On Wisconsin!

BTW Russ Feingold is the kiss of death. Start, 'turn out the lights'. Feingold lost in a landslide similar to Walker's landslide win. He is as foreign to a WI voter as a Chicago Streets and San guy protesting in Madtown who got his job from a guy named Solis coming out of boot camp. Not US military boot camp mind you, but Cook County as in Jail boot camp.

Keep that out of state fire lit though. Some of the farmers may get lazy should WI do well in the NCAA tourney coming up!

:zz: Feingold is foreign to Wisconsin voters? You mean where they kept re-electing him as a State Senator for 10 years, and then kept re-electing him your US Senator from 1993 to 2011? And now there are 71,000 signatures to get him on the recall vote ballot with Walker?

I don't think "foreign" was the adjective you were looking for :rolleyes:

Believe me outside of Milwaukee and Madison Feingold is as foreign as Obama.

did riot attend the protest....

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d34_1298668564

Yay, Governor Walker! Way to go with what's most important: supporting education! Good thing you gave $140 million in unfunded tax incentives to corporations a couple weeks ago, and refuse to look at the fact that 2/3 of Wisconsin corporations pay no tax to the state whatsoever. Now that you did that, and took your budget surplus to give that corporate gift, and now you have a $136 million deficit this year you have to cover: well, the kids can help you pay for your love of corporations over children with their future.

The Koch brothers are proud of you for keeping your loyalty to corporations, rather than your citizens, surely.

AFSCME Files Unfair Labor Practice Complaint Against Gov. Walker
 

More good news for Mr. "I won't take yes for an answer!" Walker.

LMAO

you really have no clue do ya?

FTFY, buddy ;)

Survey shows Walker and eight Republican State Senators vulnerable to recall
An estimated 1.1 million Wisconsin voters would sign a recall petition if asked

"Walker will not be subject to a recall until he has served one year in office. After he has served one year, a recall would require the signatures of approximately 532,970 voters (25% of the total 2010 gubernatorial vote). Based on the results of this most recent survey and microtargeting models, it is estimated that more than 1.1 million voters statewide would be willing to sign a recall petition if asked".
http://www.strategictelemetry.com/do...vey_022811.pdf

Outside of Milwaukee and Madison WI news

Rep. Evan Wynn, who represents the 43rd Assembly District, said that, despite the media attention given to pro-union protesters, supporters of the bill outnumber opponents.

“The protesters have been loud, but I believe they’re a vocal minority,” Wynn said. “I see where Tim Cullen said the state is split 50/50, but I feel it’s 60/40 in favor of the bill. Mr. Cullen and the other Senate Democrats were in hiding, while the rest of us have been here working and communicating with our constituents.

“This thing is bigger than the budget or collective bargaining,” he added. “It’s about what system of government we want, and not the minority dictating things to the majority. It’s about making this state great.”

Longtime state Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, said no amount of intimidation from protesters would keep him from voting for the bill.


http://walworthcountytoday.com/news/...lators-united/

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!AMEN! the dumming down of america. may source wisdom save my grandchildren. mote.

Strange statement. I wonder what alternate reality this guy is living in? That's not objectively true according to the signs of the 100,000 that were there this weekend, or the 70,000 last weekend (when a few thousand counter protesters showed up, bussed in by the Koch brothers "Tea Party" group), nor the thousands within the capital building this week.

Nor according to current public opinion polls that say 61% of Wisconsin citizens support the right to collectively bargain and disagree with Walker trying to take that away.

Oh! I see! He's going with "belief". Not "facts" :D Who knows, maybe his individual district is telling him differently than the Wisconsin polls are showing.

Another Walker attempt to break the law fails for now
 

There is a Wisconsin law that says the Wisconsin capital must be open to free, unrestricted access by the public.

Governor Walker, over the last two days, has tried to circumvent that law, ordering access restricted since late Sunday night (limiting who can come in, denying access to most of the public)

A lawsuit was immediately filed late Sunday evening, with judge contact first thing Monday morning for a hearing to get a temporary restraining order on Walker, on behalf of the owners of the building, the public.

Walker does have a problem: he is supposed to broadcast his budget speech Tuesday, and the protesters are now going to provide background to that, as he couldn't eliminate them and make them go away.

