1. Fixing the Typo
The Absentee Ballot Mailing was mailed only to AFP Wisconsin members in the eight Senate Districts that have recall elections. The date included on the absentee ballot application (August 11th) was intended solely for the two senate districts with elections on August 16th. However, the printer/mail house sent that version out to all districts, including those that have elections on August 9th.
While the Left is hoping to make this into a voter suppression issue, this is anything but. It is in AFP’s best interest to have all of our members vote and that was the intention of this mailing. Here is a statement from AFP Wisconsin State Director Matt Seaholm explaining the printing mistake.
2. DNC Makes Similar Error
The media is largely ignoring the fact that the DNC made a similar mistake -the DNC placed robo calls last week to voters in Republican Sen. Dan Kapanke's western Wisconsin district urging them to vote in the election, but wrongly gave the date as Aug. 16. Click here to read more about the DNC’s robo call errors.
3. Wisconsin Jobs Now and Citizen Action Wisconsin
Perhaps the most egregious offender of all in this story is Wisconsin Jobs Now and Citizen Action Wisconsin, which is also being largely ignored. Wisconsin Jobs Now has been hosting “block parties” with free food and then busing people over to early voting.
Wisconsin Jobs Now is connected to Citizen Action, a union group that has spent big money supporting Sandy Pasch in the District 8 recall election. It just so happens Sandy Pasch sits on Citizen Action's board as well.
Friend --
On August 9th, Wisconsin voters will go back to the polls to decide whether six Republican senators have failed to serve the needs of Wisconsin's hard-working families.
Senate Republicans broke the trust of Wisconsinites earlier this year when they forced drastic cuts in funding for schools, seniors, and the disabled to cut taxes for their own contributors.
Since then, hundreds of OFA Wisconsin supporters across the state have spoken up, saying they want to have an impact in the recall elections in August. So in the coming weeks, volunteers will be organizing their networks, working phone banks, and knocking on doors to get the word out about what's at stake on August 9th -- and this Saturday, there's an event in Glendale.
Can you make it? Here are the details:What: Wisconsin legislative recall event
Where: 6807 N Green Bay Ave
Glendale, WI 53209
When: Saturday, July 23rd
10:00 am
If you can't make that event, find another one near you here.
Six Republican-held seats are up for grabs on August 9th -- and two more held by Democrats are up on the 16th.
While the campaign remains focused on re-electing the President, Organizing for America will provide support to OFA Wisconsin volunteers organizing around Democratic candidates in the recall elections.
I hope you can join the event in Glendale on Saturday. Sign up here:
http://wi.barackobama.com/Wisconsin-Recall-Events
Thanks,
Michelle
Michelle Kleppe
Wisconsin State Field Director
Organizing for America
Democratic state Sen. Dave Hansen of Green Bay was the first of nine state senators to face a final recall election, and he easily survived Tuesday.
Hansen won a lopsided victory over his Republican challenger, wind farm developer David VanderLeest of Green Bay, against whom Democrats and their allies have been hammering away on his personal and legal problems.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
DAVE HANSEN: I just wanted to say that as a former public employee I really appreciated what labor organizations did for me. I drove a truck for the city of Green Bay sanitation before I became a state senator. And without that we wouldn't have had any pay or any benefits, and that's what they're trying to do. They're trying to remove ANY right to bargain, negotiate, and remove collective bargaining that's been in place for 50 years. It is a sad, sad day, and it's ridiculous what those 18 Republican senators did today. And our Governor should be ashamed of himself.
Attorney Jonathan Steitz has won a Republican primary in a Wisconsin recall election, and now advances to challenge Democratic state Sen. Robert Wirch next month.
Steitz has 64 percent of Tuesday's vote, with 73 percent of precincts reporting. He defeated Fred Ekornaas,a retired Kenosha County sheriff and current county board vice chairman.
ROBERT WIRCH: This is a day of infamy for Wisconsin workers. Tomorrow, they're second class citizens thanks to the Republicans who took that terrible vote tonight.
In the first eight days of July nearly three million dollars has been sent to Wisconsin by national liberal organizations and individuals, with more than two million dollars coming from large national las key operatives coming from out of state.
