tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77142910010266789052024-03-14T01:19:30.982-05:00Wisconsin HypothesisAnalyzing Wisconsin's political happenings.The Wisconsin Hypothesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10384525087638331855noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714291001026678905.post-89927797975222524982011-07-08T19:00:00.004-05:002011-07-08T19:00:04.960-05:00Amendment would eliminate citizens' vote for Supreme Court JusticesSupreme Court justice "elections really, in many respects, aren't that important," according to Senator Schultz.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In press release:</b></span> <a href="http://wispolitics.com/1006/110701SchultzCullen_release.pdf">Schultz, Cullen Draft Merit Selection Resolution, July 1</a><br />
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Senators Dale Shultz (R-Richland Center) and Tim Cullen (D-Janesville) proposed a State Constitutional amendment to eliminate the elections of State Supreme Court Justices.<br />
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Senator Shultz hopes to restrict the influence of campaign ads run by third-party special interests which "distort the records of the candidates, mislead the public, and unfairly tarnish the reputations of the candidates." <br />
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A constitutional amendment would eliminate influential campaign ads by eliminating elections.<br />
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Justices would be appointed by a committee, the Governor, and a Senate confirmation hearing.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the news:</b></span> <a href="http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/article_b9083a24-4a43-5dc9-8336-6ecb5a7b22f4.html">Wisconsin needs stronger, not weaker, campaign ad laws, July 7</a><br />
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Mark Ladov, counsel for the <a href="http://www.brennancenter.org/content/section/category/democracy/">Brennan Center for Justice</a> reports:<br />
<blockquote>The Wisconsin Legislature's Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules voted recently to approve legislation rolling back campaign finance disclosure rules ...</blockquote><blockquote>Studies show that anonymous spenders [campaign contributors] are more likely to run negative and misleading ads than groups that are required to disclose their funding source.</blockquote>The conservative U.S. Supreme Court struck down limits on corporate spending <br />
<blockquote>based on the belief that political spending should be paired with 'effective disclosure' to educate the voting public. Transparency in political spending is necessary, the court explained, because it 'enables the electorate to make informed decisions and give proper weights to different speakers and messages.'</blockquote><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In legislature:</b></span> <a href="http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=240338">Legislative committee rolls back campaign finance disclosure rules, June 23</a><br />
<blockquote>After exterminating any and all public election financing in the state budget and thus handing state elections over entirely to private interests, legislators today took steps to make it harder for the public to see how special interests are funneling money into political advertising campaigns.</blockquote><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hypothesis:</b></span> Government will absorb power from the electorate with the Merit Selection Amendment.<br />
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This is not, as Senator Tim Cullen puts it, an "additional check." Senators Shultz's and Cullen's expansion of government is not in line with the views of liberals or small-government conservatives.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Future work:</b></span> Is judicial appointment a bipartisan, socially conservative special interest?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fun with resources:</b></span><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.brennancenter.org/content/section/category/democracy/">Brennan Center for Justice - Democracy</a><br />
<br />
The Democracy Program works toward:<br />
<blockquote>A campaign finance system that reduces the role of big money in elections by providing voluntary public financing at the national, state and local levels.</blockquote></li>
<li><a href="http://www.un-documents.net/a3r217.htm">The International Declaration of Human Rights</a><br />
<blockquote>The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures. </blockquote></li>
</ul>The Wisconsin Hypothesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10384525087638331855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714291001026678905.post-70830717444769553192011-07-07T13:30:00.033-05:002011-07-09T08:31:42.606-05:00In memorium, Maybelle Schein<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In memory of life:</b></span> Last week, 75-year old South Dakota resident Maybelle Schein was murdered brutally in her home.<br />
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I did not know this woman, but in my heart the world's loss reverberates.<br />
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The sad details are tastefully but informatively provided by <a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_f4f2f73e-a762-11e0-a557-001cc4c002e0.html">Madison.com.</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the news:</b></span> Last Saturday, a 41-year old man was arrested in Wisconsin. He confessed to the killing and made threats indicating he had planned an attempt to assassinate our 44th and current President Barack Obama.<br />
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The suspect is currently being held by authorities.<br />
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<b>Update:</b> <a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_50a19808-a8e7-11e0-876e-001cc4c03286.html?sourcetrack=moreArticle">Dane County denies mental competency exam for suspect.</a><br />
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As if to taunt us, the self-proclaimed <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5817870/fox-news-twitter-account-hacked-claims-barack-obama-is-dead">'Script Kiddies'</a> virtually carried out this man's mission in the cyber world last Monday. Obtaining unauthorized access to the Fox News 'FoxNewspolitics' Twitter feed, the 'Script Kiddies' demonstrated their misguided misinformation campaign through six tweets.<br />
<br />
Their second misinformation tweet:<br />
<blockquote>@BarackObama has just passed. Nearly 45 minutes ago, he was shot twice in the lower pelvic area and neck; shooter unknown. Bled out.</blockquote><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In my heart:</b></span> When faced with the distress of violence or intended violence, two great non-violent defenders of the past come to mind; <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/gandhi_mohandas.shtml">Mohandas Karamchand Ghandi</a> and <a href="http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html">Martin Luther King Jr.</a><br />
