Video: For All It's Worth Wisconsin 2013

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Bizarre Ruling On Act 10 Should Alarm Everyone

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The only way I can wrap my mind around Judge Conley's recent ruling on Act 10 is through and by substitution.

Business Journal Excerpt:
“Under Act 10, general employees remain free to associate and represented employees and their unions remain free to speak; municipal employers are simply not allowed to listen,” Conley wrote.

So according to Conley's ruling, municipal employers government can discriminate against employees because of, by or through, an employee's association or whatever an employee is associated with.

By substitution then, Conley ruled that government can discriminate against an employee for being associated with gays, Jews, electricians or the Tea Party.

Sure, Act 10 does not forbid gays, Jews, electricians or the Tea Party from association and does not prohibit their speech, but Act 10 gives government the power to act in differing ways according to the employee's association. The act of listening or "not listening" strictly determined by distinguishing association is or was, in my book ...discrimination. Conley's ruling is definitely a trick bag.

Conley also ruled that governments can treat represented employees differently than unrepresented employees in regards to bargaining over wages and employment conditions.

Again through substitution, Conley then ruled government can treat employees associated with represented the Tea Party differently than employees not associated unrepresented with the Tea Party. You're Tea Party ... sorry, I don't have to listen to you or give you a pay raise. But, if you're a Progressive, you get a 10% raise. It is written!

No question, Conley's ruling can cut both ways. Accordingly, government can reward or punish any employee or employee group simply for their associative variable. So a group, by forming an association or union creates an external group of non-members simply by the association's exclusion. This in turn causes government to reward or punish either group just because - according to Judge Conley. I'm not referring to collective bargaining agreements or private contracts resulting or not from those associations, only the different behaviors and actions Conley ruled the government can make based by recognizing those associations.

Am I wrong for using those substitutions in this context? They are associations.

I've always thought or assumed that our Constitution protected the people from those actions and prohibited government at any level from taking specific or unequal action based on associations.

It's Just Another Day For Our Rock Star Governor

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According to this article, it was Gov. Scott Walker who personally made last minute adjustments using his partial veto powers to re-rig a grant previously rigged by GOP legislators for a political crony front group. The changes made by Walker removed federal scrutiny and helped keep the graft on track by using state money exclusively.

This latest episode involving the front group has all the makings of a first-rate scandal. It's got fraudulent conduct of those in power, political payback, the "fix," cronyism, a cover-up and even what One Wisconsin Now termed a circular firing squad.

Just another day in the life of Gov. Scott Walker.

No New Casinos (or Business) Unless it Helps Walker Fulfill His Jobs Promise

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Once again saw the story on this first at the Democurmudgeon, and the possible implications it may have with the proposed casino in local Beloit.

Excerpt:
“Republicans in the state capitol recognize what John Torinus, a widely respected expert in economic development, said in his column this week that building a new casino in Kenosha will not create jobs.”

Torinus: “Economists on his (Walker) team should point out that another casino would not help him reach his goal of 250,000 additional jobs by the end of his first term in 2014. Any new casino jobs will be offset by job losses elsewhere in the Wisconsin economy.”

Who knew that there were such strong political undercurrents driving Wisconsin's economic development? ....eyeroll...

BUT, for the sake of this argument let's assume Torinus is right.

That for instance, Wisconsin's casino industry is running at full capacity and is now operating in a zero-sum economic environment and that opening a new casino, whether in Kenosha or Beloit will not create positive state job numbers because they will rob casinos in the central and northern parts (red counties?) of Wisconsin of the heavy capital trekked in from Chicago and northern Illinois. This in turn will cause those casinos to lose jobs. Let's assume there's a speck of truth to that.

What Torinus is then saying is government must step in politically to stop it all because it will not help Walker fulfill his 250,000 jobs campaign promise. That is what's important. Competition be damned.

Other Views:

Democurmudgeon - Walker supporter and casino opponent "Enough Already! WI" helps make Wisconsin a not-so-open place for Business.

Wheeler Report - Glaring Lack of Legislative Support for Kenosha Casino

Civil Discourse Podcast: Conversation With Ed Fallone and Rob Zerban

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In this episode, Sen. Peter Bear and Eric Brant revisit the Wisconsin State Supreme Court race with Ed Fallone. They talk about the different electoral dynamics at play between April and November elections, the pending lawsuits against the Walker Administration, and immigration reform. Then Rob Zerban checks in to discuss a possible run against Paul Ryan.

