Emerge Wisconsin aims to elect Democratic women | Appleton Post Crescent | postcrescent.com

APPLETON — Wisconsin has never sent a woman to the U.S. Senate or elected a female governor, and just more than a quarter of the seats in the state Legislature are held by women.

Emerge Wisconsin is poised to change that.

Emerge Wisconsin aims to elect Democratic women Appleton Post Crescent postcrescent.com

Legislatively Speaking – State of Denial | Milwaukee Courier Weekly Newspaper

Wisconsin is at a critical juncture in its history. In one short year, the Governor and Legislative Republicans have launched an attack on Wisconsin’s values and priorities in a fashion reminiscent of the turn of the 20th century. Progressive values are being called to do battle with vast interests that seek to make public resources into private profits.

Legislatively Speaking – State of Denial Milwaukee Courier Weekly Newspaper

Digital copies of recall petitions delivered to Walker's campaign for review | The Republic

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin elections officials say they have delivered electronic copies to Gov. Scott Walker's campaign seeking his recall from office.

Digital copies of recall petitions delivered to Walker's campaign for review The Republic

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker confident integrity will remain intact in response to charges against ex-aides | Appleton Post Crescent | postcrescent.com

WAUWATOSA — Gov. Scott Walker said he’s confident his integrity will remain intact after a secret investigation that has already resulted in charges against some former staffers while he was Milwaukee County executive.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker confident integrity will remain intact in response to charges against ex-aides Appleton Post Crescent postcrescent.com

Two more Walker ex-aides charged - POLITICO.com Print View

Two former aides to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker were charged Thursday with allegedly doing political fundraising while working on taxpayer time in the Milwaukee County Executive’s office when he ran it. The Milwaukee County district attorney announced Thursday that Kelly Rindfleisch and Darlene Wink, who both worked for Walker, who may face a recall election later this year, when he served as county executive, engaged in campaign fundraising during work hours.

Two more Walker ex-aides charged - POLITICO.com Print View

County touts tentative pact with unions, geared to save $1.9M

Most Dane County government offices would shut down for three days in 2013 and county workers would see an effective 1.25 percent pay cut for the year in a series of moves designed to save $1.9 million, County Executive Joe Parisi announced Thursday. ….. The pay decreases will help the county avoid losses of staff and service to the public, said Andy Heidt, president of AFSCME Local 1871, which represents white collar workers.

County touts tentative pact with unions, geared to save $1.9M

State pension assets, earnings grew in 2010 | Reuters

Bucking criticism about their financial performance, state retirement systems' assets grew in 2010, with investment earnings rising for the first time since 2007, the U.S. Census reported on Thursday. The pension funds' cash and investments totaled $2.2 trillion in 2010, up 10.7 percent, or $213.9 billion, from 2009, when their cash and investment holdings fell by $610.8 billion. … The Census found that total pension obligations were $3.2 trillion in 2010, compared with $3.1 trillion in 2009. Benefit payments in 2010 alone rose 6.2 percent to $63.5 billion. ….. In five states, including Wisconsin, where fights over public employee compensation have led to campaigns to recall elected officials and weeks-long demonstrations, they put in half or more of the contributions. The other four states were North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wyoming.

State pension assets, earnings grew in 2010 Reuters

Union Members Summary

Have you recommitted to joining your peers and maintaining your Union?
https://wseu.wisconsinunionstrong.org

In 2011, the union membership rate--the percent of wage and salary workers who were members of a union--was 11.8 percent, essentially unchanged from 11.9 percent in 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions, at 14.8 million, also showed little movement over the year. In 1983, the first year for which comparable union data are available, the union membership rate was 20.1 percent and there were 17.7 million union workers. ….. Public-sector workers had a union membership rate (37.0 percent) more than five times higher than that of private-sector workers (6.9 percent). …. Within the public sector, local government workers had the highest union membership rate, 43.2 percent.

Union Members Summary

Letter from Sen. Vinehout: Wisconsin Jobs -- Thank our Neighboring States | Pierce County Herald | Ellsworth, Wisconsin

State employment numbers show 21,000 more Wisconsinites working this December than last December. Only 3,000 of these jobs were created in Wisconsin. The rest of our people had to go out-of-state to find work. The governors of our neighboring states were six times more successful than Governor Walker in creating jobs for Wisconsinites. We should thank them.

