Bob Wirch and Ocean Spray

Speaking of cranberries, DEMOCRAT Bob Wirch is guilty of the unauthorized use of the Ocean Spray logo, a copyrighted image.

Kenosha, WI- Senator Bob Wirch was asked to cease and desist after he was caught misusing a copyrighted image in a desperate attempt to line himself with a local business.

Wirch included multiple uses of the Ocean Spray logo in his campaign literature without permission from the company.

"This is a desperate attempt by Bob Wirch to align himself with a successful business when his record on job creation for the 22nd district is so dismal," says Jonathan Steitz. "In fact, the state chamber of commerce gives Senator Wirch a 19% rating on votes in the Senate for creating and protecting jobs in 2009. He does not know what it takes to create jobs because he has neither owned nor managed a job-creating business."

Steitz added that it's more than ironic that Wirch is trying to curry favor with business leaders when the longtime liberal senator has voted to punish job creators with more than $4 billion in new taxes and another $3 billion in reckless government spending.

"Wirch's votes in favor of job-killing taxes and reckless spending has only damaged our frail economy and put more middle class families out of work," Steitz said. "Since Wirch was sent to Madison more than 7,200 jobs have been lost in the district, and businesses like Chrysler and J.W. Peters, Inc have closed their doors. Wirch not only owes Ocean Spray and the voters an apology for illegally using a copyrighted image in this desperate ploy, but he also owes the large number of unemployed workers an apology for helping destroy thousands of jobs with his big government spending and massive tax increases."

Apparently, Wirch believes he's above the law. He better cease and desist.

Without question, Wirch's record reveals that he is not a friend to middle class families. The job-killing taxes and reckless spending that Democrats are so fond of is the enemy of working people.

The pro-Wirch ads attacking Jonathan Steitz paint Wirch as standing up for the middle class while Steitz stands up for the "super rich." Nothing could be further from the truth.

Steitz is looking to help middle class families.

Wirch's class warfare tactics are really sleazy.

Enough.

Jonathan Steitz and Bob Wirch Debate

Over the weekend, I saw a barrage of TV ads attacking Jonathan Steitz.

Previously, I wasn't aware that he's the antichrist. Good grief.

Apparently, Democrat Bob Wirch supporters are afraid of dealing with the issues and believe mudslinging is their best approach to secure a victory.

Wirch refuses to debate Steitz.

A press release from Steitz for Senate:

Steitz Campaign: Wirch Ducking Debates with Steitz
Fleeing Senator Now AWOL on Debates

Kenosha, WI- The Jonathan Steitz for Senate campaign today called on state Senator Bob Wirch to stop ducking debates and engage voters on the issues instead of launching personal attacks.

The Kenosha Area Business Association (KABA), an association dedicated to the economic health of the greater Kenosha area, has issued a formal invitation to both Wirch and Steitz. Thus far, only Steitz has committed and Wirch has refused to respond.

"What can be more important to the area than to compare ideas for how to grow jobs and get people back to work," said Steitz. "Bob Wirch should stop ducking debates and explain to working families throughout the district why he thinks more government spending and higher taxes are the answer to getting people back to work."

In addition, the American Association of University Women has also issued a formal invitation for the two state senate candidates to debate. The Steitz campaign said they are calling on Sen. Wirch to attend these forums and explain his recent votes against the budget repair bill that has had increasingly positive effects statewide.

"Bob Wirch and his liberal allies have chosen to taint this election by running baseless attack ads on me, rather than being focus on the issues," said Steitz. "Senator Wirch doesn't want to speak to the issues because he knows his votes to increases taxes and spending by billions has not created jobs or helped the economy. Evidently, Wirch is unwilling to stand on his record so he can avoid public discussion at all costs."

Yet another request was made by WLIP radio and host Lenny Palmer. Senator Wirch has not responded to that request either.

"The voters of the 22nd District are looking for a leader who won't avoid the issues, which is clearly becoming a pattern for the Runaway Senator," Steitz said.

Wirch displays a disturbing pattern of failing to communicate with the public and discuss his record.

He left the state with his Democrat comrades when he didn't want to carry out his responsibilities as a state senator. Now, he's running away from the rigors of this recall election.

Doesn't Wirch realize that he's accountable to his constituents?

There's one reason Wirch won't debate Steitz. He's afraid he'd lose.

I think he's right.

Dave Hansen Wins Recall

Dave Hansen, one of the Democrat senators who fled the state and ran to Illinois to avoid permitting the Wisconsin legistlative branch of government to function, has been rewarded.

He retains a seat in the State Senate.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

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.

Watch Hansen and his comrades appear on Ed Schultz's show.

Nauseating.

This is a long, torturous video clip. The Dems appear at 3:15.

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.

Good grief.

Hansen retains his seat. That's not an upset given his opponent.

If I were a union hack/Dem, I wouldn't get too cocky.

