Paul Ryan, Courageously Fake

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According to Republicans, spending in of itself creates debt, that's why repubs like Rep. Paul Ryan constantly twist the truth with, "we don't have a revenue problem, the country has a spending problem." That is the construct to which the empty-suited Ryan and the Republican Party has hitched our futures on. Most Americans know better of course, that spending in of itself does not cause debt - only borrowing causes debt. But I'll give him that, Ryan's got people second-guessing their own better intuition and values.

So how responsible is a political party that refused to pay the country's bills when it could afford? Obviously they were completely irresponsible, but they are now playing off the popular appeal of the taxed enough already crowd and locked into the Norquist "borrow only" for revenue pledge - there's no turning back. Repubs also think it's courageous to stand up and tell people lies. That's why Paul Ryan is at the top of the heap. That's why he's their star.

In the video below, Martin Bashir shoves facts in the face of Paul Ryan's comical but emotional breakdown for Ronald Reagan's "spirit" and bogus tax reform. You'll see first-hand how Paul Ryan panders and poses with Goober Pyle-like sincerity. You know the kind. Fakes.

NY Times Excerpt: (Krugman)
And the evidence for their fakery isn’t just their bad arithmetic; it’s the fact that for all their alleged deep concern over budget gaps, that concern isn’t sufficient to induce them to give up anything — anything at all — that they and their financial backers want.

Ryan tells out-in-out fairy tales with a dumb face and everyone knows it, but his backers laugh and applause anyway. Perhaps that's his appeal.

You'll also see Ryan doing what he does best as he recasts his perceived enemies with his own budget and tax policy failings. We're all familiar with the constructs of what Ryan is saying, except the names have been changed to condemn the innocent.

Another fine catch from the Democurmudgeon library. Watch it:



ADDITIONAL:
Rock Netroots - Faces of Debt

Republican Majority Stand With Norquist On Buffett Rule

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The Senate rejected the so-called “Buffett Rule” on a largely partisan roll call. The procedural vote was 51-45, falling short of the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster. Despite heavy support for the Buffett Rule, its rejection was a foregone conclusion to those who follow politics, particularly knowing that 41 senators are Norquist Pledge signers. It wouldn't stand a chance in the House either.

Politico Excerpt:
Senate Republicans derided the measure as an election-year “gimmick.” In a speech on the Senate floor Monday, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) accused Obama of shirking bipartisanship in favor of pursuing policies for political expediency.

“Isn’t this precisely the kind of thing President Obama campaigned against in the first place, politics as usual?” the Kentucky Republican said. “But that’s all we get.

Sure Mitch, anytime Republicans are asked to take a position with the majority, it must be an election year gimmick.

But who cares what Americans think? In fact, even without their allegiance to Grover Norquist, Republicans weren't going to fall for any stand-alone legislative measure that puts them at odds with the majority will of the American people. Because given that choice, Republicans will "courageously" vote against America 99 out of 100 times. They're not called the 1% for nothing.

Will the American majority respond in November and vote these traitors out of Congress?

Additional reading:

American Progress - Public Opinion Snapshot: Yes, Conservatives, Americans Do Care About Fairness

Reader Support News - How the GOP Became the party of the rich

PoliticalTicker - CNN Poll: 7 out of 10 support Buffett Rule

Scott Walker Quietly Signs Repeal Of Equal Pay Law

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Huff Post Excerpt:
A Wisconsin law that made it easier for victims of wage discrimination to have their day in court was repealed on Thursday, after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) quietly signed the bill.

The 2009 Equal Pay Enforcement Act was meant to deter employers from discriminating against certain groups by giving workers more avenues via which to press charges. Among other provisions, it allows individuals to plead their cases in the less costly, more accessible state circuit court system, rather than just in federal court.

In November, the state Senate approved SB 202, which rolled back this provision. On February, the Assembly did the same. Both were party-line votes in Republican-controlled chambers.

SB 202 was sent to Walker on March 29. He had, according to the state constitution, six days to act on the bill. The deadline was 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. The governor quietly signed the bill into law on Thursday, according to the Legislative Reference Bureau, and it is now called Act 219.

Walker's office did not return repeated requests for comment.

More>>> at the Huff Post

Ethics Complaint Filed Against Local Republicans

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The Center for Media and Democracy Filed a Complaint Asking Wisconsin Ethics Board to Examine Corporate-Funded Gifts to ALEC Legislators.

