'I don't believe him' says union leader on Walker wanting political unity - 620 WTMJ - Milwaukee's Source for Local News and Weather

Walker wants to bring the state back together, but to AFSCME Local 48's Rich Abelson, "I don't believe him...This is not a guy who has a history of compromise." Abelson told Newsradio 620 WTMJ's Wisconsin's Afternoon News he has a lot of experience ...


'I don't believe him' says union leader on Walker wanting political unity - 620 WTMJ - Milwaukee's Source for Local News and Weather

How America's Largest Private Prison Operator Plans to Beat Corporate Income Tax

Although many on the left have rightly repudiated the myriad manifestations of prison privatization characterized, in part, by involuntary prison labor, ongoing health and safety violations, corporate financing and even "the New Jim Crow," few, if any, have called attention to the relatively obscure relationship between private prison companies and their IRS corporate classification filing status.  … Less than a month ago, the nation's largest private prison owner and operator, Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), first announced its plan to assess the feasibility of a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) conversion.  …. CCA bills its potential conversion into a REIT as a way to "increase long-term shareholder value," but it will also allow the company to 1) reduce its federal corporate tax liability to zero. and 2) "leverage" (nonexistent) revenue to create the illusion of "more cash on hand."

How America's Largest Private Prison Operator Plans to Beat Corporate Income Tax

Branstad inspired to follow Wisconsin's lead - Omaha.com

This is an article to point out what more is going to happen to public-sector workers in Wisconsin and all across this country now that GOP Governor's, like Walker, believe they have the support to implement unreasonable reforms. The GOP movement is to belittle the american worker, boost the profit margin of major business and protect the wealthy.

Workers who ORGANIZE and make their UNION strong have the ability to push back on these kinds of unreasonable reforms. To walk away from your UNION in tough times is a display of giving in to the wealthy and the powerful who will pad their pockets with your reduced compensation.

Stay in the fight and ORGANIZE for the POWER TO WIN!

Branstad inspired to follow Wisconsin's lead - Omaha.com

Wisconsin may consider changes to recall election law | Appleton Post Crescent | postcrescent.com

Luhman said he was surprised by the outcome in his southern Wisconsin county, which in 2010 was only "lukewarm" about Walker and ended up tipping slightly to Barrett. Fully 60 percent of statewide voters believed recall elections should be used only in ...


Wisconsin may consider changes to recall election law | Appleton Post Crescent | postcrescent.com

Money Can and Will Buy Elections

The sad reality of the unsuccessful recall election in Wisconsin is that the tentacles of greed and power now have an enormous negative impact on elections and democracy.

Ever since the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, the door has been wide open for millionaires and billionaires to buy elections anywhere. What happened in Wisconsin sends a clear signal to big spenders like the Koch brothers that our democracy is dead.

Joe Martinez
El Segundo, CA

AFSCME | What Happened in Wisconsin

By now you’ve probably heard that Scott Walker survived his recall election. To do so, he spent nearly $50 million.


AFSCME | What Happened in Wisconsin

Trumka: Wisconsin Forced Governor to Answer for His Divisive Tactics

Wisconsin "forced the governor to answer for his efforts to divide the state and punish hard-working people" in today's recall election," AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said tonight following predictions Gov. Scott Walker (R) would retain his seat.


Trumka: Wisconsin Forced Governor to Answer for His Divisive Tactics

AFSCME | A Fight for the History Books – and Workers Everywhere

Wisconsin voters turned out in historic numbers today to declare their support for workers’ rights and against corporate-backed policies that have devastated the state’s economy. … An army of 36,000 We Are Wisconsin volunteers – including members of AFSCME’s three Wisconsin affiliates (Council 24, Council 40, and Council 48) worked together to support the campaign to replace Walker. They knocked on nearly two million doors during the course of this campaign. They also made more than one million phone calls.


