Obama Asks Super-Rich For Used Toyota

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As to be expected, the Republicans have viciously railed against President Obama’s stimulus plan and proposed tax schedule. Who could blame them when just seven years ago they rubber stamped the Bush tax cut for their wealthy base, giving a brand new Lexus to every millionaire. In exchange for years of rolling up deficits and a growing disparity in wealth, Obama's plan translates into asking the millionaires for a used Toyota in return.

Chicago Tribune Excerpt:
Clint Stretch, senior principal for tax policy at Deloitte Tax, said an individual with no children and with $500,000 in income would pay an additional $19,200 in taxes. Taxes for a married couple with the same income and two children under 17 would go up by $11,300.

In addition, the capital gains tax on small businesses would be eliminated.

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Before any stimulus funds are sent to Wisconsin communities, Rep. Paul Ryan and his legion of supporters need to stand up in the 1st CD and be counted. They need to show themselves as the true conservatives they claim to be and publicly refuse to accept any stimulus money on behalf of themselves, their communities, their businesses or “economic development” organizations.

Councilman's Suggestion Lacks Curb Appeal

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During the long and difficult Janesville city council meeting held this past Monday night, the council was voting on the installation of new curb and gutter on an entire street where some of the properties had new curb work done about 16 years ago. A discussion arose about whether to rebate those properties for the previous work if the properties had changed ownership hands since then.

I was blown away when Councilman Tom McDonald made the suggestion to shortchange a few homeowners of pro-rated special assessment rebates for the work if they purchased the home after the previous owner (seller) paid the special assessment before the sale. The lifespan of curb, gutter and sidewalks is about 45 years under normal conditions.

As often the case, the condition of the sidewalks, curb and gutter surrounding a home may not be a top consideration by the purchaser when buying a home. But it is a top consideration of the sellers when they have to pay up the special assessment in full before they can sell their home. You can better believe most sellers consider all recent improvements they paid for when establishing the sale price of their property. Sidewalks, curb and gutter are among those added costs embedded into the sale price.

In Wisconsin as in many other states, payment and credit on special assessments run with the property, not with the owner. If McDonald had his way, it appears homeowners would be entitled to rip out the curb and sidewalks and take it with them to their new home. Why not if it “runs” with the homeowner and not the land? Or, if the special assessment rebate runs with the homeowner, would the city chase down the previous owner to rebate them the credit?

If this is the brand of ‘outside the box' thinking we can expect from our council members in the future, homeowners in Janesville who think their property rights are under seige now haven’t seen nothing yet.

School Board Puzzled Over Source Of 'Minimalist' Approach

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As reported in the Wednesday edition of the Janesville Gazette, the Janesville School Board received notice on a report about the current condition of the district's computer system and how much it will cost to bring it up to date. The board was shocked when they heard the consultant's estimate of over $3 million for the next three years and wondered how things could have gotten so bad so quickly.

JG Excerpt:
Cullen noted that Doug Bunton, director of business services, has admitted that the district had taken a "minimalist" approach to funding the upkeep of the computer system. Cullen questioned whether the school board was ever told about the minimalist approach or the possible consequences.

WPL Delays Rate Increase Request

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Last month, Wisconsin Power and Light announced it will likely request a rate increase due partially to the loss of demand from two of its top energy customers — the General Motors plant in Janesville and the Domtar paper mill in Port Edwards.

In a press release issued February 23rd, the power company announced it will "share the pain" during this period of economic decline and decided against filing for emergency rate increase.

WPL will hold off rate increase request for ten months. Excerpt:
“While we believe the facts support the filing of an emergency rate relief request, we recognize the challenges the current economic downturn has placed on many of our customers,” said Barbara Swan, President-Wisconsin Power and Light. “We are hopeful this decision provides some stability to our customers - large and small - during this challenging time.”

No word yet whether residents in Janesville will see any relief from the city's request to raise its water utility rates. The city claims the rate increase is necessary due to the drop in demand from the loss of the GM manufacturing plant.

JG Excerpt:
To account for the reduced revenue, the city has approved a wastewater rate increase and is anticipating a water rate increase for next year. Rate increases also are planned for 2010.

It looks like Janesville officials have decided to add to the pain of its water utility consumers. City residents can send all complaints against the proposed water rate increases to the PSC here and to city officials here.

Janesville Council Buys More Time With Hockey Proposal

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At Janesville's city council meeting held Monday night, Councilman Bill Truman opened up the discussion on the ice arena/hockey team deal by making a motion to table the proposal till the next meeting. His explanation was clear and direct and mirrored many of the same concerns a handful of residents spoke about at the meeting and also shared on this blog.

If I recall correctly, none of the residents said they opposed the hockey team. Instead they offered a random mix of practical and moral reasons against the deal including beer sales, scheduling, rent figures, advertising rights, and the general tone to the soft contract leaving taxpayers exposed to a greater share of what should be the hockey team's responsibilities towards the expense of their business activity.

