Featured States News

Mary Lee Cerillo on Steve Hunt's Anti-Gay Obsession

Blue Virginia — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:44:08 +0000

Original Author:

noreply@blogger.com (Lowell)

Recently retired Sully District (Fairfax County) Democratic Committee Chair Mary Lee Cerillo asked me to post her 2005 letter to the editor demanding the resignation of Steve Hunt, former Fairfax County School Board member and now Republican candidate for Virginia State Senate in the 37th District. Mary Lee writes, "We can't let Steve Hunt win this race. It's crucial we keep a majority in the State Senate." Based on the information in this letter, there's no doubt that Hunt is a bizarre, homophobic character. No thanks!

To the Editor:

Blog Postings This Week Focus On Water, Open Records

The Political Environment — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:52:00 +0000

Original Author:

jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)

I will use the blog this week to reference documents from several Open Records requests, or commentary based on records or their requests.

Here is the first: an account of the close-and-easy relationship between the general managers of the water utilities in Milwaukee and Waukesha.

Now I know it makes sense that these officials exchange information, as the fraternity of water utility managers in Wisconsin is small.

And in this case, Waukesha's Dan Duchniak and Milwaukee's Carrie Lewis sit on the regional planning commission's water study advisory committee, where they both voted to approve a preliminary (hint: read as 'soon to-be-qpproved.') recommendation approving a sale of Lake Michigan water by Milwaukee to Waukesha.

You can read a lengthy description of the study's conclusion, here: Work you way to p. 57, fyi.

But is Dan Duchniak the best source of legal information for Carrie Lewis if she has a technical legal question about how diversion negotiations as spelled out in the Great Lakes Compact and in Wisconsin statutes?

Wisconsin

To Help Price Water, Milwaukee Decides Against Consultants - - Delighting Waukesha's Consultants

The Political Environment — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:26:00 +0000

Original Author:

jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)

When Milwaukee decided about a year ago to sell Lake Michigan water out of the Great Lakes basin to New Berlin, the big city's Common Council also advertised for a consultant to help it determine the true value of water.

It did so because it had no economic basis upon which to evaluate a modest, so-called regional cooperation fee it eventually accepted from New Berlin - - $75,000 annually - - as compensation for the agreement above and beyond the per-gallon charges set by the State Public Service Commission.

The plan was a good one: have an expert's study in hand as an aide negotiating a far bigger sale with Waukesha. (A brace of consultants is helping Waukesha with various legal, environmental, media and strategic matters as it prepares to formally apply for a Great Lakes diversion, and how much it will pay is sure to be a key issue when it comes to picking a seller.)

But Milwaukee didn't like the water pricing consultant proposals it received in response to a solicitation, and along with what I have been told was not-so-subtle resistance from the Milwaukee Water Works - - where there is in-house balking at anything from outsiders that might block sales from its under-utilized capacity - - Milwaukee has decided against getting independent opinion and expertise.

Wisconsin

Will School Districts That Gambled And Lost Seek Bailouts?

The Political Environment — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:35:37 +0000

Original Author:

jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)

Waukesha and four others stand to lose big, but will they look for handouts?

Wisconsin

Rep. Artur Davis comes to Montgomery (updated with Politico mention)

Left in Alabama — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:35:18 +0000

Hat tip to Kristopher from TWAY for the heads up.

Via Facebook, the Davis campaign is hosting the grand opening of their Montgomery headquarters on Tuesday the 19th from 5pm to 7pm. I'll be there and I hope some of you will too! I've been waiting for some word about a Montgomery office from the campaign -- even though I know it was a little irrational to start my waiting so early.

Conveniently, Rep. Bobby Bright's Montgomery office is at the same street address. Won't it be fun if they're neighbors? Especially if Bright is going to need as much help turning out black voters in the district as this new New York Times article postulates:

Political analysts say Mr. Bright is smart to pay attention to the Wiregrass voters. He might not be able to count on such an enormous turnout among black voters in 2010 — even if, as is possible, Representative Artur Davis becomes the first black Democratic nominee for governor in Alabama history — leaving Mr. Bright to depend on people who normally vote Republican, a tall order.

Ex-Wash Post Ombudsman Dies: Former Local Editor Quoted

The Political Environment — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:30:53 +0000

Original Author:

jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)

Deborah Howell, a trail-breaking woman in American journalism, died suddenly in a freak accident; A Washington Post story quotes former Milwaukee Journal staffer Linda Fibich, who had followed Howell into a job at Newhouse when Howell left for the Post.

