Kleefisch, Walker Officials: Stonewalling Media/Public Is Just Standard Operating Procedure

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The first in a series of meetings supposedly about tax reform hosted by the Walker administration was held at Beloit College with area business leaders. I say "supposedly" because we don't know for sure. According to the Beloit Daily News, one of their reporters tried to attend, but was not allowed in until the final segment an hour after the meeting began.

Surprisingly, the BDN delivered a sharply worded editorial soon after the incident.

BDN Excerpt: (Titled: Let the people in on the issues)
OUR ONLY OBJECTION: Kleefisch barred the door to keep the discussion out of the public eye. Everyday citizens could not sit in to hear what the business community wants and expects from the state. A Beloit Daily News reporter was evicted from the room. Blocking reporters from doing their job keeps the press from informing the public about the issues deemed important to growing the economy and creating employment. Read more >>>

This is par for the course from the Walker Administration and now that they were challenged by establishment figures, we can expect Walker's team to double-down even harder on their efforts to stonewall the public on these meetings because to do otherwise would be an admittance of wrong-doing and a surrender to open government advocates.

In fact, Kleefisch’s chief of staff, Casey Himebauch, said the majority of the event is closed to the press to allow participants to speak freely without worrying about what they have to say. Himebauch said, "This is just standard operating procedure."

Remember folks, these meetings are taking place on the taxpayers dime, hosted by taxpayer-paid public officials and recorded using taxpayer owned equipment. The BDN was spot on describing their actions as not the system of government America has embraced and that The Founders, clearly envisioned a free press as a crucial component of liberty and holding officials accountable.

The decision to close the meeting also caught the attention of good government activist Scot Ross, director of the advocacy group One Wisconsin Now. Ross filed an open records request to obtain a copy of video of the meeting recorded by a member of Kleefisch’s staff.

Paul Ryan Changes Face Hoping To Releverage His Career

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H/T to the Democurmudgeon for finding this story right here in Janesville. Apparently, a local news station went to Janesville's Hedberg Library and asked a few folks what they thought about the budget deal worked over by local House Rep. Paul Ryan. God, how I wish I was there and they had asked me.

From WISC via Democurmudgeon:



No offense to anyone in the video, but do you think they know that everything Paul Ryan does is calculated for political reasons and not for our best interests?

To be fair, a couple of them do mention how this deal could raise Ryan's national stature - and that's oh soooo important. But would they say that if they knew Ryan threw them under a bus?

Do they know that not too long ago he called the automatic cuts of the sequester "crippling," his words, but now added a provision that whacks Medicare and requires the President to tack on two additional years to the term of the crippling sequester? Do they know that Ryan's stand-alone budget two years ago was three times worse than the sequester he called crippling? Does any of that intellectual dishonesty bother anyone?

And ...this thing about, "everybody gave up something" in the budget deal and that Ryan proved he can work with both sides. Is that a freaking joke?

Do voters in the 1st Congressional District understand that the republican commandments since holding the majority in one branch of the federal government is built on the completely phony premise that the other party, meaning Democrats, must "negotiate" something, must give up something in exchange ...for funding government?

Do they know that Ryan referred to debt ceiling negotiations as "leverage" but since that leverage backfired republicans into shutting down the government, Ryan is now looking for new leverage? Besides the actual physical content of the leverage, leverage for what? To fund government? As far as Republicans are concerned, damn Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. It doesn't exist, and that's treason in my book.

Ryan, who ran with Mitt Romney for the White House often boasted how he wants to flush opponents out into the field of open debate, and how he would courageously win those debates by highlighting contrasts and sticking with principles, is now doing his best to whitewash the past. In fact, the new narrative paints him as courageously willing to dispense of his previous perfection ...I'm not kidding you, in favor of the merely good.

Ryan has always talked the talk, but never walked the walk against opponents. He also seems to be hoping that attacks from the Left and Right fringes, particularly from the tea party, will push his public image closer to the palatable center. Regardless, like Scott Walker, Ryan is a dealer in snake oil politics. It's always buyer beware ...always.

But I'm also getting sick and tired of seeing democrats surrender loopholes and subsidies to Big Corpse and cut unemployment insurance in exchange for "letting" Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid continue - WITH CUTS ...and then they call it a win. Oh, we HAD to show we can work together to prevent another government shutdown. Are you kidding me Democrats? Tell me you are.

Reminder: Janesville Forum on First Amendment Remedies

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Forum: Rep. Chris Taylor on 'First Amendment Remedies'

When: Wednesday, December 11, 6 PM

Topic: How the protection of First Amendment rights in Wisconsin is necessary and crucial for remedying the many problems we face in state government.

Speaker: State Rep. Chris Taylor 76th Assembly district, Lawyer

Event Schedule:
6 PM-6:30 PM cheese & cracker reception (nonalcoholic potluck)
6:30 PM- 7:45 PM, speaker & discussion

Where:
*Basics Food Cooperative
1711 Lodge Dr.
Janesville, Wisconsin

(*This is an independent event not affiliated with Basics)

Directions: from Madison route 90 until 1st Janesville exit, south on Route 26 past route 14, look for Toys R Us on the right, right on Lodge Drive, on right across from Toys R Us.