At first, it appeared the other council members would grant Truman's motion to table the proposal if at least to acquire more time to iron out the multitude of contractual and logistical problems. But as the council continued to discuss the problems with WHP spokesman Bill McCoshen, they seemed to enter into the twi-light zone.

To my amazement, the $200,000 in structural changes to accommodate the team suddenly became inadequate as at least one councilman was overheard asking that the spending cap be raised above $200,000 and suggested that if the hockey investors paid for structural changes on their own, they could play rent-free till the city's debt was satisfied. This coming after the council themselves tried to dispel the notion that the improvement has little to do with the hockey group and was merely an expense to improve a city asset.

The council completely abandoned the pressing concerns raised by Truman and others and twisted the reasons for buying more time into a consideration to spend even more money to satisfy the hockey investment group.

In a confusing exchange of comments, the city manager and council implied additional improvements and repairs of up to $1.5 million may be necessary to satisfy requests from existing user groups of the arena. However, representatives from two user groups spoke at the meeting and made no such demands. They spoke only in favor to keep the scheduling and usage they currently have. They also felt they were never approached for input or discussion by the WHP or the city despite a report to the contrary in the Gazette a month earlier.

JG Excerpt:
(Jan.24,2009) Several groups that use the ice arena would see schedule changes, but all felt the advantages of having junior A hockey team in Janesville outweighs the inconveniences, Levitt said.

And once again, the notion that the team will pay a $200,000 franchise fee requirement to the league was used as an example of the private investors sacrifice and commitment to the city.

Near the end of the discussion, Truman tested McCoshen on whether the WHP group would consider giving the city a percentage of beer sale concessions. The WHP’s spokesman sidestepped answering the question with a question, “Do you really want to get involved in beer sales?” and then pointed Truman towards the voices of opposition in the audience for his answer.

McCoshen also ridiculed the 35-year-old ice rink as a facility with serious deficiencies, but that he could overlook those deficiencies if the city met his requirements to update the “old barn.”

In the end, even the city manager appeared befuddled by the council's sudden fiscal reversal and I was left with the solid impression that the city council majority have little use for those opposing this deal and bought two more weeks of time just to soften the resolve of the opposition. Unfortunately, only time will tell.

Feingold Tracks Stimulus Funds In Wisconsin

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Sen. Russ Feingold started a separate Web page from his government homepage to help Wisconsin constituents better understand and track stimulus funds and its impact on Wisconsin communities. Last week, President Obama opened a Web page to track the funds on a national scale.

So, why didn't Bush (or Congressional Republicans) create a Website so American taxpayers can track the billions he handed over to the barons on Wall Street? That was their baby. He was president when it was signed into law.

Janesville/Hockey Team Proposal On Web

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Here are a couple excerpts from a memo posted on the Janesville city website regarding the junior hockey team proposal. The memo was written by the Janesville city manager, it is six pages long. I urge Janesville residents to check this out.

Excerpt:
4. Risk to Contract
The risk is shared by the team in the fact that the team also is paying an upfront $200,000 franchise fee.

This fee is between the league and the WHP, it has nothing to do with the city of Janesville or the facility.

Excerpt:
Community Survey
The WHP conducted a market survey.....

The WHP survey is posted on the taxpayer funded city website.

The contract begins on Page 8. Some sections of the contract are laughable.

It looks like taxpayers won't be on the hook for paying WHP's insurance or gametime security, but city staffed services are freebies while money-makers such as refreshment sales, advertising and broadcast rights are written away. No commissions for the city. What rights does the city receive in exchange for this sweet deal? We get to repair and improve our facility, snowplow the lot and walkways and make it safe and available. Per game rental rates ($440) are extremely low for a specialized indoor facility.

At this point in time, posting the memo and contract on the web several days before the council meeting is better than nothing. A thank you to Cheryl R. for alerting me of this information made available on the city Website.

Democrats Spending Not Fast Enough

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What would Jesus do with $787 billion?

He couldn't spent it, not if he had 2009 years to do it, spending $1 million a day.

Swamp Excerpt:
“Suppose you spent $1 million every single day starting from the day Jesus was born — and kept spending through today,” says the announcer as an image of the three wise men flashes on the screen. “A million dollars a day for more than 2,000 years. You would still have spent less money than Congress just did.”

Not if you’re a Republican. They made no effort looking for Jesus when it took less than 60 days for Bush/Paulson/Ryan to unload $350 billion to their fat cat friends on Wall Street.

Even the creators of this ridiculous video can't get their complaint right with the current recovery bill. Too fast, too slow, too little, too late, too much, not enough. Rep. Paul Ryan said.......

JG Excerpt:
Congressman Ryan argues that the trillion dollar spending package will only make matters worse with a fiscal response that’s slow, wasteful and will ……...

That seals it for me. Democrats just can’t spend the money fast enough for Republican's or Ryan’s taste.