Big Labor has now sent more than six million dollars to finance recall efforts in Wisconsin according to a review of campaign finance reports conducted by the MacIver News Service. The figures only account for disbursements reported to the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board; these organizations do not have to report expenditures made for efforts to communicate with their own membership.
The contributions can come in the form of monetary contributions like wire transfers and checks or in-kind contributions. Wisconsin statutes define “in-kind” contributions as a disbursement by a contributor to procure a thing of value or service for the benefit of a registrant who authorized the disbursement.
All told, Big Labor has spent more than $6,419,000 in the recall efforts this year, having delivered $2.2 million to the state since July 1.
The AFL-CIO sent $3,884,170 to the “We are Wisconsin” Super PAC in six monetary disbursements since May, the last one being for $778,431 on July 5.
As previously reported by MNS, The deceptively-named “We are Wisconsin” effort has a decidedly non-Wisconsin infrastructure, with well in excess of 90% of its funds and many of its key operatives coming from out of state.
The Democratic Party, which supplied the information on the Democrats' campaign finance totals, did not furnish details on where the money came from or was spent. That likely will be available Tuesday from the state Government Accountability Board, which has not yet posted the full reports.
[A]t a recent national gathering of liberal activists, one prominent national group bragged about raising $200,000 to help keep these Wisconsin Senators out of state.
After months of heated debate, ear-splitting protests and legal maneuvering, Gov. Scott Walker's divisive collective bargaining law is finally set to take effect.
Secretary of State Doug LaFollette published the law in the Wisconsin State Journal newspaper on Tuesday. The measure goes into effect Wednesday, capping an ugly four months in Madison that saw state senators flee the state and massive protests at the state Capitol.
Lefty blogger Chris Liebenthal was suspended for 10 days without pay earlier this year for using his county computer for personal purposes, recently obtained records show.
"It is clear that Mr. Liebenthal blatantly violated the Use of Technology Policy over the course of a year on numerous occasions and was in violation of the above Civil Service rules," wrote Geri Lyday, interim director of the Department of Health and Human Services, earlier this year.
The suspension cost Liebenthal - a social worker and official with the county employees union - $2,051 in county pay, said Mark Stein, an interim department administrator.
Liebenthal became the target of allies of then-County Executive Scott Walker, now the governor, after a Walker aide resigned in May 2010 for doing political activity during work hours.
Citizens for Responsible Government, a pro-Walker outfit, urged investigators to decide whether Liebenthal, a county worker, had been using his taxpayer-funded computer to post on any of his various blogs.
After seizing his work computer, prosecutors found last year he had engaged in political activity at work but decided not to file charges, saying it was more of a personnel issue.
Earlier this year, Lyday concluded that Liebenthal - who goes by the name Capper in his anti-Walker blogs - had broken two rules, one for wasting time at work and the other for doing personal activities during the workday. The original recommendation was for a 15-day suspension.
Lyday said she found no evidence that the blogger had used county equipment to post on his blogs.
"Mr. Liebenthal acknowledged that he did use his County computer for personal use but that all activity has ceased," Lyday wrote.
In March, Liebenthal agreed not to fight the matter and to affirm that "the charges are well founded" in exchange for the suspension being dropped to 10 days, according to records obtained by No Quarter.
With lawmakers poised to vote on the state budget this week, labor and community organizations said they will march at noon Monday from the Capitol Square to the headquarters of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, a few blocks east of the Capitol.
The group, Solidarity Roundtable, says it will hold the rally "to hold WMC accountable" for what it says is the business group's role in advancing Gov. Scott Walker's policies.
The protesters will leave from a tent city known as "Walkerville" at the corner of State and Mifflin streets.
Let’s start with some definitions of "vandalized":"Deliberately destroy or damage (public or private property)." Dictionary.com
"Willful wanton and malicious destruction of the property of others." The Free Dictionary.com
"To deliberately destroy or damage (property)." Merrriam-Webster.
Similarly, the definitions of the word "attacked" all include an element of violence.
After looking into the incident, the Madison police concluded it was no big deal.
The message written on the walkways around the building were in chalk, and "mud stenciling" was used for the fists and Walker pictures.
"There’s no permanent damage," said department spokesman Howard Payne.
The officer who investigated noted that the chalk and stencil material "was flaking off when she touched it," Payne said.