AFSCME | A Fight for the History Books – and Workers Everywhere

Analysis: Unions take a big hit in Walker’s win - THonline.com: Iowa-Illinois-Wisconsin

Voters in Wisconsin dealt a stinging blow to the nation’s public-sector unions Tuesday in the state that first granted them broad bargaining power more than a half-century ago. ….. . Although public unions will not disappear as a result, they were the clear losers in a race that confirmed Walker as a national celebrity for Republicans. They now have no prospects for recovering what they lost, with neither the money nor manpower they had when Walker rose to office. Marty Beil , executive director of the Wisconsin State Employees Union, said his group would continue in much the way it did more than 50 years ago, when it had no bargaining rights. “We aren’t going to go away,” Beil said. “We’re not going to pull a blanket over our head and pee in our pajamas.”


Analysis: Unions take a big hit in Walker’s win - THonline.com: Iowa-Illinois-Wisconsin

Thank you Message from Tom Barrett

We got in this race, not because it was going to be easy, but because it was the right thing to do.

While the outcome wasn't what we hoped, I want to thank you all for the hard work that you have done.

As I travelled all over Wisconsin, I was amazed at the sweat, dedication and energy put forth by people like you to bring our democracy alive.

Thank you to those of you who fought, who obtained signatures, who stood out in the cold, who donated, and who did what you thought was right. You should be proud of what we've accomplished and I hope you will continue fighting for our shared Wisconsin values.

Thank you to those of you who got involved; whether it was your first time or your twentieth time, you made a difference. Democracy is the ultimate participatory sport, and I hope you keep your passion for politics alive by sharing stories about our incredible journey with your friends and family.

And thank you to you all for caring deeply about the future of working, middle class families. This is still a fight worth fighting and I hope you continue to stand with me for justice, opportunity and fairness for all.

Now we must look to the future. And our challenges are real. We are a state that is deeply divided and it is up to all of us -- our side and their side -- to listen and work together.

During our campaign, we launched an unprecedented neighbor-to-neighbor effort to contact Wisconsinites all across our state and discuss the challenges we face. This is an endeavor we must continue. In the days and weeks ahead, I urge you to reach out to your neighbors and ask, "What can we do together to move our community forward?"

A healthy democracy requires lively debates, but it also requires that we listen, that we roll-up our sleeves, and that we work together to do what is right.

With the election behind us, that is our duty to the people of Wisconsin.

This isn't the end -- it's just the start of a new chapter that we are going to write together as Wisconsinites.

I'll be there fighting with you to move Wisconsin forward -- and I can't wait to see what you do next.

Thank you so much,

Tom Barrett

A Brutal Night in Wisconsin | The Progressive

Do not give up. Progress is not linear. It doesn’t come in a day, or a month, or a year, or in a single campaign. But it comes.


We’ve survived huge setbacks before. Young Bob La Follette, who took over for his father in the U.S. Senate and had a distinguished two-decade career there, lost in a primary in 1946 to a fellow named Joe McCarthy. That, too, was a brutal night for Wisconsin.

But we survived McCarthyism. And we will survive Walkerism.

If this election proves anything, though, it proves the need for campaign finance reform. We must get money out of politics or we will have no hope for real democracy in Wisconsin or in America.

A Brutal Night in Wisconsin | The Progressive

WisPolitics.com: AFSCME: Fight for worker rights goes on

AFSCME leaders in Wisconsin say their movement remains strong and energized, despite Scott Walker’s successful $50 million defense of his radical record. Sen.-elect John Lehman’s victory also puts the state Senate into Democratic hands, creating an important check on Scott Walker’s anti-worker agenda.


WisPolitics.com: AFSCME: Fight for worker rights goes on

WisPolitics.com: Walker and Kleefisch win; GOP takes 3 Senate races, Lehman declares victory in the 21st SD

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett urged unity following tonight's electoral defeat to Gov. Scott Walker.


"We are a state that is deeply divided," Barrett said, and urged his supporters and those who backed Walker to to continue "lively discourse" and to listen to the other side. "At the end of the day we need to do what is right for Wisconsin families."

Barrett thanked his supporters and asked them to stay active in Wisconsin politics.

"For those of you who went out in the cold to collect signatures, never ever stop doing what you think is right," Barrett said. "For those of you who care about this city please stay involved."

"This has been the most amazing experience of our lives," Barrett said. "We have seen this democracy come alive."