Letter from Sen. Vinehout: Wisconsin Jobs -- Thank our Neighboring States Pierce County Herald Ellsworth, Wisconsin

Letter: Voters finally noticing the damage Wisconsin governor and his ilk are doing | MLive.com

It’s about time. Average folks are finally realizing the damage Scott Walker and his like-minded cronies in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana are doing to their everyday lives. A huge number of voters have collected some 600,000 signatures for recall in record time.

Letter: Voters finally noticing the damage Wisconsin governor and his ilk are doing MLive.com

Ex-aides to Wisconsin governor charged with illegal fundraising | Reuters

(Reuters) - Two former aides to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker during his term as the top elected official in Milwaukee County have been charged with political fundraising on public time, the Milwaukee County district attorney said on Thursday.

Ex-aides to Wisconsin governor charged with illegal fundraising Reuters

Protesters at State of the State

Chants of “Recall Walker” again filled the Capitol rotunda Wednesday night as the governor delivered his State of the State address.

Protesters at State of the State

Walker says state headed in right direction « The Daily Reporter

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker said in his State of the State speech Wednesday that he kept his promises and now Wisconsin is headed in the right direction, even though opponents have mounted a historic effort to toss him from office less than midway through his term.

Walker says state headed in right direction 
 « The Daily Reporter

Protesters say Scott Walker has made his last State of the State speech

A couple hundred people gathered at the Capitol Wednesday night for Gov. Scott Walker's State of the State speech. But the last thing they wanted to do was to actually hear it.

Protesters say Scott Walker has made his last State of the State speech

Jobs in focus as defiant Walker delivers State of the State speech

Facing a recall and speaking over a loud and angry crowd outside the Assembly chamber, an unbowed Gov. Scott Walker delivered a State of the State address Wednesday that touted the successes of a difficult year and promised better days ahead. …. Security was tight Wednesday night as some 200 protesters gathered in the Capitol rotunda during Walker’s remarks. They loudly sang anti-Walker “solidarity” songs before his address. …. Walker announced the formation of a task force to curtail waste, fraud and abuse of government programs.

Jobs in focus as defiant Walker delivers State of the State speech

Unions Make Democracy Work for the Middle Class

On Friday the Department of Labor will release data on the union status of the American workforce. Unfortunately the data are likely to show a decline in the percentage of workers who are unionized because of the one-two punch of long-term trends—such as the escalation of aggressive employer campaigns against union representation—and political attacks such as Wisconsin’s new law banning public-sector collective bargaining. …. As our research and a number of academic studies find, unions strengthen the middle class and significantly reduce economic inequality. In fact studies indicate that the decline in union density explains as much of today’s record level of inequality as does the increasing economic return of a college education. This issue brief digs deeper into these findings by highlighting the critical role that unions play in making the political system work for the middle class.

Unions Make Democracy Work for the Middle Class

The Associated Press: Labor board chief to push union organizing rules

The chairman of the National Labor Relations Board plans to push for new rules that would give unions a boost in organizing members, despite an outcry from Republicans and business groups who say the board is going too far. Mark Pearce said he hopes the board will propose the rules soon, now that it has a full component of five members. President Barack Obama bypassed the Senate earlier this month to fill three vacancies. …. Republicans in Congress are vowing to put more pressure on the agency, with at least two House hearings on the NLRB recess appointments planned next month before the education committee and the Judiciary Committee.

The Associated Press: Labor board chief to push union organizing rules

Why Swing State Republican Governors Will Get Obama Re-Elected - US News and World Report

… Walker is the best known of a class of freshmen GOP governors whose conservative power grab might be Barack Obama's not-so-secret re-election weapon. … The 1 million signatures should send a chill up the back of Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich or whoever the GOP taps to bear its standard. Wisconsin is a key swing state and the progressive movement just flexed some awfully strong organizational muscle there, sparked by Walker's ham-fisted overreach. The recall election, likely to occur in the late spring or early summer, will serve as a perfect progressive dry run for the Obama re-election in the fall. …. And Wisconsin is not an isolated example. The Cook Political Report lists 10 states, with 142 electoral votes, as toss-ups. In that group, with 73 total electoral votes, are four states, including Wisconsin, where first-term Republican governors are foundering in the polls after their excessive policies spurred the kind of grass-roots movements that can be a huge boon to a presidential campaign.