PRWatch Excerpt:
The Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) filed a complaint today with the Government Accountability Board (GAB) based on newly discovered documents revealing that numerous Wisconsin legislators have received corporate-funded gifts through their connections to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Although ALEC describes itself as the largest membership group for legislators, over 98% of its $7 million budget is from corporations and sources other than legislative dues. Documents obtained via Wisconsin open records law and other sources show that ALEC corporations are funding lawmakers' out-of-state travel expenses to posh resorts for ALEC meetings with corporate lobbyists, in addition to gifts of entertainment and exclusive parties.

Among those listed in the complaint are Rock County local Reps. Amy Loudenbeck, Evan Wynn and Joe Knilans and nearby district Reps. Stephen Nass, Glen Grothmann, Neal Kedzie and Tyler August.

Additional:

Bice: Federal Authorities Scrutinize Wisconsin Koch-Cain Nexus

Janesville Gazette Does a Comb-Over For Republican Neal Kedzie

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What a stunningly gaudy political campaign presentation plastered on the front page of the Wednesday's Janesville Gazette for Republican State Senator Neal Kedzie.

The article headlined, Finding Solutions and Successes was replete with supporting quotes and flattering photographs, served absolutely no purpose other than to defend Kedzie and his "leadership" role on the state's ad hoc mining committee. This is the same mining committee that for all practical political purposes, stands as the symbol of the republican's epic legislative fail in that disaster. Of course I don't blame Kedzie for the committee's failure, afterall, the burden of the blame rests squarely on Sen. Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald for abruptly disbanding the committee with two minutes left in the game.

But what I did find out of the ordinary was the Gazette's writing props to defend and elevate what is in all actuality, a legislator who by his own actions serves as nothing more than a GOP party puppet.

JG Excerpt:
Kedzie was out as a leader on the mining issue. Without his leadership, no mining bill passed and the mine withdrew its interest in Wisconsin.

What a strange play on words. Is that why Gogebic Taconite withdrew its business interest? Because without Kedzie leading the way, it was hopeless? I don't buy it at all.

JG Excerpt:
Kedzie, never one to publicly criticize his party or its leaders, accepted the demotion without comment.

Members of his committee and others, all Democrats, jumped to Kedzie's defense.

It figures. Democrats jumped to his defense. But why…why would anyone publicly go to the defense of another politician, be it Democratic or Republican, who would rather stay quiet ...than stand up for himself and speak up for what he believes is right? I can understand Democrats standing with him if Kedzie pushed back a little or defended himself. But to accept the demotion without comment? Yet the writer, the Gazette's ever loyal Stan Milam, spends a half a page afterwards endorsing Kedzie as "standing firm," a consensus builder and leader? A leader who apparently never questions or criticizes his party or it's leaders??

The Gazette published this story as a front-page headline news article. People actually pay money to read that stuff.

I'll leave the rest up to you.

Wisconsin Republicans Join National Party Bang On Women

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Keep Your Boehner Out Of My Uterus

According to most conservatives, women aren't smart enough to know themselves or their own bodies.

The GOP's war on women is now fully assimilated throughout their party identity. There's really no need to even politicize their bold-faced gender superiority, arrogance and discrimination against women. It is a hallmark of what it always was and always will be to be a true "conservative" yesterday, today and tomorrow. Sometimes I think we shouldn't try to stop them or ask for apologies. On one hand, I think the intolerant Right will wind up dooming themselves to the ash bin of history and ...what's wrong with that?

On the other hand, I don't blame women one bit for standing up and pushing back against an outrage that threatens their right to control their own individualism and destiny. It threatens their rights and if their rights are threatened - it threatens all of us.

~ Rep. Kelda Helen Roys: Facebook
"Earlier today, I shared that I had planned a response to today's upcoming battles in the War on Women here in the WI Assembly. I am pleased to share the first amendment I will be offering. My amendment will seek to add a rectal examination as a requirement for all men seeking a prescription for Viagra or other erectile disfunction drugs. Sure, it is not medically necessary, but if the legislature is going to impose medically superfluous requirements on women, it should do the same for men."

From Paul Ryan to Jim Sensenbrenner to Ron Johnson to Scott Walker to Glenn Grothman to the Fitzgerald Brothers, few state party delegations excel better at poisoning the well of discourse and fomenting divisiveness than the group we have here right now in Wisconsin. I also know there will always be plenty of self-deprecating voters who will continue to vote against their own interests. For many it's a traditional and cultural value handed down from one generation to the next. That's just the way it is.