Jonathan Steitz Wins Primary

Jonathan Steitz will take on AWOL Sen. Robert Wirch in the August 16 recall election.

From FOX 6 News:

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, like his fellow AWOL Democrat senators, revealed that he's not fit to serve in the state legislature.

The first requirement: SHOW UP AND DO YOUR JOB.

Wirch, of course, did not. He ran to Illinois, refusing to fulfill his duty to represent his constituents.

Instead, he did the bidding of Big Labor, and was funded by national Leftist groups.

Back in March, while appearing on MSNBC with the vulgar and crazed and deranged and disgraced Ed Schultz, Wirch compared the passage of the Budget Repair Bill to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

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.

Video here.

Very inappropriate.

Wirch has shown he doesn't deserve the privilege of representing the people of the 22nd Senate District.

Jonathan Steitz is by far the superior candidate.

Wisconsin Recalls and Big Labor Money

The MacIver Institute reports that big money for the recall elections is flowing into Wisconsin from national liberal groups and individuals.

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.

I don't like the fact that national groups are pouring millions of dollars into Wisconsin.

This is our state government we're talking about, not the U.S. Senate.

Will all this outside influence and cash alter the outcomes of the recall elections?

I don't think so.

True, Big Labor has big influence with Democrats, including Obama.

But all that matters is how the people of Wisconsin vote.

The big money and organizers from out-of-state didn't get JoAnne Kloppenburg elected. They failed.

Next month, Wisconsinites have to go to the polls again to make sure that out-of-state, Leftist interests don't determine our future.

Wisconsin taxpayers need to send a message to Big Labor and the other national Leftist groups infiltrating our state.

The party is over.
________________

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports: Democratic incumbents bring in big bucks.

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.

Gee, I wonder where the Dems' big bucks came from.

Rob Cowles Threatened

According to an unnamed prominent Green Bay-area business leader, Republican Wisconsin State Senator Rob Cowles was "threatened" by Gov. Scott Walker's office.

Cowles was told that if he didn't vote for the Budget Repair Bill, the administration would run a Tea Party candidate against him.

This was reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Dan Bice, union member.

He tosses out charges against the Governor's office without naming the accuser.

Bice provides quotes from the "prominent business leader" that literally puts words in Cowles' mouth.

Bice makes the case that although he doesn't name the "prominent business leader," he's not anonymous.

The Green Bay-area business leader, who has not given campaign money to Democrats or Republicans, contacted No Quarter last week and spoke on background, meaning the paper knows the individual's identity. But the leader asked not to be identified by name in the Journal Sentinel because doing so would hurt the person's business and industry relationships.

Poor baby!

Being identified would hurt the leader's business and industry relationships.

Then why contact Bice?

The leader probably was confident that Bice would run the story that puts Walker's office in a negative light without expecting the leader to go on the record.

The Journal Sentinel knows the leader's identity.

So what?

Let the public know who is making the accusations or don't run the story. This is just gossip.

Very Bice.
__________________

UPDATE: Cowles fires back at Milwaukee report of intimidation

State Senator Rob Cowles is firing back at a story in the Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel which alleges Governor Walker threatened to put up a Tea Party candidate against him, if he didn’t vote for Walker’s bill to limit public union bargaining.

"There was never any effort by the governor's office to intimidate any of us," the Allouez Republican says. "There were some aspects of the process that some of us didn't like, but there was never any effort to threaten us with any primaries, the whole story is a fabrication."

The paper says Cowles made the remark when he called a prominent Green Bay area business leader to seek support in his recall election next month.

Columnist Dan Bice said the business leader asked to stay anonymous. But the person quoted Cowles as saying “I didn’t like this bill, either … I didn’t like being put in this position … but the governor’s office told us if we didn’t give them our support, they would run a Tea Party candidate against us.”

...Cowles says it's an effort by national unions to smear him to try and defeat him in the August 9th recall election. He maintains his long-time support for the budget repair bill.

"When the private sector has been bludgeoned by this difficult recession, the public sector has to be part of the solution," Cowles says. "That bill brought some fairness between the government sector and the private sector."

Cowles rips Bice's story to shreds.

That's gotta hurt.

Wisconsin 14: Who Paid?

When Wisconsin's 14 Democrat senators fled the state earlier this year to avoid performing their duties as elected officials, they claimed they were paying for their expenses out of pocket.

Were they lying?

[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.

Democracy for America claims to have provided funds for the AWOL senators.

Someone isn't telling the truth.

I'm shocked. Shocked!

Video, from the MacIver Institute:

Collective Bargaining Law Takes Effect

It's been a long painful process and taken a long time but Governor Scott Walker and Republican legislators can finally say "mission accomplished."

The budget repair bill takes effect today.

From the Associated Press:

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.

The 14 Democrat senators who fled the state to avoid voting on the bill couldn't stop it.

