Thursday, February 9, 2012

Fiscal Bureau Projects WI Is Facing a $208 Million Deficit

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) released new revenue and spending estimates today, and the news isn’t good. Although the new figures in the LFB report (http://thewheelerreport.com/releases/February12/0209/0209lfb.pdf) could have been worse, and they don’t come as a complete surprise, it’s nonetheless very disappointing to learn that downward revisions to revenue projections are expected to create a $208 million deficit by the end of the 2011-13 biennium.

The actual amount of red ink is projected to be $143 million, but the new figures translate into a $208 million shortfall after one takes into account the statutory requirement to maintain a $65 million balance (as a small cushion against further bad news). The culprit is a $273 million drop in revenue projections for the current biennium.

State statutes require the Governor to submit a bill to take corrective fiscal action if the Department of Administration determines that the difference between General Fund revenue and spending projections amounts to more than 0.5% of the estimated revenue in the second year of the biennium. Although the LFB report indicates that the projected deficit is now about twice that threshold, the Governor said there doesn’t need to be a budget repair bill. I presume that’s because he plans to use his authority to lapse additional funding from agencies to get the budget back into balance.

A new Wisconsin Budget Project blog post takes a closer look at the new LFB numbers. We’ll follow up as we learn more about the Governor’s plans for addressing the projected shortfall.
http://wisconsinbudgetproject.blogspot.com/2012/02/legislative-fiscal-bureau-projects-wi.html

The Wisconsin Budget Project is an initiative of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families.
Wisconsin Budget Project, 608-284-0580, www.wisconsinbudgetproject.org, wisconsinbudgetproject.blogspot.com.

Dee J. Hall: Work rules can't be hashed out in secret

When members of the Columbia County Board committee that handles employment issues voted to go into closed session on Jan. 4, a reporter from the Daily Register newspaper in Portage and a local representative of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) objected. … The committee met in secret anyway, later releasing a series of proposed changes in a new employment manual affecting about 400 Columbia County employees, whose union contracts expired at the end of 2011.

Dee J. Hall: Work rules can't be hashed out in secret

Tea Party group goes all in to save Scott Walker - The Plum Line - The Washington Post

In case you were wondering how high the stakes are for the national right in the battle over Scott Walker’s recall, consider this: The Americans for Prosperity Foundation, a branch of the conservative group founded by the Koch brothers, is sinking at least $700,000 into ads in Wisconsin defending Walker’s record. A source who tracks ad buys first noticed the expenditure, which has now been confirmed by a spokesman for the group.

Tea Party group goes all in to save Scott Walker - The Plum Line - The Washington Post

Unions ask Democrats in Walker recall to make budget veto pledge - JSOnline

… AFSCME officials butted heads with Barrett when he helped balance the city budget by taking advantage of a key plank in Walker's bill to help save millions on health insurance costs without having to negotiate with city unions. Marty Beil, executive director of the AFSCME Council 24 representing blue-collar state workers, said this week that vetoing a state budget would be one strategy that a Democratic governor could use to restore collective bargaining but not the only one. A spokesman for the Wisconsin State Employees Union had no comment on whether the union was requesting that promise in exchange for the union's endorsement for a Democratic candidate.

Unions ask Democrats in Walker recall to make budget veto pledge - JSOnline

Under Gov. Walker, Wisconsin seeing red

“This news illustrates how Gov. Walker’s irresponsible budgeting and lack of serious focus on jobs and the economy have left Wisconsin fiscally unsound and caused us to fall farther behind on the road to economic recovery.

Under Gov. Walker, Wisconsin seeing red

OnMilwaukee.com Marketplace: Executives open pockets to help Walker fight recall

"Gov. Walker's message of moving Wisconsin forward continues to resonate with voters," said Ciara Matthews, communications director of the Walker campaign. "It is this message, and the success of the governor's reforms, that have inspired people to contribute to his campaign in overwhelming numbers. These donations will allow us to fight back against this baseless recall and ensure Gov. Walker can continue to lay the foundation for a more successful Wisconsin and keep government working on the side of taxpayers."

OnMilwaukee.com Marketplace: Executives open pockets to help Walker fight recall

Wisconsin governor sparks protest in Naples

Embattled Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was met by protesters at a speaking engagement in Naples Wednesday. Democrats in his home state are trying to force a recall election to get him out of office. Several southwest Florida labor union members are ...

