Sam Mayfield continues to report on events at Madison State Capitol. This report is from last nights rally and protests ... with a few other people commenting about what people in Wisconsin can do now and in the future to get Wisconsin back on track.
Either before or after posting this she evidently proceeded to court to deal her previous arrest by Officer Corcoran.
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Friday, June 17, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
More Strange - Collective Bargaining NOT or Collective Ideology by Republicans
Let's see was it not just a month ago that a $636 million dollar surplus was identified and now to balance the budget the Legislature just has to have collective bargaining in the budget (if the Supreme Court does not go along with them)! The Governor wants to hand out between $6K and $7K tax breaks for every kid in Milwaukee County so they can go to corporate schools ... and he wants to do it for other counties too! Is it not also the case that the Governor is going change rules for Seniorcare and Badgercare so fewer people are eligible ... that is not a tax increase? Does the Governor think that reducing the income of most state and municipal employees income by more than 10% is not a tax increase. Those are just the things I can easily recall ... who are the Republicans kidding ... and Fitzgerald thinks the Democrats are lying? He is just picking on the people he thinks he has prevented from voting ... next time! Ask a preacher's son WWJD!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Extraordinary Session - By Pass Open Meetings - Treat the Public Like Mushrooms
When you read the "DefendWisconsin" State Budget to be Rushed Through Extraordinary Session implications you should panic. Demonstrations are great but they are likely to be too late and the Republicans will get the budget through w/o significant debate and for that matter most of us will not even know what and when things are happening. They are really trying to keep the lid on "publicity" ... counting on as Kapanke (Olsen, Darling, Hopper, et al) that the electorate will sleep through his recall and the "establishment press" will not be able to keep up either ... and the public will sleep through this and there will be no national coverage!
Start calling and emailing and contacting your representatives now! Some group emails for Republicans are provided below to make collective contact easier. Here is an excerpt from the DefendWisconsin article -
Start calling and emailing and contacting your representatives now! Some group emails for Republicans are provided below to make collective contact easier. Here is an excerpt from the DefendWisconsin article -
Here are some of the special features of the extraordinary session:Tell them to stop this and debate the issues and in effect to keep Open Meetings going ... none of this last minute maneuver to keep us in the dark and "feed/treat us like ...".
- No notice of hearing before a committee shall be required other than posting on the legislative bulletin board, and no bulletin of committee hearings shall be published.
- The daily calendar shall be in effect immediately upon posting on the legislative bulletin boards. A printed calendar isn’t required.
- Any point of order shall be decided within one hour.
- There can be No motions to postpone action to a day or time certain.
- Any motion to advance a proposal and any motion to message a proposal to the other house may be adopted by a majority of those present and voting.
- The session can be expanded to include any other legislation, including new legislation.
Access WI Legislature
Sorry it is not complete but it does provide access to many in a group format so you can write one email and send as bcc so each gets it individually w/o disclosing other recipients .
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Walkerville when it is not freezing ...soon ...!? 6/4-6/20 Budget Awareness!
The We are Wisconsin alliance is applying for a permit for this Saturday through June 20th to camp out on the Mifflin Street side of the Capitol Square in downtown Madison! If you did not know it there were people camping outside the Capitol way back when in the freezing cold, especially when access to the Capitol was non-existent to difficult, which unfortunately is still the case despite court orders.
From the article at DefendWisconsin.org and Wisconsin State Journal -
From the article at DefendWisconsin.org and Wisconsin State Journal -
Wiith lawmakers gearing up for a vote on the state budget, a “Walkerville” camp similar to the one that sprang up during the protests at the state Capitol earlier this year may be returning this weekend — this time to the terraces of Mifflin and Carroll streets.
We Are Wisconsin, an alliance of community groups, labor unions and others, has asked the city for a permit to set up the camp across from the Capitol to provide information about Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposals and efforts to recall Republican legislators who voted to eliminate bargaining rights for most public employees.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Rally - We Are Wisconsin and Wisconsin Wave 5/14
Today's RALLY! Great sound track in video of stills!
WSJ 5/14/11 pm: Thousands gather at Capitol to ‘keep the pressure on’ Walker
WSJ 5/14/11 pm: Thousands gather at Capitol to ‘keep the pressure on’ Walker
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Upd - Collective Bargaining and Recalls and Budgets
Unfortunately the Republican game plan seems to be on track! If the courts (whichever) give them a favorable ruling they are even further along. Favorable means the "Open Meetings" laws were not violated. Governor Walker will have successfully destroyed public unions and further lowered the wage, benefits and protections that any individual in any job may be able to obtain in Wisconsin.