But believe it or not, we still have modern-day conservative women who not only allow themselves to be treated like a second-hand possession by their male counterparts - they champion the cause. It doesn't make sense. Like when Arizona Republican Debbie Lesko authored a controversial bill that would allow Arizona employers the right to deny health insurance coverage for contraceptives based on religious objections. The bill would essentially give employers the power to request that women being prescribed birth control pills provide proof that they're using it for non-sexual reasons. Because Arizona's an at-will employment state, that means that bosses critical of their female employees' sex lives could fire them as a result.

Unbelievable!

In Wisconsin, we have at least a dozen state legislators to the right of Arizona's Lesko, so I wouldn't put it past any of them to copycat any legislation that is aimed at disempowering women.

But I've got to hand it to our no-nonsense American women, they're not taking any of this lying down. On Tuesday's "Mad as Hell Rally"...

Reality Check Excerpt:
Although the rally may seemingly be coming too late, it is, as Lisa Subeck of NARAL Wisconsin calls it, “just a starting point.” According to Subeck and representatives from Planned Parenthood and other organizations speaking today, the next logical – and imperative step – is to get women out to vote and to get them into office.

Atkinson speaking again to the crowd aptly said, “The great thing about women is we don’t just get angry, we take action.”

If there's one thing I've learned about women and politics, it's most of them that are involved have bigger balls than most men. Look out Republicans. You're about to have your asses handed to you. No pun intended.

In complete Solidarity...ladies

Video: Wisconsin's War On Women

Wisconsin Concealed Carry Permit Records Are Concealed?

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According to police, the Janesville man who shot himself to death in front of Rep. Paul Ryan's office last week was apparently carrying a gun loaded with one bullet and intended the shot to be fatal.

JG Excerpt:
Police continued Wednesday to investigate who owned the pistol, Moore said. Wisconsin law prohibits Moore from saying whether Kromrey had a concealed carry permit, Moore said.

Huh? The state Department of Justice keeps lists of people who have concealed carry permits, but people can't access them? Even after a gun is used in a crime in the public airspace, people are not allowed to know whether the identified user had a CC permit? That's crazy.

But the NRA says...

Post crescent Excerpt:
...making sure concealed carry permit holders are abiding the law isn't a job for the public. "That's the function of law enforcement," said Andrew Arulanandam, director of public affairs for the NRA. "There's no need for these people to have their privacy compromised. Anyone who makes any other argument is not being honest."

That's got to be a first. After years of telling folks to never trust government, the NRA is now promoting, "trust the government, the public has no need to know."

Sorry, particularly in cases after the fact, the public should have the right to know whether crimes with guns are being committed by people with CC permits or not. I'd say, "lets's be honest, what are you trying to hide?"

Cooperating Lawyered Up Governor Forms Legal Defense Fund

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Last month, Scott Walker said he "agreed to meet" with John Doe prosecutors and hired two high-powered attorneys to ensure he's "in the best position possible to continue aiding" the investigation.

In an equally surreal context, Walker announced on Friday the creation of a legal defense fund needed in order to fulfill his commitment to cooperate...

Wisconsin State Journal Excerpt:
"I have repeatedly pledged my cooperation with that inquiry," Walker said. "To fulfill my commitment, I have today formed a legal fund to pay for the expenses incurred in cooperating with the inquiry."

JS Online Bice Blog Excerpt:
"If you create a legal defense fund, you are either being investigated, being charged with or have been convicted of a criminal violation of Chapter 11 or Chapter 12," said George Dunst, a retired state election lawyer.

But Walker spokeswoman Ciara Matthews said late Friday that the fund was set up "under the guidance of the GAB."

Lots of polished doubletalk from Walker and his people. But it should be obvious by now that he is a key person of interest in the investigation. The only thing remaining is whether he will be charged.

So, should officials repudiated by an increasingly cynical electorate and facing serious legal scrutiny continue to be involved in making long-lasting decisions for all of us?

Over the past year, Walker has abused his power in the name of moving forward that will have a negative effect on Wisconsin for years to come and with the recall election all but certain and a possible indictment, the people of Wisconsin should demand Walker eliminate himself from legislative influence and shelve his ham-fisted ALEC/Koch Agenda until the last precinct tally is counted in the recall and until the John Doe investigation is fully closed.

It's the right thing to do.