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I am never prouder than when I think of those who came before me marching for peace on the streets of great nations.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hypothesis:</b></span> With vigilant commitment to peaceful defense, civil liberties are protected.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Future work:</b></span> We shall overcome.The Wisconsin Hypothesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10384525087638331855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714291001026678905.post-75034033406839425082011-07-06T13:30:00.004-05:002011-07-09T08:31:02.178-05:00Universal Declaration of Human Rights(Excerpts taken from the United Nations General Assembly Resolution: <a href="http://www.un-documents.net/a3r217.htm">The International Bill of Human Rights</a>)<br />
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<blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Preamble</b></div><i>Whereas</i> disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,<br />
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<i>Whereas</i> it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,<br />
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<i>Whereas</i> it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,<br />
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... <br />
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<i>Whereas</i> a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge, </blockquote><br />
<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/O8kP3pr6XPU?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/O8kP3pr6XPU?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></object><br />
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<blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7714291001026678905&postID=7503403340683942508" name="article21"><b>Article 21</b></a></div><ol><li>Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. </li>
<li>Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country. </li>
<li>The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures. </li>
</ol></blockquote>The Wisconsin Hypothesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10384525087638331855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714291001026678905.post-61748346332510489422011-07-05T14:00:00.005-05:002011-07-08T18:17:41.000-05:00Madison backs away from commitment to inclusive educationThe world over, poverty contributes to childhood mental illness. In Madison, this unsurprising pattern is repeated.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the news:</b></span> <a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/article_ffb95b7c-a5a5-11e0-a243-001cc4c03286.html">Student mental health</a><br />
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In Madison, two-thirds of students exhibiting mental health problems are low-income.<br />
<blockquote>Last week, the Madison School Board approved spending more than $500,000 next year to expand services and try two new programs at Whitehorse Middle School. Approval came only after several board members questioned whether the new approach would eventually cluster troubled students into a handful of middle schools and retreat from the district’s commitment to inclusive education.</blockquote><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hypothesis:</b></span> Madison's attempts will not offset the increased incidence of childhood trauma induced by low-income stress in Walker's Wisconsin.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Future work:</b></span> Is Madison's 'Constellation' program of social stratification treating students 'exhibiting mental health problems' as exhibiting a 'severe mental disorder'?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fun with resources:</b></span><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter4/sec5.html">(Constellation) service delivery</a><br />
<blockquote>The organization of services for adults with severe mental disorders is the linchpin of effective treatment. Since many mental disorders are best treated by a <i>constellation</i> of medical and psychosocial services, it is not just the services in isolation, but the delivery system as a whole, that dictates the outcome of treatment (Goldman, 1998b). Access to a delivery system is critical for individuals with severe mental illness not only for treatment of symptoms but also to achieve a measure of community participation.</blockquote>(emphasis added)<br />
</li>
</ul>The Wisconsin Hypothesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10384525087638331855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714291001026678905.post-4756893764904942012011-07-04T21:07:00.013-05:002011-07-09T09:33:41.634-05:00Wisconsin Hypothesis adds Maintain the voteWalkeright's campaign against the voters is moving fast. Pay attention, Wisconsin. Stay informed. <b><a href="http://wisconsinhypothesis.blogspot.com/p/maintain-vote.html">Maintain the vote.</a></b><br />
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<b>Glendale July 12 primary:</b> This suburb of Milwaukee is facing diminished polling capacity. All Glendale voters in the 8th Senate District Democratic primary will cast their votes at <b>City Hall</b> on <b>July 12.</b><br />
Candidates:<br />
<ul><li>Real Democrat: <b>Sandy Pasch (D-River Hills)</b></li>
<li>Sources: <a href="http://www.glendalenow.com/news/123894444.html">Glendale Now</a> and <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/124116669.html">JSonline</a></li>
</ul><br />
<embed type='application/x-shockwave-flash' salign='l' flashvars='&titleAvailable=true&playerAvailable=true&searchAvailable=false&shareFlag=N&singleURL=http://witi.vidcms.trb.com/alfresco/service/edge/content/c8a43eb3-c0dc-47bb-8ee8-fe3b719a24f0&propName=witi.com&hostURL=http://www.fox6now.com&swfPath=http://witi.vid.trb.com/player/&omAccount=triblocaltvglobal&omnitureServer=fox6now.com' allowscriptaccess='always' allowfullscreen='true' menu='true' name='PaperVideoTest' bgcolor='#ffffff' devicefont='false' wmode='transparent' scale='showall' loop='true' play='true' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer' quality='high' src='http://witi.vid.trb.com/player/PaperVideoTest.swf' align='middle' height='405' width='635'></embed><br />
<a href="http://www.fox6now.com/videobeta/c8a43eb3-c0dc-47bb-8ee8-fe3b719a24f0/News/State-Sen-Darling-State-Rep-Pasch-ready-for-a-heated-summer-campaign">8th district Senate race</a><br />
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<a href="http://sandyforsenate.com/">Sandy Pasch,</a> official campaign site.<br />
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Updated July 9, 2011The Wisconsin Hypothesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10384525087638331855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714291001026678905.post-15884910169579563102011-07-01T16:00:00.024-05:002011-07-08T18:19:34.374-05:00Walker's DHS boycotts state access to federal health care reformGuy Boulton, of the Journal Sentinel, presents the blocking of grant applications as a sort of Walker-driven boycott of federal health care reform.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the news:</b></span> <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/business/124753094.html"> State blocks plans to apply for federal health grants</a><br />
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Milwaukee and UW-Madison sought to apply for grants authorized under federal health care reform. The state Department of Health Services, under newly appointed Walkeright Dennis Smith, blocked the applications.<br />