WisPolitics.com: Walker and Kleefisch win; GOP takes 3 Senate races, Lehman declares victory in the 21st SD

AFL-CIO’s super-PAC shifts focus to getting out the vote in Wis. - TheHill.com

The AFL-CIO’s super-PAC is shifting gears Monday to encourage voters to head to the polls for the recall against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R). Up until this point, Workers’ Voice has been running online ads directing people to sign up to volunteer for the campaign against Walker. Now, the super-PAC for the nation’s largest labor federation is moving into advertising for its get-out-the-vote effort.


AFL-CIO’s super-PAC shifts focus to getting out the vote in Wis. - TheHill.com

AFSCME | Face to Face, and Call after Call, Volunteers Are Making a Difference in Walker Recall Effort

Thank you Brother Paul Spink for everything you have been doing. It is great to know that there are members like you willing to go the extra mile for the sake of everyone represented by the Union. Members like you is what makes this Union run.

Thank you to all of the other members and retirees and AFSCME supporters for everything you have been doing to hopefully bring about a stop to the destruction of Wisconsin by Scott Walker and his supporters.

AFSCME | Face to Face, and Call after Call, Volunteers Are Making a Difference in Walker Recall Effort

Paul Spink is a member of AFSCME Council 24 Local 2748 and a committee member of SEPAC.

AFSCME | Right to Collective Bargaining “Not Negotiable,” Declares Wisconsin Worker

As the days count down to the June 5 vote to recall Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, one AFSCME leader in the Badger state looked back on the solidarity movement that brought his state to this historic moment. D.J Dixon, Jr., a property assessment technician for the city of Madison, has been working hard to defeat Governor Walker after he repealed collective bargaining rights for more than 200,000 public service workers last year.


AFSCME | Right to Collective Bargaining “Not Negotiable,” Declares Wisconsin Worker

AFSCME | The Unsung Heroes behind the Wisconsin Recall Campaign

It’s a beautiful, sunny weekend, and most people are out having fun, doing chores, or spending time with family. Yet thousands of volunteers are out knocking on doors – or inside making phone calls – to get out the vote to recall Gov. Scott Walker this Tuesday. Then there are Peggy Peterson and Jim Terasa, just two of the real unsung heroes of the recall campaign – volunteers who perform less glamorous but equally essential jobs that make everything else work smoothly. …. Taking a break from that task, the retired state employee and member of AFSCME Retiree Chapter 52 in Madison, describes her job this way: “I’m supplying support to all the people out there getting out the vote.


AFSCME | The Unsung Heroes behind the Wisconsin Recall Campaign

Walker: Recall win would vindicate tough decisions | News - Home

Walker's decisions have had nothing to do with money. His decisions are based on dividing people and then conquering those who DO NOT stand with him.

DO NOT forget that he testified before a congressional committee that his stripping of collective bargaining from public employees had nothing to with the state budget.

This election will be very close and the winner will have no mandate. Mayor Tom Barrett will have tremendous work in healing the people of Wisconsin and bringing friends, neighbors, coworkers and family back together to move Wisconsin Forward.

Walker: Recall win would vindicate tough decisions | News - Home

Own Your Vote Wisconsin / Our Vote

Polls open all across Wisconsin from 7:00am until 8:00pm.


Please VOTE BARRETT for Governor & MITCHELL for Lieutenant Governor.
Scott Walker and Rebecca Kleefisch have got to go!

You DO NOT need a Photo ID to Vote.

Checkout "Own Your Vote" for more information about voting on Tuesday, June 5.
(http://www.ownyourvotewi.com)
To report a problem or ask a question about voting on Election Day; Call our Voter Protection Hotline – 1-800-311–VOTE (8683)


Checkout "We Are Wisconsin" for more information about voting on Tuesday, June 5.
(http://www.wearewisconsin.org)
If you have voting questions, or encounter and/or witness problems at the polls, please call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

Sources say Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is Now the Target of Corruption Probe | Wisconsin Politics

The legal sources, who are not involved in Wisconsin's recall, spoke on condition of anonymity. They said Walker faces "serious legal challenges," including "a possible indictment," regardless of the election results on Tuesday.


Sources say Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is Now the Target of Corruption Probe | Wisconsin Politics