Wisconsin governor sparks protest in Naples

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Legislature will need to take emergency steps to avoid budget being out of balance | Appleton Post Crescent | postcrescent.com

AP MADISON — Wisconsin's state budget condition has worsened to the point that Gov. Scott Walker and possibly the Legislature will need to take emergency steps to avoid being out of balance.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Legislature will need to take emergency steps to avoid budget being out of balance Appleton Post Crescent postcrescent.com

Work rules can’t be hashed out in secret | WisconsinWatch.org

A reporter from the Daily Register newspaper in Portage and a local representative of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) objected.

Work rules can’t be hashed out in secret WisconsinWatch.org

Attend a Free National Convention Info Session

The 2012 Democratic National Convention is quickly approaching, and we wanted to make sure you were aware of our free National Convention Info Sessions. The info sessions below are open to anyone who would like more information about how to become a Delegate to this year's Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC. Please click on the link below to register for an info session in your area. Make sure to check our website regularly as this list will be updated when more Info Sessions are scheduled.

Please click here to register for an Info Session
http://www.wisdems.org/charlotte/infosessions/infosessionrsvp

Sat, Feb 11

Marathon County Info Session - 2:00PM
Wausau Labor Temple, Room 13
318 South 3rd Avenue
Wausau, WI 54401-4694

Sun, Feb 12

Waukesha County Training - 12:00PM
Home of Dick Pas, Waukesha County Dems Chair
662 E Juneau Ave
Oconomowoc, WI 53066-3121

Dane County Training - 3:00PM
Democratic Party of Wisconsin Headquarters
110 King St. Suite 203
Madison, WI 53703

Sat, Feb 18

Rock County Training - 11:00AM
UAW Local 95
1795 Lafayette St.
Janesville, WI 53546

Sun, Feb 19

Informational Conference Call - 4:00PM
*Conference call information will be sent upon registration

Mon, Feb 27

Milwaukee County Info Session - 7:00PM (During Milwaukee County Dems Meeting)
Pettit Ice Center
500 S. 84th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53214

Sat, Mar 03

Oneida County Info Session - 12:00PM
Regional Democratic Party Office
29 W Davenport St
Rhinelander, WI 54501

Sun, Mar 11

Eau Claire County Info Session - 12:00PM
Eau Claire County Dems Resource Center
405 S. Barstow St.
Eau Claire, WI 54701

La Crosse County Info Session - 3:00PM
La Crosse County Dems Office
116 5th Ave S.
La Crosse, WI 54601

Mon, Mar 12

Racine County Info Session - 7PM (During Racine County Dems Meeting)
Union Hall
1840 Sycamore Avenue
Racine, WI 53404

Sun, Mar 18

Sheboygan County Training - 12:00PM
Sheboygan Buildings & Trades Hall
1104 Wisconsin Ave.
Sheboygan, WI 53081

Fond du Lac County Info Session - 3:00PM
Fond du Lac County Dems Office
21 N. Portland St.
Fond du Lac, WI 54935

Tue, Mar 20

Informational Conference Call - 6:00PM
*Conference call information will be sent upon registration

Sat, Mar 24

Jackson County Info Session - 10:00AM (at 3rd Congressional District Convention)
Lincoln High School
124 S School St
Alma Center, WI 54611

Sun, Mar 25

Brown County Info Session - 12:00PM
Brown County Dems Office
1061 W Mason St.
Green Bay, WI 54304

Sat, Mar 31

Milwaukee County Info Session - 12:00PM (at 4th Congressional District Convention)
Laborer's Hall
6310 W. Appleton Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53210

Please click here to register for an Info Session
http://www.wisdems.org/charlotte/infosessions/infosessionrsvp

We hope you will join us at a National Convention Info Session. For more information on the Democratic National Convention, or to download a "Statement of Intent and Pledge of Support" form, please visit http://www.wisdems.org/charlotte.

Thank you,

Sean Berger
Membership Director, Democratic Party of Wisconsin

Lawmakers were made to pledge secrecy over redistricting - JSOnline

GOP lawmakers fought releasing these new documents and testifying about the maps in a pending court case but relented after a panel of three federal judges based in Milwaukee last month found they had filed frivolous motions in trying to shield the information from the public.

Lawmakers were made to pledge secrecy over redistricting - JSOnline

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

About 200 protest Naples fundraiser visit by embattled Wisconsin governor | The News-Press | news-press.com

Rat, saboteur of the middle-class and leech were just some of the words used by teachers, union officials and others to describe Wisconsin’s Republican Gov. Scott Walker Wednesday morning during a protest in North Naples.