When GAB was accorded its plan not to hold any recall elections until July the State Senate became the only place that the new Budget could be stopped or altered. If recalls had been executed sooner putting the "Collective Bargaining" argument back in the new budget might have been problematic. If the Democrats had regained control of the Senate, changed the make up of the JFC and consequently had leverage on the Budget we might actually have seen a stalemate (euphemism for bipartisanship). Now with the JFC barreling along like a "high speed train" to complete its work and get the budget done ASAP before June 30th (and recalls) the FAB14 may only have one recourse.
The Fitzgeralds have the cards to help Governor Walker have his way. Are the threats of "recalls" sufficient to cause some State Senators to either want to slow things down or put them more in a frame of mind of "going down with the ship" - after all Walker will always give me a job! Some State Senators should keep their bags packed - this should be pretty clear to anyone watching the scene.
A recent AP story in WSJ may help anyone wanting to relive the past several months!
GOP leaders: If there's no ruling by June, union vote could come in committee
Update: It never happens by accident. Who was leaking to whom or who was pressuring whom or what was being traded?? The Fitzgeralds were talking to AP knowing that this was coming down - that's what I think?
When GAB was accorded its plan not to hold any recall elections until July the State Senate became the only place that the new Budget could be stopped or altered. If recalls had been executed sooner putting the "Collective Bargaining" argument back in the new budget might have been problematic. If the Democrats had regained control of the Senate, changed the make up of the JFC and consequently had leverage on the Budget we might actually have seen a stalemate (euphemism for bipartisanship). Now with the JFC barreling along like a "high speed train" to complete its work and get the budget done ASAP before June 30th (and recalls) the FAB14 may only have one recourse.
The Fitzgeralds have the cards to help Governor Walker have his way. Are the threats of "recalls" sufficient to cause some State Senators to either want to slow things down or put them more in a frame of mind of "going down with the ship" - after all Walker will always give me a job! Some State Senators should keep their bags packed - this should be pretty clear to anyone watching the scene.
A recent AP story in WSJ may help anyone wanting to relive the past several months!
GOP leaders: If there's no ruling by June, union vote could come in committee
Update: It never happens by accident. Who was leaking to whom or who was pressuring whom or what was being traded?? The Fitzgeralds were talking to AP knowing that this was coming down - that's what I think?
Thursday, April 28, 2011
2013 Who is Paul #Ryan ? #NPR / #WPR 4/28/11 report - Still the same #Speaker in 2015
GOP Budget Architect Heads Home To Mixed Reviews by Chuck Quirmbach
From the source - the title will take you to audio (4min) and transcript -"He's gonna save us money by cutting some of our social programs, but yet he's going to give that money, that same money, back in tax cuts to the people that least need them?" Prell said. "To me, that is pretty much lying — that's two-faced, that's dishonest, that's Paul Ryan in a nutshell."
Prell said he doesn't believe Ryan's argument that trimming tax loopholes for the wealthy and corporations would offset cuts in tax rates.
Ryan acknowledges the House budget is going to have a tough time passing the Senate and competing with the president's proposal, which seeks smaller changes in Medicare. When asked at one session if it'll take a Republican election sweep next year to get his program enacted, he said he would push for compromise this year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paul Ryan Cosponsors New Fetal Personhood - Bill Posted: 01/09/2013 12:34 pm EST- HuffingtonPost
WI 1848 Forward: v2 2013 Who is Paul #Ryan ? #NPR / #WPR 4/28/11 report : #Fetal Position : #NARAL #WOW #Janesville
WI 1848 Forward: 2013 Who is Paul #Ryan ? #NPR / #WPR 4/28/11 report : #Fetal Position : #NARAL #WOW #Moral ?
Monday, April 25, 2011
The ALEC way -Creating True and Lasting Budget Reform in Your State
You have to be patient to listen to this .... be not afraid ... you hope!
Something to do ... now!
ALEC Spring Meeting (4/29) Cincinnati Ohio - Rally Against
From 12/10
Something to do ... now!
ALEC Spring Meeting (4/29) Cincinnati Ohio - Rally Against
From 12/10
Friday, April 15, 2011
Upd. - LFB - StateWide Estimates are built from "locality numbers" - pls provide!!
The Friday night ... nobody is paying attention game!!!
Update: I would like to know the methodology and no I am not casting doubt but assumptions do matter! It also matters whether (and at what level) data is aggregated upwards since situations vary from county to county and locality to locality. 4/16
Walker budget would increase property taxes slightly, projection says - AP
From WSJ ... they do not provide reference to LFB ... Click title ... appears to be pdf file ... but just summary ...from LFB! Somebody ran the details ... wrong or right as they may be ... and if they have not they can ... and if they have not then statewide numbers are really meaningless ... you just cannot claim they vary widely and not know or you know!!!
Update: I would like to know the methodology and no I am not casting doubt but assumptions do matter! It also matters whether (and at what level) data is aggregated upwards since situations vary from county to county and locality to locality. 4/16
Walker budget would increase property taxes slightly, projection says - AP
From WSJ ... they do not provide reference to LFB ... Click title ... appears to be pdf file ... but just summary ...from LFB! Somebody ran the details ... wrong or right as they may be ... and if they have not they can ... and if they have not then statewide numbers are really meaningless ... you just cannot claim they vary widely and not know or you know!!!