Speaking of Ryan, it appears President Obama will be playing footsie with some phony conservatives and advocates of "entitlement reform" (their euphemism for cutting benefits) and will be entertaining one the worst offenders in Ryan. He has been invited to participate in a White House Fiscal Responsibility Summit. No – it’s not a joke.

Information Short On Details With Hockey Plan

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After almost three weeks of quiet, the Janesville Gazette finally posted an “update” last Saturday about the business contract between the Janesville city manager and a group of investors requesting special consideration to bring a Junior A hockey team to the city.

Individual Excerpt:
Janesville's city manager has reworked some numbers and renegotiated a contract with Wisconsin Hockey Partners, and the results show the city could collect $14,000 to $20,000 in net annual revenue if a junior A hockey team locates here.

At least the article did confirm earlier suspicions that before this contract was so-called “reworked,” the Janesville administration had the taxpayers on the hook for the private investors game time security.

There are different ways to look at this net annual revenue if looking for additional clarity. It does appear the team will pay $4,200 a year to rent the new lockers and additional space that the taxpayer’s $229,000 improved. A whopping $350 a month. At that pace, it would take 54 years just to pay back the remodeling investment, and that's without interest.

But the administration isn't looking to have the remodel cost paid back because they view this expense not as a handout for the hockey team, but as an improvement of a city asset. Which could lead one to assume that IF the hockey negotiations fell apart - the city would still spend the $229,000 to improve the arena because after all - they're not doing it for the hockey team. Don't bet on it.

What happens in a few years if the ice arena needs a new roof or a heating or cooling system? Janesville taxpayers have been down this road before with the city dump expansion where the private user’s tipping fees barely covers for an extra roll of toilet paper. Some business model, heh?

At this pace, the city would be better off just giving the private hockey investors a $229,000 forgivable loan towards building their own new hockey facility. This way the team would be responsible for their own debt and destiny, liability insurance, heating, cooling, utility bills, snow plowing and all the other daily maintenance and hardware necessary to have an indoor ice rink. Janesville could collect $50,000 or more in annual property taxes alone on such a facility, as long as they don't give that away with a TIF. No complicated contracts, no headaches and no BS.

On Tuesday, the Gazette posted another article pitching the hockey team. Title said, “Junior hockey would boost high school enrollment.” But the better half of the story said,”Junior hockey schedule would disrupt high schools.”

Probably the worst part is that taxpayers have to rely on a newspaper to disseminate information we should instead be receiving directly from the city's web site. In this era of digital connectivity and open government, there is no excuse why the proposed contract or at least its key elements are not available on the web. A little voice in my head keeps telling me,"Psst, but that's just the way they want it."

Judge Strikes Down Partisan Prohibitions

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A federal judge has struck down rules that prohibit Wisconsin judges from joining political parties, soliciting campaign donations and endorsing partisan candidates.

Capital Times Excerpt:
U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb says the rules do little to advance an independent judiciary and violate judges' free speech rights. She says the Wisconsin Judicial Commission cannot enforce them. Crabb says the rules may actually hurt the judicial system because they deny voters information about candidates and hide potential bias among judges.

"The best way to eliminate potential bias is to shine a light on it, not cover it up," she said.

This ruling should have a huge and sweeping impact on all so-called "non-partisan" elective offices in Wisconsin. A judge's right to join political parties, solicit campaign donations or endorse partisan candidates should be no different than the right of city council candidates, school board members and county supervisors to do the same.

Here in Janesville, the local elective process has been damaged by the controlling media interests. Voters have been fed a specific brand of ideology from phony non-partisans and other special interests while openly partisan candidates and their supporters have been disparaged by the media and scorned as power grabbers.

Capital Times Excerpt:
"When someone walks into a courtroom they shouldn't have to worry about whether or not the judge sitting there has an R or a D behind their name," he said.

That’s all well and good. But when someone walks into a courtroom they shouldn't have to worry about not knowing whether the judge sitting there has an R or a D behind their name.

This ruling should set a precedent to challenge unconstitutional prohibitions in all Wisconsin elective offices.

Read decision here.At this point, the best way to save the payload is to unhook the cab.

Going Gets Tough, Republicans Cut And Run

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Republicans are betting on America's failure and unfortunately, they are in a position to make it happen.

Consortium News Excerpt:
They tried to cut the jobs bill in half. They tried to take spending for jobs out of a program that was designed to create jobs. They opposed fuel-efficient cars for the federal fleet, weatherizing buildings in the cold of winter, and building schools for the kids. Instead, they supported more tax cuts for the wealthy and repeated, ad nauseam, the sad platitudes of Herbert Hoover and the defeated policies of John McCain in 2008.

What I fear most right now is the potential for Congressional Republicans to deliberately undermine the recovery and weaken national security through their legislative obstructionism. They are betting against the President of the United States. They are betting against America. These aren’t leaders – they're enemy combatants. They should all be arrested and charged with treason.