Wisconsin

Manipulating the Process To Get the Result You Want Isn't Reform

Calitics — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:04:49 +0000

Original Author:

Robert Cruickshank

Fellow Orange County native Ezra Klein picks up on a point we've been making a lot here at Calitics over the last few years:

Polarization isn't a new story, nor were California's budget problems and constitutional handicap. Yet the state let its political dysfunctions go unaddressed. Most assumed that the legislature's bickering would be cast aside in the face of an emergency. But the intransigence of California's legislators has not softened despite the spiraling unemployment, massive deficits and absence of buoyant growth on the horizon. Quite the opposite, in fact. The minority party spied opportunity in fiscal collapse. If the majority failed to govern the state, then the voters would turn on them, or so the theory went.
That raises a troubling question: What happens when one of the two major parties does not see a political upside in solving problems and has the power to keep those problems from being solved?...
The lesson of California is that a political system too dysfunctional to avert crisis is also too dysfunctional to respond to it. The difficulty is not economic so much as it is political; solving our fiscal problem is a mixture of easy arithmetic and hard choices, but until we solve our political problem, both are out of reach.

Traffic deaths in Iowa hit lowest level since World War II

Bleeding Heartland — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:51:02 +0000

Original Author:

desmoinesdem

State officials say Iowa's road death toll in 2009 is the lowest since 1945, the Des Moines Register reported on January 2. There were 371 recorded traffic fatalities last year, although the number could rise slightly if additional deaths are reported from the end of December. Register reporter Mike Kilen noted several factors that helped reduce the number of fatal accidents: Iowans cut back on miles driven because of the recession, cars and roads are safer, and more people are wearing seat belts. Smart policing was also at work:

"The emphasis has really been placed on the drunken driver, with 20 to 25 percent of fatalities involving drinking," [Iowa State Patrol Chief Col. Patrick] Hoye said.
The state patrol initiated Safe Saturdays this summer, putting more troopers on the roads on Saturday nights during June, typically the deadliest month.
"The (drunken driving) arrests went way up and there was a dip in the deaths," he said.

We'll never know who is walking around alive today because state troopers wisely focused on the most dangerous drivers at the most dangerous times.

Looking for Unemployment Benefits in Virginia? Look Elsewhere.

Blue Virginia — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:52:32 +0000

Original Author:

noreply@blogger.com (Kyle Blankenship)

Since being laid off on January 1st, I've been attempting to fill out the Virginia State unemployment forms online while I look for a new job. However, once I arrive at the section to enter my banking data, I inevitably receive the above message (click to enlarge) stating " We cannot submit your transaction at this time. Please try again later. " and can proceed no farther. There is also no phone number or email address listed to contact for assistance for this issue, and I have been trying to submit the forms since Friday morning. As someone who works (make that worked) in I.T. and at a website hosting company, I would say I'm a fairly advanced user and if I can't figure this out, imagine how others who are not technology experts are doing.

Alamogordo protestors carry guns, protest Obama

New Mexico FBIHOP — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:44:41 +0000

Original Author:

Matt

Yesterday was the day where Tea Partiers in southern New Mexico decided to gather in a park and bring their guns to protest President Barack Obama.

The New Mexico Independent, for which I also write, was there with a video report (embedded below) and there were some... I'll just say colorful characters.

The Alamogordo Daily News also was there, obviously, and caught up with some of the others who populate such protests.

"I don't like what the Democrats are doing to our country," said Jim Kizer, of Alamogordo, who carried a .444 Marlin and a holstered .41 Smith and Wesson Magnum. "I'm a Korean vet and I grew up in Alaska during World War II. I've fought Communists all my life, and now our government is being taken over by them. That's why I'm here."
Kizer said his weapons were not loaded.
"I'm not trying to start a war," he said. "I just want to make a point."

If he has "fought Communists all [his] life" than you would think that he actually knows what Communism is.

Alamogordo Gun Rights-Tea Party Protester Hints Armed Violence to Come if Obama Doesn't Change

Democracy for New Mexico — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:00:47 +0000

Original Author:

Democracy for New Mexico

Video from report by Chris Dudley on NMI about protest

How many people showed up in Alamogordo, New Mexico yesterday to join an "open carry" gun display and protest against the Obama administration organized by the Otero Tea Party Patriots, the Alamogordo Second Amendment Task Force and the Sons of Liberty Riders? According to a news report on KOB-TV, there were about 200. The Alamogordo Daily News claimed 350, while a New Mexico Independent report says it was about 300.

Frozen Yogurt With "Joe the Plumber" in C-Ville, Anyone?

Blue Virginia — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:08:32 +0000

Original Author:

noreply@blogger.com (Lowell)

This looks like, uh, a cupful of frozen yogurt's worth of fun! :)

Remember “Joe The Plumber”? He’s coming to Virginia to support a 5th District Candidate. This article is brought to you by the “We Can’t Make This Crap Up” Department.

Joseph Wurzelbacher is coming to Arch’s Frozen Yogurt in Charlottesville on Friday to help raise money for Laurence Verga. You can attend the reception for only $25 (!). But you want a “private signed photo session”, don’t you? Well, you’re in luck, folks! That’s all yours for the Low $ale of the Century price of just $50!