Thousands of protesters couldn't stop it.

LaFollette couldn't stop it.

Judge Maryann Sumi couldn't stop it.

The law takes effect today.

Everything seems to be OK.

Apocalypse not now.

WI Senate Passes Budget

The Wisconsin State Senate passed the budget, 19 Republicans voting for it and 14 Democrats against.

The Democrats actually voted. They didn't flee the state and head to Illinois this time.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The Legislature on Thursday handed Gov. Scott Walker his budget remolding government at every level, even as new details emerged on how it could lead to the expansion of the state's school voucher program to many districts around the state.

The Assembly passed the measure 60-38 at 3 a.m. Thursday, and 19 hours later the Senate approved it 19-14. All Republicans were in favor of it, and all Democrats were opposed.

Because senators made no changes to it, it will go straight to the Republican governor without having to return to the Assembly. Walker is expected to sign the bill soon, and he will have the ability to reshape it with his vast partial-veto powers.

Walker can "reshape it with his vast partial-veto powers."

Reporters Patrick Marley and Jason Stein make it sound like Walker has some evil powers that the previous governor, Democrat Jim Doyle, did not.

Although the spin is predictable, that makes it no less annoying.

The legislative approval cemented Walker's bid to solve a $3 billion two-year shortfall by cutting spending on schools, local governments and public workers' benefits rather than raising taxes. The approval would end one chapter in one of the most tumultuous legislative sessions in decades that opened in February with Walker's legislation ending most union bargaining for public workers.

In the budget, Racine would begin a school choice program right away, but other school districts could eventually meet the criteria to be folded into the program. A Senate leader, however, said Republicans would accept the expansion of school choice, but then change it soon with separate legislation so vouchers cannot go beyond Racine.

State Superintendent Tony Evers denounced the Assembly for adding the choice expansion to the budget at 2:30 a.m. Thursday , saying the proposal could eventually lead to voucher programs in Green Bay and then possibly Appleton, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Madison, Oshkosh, Sheboygan, Superior and West Allis.

"Once again in the middle of the night, the majority party in the Assembly voted to expand taxpayer-funded vouchers for religious and private schools. This time the result is a hidden expansion of vouchers statewide," Evers said in a statement. "Wisconsin is now set to expand vouchers for private and religious schools, while making a catastrophic . . . cut in funding for public schools."

But Republicans, including an aide to Walker, said they would take action to ensure that voucher programs would be available only to students from Milwaukee and eastern Racine County.

...The details of the voucher expansion became clear just before protesters disrupted Senate proceedings by chanting "Kill the bill!" and locking themselves to the railings in the public galleries. Also Thursday, the Department of Administration and the Wisconsin State Employees Union reached an agreement that will open all eight entrances to the Capitol beginning on Monday, ending months of restricted access.

After the 10 p.m. Senate vote, Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) urged senators to leave quickly because of "security concerns." Some senators were escorted away by law enforcement.

...Small protests broke out throughout the Senate proceedings. In the evening, a group of demonstrators bellowed at senators from just outside the chamber while state troopers lined up in front of them.

What? No zombies?

 

Fred Clark: 'Smack Around' Woman

DEMOCRAT Fred Clark has a violent streak.

From the Baraboo News Republic:

A rolling tape on an answering machine caught an unsuspecting Rep. Fred Clark, D-Baraboo, saying he wanted to "smack around" a woman from his district after she hung up on him.

Clark, who is challenging Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon, in a recall election, was making campaign calls last week when he reached the Baraboo home of Sue and John Stapelman.

The answering machine took the call at first, but Sue Stapelman then picked up. The machine's tape kept recording.

After Clark introduced himself, he told Sue Stapelman that he was challenging Olsen in the upcoming recall election.

Stapelman responded: "Yeah, and isn't that a crime."

She then hung up on Clark, but her answering machine kept the line open and continued recording.

Clark apparently did not know he was being recorded when, after a short pause, he said to his campaign staffer: "OK. I feel like calling her back and smackin' her around."

Wow!

That's really bad of DEMOCRAT Clark!

The Baraboo DEMOCRAT has issued an apology, but the recording is so damning that it doesn't help Clark much.

Of course, the apology was the right thing to do, but him saying that he wants to call back a constituent and smack her around lives. The recording exists. He can't make it go away.

Here's the recording:



Here's Clark's apology:

"In a moment of frustration after a discouraging phone conversation last week, I made a clearly inappropriate comment to my campaign staffer after the call," Clark said.

"I understand the statement was completely inappropriate under any circumstance and I want to apologize. I am deeply sorry for any distress this incident my have caused for Ms. Stapelman or anyone in her family."

Clark said he has called and left a message apologizing to the Stapelmans, and hopes to speak with them in person soon.