A new projection shows that property taxes statewide would increase slightly over the next two years under Gov. Scott Walker's budget.
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau analysis released Friday projected a 0.8 percent tax bill increase on the bills that arrive in December and a 0.4 percent increase in 2012. Those estimates are based on a median valued home of around $158,000. ...
Walker attempts to hold property tax increases in check with his budget proposal that largely prevents local taxing authorities from raising property taxes to cover cuts in aid.
Congress - Check and Checkmate - Sticky Fingers Budget
Sticky fingers refers to holding the piece in chess .. remove your fingers and it's final ... we frequently have a hard time learning this rule ... Click the title for story!
... The TPM is worth reading in total ... I did not let go of my piece ;-}
#GOP #HiddenAgenda #1% WI 1848 Forward: #Congress - Check and Checkmate - Sticky Fingers Budget #TPMDC
TPMDC
Pandemonium! Dems Jam Republicans With Even More Conservative Budget
The vote was on the Republican Study Committee's alternative budget -- a radical plan that annihilates the social contract in America by putting the GOP budget on steroids. Deeper tax cuts for the wealthy, more severe entitlement rollbacks. ...
But today that formula didn't hold. In an attempt to highlight deep divides in the Republican caucus. Dems switched their votes -- from "no" to "present." ...
Panic ensued. In the House, legislation passes by a simple majority of members voting. The Dems took themselves out of the equation, leaving Republicans to decide whether the House should adopt the more-conservative RSC budget instead of the one authored by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan. As Dems flipped to present, Republicans realized that a majority of their members had indeed gone on the record in support of the RSC plan -- and if the vote closed, it would pass. That would be a slap in the face to Ryan, and a politically toxic outcome for the Republican party....
In the end, the plan went down by a small margin, 119-136. A full 172 Democrats voted "present."
... The TPM is worth reading in total ... I did not let go of my piece ;-}
#GOP #HiddenAgenda #1% WI 1848 Forward: #Congress - Check and Checkmate - Sticky Fingers Budget #TPMDC
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Update - JFC - Darling Vos confused about meaning of Majority!
This starts with the last JFC session I followed as held in Madison! The Darling, Vos confusion is a bit down the page. At least this provides more than a soundbite!
4/4 JFC in progress - La Follette suppressed - DNR up
Thousands expected at Stevens Point budget ( JFC ) hearing - from Madison.com 4/6
Press all cover one story and poorly cover the JFC hearings! That's Show Biz!! 4/8 Upd Forward
JFC in Superior - 2nd Public Budget Hearing
JFC Budget Hearing - Superior Telegram - Friday - Local Impressions and MN
JFC Hearing - West Allis 4/11 About Half-Way Impressions
Few Heard at WI Budget "Hearing" in Milwaukee, but School Choice Advocate Denounces Walker's Subsidy for Rich
Arp - Chan. 3000 video JFC West Allis 4/11, et al
JFC Hearing -4/13 Neenah, Pickard Civic Auditorium ~1:15pm
From WisPolitics.com - click on Title! 4/14
I know that Vos was listening more than I did, frequently taking 30 seconds, telling people to stop applauding, but I did listen via WisEye.org to a lot of the testimony. The above description is just nothing like the "truth". The only way you could construe it to his soundbite would be to say that the majority of people, discussing the impacts of the proposed budget on PACE, CCAP, BadgerCare, SeniorCare, UWSystem, tobacco control, Medicaid, etc., took their two minutes and then were implicitly asking for a tax increase! It did not happen! It is true that in Neenah more people did start to suggest they were willing to pay more taxes and that the legislature should look for solutions beyond cuts.
So Vos thinks there are two different majorities and Darling thinks the people who come to hearings do not count in the majority. There was nothing "overwhelming" about the November election. Maybe people who devote a day in order to get two minutes before the JFC should have brought petitions of their supporters - maybe next time!
Darling's Town Hall meetings attended by thousands of silent people - when, where - anyone have video?
How can she know if they are silent?
4/4 JFC in progress - La Follette suppressed - DNR up
Thousands expected at Stevens Point budget ( JFC ) hearing - from Madison.com 4/6
Press all cover one story and poorly cover the JFC hearings! That's Show Biz!! 4/8 Upd Forward
JFC in Superior - 2nd Public Budget Hearing
JFC Budget Hearing - Superior Telegram - Friday - Local Impressions and MN
JFC Hearing - West Allis 4/11 About Half-Way Impressions
Few Heard at WI Budget "Hearing" in Milwaukee, but School Choice Advocate Denounces Walker's Subsidy for Rich
Arp - Chan. 3000 video JFC West Allis 4/11, et al
JFC Hearing -4/13 Neenah, Pickard Civic Auditorium ~1:15pm
From WisPolitics.com - click on Title! 4/14
Vos -“We traveled the state and heard from thousands of people,” said Representative Robin Vos (R-Rochester), the Assembly co-chair of the committee. “While the majority demanded higher taxes, the overwhelming majority who voted in November demanded a balanced budget without raising taxes with a commitment on job creation.”