[...]

Upcoming Events in Madison County

Left in Alabama — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:18:53 +0000

Heads up Huntsville, the first full week of 2010 brings you a couple of nice opportunities to weigh in on state government.

First up, Monday evening is a chance to tell your Legislators what you want them to work on in the upcoming session:

The Madison Country Delegation of State Senators and Representatives will hold its annual public forum on Jan. 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Huntsville City Council Chambers, 208 Fountain Circle. For those who want to address the forum, a sign-up sheet will be available at 6:30 p.m. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes to express their views. Attendees can bring printed handouts for the legislators if they choose. For more information, call the Madison County Legislative Office at 539-544.

And on Thursday gubernatorial candidate Artur Davis will speak at noon in downtown Huntsville:

Madison County Democratic Women's Monthly Luncheon
Guest Speaker: Artur Davis
Holiday Inn Downtown, 401 Williams Ave., Huntsville
Registration: 11:30 a.m.
Program: noon until 1 p.m.
Lunch: $20 (tables will be available for those who prefer not to eat lunch)
Reservations: 256-536-2701 or madisoncountydemocraticwomen [at] gmail [dot] com
Deadline for reservations: January 4

Has Virginia Really Seen "Remarkable Forward Movement" Under Gov. Kaine?

Blue Virginia — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:42:32 +0000

Original Author:

noreply@blogger.com (Lowell)

According to an op-ed by Tim Kaine in today's Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia under his leadership has seen "remarkable forward movement" and is "well positioned going forward because of our economic, educational, and political leadership." In making the case that his governorship was highly successful, Kaine argues that:

*"The Virginia economy today is one of the nation's most vibrant."
*"We are in the top 10 states in median income and have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. "
*"In my term as governor, we have achieved the unparalleled honor of being recognized eight times as the best state for business in America."
*"Because of great strides in recent decades, Education Week now ranks Virginia as one of the top five states in overall educational quality, most notably recognizing the commonwealth in 2007 as 'the place where a child born today is most likely to have a successful life.'"

Medical Genius Rush Limbaugh Praises Mandatory Health Insurance, Health Care Reform

Waxing America — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:56:19 +0000

Original Author:

paul soglin

A special thanks to Ordinary Jill (Jill Sixpack) who posted a comment to yesterday's post Rush Limbaugh Proud to be Medical Idiot. I had noted that Limbaugh had praised the health care he received on Hawaii, saying,"I don't think there's one thing wrong with the United States health system," but failed to recognize that not everyone had access to such quality treatment. Jill made a more important point about the access to health care in the state of Hawaii: Limbaugh...

Wisconsin

Could Bob McDonnell Be the Governor Who "wrecked Virginia's credit rating?

Blue Virginia — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:11:54 +0000

Original Author:

noreply@blogger.com (Lowell)

According to Jeff Schapiro's article, "Virginia maxes out credit card", the answer is a most definite "possibly." Here's the problem:

Two days before Christmas, departing Gov. Tim Kaine and the General Assembly got the lousy news: that Virginia, under a self-imposed debt limit, cannot afford for the next two years to issue more bonds.

[...]

The bottom line: With the supply of public dollars at rock bottom, McDonnell is potentially denied an important tool that could give him some maneuverability to begin fulfilling his promise to fix transportation, among other problems, without raising taxes.

[...]

Celebrating Alcohol, And Mourning Its Abuse: A Media And Cultural Contradiction

The Political Environment — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 10:51:00 +0000

Original Author:

jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)

The Journal Sentinel carried Sunday page one frivolity with photos about the annual Polar Bear Plunge, noting that the "pro" it located for an interview fuels up with Jack Daniels each year before 'braving' Lake Michigan cold waters.

OK, don't be a scold about cold-weather fun, you say.

But you read farther into the paper and find stories about 55 drunken driving arrests over New Year's in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties that included four crashes, two injuries and one not-so-funny plunge into Lake Michigan by a drunk driver and her passenger - - in their car.

I had driven (sober) past the area of the accident not five minutes earier. The paper says that deputies, closing off the scene, made several more OWI arrests on the spot.

So I count my lucky stars that I didn't meet one of these irresponsible drivers out on the roads - - not to mention that as I was turning off I-794 to go north on Lincoln Memorial Drive, a deputy was pulling over the motorist directly behind me...

Then the paper carried this story about a fatal snowmobile crash - - alcohol and speed believed to be factors - - and you wonder: Anyone connecting the dots?

Wisconsin

On Making It Work, Or, An Open Letter To Network TV

Left in Alabama — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 08:35:16 +0000

After a decade-long slide into semi-irrelevance, it’s now being announced that the major television broadcast networks are considering leaving behind the “free TV/advertiser supported” business model in order to turn themselves into something more closely resembling a cable operation; the idea being that they could create a second revenue stream from the same “subscriber fees” that are paid by cable and satellite operators to all the other channels those operators carry.