John Stapelman said Monday he and his wife are not happy about the comment. "I think that was totally inappropriate and my wife thinks it was pretty inappropriate, too," Stapelman said.

He said he doesn't think Clark actually was threatening his wife, but the incident does not speak to Clark's character.

"We're pretty independent, actually," Stapelman said of he and his wife's political leanings. "I have to say in this current situation, I'm leaning toward the (Republicans) for fiscal responsibility reasons, in addition to what happened here."

There is no question that DEMOCRAT thug Fred Clark should not serve in the Wisconsin State Senate.

DEMOCRAT Clark isn't fit to serve in the Assembly.

He lacks the character and demeanor to be a legislator.

Vote for Luther Olsen.

"OK. I feel like calling her back and smackin' her around."

---DEMOCRAT FRED CLARK

SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!

Recall: Hansen, Holperin, and Wirch

Three Democrat state senators will face recall elections - Dave Hansen, Jim Holperin, and Robert Wirch.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The state Government Accountability Board voted Wednesday to set recall elections for three Democratic state senators, bringing to nine the number of senators facing recall elections.

The board acknowledged Democrats' claims of fraud by paid petition circulators, but disallowed only about 230 additional signatures collected by just one of the circulators - not nearly enough to throw out any of the recalls.

Democrats Dave Hansen of Green Bay, Jim Holperin of Conover and Robert Wirch of Pleasant Prairie all face elections July 19, a week after six Republican senators face recalls. The election date for the Republicans was set last week.

...The nine Senate recalls could change control of that house, where the GOP has a 19-14 advantage.

Tuesday: Filing deadline for recalls against Republicans

June 21: Filing deadline for recalls against Democrats

July 12: Election in the Republican recalls (primaries if necessary)

July 19: Election in the Democratic recalls (primaries if necessary)

Aug. 9: General election if needed in Republican recalls

Aug. 16: General election if needed in Democratic recalls

So 2011 will be the summer of recalls.

Doesn't sound like fun at all.

Obscene, Deranged Leftist Attacks WI Republicans

Charlie Sykes shares a profanity-riddled e-mail sent to Wisconsin State Senator Michael Ellis from a raving Leftist lunatic.

* LANGUAGE ALERT *

From: bismarc otto [mailto:ikonsareholy@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 3:59 PM
To: Sen.Ellis
Cc: Sen.Fitzgerald
Subject: Fake Dems by you fake Americans ass***s NAZI BITCHES.

***Hey Ellis SHUT THE F*CK UP & SIT DOWN like the KOCH Bitch you & your sister/wife ARE. Fitzgerald your sex butt Banging buddy is now telling us you inbred NAZIs are running fake Dems & he supports it like he loves raw gay sex w/his brother. This is what the f*ck you UN AMERICAN asswipes are. Liars, cheats like Hopper(oh yeah has his children seen him since last year?)& criminals like Walker. You support a C*NT like Palin which we saw dead people in Tucson, AZ. This is what you want, F*CK YOU as we want our nation back. We don't want your f*cking nite mare. You assho**s should if you had any ethics RESIGN NOW & GET the F*CK OUT of America. I hear Libya is looking for a new dictator, you can go NOW. GET THE F*CK OUT, please.
Scott Mann
PS The US Supreme Court has ruled 21 to 0 swearing is FREE SPEECH, get used it to NAZI WHORES.

Yikes.

This one gets really rough.

So much for liberals occupying the moral highground.

This guy is a disgrace to his Leftist comrades.

Maybe MSNBC will book him for an interview.

He should have CC'd Ed Schultz.

Christopher Branski

I know I shouldn't be shocked by the foul-mouthed, hate-filled attacks by liberals against conservatives.

Spend a little time on the Internet and you can't miss the Left's ugliness. However, much of that is spewed under the assumption of anonymity.

When someone sends a vicious e-mail to an elected official and the individual has no qualms about having his name attached to it and his identity known, I do find it rather shocking.

Christopher M. Branski, a student at Madison Area Technical College, sent State Senator Alberta Darling an absolutely horrible e-mail.

Charlie Sykes shares the message:

WARNING * OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE * WARNING

From: Christopher M Branski [mailto:CBranski@matcmadison.edu]
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 12:35 PM
To: Sen.Darling
Subject: You are Revolting
Importance: High


Soon to be ex-Senator Darling:

Last night when you decided to cut the state EITC credits to working poor families in order to provide no-strings-attached tax breaks to corporations you showed your true colors: you're not on our side and you have no heart.

Instead of cajoling you to change your mind, I'm just going to tell you what you are: you're a useless f**king c*nt that has no redeeming value. There are not enough words to describe how much I hate you and the rest of the f**king scum in the Wisconsin GOP. You're parasites and you contribute nothing. Enjoy getting recalled you useless f**king dried up c*nt.

Christopher Branski

Wow.

Branski is truly scary.

He's doing more than attacking Sen. Darling. He's attacking women.