<blockquote>[The grants] would provide about $27.5 million for health programs designed to promote healthier lifestyles and reduce chronic diseases such as diabetes.<br />
...<br />
"I did not expect that our biggest obstacle would be our biggest partner - the state of Wisconsin," said Bevan Baker, the city's [Milwaukee's] commissioner of health<br />
...<br />
"My perspective is the need is great, and these are resources that could be put to great use for the state and the citizens of the state," said Thomas Sieger, prevention director for University Health Services [UW-Madison]. "And it's unfortunate not to bring them in."</blockquote>Smith claimed to be unaware that the grants were authorized under federal health care reform. Smith provides an additional justification for the block - saying the grants are not necessary.<br />
<blockquote>I asked folks, 'Don't we already do this?'" Smith said. "What would this really accomplish? How would it forward our mission?"</blockquote>Guy Boulton provides pertinent background info:<br />
<blockquote>Gov. Scott Walker opposes federal health care reform, and Wisconsin is among the states challenging the constitutionality of certain provisions in the law. Some states have been criticized for opposing the federal law while accepting federal money it made available.</blockquote><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hypothesis:</b></span> Looking through the smokescreen, the position Walkeright has set up shows a boycott of federal health care reform is effectively in place.<br />
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It is a boycott enacted by a few Walkerights with unconsidered cost to Wisconsin's health.<br />
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Walkeright's strategy, as always, is heavy-handed. Walker will not endorse these uncontroversial provisions of the federal health care reform because of his opposition to its unpopular provisions (such as insurance mandates). The health of Wisconsin is ignored in his policy.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Enterprising attitude:</b></span> U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D - Wisconsin 4th) asks Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to consider the grant applications without the required letter of support from the state.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Future work:</b></span> With efforts to withhold medical advice and information on health issues, Walkeright furthers mission to keep public uninformed. <br />
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<b>Update, July 5, 2011: Journal Sentinel: </b><br />
<a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/124981109.html">State officials should reconsider their decision not to endorse grant applications by Milwaukee and University Health Services in Madison for health programs.</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fun with resources:</b></span><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.cbs58.com/index.php?aid=14013">Pre-gubernatorial Scott Walker - Health Care Reform</a><br />
<blockquote>In Wisconsin, we're already at the top of the list when it comes to access and quality - the things they talk about in Washington.</blockquote></li>
<li><a href="http://www.jsonline.com/business/124753094.html">State blocks plans to apply for federal health grants</a><br />
<blockquote>Roughly one in four Wisconsin residents are obese, according to a report last year from the Trust for America's Health - a nonprofit organization that focuses on disease prevention - and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.<br />
<br />
The state also has the nation's highest rate of obesity - 44% - for adult African-Americans, according to the study. Mississippi had the second-highest rate.</blockquote></li>
<li><a href="http://www.healthcare.gov/law/provisions/index.html">Provisions of the Affordable Care Act</a><br />
<blockquote>In March of 2010, Congress passed and President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act—the new health law. The law creates a new program – the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan -- to make health coverage available to you if you have been denied health insurance by private insurance companies because of a pre-existing condition. </blockquote></li>
</ul>The Wisconsin Hypothesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10384525087638331855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714291001026678905.post-11959896859107312562011-06-30T19:00:00.010-05:002011-07-08T18:18:04.198-05:00Milwaukee collective bargaining yields larger budget savings than Walker's "tools"Through collective bargaining, Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association conceded $94 million for 2011-2013.<br />
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<b>Update, July 5, 2011:</b> See the <a href="http://wisconsinhypothesis.blogspot.com/p/act-10-primer.html">Act 10 Primer</a> for more complete analysis. This June 30th analysis relied only on estimates from the Milwaukee Board of School Directors.<br />
<strike> Walker's "tools" would have netted only $40 million in concessions.</strike><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the news:</b></span> <a href="http://www.mtea.org/Public/pdf/PressReleases/PressRelease6-29-11.pdf"> MTEA President Bob Peterson responds to the MPS announcement of the layoffs of 519 school employees</a><br />
<blockquote>Last September, teachers bargained a concessionary contract with the school board that will save the district $94 million over the next two school years.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://mpsportal.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/portal/server.pt/doc/78961/SPB+Budget+Questions+5+5+11">Milwaukee Public Schools, Budget and Finance Questions, May 5, 2011</a><br />
<blockquote><b>If all staff paid 5.5%/5.8% in pension and 12% in benefits, what would the total district savings be?<br />
Response:</b> ... For certified staff in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) [teachers], the amount is $19,691,054 (5.8%). The 12% benefit does not apply as this is not our health care benefit plan, it is the state's.</blockquote><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the rhetoric:</b></span> Cullen Werwie, spokesman for Walker, boasts<br />
<blockquote>In other schools districts that have utilized the tools available to them, class sizes are going down, budgets are balanced, taxes are held in check.</blockquote><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hypothesis:</b></span> Walker's "tools" include a loss of collective bargaining rights (except to negotiate wages) and a requirement to contribute 5.8% of salary toward pension and 12% toward health insurance (see <a href="http://legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/data/acts/11Act10.pdf">Wisconsin's infamous collective bargaining bill</a>).<br />
<br />
Using Walker's "tools," Milwaukee teacher concessions of approximately $20 million per year toward pension would have created a net 2011-13 school budget savings of $40 million.<br />