This has become necessary, according to the networks, partly because the market has become so fragmented...which, naturally, is cable’s fault—and presumably the fault of the disloyal viewer, as well.

Another reason driving the change is related to the desire of the networks to have a source of revenue that’s more reliable in times of economic downturn, when advertisers often try to husband scarce resources by cutting back on all their expenses, particularly advertising dollars.

Will this new change in the business model reverse the fortunes of the networks?
Is it possible that the networks are simply poor business managers?

And what about...Krystal Carey?

Tune in for the rest of the story—and we’ll find out.

“Customer in a restaurant: How do you prepare your chickens?

Wolf Killer Gets Off Pretty Easy

The Political Environment — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 06:28:55 +0000

Original Author:

jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)

Much of the punishment aimed at a Wisconsin man who shot a wolf in Michigan is his two-year ban - - on hunting.

Slap on the wrist.

Wisconsin

The New York Times Is Following The Asian Carp Story

The Political Environment — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:35:51 +0000

Original Author:

jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)

Sunday's New York Times will carry a major piece about the politics surrounding efforts to unite the Great Lakes states and keep destructive Asian carp out of Lake Michigan.

If legal actions fail, or stall, or if Illinois needs need a nudge to agree to close locks or waterway access to the Great Lakes for these predatory fish as they migrate north from the Mississippi River, don't rule out boycotts.

Wisconsin

AP: Richardson backs temporary tax increase

New Mexico FBIHOP — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:48:15 +0000

Original Author:

Matt

It has become increasingly clear that it will be virtually impossible for the state legislature to balance the budget, as mandated in the state constitution, by cutting services alone. Governor Bill Richardson acknowledged this when he told the Associated Press in a statement today that he supports some temporary tax increases that would expire when the budget crisis is done.

However, Richardson still does not want a rollback of the massive tax cuts that the legislature passed and Richardson signed in 2003.

From the AP:

Gov. Bill Richardson will support a temporary tax increase to help balance next year's state budget, but he opposes raising personal income or capital gains taxes and rolling back business tax incentives.

Interesting; the 30-day session this year will be filled with a lot of compromises on both sides if anything is to get done in resolving the budget crisis.

Report: Rep. Lujan receives threat

New Mexico FBIHOP — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:16:44 +0000

Original Author:

Matt

Congressman Ben Ray Lujan has received a threat, which may be a bomb threat, according to KRQE:

Police in Rio Rancho, which houses one of six field offices off the congressman, called it a bomb threat.
A spokesperson for Lujan could not provide many details, but said police at the U.S. Capitol notified police in all the New Mexico cities where the congressman has an office.

There are six Lujan congresssional offices in the state; in Farmington, Gallup, Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Tucumcari and Rio Rancho.

Thicke warns of excessive concentration in agriculture

Bleeding Heartland — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:12:18 +0000

Original Author:

desmoinesdem

The Justice Department and U.S. Department of Agriculture have been accepting public comments in advance of a series of workshops on "competition and regulatory issues in the agriculture industry." The first workshop is scheduled for March 12 in Ankeny.

Francis Thicke, a dairy farmer and Democratic candidate for Iowa secretary of agriculture, submitted this comment to the DOJ's Antitrust Division. Excerpt:

Economists tell us that when four firms control 40% or more of a market, that market loses its competitive nature. Currently, four firms control 83.5% of the beef packer market; four firms control 66% of the pork packer market; four firms control 58.5% of the broiler market. The turkey, flour milling, seed, and other agricultural markets are similarly concentrated.
The anticompetitive effects of market concentration is further compounded by the fact that some of the top four firms in each market category are also among the top four in other markets. For example, Tyson is number one in beef packing, number two in pork packing, and number two in broilers.

Milwaukee Water Official Asks Waukesha Water Official For Great Lakes Legal Information

The Political Environment — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:43:31 +0000

Original Author:

jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)

Two months ago, as Milwaukee's Common Council was debating whether to approve a letter of intent to sell water to Waukesha - - thus beginning the negotiation process between the two cities once Waukesha actually applies for Lake Michigan water - - the Milwaukee Water Works manager Carrie Lewis had a question:

"What exactly does the state statute require? Willingness to negotiate only, or "support for and willingness to negotiate" as stated in the Waukesha resolution," asked Lewis in a Thursday, November 5th email to Waukesha Water utility manager Dan Duchniak.

The email exchange is part of an open records release provided to me by Waukesha. (I will post more items this week, so stay tuned.)

Duchniak had earlier that day sent Lewis some materials, including Waukesha's city resolution asking various cities to submit letters about possible water sales negotiations.

"Please let me know if you need anything else from me," said Duchniak by email at 2:19 p.m.

Lewis' question is a good one, but wouldn't the better party to ask be Milwaukee's City Attorney, and not the potential water buyer?