Darling -“It’s great hearing from people and we will certainly take their ideas and opinions under consideration as we move forward,” said Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), the committee’s Senate co-chair. “Still, we must keep in mind the majority of people who don’t attend public hearings.”
I know that Vos was listening more than I did, frequently taking 30 seconds, telling people to stop applauding, but I did listen via WisEye.org to a lot of the testimony. The above description is just nothing like the "truth". The only way you could construe it to his soundbite would be to say that the majority of people, discussing the impacts of the proposed budget on PACE, CCAP, BadgerCare, SeniorCare, UWSystem, tobacco control, Medicaid, etc., took their two minutes and then were implicitly asking for a tax increase! It did not happen! It is true that in Neenah more people did start to suggest they were willing to pay more taxes and that the legislature should look for solutions beyond cuts.
So Vos thinks there are two different majorities and Darling thinks the people who come to hearings do not count in the majority. There was nothing "overwhelming" about the November election. Maybe people who devote a day in order to get two minutes before the JFC should have brought petitions of their supporters - maybe next time!
Darling's Town Hall meetings attended by thousands of silent people - when, where - anyone have video?
“Since the introduction of the budget, I’ve held a number of town hall meetings with my constituents,” said Darling. “While not a unanimous opinion, there is a large silent majority out there who supports balancing the budget by reducing the size of government and opposes raising taxes.”
How can she know if they are silent?
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
JFC Hearing -4/13 Neenah, Pickard Civic Auditorium ~1:15pm
Listening / Watching via WisEye.org
It is easy to say that the same issues with the same tenor keep being expressed but that is not quite true and after all I have not been able to listen to each and every individual. During each hearing there has been a different emphasis, especially as they relate to the region of the state where the hearing is being held. Some very articulate testimony was provided about PACE. Several "Court Clerks" gave quantitative and qualitative testimony about CCAP, how it has saved money and even generates revenue from as far away as California. These were more statewide issues as was the testimony regarding education and health care, although the examples are personal and of the individuals personal or professional experience. There again have been some who encourage fiscal responsibility but between Stevens Point, Superior, West Allis and Neenah the background has changed to more and more about increasing taxes, stopping corporate welfare, not just cuts to programs. As I listen now, a member of Jonah, self-described as a faith based organization, is "calling on our better nature" to support the people of Wisconsin and question (my words) the wisdom of this budget. Another member of Jonah, a pastor, is now offering testimony in prayer form, for "shared sacrifice" (I have really shortened it).
It is easy to say that the same issues with the same tenor keep being expressed but that is not quite true and after all I have not been able to listen to each and every individual. During each hearing there has been a different emphasis, especially as they relate to the region of the state where the hearing is being held. Some very articulate testimony was provided about PACE. Several "Court Clerks" gave quantitative and qualitative testimony about CCAP, how it has saved money and even generates revenue from as far away as California. These were more statewide issues as was the testimony regarding education and health care, although the examples are personal and of the individuals personal or professional experience. There again have been some who encourage fiscal responsibility but between Stevens Point, Superior, West Allis and Neenah the background has changed to more and more about increasing taxes, stopping corporate welfare, not just cuts to programs. As I listen now, a member of Jonah, self-described as a faith based organization, is "calling on our better nature" to support the people of Wisconsin and question (my words) the wisdom of this budget. Another member of Jonah, a pastor, is now offering testimony in prayer form, for "shared sacrifice" (I have really shortened it).
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Few Heard at WI Budget "Hearing" in Milwaukee, but School Choice Advocate Denounces Walker's Subsidy for Rich
Click on Title
From the source PRWatch ...
From the source PRWatch ...
At Monday’s public hearing in Milwaukee on Governor Walker’s budget, Wisconsin Republicans once again resorted to anti-participatory tactics to avoid criticism of their far-right agenda. Despite these efforts, strong criticisms were squeezed-in by longtime Milwaukee school choice advocate Howard Fuller, calling GOP efforts to lift income limits on school vouchers an “outrageous” program “that subsidizes rich people.”
"I never got into this to give someone like me $6,500 to send their kid to Marquette High School (tuition $15,000 per year). . . This is where I get off the train, I'm not going to go anywhere in America and fight for a program that subsidizes rich people."