NOW should come to Sen. Darling's defense. The organization would condemn Branski if it were true to its alleged mission rather than serving as a political front group.

Democrats and other self-proclaimed feminists would express their outrage over Branski's e-mail and his inexcusable treatment of Sen. Darling.

But they don't.

Be proud, Leftists. Branski is your brother. Embrace him.

Solidarity.

Disgusting.

Maryann Sumi Strikes Down Law

UPDATE, June 14, 2011: Maryann Sumi's ruling is overturned by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
_______________

I knew Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi was going to strike down the budget repair law. It was inevitable.

I'm sure her husband, the very anti-Scott Walker, pro-union, Democrat Carl Sinderbrand, and her very anti-Scott Walker, pro-union, Democrat son, Jake Sinderbrand, are happy.

What really bugs me is that Sumi took weeks, MONTHS, to make her decision.

I suppose once it became clear that JoAnne "I'm Ecstatic" Kloppenburg couldn't find a way to disenfranchise thousands and thousands of Wisconsin voters and that bit of recount chaos was no longer sucking the air out of the room, Sumi saw no point in dragging her feet any longer, particularly with the June 6, State Supreme Court date looming.

Besides, the Leftists needed something to celebrate this Memorial Day weekend, however temporary.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

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.

"It's what we were looking for."

No kidding.

Was there really ever any doubt it was what the Democrats would get?

Of course not.

...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."

Here's video and more information, from the MacIver Institute:

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.

Read Sumi's ruling.

The Supreme Court takes up the matter on June 6.

Hopefully, it will eventually put an end to this obstruction.

WI Senate Passes Photo ID

Break out the "SHAME, SHAME, SHAME" chants.

The Wisconsin State Senate has passed a bill.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Senate Republicans approved requiring people to show photo ID at the polls amid a cacophonous vote Thursday, with eight Democrats not even voting on the measure in protest and because of confusion over how the proceedings were conducted.

Immediately afterward, the crowd in the Senate gallery thundered with chants of "Shame!" as Republicans exited the chamber. Later, they chanted, "Recall!" and sang, "We Shall Overcome."

"We Shall Overcome"?

Good grief.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker quickly announced he would sign the bill Wednesday in a ceremony at the Capitol.

"Requiring photo identification to vote will go a long way to eliminate the threat of voter fraud," Walker said in a statement. "If you need an ID to buy cold medicine, it's reasonable to require it to vote."

This is a positive step in restoring integrity to Wisconsin's elections.

But Democrats decried the measure, saying it would do little to prevent voter fraud while disenfranchising thousands of minority, elderly and rural voters.

"This is voter suppression," said Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee). "This is voter disenfranchisement. This is voter confusion. This is voter restriction. This is a voter discouragement bill."

Of course, the Dems are whining.

They're not going quietly when it comes to losing Wisconsin as a haven for voter fraud.

It has nothing to do with the disenfranchisement of "thousands of minority, elderly and rural voters."

If Democrats were so concerned about disenfranchisement, the JoAnne Klopppenburg campaign wouldn't be working feverishly to throw out the votes of 7,000 Wisconsinites.

Before debate began at 10 a.m., Senate Republican leaders imposed a one-hour limit on discussion of the bill, frustrating Democrats who engaged in more than nine hours of debate on the bill Tuesday into Wednesday.

When the time came to vote, Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison) - the longest-serving state legislator in the country - refused to stop speaking, saying he had already been recognized. Senate President Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) then ordered the roll call vote on the bill.

"In my 50 years, I've never had anyone cut me off!" Risser yelled.

He continued to calmly speak against the bill as the roll call vote was conducted.

What lunacy!

Meanwhile, Democrats attempted to adjourn the Senate proceedings without taking a vote on the photo ID bill. They were ignored.

"You're not following the rules, Mr. President!" Risser yelled at Ellis.

Ellis shot back: "Read the (rule) book!"

The bill passed 19-5. Eight Democrats did not vote on it as they argued with Ellis about how the vote was being conducted. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said they will be able to record their votes in June, when the Senate next meets.

Such ridiculous chaos!

The Democrats need to grow up and follow the rules.

At least they didn't flee the state this time to avoid voting.

Baby steps.

Jonathan Steitz

Jonathan Steitz has launched his campaign in the recall election of Robert Wirch as state senator.

Kenosha, WI - Jonathan Steitz, attorney and former small business owner, announced his candidacy to serve as State Senator for the 22nd District today before a packed room of over 100 residents at the Holiday Inn in Pleasant Prairie.

Steitz, 37, received his J.D. and M.B.A from Northwestern University in 2007 after previously owning his own event management and production company. He is actively involved in the community with his local church as well as local athletic teams. Steitz mentioned, "This community is where I have chosen to raise my family, and I could not be prouder to be a resident here."