About 200 protest Naples fundraiser visit by embattled Wisconsin governor The News-Press news-press.com

Sen. Fitzgerald plans enough challenges to derail recall - JSOnline

Madison - Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said Tuesday he will challenge thousands of signatures this week - enough to prevent a recall election against him if state officials agree.

Sen. Fitzgerald plans enough challenges to derail recall - JSOnline

Democratic Sen. Vinehout enters governor's race | News - Home

Democratic state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout of Alma says she is running for governor if a recall election is ordered against Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

Democratic Sen. Vinehout enters governor's race News - Home

Report: 15-percent of Walker recall signatures are invalid - WTAQ News Talk 97.5FM and 1360AM

(WSAU) The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel estimates that about 15-percent of the Walker recall petition signatures are not valid. But even if three times that many are struck down, there would still be enough valid signatures to order the first ...

Report: 15-percent of Walker recall signatures are invalid - WTAQ News Talk 97.5FM and 1360AM

Executives open pockets to help Walker fight recall - BizTimes

Jaws dropped when the supporters of the recall against Gov. Scott Walker recently submitted more than 1 million signatures of Wisconsin residents. Then jaws dropped again when Walker's campaign announced a few days later it had raised ...

Executives open pockets to help Walker fight recall - BizTimes

GOP lawmakers signed redistricting secrecy deals - chicagotribune.com

Nearly all of Wisconsin's Republican state lawmakers took the unusual step of signing a legal agreement in which they promised to not comment publicly about redistricting discussions while new GOP-friendly maps were being drafted, a newspaper reported.

GOP lawmakers signed redistricting secrecy deals - chicagotribune.com

WDIO.com - Ely City Works, AFSCME Set Mediation Date

A strike has been approved for city workers in Ely, although it's not immediate. According to an AFSCME Council 65, Ely city workers and AFSCME Local 1490 have set a date of February 15 to work toward mediation to settle their contract.

WDIO.com - Ely City Works, AFSCME Set Mediation Date

Michigan politicians face political risk in fighting unions | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com

… Michigan politicians contemplating similar anti-union legislation should proceed at their own electoral peril. Michigan's working families are mobilizing right now and will certainly remember in November. We may not win battles in every state this fall. It may take years, but in the end, I'm confident we'll win the war on workers.

Michigan politicians face political risk in fighting unions The Detroit News detroitnews.com

State employee retirement system leaders call Gov. Jindal's retirement revamp proposal unfair | The Republic

Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposed changes to benefits for state workers are unconstitutional, unnecessarily harsh and unfair to employees vested in the system, state employee retirement system leaders said Tuesday. Cindy Rougeou, executive director of the Louisiana State Employees Retirement System, said Jindal is targeting workers who are barred from lobbying on their own behalf, those least able to speak up in opposition.

State employee retirement system leaders call Gov. Jindal's retirement revamp proposal unfair The Republic

Illinois lawmakers still skeptical of Quinn facilities-closure plan | FOX 55/27 Illinois | Illinois

Many Illinois lawmakers say they are still not convinced that Gov. Pat Quinn's proposal to close centers for people with mental health and developmental disabilities is a good plan. …. Jacksonville Developmental Center employs about 400 people, most of them members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, which has been lobbying against closure.

Illinois lawmakers still skeptical of Quinn facilities-closure plan FOX 55/27 Illinois Illinois

State pension fund shortfall grows - SouthwestIowaNews.com: Local News

The gap between the promises Iowa has made for public employees’ retirement benefits and the money set aside to pay for them has grown to $5.7 billion – a 1,643 percent increase over 11 years, State Auditor David Vaudt said Monday. ….. Danny Homan, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Iowa Council 61, which represents 40,000 public employees, said the “fixes” done in the Legislature in 2010 will take care of any problem with the state employees’ retirement system.

State pension fund shortfall grows - SouthwestIowaNews.com: Local News

AFSCME | Building Worker Strength in Lean Times

Building a union in ordinary times is tough enough. But the remarkable growth of Miami-Dade County Florida Employees Local 199 (AFSCME Council 79) is proof that you can build a union even in the face of adversity. In fact, workers sought to join the union – representing 9,000 workers in Miami-Dade – because of the adversity.