Arp - Chan. 3000 video JFC West Allis 4/11, et al
Channel 3000 ... video has advertising and uses Flash ... 2+ minutes ... Title Click will take you to their story page! Hmmm! Nothing in the Wisconsin State Journal today - guess JFC did not happen! WPR carried a a few testimony pieces to give a good sense of what went on!
JSOnline has more reporting ... to give more insight into issues ... and some of the inside "politics".
Most defend targeted programs By Tom Tolan of the Journal Sentinel April 11, 2011
The JSOnline was more of the nitty gritty ...
All Politics Blog ... 4/11 ... for now ... later see their Archive
Picture Album ...Heroes and Villains ... you pick!
Hundreds attend budget hearing
____________________
From this blog ....
wi1848forward - jfc hearing west allis
JSOnline has more reporting ... to give more insight into issues ... and some of the inside "politics".
Most defend targeted programs By Tom Tolan of the Journal Sentinel April 11, 2011
The JSOnline was more of the nitty gritty ...
All Politics Blog ... 4/11 ... for now ... later see their Archive
Picture Album ...Heroes and Villains ... you pick!
Hundreds attend budget hearing
____________________
From this blog ....
wi1848forward - jfc hearing west allis
Monday, April 11, 2011
JFC Hearing - West Allis 4/11 About Half-Way Impressions
Recent Past ... seems to be frequently visited !
___________________
6:50 Appear to be cut off on WisEye.org ... assume they are still going forward with local
6:30pm - Discussing / debating after all on the speaker list (closed at noon) how to continue ... maybe for a year ... no mikes probably about 7pm ... Vos reading names ... Grigsby and Taylor trying to get some more hearing time!
5pm ... being tweeted ... pictures of people turned from testifying away are being placed on chairs at West Allis State Fair Park
Previous Links:
JFC in Superior - 2nd Public Budget Hearing
JFC Budget Hearing - Superior Telegram - Friday - Local Impressions and MN
Press all cover one story and poorly cover the JFC hearings! That's Show Biz!! 4/8 Upd Forward
Watch it on WisEye.org ... at least another 4 hours to run! It is very difficult to give an impression of the depth of feeling and passion that speakers bring to their 2 minutes. Some pro-budget or Walker (and usually wanting lower property taxes) and many others with specific issues with the budget. At 1:37pm, just as I type this, testimony is being given where the speaker "attests" that they have been listening to all the testimony and it is almost completely about how this budget is going to negatively impact families in Wisconsin (not a quote but a reasonable paraphrase).
There is some contention about how many people are going to be allowed to speak. Given the population density of the area maybe more days should have been given to testimony. It has been said that all written testimony is going to be scanned and will be available to legislators (and thus us). Can we assume it will be in some organized fashion or a linear stream - the latter is hardly useful.
Of particular interest is the speaker who identified herself as having arrived at 5:30am with a group of others. She was most interested in supporting Milwaukee Public School system. But, as part of her aside, she mentioned that her group was there to set up the "drop box" system so working people could drop off written testimony. In addition they were setting up a "video" program for people to provide testimony - I would like to know more about that - just what was being done? When I earlier saw some tweets about those drive-by stations I mistakenly assumed the JFC had set them up. What is going to happen to the video - hope WisEye.org picks it up and makes it available!
___________________
6:50 Appear to be cut off on WisEye.org ... assume they are still going forward with local
6:30pm - Discussing / debating after all on the speaker list (closed at noon) how to continue ... maybe for a year ... no mikes probably about 7pm ... Vos reading names ... Grigsby and Taylor trying to get some more hearing time!
5pm ... being tweeted ... pictures of people turned from testifying away are being placed on chairs at West Allis State Fair Park
Previous Links:
JFC in Superior - 2nd Public Budget Hearing
JFC Budget Hearing - Superior Telegram - Friday - Local Impressions and MN
Press all cover one story and poorly cover the JFC hearings! That's Show Biz!! 4/8 Upd Forward
Watch it on WisEye.org ... at least another 4 hours to run! It is very difficult to give an impression of the depth of feeling and passion that speakers bring to their 2 minutes. Some pro-budget or Walker (and usually wanting lower property taxes) and many others with specific issues with the budget. At 1:37pm, just as I type this, testimony is being given where the speaker "attests" that they have been listening to all the testimony and it is almost completely about how this budget is going to negatively impact families in Wisconsin (not a quote but a reasonable paraphrase).
There is some contention about how many people are going to be allowed to speak. Given the population density of the area maybe more days should have been given to testimony. It has been said that all written testimony is going to be scanned and will be available to legislators (and thus us). Can we assume it will be in some organized fashion or a linear stream - the latter is hardly useful.