Podcast Source

Walker Withdraws Rigged Grant Money To Crony Front Group. Why??

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Gov. Scott Walker, who was recently awarded worst governor in the country for a steady pattern of in-your-face divide and conquer revenge style politics along with a boldly executed payback system for rewarding cronies and major donors with state employment, tax revenue credits or capital, seems to be working on changing that persona. At least on the surface.

An emergency facelift if you will.

JS Online Excerpt:
Gov. Scott Walker late Thursday canceled a controversial $500,000 grant to a sportsmen's group with little training experience but close ties to GOP politicians.

The decision was announced only hours after the Journal Sentinel asked state officials about a 2005 case in which the president of the United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation Inc. was cited for hunting with an improper license.

In a statement, Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp said she spoke with Walker on Thursday and he canceled the grant to United Sportsmen, which had been aimed at promoting the state's sporting heritage. Instead, Walker ordered the DNR to find other means to achieve that goal.
Read full story here.

It does appear that the United Sportsmen debacle was spinning out of control, but obviously not enough for Walker to call for an investigation or turn John Doe on them. Instead, Walker must have figured the only way he could use this episode to his political advantage and save face was to do something very much out of the ordinary.

This just might explain it all in short order...

It takes a presidential campaign to get some people to tidy up the house. -- The Political Environment

ADDITIONAL:

Democurmudgeon - Walker's Magic trick: Make Two Recent Bad Decisions Disappear

Sen. Tim Cullen Will Not Seek Re-Election

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“I am not proud of or pleased by the fundamental conclusion I have reached — that I can make a bigger difference in my community as a private citizen than I can in the ugly political environment we see now in Wisconsin government."
-- Sen. Tim Cullen

Posted here for archival purposes more than anything.

BDN Excerpt:
MADISON — Wisconsin 15th District State Sen. Tim Cullen, D-Janesville, will not seek re-election in 2014.

In an interview this morning with the Beloit Daily News, Cullen said he had committed during his campaign to one four-year term, and he intends to serve it out. [ ... ] He acknowledged being frustrated with the polarized nature of politics at the Capitol and the administration of Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

“There’s some frustration in not being able to make the kind of difference I wanted,” Cullen said. “Wisconsin has never had a governor who governs just to please his base.”

In the current environment, he said, “before the (Senate) vote you know you’re going to lose 18-15.” “(Walker) governs far to the right of anything Tommy Thompson or Lee Dreyfus would have done,” Cullen said. “In the world he lives in he can’t afford to compromise or he’ll be considered a RINO (Republican in name only) with his base.”
Read more here.

Sen. Ron Johnson Tells Of His Strategy To Destroy Faith In Government

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Saw this story first at the Democurmudgeon about the most recent ramblings (randlings?) from our radical extremist senator, Ron Johnson.

During a speech at an Americans For Prosperity townhall, (Johnson has yet to hold a listening session for Wisconsin constituents) Johnson does his usual demonization of Americans and wrongly accuses a majority of being anti-business, against success and addicted to government. But what really caught my eye was this statement from Johnson ...

“Politicians. I hear them say it all the time, “we have to restore faith in government.” Absolutely not! That is the wrong strategy.” – Sen. Ron Johnson

Regardless of one's perception of how big, small, polarized or corrupted government is, that's a huge statement to make against the concept of government from a sitting senator, and particularly with such defiance.

But on that note: How can the average constituent trust Sen. Johnson for help with the federal government when his personal mission is to make sure you leave disappointed and disgruntled, with a foul taste for government forever in your mouth? In this capacity, failure is success to Ron Johnson. In other words, having Ron Johnson for your senator is a lot like having an auto technician put sugar in your gas tank.

I strongly believe with that statement, Sen. Johnson has abdicated his constitutional duties and is from that point moving forward a hostile combatant to the U.S. Government.

Another masterpiece from the Democurmudgeon's video library. The above quote begins at 2:50, but I suggest watching it in its entirety:



ADDITIONAL:

Democurmudgeon - The Frightening side of Dumb Ron Johnson’s Doom and Gloom Nightmare Life in America. Why can’t we all just stop hating success?