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Millwaukee's collective bargaining, completed prior to the enactment of <a href="http://legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/data/acts/11Act10.pdf">2011 Wisconsin Act 10</a>, produced $94 million in concessions - more than twice the savings dictated by Walker's "tools."<br />
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Milwaukee School Board President Michael Bonds said Walker's budget cuts were "like a triple hit - the money we lose, the [voucher] choice proposals and the fact that the budget didn't address the funding flaw in Milwaukee."<br />
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The loss of 354 teaching jobs is devastating to MPS, but it is not, as <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/CAN_milwaukee/status/86199808448135168">Mark Belling</a> would claim, the fault of "the union's refusal to take concessions." Without MTEA's ambitious concessions, twice as many jobs would have been lost.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Future work:</b></span> Walker's voucher-choice exemption from the revenue limit yet another example of stacking things in favor of <a href="http://wisconsinhypothesis.blogspot.com/2011/06/voucher-choice-works-for-walker.html">"Voucher-Choice Success!"</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Prior research:</b></span> <a href="http://folkbum.blogspot.com/2011/06/mps-layoffs.html">Folkbum on MPS layoffs</a><br />
<blockquote>MPS would have saved barely $40m a year from Gov. Walker's "tools." At the same time, Walker's budget cut more than $80m a year from MPS. There is simply no way, Walker's tools or not, that MPS could have found surplus given the size of cuts to its budget imposed by the state.</blockquote><b>Update:</b> (July 3, 2011) <a href="http://folkbum.blogspot.com/"> Folkbum provides details of the MPS-MTEA negotiations</a> <br />
<blockquote>the district wrung concessions from teachers that meant it could spend less in 2011-2012 than the then-statutory increase would have allowed. Figuring that as long as the increase was positive, even if it weren't $250 per student, the district could start the year on a sound footing with few if any layoffs--unlike what they had just gone through in the summer of 2010.</blockquote><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fun with resources:</b></span><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/124734058.html">MPS to lay off 354 teachers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/123426079.html">MPS board votes to ask union for pension concession to save jobs </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/104157693.html">MPS, teachers union reach deal on contract</a> </li>
</ul>The Wisconsin Hypothesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10384525087638331855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714291001026678905.post-83370388891049541372011-06-29T17:45:00.009-05:002011-07-08T18:15:42.968-05:00Smokescreen hides Walker's veto-created loopholeWisconsin public records law is to be interpreted <i><a href="http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/GW/gw_17.pdf">always with a presumption of complete public access</a>.</i> To build a smokescreen, Walker flouted this presumption.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the news:</b></span> In Ashwaubenon last Sunday, Walker signed the budget repair bill into law as '2011 Wisconsin Act 32.' The public was denied access.<br />
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The more accessible Ashwaubenon Village Hall holds business hours Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Alternatively, the capitol building in Madison is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Yet, Walker chose a private location from which the public could be, and was, barred.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the legislation:</b></span> <a href="http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/GW/gw_17.pdf">An Informed Public: Part Two, The Public Records Law</a><br />
<br />
<i>The law states that the denial of public access to records generally goes against the public interest, and that access may be denied only in exceptional cases.</i><br />
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The public has a right to access the signed 2011-2013 budget.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the rhetoric:</b></span> Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie explained the budget would be signed in private and at a business <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/124524174.html"><i>to ensure the focus ... is on creating 250,000 new jobs, not about other things</i></a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hypothesis:</b></span><br />
<ul><li>"creating 250,000 new jobs" is shorthand for "a universally desired result that Walker & Co. wish to conflate with the 2011-13 budget</li>
<li>"other things" is shorthand for <a href="http://wisconsinhypothesis.blogspot.com/2011/06/walker-anticipates-need-for-uninformed.html#loophole">"the loophole inserted by veto 37."</a></li>
</ul>From this rhetor, we conclude Walker used Fox Valley Metal-Tech to distract the public from a comprehensive understanding of Walker's budget.<br />
<br />
Walker used the location to focus his disciple's attention on his campaign pledge of "250,000 new jobs" (<a href="http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/promises/walk-o-meter/promise/526/create-250000-new-jobs/">by 2015</a>).<br />
<br />
Walker kept the ceremony private to focus his critic's attention on his disrespect for public records law.<br />
<br />
From friend and foe alike, Walker disguised the nature of his vetoes. He needed focus to be anywhere except on the <a href="http://wisconsinhypothesis.blogspot.com/2011/06/walker-anticipates-need-for-uninformed.html#loophole">loophole of veto 37</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Future work:</b></span> A look at Walker public relations strategy: The use of <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/photos/124569124.html">a literal blue collar</a> to conflate Walker and the metaphorical "blue collar" of labor.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fun with resources:</b></span><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/124563073.html">Walker signs budget bill, vetoes just 50 items</a></li>
<li><a href="http://legis.wisconsin.gov/visitorsGuide.htm">Capitol visitor's guide</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://ashwaubenon.com/tabid/78/Default.aspx">Business hours of Ashwaubenon Village Hall</a></li>
<li><a href="http://legis.wisconsin.gov/2011AB-40.pdf">Budget bill with vetoes</a></li>
</ul><ul></ul>The Wisconsin Hypothesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10384525087638331855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714291001026678905.post-64321251541600205702011-06-27T23:45:00.035-05:002011-07-08T18:15:25.880-05:00Walker anticipates need for uninformed legislatureFollowing Senate recall, Gov. Walker will need an uninformed legislature. The Governor vetoed the obligations for producing several upcoming accountability reports for the legislature's Joint Committee on Finance. In exchange, Walker makes an unenforceable promise of direct public access to agency expenditures.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the news:</b></span> <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/124563073.html">Walker signs budget bill, vetoes just 50 items</a><br />
<br />