Reforms Must Begin Locally First For Real Change

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The editorial in Sunday’s Janesville Gazette titled, “Demand reform to take back state government” was an astonishing piece of hypocrisy written by the newspaper, even by Gazette standards. The editorial staff wrote how campaign donors capture favors from state officials.

JG editorial excerpt:
Special interests and wealthy campaign donors curry favors from lawmakers and thus pillage taxpayers for grants, loans, tax subsidies and no-bid contracts.

What seems to get the Gazette staffers most upset is the impression that state lawmakers are exchanging campaign donations for things the Janesville city administration and council gives private investors, the politically connected and special interest groups away here for free.

Absent from the editorial was any reference to the state’s pioneer of greasy skids and granddaddy of issue attack ads, the WMC. One line in particular from this editorial was so uncharacteristic of this newsprint, that I first thought it may have been a typo.

JG editorial excerpt:
We need an election system in which ordinary citizens can run successfully and that again makes people more important than money.

For one thing, it sounds like the Gazette is hopping mad over the recent gains made by democrats in the last election, that’s understandable. Most of their candidates lost. But the Gazette putting people over profits? Come on, that’s just too much. Seriously fellas, you needn’t abandon your principles to explain the adverse effects special interests have on government when you not only choose to ignore the influence they have on local government, you actually weave their agenda into news articles and defend their influence by absence and omission in your newspaper and on your website.

But in all fairness, to take the Gazette seriously on their call for change, we'd have to see how well the paper has fought for reforms on the local scale.

Janesville Under Insurgency From Monopolized Media

For the sake of brevity, lets only look at the paper's more recent activities to shape public opinion on the local front.

Over the past year, the Janesville Gazette actively helped dismantle the local campaigns of certain select individuals. Aided by Gazette printing presses, the politically-driven quasi-chamber of commerce and private special interest group Forward Janesville also took on an "insurgency" type of assault into Janesville’s non-partisan city offices ever since the local GOP falsely accused Democrats and local labor supporters of making a play for power during last year’s local spring election.

In one article headlining Janesville school board members after the election this past November, the Gazette promoted Forward Janesville’s political campaign clinic replete with registration fees and sign-up dates. During this same timeframe, the newspaper was publishing a series of various subject articles integrating opinions and observations from the special interest group’s spokespeople. Coincidence? Hardly.

Last month, the Janesville city council actually endorsed the legislative agenda of the special interest group. The Gazette report on this huge breach into local government amounted to less than a complete sentence. No editorial backlash.

Under pressure from another special interest group wanting to bring a Junior A hockey team to Janesville, the city council appears willing to abandon their moral compass by allowing alcohol to be served in a city-owned youth-oriented facility and to use taxpayer funds to soften expenses of the private investors. The hockey group is led by a local who's who cabal of name-dropping political operatives. Again, no editorial backlash.

In yet another development, Janesville's city council rejected to change the city's conflicted committee appointment process. Among the reasons against this reform was that it may alter the city's council/manager form of government and God forbid, we can't have that. Again, no post decision editorial backlash.

These few examples are only over the past several months. The newspaper of course takes no issue with any of this while they write lovingly for their ideological messiah, Paul Ryan. At the same time they regularly ask readers to take state and congressional politicians, mostly democrats, to task. In a more recent development, the newspaper allowed their writers to blog in kindness about Forward Janesville's networking and recruitment party’s under the umbrella and authority of the Gazette website. Well hey, it's their newspaper.

Add to this the Gazette’s endless twice-a-week “Sound Off” column of editor-approved anonymous comments taking potshots at local politicians and other individuals running for non-partisan local offices and you have the making of what most observers would describe as nothing less than a local insurgency of partisan propaganda designed to poison the political will of good government activists and the unempowered.

Despite all of this, they have the nerve (Sunday's editorial) to complain that the shadow cast by special interest groups have taken the average Joe citizens out of the political marketplace.

The best part of it all is perhaps, nobody is supposed to notice the media enabled and politically motivated special interests undermining our small town city council or school board, much less have the time to write about it. Instead, at the end of Sunday’s editorial, the Gazette implores readers to demand campaign reform by taking aim at state legislators. A mindlessly confrontational request from a newspaper that promulgates the influence special interests groups exert right here, right now, within our own local government.

The Vulgarity Of Nope

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A quick reference guide to key votes from the past year cast by Congressman Paul Ryan.

Bridge Inspections (HR 3999) NOPE
To upgrade bridge inspections in the U.S. at a cost of $2 billion between 2008-2012. The bill required states to put the riskiest bridges first in line for inspections and repairs.

Combustible Dust Rules (HR 5522) NOPE
Directs OSHA to adopt rules for controlling combustible dust at factories. The regulations were to pre-empt any state rules that do less to protect workers from dust explosions and fires.

Farm Bill (HR 2419) NOPE
Extend the existing system of subsidies to American growers of major crops such as cotton, corn, rice, wheat and soybeans; expanded nutrition programs such as food stamps and school lunches; promoted land conservation and rural development.

