Alberta Darling: Good for Wisconsin

It's "We, the people," not "We, the unions and liberal special interests."

Wisconsinites did the right thing when we put Wisconsin on a path to prosperity last November.

What a mistake it would be to let that slip away!



Alberta Darling did what we wanted - balanced the state budget without raising taxes.

Success!

"My opponent believes taxpayers should work for the government. I don't. I believe that government should work for the people."

Well said.

Vote for Alberta Darling on August 9th.

Then celebrate your vote with some HONEST barbecue, not the illegal, pro-Sandy Pasch stuff.

John Chisholm. Calling DEMOCRAT Milwaukee County District Attorney, John Chisholm.

Scott Walker Budget Working

Governor Scott Walker's policies are working in Wisconsin.

Madison—One month after the 2011-13 state budget was signed into law, tangible results from the reforms put in place by Governor Walker and the Legislature are being realized. According to media reports, local units of government and school districts have already saved more than $220 million, with millions more in potential savings not yet reported.

The state is also adding jobs. Between December 2007 and December 2010, Wisconsin lost over 153,600 private sector jobs. The state has netted over 39,000 new private sector jobs since the Governor called a special session to open Wisconsin for business. The state has seen 14,100 manufacturing jobs created since January. In June Wisconsin had a net job creation of 9,500 new jobs, including nearly 13,000 private sector jobs. Only four states created more private sector jobs than Wisconsin did in the last month.

Below is a sampling of local units of governments being able to balance their budget and improve services due to the reforms contained in the 2011-13 state budget and the budget repair bill:

Ashland School District

A health insurance provider switch saved Ashland School District nearly $378,000.

Reference: http://www.ashlandwi.com/articles/2011/07/18/news/doc4e24f08b80b26580859031.txt

Kimberly School District

The district saved $821,000 by dropping WEA Trust.

Reference: http://maciverinstitute.com/2011/07/wisconsin-school-districts-are-switching-health-care-providersplans-to-create-savings-in-2011/

Edgerton School District

The district will drop the union's current health insurance carrier, the WEA Trust. The district is gathering bids to change to a different health insurance provider, which Pauli said could save at least $500,000 over the next year.

Reference:

http://gazettextra.com/news/2011/mar/15/edgerton-reaches-teacher-contract/

Baraboo School District

The Baraboo School Board expects to save about $660,000 next year after deciding to change insurance providers Monday evening.

Reference: https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:24830.9327959424/rid:4f6670a3bc5ed1258448c884029069d8

Dodgeland School District

The Dodgeland School Board made the decision to change insurance companies.

Administrator Annette Thompson said the change will help the board deal with the expected $640,000 budget deficit from reduced state aid and expiration of some federal and AARA funds. The change in providers is expected to save the district $260,000 next year.

Reference: http://www.wiscnews.com/bdc/news/local/article_a5dddeb8-b412-11e0-949a-001cc4c03286.html

Elmbrook School District

The district originally had planned for $780,000 in savings through the health-care changes, but Brightman said the actual savings are estimated at $878,000. He said some of that money likely will be needed to pay for staffing - probably a half-time equivalent clerical position - to administer the new plan.

Reference: http://www.brookfieldnow.com/news/125863413.html

Mequon-Thiensville School District

Delta Dental's quotes also came in lower than those provided by WEA Trust. Beaudry said the district will save $49,000 in the 2011-12 budget cycle by switching to Delta Dental.

Reference: http://www.mequonnow.com/news/125861078.html

Marshfield School District

Marshfield will balance its budget despite the cuts. "Given the cost savings with health insurance and the turnover with staff and new hires, we will be able to preserve our programs and come up with a balanced budget," said Peg Geegan, the district's director of instruction who will assume the superintendent's position Aug. 1. The district will save $850,000 by switching health insurance carriers…

Reference: http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/article/20110706/MNH0101/107060599/State-aid-Marshfield-schools-down-2-4-million?odyssey=tabtopnewsimgFRONTPAGE

Fond du Lac School District

District leaders believe when school starts in the fall they'll be operating with a balanced budget. They say the savings under the bill will offset their 4.4 million dollar budget shortfall. Class sizes and programs will also remain in tact.