Walker made his vetoes and signed the budget Sunday afternoon at Fox Valley Metal-Tech in Ashwaubenon.<br />
<br />
<i>Walker's 50 vetoes were less extensive compared with those issued by previous governors, but that's due largely to the fact that Walker's fellow Republicans run both houses of the Legislature and worked closely with the governor in crafting the legislation.</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In executive-legislative relations:</b></span> <a href="http://www.wisn.com/download/2011/0626/28361854.pdf">Walker's letter to the Assembly</a> includes his description of the budget and his 50 vetoes. Direct quotes and the following page numbers and veto numbers are in reference to that document. Analysis is derived from both the list of vetoes and the full text of the <a href="http://legis.wisconsin.gov/2011AB-40.pdf">Budget Bill with partial vetoes</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http:///#appendix">Vetoes 1, 2, 4, 7, and 8</a> removed or limited the requirements for certain executive branch reports to the legislature. Veto 37 created the loopholes in the new agency-expenditure transparency measures.<br />
<br />
xi: [The partially-vetoed budget] <i>Requires more transparency in state government through on-line reporting of state expenditures, grants and contracts on a searchable Internet Web site available to the public.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7714291001026678905&postID=6432125154160020570" name="veto37"><b>Section 215m: Disclosure of Expenditures on Internet Web Site</b></a><br />
<ul><li>State agencies shall provide the Department of Administration with expenditure information.</li>
<li>State agencies shall provide the Department of Administration with information of grants and contracts entered into.</li>
<li>The Department of Administration shall place the information on a publicly-accessible searchable website.</li>
</ul>Walker removed the date by which any of the above disclosures must happen. These disclosure requirements were slated to take affect on July 1, 2013. Walker struck down the dates and deadlines stating <i>the department</i> [of Administration]<i> must have flexibility in meeting the goal of this requirement</i>. Walker further added that he would <i>direct the department </i>[of Administration] <i>to immediately report monthly expenditures by state agency, funding source and appropriation through a publicly accessible Web site</i>. He failed to indicate whether state agencies will be stirred to provide the required information to the Department of Administration.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hypothesis:</b></span> In anticipation of recall results, Walker is replacing "streamlining" with roadblocks: To introduce up-to-date bills relating to the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7714291001026678905&postID=6432125154160020570#appendix">reports rendered unavailable by vetoes 1, 2, 4, 7, and 8</a>, the legislature must again pass legislation requiring the agencies to make a report.<br />
<br />
In exchange, Walker & Co. throw the public a bone with the "searchable Internet Web site."<br />
<br />
Walker's promise to "direct" the Department of Administration does not in turn bestow upon the DoA the power to "direct" state agencies to fulfill the reporting requirements. Walker has made no mention of requiring state agencies to disclose information to the DoA "immediately." <br />
<br />
Without legislative deadlines, the state's agencies are not required to "immediately" report the requisite information to the Department of Administration. Without such mandate, the DoA will have nothing to share with the public.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7714291001026678905&postID=6432125154160020570" name="loophole">Loophole (The effect of Walker's 37th veto):</a> By removing the dates and deadlines attached to the public disclosure website, Governor Walker's Sunday vetoes gave himself the power to enact or delay dissemination of agency expenditures according to his own calendar. As an added bonus for his sense of importance, this power won't be passed on to the next Governor. By that time, the searchable website will be in place and the office of the governor will no longer enjoy the luxury of transparency-at-will.<br />
<br />
In Walker's Wisconsin, "transparency in government" includes a loophole by which the governor chooses how and when to disseminate information.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Future work:</b></span> Which legislation will Walker delay with his transparent denial of access to agency reports?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fun with resources:</b></span><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.wisn.com/download/2011/0626/28361854.pdf">Walker's letter to the Assembly</a><br />
Excerpt: <i>This budget reflects a return to the bedrock principles of our state's constitution - frugality and moderation<br />
...<br />
The budget I sign today, with limited vetoes, remains consistent with those goals and values. I want to commend the Legislature for its work in completing the budget on time.</i><br />
<br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/124242049.html">Republicans in Legislature may try to make recalls harder</a><br />
[Republican lawmakers] <i>said the</i> [recall] <i>situation has already slowed down the legislative process as senators fight recalls and some members of the Assembly run for Senate seats.</i><br />
<br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://wisconsinhypothesis.blogspot.com/2011_06_21_archive.html">Walker will demonstrate personal restraint when applying the governor's veto</a><br />
<i>When the legislature worked uncompromisingly and under a strict deadline, the exact wording of the budget was easily controlled. This allowed Walker's Senators, in defiance of the Republican-lauded, constitutionally-encouraged notion of "separation of powers," to set things up quite nicely for Governor Walker.<br />
</i><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/gw/gw_7.pdf">Why Do We Separate the Powers of Government?</a><br />
<i>The constitution separates the powers of government to avoid concentration of governmental power and to prevent tyranny. The doctrine does not require total separation of powers, but it sacrifices some efficiency in goverment to ensure that the people will <b>have liberty</b>.</i><br />
</li>
</ul><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7714291001026678905&postID=6432125154160020570#appendix"><b>Appendix:</b></a> Vetoes removing reports and requirements<br />
<br />
xiii: <i>These vetoes remove unnecessary reports and requirements, clarify program implementation timelines, and improve the intended focus of certain programs.</i><br />
<br />
1. Agriculture Chemical Funds Report<br />
Report would have been due December 31, 2011.<br />
Walker vetoed the date by which the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection must report its findings on the study and evaluation of <i>the condition of the agricultural chemical cleanup fund and the agricultural management fund and their structural imbalances</i>.<br />
<br />
2. Grain Inspection Program Report<br />
Report would have been due January 1, 2012.<br />