Tighter Bail-Out Rules (HR 384) NOPE
A bill setting stricter rules for the $700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP).

Children's Health Insurance (H2) NOPE
Renew State's Health Insurance For children of working poor

Digital TV Delay (S352) NOPE
Offers seniors, poor and disabled more time to prepare for D-TV

Pay Bias Suits (HR11) NOPE
Gives plaintiffs more standing to file pay bias suits

Wage Discrimination (HR12) NOPE
Empowers women alleging pay discrimination

Stimulus Bill (HR1) NOPE
Re-Investment and Recovery Act

Troop Withdrawals From Iraq (HR 2642) NOPE
To start withdrawing troops from Iraq within 30 days of enactment but setting no deadline for finishing the pullout. A yes vote backed a bill that also bans any CIA torture of prisoners.

Energy Taxes (HR5351) NOPE
Raises taxes on five largest oil firms

Establish Ethics WatchDog (H Res 1031) NOPE
Establish an outside panel to help police congressional conduct.

Address Mortgage Crisis (HR 3221) NOPE
Induce mortgage firms to voluntarily rework up to 500,000 loans headed for default.

Federal Tobacco Regulation (HR 1108) NOPE
Empowers the agency to regulate cigarette content, require disclosure of ingredients and ban marketing to children.

Source: Roll Call Votes

Janesville City Council Rejects Committee Reform

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Note to readers: This posting concerns the Janesville city council decision to reject changing the city's committee appointment process, and is a rebuttal to statements made by a Janesville resident (D.M.) who spoke at the Janesville City council meeting this past Monday in support of rejecting the change.

Council Excerpt:
"Secondly, it treats the president of the council as if he or she was a mayor. We have a system with a council president and the role of the president is to preside over this body and not as a mayor. It might make sense under a mayoral form of government to have a mayor appoint the folks who are addressed under this ordinance." --D.M.

It doesn’t make sense under any form of government.

Council Excerpt:
"Fundamentally, under the system we have, the manager has some of the responsibilities a mayor might have under a mayoral form of government. This is one of those (to appoint committees) responsibilities. The intent of the current system as it exists is to depoliticize the appointment process. There’s no secret about that, it is fundamental of the council/manager form of government. That’s why we have the city manager make these appointments." --D.M.

To the contrary, if leaving the appointment process in the hands of a city employee does anything - it politicizes the process. The city manager’s responsibilities in Janesville are much closer to an administrator than a mayor, and the Janesville city council’s role is to serve as a voice for the people. As our representatives, not as our leaders and not as our mayor. This is just one of the reasons why Janesville’s city government is inadequate - it is, despite all of its seemingly good intentions, essentially leaderless.

Council Excerpt:
“Well, would if the city manager chooses to effectively politicize the process of appointment? I think that’s anticipated in the ordinance itself as it exists. You’ll note the ordinance provides and I quote ”with the approval of the council” we have a check and balance built into the existing system. I think it is an effective and appropriate one.” -- D.M.

Calling the city council the check and balance to the city manager and administration under this form of government is quite a stretch. The hands have no idea what the feet are doing. But that is precisely what appeals and oversight committees are for - to serve as the check and balance between the “people” and the administration.

One of the fundamental problems D.M. has, along with many others who oppose a change in the committee appointment process is, they take the charter change as an affront to their precious manager/council form of government. When it really doesn’t matter what form it is. A bad committee appointment process is a bad committee appointment process. A mayor making appointments to a committee that may eventually appeal or oversee his administration is just as corruptible and political as a city manager making those same appointments. The same can be said for those who refuse to change the ordinance because they think it just takes the power away from one individual (city manager) and hands it to another (council president). So why change it at all? That position shows a huge lack of understanding and depth to the problem.

On the other hand, the city council and council president are at the top of the power pyramid in Janesville city government. A citizen can publicly appeal a council decision only during council meetings, but within city government, there are no committees, mechanisms or processes to oversee or appeal any of the council's decisions. Beyond that, a council decision can be challenged in county or state court. This is one reason why the Janesville city council also should not be in charge of all committee appointments. There are too many conflicting points of oversight or appeals interest.

Council Excerpt:
“It is not about who is occupying the office at this point in time, it’s about the integrity of the system.” – D.M.

Oh? But it is precisely about the person in office if that person is allowed to compromise the integrity of the system by appointing the committee to serve as the check and balance to their own administrative mandates. Opposing good clean government for the sake of propping up a certain style of government should be an affront to all served by that government.

If an individual appoints the people on committees to oversee, negotiate or appeal that individual's own actions and administrative mandates isn’t wrong – then nothing is wrong.

Quote of the Council Meeting

“Again, the zoning board of appeals is a body that is directly appointed by the city manager, and again, this is supposed to be a board reviewing decisions made by administration, but being appointed by part of the administration. So I think that’s another reason why we should have a citizen nomination committee to pick these people, rather then be appointed by the city manager.” – Council member Amy Loasching

Note: This posting is the independent and sole opinion of its author. Initials (D.M.) were used to avoid search engine web robots.