If the stenciling had used spray paint or permanent markers, a report would have been filed with the city agency handling graffiti-removal. No report was filed.
We asked WMC about their claim.
"It’s vandalism," said Jim Pugh, the group’s public relations director. "You can’t come onto private property and paint the building."
Pugh, however, acknowledged there was no permanent damage and said a crew was out cleaning the messages off the building and sidewalk that very afternoon.
Acting with unusual speed, the state Supreme Court on Tuesday reinstated Gov. Scott Walker's plan to all but end collective bargaining for tens of thousands of public workers.
The court found a committee of lawmakers was not subject to the state's open meetings law, and so did not violate that law when they hastily approved the measure and made it possible for the Senate to take it up. In doing so, the Supreme Court overruled a Dane County judge who had struck down the legislation, ending one challenge to the law even as new challenges are likely to emerge.
The majority opinion was by Justices Michael Gableman, David Prosser, Patience Roggensack and Annette Ziegler. The other three justices -Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson and Justices Ann Walsh Bradley and N. Patrick Crooks - concurred in part and dissented in part.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday said a controversial measure that curbs the collective bargaining rights of public workers can go into effect.
The high court overturned a lower court, which had ruled Republican lawmakers violated the state's open meetings law when they passed the measure.
Opponents of Gov. Scott Walker were backing away from a demonstration against him held Wednesday at a Special Olympics event, even as organizers of the ceremony said the protesters did not disrupt it.
Also Wednesday, state Capitol Police removed a dozen protesters dressed as zombies from the office of Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester) on Wednesday and arrested them.
Matt Guidry, a spokesman for the United Council of University of Wisconsin Students, which organized the Vos protest, said his group did not back the demonstration during the noon hour Special Olympics ceremony attended by Walker, though some of the same zombie demonstrators were involved.
"That was not associated with anything that United Council was doing," Guidry said. "That doesn't make us look that good."
...Rachel Grant, a spokeswoman for the Special Olympics, said officials were nervous when the zombie protesters first arrived but they turned out to be peaceful.
"We were all a little bit on edge, but it turned out for the best," Grant said. "Nothing was disruptive at all."
Kelly Kloepping, another Special Olympics official, said the protesters were respectful and did not diminish the excitement the Special Olympians felt about being in Madison to meet Walker and other leaders.
"We feel it's really about the athletes," Kloepping said. "We knew the protesters were there, but they were respectful of our athletes."
State Treasurer Kurt Schuller, a GOP official whose daughter was a Special Olympics competitor, denounced the demonstration in a statement.
"To be confronted by protesters, who will never understand the personal challenges that these Special Olympians face, who decided to politicize a nonpolitical event, shows a complete lack of civility when civility is something we should all be working toward," he said.
"Nothing was disruptive at all."
"[T]hey were respectful of our athletes."
With lawmakers gearing up for a vote on the state budget, a “Walkerville” camp similar to the one that sprang up during the protests at the state Capitol earlier this year may be returning this weekend — this time to the terraces of Mifflin and Carroll streets.
We Are Wisconsin, an alliance of community groups, labor unions and others, has asked the city for a permit to set up the camp across from the Capitol to provide information about Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposals and efforts to recall Republican legislators who voted to eliminate bargaining rights for most public employees.
The city’s Street Use Staff Commission will have a special meeting Friday to consider the permit application for a state budget rally that would begin Saturday and continue through June 20.
David Boetcher, who is helping to organize the event, said an information station would be accompanied by overnight campers, who could number in the thousands on weekends.
The proposed camp area is North Carroll Street from State Street to West Washington Avenue, and West Mifflin Street from State Street to Wisconsin Avenue, including the “30 on the Square” cul-de-sac at 30 W. Mifflin St. and the Philosophers’ Stones area between the Wisconsin Historical Museum and Myles Teddywedgers Cornish, 101 State St.
After weeks of protests at the State Capitol over a budget repair bill that would strip most state workers of most collective bargaining rights, you'd think a gathering that's primary focus centers around a Wisconsin staple would be welcomed.
But nowadays, politics can hang a cloud over even one of Madison's most talked about events.
Residents were making choices, go to the World's Largest Brat Fest like you may have done for as long as you can remember, or go get your bratwurst somewhere else.