Walker vetoed the reporting requirement of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection for the plan to reduce and eliminate the remaining deficit because Walker <i>object</i>[s]<i> to requiring additional reporting requirements for a program that has been in deficit since the end of fiscal year 2000-01</i>.<br />
<br />
4. Nursing Services Report<br />
Report would have been due October 1, 2011.<br />
Walker vetoed the reporting requirement of the Department of Corrections <i>on nursing staff and costs for each facility and a summary of each contract for nursing services for fiscal years 2009-10 and 2010-11</i>.<br />
<br />
7. Economic Impact Analysis<br />
Report would have been due December 31, 2011<br />
Walker vetoed the date by which the Department of Natural Resources must prepare <i>an economic impact analysis for the phosphorous effluent limitation and shoreland zoning administrative rules</i>.<br />
<br />
8. Report on Drug Offender Diversion Surcharge Fund<br />
Walker vetoed the requirement for the Department of Administration to <i>submit a plan to the Joint Committee on Finance reporting how the department will reduce state appropriations by $1,917,900 over the 2011-13 biennium</i> because<i> the deficit will be examined again in developing the 2013-15 biennial budget</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Updated June 29, 2011: format adjustment</b>The Wisconsin Hypothesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10384525087638331855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714291001026678905.post-26971523803583696472011-06-24T13:30:00.023-05:002011-07-08T18:20:28.514-05:00Marquette implies support for Campus SaVE Act (S. 834)In the past, Marquette responded to sexual violence on campus in accordance with the student conduct code. Now, Marquette understands a college campus is not a sovereign nation.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the data:</b></span> <a href="http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/221153.pdf"> The Campus Sexual Assault (CSA) Study</a><br />
<br />
A 2007 campus sexual-assault study, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, surveyed 5,446 undergraduate women and 1,375 undergraduate men at two large public Universities (one in the South and one in the Midwest). Over 28 percent of the female participants had experienced attempted or completed sexual assault (either before or while attending college).<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<b>In the news:</b></span> <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/124379168.html"> Marquette revises sexual assault policies</a><br />
<br />
<i>"The university has publicly acknowledged that we made mistakes in dealing with these incidents. We worked quickly and proactively to correct those procedures, both to be sensitive to victims and to comply with Wisconsin state law," </i>[Marquette University President Father Robert A. Wild]<i> said in a statement. "We now refer any reported incident of sexual assault to the Sensitive Crimes Unit of the Milwaukee Police Department. We have also added a victim advocate to the staff of our Student Health Service and have more tightly restricted who on campus has access to reports from the Department of Public Safety."</i><br />
<i>...</i><br />
<i>The announcements come in the wake of the first public comments Wednesday from a former Marquette student who said the university dismissed her allegation that she was sexually assaulted in February by a student athlete.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Two women accused student athletes of sexual assault during the last school year at Marquette's Humphrey Hall - one during an incident Oct. 30 and another Feb. 27.</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
<i>Student athletes who were involved in the two cases were disciplined under the student conduct code as well as athletic department rules, according to the university, but officials didn't immediately forward either case to Milwaukee police.</i><br />
<br />
<i>In <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-marquette-sex-assaults-20110621%2C0%2C7693231%2Cfull.story">an interview published Wednesday in the Chicago Tribune</a>, one of the women, who left the school shortly after the alleged assault, said that she reported an incident at a student athlete's campus apartment to campus security, but two officers dismissed her claims because she said the encounter was at first consensual but became an assault. No report was taken; Milwaukee police were not notified.</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In Congress:</b></span> <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:S.834:"> S. 834 Campus SaVE Act</a><br />
<br />
In this bill, the findings of Congress include:<br />
<i>(1) Between 20 and 25 percent of female students will experience some form of sexual assault during their years at an institution of higher education, and nearly 3 percent of all such women become victims of either attempted or completed rape in each 9-month academic year.</i><br />
<i>... </i><br />
<i>(5) Students are more likely to report a sexual assault when they know how to report a sexual assault and how a school will respond if such a report is made, yet fewer than half of the institutions of higher education in the United States have written policies for filing criminal charges and campus reports related to sexual assault.</i><br />
<br />
<i>(6) Only 1/3 of the institutions of higher education in the United States report their crime statistics correctly, resulting in statistics in which instances of sexual assault have been misclassified and underrepresented. Less than half of all institutions of higher education in the United States offer any sexual assault training, and such training is often provided only for resident advisers and security officers.</i><br />
<br />
Although the Campus Sexual Assault study and Campus SaVE Act focus on the ubiquity of sexual assault on college women, Campus SaVE will improve safety for all college students.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hypothesis:</b></span> Marquette showed support for Campus SaVE Act with voluntary implementation of safety improvements.<br />
<br />
Reports of rape on Marquette University campus will skyrocket. This will not represent a rise in the perpetration of rape.<br />
<br />
Actual police work will be conducted to hinder perpetrators and bring them to justice. Serial rapes will go down. Wanna-be rapists will be deterred. Victims will receive better post-trauma care.<br />
<br />
Students will graduate stronger and healthier.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Future work:</b></span> Ask U.S. Senators Kohl and Johnson to co-sponsor the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act (S. 834). Tell them Marquette showed its support with voluntary safety improvements.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/aauw/mail/compose/?target=NS&type=&billid=48359506&voteid=0&azip=53233">Wisconsin Senator contact form</a> (facilitated by the American Association of University Women).<br />
<br />
<b>Update, July 5, 2011: </b> Bill Sponsors<br />
<ul><li>Robert Casey (D-PA), 4/14/2011</li>
<li>Patty Murray (D-WA), 4/14/2011</li>
<li>Olympia Snowe (R-ME), 6/9/2011</li>
<li>Richard Durbin (D-IL), 6/14/2011</li>
<li>Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), 6/21/2011</li>
<li>Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), 6/23/2011</li>
<li>Jon Tester (D-MT), 6/27/2011</li>