The young Pleasant Prairie resident, who works for a leading international law firm, asserted that, "It is time for a new direction in the 22nd District. We need lower taxes, less government regulation, and common-sense policies that will encourage economic growth for our area." Steitz also remarked that a change in leadership is necessary and that he believes, "Leadership begins with service, and ends with accountability."

"My private sector experience, along with firm grounding in the community, has taught me that we have so much to be proud of in Senate District 22 and throughout the Kenosha area. I intend for my campaign to be a referendum on Bob Wirch's service, and to have a serious dialogue about how to grow our local economy."
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You are invited to attend a press conference regarding Jonathan's candidacy

Wednesday, May 18, 6:00pm
Holiday Inn Express Pleasant Prairie
7887 94th Ave
Pleasant Prairie WI 53158

Of course, Robert Wirch was one of the 14 AWOL Democrat Wisconsin state senators who fled to Illinois rather than serve their constituents.

From March 9, 2011, watch Wirch and his AWOL comrades spew their venom on MSNBC.

This is a long, torturous video clip. The Dems appear at 3:15.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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.

It was a day of infamy for Wisconsin government when the 14 DEMOCRAT state senators ran away, shirking their responsibilities to serve.

Voters should strip Wirch of the privilege to serve as a state senator since he has shown himself to be such a disgrace in office.

Vote for Jonathan Steitz on July 12.

MADD: Neutral on Drunk Driving Proposals

Senator Alberta Darling and Representative Jim Ott, both Republicans, have proposed measures to strengthen Wisconsin's drunken-driving laws.

The reaction from the national office of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is "neutral."

NEUTRAL?

My reaction to MADD's reaction is most definitely NOT neutral.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

An official at Mothers Against Drunk Driving says his organization has taken a neutral position on two drunken-driving proposals put forth by Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and Rep. Jim Ott (R-Mequon).

On Friday, the two legislators held a press conference to announce they were introducing two bills they said would strengthen the state's drunken-driving laws.

One bill calls for a first drunken-driving offense to be a crime if the person has a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 or higher.

Current law makes a first offense a municipal violation. Current law also makes it a criminal offense if the driver has a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or higher and there is a child 16 years of age or younger in the car.

The other bill would make a third and fourth drunken-driving conviction a felony. Currently, the fourth arrest for drunken driving is considered a felony if it comes within five years of the third offense.

But Frank Harris, state legislative affairs manager for the national office of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said in an email to Darling and Ott that, while their bills are well intentioned, MADD wants laws that make drunken driving a misdemeanor at 0.08 as opposed to 0.15. Additionally, Harris wrote, MADD wants laws that require an ignition interlock for first time offenders who have a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or greater.

"MADD applauds your leadership on keeping the streets safe from drunk drivers in Wisconsin," Harris wrote in the email, which was also sent to the Journal Sentinel. "MADD supports making a third offense a felony but is neutral on the proposal to make a first conviction with a blood-alcohol of .15 or greater a misdemeanor.

That's nuts.

Strengthening current laws is an improvement. MADD should be supporting the efforts of Darling and Ott.

"Making a first OWI conviction a misdemeanor at .15 BAC is not a step and this does not represent progress against drunk driving."

Added Harris: "This .15 BAC bill sends a mixed message on what the illegal level of drunk driving is in Wisconsin exactly and will not send any message or deterrence necessary to stop drunk driving or the majority of drunk driving deaths in Wisconsin caused by drunk drivers with no prior convictions. The only benefit to this legislation is that more drunk drivers may refuse and thereby receive an ignition overlock."

The bill doesn't send a mixed message at all.

Harris isn't making sense. Increasing penalties for drunk driving is a deterrence. It's certainly better than doing nothing at all.

I really don't understand why MADD would choose to be "neutral" rather than strongly supporting any and all steps taken to save lives.

I find MADD's position extremely troubling. Something is not right here.

The organization is not living up to its mission statement.

I'm through making financial contributions to MADD.

Professor Stephen Richards - UW Oshkosh

This is no surprise, but that doesn't make it any less disturbing.

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Professor Stephen Richards used class time to encourage his students to sign petitions to recall State Senator Randy Hopper.


Stephen Richards

This is how your tax dollars are being spent - funding a Leftist professor's political activities as he abuses his position of authority.

Richards is a criminal justice professor.

He seems to be challenged when it comes to understanding matters of justice.

From the Republican Party of Wisconsin:

A recording released by the Republican Party of Wisconsin exposes University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Professor Stephen Richards using class time to actively campaign for the recall of State Senator Randy Hopper, encouraging his students to sign recall petitions offered by circulators present in his classroom.

In the tape, recorded during a criminal justice class, Richards can be heard encouraging a female student to sign the recall petition even though she thinks she lives outside the district, and instructing students to sign using their campus address instead of their parents’ home address. He also tells students to look for petition circulators all around campus and “in the bars.”