Thirteen minutes later, Duchniak replied, sending Lewis a citation for a state atatute and "relevant section," by page.

I'm not saying the information is right or wrong, or that Duchniak wouldn't or didn't know.

Wisconsin

Jailed Wisconsin Veteran Case Gets More Bizarre

Uppity Wisconsin — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:02:56 +0000

Original Author:

mal contends

What does the U.S. government do with a veteran who blows the whistle on the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs (DVA) shreddergate scandal and who badgers the DVA as he “tenaciously pursues his claim for disability benefits," telling DVA staff that they are a bunch of "bureaucratic assholes?" The Bush-Cheney DVA and the U.S. Dept. of Justice targeted, convicted, and impoverished this Wisconsin Navy veteran on trumped-up charges of wire fraud.

Will McDonnell Stick To His Campaign Promises?

Blue Virginia — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:41:07 +0000

Original Author:

noreply@blogger.com (Lowell)

Today's Wall Street Journal has an article on Bob McDonnell entitled, "Back to GOP Basics: Virginia's governor-elect Bob McDonnell on his plans for spending cuts, offshore drilling and charter schools." In it, McDonnell pretty much sticks to his campaign promises: "hold the line on taxes," "cut spending," sell off ABC stores and earn "a huge chunk of money," become "the first state in the country in 2011 to drill [for oil] offshore," and downplay "social conservatism" (although McDonnell also points out that he's "100% prolife" - whatever that means exactly - and "unequivocal about our position on marriage"). The problem is, these promises never made any sense in the first place. Here, for instance, is former Governor Linwood Holton (R), speaking in late September 2009 about McDonnell's proposed sale of ABC stores and also on offshore drilling, which McDonnell bizarrely seems to believe will provide a gusher of oil revenues in the next few years.

It's 2010, But One-Notes Still Blame Tom Ament

The Political Environment — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:04:24 +0000

Original Author:

jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)

Where would Scott Walker be without Tom Ament?

Wisconsin

Anti-Mining Activists Murdered in El Salvador

Vivirlatino — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:52:48 +0000

Original Author:

la Macha

For all those people in comments recently who just couldn’t possibly see the Hugo Chavez’s accusations of drone fly over to be true–because why on *earth* would the U.S. do something like that??–I highly recommend watching the following segment.

Pacific Rim applied for mining permits, and they were denied on the basis of their environmental impact study that didn’t pass muster in El Salvador. And that was in 2005, 2006. But just this past year, Pacific Rim filed a lawsuit through CAFTA, the US Central American Free Trade Agreement, suing the Salvadoran government for, at the minimum, $77 million, claiming that this is money that they have lost in their investment or money, potential profits, that they could have made, had they been granted the permits.

And they are going through CAFTA, which was the—is the US Central America Free Trade Agreement, and the only way that they are able to do this, because Pacific Rim is located in Vancouver, is that they acquired a subsidiary in Nevada in 2007. And through that US subsidiary, they are taking advantage of the very generous and expansive corporate rights that are built into CAFTA.

Liveblogging Arlington's Political Dorkapalooza

Blue Virginia — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:00:20 +0000

Original Author:

TheGreenMiles@gmail.com (Miles Grant)

Posted by The Green Miles

And we're live from the Arlington County Government Building! The Green Miles has dragged himself out of bed (surprisingly hangover-free! 2010, I like you already!) for the Arlington County Board's traditional New Year's Day meeting.

Why have a meeting on New Year's Day? The County likes to brag that it's "the only local government that 'gets to work' on the first day of the year." But we all know the real reason" Because that's what ginormous political dorks Arlington residents are. We just can't wait until Monday to look ahead to the county's 2010 priorities. If you think I'm making fun of my county, ask yourself this: Who ranks higher on the dork scale, the ones who organized the meeting, or the one who liveblogs it?

Barack Obama: Brighter Days Are Ahead Of Us

Blue Virginia — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:31:38 +0000

Original Author:

noreply@blogger.com (Lowell)

Rough Sledd-ing

Blue Virginia — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 12:00:05 +0000

Original Author:

noreply@blogger.com (Lowell)

Waldo Jaquith sums up my feelings on the Robert Sledd story:

Robert Sledd would love to be Secretary of Commerce. But he also wants to be on the board of directors of a few companies, including ginormous Richmond-based tobacco company Universal Corporation. And Bob McDonnell figures that's A-OK. This is *exactly* the crap that I feared from McDonnell. It's not a matter of partisanship; thinking that the secretary of commerce can oversee himself is simply unbridled asininity, the very worst of Bush-era business "regulation" that brought us our recession.

Conservative blogger Norm Leahy agrees:

This ought to be a no-brainer -- if you're on boards of companies that might benefit from your government position, you have an obligation to give up either the government job, or the board seats.

No conflicts, no appearance of conflicts and no headaches for the boss.