</ul><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fun with resources:</b></span><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://capwiz.com/aauw/issues/alert/?alertid=48359511">AAUW: Help Stop Sexual Violence on Campus!</a></li>
<li><a href="http://capwiz.com/aauw/issues/bills/?bill=48359506&alertid=48359511">AAUW: Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act or Campus SaVE Act</a><br />
Excerpt: <i>The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act (S. 834) would help to end sexual assault and violence on campus by requiring schools to spell out their policies, conduct prevention activities, and ensure necessary assistance for victims.</i></li>
</ul>The Wisconsin Hypothesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10384525087638331855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714291001026678905.post-32387507224791027742011-06-23T13:33:00.014-05:002011-07-08T18:24:15.568-05:00Voucher-Choice works for Walker<div style="text-align: left;">The expansion of school voucher-choice programs is an efficient way for Walker to encourage the expansion of voucher-choice programs.</div><a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Prior research:</b></span> <a href="http://misleadingwisconsin.blogspot.com/2011/06/predicting-wis-future-gops-bs-claim.html">Predicting WI's future: GOP's b.s. claim--Vouchers work!</a><br />
Curt in Cheeseland predicts voucher-choice school scores will go up and public school scores will go down. He shows how this can be the result of "a natural function of the way Walker has carefully crafted the state's new private school voucher system."<br />
<br />
Curt concludes that a program intended to assist low-income students cannot be shown to work by adding middle-income students to the program.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the data:</b></span> <a href="http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/oea/pdf/mps-mcpc-rcomp.pdf"> Milwaukee Public Schools and Milwaukee Parental Choice Schools 2010-11 WSAS Number and Percent Proficient and Advanced (PA) for Students by Race/Ethnicity</a><br />
<br />
Milwaukee Public School students eligible to receive free or reduced lunch (MPS-FRL) are expected to be correlated with low-income students. In 2010-11 school year, MPS-FRL and Milwaukee Parental Choice school students (Choice) were equivalently proficient and advanced (PA) in reading. MPS-FRL had a higher level of PA in math than Choice students.<br />
<br />
<table border="1"><tbody>
<tr> <td></td> <td>% Read PA</td> <td>% Math PA</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>MPS-FRL</td> <td>55.3</td> <td>43.9</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Choice</td> <td>55.2</td> <td>34.4</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
This is an example of the voucher system not working.<br />
<br />
<b>In the courts:</b> <a href="http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/complaint_to_doj_re_milwaukee_voucher_program_final.pdf">ACLU: Complaint to DOJ with regards to Milwaukee Parent Choice Program (MPCP)</a><br />
<br />
<i>Messmer has also posted on its website DPI's MPCP brochure, which, with respect to students with disabilities, states:</i><br />
<blockquote><i>A Choice [voucher] school may not discriminate against a child with special needs in the admission process or elsewhere. However, as a private school, the Choice school is only required to offer those services to assist students with special needs that it can provide with minor adjustments. Parents should contact Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) for more information on the services provided to children with special needs enrolled in the public schools and the lesser services that MPS provides these children enrolled in private schools. [81]</i></blockquote><i>Needless to say, DOJ should also put a halt to overt discrimination in the voucher program against students with disabilities such as K.S., who neither need nor have they requested any form of accommodation but are barred from admission due to discriminatory notions of what the voucher schools believe these children need.</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hypothesis:</b></span> Voucher-choice programs can be shown to "work" even when they don't work.<br />
<br />
Through discriminatory cherry-picking admissions processes, private schools can trivially improve their test scores at the direct cost of a decrease in public school test scores. Choice test scores can be improved by increasing the income limit of a program intended to assist low-income students. <br />
<br />
With this method, it can be shown that economic disadvantage carries itself over into an academic disadvantage. From this result, Walker will conclude voucher-choice "works."<br />
<br />
Walker & whatever-remains-of-his-Co. will shout "Voucher-Choice Success!" next Spring to distract us from getting our photo ID's and studying new voter regulations.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Future work:</b></span> Compare and contrast Soviet Union's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ural-Siberian_method">Ural-Siberian method</a> for ag reform with United States' right-wing extremist school reform.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fun with resources:</b></span><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ural-Siberian_method">Ural-Siberian method</a><br />
Excerpt: <i>A distinctive feature of the method was its appearance as the people's initiative.</i><br />
<ul><li>In case of vandalism, check for the March 29, 2011 version, the latest version as of this writing. Constructive edits welcome!</li>
<li>A traditionally published source: "The War Against the Peasantry, 1927-1930: The Tragedy of the Soviet Countryside", Volume one (Annals of Communism Series), 2005,ISBN: 0300106122, section "The Ural-Siberian Method and the Intensification of Repression", [pp. 119-123]</li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/124004679.html">Senate OK'd budget goes to Walker, Measure includes voucher school changes</a></li>
</ul>The Wisconsin Hypothesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10384525087638331855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714291001026678905.post-75380193583073411562011-06-22T13:08:00.011-05:002011-07-08T18:14:29.208-05:00Walker & Co. minimize own scapegoat for fake problem<ul><li>Walker's legislators have invented the notion that the legislative process has slowed down.</li>
<li>Walker's legislators identify the current recall situation as scapegoat.</li>
<li>Walker claims the public doesn't care about recalls</li>
</ul><a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the news: </b></span><a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/124242049.html">Republicans in Legislature may try to make recalls harder </a><br />
<br />
[Republican lawmakers] <i>said the</i> [recall] <i>situation has already slowed down the legislative process as senators fight recalls and some members of the Assembly run for Senate seats.</i><br />
<i>...</i><br />
<i>Darling, herself a subject of a recall, and Fitzgerald said legislation to speed environmental reviews of a proposed iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin was never introduced, in part, because lawmakers didn't have enough time to study it before the budget passed.</i><br />
<i>...</i><br />