Of particular interest is the speaker who identified herself as having arrived at 5:30am with a group of others. She was most interested in supporting Milwaukee Public School system. But, as part of her aside, she mentioned that her group was there to set up the "drop box" system so working people could drop off written testimony. In addition they were setting up a "video" program for people to provide testimony - I would like to know more about that - just what was being done? When I earlier saw some tweets about those drive-by stations I mistakenly assumed the JFC had set them up. What is going to happen to the video - hope WisEye.org picks it up and makes it available!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
WI in the State of Washington Capitol Rally
At least one of Wisconsin's State Senator's is helping out in person!
Headline :
Thousands protest in Olympia over proposed budget cuts
From the source ... click Title to see ...
The number of protesters grew from hundreds at the beginning of the week to thousands by Friday. The State Patrol estimated 7,000 people gathered outside the main legislative building, while labor-group leaders put the figure at thousands more.
In earlier protests and rallies, demonstrators have been sleeping overnight on the hard marble floor of the Capitol, and more than a dozen protesters were arrested on Thursday after trying to storm Gov. Chris Gregoire's office. A handful of young protesters were still in the Capitol rotunda Friday night with sleeping bags to stay overnight.
Headline :
Thousands protest in Olympia over proposed budget cuts
From the source ... click Title to see ...The number of protesters grew from hundreds at the beginning of the week to thousands by Friday. The State Patrol estimated 7,000 people gathered outside the main legislative building, while labor-group leaders put the figure at thousands more.
In earlier protests and rallies, demonstrators have been sleeping overnight on the hard marble floor of the Capitol, and more than a dozen protesters were arrested on Thursday after trying to storm Gov. Chris Gregoire's office. A handful of young protesters were still in the Capitol rotunda Friday night with sleeping bags to stay overnight.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
JFC Budget Hearing - Superior Telegram - Friday - Local Impressions and MN
A source from MN added after original post (has trail of related stories) -
News From 91.3 KUWS Public testimony overwhelmingly against Walker budget
The Superior Telegram paper online is dated Friday, April 8th, 2011. It would be more ideal to see a Saturday or Sunday version - maybe later! Title click takes you to first hour(?) coverage of JFC. Three articles that seem strongly related are identified. The first below about the JFC Hearing is from that source -
News From 91.3 KUWS Public testimony overwhelmingly against Walker budget
The Superior Telegram paper online is dated Friday, April 8th, 2011. It would be more ideal to see a Saturday or Sunday version - maybe later! Title click takes you to first hour(?) coverage of JFC. Three articles that seem strongly related are identified. The first below about the JFC Hearing is from that source -
The first hour of public testimony on Gov. Walker’s proposed budget Friday in Superior covered a wide cross-section of issues. Concerns were raised about cuts to education and health programs; tourism spending was praised; flexibility for university campuses was lofted.
... Janice Peterson with the Aging and Disability Resource Center in Barron County urged senators to delete provisions in the budget that affect the Medicaid program and preserve SeniorCare as it is. The majority of people served through the Barron ADRC are living at or just below the poverty level, she said, with some forced to choose between buying needed medications or food. Forcing all seniors to enroll in Medicare Part D would cost her clients $180 to $1,600 per year, Peterson said, while the SeniorCare program provides prescription drug coverage for an annual fee of $30. It could also be the first step in abolishing SeniorCare.Retirements cut DMV staff in half
Lines at the Superior Department of Motor Vehicles are growing longer. Half the center’s staff retired, and with the current state of the budget, it is uncertain when more will be hired. .... A customer who stopped by the center Thursday afternoon said he spent about 55 minutes in line and the lobby was full of customers, waiting.Budget impacts schools
In Superior, the school district faces a $2.7 million reduction in revenue for the 2011-12 school year. The Maple school district estimates it will lose about $900,000 in funding. ....Christina Kintop, a member of the Superior School Board, said she laments the cuts to school funding but worries more about the long-term implications of Gov. Walker’s budget proposal. ... “I personally believe the route they’re going down will destroy public education,” Kintop said. ....
Bonnie Baker, a member of the Superior School Board and secretary of the Douglas County Republican Party, said cuts can be difficult to accept, but they are needed to put the state on the path of fiscal responsibility.
When the School Board postponed a decision on art and music spending at its meeting in March, Baker said it was a very difficult vote.
Friday, April 8, 2011
JFC in Superior - 2nd Public Budget Hearing
This morning I put together my impressions of the JFC meeting in Stevens Point on Thursday. I provide the link below.
Press all cover one story and poorly cover the JFC hearings! That's Show Biz!! 4/8
Today I listened and viewed another three hours of the JFC hearings in Superior, again with some technical difficulties. One may be tempted to excuse the lack of coverage because of the Supreme Court election issues - I am not willing to accept the excuse. The press coverage of JFC hearings was minimal even today ... maybe I have not followed closely enough but there have been some notes from WisPolitics.com that provide some flavor of the hearings today! The point is that although more and more people may be following sources like WisPolitics.com or TheWheelerReport most people do not. Thus, they live in a vacuum. They have little or no information. They may be able to tell you that there is a terrible mess in Waukesha and even the final vote totals but not what the people of northwestern Wisconsin said about the Governor's Budget Repair Bill nor the Budget Bill and least of all the statements those citizens directed toward the legislature (in general) - not just the JFC.