AFSCME Building Worker Strength in Lean Times

AFSCME | Arizona Workers Brace for Battle

Forget The French Connection, Bullitt, or The Italian Job. The best chase scene in modern cinema—bring it on, boo boys—appears in Joel and Ethan Coen's bizarre, pitch-perfect 1987 classic, "Raising Arizona." …. Why the clip? One of the nation's largest labor unions has drawn on the Coen brothers oeuvre as it wages the latest battle over workers' rights in America. … To fight back, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees launched "Razing Arizona." The new campaign rips Brewer and calls Arizona's anti-union legislation "the latest orchestrated attack from extreme right-wing lawmakers, think tanks, and their corporate cronies who are hell-bent on wiping out what’s left of the middle class."

AFSCME Arizona Workers Brace for Battle

John Nichols: Walker, ALEC take war on workers national

Two days after Ohio voters overwhelmingly rejected Gov. John Kasich’s anti-labor agenda by 61 percent to 39 percent in a referendum, the nation’s primary proponent of the war on worker rights opened a new front. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker jetted to Arizona, where he huddled with policymakers at the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale. After a series of closed-door sessions, he briefed a thousand Arizona conservatives on how they could attack “the big-government union bosses.”

John Nichols: Walker, ALEC take war on workers national

National Action Network | AFL-CIO NOW BLOG

The AFL-CIO is joining with civil rights, community and labor partners in the re-enactment of the historic 1965 Selma to Montgomery, Ala., civil rights march that will focus attention on new attacks on voting rights, immigrants, workers’ rights and education.

National Action Network AFL-CIO NOW BLOG

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

We Are Wisconsin » This Valentine’s Day, break up with Scott Walker

One year ago today, Scott Walker made clear his intention to declare war on the rights of hundreds of thousands of workers, 50 years of labor peace, and any modicum of civility or compromise that had previously characterized politics in the state of Wisconsin.

But he didn't stop there. From the ongoing corruption probe to draconian cuts in public education, Scott Walker has given Wisconsinites a million reasons to recall him.

Send an e-card by clicking on the below link to tell Gov. Walker why you're breaking up with him this Valentine's Day.

We Are Wisconsin » This Valentine’s Day, break up with Scott Walker

Republicans take vow to hide truth from public

"With today’s explosive revelations we see why Republicans fought so hard to keep their redistricting documents from coming to light. Forced by the federal court to turn over secret documents, the public now learns that the Republican lawmakers signed an oath to keep the truth about redistricting and maps from the public and their constituents.

--State Representative Peter Barca (D)

Republicans take vow to hide truth from public

Crime and Courts: Anti-Walker sentiment leads to circuit court primary

… Berz's list of supporters includes gubernatorial candidate and former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, and former County Executives Dick Wagner and Rick Phelps. She's also backed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, and state Reps. Terese Berceau and Kelda Helen Roys.

Crime and Courts: Anti-Walker sentiment leads to circuit court primary

Walker: Right to Work off the table in WI

While some see a wave of legislation aimed at weakening organized labor following Indiana’s new right-to-work law, Wisconsin is not expected to join it anytime soon. “No,” Cullen Werwie, spokesman for Gov. Scott Walker, told Wisconsin Reporter on Monday when asked if Walker thought the Republican-controlled Legislature would pursue legislation prohibiting labor organizations from requiring workers to join unions.

Walker: Right to Work off the table in WI

Unions `frustrated’ with Senate Dems and White House - The Plum Line - The Washington Post

Are Senate Dems and the White House about to create another minor headache for themselves on the left? I’m told that unions are “frustrated” with both over the big compromise Senate Dems reached with House Republicans on the Federal Aviation Authorization reauthorization bill — which unions believe will make organizing harder for hundreds of thousands of railway and airline workers.

Unions `frustrated’ with Senate Dems and White House - The Plum Line - The Washington Post

Recalls could shape 2013 Legislature - JSOnline

Madison - Recalling Republican senators in the coming months would give Democrats their best hope of controlling the Senate next year - a task that would be all but impossible if Democrats focused only on the regular November elections.

Recalls could shape 2013 Legislature - JSOnline

Meet Gov. Scott Walker’s New Political Hit Women | | AlterNet

As Wisconsin’s recall elections approach, Republican Governor Scott Walker has enlisted an eyebrow-raising pair of well-connected, out-of-state political operators to sell his administration's policies and promote his reelection. Of the two young women, one cut her teeth with Karl Rove and the other promoting anti-abortion causes and working with Tea Party favorite Sharon Angle.