References:

http://www.nbc26.com/news/local/126364503.html and http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20110728/FON0101/110727143/FdL-School-District-expects-balanced-budget

City of Sheboygan and Sheboygan County

City of Sheboygan Mayor Bob Ryan and Sheboygan County Administrator Adam Payne said the collective bargaining reforms will provide enough savings to make up for the reductions in state aid. "We were able to lock in savings and certainty due to the discussions going on in Madison," Payne said.

Reference: http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20110629/SHE0101/306290007/Special-Report-s-new-world-public-employee-pay?odyssey=tabtopnewsimgSHE-News

Wauwatosa School District

The tax levy is projected to decrease, no programs will be cut, and class sizes won’t increase by any significant measure. School board member Phil Kroner: "When students come to school in the fall, they're going to see the same things, have the same teachers, and they're going to see new things as well.

Reference: http://wauwatosa.patch.com/articles/school-board-quietly-passes-budget-based-on-sacrifice

Manitowoc

Laid-off city workers may get their jobs back after the city moves forward with the wage and benefit reforms contained in the budget. And Overtime rules have changed saving the county $100,000.

References: http://www.htrnews.com/article/20110706/MAN0101/107060474/Some-laid-off-city-workers-rehired-month?odyssey=tabtopnewsimgFRONTPAGE and http://www.htrnews.com/article/20110720/MAN0101/107200527/Overtime-rules-changed-Manitowoc-County-employees?odyssey=tabtopnewsimgFRONTPAGE

Pittsville

They will see up to a 9% decrease in the school portion of their property tax levy. "It will be wonderful for our taxpayers, who have been extremely committed to our schools," School Board President Julie Strenn said, noting three years ago, voters approved a three-year revenue cap override that cost taxpayers an additional $175,000 each year… "This is the first year we have not needed to short-term borrow.”

Reference: http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/article/20110615/WRT0101/106150626/Pittsville-Schools-OK-preliminary-budget?odyssey=tabtopnewsimgFRONTPAGE

Neenah

Paul Hauffe, director of business services said, “administrators are poised to introduce a balanced budget in mid-July… We're very close right now, there's nothing monumental that we have to overcome."

Reference: http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20110706/APC0902/107060619/Neenah-settles-teachers-amid-collective-bargaining-changes

Appleton Area School District

They will save $3.1 million just in health insurance costs alone due to competition among health insurance providers. Financial advisors for the school district said:

· Discussions at the state level over collective bargaining and budgeting issues have been beneficial to school districts from the rate perspective.

· It forced a lot of competition. I do think the landscape in the school marketplace has changed significantly over the last year that's put significant pressure on WEA Trust. Previously to this year, they didn't have a lot of competition. Historically, it's very difficult for other carriers to match them.

· The $3.1 million in savings for next school year is just in health insurance premium costs.

Reference: http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20110622/APC0101/106220521/Appleton-schools-retains-WEA-Trust-insurance?odyssey=tabtopnewsimgAPC-News

Racine County

Inmates can do routine maintenance tasks so that county employees can spend more time working on projects that improve the community. CountyExecutive Jim Ladwig said inmates will be able to perform more tasks such as landscaping, painting, and shoveling sidewalks in the winter. “We have a win-win when we use the inmates,” Ladwig said. “It gives them a sense of value they are helping the community.” At the same time, he said it will help the county maintain property that has been neglected.

References: http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_97bd5d58-a243-11e0-b2f9-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1QfPqQxvR and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGn4zUXlbkE


Kaukauna School District

They will hire additional teachers, reduce projected class sizes from 26 to 23 students at the elementary level, 28 students to 26 students at the intermediate/middle level, and 31 students to 25 students at the high school level and set aside money for merit bonuses for good teachers. “Due to the law change the District’s projected operating budget has moved from a negative $400,000 to approximately a positive $1,500,000. Earmarked in the operating budget are $300,000 related to merit pay, a program being explored for all staff by the district for the 2011-2012 school year.”