Crooks and Liars - Historic: Scott Walker First WI Gov. to Need a Legal Defense Fund

Walker Taking Wisconsin Back To Thompson's Tax Hell Daze

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During Terrible Tommy's reign over Wisconsin through the 90's, the burden of state taxes on the average Wisconsin income earner was solidly in the 12 percent range with a few years popping 13 percent. Believe it or not, it was Gov. Jim Doyle who courageously fought the tax burden battle and incrementally brought the tax burden down into the 11 percent range, settling for a bittersweet 11.2 percent in the 2008-09 budget. Ironically, it was Doyle's Wisconsin that the state's GOP support-base business group, Wisconsin Commerce and Manufacturers, branded as a "tax hell."

So it only figures that the WMC-endorsed Scott Walker has reversed the direction established by Doyle and now has the state trending toward those glorious republican days of Terrible Tommy ...

Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance Excerpt:
State-local governments here collected $25.9 billion in taxes and fees in fiscal year 2011, 5.4% more than the prior year. This year's tax burden was 11.9%, up from 11.7% in 2010. Individual income tax collections were $6.7 billion in 2011, up 10% from $6.1 billion in 2010. This year's increase was the largest one-year jump since 2000.

Note: The above paragraph appears on the WTA's Home Page as a summary for the article.

That's right. The last time Wisconsin workers saw the state carve out as large a one-year increase from our earnings - Tommy Thompson was in charge! Who woulda' thunk it? Few states hammer the middle class as hard as Wisconsin - especially households earning less than $88,000 a year, wrote the Journal Sentinel back in 2010, and that was when the tax burden was better - under Jim Doyle! But today? Under Walker's massive transfer of wealth away from Wisconsin families, modest communities and public sector workers to the GOP business elite and coupled with increased state spending can only mean an even larger tax bite is on the way. Wisconsin is clawing its way back into hell.

From Tax Hell To "All Screwed Up!"
If you hear 'Wisconsin' and a job transfer, part of your mind is going to say, 'Isn't that the place that's all screwed up?'
-- Todd Berry, WTA ...saying what others are thinking.

JS Online Editorial - Wisconsin missing out on U.S. jobs gains, under Walker. (Over 1,800 comments)

Filed Under "Everybody Else Does It, So It's Okay"

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Saw this first at Publius No.9

Wisconsin Rep. Joel Kleefisch has been caught on video committing voter fraud, voting in someone else's name. In the video below, you see Kleefisch recording votes for absent members on their machines during Tuesday's session.

Voter fraud is all a matter of interpretation I suppose.

BDN Editor Suggests Walker Provoke More Backlash

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There has been some false outrage planted by the local media monopoly, the Janesville Gazette, including an editorial by the Beloit Daily News in defense of a person (Mark Finnegan of Finnegan's RV in South Beloit) who claims he was abused by protesters when he attempted to escort a couple of elderly ladies to a local GOP party function and dinner event last weekend in Beloit.

I was not at the protest so I cannot speak firsthand. But judging from two videos and photos from the intertubes, the protest appeared to be a peaceful event with some theatrical flair (people laying down under a red carpet), bullhorns and vuvuzelas. Oh, and a gold colored commode to help make the rich and powerful feel right at home. It was a fun event. But let's put it this way, anyone attending the dinner and encountering the group outside with noisemakers should expect some noise. In case you didn't know, bullhorns and vuvuzelas tend to be loud.

Finnegan's big complaint from his perspective was that a "boisterous" protester shouted into a bullhorn within earshot while he was escorting a couple of 80-something women into the building. Possibly so. But there have been no photos or videos of this incident taking place as described despite cameras everywhere. On the other hand, I have to question the intentions and judgment of anyone who would subject an elderly senior or a very young child to any direct political protest activity without taking extra precautions. Sorry, but that doesn't wash.

From his writings and the BDN's indefensible editorial, they tried to paint this as a deliberate attack, that because Finnegan "dared show up at this gathering [...] he and his elderly guests were abused." Please, don't flatter yourselves. I can attest to the fact that whatever you perceive "our" cause to be - it's not about you personally. The only reason anyone would write such a stretch of self-importance and reality is to inflict damage on a cause you never could relate with. Let's be honest.

Finnegan also posed a couple questions: "Do you protesters truly believe these actions are still helping your message with the masses? Do you ever think that possibly you have gotten to the point that you are alienating the sympathy of 'center' folk like myself regarding your cause?"

Let's put it this way, the message isn't for the masses to digest. The message is from the masses. The second message here is; if protest action should be purposely designed and carried out to instill, attract or win sympathy, then we are on the wrong side of history.