Indiana Becomes 5th Great Lakes State Joining Carp Legal Action

The Political Environment — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 11:49:01 +0000

Original Author:

jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)

Five states now are asking the US Supreme Court to force Illinois to take strong measures to block the Asian carp from invading Lake Michigan through the Chicago shipping and sewerage canal.

Indiana is the latest to join.

Wisconsin

Alabama political resources: a short guide (suggestions wanted!)

Left in Alabama — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 06:29:12 +0000

Left In Alabama residents, I submit this to you for your approval, your critiques, and your suggestions. I've still yet to see many non-Alabama blogs reference, um, Alabama blogs when talking about the shenanigans going on around here lately, and since someone asked me specifically for a list of resources, I thought I would make one. (Also, happy New Year!)

First, I am obviously not an expert and this is not a definitive guide. If you see anything missing, please tell me, and I will add it. The blogroll here has an admittedly liberal bent, but the twitter lists are pretty evenly distributed. I'm thinking of adding a little blurb about each Congressional district and its candidates, but I haven't decided yet, and also, I'd need a little help on that one.

The point is: some Congressional chap has engaged in some shenanigans that have attracted a lot of attention to Alabama. If you know someone who is not familiar Alabama, but would like to talk about Alabama politics, here are some things I think they should know:

1. We have Democrats here.
2. We blog too.

To that end, here are some exciting resources available to everyone that will provide helpful and informative context from actual Alabama residents to all kinds of political analysis.

Check it out below the fold.

How Many Many Businesses Were Razed for I-43N Years Ago?

The Political Environment — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:35:00 +0000

Original Author:

jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)

The number might surprise you.

Find it in this illuminating post by Gretchen Schuldt.

And keep it in mind the next time you are totaling up the causes for joblessness in Milwaukee's African-American community, or the next time you hear someone repeat the axiom about small business being the backbone of the economy, or the next time you hear someone demanding more property takings for the next round of freeway widening for the convenience of suburban motorists.

Wisconsin

New Year's Eve open thread; remembering the year and the decade

Bleeding Heartland — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 03:02:11 +0000

Original Author:

desmoinesdem

Happy new year, Bleeding Heartland readers!

Ten years ago today I was making pancakes when the future Mr. desmoinesdem told me Boris Yeltsin had resigned. I was living overseas and didn't know I'd be moving back to Iowa someday. I wasn't reading any blogs and didn't imagine I'd ever be writing one for a hobby. I didn't know anything about breastfeeding or babywearing or cloth diapers.

So much has changed for me during the past decade, but one thing remains the same: I stay home on New Year's Eve to avoid drunk drivers.

There are many "best of" and "most important" lists floating around the blogosphere this week.

Breakin' the Law, Breakin' the Law

Calitics — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:33:15 +0000

Original Author:

Robert Cruickshank

Perhaps Arnold Schwarzenegger will sing some Judas Priest at his New Year's party tonight as yet another judge rules his furloughs are illegal:

An Alameda Superior Court judge has ordered the Schwarzenegger administration to stop furloughing thousands of public servants who are members of three major public sector unions, including the Service Employees International Union, Local 1000, offering state workers a huge legal victory as 2010 begins.
In a ruling handed down late Thursday, Judge Frank Roesch said the governor's reliance on provisions of the state's Emergency Services Act to order mandatory furloughs was flawed and illegal, saying "the emergency necessitating them was the failure of the Legislature to pass the budgets" yet the administration continued the furloughs even after the budgets were passed.

This comes on the heels of several other recent court decisions regarding Arnold's budget cuts, including a recent case won by the prison guards union and another recent case blocking cuts to IHSS workers.

Kaine Won't Run For President, Senate; Would Consider Running For Governor Again

Blue Virginia — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:54:47 +0000

Original Author:

noreply@blogger.com (Lowell)

Verrrrry interesting.

Kaine said he probably would not run for office again, but left the door open to it.

He said he considers the job of president the only higher office than governor but ruled that out because "you have to give up way too much to do that job."

He said he would not run for senator because "there are other best uses of my skills,'' but he could, one day, run for governor again. "Never say never," he said.

2009: The Best and Worst

One WIsconsin Now — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:39:04 +0000

As is the tradition, a tour through the best and worst of the year. The Best The year started off on the high note that was watching the Worst President Ever leaving the White House for the last time, which brought with it another yearly best: the endless video compiliations of the worst Bush moments . YouTube never had it so good. Here in Wisconsin, decisive and effective action from Madison earlier this year is leading Wisconsin out of the worst of the Bush recession. Unemployment here has been dropping since June and is lower than the national rate, and despite the worst rhetoric from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce bashing Wisconsin’s economy, business are opening and relocating here and bringing jobs to the state . For sheer entertainment value, President of Teabag-istan Sarah Palin’s descent into madness during 2009 is second to none. Remember when she quit being governor on July 4th weekend ? What a patriot! Remember how she doesn’t even ride in that stupid bus on her stupid book tour? Or how she still demands to be called governor and requests English-only reporters ? Combining two of her most juvenile and irritating hobbies, namely lying and facebooking, she launched the Lie of the Year: Death Panels .