GOP Partisans Gather In Janesville Over Weekend

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Hardcore partisan Republicans met at a restaurant in Janesville over the weekend in an apparent effort to rally the party's troops. Among the speakers at the event were Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and Rep. Paul Ryan.

The coverage of the event was published in the Janesville Gazette under the title, We’re going to rebuild.” Don’t worry, they weren't talking about the heavy job losses in Janesville, the state of Wisconsin or the rapidly declining economic condition of the country. No, this group had far more urgent and important issues to deal with first.

JG Excerpt:
Ryan said the GOP must consider what it means to be a political party. The goal, he said, is not to destroy the Democrats but to make America great. "They are not our enemies," he said of the Dems. "They are our opponents."

While the rest of the country is burning, Paul Ryan is worried about his poor little ol' political party. Never mind that he was among those who fueled the economic inferno yet never saw the flames, and is now trying to block the fire trucks by undermining the presidents' plan for recovery.

JG Excerpt:
Walker shot most of his arrows at Democrat Gov. Jim Doyle for leading the state into an economic quagmire. "His failed leadership has got to go," Walker said. "It's time to get rid of him. It's time to get rid of the Democrat majority in the Assembly."

Scott Walker is clearly in over his head as Milwaukee County Executive and he wants to be governor? Here's a guy who blamed unfunded state mandates for his inability to manage public aid programs. How many local elected officials have to deal with unfunded mandates? State politicians have to deal with unfunded Federal mandates all the time. County and school officials have inboxes loaded with unfunded federal and state mandates. It goes with the territory. Whining about it like a crybaby doesn't. Failing to meet the challenge, what does Scott Walker do with his unfunded mandates? Why he unloads them onto the administrative offices of a guy he views as failed leadership and leading the state into an economic quagmire.

You just can't make this stuff up.

Read more on Walker Here: Milwaukee County In Shambles, Give Me State

The newspaper posted more of Paul Ryan's brand of deficit-growing pay-later tax-cut trickle-down economics the same day in an Op-ed titled, "Stimulus is too slow, wasteful." The article contained mostly useless egocentric partisan regurgitation and was really not worth the time spent reading. Interestingly enough though was the last paragraph of a Pro-Ryan letter printed right next to his Op-Ed. It read..........

JG Letter Excerpt:
Ryan is a breath of fresh air as he is working for good policy, not playing partisan games. -- B.G. Burlington, WI

How The World Almost Came To An End

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$550 Billion Disappeared in "Electronic Run On the Banks"

In this C-Span video clip, Rep. Paul Kanjorski of Pennsylvania explains how the Federal Reserve told Congress members about a "tremendous draw-down of money market accounts in the United States, to the tune of $550 billion dollars." According to Kanjorski, this electronic transfer occurred over the period of an hour or two.

Transcript:
"On Thursday Sept 15, 2008 at roughly 11 AM The Federal Reserve noticed a tremendous draw down of money market accounts in the USA to the tune of $550 Billion dollars in a matter of an hour or two.

Money was being removed electronically.

The treasury tried to help with $150 Billion.

But could not stem the tide.

It was an electronic run on the banks

If they had not done that, their estimation is that by 2pm that afternoon, $5.5 trillion would have been drawn out of the money market system of the U.S., would have collapsed the entire economy of the U.S., and within 24 hours the world economy would have collapsed. It would have been the end of our economic system and our political system as we know it."

Kanjorski does not provide further details.

We are no better off today than we were 3 months ago because we have a decrease in the equity positions of banks because other assets are going sour by the moment.

Watch C-Span Video Clip Here.

Reversal Of Pursuit Is Key For Council Rubber Stamp

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At the last meeting, the Janesville City Council deleveraged city assets when some council members (even without an agreement!) telegraphed their positions in favor of the private business hockey group. While it was the private business group who first approached the city about using the Ice Arena for junior hockey games, the city manager and council actually turned the pursuit around. It now appears the Janesville taxpayers are the ones on the hook to satisfy the demands of the private business group.

This role reversal in pursuit is the key to watch for at all Janesville city council meetings, as it has been a common occurrence and signature trait of many deals struck between the City of Janesville and private developers. Nearly all TIF's, forgivable loans or other taxpayer hand-outs presented by the administration on behalf of a developer or special interest group, have been rubber stamped by the city council with little discussion. If it’s any consolation, the capital assets traded away can at best be viewed as - stimulus pork. If it makes you happy.

And the opposite can be said, if a special interest group is left to their own devices to demonstrate their presentation to the council, it's almost a disqualifier. In those cases, the administration employees were not directed to shape the presentation. The Fourth of July Celebration by the Jaycees is one example. They eventually got support, but not without getting publicly scolded and threats of less cooperation from the city in the future. It was a very tough sell without the insider choreography.