Walker is still trying to screw everyone and anyone associated with the other party:

Holding paychecks for Democratic senators hostage (eliminated direct deposit, passed a resolution they have to come to the floor of the Senate to pick up their paycheck)

Making Democratic Senators current state employees (who are still working in the capital, serving the public) have their work hours signed off on by someone else, not permitted to be signed off by their boss.

Forbidding Democratic Senator current state employees from using the copy machines. Seriously. Walker has forbidden Senate Dem office employees from using their copy machines. If these public employees need copies, they now have to leave their office, go to a main office, get approval, then be allowed to use the copier.

The teachers in Wisconsin are 28th in the nation by their level of pay and benefits, but they are #1 in the nation in amount of children they get graduated from high school.

Try again 48% Back GOP Governor in Wisconsin Spat, 38% Side With Unions

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/publ...de_with_unions

I believe that article is a national poll not Wisconsin residents. Riots poll numbers state Wisconsin residents.

Dell quit trying. Reasoning with Riot is like trying to work out new contracts with the teachers union.

BTW- anybody want to talk about how MATC (for those outside of wisconsin) Milwaukee Area Technical College that quickly signed a 3 yr contract extension in an emergency meeting prior to Govenor Walker's proposal?

The biggest joke is the teachers union say they are willing to accept the cuts; however if they do not get rid of collective bargaining their word means absolutely nothing since they do not have the right to negotiate for every municipality in the state.

Riot put no link up to her poll though I suspect it's the USA Today national survey.

I know twitter tells the whole story. No need to be here!

Rasmussen is one poll from a week ago. Here's three more current that disagree:

No, I was wrong- the one I quoted was all Americans. I saw a Wisconsin-only poll, it was pro-union, but trying to find it ...

Edit: here are three Wisconsin-citizen only polls that also show the citizens don't support Walker

Another And another

Really? What part of my posting, "AFSCME Files Unfair Labor Practice Complaint Against Gov. Walker", which is indeed true, is "being unreasonable"??

Or maybe Dell can explain how the fact that AFSCME filed the complaint is, "not having a clue?"

Riot you believe Scott Walker is the devil and unions are the best thing that happened to the workers since sliced bread. You quote polls, articles, etc and try everything to prove your point. I can find you polls that say the opposite and I can dispute all of your arguments however I have a job (unlike a lot of the protestors in Madison) a family and a life outside of trying to prove you are incorrect.

You have not once posted a solution to the budget problems that our state faces and that many states will face in the future thanks to the outrageous spending and government entitlements. If you believe you have a better solution I would love to hear it and again saying that the teachers union is willing to accept cuts is not an acceptable solution since they can not negotiate that since each municipality will have to do that themselves. Please enlighten us...

Also here is an example of the one school district (not the top paying by any means in WI)

Kaukana Area School District and the Comensation section of the union contract. Just a few Highlights for your review:


1) The full year contract for a teacher is 188 days. This includes 176 teaching days and 12 in-service days. Page 9 Master Contract.

2) The district uses WEA for it’s health insurance provider. Cost over $23,000/yr.

3) The district uses WEA for it's dental and pays 90% of the cost.

4) The district provides 2x salary for group life insurance through WEA paid 100% by employer.

5) The district provides long term disability through WEA paid 100% by employer.

6) The district provides long term care insuranc through WEA paid 100% by the employer. I just quoted my own LTC policy at age 36 at a cost of $4,100/yr.

7) Teachers are assigned 5 class periods/ day and if a teacher is assigned a six period they shall be paid one seventhe of their annual salary for this extra assignment .

8) Normal work week for teachers shall be 37.5 hours. Page 17 Master Contract.

9) Teacher normal work day is 7:30 to 3:45 with a required 30 minute lunch and 8 hours of prep time each week. Page 17 Master Contract.

10) Full year for pension credit is 1,350 hours. See WRS Website for pension credits.


Example hourly rate for 1st year Kaukauna teacher:


$37,100 (see pay grid) / 188 work days (based on contract) / 8 hour pay day from 7:30 to 5:00PM ( contract is 7:30 to 3:45) hourly rate for first year teacher is $24.66/hr.

$30,000 benefits ($23,000 health/$4,081 Pension/Dental/LTC/Life)/ 188 work days/ 8 hour pay=$20.80/hr.