Perhaps I will be surprised Saturday or Sunday by the printed press, or the public radio and television coverage or most surprised by even some of the local Madison television (they might borrow video from local stations in Superior for their slant) - so surprise me and I will congratulate you!
I can say in summary that the irritating little "2 minute timer" was at least further from the microphone ... maybe someone was listening ... I never heard it ...but some speakers made mention of "hearing" their time was up. I will take some short cuts and say that the "voice of the people" was similar to yesterday. It did seem a little more critical, direct and strident to me. I heard more, today, talk about taxes. I heard more, in my words, about how local governments and school districts had not been given tools but rather put in a straight jacket - unable to make decisions about spending more to support their communities even as they wanted to. I heard a number of people talk about the personal impacts on their ability to care for family members - and generalize this to not saving government money but increasing pain and suffering . Indians, several separate speakers, also came forward and expressed, I would say uniformly, their distress with the budget. I heard a great deal of talk about how the budget was going to negatively impact jobs and main street (i.e., kill local business and jobs). Unions and agriculture were expressing concerns as well.
As I indicated I formed these impressions from the several hours of listening yesterday and today. You can look and listening to WisEye.org videos and make up your own mind! I encourage you to do so.
Press all cover one story and poorly cover the JFC hearings! That's Show Biz!! 4/8
Today I listened and viewed another three hours of the JFC hearings in Superior, again with some technical difficulties. One may be tempted to excuse the lack of coverage because of the Supreme Court election issues - I am not willing to accept the excuse. The press coverage of JFC hearings was minimal even today ... maybe I have not followed closely enough but there have been some notes from WisPolitics.com that provide some flavor of the hearings today! The point is that although more and more people may be following sources like WisPolitics.com or TheWheelerReport most people do not. Thus, they live in a vacuum. They have little or no information. They may be able to tell you that there is a terrible mess in Waukesha and even the final vote totals but not what the people of northwestern Wisconsin said about the Governor's Budget Repair Bill nor the Budget Bill and least of all the statements those citizens directed toward the legislature (in general) - not just the JFC.
Perhaps I will be surprised Saturday or Sunday by the printed press, or the public radio and television coverage or most surprised by even some of the local Madison television (they might borrow video from local stations in Superior for their slant) - so surprise me and I will congratulate you!
I can say in summary that the irritating little "2 minute timer" was at least further from the microphone ... maybe someone was listening ... I never heard it ...but some speakers made mention of "hearing" their time was up. I will take some short cuts and say that the "voice of the people" was similar to yesterday. It did seem a little more critical, direct and strident to me. I heard more, today, talk about taxes. I heard more, in my words, about how local governments and school districts had not been given tools but rather put in a straight jacket - unable to make decisions about spending more to support their communities even as they wanted to. I heard a number of people talk about the personal impacts on their ability to care for family members - and generalize this to not saving government money but increasing pain and suffering . Indians, several separate speakers, also came forward and expressed, I would say uniformly, their distress with the budget. I heard a great deal of talk about how the budget was going to negatively impact jobs and main street (i.e., kill local business and jobs). Unions and agriculture were expressing concerns as well.
As I indicated I formed these impressions from the several hours of listening yesterday and today. You can look and listening to WisEye.org videos and make up your own mind! I encourage you to do so.
Press all cover one story and poorly cover the JFC hearings! That's Show Biz!! 4/8 Upd Forward
Yesterday we were setup to believe that there would be a big turnout at Stevens Pt. when the JFC convened its budget hearings.
http://wi1848forward.blogspot.com/2011/04/thousands-expected-at-stevens-point.html
Today we are told that few showed up.
Few attend budget hearing in Stevens Point
The hearings were available on WisEye.org and could be listened/seen remotely. Either they or I had technical difficulties from time to time but I think I had at least 3 to 4 hours of listening time and viewing time limited by the video camera shot. I am disappointed with the reporting in general, both the unattributed hype about turnout and the very limited coverage of content even in a summarized form.
My impression is that there seemed to be about 100 to 200 people most of the time in the space. The most annoying thing was the "2 minute warning" timer constantly ringing out. I suppose that the legislators were afraid to silently keep time and then politely interrupt the speaker - I would encourage them to be brave next time. Another impression is that a good number of speakers had prepared materials and exhibits to provide the JFC - but the JFC initially only seemed to have an ad hoc process for collecting them. I would like to see a list of exhibits and speakers if possible - is it available somewhere, public record, open meetings request?
There certainly seemed to be a partisan divide about people sticking to just 2 minutes ... one side - we have to keep to it or not everyone will be heard... if there were so few how about some flexibility - fairness? There were constant reminders that people should stop clapping their approval of speakers - it would lengthen the process too much.
