Saturday, March 10, 2012

Election Set for Recall of Wisconsin's Governor | FOX 21 Online

AP MADISON - Democrats oppose a timeline that would put any primary for Gov. Scott Walker's recall election on May 15 with the general election on June 12. Those dates were recommended Friday by the head of the state elections board.



Election Set for Recall of Wisconsin's Governor | FOX 21 Online

Walker: No public money for my John Doe lawyers

Gov. Scott Walker says he's not using public money to pay for the attorneys representing him in connection with a Milwaukee County investigation of several former aides and associates.

Walker: No public money for my John Doe lawyers

WisPolitics.com: WisPolitics: Thousands rally at the Capitol on anniversary of collective bargaining changes

Dems and labor unions commemorated the one-year anniversary of Gov. Scott Walker’s collective bargaining changes Saturday by urging thousands who gathered at the state Capitol to recall the guv and flip control of the state Senate in expected recall elections.


WisPolitics.com: WisPolitics: Thousands rally at the Capitol on anniversary of collective bargaining changes

Friday, March 9, 2012

We Are Wisconsin » Reclaim Wisconsin Rally

Walker dropped the bomb and we responded with the biggest citizen uprising in state history.

On Saturday at 1 p.m. we’ll gather again at the state Capitol for a Reclaim Wisconsin Rally.

We rallied in the snow. We rallied in the rain. We’ve been relentless.

And now, one year later, we need to remind the world that we have not gone away.

In fact, we have grown into a movement with more than 1 million members who have put their names on the line.

We will not forget the assault on our values. We will not be quiet.

We will reclaim our state.

On Saturday at 1 p.m. we’ll gather again at the state Capitol for a Reclaim Wisconsin Rally.

Please join us as we mark the one-year anniversary of Walker’s legislative minions ramming through his union-busting bill.

This time, we don’t expect snow or rain. It will be a beautiful day.

We Are Wisconsin » Reclaim Wisconsin Rally

Scott Walker Continues to Take Money from the People

Okay, this time he may be "asking" the people, but it is certain he will have a doozy of a sales pitch to get the people to cough it up.

Gov. Scott Walker announced today he is creating a legal defense fund to cover his legal costs associated with an ongoing John Doe probe that has resulted in charges filed against former aides from his time as Milwaukee County executive.

Message from the Union Information Network‬‪

Last Call for Scholarship Applications*‬‪‬‪

Scholarship applications must to be postmarked by Thursday, March 15, 2012.  There is still time to apply, but completed applications would need to be dropped off in our office to make sure they are received before the deadline.‬‪

Bowling Tournament – April 27 & 28, 2012‬‪‬‪

At the annual Jim Boyd Memorial Scholarship Bowling Tournament, which raises funds for our scholarship program, we still have room on the Friday 4:30 and 10:30 shifts and  1:00 pm, 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm shifts for Saturday bowling.‬‪ For more info on either of the above, contact Shannon at slinde@wseu-24.org.‬‪*This is a members-only benefit.  To sign-up for membership, visit our websites:  www.wseu-24.org; www.wseu-sepac.org.

Sent from Steven Williams BlackBerry smartphone

Capitol Report: Brett Hulsey wants to cut Scott Walker's pay

… Under a draft bill Hulsey is circulating for co-sponsors in the waning days of the legislative session -- it ends next week -- Walker’s salary of $144,423 would immediately drop by $20,000. Hulsey argues for the pay cut by saying Walker should not earn more than three times the annual salary of the average state worker, which is roughly $41,000.

