Skip to main content

Recent comments

User login

Navigation

Who's online

There are currently 0 users and 0 guests online.
Home

Wisconsin Politics

Fresh Cuts To State, UW Reminiscent Of Walker's Sham County Budgets

October 19, 2011 by The Political E...

Original Author: 
(James Rowen)
Suddenly, Wisconsin state officials discover there is a need for major state agency budget cuts, especially at the UW, even though the current state budget is just a few months old.

Milwaukee County residents and courthouse observers will recognize this "oops" budgeting.

As a former county supervisor Jim McGuigan wrote in 2004:

Bad Actors, Lax Gun Laws and Loopholes

October 19, 2011 by Eye On WIsconsin

Eye On WIsconsin's picture
We are unfortunately well aware of the lobbying efforts of groups like the National Rifle Association. They have a clear history of lobbying for some of the most extreme policies related to guns. Part of their legislative agenda includes a free pass repeatedly given to even the most problematic gun dealers. There probably isn’t a better local example of this than Badger Guns located in

Federal Funds to Help Madison Metro

October 19, 2011 by Waxing America

Waxing America's picture
Original Author: 
paul soglin
It’s not every day that you learn the federal government is going to help purchase new buses, replace fare boxes and add 25 new bus stop shelters, but that was the case this week in Madison. While in Washington D.C. this week I was very happy to learn that Madison is receiving $5 million as part of $920 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood reports that the funding will repair, rebuild and modernize...

Scott Walker Has Easy-Pass To Road-Builders Money

October 19, 2011 by The Political E...

Original Author: 
(James Rowen)
In a post earlier Wednesday about the politics of road-building in SE Wisconsin - - expansion in the face of continuing cuts to transit and purported fiscal shortfalls - -   I made this observation:
The threats to transit are taking place while billions in new highway construction roar forward unrestrained.

Walker fast-tracked the Zoo Interchange project (in a slightly reduced footprint, but still at an unaffordable cost of at least $1.7 billion) to appease the road-builders and Walker's base constituency in Waukesha County.

But these days, cars are running more efficiently, and the depressed economy has eliminated some driving, leaving road budgets planned without restraints short of money because most of the needed revenue to build them comes from gasoline taxes.

So is the highway budget taking the sort of cut you'd expect in our broke state?

Are you kidding?

Hearing On Medicaid Cuts Begins At 1 P.M.Wednesday In Madison

October 19, 2011 by The Political E...

Original Author: 
(James Rowen)
Here is the schedule for the meeting, and for another in Milwaukee later this month, so turn out on behalf of the 99%:
The Department of Health Services (DHS) will hold a Town Hall Meeting in Madison on Wednesday from 1-7 p.m. to hear from the public on its 39 proposals to save funding in Medicaid programs. DHS Secretary Dennis Smith and Deputy Secretary Kitty Rhoades will be present at the meeting.

The Town Hall Meeting will be held:

Wednesday, October 19, 2011
1:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M
Goodman Community Center
Evjue Community Room D
149 Waubesa Street
Madison, WI 53704

DHS is also holding a Town Hall Meeting in Milwaukee from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, October 21.



Today Is Citizen Lobbying Day On Mining, Environmental Issues

October 19, 2011 by The Political E...

Original Author: 
(James Rowen)
Show up, organize, button-hole your legislators, follow through and in no uncertain terms tell them you want transparency at the Capitol and resource preservation for the Wisconsin environment in bills that deal with mining, wetlands and waterways in Wisconsin. From the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, history and details.

And the schedule:

*Special* Conservation Lobby Day on Mining in Wisconsin
Wednesday, October 19th
State Capitol, Room 425 S.W.

Planning, Plating And Plate Lunches

October 19, 2011 by The Political E...

Original Author: 
(James Rowen)
Some food for thought in this season of public budgeting:

A few days ago  I posted the rationalization for Milwaukee County withholding its $800,000+ annual annual assessment from the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, (SEWRPC).

Note in a discussion of regional planning in the Madison Capital area, we learn that Dane County is currently blocking a similar assessment - - and I'd argue that the issues in the two disputes have overlap  - - and thereby is willing to use the receipt of taxpayer dollars logically and fairly as a lever to meet land preservation and other public policy goals.

Where is the gumption in Milwaukee County government to ask SEWRPC, at a minimum, for an annual work plan in exchange for a large grant of taxpayer dollars?

I'll bet there are many agencies that would like to receive a no-questions-asked annual grant of more  than $80,000, let alone more than $800,000.

And let's not think that in an era of billion-dollar budgets that  $800,000 isn't real money.

SE Wisconsin Regional Transit: Stability, Instability And Insanity

October 18, 2011 by The Political E...

Original Author: 
(James Rowen)
We offer you The Good, The Bad and The Ugly that passes for a transportation system in Southeastern Wisconsin.


First the stability:

Both Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele are trying to work their way around state budget cuts to keep Milwaukee's bus system afloat by supporting a County plan from Abele to fill part of the funding gap with one-time federal financing amounting to a few million dollars - -  including transferring to bus services a relatively small amount of money that could have helped Barrett get a City streetcar Downtown moving towards its long-delayed start-up.

Give them both credit for cooperation, and to Barrett for giving ground on the streetcar, as it no doubt will give a few hours comfort to his rabidly anti-rail, anti-city talk radio critics.


But now the instability:
Premium Drupal Themes by Adaptivethemes