The Community Room is to the left when you come in.

RockCountyProgressives. org, also on Facebook

Blackhawk Technical Seeking Ability To Increase Taxes Into Perpetuity

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We can call this, "The Scott Walker Effect."

Without naming names, Blackhawk Technical College officials said losses of state aid and changes in state law in recent years have brought the college to the point of asking local taxpayers to pass a referendum that would in effect, let the college raise taxes each and every year into perpetuity.

JG Excerpt:
TOWN OF ROCK—A survey sent last week to 8,000 registered voters will help Blackhawk Technical College officials decide whether to hold a $4 million referendum.

If officials like what they hear, they'll ask voters for permission to exceed the school's levy limit by up to $4 million every year. That would raise taxes as much as $37 on a $100,000 house each year.

Let's put it this way; taxpayers from all Wisconsin communities are paying more than enough as it is to support the state's public school system and advanced education institutions. Of course that doesn't mean schools are getting enough.

Have you ever wondered how Scott Walker is pulling surpluses and increasing state spending to record levels while the majority of Wisconsin communities struggle to balance flat-lining budgets while making major cuts in services? Trust me, it's not the local's fault or a lack of effort.

The problem is, is that we have a governor and a single-party ruled state legislature whose ideologically calculated budgets have tremendously shortchanged schools and communities statewide while injuring local control with zero-sum restrictions and budget caps as they build up political capital with so-called "surpluses" on borrowed money and laughable $13 tax cuts.

As far as I'm concerned, approving a local tax hike referendum to over-ride Walker's centralized taxing authority is asking not only to double-tax ourselves in the short-term, but to inadvertently create a budget boomerang that will accelerate even deeper cuts in state aid in the near future.

Simply put, we do not need tax-increases-into-perpetuity local referendums. What we need is a new governor and reforms that would bring an end to the GOP's overreaching centralized state control.

Upstart Janesville Business Has a Bizarre Way of Showing Confidence

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I didn't know exactly where to file this one. At first it was going to be under either the "you didn't build that" or "thank God for government" categories. But then I thought, what about the "where have all the risk-takers gone?" or Paul Ryan's "you can't dream when you're on food stamps" categories? I guess that's what happens when we have too many choices.

Okay. According to the agenda posted for Monday's Janesville City Council meeting, the upstart private-for-profit medical technologies business venture, SHINE, will be putting the city of Janesville on the hook to accept more risk.

SHINE officials are asking the city to make an amendment to the original TIF agreement so the city, not SHINE, can purchase about 8 acres of land adjoining the development at a cost of about $140,000. A recent review of the project by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission stated SHINE, not the city, needs the extra land to meet a buffering requirement.

According to a story from the Janesville Gazette, SHINE had the land under contract as an option to purchase since March of 2012. That option is set to expire at the end of 2013.

To be fair, SHINE officials said they will purchase the land from the city once the plant becomes operational, but putting the city under pressure at the last minute creates some new doubt as to the confidence they have in their own venture and how much risk they're willing to take.

At the same time, SHINE's founder and chief executive, Greg Piefer, talks about confidence. Is that a coincidence?

JG: While declining to say what's been raised so far, Piefer said he's confident the company will raise what's needed to build the plant and begin production.

I'm not too sure about that if they have to turn to government for $140,000 in sudden assistance for something that amounts to a minor cost overrun.

This nuclear isotopes medical facility has been pegged at $85 million to build topping out at $180 million in full run-time mode. The federal government has popped for $25 million in grants and Janesville taxpayers are on the hook for $9 million ...so far. Those figures do not include state incentives or enterprise zone tax credits. So, I don't know if they're lacking a PR person or they just don't know any better, but I find it incredible at this stage that they are not willing to risk $140,000 to buy 8 acres of land to keep their dream alive.

It now begs the question: Who will SHINE turn to in say 6 or 12 months IF they needed two, three or ten million dollars to finally turn the nut on this project?

I think that handwriting is on the wall. They'd turn to the only bank in town.

Ohhh ...Yet Another Newspaper Article Misleading For Scott Walker

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This article posted at the MKE Journal Sentinel claims that Gov. Scott Walker is gaining support for "his" plan to sidestep Obamacare. The writer claimed that Walker made two requests and that one of them might get traction.

You may recall that two weeks ago, Walker asked Sen. Tammy Baldwin to join him in a call to expand Obamacare subsidies to everyone for health care plans that aren't offered on the federal insurance exchange. That big government dependency idea does indeed belong to Walker and is expected to be too costly to be implemented. The writer then implies that another request made by Wisconsin's insurance commissioner is a Walker original.

JS Online Excerpt:
But Monday, Wisconsin's insurance commissioner, Ted Nickel, also asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to include Wisconsin in a pilot program to help consumers go directly to insurers to buy the health insurance plans that are available through the online exchange.

Except that provision, known as the direct enrollment option, is a feature already written into Obamacare and is available to Wisconsin residents. It just hasn't been able to get any traction because of the program's roll-out problems. So, it's a patented idea that obviously belongs to someone - but not Scott Walker.