References: http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20110630/APC0101/106300455/Story-documents-Kaukauna-schools-project-1-5M-surplus?odyssey=navhead and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQQFWS6-8xE

Hartland-Lakeside School Board

They switched insurance providers and saved taxpayers $690,000.

Reference: http://www.jsonline.mobi/blogs/news/124823204.html?ua=blackberry&dc=smart&c=y

This is what democracy looks like.

The fruits of the November 2, 2010, election: Success!

Ron Johnson: Obama Disengaged

This is why I voted for Ron Johnson and why I'm so glad he's representing me in the U.S. Senate:









Way to go, Ron!

Wisconsin needs to elect someone like Ron Johnson to fill the seat now occupied by Herb Kohl, retiring after an agonizingly long tenure in the Senate. We can't replace Kohl with a Leftist.

The 2012 election will have long-term consequences for the economic well-being of Americans. The outcome of the 2012 election is critical.

We can't afford to continue the policies of Obama and the Democrats. It's as simple as that.

Milwaukee DA and GAB News Conference

UPDATE: TMJ4, FOX 6, and WISN preempt regular programming to air news conference.

Crazy.
________________

UPDATE: This is the big mystery?

Railroad executive charged with campaign law violations

A major donor to Gov. Scott Walker was charged Monday with funneling more than $60,000 in illegal campaign contributions through his railroad employees during the last election.

William Gardner, president and chief executive officer of Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co., has agreed to plead guilty to two felony counts - one for exceeding the campaign contribution limits and a second for giving company and personal funds to others so they could make political donations. Individuals can give no more than $10,000 to gubernatorial candidates.

Under the deal, prosecutors are asking that Gardner be sentenced to two years' probation.

"Because he was cooperative and accepted responsibility at the outset - providing much of the evidence against himself - we are not recommending jail time," said Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Landgraf, who investigates election and campaign matters.

Although Milwaukee prosecutors handled the case, the charges were filed in Washington County, where Gardner lives. Each of the two felony counts carries a maximum penalty of 3 ½ years of combined prison and extended supervision and a $10,000 fine.

Gardner issued a statement Monday acknowledging his mistakes.

In that written statement, the 63-year-old railroad executive said he didn't initially realize that what he and others were doing was improper. The criminal complaint says Gardner took several steps to conceal the scheme and the illegal contributions came to light only when a former friend of Gardner's alerted state officials.

"I made and asked others to make these contributions, and I am responsible for having the company reimburse some individuals," Gardner stated. "My actions were against the law and wrong, and I take full responsibility."

A spokesman for Walker said he had no comment on the matter. His campaign received the vast majority of the illegal campaign contributions.

Last year, Walker returned more than $43,000 in donations to Gardner and a handful of his company workers after the railroad official informed state regulators that he had been using company funds to reimburse his workers for their campaign contributions. The Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee also has forfeited $3,500 in donations from Gardner.

Why all the hype?

This is the topic of the big news conference?

This is the "significant investigation"?

Wow. This is up there with Geraldo Rivera's live televised opening of Al Capone's vault.
________________

We know there will be a joint news conference by the Milwaukee County DA Office and the Government Accountability Board today. It's about a "significant investigation."

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The state Government Accountability Board and Milwaukee County district attorney's office has scheduled a news conference Monday afternoon to discuss the results of a "significant investigation."

No details were given about the investigation.

The news conference is scheduled at 2 p.m. Monday at the Government Accountability Board office in Madison.

What's this about?

Can we have a clue?

Does it have something to do with Colonel Mustard with the rope in the Billiard Room?

Who knows?

Jessica Arp tweets:

Director of Government Accountability Board confirms tomorrows investigation announcement is NOT related to last week's election.

So, we know that the announcement is not about the election.

Maybe it's about Professor Plum.