Now, I'm not saying that the city administration should be completely unattached during council presentations, their input is absolutely critical in negotiations. It's the reversal of pursuit which eventually leads to selling off Janesville's capital, infrastructure and service assets that is of the greatest concern and loss to the city.

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Noteworthy:
Two weeks have passed since the Janesville City Council enthusiastically rubber stamped their intentions to allow the junior sports team to use the taxpayer funded Janesville Ice Arena. And other than some anonymous comments in the Gazette’s “Sound Off”column or the paper’s regular briefing on the next council agenda, the newspaper has published no additional information since then to help taxpayers and interested residents better form a knowledgeable opinion. Not a single new thing on the direction of the hockey team or the agreement which council members will be voting on very soon. This, despite a commitment of open communication and transparency from the new Janesville city manager.

But just try to hide the details of a closed-door meeting being held between the School Board and an attorney, and the newspaper will publish multiple articles implying the paper is being shut out and denied access to bring their readers information.

House Republicans Re-Enact Hoover Moment

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Although this was posted at the Racine Post way back on September 29, 2008, it's worth mentioning again now that we know not one House Republican voted for Obama's Main Street stimulus bill.

Racine Post Excerpt:
“This bill offends my principles but I’m going to vote for this bill in order to preserve my principles… to preserve [the free enterprise system]. This is a Herbert Hoover moment.. he made mistakes during the Great Depression… Let’s not make those mistakes… If we fail to do the right thing, heaven help us—if we fail to pass this I fear the worst is yet to come.”

But that was when the stimulus plan belonged to George W. Bush. Back then, Rep. Paul Ryan was called “courageous” by his supporters when he voted to "preserve" his principles in favor of the Wall Street Bail-Out. Yes, you read that right.

Racine Post Excerpt:
What’s more, while he says the bill “offends” his principles, he probably also now understands that the vast majority of these mortgages are actually really good investments and the taxpayers could ultimately benefit quite a bit if we can buy a bunch of these perfectly good mortgages for 40 to 50 cents on the dollar.

That’s not exactly how it is. The truth is, it was the other way around. For every dollar the taxpayers were put on the hook for in the Wall Street Bail-Out, we were lucky to receive 40 or 50 cents worth of toxic mortgages nobody else wanted. Sure, we may be able to pick a few cherry notes out of the batch, but don't count on a windfall.

Alter Net Excerpt:
It is abundantly clear that the Republican leaders are going to do everything to prevent Obama and the Dems from doing anything constructive.

Their position of course is not good for the country, but I'm actually thrilled about Republican's willingness to accept the responsibility by their own admission that the worst is yet to come if they fail to act. They have turned the confidence the President's plan must have in order to succeed into a major gamble, and are willing to risk the entire economic health of the country for any chance to save their own miserable careers. Just shameful.

Wisconsin Wants To Change State's Special Culture

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Today’s Janesville Gazette front page headline title, We have a problem here, was a story about the obvious problems arising from the drinking culture in Wisconsin, and what state legislators now want to do about it.

JG Excerpt:
“There seems to be a culture of drinking that’s very hard to break. I think we have to change that culture,” Sen. Judy Robson, D-Beloit, said.

Just this past Tuesday, in an editorial titled, “What makes Wisconsin so special?” the Gazette editorial staff wrote about the role the beer drinking culture has in making Wisconsin so special.

JG Editorial Excerpt:
Milwaukee brings tailgating with brats, burgers and beer, then cheers for the Brewers at Miller Park.

Yeaaay.

JG Editorial Excerpt:
Wisconsin is Packer football, Lambeau Field and the ghosts of Hudson, Nitschke and Hornung. It’s sipping a mug of beer while wearing a cheese-head.

Just great. Without the beer, it just wouldn’t be the same. Now, it’s one thing having a popular and successful brewery industry in the state, yet it’s entirely another thing when the state of Wisconsin, along with our sports fans, becomes the butt of anything funny about drunks and the damage they do along with the lives they ruin. The Gazette not only looks the other way, but judging by this editorial, they celebrate the effects alcohol can have on sports fans.

This editorial also seemed like a sly attempt by the newspaper to convince Janesville officials (regarding controversial Hockey Team) that serving beer at a sporting event where nearly all the spectators drive home, is what makes Wisconsin so special.

Winter Thaw Brings Special Ground Cover

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With a thaw of winter's heavy snow cover expected in the mid-west this weekend, the earliest "flowers" of the new year will spring up.

Chicago Tribune Excerpt:
Yes, it's apparent that many dog owners were raised to believe deeply and without question in this beneficent, supernatural figure, the all-seeing, all-scooping figure that follows after you in the winter and magically cleans up all droppings left on snowy ground.

The best part is when you wind up tracking the lovely bouquet into your house.

Rip Rap

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Illinois Wasting No Time Vindicating Blago’s Delusions

While it's still fresh in memory. How many times have you heard Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois claim the only reason the Illinois Senate impeached him was because he was blocking tax hikes.