So the question is: Knowing Walker's highly publicized opposition to Obamacare, why are Wisconsin's newspapers trying to give Walker false credit for the finer aspects of Obamacare?

Further down in the article, Walker loyalist Rep. Robin Vos continues to roll with the charade.

But Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said he liked both Walker administration proposals and especially favored the larger one giving consumers the greatest number of options.

"I like that even better. More choice is good," Vos said.

LOL..."both."

He likes Walker's proposals for Obamacare? Then why doesn't Walker offer proposals on programs he actually has jurisdiction over ...like Wisconsin's popular BadgerCare program?

If these clowns really want to give Wisconsin consumers more choice, then it's time to accept expanded Medicaid subsidies and use them in a newly revamped Badgercare program made choicier by eliminating all income restrictions. Now THAT is the best option.

Walker's Tools Freak Over His Scrooge Email, Claim Obama Did The Same

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On Facebook and Twitter, Walker's tools are in vandal-style damage control trying to deflect the criticism being leveled at Gov. Scott Walker for his atrociously tacky email asking supporters directly to deny gifts to their children and instead send the money to support his re-election campaign.

One resident troll hyper-ventilating over the subject on the #WIunion tag posted two Obama fund raising examples as proof that Obama in the recent past did the same as Walker. LOL.

Pretty simple stuff here ..."ASK for a donation in lieu of gift." It could be for a baby shower, birthday, wedding or Mitzvah. Obama is asking supporters to tell their gift giving friends about this option.

Example #2

Again, much like the first example, this letter suggests that those supporters reaching milestones in their lives consider forgoing gift cards from well-wishers and ask family and friends to instead donate to Obama for America. Nobody is denying somebody else for Obama. This is fifth grade reading comprehension.

No question that most fundraising requests come off a little clumsy, naive and often demanding, but in no way does Obama ask his supporters to deny their children or somebody else a gift in order to donate to his campaign.

Scott Walker on the other hand, asked his supporters (with children) to specifically NOT purchase gifts for their children this holiday season during Black Friday, and instead give that money to him to support his campaign efforts. Big difference.

Of note in these laughable comparisons, is Walker's foot soldiers never point to Obama's campaign deputy or director for being responsible for whatever they think is wrong with Obama's fund raising letters - it's always Obama did it.

On that note, I highly doubt Walker's email was composed by the 23-year-old campaign deputy Taylor Palmisano. Not to take anything away from her, but the email, despite its poor choreography and obvious meanness towards children, was a personalized yet carefully worded summary accurately depicting Scott Walker's economic and social attitude toward others. My guess is Politifact would rate it "True."

Lastly, considering that most of Walker supporters regularly call Obama a stupid and corrupt politician, to put it mildly, I always find added humor in their attempts justifying Walker's actions by elevating him to Obama's standards. Always a hoot.

Gov. Walker's Holiday Email As Outrageous As Act 10 Itself

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From Scott Walker Watch, Creator/Artist unknown?

Would you believe it? Gov. Scott Walker, who has the personal wealth of Big Business billionaires tucked into his hip pockets, sent an email encouraging supporters NOT to buy gifts for their children during the holidays, but to use that money instead to support his re-election effort.

Walker Black Friday Email Excerpt:
Instead of electronics or toys that will undoubtedly be outdated, broken, or lost by the next Holiday Season, help give your children the gift of a Wisconsin that we can all be proud of. [...] Donate $5, $10 or $25 to help Governor Walker get reelected and save your children from a future of double-digit tax increases and billion dollar budget deficits.

It certainly looks like Scott Walker would steal candy from a baby if it meant one more dollar in his political campaign kitty.

Actually, his supporters should love the fund raising suggestion because in many ways, it's an austerity built on Act 10. This is where budgets are balanced by taking something away from one, in this case from the children, and giving the spoils, actually "savings" in Walker's eyes, to another - himself.

Sorry kids, but your parents are broke. It's a zero sum game and you knew this was coming, and the "haves," that's you kids, will have to forego your usual entitlement of toys and stuff you never really earned or deserved anyways, during the holidays. That's Act 10 on a Christmas card. More accurately, that's Scott Walker on a Christmas card.

I'm convinced that the core premise of the email was not developed by some over-exuberant campaign stooge, but by I-have-nothing-to-do-with-it Gov. Scott Walker himself.

The really crazy part is, is Scott Walker’s fanatical supporters are batshit enough to do it. Anything for the dear leader.

ADDITIONAL TAKES:

Cog Dis - The Walker-Grinch That Stole Christmas

Wisconsin Gazette - Scott Walker: Forget toys for the kids and give money to me

New York Times (Blog) - No Comment Necessary: Spend Money on Politicians, Not Gifts

Think Progress - Governor Tells Supporters To Forgo Buying Children Presents, Give Money To His Campaign Instead

UK Mail Online -Scrooged: Wisconsin governor asked parents to make campaign contributions INSTEAD of buying their children gifts on Black Friday

FreakOut Nation - Gov Scott Walker asks supporters to not give children Christmas presents, but donate to his campaign instead