The editor of the Beloit Daily News takes that theme to the next level when he suggests Scott Walker should take precisely that action by making himself more often available to the anger and angst of Wisconsinites in hopes of provoking some ill will in an effort to gain sympathy for his cause.

That's right. When you have really bad, bad public policy sure to make heads explode, the BDN editor suggests...

BDN Editorial Excerpt:
Backlash is all but assured. If I were advising the governor, I’d put him out there with this crowd early and often. Bad behavior drives votes to the other side.

That's good advice when you're on the wrong side of history and truth and you have nothing else left. You may as well plant some false flags and provocateurs too. That's the republican way. But let's be double clear here. The Governor, Scott Walker, was not the subject of this particular protest. Sell-out congressman Paul Ryan and the 1% were.

But I can't blame them for their confusion. The major story here is that the Koch-supported Republican Party has become such a hated group in Wisconsin that every protest action in the state is no longer only about Scott Walker. It has naturally morphed into a referendum on the arrogant right-wing class-war tax-shifting government-grabbing 1% and the Wall Street politicians they own. Walker of course is also part of that.

So I say yes to the Beloit Daily News editor and his suggestion to Scott Walker. Bring it on.

Area Republicans Among Those Who Pledged To Secrecy

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Contrary to one report claiming all but one area republican signed a pledge of secrecy during the redistricting process...they all did.

Wisconsin State Journal Excerpt:
"What could have — indeed should have — been accomplished publicly instead took place in private, in an all but shameful attempt to hide the redistricting process from public scrutiny," read the order, written by U.S. District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller.

The following area legislators signed the nondisclosure documents a federal judicial panel characterized as a "poorly disguised" attempt to "cloak the private machinations of Wisconsin’s Republican legislators in the shroud of attorney-client privilege."

They are...

ROCK COUNTY - Rep. Amy Loudenbeck - Clinton, Rep. Joe Knilans - Janesville, Rep. Evan Wynn - Whitewater.

WALWORTH COUNTY - Sen. Neal Kedzie, R-Elkhorn, Tyler August - Lake Geneva and Rep. Steve Nass - Whitewater.

Almost all republican senators signed the confidentiality agreements. Ironically, Scott Fitzgerald was one of the few who did not do so. He said no one had ever asked him to sign it. The only other Republican senator who did not sign was Dan Kapanke of La Crosse, who lost a recall election in August.

In all, 75 Republicans signed the agreements.

Voces De La Frontera - Voces De La Frontera attorneys discover violations of Open Meetings Law

Copies of the complaint, maps and signed confidentiality documents can be found here. (This is a large PDF file) Does not contain hidden emails. Check out their signatures for some amusement.

Here's a well written summary of Walker's State of Disgrace.

Beloit Daily News - Local legislators who signed secret agreements named

Scott Walker Asks Political Mercenaries To Invade Wisconsin

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At a Washington DC banquet, Gov. Scott Walker asked a large group of conservative activists from around the country for help in his quest to smash the state's grassroots recall effort to remove him from office.

JS Online Excerpt:
Asked why he came here, Walker said in an interview before his speech, "Oh I think we're going to need the help . . . not just financially but in terms of bodies and people helping us to spread the message."

Walker knows if he has to solely depend on the people of Wisconsin, he will be rejected. He knows the traditional values of progress and unity and the inherent compassionate spirit of the state can only be crushed and defeated from the outside. Walker's big money bosses are angry and refuse to go down without a fight.

During CPAC, Walker delivers his request, "I need your help ... I need people to help us spread that message in Wisconsin ... I need your help with the ground game ... we need bodies ...and need your help financially.

Watch it:
(Warning! - Video contains potential for throwing-up-in-mouth hazard)



Empowered by unlimited financing from billionaires, Walker and his interloping allies are working to roll back 100 years of economic and social progress not only in Wisconsin, but in the entire country!

We've been forewarned!

ADDITIONAL:

Democurmudgeon - Walker, Beggar and Chief, Embarrasses State before a National Audience

Cap Times - John Nichols: Walker’s on out-of-state money hunt

Shameless Scott Walker Robs Victims In Crisis

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Just when you thought Scott Walker could not sink any lower, he drops to Paul Ryan-like levels and then some when he announced his strongarm stickup of the settlement fund for foreclosure crisis victims. Walker, armed with his enforcer J.B. Van Hollen riding shot-gun, plans to confiscate about $26 million of the state's $140 million share of a national mortgage settlement to help plug the state's (balanced) budget hole.