Why Swing State Republican Governors Will Get Obama Re-Elected - US News and World Report

The Badger Herald: Falk highlights lengthy political career in campus visit

Former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who recently unveiled her plans to run against the governor in a possible recall election, addressed students on campus Tuesday about her 30-year tenure in government, highlighting issues likely to be at the forefront of the campaign.

The Badger Herald: Falk highlights lengthy political career in campus visit

Poll shows slightly more voters approve than disapprove of Wisconsin governor ahead of recall - The Washington Post

MILWAUKEE — Slightly more Wisconsin voters approve than disapprove of the job Republican Gov. Scott Walker is doing as he prepares for an expected recall election, according to a poll released Wednesday.

Poll shows slightly more voters approve than disapprove of Wisconsin governor ahead of recall - The Washington Post

Press Release: New Lisbon Correctional Officer’s sharp eyes save a life

January 25, 2012
Contact: Bob Allen
608 836-6666

New Lisbon Correctional Officer’s sharp eyes save a life

After working a long overnight shift at the New Lisbon Correctional Institution, Correctional Officer TinaCottingham could be forgiven if she drove right past what looked like nothing more than a pile of trash in the road.

But something about it didn’t look right to Cottingham. She decided to take a closer look. What she found was a disoriented and shivering elderly woman, curled up on the road and desperately trying to cling to warmth in the darkness of a cold January morning.

Once Cottingham saw what was actually in this bundle of black and gray, she ran back to her car and positioned it in the road with its lights shining on the woman to protect her from other traffic. “She easily could have been run over,” Cottingham said.

After calling 9-1-1, Cottingham began tending to the woman, who was freezing on an 18-degree morning. “I had a wool blanket that I wrapped her in. Then I let her lean against me for warmth,” Cottingham said.

Cottingham said a Sheriff’s deputy was soon on the scene, followed by an ambulance within about 10 minutes. But waiting for help to arrive was difficult. “It felt like forever,” she said.

Like any hero, Cottingham downplays her efforts on the morning of Jan. 7. “I would hope that anybody would do what I did,” she said.

But she is troubled when she remembers that at least two other vehicles rolled on by as if nothing was wrong during those first desperate moments when she was alone with the victim.

As of Jan. 23, the victim, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, was recovering but still hospitalized. She suffered broken bones in a confused journey that apparently took her over rough terrain before she collapsed in the road about a half mile from her home.

For her efforts, Cottingham, who lives in Mauston, said she received letters ofthanks from the Juneau County Sheriff and warden at New Lisbon.

The lack of more significant recognition from her employer, the state Department of Corrections, troubles Marty Beil, executive director of the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME Council 24. Cottingham is a member of WSEU Local 134.

“We are proud of Tina Cottingham. She risked her own safety to save the life of a citizen in great peril. This is a big deal. But the silence from the Madison bureaucrats is deafening,” Beil said.

“This is typical of the Walker administration, which is eager to devalue and demonize public employees. But they turn a blind eye to a crystal clear example of the kind of bravery and compassion our members bring to serving the public day in and day out,” he said.

END

Judge doubles time GAB has to review recall signatures - JSOnline

Madison - A Dane County judge on Wednesday doubled the amount of time state election officials could have to review an unprecedented number of recall signatures filed against Gov. Scott Walker and five other Republicans.

Judge doubles time GAB has to review recall signatures - JSOnline

Republicans targeted for recall seek more time to challenge petitions

Republican recall targets asked a Dane County judge on Tuesday for more time to challenge petitions ahead of a hearing Wednesday morning on the state elections agency's request for more time to certify recall petitions.

Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, along with GOP Sens. Scott Fitzgerald, Van Wanggaard, Terry Moulton and Pam Galloway, wrote in court filings Tuesday that the 10-day period they are allowed under state law won't be enough time to review the recall petitions and challenge signatures they believe to be invalid.

Republicans targeted for recall seek more time to challenge petitions

Big donors fuel Walker’s record-breaking numbers

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin's polarizing governor is fighting attempts to recall him with money from out-of-state donors, who helped him bring in more than $12 million since last year.