"We tried the one on the Capitol Square, but the lines were too long, so we came to this one," said Jim Hollar, who attended Wurst Times event. "I wanted to avoid the one at the Alliant Energy Center."
"I guess it's kind of protest against Scott Walker and this is a way to show it," said Roger Bass.
"It seems kind of silly in the sense that it is guilty by association, but we wanted to avoid (Brat Fest)," Hollar said.
Those at the People Brat Fest didn't see it as silly, but rather a chance to draw connections to Johnsonville, a main sponsor of Brat Fest, and a company linked politically to the governor.
"I definitely oppose Walker and this seemed like a better way to support Madison rather than a big corporation," said Tom Ver Hoeve.
The event on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard was billed as a Brat Fest alternative and those who were willing to wait for long lines were toting their opinions along with hunger.
Ver Hoeve said he preferred the downtown location because it felt more like a Madison event and he said it was nice knowing that proceeds would also benefit local charities.
...There is a fourth event will compete with Brat Fest on Sunday. Alt Bratfest will be held at Orton Park on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It's being held by the Weary Traveler Freehouse. Proceeds will also go to local charities.
Brat Fest organizers insist the alternative options have not had any impact.
"The turnout has been fantastic," Metcalfe said.
One thing we can say without debate is that each and every brat eaten this weekend will raise money for local charities and that generosity is what makes Madison such a great place to live.
A Dane County judge has struck down Gov. Scott Walker's legislation repealing most collective bargaining for public employees.
In a 33-page decision issued Thursday, Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi said she would freeze the legislation because GOP lawmakers on a committee broke the state's open meetings law in passing it March 9. The legislation limits collective bargaining to wages for all public employees in Wisconsin except for police and firefighters.
"It's what we were looking for," said Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, a Democrat.
...Steve Means, the number three official at the state Department of Justice, said the agency and GOP Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen have been surprised at Sumi's handling of the case and asked whether she would recuse herself from it.
"Obviously we're disappointed in the ruling. We do think it reflects a number of legal errors, but it's for the appellate courts at this point," Means said.
Means said Sumi had made her decision without holding a trial or making clear beforehand that no trial would be held.
...Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) responded in a statement. "There's still a much larger separation-of-powers issue: whether one Madison judge can stand in the way of the other two democratically elected branches of government. The Supreme Court is going to have the ultimate ruling, and they're still scheduled to hear the issue on June 6. This overdue reform is still a critical part of balancing Wisconsin's budget."
Ozanne agreed that the court case is still far from settled.
"It's not over yet. I'm positive of that," Ozanne said. "The supremes are the supremes. They can do what they want."
GOP lawmakers like Fitzgerald also have said they would consider passing the law a second time as part of the 2011-'13 state budget if it was necessary to ensure that it takes effect.
"Act 10 was passed and signed into law in accordance with the rules of the state Legislature," said Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon), Scott Fitzgerald's brother. "I remain confident that the Wisconsin State Supreme Court will rule accordingly and Act 10 will become law."
The judge who had been blocking implementation of Wisconsin’s public employee collective bargaining reforms has now struck down the law altogether, saying legislative Republicans failed to give proper notice before acting on the bill in committee.
Dane County Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi issued her ruling Thursday, writing that the law is voided because lawmakers failed to provide proper public notice of a Conference Committee meeting wherein the bill was amended.
“The court must consider the potential damage to public trust and confidence in government if the Legislature is not held to the same rules of transparency that it has created for other governmental bodies,” Sumi wrote.
Republicans argued that the Legislature, when in Special Session, is not bound by the law requiring a broad public notice.
“This was not the case in which proper notice was missed by a few minutes or an hour,” Sumi wrote.
However, GOP lawmakers asserted they did provide the minimum two hour notice justified by the the ‘good cause’ provision of the statutes, even though that was also unnecessary. Sumi disagreed.
“Act 10 was passed and signed into law in accordance with the rules of the state legislature,” said Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald. “I remain confident that the Wisconsin State Supreme Court will rule accordingly and Act 10 will become law.”
Republicans are expected to immediately appeal the decision. Since an appeal would likely take time to be heard, they may also move to pass identical provisions as a part of the biennial budget next month.