Newsvine Excerpt: (January 23)
Blagojevich told a Chicago radio station today that he's being impeached not over his recent corruption indictment, but because legislators want to stop him from blocking tax increases.

With Blago out of the way, the Illinois Senate can’t hike the taxes fast enough.

Tax Hikes on the Table Excerpt: (February 4)
The top two leaders of the Illinois House and Senate began paving the way Tuesday for increasing the state's gasoline tax to fund billions of dollars in highway and mass-transit projects.

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Kathleen Parker Says Obama Is Just Like Bush...No Wait
She begins......

Wichita Eagle Excerpt:
And the new president is sounding an awful lot like the old one. Let's roll the tape:

Then she says he needs to be more like Bush..........

Wichita Eagle Excerpt:
If Obama wants to rumble, he's got an eager foe in Limbaugh. But if he really wants to win, he might take a page from his predecessor's playbook: Never dignify your enemies with recognition.

Where has Parker been for the last two years? During his campaign, Obama pushed back at his detractors nearly every time when they spread falsehoods about his person or policies. During that time he even started a web site to confront the smears and refused to let the lies take root. And as president, it doesn’t look like he’s willing to give the upper hand to a lying liar like Limbaugh either. The reasons why Bush never answered back to criticism is because they were the truth. Most people understand that when the truth is answered by silence, the silence becomes the lie.

The Obama nothing like Bush clincher: Obama,"I screwed up."

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The whole world is rioting - why aren't we?

AlterNet Excerpt:
For the most part, those living in wealthier countries took little notice. But now, with the global economy crashing down around us, people in even the wealthiest nations are mad as hell and reacting violently to what they view as an inadequate response to their tumbling economies.

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Lincoln–Era Homes At Risk

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Taxpayer Billions For Bonuses

Money Excerpt:
We have a bunch of idiots on Wall Street that are kicking sand in the face of the American taxpayer," an enraged McCaskill said on the floor of the Senate. "They don't get it. These people are idiots. You can't use taxpayer money to pay out $18 billion in bonuses."

That's funny. Some folks in Janesville think public service professionals earn more than private service professionals. Looks like a huge raise is in order for public school teachers.

Reuters Excerpt:
Obama told reporters he was outraged by a report of $18.4 billion paid out in Wall Street bonuses, as taxpayer money was being used to shore up the crumbling financial system. "That is the height of irresponsibility. It is shameful," Obama said while hosting a meeting in the Oval Office with Treasury Secretary Timothy (mistake) Geithner and Vice President Joe Biden.

Wall Street thieves shot back at Obama and the Senator, saying they don’t understand that some firms have salesmen making over $1 million in commissions and bonuses. Great, but if you have salesmen earning over $1 million in bonuses, why exactly do you need taxpayer money?

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Janesville Emptying, U-Haul Rentals Up

WKOW Excerpt:
U-haul is increasingly helping more people move out of than into town. In 2007, 7.6 percent more people moved out of Janesville than moved in. In 2008, the difference had grown to 14.3 percent. The GM plant shutting down has been a major factor in this trend.

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Candidate's Criminal Record An Advantage

Speaking of Channel 27 News out of Madison, the Wednesday evening broadcast contained a short passage explaining that several candidates seeking various public offices in Rock County have a criminal record. The station though only targeted the history of one candidate running out of Evansville and then proceeded to spin the adverse publicity against him by claiming a candidate's criminal record can be an asset. A page stolen right out of the Janesville Gazette's style playbook. (Sorry, no link to the story)

HOPE Tax Relief Could Help Restore American Dream

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WPT Excerpt:
HOPE Would Not Provide Relief To All Residential Property Taxpayers
HOPE would provide relief to only two-thirds of Wisconsin’s residential property taxpayers – those who own their homes. But, it would deny relief to almost one-third of the state’s residential property taxpayers; 633,439 working families and individuals who do not own but rent their residences and pay the property taxes on those residences to their landlords.

Get rid of the middle-man.

I can't think of a more backward reason to be against the HOPE property tax relief proposal than this one pushed by the Wisconsin Property Taxpayers organization. For all its practical purpose, HOPE is not intended to be a renter or landlord kickback program. Besides, the State of Wisconsin already offers tax relief to low-income renters through the state's Homestead Exemption Program.

In short, the main feature of the HOPE proposal would amend the Uniformity Clause of the Wisconsin State Constitution to permanently exempt the first $60,000 of owner-occupied residential property value from school property taxes. Next to a low fixed interest rate, HOPE offers the best incentive for Wisconsin renters to consider buying their own home. With HOPE, it might be cheaper than renting.

In fact, if HOPE becomes law, the first order of business by the state should include massive and repeated mailings to renters reminding them of the potential savings of owning their own home. We need to spur people into buying the American Dream again without sticking them with a "gotcha" ARM loan or ballooning property taxes caused by artificially inflated home values.

There is no time to waste.