Meet Gov. Scott Walker’s New Political Hit Women AlterNet

Meet Kathleen Falk

While Scott Walker is scurrying around the country Hoovering up campaign cash from billionaires, his leading opponent is launching a listening tour of Wisconsin.

Former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, the first to announce she is running against Walker in the recall, will crisscross our state this week for a “Your Voice, Your Wisconsin” tour.

She is a strong friend of AFSCME, and she would like to hear from you. Here’s how she describes her goal:

“I want to hear more from you about how we bring Wisconsin back together and move forward as one state. Big corporations and the wealthy have the current governor’s ear. In this campaign – and, more important, in my governor’s office – you will have mine.

"Gov. Walker wasn’t honest with us about what he would do as governor, and he refuses to hear the voices of those who question his misguided agenda. He shut us out from our own Capitol. He divided our state. He lost our trust. And he still won’t sit down and talk to us.

"This will be a campaign of, by, and for the people of Wisconsin – not out-of-state billionaires or powerful corporate interests seeking to advance their hidden agenda.

Here is a list of the times and locations.

Tuesday February 7, 2012
Wausau
Time: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: Wausau Labor Temple, 318 South 3rd Avenue, Room 13

Wednesday February 8, 2012
Eau Claire
Time: 8:00-9:00 a.m.
Location: Chippewa Valley Technical College - Clairemont Campus, 620 West Clairemont Avenue Business and Education Center, Room 284B

La Crosse
Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Location: La Crosse Public Library, 800 Main Street, Trustees Room

Kathleen Falk has a strong record of standing up for working families and building strong relationships with front-line workers. This tour is one more example of how she works to bring people together.

She says the “Your Voice, Your Wisconsin” tour will bring together members of the community, recall petition leaders, local supporters and other citizens concerned about our future – and dedicated to doing something to change it.

“While Gov. Walker is crisscrossing the country gathering out-of-state money, we’ll be building a grassroots organization that corporate money cannot stop,” she writes.

If you’d like a chance to meet Kathleen and see for yourself the kind of leader she is, please attend one of her events this week.

Monday, February 6, 2012

League of Women Voters to host discussion of privatization of public services | Herald Times Reporter | htrnews.com

The Manitowoc County League of Women Voters will host a public meeting on privatization of public services at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at Manitowoc City Hall. Local panelists will discuss issues relating to an increasing trend toward transfer of government services to the private sector at all levels of government, according to a news release. … The national league study will consider the positive and negative effect of the transfer of services, functions, assets and power. It will question the impact on communities when previous public services such as education, military, parks, police and fire protection, prisons, health and social services public transit, water, waste water treatment, road maintenance, and others are privatized, the release stated.

League of Women Voters to host discussion of privatization of public services Herald Times Reporter htrnews.com

Proposal offers new options for retiring UW system employees | Fond du Lac Reporter | fdlreporter.com

This proposal is the beginning of the dismantling of the WRS. AFSCME strongly opposes this proposal.

Newly hired employees within the University of Wisconsin system could opt out of the state retirement system — and select a state-run defined-contribution plan — under a proposal being discussed in the state Assembly.

Proposal offers new options for retiring UW system employees Fond du Lac Reporter fdlreporter.com

State's public workers cope with reduced buying power following Walker legislation

State of Wisconsin clerical worker Gina Bertolini started paying about 6 percent of her $15.48 hourly wage toward her pension in August plus $84 a month for her health coverage. …. "I've never been rich, but I always made a nice Christmas dinner for my family," said Bertolini, 59, who has two grown sons and two small grandchildren. "This year I couldn't afford to do the dinner. I did buy everyone a gift, but it was really modest. I didn't decorate. I thought, 'I'm just not going to think about this.'" Bertolini is just one of tens of thousands of public workers in Wisconsin without union contracts who have faced reduced buying power in the wake of Gov. Scott Walker's landmark legislation — unveiled one year ago this week — to balance the budget by curtailing union collective bargaining and extracting financial concessions from workers.

State's public workers cope with reduced buying power following Walker legislation

A year after dividing the state, Walker in fight of his political life

Saturday marks one year since Walker introduced legislation so controversial it divided the state, spurred the largest protests in Wisconsin history and triggered a series of recall elections — likely including his own.

A year after dividing the state, Walker in fight of his political life

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Have You Benefited from Health Care Reform?