Total 1st year pay package Kaukauna Teacher is $24.66 +$20.80=$41.63

Example hourly rate for a teacher with over 10 years experience:

$79,559 (see pay grid) / 188 work days (based on contract) / 8 hour pay day from 7:30 to 5:00PM ( contract is 7:30 to 3:45) hourly rate is $52.89/hr.

$35,000 benefits ($23,000 health/$8,751 Pension/Dental/LTC/Life)/ 188 work days/ 8 hour pay=$23.27/hr.

Total pay package Kaukauna Teacher is $52.89+$23.27=$76.16/hr.

If they worked a full year of 2040 hours this would amount to a total pay package of $155,366 at $76.16/hr.

Well, no. I don't.

Maybe you shouldn't make so many assumptions about other people?

Um, no. I post articles, polls, etc - and that forms my opinion. I don't start with an opinion, first.

Ah. I see. Everything I think or post is "incorrect". THAT's what it is you think is "unreasonable" <vbg>

And you're actually making snarky comments about me because you think I have more free time than you to pay attention to politics (that's not allowed?), or that I love talking about politics? (not allowed either in your world?) Not very tolerant of other people being different than you, are you? And I'm the one being "unreasonable"? LOL

But they don't work a full year. They work 188 days. But their salary has to cover them for a full year like anyone else. If they worked a full year, their package would probably remain exactly what it is now.

The math here is obviously faulty. The correct thing to do, to compare what teachers earn a year to what everyone else earns for a year, is to take what they earn and spread that over 12 months. Not 188 days. Because professionals are paid a yearly salary and benefits package, not an hourly wage.

You also cannot include pension money in the yearly calcuation, because that is deferred pay.

uh oh....polls don't lie do they?

http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/...ion-households

it's funny, when school is mentioned as going all year long, the teachers wan't a pay raise. but when you say they make too much money based on working half a year, they try to show that they work all year. still haven't figured out how that works.

and i wish my husbands insurance was set up like the schools here. sure would save me a ton of money.

as for unions-i think all states should be right to work states, as it is here in arkansas. you aren't forced to join a union here; it's a choice- it should be a choice everywhere. i think that's where many have an issue with a union. you choose to join a profession, you're automatically in, dues collected, etc, etc, whether you like it or not. whether you agree with the union or not.

You always look at the sampling methodology, and compare to the margin of error the poll publishes. Some pollsters have a great reputation for predictive accuracy, some do not. The contention made here, that you have to exactly match the percentage number per category within the population you are sampling, isn't true from a statistical accuracy sense. There are lots of other things that come into play. The PDF posted with this article doesn't even list the sampling technique for selecting who was talked to, that I can find.

I can get an accurate scientific study published using just 6 horses, if you treat the datum accurately and fairly in a statistical sense. And no, that is not "making numbers say what you want".

(sorry, had to repost this under me)

nice moonwalk

Do you happen to be a member of a veternary union? Have you ever been in a union? I have.

You still have not offerred a single solution to WI budget problems. Please enlighten us with your solution

:zz: No. It was not.

There is no veterinary union. Yes, I have.

And you are simply trying to change the subject.

Hold out and keep hoping for those 250,000 new jobs over the next four years your Governor promised you today. If Walker creates 250,000 new Wisconsin jobs I'll happily vote for him for President of the United States.

But for right now, I'll go with the long past performance history of the economic policies he's inducing, and expect a state-wide deepening recession and massive local municipal job layoffs, myself.

yeah...it was. You didnt answer a lick of his question, or give a solution. You appear to have most of the floor...so quit dancing and put forth a small solution.

A budget prototype:


TAXES
— Does not include any state sales or income tax increases and would limit schools and local governments on how much they could raise property taxes. Walker also said he wouldn’t increase any fees.
— Creates a 100 percent exclusion from capital gains taxes for those who invest in Wisconsin-based businesses and hold those investments for at least five years.


MEDICAID
— Cuts $500 million from Medicaid through a variety of reforms including increasing co-pays and deductibles, but not by reducing benefits across the board or cutting provider reimbursement rates.