...In the recording, Richards openly discusses his involvement in the recall effort, detailing organizational meetings he has attended, and using the term “we” to describe recall organizers.

As the Professor discusses the various reasons he supports the recall efforts, he promotes several falsehoods about the effects of the budget repair bill, saying at one point “It will be a lot less, um, rewarding to be in law enforcement, because they're gonna cut all the police unions."

"Either he’s purposely lying to students in an effort to provoke them to sign the petitions, or he is woefully misinformed and spreading severe inaccuracies along to students who rely on him for factual information,” says [Mark] Jefferson, [Executive Director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin]. “Teachers and college professors have a responsibility to their students and to their communities. We trust them to deliver facts and stay above the political fray - at the very least when they are at the head of a classroom. This Professor has seriously failed his students. One has to wonder if this is an isolated incident or a more common occurrence in our state's classrooms."

The Oshkosh Northwestern reports:

Sen. Randy Hopper called for an investigation into the political activity of college professors along with the resignation of a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh faculty member who encouraged his students during class to sign a petition to recall the Republican lawmaker.

The state GOP, college Republican groups and several lawmakers immediately demanded accountability for UWO criminal justice professor Stephen Richards Tuesday after a conservative radio host broadcast a candid recording of Richards encouraging students on March 7 to sign a petition to recall Hopper, R-Fond du Lac.

“Quite frankly, nothing short of this professor resigning will be adequate for the students and the parents of UW-Oshkosh,” Hopper said.

...The UWO professor’s actions raise more questions about irregularities in the recall petition process, Hopper said, calling the issue a “misuse of authority” that should not be tolerated.

“People send their kids to school to be educated not indoctrinated, and this professor took state-funded time to make a political stand,” he said.

One of Richards’ students made the audio recording and later released it to the Republican Party of Wisconsin, a spokesperson said. Conservative commentator Charlie Sykes of Milwuakee-based WTMJ-AM (620) broadcast the recording Tuesday with Senate President Mike Ellis, R-Neenah, demanding an explanation from the university.

UWO Chancellor Richard Wells issued a statement Tuesday afternoon saying the issue was investigated after students complained, and corrective action as taken by the end of March. Students have since reported classroom conditions improved, according to the statement.

Kudos to the student for recording Richards' completely unacceptable behavior and busting the guy.

Richards has shamed the university.

"Corrective action" was taken.

Right.

Like what? A warning not to gather signatures during class?

If Richards is willing to do something as blatantly wrong as using class time to round up signatures to recall Randy Hopper, I'm sure he allows his political views to color his "teaching" on a regular basis.

Richards got caught this time, but I don't think his is an isolated case. This sort of misconduct permeates public institutions.

It's wrong.

Listen to the audio here.

Richards should not be talking about recalling Governor Scott Walker or shilling for unions.

He's lying to his students. This guy is a disgrace.

Sickening.

I also question the fact that Stephen Richards, a convicted felon, is a tenured professor at UW Oshkosh.

A jury convicted him of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana.

In 1984, Richards began serving a nine-year sentence. By the time he was released on parole three years later, he had been housed in nine federal prisons.

Richards isn't the only felon in the Public Affairs Department at Oshkosh.

Richards' colleague, Assistant Professor Michael Lenza, was convicted of MURDER.


Michael Lenza

From 1977 to 1990, Lenza served time in Missouri’s State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, also called “The Walls.” He was convicted of murder in 1975 after confessing to killing his first wife and mother-in-law, putting his mother-in-law’s body in a barrel and throwing the barrel into the Mississippi River.

Lenza says he had a happy childhood while growing up in St. Louis County. In fact, he credits his family for their unconditional love and for never giving up on him. He says he never could have made it through his incarceration without their support.

Although he refuses to speak of the murders (partly because he feels that while he can defend his actions, his victims cannot), Lenza says that when people are in their late teens and early 20s they don’t understand consequences and outcomes the way they do in later years.

“Things seem impossible, overwhelming. You don’t have a long-term view,” he says. He adds that his incarceration showed him the downside of violence.

“My years at Missouri Eastern Penitentiary, The Walls, which is one of the most violent societies in America, certainly showed me the futility in violence in solving issues. You have to find other ways,” he says.

Good Lord!

Lenza is a staunch advocate for the abolition of the death penalty. His wife of 12 years, Sherry Lenza, is no less steadfast in her views. “Executions don’t deter; they just brutalize the population,” she says.

Since his release from prison, Lenza has completed college, married, begun pursuing doctoral degrees and become a father. As Lenza takes his son, Michael Jesse, from his wife’s arms so she can answer the telephone, he says that “peace is its own truth” and today is a different day.

While he knows his past will always be part of his life, Mike Lenza concentrates on where he is now. “It’s not like you totally leave that behind,” he says. “It’s been almost 30 years. A lot changes in 30 years.”