Legislation is looking for AFSCME members that have benefitted from health care reform – please circulate this request. Questions? Contact Karl Start kstark@afscme.org

Brothers and Sisters,

TELL US YOUR STORY! Are you one of the millions who are already benefitting from the enactment of health reform? Do you have better access to preventive services and prescription drugs? Have you been able to put one or more of your adult children on your health plan?

These vital health care reforms are being threatened by right-wing politicians who are trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act in Congress and in the courts. We are fighting back with the stories of those who have already been helped. Below are examples of how the Affordable Care Act is helping working families and retirees:

· Adult children can remain on their parents’ health plans until they reach age 26;
· Plan can no longer drop people from coverage when they get sick.
· Plans can no longer put a dollar limit on health benefits people receive over their lifetimes and annual limits are also restricted;
· Plans may not impose co-pays or deductibles for preventive services;
· Prescription drug prices dropped by 50% for many seniors using Medicare Part D;
· For the first time, Medicare will pay for preventive services.

If you are one of the millions already benefitting from the Affordable Care Act, please write down your story, along with your name, address, and telephone number and send it to Karl Stark at kstark@afscme.org. AFSCME fought hard to pass these landmark health reforms, and with your help, we’ll fight to make sure they’re here to stay.

GAB should focus on recall issues raised by Wisconsinites, not outsiders

Gov. Scott Walker's campaign, when it is not hiring criminal defense specialists to represent the governor in the current John Doe inquiry, continues to try to upset the electoral process in Wisconsin.

Walker, his campaign and the Republican Party of Wisconsin have for weeks attempted to create confusion with regard to the review of the recall petitions that were filed Jan. 17. They even got a judge in Waukesha County to assist in the process. But now the state appeals court has clarified things.

GAB should focus on recall issues raised by Wisconsinites, not outsiders

Political tightrope awaits Walker as potential recall election looms | Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune | wisconsinrapidstribune.com

The governor traveled to the growing manufacturer's plant Wednesday as a part of his "Turning Around Wisconsin" tour, a post-State of the State trek meant to remind people why they elected him in the first place. Saturday will mark one year since ...

Political tightrope awaits Walker as potential recall election looms Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune wisconsinrapidstribune.com

On the Capitol: Allegations, complaints and the Wisconsin political environment

Some of the recent allegations swirling around Wisconsin lawmakers and their staff members have left us wondering just how much the state's political crowd learned from the not-that-long-ago caucus scandal.

In criminal complaints filed last week, Milwaukee County prosecutors told of a secret email and Internet system surreptitiously used by some top aides to Gov. Scott Walker for doing campaign work on county taxpayer time while he was serving as Milwaukee County executive.

On the Capitol: Allegations, complaints and the Wisconsin political environment

Wisconsin Gov. Walker says he’s meeting with prosecutor leading secret investigation - The Washington Post

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Friday he will meet with a district attorney leading a secret investigation that has already led to charges being filed against five former close aides and associates.

Wisconsin Gov. Walker says he’s meeting with prosecutor leading secret investigation - The Washington Post

Q&A: Sen. Tim Cullen says the recall is going to be expensive and nasty

For months now, there has been no shortage of Democratic names floating around as potential contenders to take on Gov. Scott Walker in the expected recall election. Two people had said they were definitely going to run: state Sen. Tim Cullen of Janesville and former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.
But last week Cullen took himself out of the race, citing a fundraising hurdle and the mudslinging that is sure to occur between the candidates as reasons.

Q&A: Sen. Tim Cullen says the recall is going to be expensive and nasty

Boland picks up GOP endorsement, possible challenger; Kind has cash

Republican congressional candidate Ray Boland picked up one endorsement and one potential challenger for his party’s nomination this week.

Boland picks up GOP endorsement, possible challenger; Kind has cash

GOP scours Galloway recall petitions | Stevens Point Journal | stevenspointjournal.com

WAUSAU -- Supporters of Wausau state Sen. Pam Galloway say they found common problems in petitions seeking a recall election against the freshman lawmaker.

GOP scours Galloway recall petitions Stevens Point Journal stevenspointjournal.com

Additional poll workers needed for upcoming elections | The Oshkosh Northwestern | thenorthwestern.com

New voting districts, the new voter ID law and the rise in votes cast by absentee ballot have led municipal clerks to put out a call for additional workers to staff polling places during upcoming elections.

Additional poll workers needed for upcoming elections The Oshkosh Northwestern thenorthwestern.com