An Associated Press analysis of campaign finance reports Republican Gov. Scott Walker filed Monday showed 61 percent of the $4.1 million he raised during the five-week reporting period came from out of state. Read more: http://www.journaltimes.com/article_c1030910-46bc-11e1-805c-001871e3ce6c.html#ixzz1kUGSfmTo

Big donors fuel Walker’s record-breaking numbers

State Rep. Dick Spanbauer cites broken system, 'extremism' on both sides in decision not to seek reelection | The Oshkosh Northwestern | thenorthwestern.com

State Rep. Dick Spanbauer, R-Town of Algoma, decided not to seek a third term in the Assembly citing his lack of desire to continue serving in a system he said values political points more than the people of the state.

State Rep. Dick Spanbauer cites broken system, 'extremism' on both sides in decision not to seek reelection The Oshkosh Northwestern thenorthwestern.com

State of the State speech marks end of tumultuous first year for Walker

The State of the State Speech begins at 7:00pm CST. Check your local TV guide for a viewing channel.

This year, Walker comes into the speech a wounded politician. His poll numbers are low, his signature legislation has divided the state and sparked a recall effort, and his efforts to improve the business climate have not yet turned the tide on job losses.

State of the State speech marks end of tumultuous first year for Walker

Gov. Walker to deliver speech amid recall turmoil

Gov. Scott Walker was set to deliver his State of the State speech Wednesday night in the face of a massive effort to recall him from office and continued uneasiness about the condition of Wisconsin's economy. …. Walker campaigned in 2010 on the promise that given four years in charge, 250,000 more people would be put to work in the private sector. But after one year on the job the state has added just 13,500 jobs and losses have been reported each of the past six months.

Gov. Walker to deliver speech amid recall turmoil

Wisconsin Governor Fights Recall with Out-of-State Cash

Wisconsin's polarizing governor is fighting attempts to recall him with money from out-of-state donors, who helped him bring in more than $12 million since last year. An Associated Press analysis of campaign finance reports Republican Gov. Scott Walker filed Monday showed 61 percent of the $4.1 million he raised during the five-week reporting period came from out of state. …. The Democratic Party and United Wisconsin, which worked together on the petition drive, reported raising $480,000 collectively since Dec. 11.

Wisconsin Governor Fights Recall with Out-of-State Cash

Indiana’s Daniels: Opponent of Working People | AFL-CIO NOW BLOG

Indiana’s Gov. Mitch Daniels, who gave the Republican response to President Obama’s State of the Union address last night, represents all too well the sad decline of the national Republican Party. As suggested by the Twitter hashtag #MitchFail, Daniels was an improbably bad choice to represent a party already facing questions about its commitment to the 99 percent.

Indiana’s Daniels: Opponent of Working People AFL-CIO NOW BLOG

Trumka: Obama Showed He Hears People Not Heard by 1% | AFL-CIO NOW BLOG

President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address tonight made clear that he hears the people who aren’t being heard by the 1 percent, says AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. Obama’s speech showed he “listened to the single mom working two jobs to get by, to the out-of-work construction worker, to the retired factory worker, to the student serving coffee to help pay for college.”

Trumka: Obama Showed He Hears People Not Heard by 1% AFL-CIO NOW BLOG

Super PAC says it's leveling playing field; unions disagree - CNN.com

… The labor unions that invested the most in the 2010 elections say they collectively spent $177 million on political activities (the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees: $93 million; the Service Employees International Union: $44 million; the National Education Association: $40 million). In the same cycle, the top three Republican outside spending groups spent $147 million on political activities (American Crossroads and GPS: $71 million; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: $50 million; the American Action Network: $26 million). …. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees political director Larry Scanlon said, "Karl Rove has taken advantage of campaign finance loopholes to create a shadowy network of front groups that can raise and spend unlimited, undisclosed funds to promote anti-worker candidates and an issue agenda that attempts to silence the political voice of working people.

Super PAC says it's leveling playing field; unions disagree - CNN.com

Mitch Daniels, the State of the Union address and deficit realities | The Colorado Independent

… The national public employees union– the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees– has released a video spotlighting Daniels’ years as Bush budget director and his recent decision to try and strip state workers of collective bargaining rights. The video is sure to play well with Democrats enraged at the virulent union busting and budget deficit hypocrisy of contemporary GOP politics.