K-12 SCHOOLS
— Cuts aid to schools by about $900 million and also reduces how much schools can collect from property taxes per student.
— Eliminates the requirement that schools be open 180 days a year, but retains the classroom hours mandate. The change would allow schools that want to meet for fewer, longer days to do so.
— Repeals the enrollment limit for the virtual charter school program and the Milwaukee school choice program.


HIGHER EDUCATION
— Allows the University of Wisconsin-Madison to split from the UW System and operate independently. The system would have to launch a study into allowing UW-Milwaukee to break off as well.
— Cuts aid to UW-Madison by $125 million and to the other 25 campuses in the system by $125 million.
— Ends the Wisconsin Covenant program, one of Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle’s signature programs, on Sept. 30. The program promises financial aid for college to middle school students who promise to stay out of trouble and earn decent grades. Students who sign up for the program before Sept. 30 could still participate. Walker argues this change would protect other forms of financial aid from cuts.
— Children of illegal immigrants who attend state universities and colleges could no longer pay in-state tuition, a benefit granted in the 2009 budget by Democrats then in control of the Legislature and the governor’s office.
— Cuts aid to technical colleges by 30 percent, or $72 million.
— Authorizes all four-year UW campuses to sponsor independent charter schools and allow charter schools to be created anywhere in the state.


TRANSPORTATION
— Provides $225 million to rebuilding the Zoo Interchange in Milwaukee.
— Provides $195 million to continue reconstruction of Interstate 94 between Milwaukee and Kenosha.


LAW AND ORDER
— Ends the ability of prison offenders to earn time off their sentences for good behavior, a change approved by Democrats.
— Ends the state Department of Corrections’ ability to discharge an offender from parole after two years and from probation after serving half the sentence.
— Closes the Ethan Allen School, a detention facility for boys, and move inmates to Lincoln Hills School in Lincoln County.
— Closes the Southern Oaks Girls School, a detention facility for girls, and move the inmates to Copper Lake School at Lincoln Hills.
— Provides six new full-time DNA analysts at the state crime labs to prevent case backlogs.
— Adds 19 more staff members at the state Department of Justice to track down cyber predators.


THE GREAT OUTDOORS
— Keeps hunting and fishing license fees unchanged.
— Scales back regulations to control phosphorus pollution to bring them in line with neighboring state’s rules. BTW the Lake I live near has been controlling phosphorus pollution by educating and having residents follow through by simply buying bio friendly laundry detergent and refraining from washing clothes on weekends during the summer. And yes it's prestine despite being the most recreationally used lake in WI. It's one of those ask not what your government can do for you feelings everytime your on or in the Lake:)

— Eliminates payments to local governments that lose property tax revenue following state Department of Natural Resources land stewardship purchases. Governments would be allowed to pass resolutions supporting or opposing purchases as a signal to the DNR, but the resolutions would not be binding. The Legislature’s budget committee would have to approve stewardship purchases of more than $250,000.
— Ends requirements that a municipality or county run solid waste recycling programs and diverts state aid for such programs to other economic development efforts.


GOVERNMENT
— State spending under the $28.7 billion plan would decrease 1.3 percent the first year then go up 5.3 percent in the second. Over the entire two-year budget spending would go up a paltry 1.3 percent.
— Cuts most state agency budgets, except for salary and benefits, by 10 percent.
— Eliminate 735 state positions that have been vacant for more than a year.
— Downsizes the state treasurer and secretary of state’s offices, moving many of their existing duties elsewhere. The EdVest college savings program would be removed from the treasurer’s office while the secretary of state office would lose its responsibility to handle trademark and trade name registrations and notary public commissions.
— Cuts aid to cities by $60 million, an 8.8 percent reduction, while counties would lose over $36 million, a 24 percent cut.
— Drops the state’s ongoing budget shortfall from $2.5 billion to $250 million in four years, the smallest so-called “structural deficit” on record.

http://www.gazettextra.com/weblogs/l...rief-overview/

hold on a second while I check huffington to see if there is a response :rolleyes:

Again you just continue to bash the Republicans for everything they do, but still have not offered the "Riot Budget Plan Solution". In the real world you can't just complain about the other side. You need to offer a viable solution to the problem. Just bitching about the other side's proposal doesn't cut it. Ignoring the problem, not addressing the problem or just complaining about the other side's solution does nothing. Please give me at least 1 idea you have to solve the budget deficit issue in WI