This decision was possibly prompted after hearing odious tea party ghouls and right-wing radio buffoons crackback the settlement as a bail-out for irresponsible people who overspent and failed to manage their budgets. Walker's shameful action projects his inner failure, "hey, that's me!"

If you've been following our governor's exploits and assaults against the people of Wisconsin to these depths, there comes a time when even the thickest skin among us need to back up for a breather and recognize the possibility that there is no bottom in Scott Walker's hell.

Ed Shultz On Foreclosure Heist

Think Progress Excerpt:
The settlement money already doesn’t come close to addressing the depths of the nation’s housing problem, though it will provide real relief to the people whom it does reach. But the money was certainly not intended to paper over state budget problems, particularly in a state whose governor assured everybody up and down that busting his state’s public unions was the key to fiscal solvency.

Democurmudgeon - Walker's Plan to take Mortgage Money Enrages Public

Star Tribune - Walker to use part of national mortgage settlement for budget hole

Wisconsin State Journal - Homeowner advocates blast Walker's plan to use $26 million from mortgage settlement for state deficit repair.

Limbaugh Rages Over Eastwood's Half-time Ad

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Talking about the Clint Eastwood Chrysler half-Time ad, Rush Limbaugh rambles... "It's a parody...he got suckered ... predictable and so typical."

But then the truth comes out ...“We need to have something like this... ready to go next August-September when college football kicks up."

Transcript

Full Disclosure Only Required When Participating In Democracy

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For some reason, I found these three unrelated articles - related.

#1. The process to draw political district maps was kept secret and public comments were to be ignored, GOP memo shows.

#2. Republican proposes legislation to eliminate full disclosure for political campaign donors based on unfounded concerns for safety.

#3. Signatures on petitions are subject to public scrutiny because ...any concerns regarding personal safety and privacy may not have been considered when signing.

Personal safety won't be taken into consideration for public disclosure when signing petitions, unless of course it concerns the safety of campaign contributors? So, not only are we dealing with the spectre of a bought politician, the contribution also bought some protection from full public disclosure.

MacIver - Grothman Calls for Ending Campaign Contributors Disclose Their Employers

JS Online - Lawmakers were made to pledge secrecy over redistricting

GAB - Personal safety not an issue when participating in the public process

Liebert Joins Democratic Primary Field In 44th Assembly District

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Four Democrats are now vying for position to take on Walker rubber stamp and traitor to his district, Joe Knilans. They are: Janesville City Council member Sam Liebert, Janesville School Board member, Deb Kolste, Council member Yuri Rashkin and current member of Janesville's School Board, Kevin Murray.

Wisconsin Act 43 Assembly Redistricting Map.

Yuri Rashkin's State Assembly Facebook here.

Kevin Murray's State Assembly Facebook here.

Deb Kolste's State Assembly Facebook here.

Sam Liebert's Facebook here.

Video: Rep. ALEC Authored Undermining Bill

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Video: State Republicans Hold Caucus At Tavern

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Politiscoop Excerpt:
Last night at Best Western PLUS Inn on the Park Hotel Rep. Robin Vos, Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, Sen. Mike Ellis and Sen. Glenn Grothman sat down at the hotel's bar and decided to hold an open caucus.The group of republicans started speaking loudly. What was being discussed prompted a citizen to turn on their cellphone.

The issue of school vouchers came up and Robin Vos states "Well, there is a way to find $200 million in venture capital" with Sen. Mike Ellis responding "I'd like to hear this". But wait a minute, he can find $200 million for school vouchers but can't find money for public education? The duo continued in the conversation which included a pronouncement that Jeff Fitzgerald and Scott Fitzgerald are basically inept. Neither Vos nor Ellis appeared to be concerned where they were discussing political strategies. Perhaps they believe they live in a bubble or are surrounded by an invisible Cone of Silence. more>>>

Beyond the mocking of poor children in this video, it sounds like the voice of either Glenn Grothman or Mike Ellis in the background at 1:10: "the Fitzgerald Brothers...[unintelligible]...are two of the biggest grifters in the West...they play one against the other...and then they blame each other.."

Watch it:

What I'd Like To See At Walker's State-Of-The-State Address

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FACT: On Dec. 29, 2011, the Walker administration sent a letter to federal health secretary Kathleen Sebelius certifying that Wisconsin will have a budget deficit through June 30, 2013.