Mitch Daniels, the State of the Union address and deficit realities The Colorado Independent

AFSCME | AFSCME Calls for Congress to “Stop Their Games and Get to Work”

Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee after Pres. Obama’s State of the Union address: “President Obama has a plan to move our country forward, create jobs and find real solutions. The choices Congress makes in 2012 will determine whether we save the middle class. We can do that by enacting President Obama’s jobs agenda. Or we can focus on misguided policies that do nothing but give more tax breaks to Wall Street financiers.

AFSCME AFSCME Calls for Congress to “Stop Their Games and Get to Work”

Researcher: There are hidden costs to privatization

The current rush toward privatization of government services requires a reality check, says a former journalist now with a Milwaukee-area research organization. The gains touted don’t always materialize and might do more harm than good for local communities, said Jack Norman, director of policy research and development for the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future. Before joining IWF in 2000, he was a business and local news reporter for the Milwaukee Journal and then the Journal-Sentinel. ….. The area League of Women Voters hosted Norman as it begins a local privatization study that mirrors a similar national league effort.

Researcher: There are hidden costs to privatization

Reality Check: Looking Back At Walker's 2011 State Of State Address - Politics News Story - WISC Madison

The governor did say that he would ask public employees to pay 5 percent to their pension and 12 percent to their health care costs. What he did not say was how he would arrive at that savings by taking away nearly all collective bargaining rights from most public employees.

Reality Check: Looking Back At Walker's 2011 State Of State Address - Politics News Story - WISC Madison

Trumka to Justice Dept.: Investigate Banks | AFL-CIO NOW BLOG

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka is urging the Justice Department to lead a comprehensive investigation with state Attorneys General to prevent banks from engaging in future unlawful and deceptive practices that could exploit homeowners and put the economy further at risk.

Trumka to Justice Dept.: Investigate Banks AFL-CIO NOW BLOG

AFSCME’s Newtron bomb | Power Line

Hugh Hewitt draws attention to the astounding news that the AFSCME arm of the AFL-CIO has bought $800,000 worth of television time to run this ad attacking Mitt Romney’s tenure at Bain. (Hugh credits Conn Carroll for the inside dope.) AFSCME’s ad gives voice to some of the same sort of high-minded concerns about Romney’s work at Bain that Newt has voiced. The ad will run throughout the state of Florida through the primary on January 31. AFSCME wants to help Republicans do Democrats the favor of serving up Gingrich to run against President Obama in the fall. …. I can’t think of a single thing that AFSCME supports that people of good judgment shouldn’t oppose, and I seriously doubt that this is an exception.

AFSCME’s Newtron bomb Power Line

Unions to run ads after Gov. Daniels’s State of the Union response - TheHill.com

A union-backed group will run a television ad critical of Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) Tuesday after he responds to President Obama’s State of the Union address.

Unions to run ads after Gov. Daniels’s State of the Union response - TheHill.com

Dems fear union cash drain in Wisconsin - TheHill.com

Organized labor’s plans to spend heavily to recall Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has sparked angst on the left that the effort will come at the expense of Democrats in other states.

Dems fear union cash drain in Wisconsin - TheHill.com

Wisconsin continues to face state budget challenges - WSAU News/Talk 550AM 99.9FM

(WSAU) Governor Scott Walker has told Wisconsinites for months that the new state budget is balanced. But his administration secretary recently told federal officials that the state still has a deficit. So who's right? Both are.

Wisconsin continues to face state budget challenges - WSAU News/Talk 550AM 99.9FM

Barrett mum on possible gubernatorial run - JSOnline

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said Sunday he's been asked to run for governor if the effort to recall Gov. Scott Walker is successful - but Barrett wouldn't answer whether he plans to run.

Barrett mum on possible gubernatorial run - JSOnline

Jim Worth: Governor Walker's Day Has Come

The State of Wisconsin is recalling it's acerbic Governor.

Jim Worth: Governor Walker's Day Has Come

More charges expected against ex-Walker staffers, sources say - JSOnline

A new round of criminal charges is coming soon against at least a couple of Gov. Scott Walker's former county staffers for doing extensive campaign activity while on the taxpayers' dime, sources say. The charges - which should be filed by District Attorney John Chisholm's office in the next week or two - will be part of the long-running John Doe investigation of Walker's aides and associates during his tenure as Milwaukee County executive.