If people only have two minutes they have to be extremely focused on a limited issue - not that they do not have a lot of issues. I suspect that is why the number of exhibits were prepared by speakers. People knew they were going to have to say just a little bit about big issues. Optimistically they wanted it in the JFC record.
My summary would be that I did not hear people supporting this budget. Perhaps one would not expect it in such a context - although in Madison there were a whole group of people who supported the Budget Repair Bill (how and where they came from remains a source of contention).
I heard a few people talking about raising taxes (especially on beer). I heard people saying they should (JFC, Legislature, Governor) start over on the budget. I heard people express that their communities, schools and libaries were being severely constrained by this budget (perhaps meaning the Budget Repair Bill). I heard young and old say the UW System should remain intact. I heard a lot of testimony on the human costs of this budget and how it is going to create more problems and not really save any dollars.
How many people did provide testimony?
Multiple choice: less than 25, 26-50, 51-100, more than 100?
The NEXT Day -
JFC in Superior - 2nd Public Budget Hearing
JFC Budget Hearing - Superior Telegram - Friday - Local Impressions and MN
http://wi1848forward.blogspot.com/2011/04/thousands-expected-at-stevens-point.html
Today we are told that few showed up.
Few attend budget hearing in Stevens Point
The hearings were available on WisEye.org and could be listened/seen remotely. Either they or I had technical difficulties from time to time but I think I had at least 3 to 4 hours of listening time and viewing time limited by the video camera shot. I am disappointed with the reporting in general, both the unattributed hype about turnout and the very limited coverage of content even in a summarized form.
My impression is that there seemed to be about 100 to 200 people most of the time in the space. The most annoying thing was the "2 minute warning" timer constantly ringing out. I suppose that the legislators were afraid to silently keep time and then politely interrupt the speaker - I would encourage them to be brave next time. Another impression is that a good number of speakers had prepared materials and exhibits to provide the JFC - but the JFC initially only seemed to have an ad hoc process for collecting them. I would like to see a list of exhibits and speakers if possible - is it available somewhere, public record, open meetings request?
There certainly seemed to be a partisan divide about people sticking to just 2 minutes ... one side - we have to keep to it or not everyone will be heard... if there were so few how about some flexibility - fairness? There were constant reminders that people should stop clapping their approval of speakers - it would lengthen the process too much.
If people only have two minutes they have to be extremely focused on a limited issue - not that they do not have a lot of issues. I suspect that is why the number of exhibits were prepared by speakers. People knew they were going to have to say just a little bit about big issues. Optimistically they wanted it in the JFC record.
My summary would be that I did not hear people supporting this budget. Perhaps one would not expect it in such a context - although in Madison there were a whole group of people who supported the Budget Repair Bill (how and where they came from remains a source of contention).
I heard a few people talking about raising taxes (especially on beer). I heard people saying they should (JFC, Legislature, Governor) start over on the budget. I heard people express that their communities, schools and libaries were being severely constrained by this budget (perhaps meaning the Budget Repair Bill). I heard young and old say the UW System should remain intact. I heard a lot of testimony on the human costs of this budget and how it is going to create more problems and not really save any dollars.
How many people did provide testimony?
Multiple choice: less than 25, 26-50, 51-100, more than 100?
The NEXT Day -
JFC in Superior - 2nd Public Budget Hearing
JFC Budget Hearing - Superior Telegram - Friday - Local Impressions and MN
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Thousands expected at Stevens Point budget ( JFC ) hearing - from Madison.com 4/6
Very short but very important ... Scott Walker ...everyone must have left Madison and headed for the JFC budget hearing ... but I still see cars and people! Click Title!
... otherwise there would not be anyone in Stevens Point because only Madison cares ... a tweet to remind you that you can mms://71.87.25.133/remote and later ... check WisEye.org schedule -
Cut and Paste into Browser ... in Firefox ... it then starts up Windows Media Player ... at least on my XP system ... listening right now .... so far the 1000's from Madison have not arrived!!
Try just clicking here ... works for me ... so long as they are live!
"You've got a world driven by Madison, and a world driven by everybody else out across the majority of the rest of the state of Wisconsin," Walker said at a press conference in the Capitol.
... otherwise there would not be anyone in Stevens Point because only Madison cares ... a tweet to remind you that you can mms://71.87.25.133/remote and later ... check WisEye.org schedule -
JFC LIVE from Stevens Point. Watch LIVE webcast: mms://71.87.25.133/remote - Taped HD version will be broadcast later on Charter 995.
Cut and Paste into Browser ... in Firefox ... it then starts up Windows Media Player ... at least on my XP system ... listening right now .... so far the 1000's from Madison have not arrived!!
Try just clicking here ... works for me ... so long as they are live!
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