicitation of bids, for any amount that the department determines to be in the best interest of the state. Notwithstanding ss. 196.49 and 196.80, no approval or certification of the public service commission is necessary for a public utility to purchase, or contract for the operation of, such a plant, and any such purchase is considered to be in the public interest and to comply with the criteria for certification of a project under s. 196.49 (3) (b).