More charges expected against ex-Walker staffers, sources say - JSOnline

Watertown Daily Times | Wisconsin recall

Some Wisconsin citizens are serious about recalling their governor, Republican Scott Walker. The governor’s opponents say they have gathered far more than the 540,028 signatures needed to force an election against both Gov. Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, also a Republican. …. Democrats opposing Mr. Walker have not named anyone to run against the governor in a special election. Yet his detractors say that was part of the plan. “It forced Walker and his minions to run on their record and issues rather than to run against an announced Democratic candidate,” said Marty Beil of the Wisconsin State Employees Union.

Watertown Daily Times Wisconsin recall

Lockouts, Once Rare, Put Workers on the Defensive - NYTimes.com

America’s unionized workers, buffeted by layoffs and stagnating wages, face another phenomenon that is increasingly throwing them on the defensive: lockouts. …. The number of strikes has declined to just one-sixth the annual level of two decades ago. … Lockouts, on the other hand, have grown to represent a record percentage of the nation’s work stoppages, according to Bloomberg BNA, a Bloomberg subsidiary that provides information to lawyers and labor relations experts. Last year, at least 17 employers imposed lockouts, telling their workers not to show up until they were willing to accept management’s contract offer.

Lockouts, Once Rare, Put Workers on the Defensive - NYTimes.com

Groups Lobbying for a Shoutout in the SOTU : Roll Call Lobbying & Influence

The White House has been reaching out to unions, interest groups and other downtown stakeholders for the past few weeks, soliciting data points and political feedback as it puts the finishing touches on Tuesday’s State of the Union address. …… The State of the Union will help set the debate in Congress this year and has far-reaching political ramifications for the upcoming elections. “We’ve had a number of meetings with various White House officials over the course of the last couple weeks,” said Chuck Loveless, director of legislation for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. “They wanted to hear what we have to say.” …. Loveless said his union would like to see Obama build on the “income inequality” theme of a major speech he gave in December in Osawatomie, Kan. “He framed an economic populist message,” Loveless said. “We would like to see the president renew and build upon key provisions of the American Jobs Act.”

Groups Lobbying for a Shoutout in the SOTU : Roll Call Lobbying & Influence

Finally, An Honest Voice Enters the GOP Race: AFSCME | The Nation

AFSCME, which has been a key player in the struggle to defend state and local workers against the anti-union juggernaut launched by newly elected Republican governors and legislators, has long been at odds with Newt Gingrich. When the former House Speaker decided that the fundamental challenge facing the American economic system was the persistence of child-labor laws, AFSCME pushed back with a muscular campaign that asked: “Really, Newt?”

Finally, An Honest Voice Enters the GOP Race: AFSCME The Nation

Union Goes Up With Anti-Romney Ad in Florida - NYTimes.com

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the giant public employees’ union, will begin airing a 30-second video ad in Florida on Saturday attacking Mitt Romney for making what it said was a $473,000 profit from his firm’s investments in a medical company that admitted engaging in Medicare fraud. …. Larry Scanlon, the union’s political director, said this was the first time that his union, which overwhelmingly backs Democrats, was running an ad in a Republican primary fight. He said the union was spending nearly $1 million to run the ad on broadcast and cable television as well as the Internet. “We have a great interest in who the next president of the United States is,” Mr. Scanlon said in an interview.

Union Goes Up With Anti-Romney Ad in Florida - NYTimes.com

Wisconsin High Court Judge Won’t Step Back From Union Case - Businessweek

(Bloomberg) -- Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael J. Gableman rejected a state prosecutor’s request he recuse himself from a lawsuit challenging legislation that curbed public employees’ collective bargaining rights.

Wisconsin High Court Judge Won’t Step Back From Union Case - Businessweek

Is the union movement making a comeback? - CNN.com

(CNN) -- In a stunning achievement for unionists and Democrats, critics of the Wisconsin governor Scott Walker marshaled over a million signatures for a petition that has made it possible for Walker to lose his office in a recall election this spring. If so, that would be the first successful gubernatorial recall in Wisconsin history and only the third in that of the United States.

Is the union movement making a comeback? - CNN.com