Capitol Report: Brett Hulsey wants to cut Scott Walker's pay

Wisconsin Lawmaker Calls Out Corporate Front Group ALEC For Writing School Privatization Bill - Republic Report

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is the most powerful corporate front group you’ve never heard of … But one Wisconsin lawmaker is not content with allowing a corporate front group to secretly write his state’s laws. Rep. Mark Pocan (D) decided to join ALEC — its legislative umbrella includes nearly one-third of state legislators — and gain access to the template bills it was writing. When the legislature began to consider AB 110, which allows for special taxpayer subsidies for private schools for special needs children. Pocan took to the floor of the Wisconsin House and noted that the text of this bill that provides for a huge blanket taxpayer giveaway to the private school industry was remarkably similar to an ALEC template bill. Pocan obtained an e-mail trail of ALEC representatives to Republican staffers. These staffers then pushed for AB110. … Watch Pocan call out ALEC:

Wisconsin Lawmaker Calls Out Corporate Front Group ALEC For Writing School Privatization Bill - Republic Report

The Badger Herald: Bill would bring back union rights

As the one-year anniversary of the passage of the bill repealing most collective bargaining rights for public unions approaches, Democratic legislators are seeking to do away with the contentious law. At a press conference Thursday, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, and Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, introduced the Collective Bargaining Restoration Act, which would create provisions in the state statutes dealing with how unions are certified and the collection of union dues, as well as re-establishing the ability of public unions to collectively bargain. The bill would repeal the collective bargaining legislation, originally part of the budget repair bill, passed by the Republican legislature last year and signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker.

The Badger Herald: Bill would bring back union rights

Why would Koch brothers want to refine Cato Institute? - The Washington Post

…. What’s puzzling is why the Kochs started this campaign in the first place. It’s easy enough to see what they hoped to achieve: They would quietly take control of Cato and then leverage its credibility to help elect a Republican president. Unfortunately for them, the cries from inside Cato made the “quietly” part impossible. But it would have been impossible in any case: Cato’s credibility is derived from its independence; it wouldn’t last long separated from it. …. Cato is an organization that can have more than a marginal impact on elections. It can have a significant impact on policy and governance. That’s a level of influence that even the Kochs can’t buy. When two of the right wing’s most influential funders don’t recognize that, it should cheer liberals immensely.

Why would Koch brothers want to refine Cato Institute? - The Washington Post

Elections board asks clerks about recall dates

The Wisconsin state elections board is asking local election clerks for their opinions on five possible scenarios for holding recall elections against Gov. Scott Walker and five others.

Elections board asks clerks about recall dates

6,000 jobs gained since Walker took office | Stevens Point Journal | stevenspointjournal.com

Wisconsin has gained only 6,000 private-sector jobs in the 13 months since the governor took office, a sluggish economic pace that leaves the state far off the mark Walker set during his campaign.

6,000 jobs gained since Walker took office | Stevens Point Journal | stevenspointjournal.com

Legislature winding down with major work undone - JSOnline

Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-led Legislature gained national attention for an agenda that ranged from limiting liability lawsuits for businesses to repealing most union bargaining for public employees.

Legislature winding down with major work undone - JSOnline

Voters, clerks on hold for photo ID law | Sheboygan Press | sheboyganpress.com

The law requiring voters in Wisconsin to show photo identification before casting a ballot is on hold, but the fears and concerns by voters about the law are not.

Voters, clerks on hold for photo ID law | Sheboygan Press | sheboyganpress.com

Thursday, March 8, 2012

AFSCME Members Need Help

From: President McEntee &. Sec-Treas Saunders [mailto:President_SecTreasurer@afscme.org]
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2012 4:31 PM
To: AFSCME Leadership
Subject: AFSCME Fallen Heroes Fund

We have all seen the heartbreaking pictures of devastation after tornadoes ripped across the Midwest and South last week. The storms killed at least 39 people and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage in 10 states. Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky suffered the brunt of the storms and our AFSCME members were among those who lost everything – loved ones, homes, and every possession.

Now is the time for our AFSCME family to pull together and give generously to AFSCME’s Fallen Heroes Fund, which provides immediate assistance and recovery funds to members hit hardest by natural disasters and other tragedies. After Hurricane Irene devastated the Northeast last year, the Fund aided more than 2,000 members with $270,000 contributed by AFSCME. Now our sisters and brothers in the Midwest and South need us.

AFSCME this week pledged $100,000 for the Fund, to aid tornado victims. Please join us, by going to the Fallen Heroes Fund website today and making your donation. It only takes a minute and it will change the lives of those hurting the most. They are our AFSCME family and as we have so many times before, we must have each other’s backs now.