Of course, Lenza opposes the death penalty.

Lenza was convicted of MURDERING his wife and mother-in-law.

If I were Sherry, Lenza wife #2, I would be a little nervous.

I also don't think that Lenza belongs in the classroom.
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UPDATE: Apparently, Richards didn't learn his lesson, in spite of UW Oshkosh taking "corrective action."

Charlie Sykes posts an e-mail he received from a student in Stephen Richards' class:

Hey Charlie,

I'm sitting in Dr. (I use that term loosely) Richards' class as I'm writing this. Just wanted to let you know that instead of apologizing for his actions and everything that has come out in the last couple days, he scolded us. He started by telling us that he has had a police escort all day due to death threats. He then proceeded to tell us that it is illegal to record a professor without his/her permission. He stated that "anyone has any smart phones or recording devices, to turn them off or leave." He then proceeded to tell us that he could have charged those students with some sort of BS crime and had us arrested and kicked out of school. His rant has been going on for the better part of 20 minutes now and isn't showing any signs of slowing down or stopping. Just like his political rants which take place multiple times per week, this is the kind of crap that disrupts our opportunity to learn at an institution of higher education.

I don't see the need to be scolded because this idiot finally got busted. As a criminal justice student graduating in May, this guy is a disgrace to me and the rest of the students in the program.

Just a heads up that absolutely nothing has changed since the "corrective action" that was handed down from Chancellor Wells. The guy is a joke and doesn't deserve his position.

Thanks for getting this story on the air. The CJ students really appreciate that our story is finally being heard.

Bottom line: "NOTHING HAS CHANGED."
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UPDATE, May 6, 2011: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh releases Stephen Richards' disciplinary record; professor encouraged students to sign Randy Hopper recall petition during class

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh officials said today they will not ask a professor who encouraged his students to sign a recall petition to resign, nor will they conduct a full investigation into the on-campus political activity of faculty as requested by some state lawmakers.

State Sen. Randy Hopper, Senate President Mike Ellis and the Republican Party of Wisconsin demanded the investigation and resignation of UWO Criminal Justice Professor Stephen Richards after an anonymous student released an audio recording on Tuesday of Richards urging his class in March to sign a petition to recall Hopper.

UWO Chancellor Richard Wells said during a Friday afternoon press conference that he respects the senators, but “we don’t always have to agree.”

UWO is standing by Richards.

I suppose that's because Richards is on the same page politically as UWO officials.

He's safe and he knows it. That's probably why he runs political rallies out of his classroom.

Here's the Statement of Professor Stephen Richards regarding comments of March 7

I would like to once again apologize to my students for not showing more restraint in the classroom. I regret that I crossed the line when I failed to comply completely with UW System policy concerning political discussion in the classroom. I am sorry that this may have tarnished the reputation of the university community. I wish all my students continued success in their studies.

Professor Stephen C. Richards

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

After "I wish all my students continued success in their studies," I think Richards left out "if they agree with me politically and do all they can to get Republican state senators and Scott Walker recalled."

Richards' apology seems extremely forced.

UW Oshkosh has made documents relating to Richards available online after a public records request by the Oshkosh Northwestern.

Brett Healy and John Batchelor

Wisconsin continues to receive the national spotlight.

Brett Healy of the MacIver Institute was a guest on The John Batchelor Show Monday night.

Healy discusses Judge Maryann Sumi and the open-records case before her, as well as developments on the recall elections in Wisconsin. He also talks about the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, Justice David Prosser's victory, and Scott Walker's future.

Listen to the podcast or download the show here, Monday, 4/18/11 - Batchelor 9pm (Wisconsin topic begins at 18:30).

Scott and Jeff Fitzgerald

From the Associated Press:

Blood ties unite Wis. brothers in union bill fight

When Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker needed help twisting arms to get his polarizing bill eliminating most public employees' union rights through the Legislature, he turned to Scott and Jeff Fitzgerald. The Irish Catholic brothers hold the top two legislative posts in the state, and they said their success was due to blood as much as political skill.

"If Jeff and I were not brothers, and if we didn't have the personal relationship that we have, I don't know if it would have worked or not," said Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who is known as "Big Fitz" even though he is shorter than his younger brother, the Assembly speaker. "We were all on the same page in just about everything we did," he added.

The two took over the leadership positions this year after Republicans won control of the Senate and Assembly in the 2010 midterm elections. They are a unique family dynasty. There are no known cases, either now or in the past, where brothers held the two highest positions at the same time in a state Legislature, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

They also have forged a close relationship with Walker. The three have a standing weekly meeting, and sometimes, as in the heat of the union fight, they meet daily. They say the struggle to get the law passed in the wake of a walkout by Democratic senators and protests that drew as many as 85,000 people to the Capitol only strengthened their relationship and resolve.

Read more.