Wisconsin

Yes, Virginia, There Are Free Lunches, Courtesy Of SEWRPC

The Political Environment — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:01:27 +0000

Original Author:

jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)

I'm pouring through some open records documents that have caught my interest in the wake of my earlier revelation that the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission has been springing for a $1,000 taxpayer-paid annual dinner at The University Club on Milwaukee's lower East side for commissioners, staff and consultants.

After the holidays, I'll post the details - - I've got follow-up requests sent by email - - but suffice it to say that SEWRPC's Executive Director Ken Yunker takes various officials and other opinion-makers to breakfast and lunch on a regular basis, with an agency credit card, even though he has a very nice office quite close to the Waukesha-area restaurants where he (tazpayers) picks up the tab.

[Note: an earlier version of this posting said that Milwaukee officials were meeting with Waukesha officials or representatives at the Milwaukee Athletic Club. That was an error and I have deleted it, but acknowledge it. The MAC meetings were purely internal to Waukesha. I have also made the headline specific only to SEWRPC, and I regret these inaccuracies on my part.]

At The University Club, SEWRPC's soiree came with cordon bleu or beef tenderloin and truffle cake for dessert.

Wisconsin

Legislator scorecards don't tell the whole story

Bleeding Heartland — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:46:20 +0000

Original Author:

desmoinesdem

One of my pet peeves is when interest groups release rank legislators according to how they have voted on a few key bills. These scorecards can be helpful as a general guideline, but some lawmakers game the system by voting the "right" way on a scorecard issue but voting with the other side on procedural measures. A classic example was when some pro-choice and environmental groups gave Senator Joe Lieberman credit for voting against confirming Justice Samuel Alito, even though Lieberman had voted against the filibuster that was the only realistic way to keep Alito off the Supreme Court.

Progressive Punch has a search engine that lets you view how individual members of Congress have voted in certain issue categories. Even more useful, Progressive Punch has incorporated a "crucial vote" score that includes bills and procedural measures that passed or failed by narrow margins.

Time for Aerial Ground Transportation

Waxing America — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:40:49 +0000

Original Author:

paul soglin

In 1976 we held a team meeting of our city transportation and public works staff to discuss the difficult problem of moving people from downtown around Lake Monona to Madison's east side. The Atwood Avenue bypass was completed and now we were working on a new belt-line. During the meeting I suggested that we build a tram that would depart from Law Park where we now have the entrance to Monona Terrace and send it across Lake Monona. Jim Mclary,...

Wisconsin

Boycotts Could Nudge Illinois To Block The Invasive Asian Carp

The Political Environment — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:39:25 +0000

Original Author:

jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)

Well, the intrigue is over: Wisconsin becomes the fourth of eight Great Lakes states to urge US Supreme Court action to force Illinois to close canal connections through which destructive Asian carp could invade Lake Michigan and wreak havoc in the Great Lakes.

Though a brief filed by Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. Wisconsin joins Michigan, the lead in this matter, and the states of Ohio and Minnesota.

But will it be enough?

And is legal action the only strategy to get Illinois to give up its parochial protectionism for an antiquated canal through which the carp could get into the Great Lakes?

I'm not sure if the Supreme Court will take any action because it might have to reopen Chicago's long-standing, Court-sanctioned diversion of Lake Michigan water - - though a multi-state action legal attack might, through public pressure and opinion, convince Illinois to take remedial action.

But maybe Illinois needs a stronger push to be a better Great Lakes steward and neighbor.

Remember when the State of Arizona refused to make Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday a holiday?

That led to a national tourist boycott - - which, along with bad publicity, helped the political and business establishment there finally approve the holiday designation.

Wisconsin

Culver appoints new economic development director

Bleeding Heartland — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:34:57 +0000

Original Author:

desmoinesdem

On Monday Governor Chet Culver appointed Bret Mills as the new director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development. Mills will replace Fred Hubbell, who agreed to serve as interim IDED director this fall after Mike Tramontina resigned due to problems with Iowa's film tax credit.

Up to now, Mills has been director of the Iowa Finance Authority. Also on Monday, Culver appointed Joe O'Hern to replace Mills as IFA director. For the last three months, O'Hern has been interim deputy director of IDED.

2009: The Year the California Dream Died

Calitics — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:05:28 +0000

Original Author:

Robert Cruickshank

Earlier this month the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District voted to close my neighborhood elementary school. Even though it was consistently the best performing elementary school in the district, recent state budget cuts meant that MPUSD could no longer afford to keep it open - with a smaller campus and therefore a smaller enrollment, the district was spending more to keep the school open than they received in state aid payments. Kids will have to attend another school in another part of town that's much less accessible (Monterey is basically split in two by the Presidio of Monterey). This came on top of dozens of teacher layoffs in the district, part of thousands of such layoffs across the state.

I use that story as a microcosm of the crisis that engulfed California in 2009. From domestic violence victims to people dependent on in-home supportive services to college students, to name just a few of the people impacted by budget cuts, the state of California in 2009 decided that destroying the safety net and the programs that created and sustained the prosperity this state had enjoyed over the last five or six decades.

Those cuts, in turn, have killed the California Dream. The dream is that anyone can come to California, enjoy its natural beauty, and reinvent/find/embrace themselves here, all enabled by the availability of basic economic security and prosperity.

Mo Elleithee: Republicans "playing politics with terrorism"

Blue Virginia — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:55:12 +0000

Original Author:

noreply@blogger.com (Lowell)

Virginia's #2 most important political operative of the decade, Mo Elleithee, nails it:

There’s no question that Republicans, and especially Dick Cheney, are playing politics with terrorism.

How hypocritical and off-base are their attacks? Let us count the ways.

[...]

In 2001, following the attacks of 9/11 and the attempted shoe-bombing attack in December, Democrats didn’t criticize President Bush. We were united as a country. Everyone agreed that our security was more important than politics.

Getting tough with criminals: Go to jail, lose your reading privileges

Uppity Wisconsin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:46:44 +0000

Original Author:

xoff

Time was when politicians who wanted to show their anti-crime bona fides would rail about how prisoners were watching color television -- or any television at all.

In Wisconsin these days they don't even want prisoners to read books.

At the state level, the Dept. of Corrections has made it as difficult as possible for a well-intentioned Wisconsin Books to Prisoners project to function, banning any used books. Since the project relies largely on donations of used books, that has crippled its ability to fulfill the many requests it gets from Wisconsin prisoners. It sends books to prisoners in other states, almost all of which allow that. That struggle continues.

Now, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke closed the county jail library on Nov. 1 and will do the same at the House of Corrections on Dec. 31. Clarke offered no reason and caught the Benedict Center and librarians who operate the program by surprise. Kit McNally of the Benedict Center explains:

Susan Parker Says No to AL-05 Race

Left in Alabama — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:05:06 +0000

Just a day after Agriculture Commisisoner Ron Sparks passed on the AL-05 congressional race, another leading contender is also saying "thanks, but no thanks."

PSC Commissioner Susan Parker issued this statement less than an hour ago:

During the past week, I have been honored and humbled by the encouragement I have received to run for the 5th Congressional seat. However, I have decided to continue my campaign for reelection to the Public Service Commission.
I feel a strong commitment to continue the important initiatives I have begun on the Public Service Commission: working to keep utility rates low, educating consumers on how to save money by conserving energy, and working hard to stay engaged on a national and regional level to ensure Alabama’s interests are protected.

Good Riddance, Decade From Hell

Blue Virginia — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:02:00 +0000

Original Author:

noreply@blogger.com (Lowell)

A few weeks ago, Time Magazine dubbed the 2000's the "Decade from Hell." Here's what Time had to say:

Instead, it was the American Dream that was about to dim. Bookended by 9/11 at the start and a financial wipeout at the end, the first 10 years of this century will very likely go down as the most dispiriting and disillusioning decade Americans have lived through in the post–World War II era. We're still weeks away from the end of '09, but it's not too early to pass judgment. Call it the Decade from Hell, or the Reckoning, or the Decade of Broken Dreams, or the Lost Decade. Call it whatever you want — just give thanks that it is nearly over.

What's up with the Republicans?

Left in Alabama — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:49:53 +0000

For the past 25 years or so, the Republican Party has been pretty dynamic in Alabama. They've captured more offices just about every election cycle, they've built a party almost from the ground up since 1980 and have been open to doing new things to win elections -- like bringing in Rove and his tactics in court races in the 90's. Have they now developed an entrenched bureaucracy incompatible with a robust grassroots? Do they essentially have hardening of the activist arteries?

Yes, I know the party leaders showed up for photo ops at Tea Parties last fall, but are they willing to cede any real control to those grassroots tea partiers? Not willingly, I suspect. Three examples of the GOP hierarchy in action:

All I know is what I read in the papers

Uppity Wisconsin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:26:11 +0000

Original Author:

xoff

Sometimes, all I know is what I read on the blogs.

Case in point: Blogging Blue reported on Monday that the US Senate had sent Louis Butler's judicial appointment back to the White House -- a story of some import in Wisconsin.

It wasn't exactly a case of investigative reporting. The information first appeared in a Dec. 24 online Washington Post story, which was subsequently reported Dec. 27 on a right-wing blog.

The Journal Sentinel got around to reporting it in Wednesday's paper., a mere six days after the Post's report.

Wisconsin