<i>In an interview after an appearance in Washington, Walker responded to questions about the recalls and said they represented a political challenge for his party.</i><br />
<br />
<i>But the public isn't interested, he said.</i><br />
<br />
<i>"People are ready to move on," Walker said after appearing with several other governors at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "And I don't just mean one party or another. I think just in general. The average citizen in Wisconsin I talk to. it's like they've had it .... They want us to be talking about jobs. They want us to be focused on that .... And so having another political campaign - it's going to happen, it's not like they can avoid it. But it's not something they're particularly interested in."</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hypothesis:</b></span> The lack of time to address northern Wisconsin mining before the budget passed was due to the Fitzgerald brothers' expediting, of the budget session, as if a gun were trained on them.<br />
<br />
Following the budget's speedy passage through the legislature, Vos, Darling, and Jeff Fitzgerald have constructed the false notion of a sluggish legislature so that they can assign "recall" as its scapegoat.<br />
<br />
Walker & Co. are trying to pit the recall movement against the supporters of mining.<br />
<br />
However, Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca possesses common sense: <i>"From a political standpoint, it looks like politicians trying to avoid accountability."</i><br />
<br />
To round out the contentious contradictions, Walker minimizes the overall influence of recalls while encouraging the perception of recalls as a destructive influence.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Future work:</b></span> <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/124325004.html"> Mining Company says project on hold until Legislature changes law</a><br />
Herein lies another carefully constructed polarization. While approval-by-default may appeal to a small government ideology, denial-by-default seems to be the more conservative strategy. Are Walker & Co. pitting small government Republicans against traditionally conservative Republicans?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fun with resources:</b></span><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://markpocanwi.blogspot.com/2011/06/why-republicans-are-fast-tracking.html">Wisconsin State Representative Mark Pocan: Why Republican's are fast-tracking Wisconsin's budget</a><br />
Excerpt: [Debating the budget in extraordinary session] <i>allows them to have things go back very quickly, between the two houses, with very little public disclosure. They can limit debate. They can limit the number of amendments we have. They can really limit democracy quite a bit by having an extraordinary session </i><br />
... <br />
[extraordinary session] <i>really takes away the rights of the minority (the Democrats) and it takes away the rights of the public to know what's going on.</i></li>
<li><a href="http://legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/data/calendars/Assembly_Calendar_20110614ex.pdf">State of Wisconsin Assembly Calendar, June 2011 Extraordinary Session</a></li>
<li><a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_d254abc0-95e5-11e0-9880-001cc4c002e0.html">GOP plans to add bargaining limits to budget if court doesn't act by Tuesday</a><br />
Excerpt: <i>Lawmakers plan to debate the budget in an "extraordinary" rather than a regular session, which allows the majority party to make changes quickly to the schedule, give shorter notice for committee meetings and limit stalling maneuvers by the minority party that can extend the process. <br />
<br />
"We feel like we are under the gun," said Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau. "We need to get this done." <br />
<br />
But Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, said Republicans were misusing the process. "Time is not a major concern right now," he said. "Why would you want to truncate the process?"</i></li>
<li><b>Update: James Rowen's perspective at the Political Environment<br />
<a href="http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2011/06/mining-bill-did-not-hit-political.html#links">The Political Environment: Mining Bill Did Not Hit Political Paydirt</a></b></li>
</ul>The Wisconsin Hypothesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10384525087638331855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714291001026678905.post-40658405805966563812011-06-21T12:42:00.002-05:002011-07-01T19:42:00.156-05:00Walker will demonstrate personal restraint when applying the governor's vetoVeto is a unilateral power maintained by the head of the executive branch. In the case of Wisconsin, it is Governor Scott Walker who wields this power with his 19 pens.<br />
<br />
In an appropriation bill, such as the state budget, the Wisconsin governor has the power to strike <i>individual words</i>. Walker won't need the single-word veto for the 2011-2013 state budget.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the news:</b></span> <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/02/gov-scott-walkers-secret-weapon-the-wisconsin-veto/71816/">Governor Walker's Secret Weapon: The Wisconsin Veto</a><br />
<br />
Back in February, <i>the Atlantic</i> discussed the near-impossibility of writing a veto-proof bill in Wisconsin. During the early stages of the legislative attack on collective bargaining, "the deal floated by moderate Republican state Sen. Dale Schultz, under which collective bargaining rights would automatically reactivate in 2013," was ignored by both sides. <a href="http://quomodocumque.wordpress.com/">Jordan Ellenberg</a>, with <i>the Atlantic</i>, hypothesized this was because the Wisconsin governor's single-word veto makes certain compromises impossible to enforce.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hypothesis:</b></span> The governor can strike items but cannot add them. When the legislature worked uncompromisingly and under a strict deadline, the exact wording of the budget was easily controlled. This allowed Walker's Senators, in defiance of the Republican-lauded, constitutionally-encouraged notion of "separation of powers", to set things up quite nicely for Governor Walker.<br />
<br />
Walker can appear to demonstrate personal restraint by striking only complete line-items. The carefully controlled extraordinary session has exempted Walker from the need to use the single-word veto; he can produce the same result without it.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Future work:</b></span> <a href="http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/gw/gw_7.pdf">The "Separation of Powers" Doctrine: Why Do We Separate the Powers of Government?</a> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fun with resources:</b></span><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/gw/gw_5.pdf">The Governor's Veto Power: To What Extent Can the Governor Reject Legislation?</a><br />
Excerpt:<i> Wisconsin provides the governor with one of the most versatile and powerful veto powers in the nation. Although the governor may no longer choose individual letters within a word to veto, he or she may strike individual words within an appropriation bill to refashion legislation. Additionally, the governor may reduce appropriation amounts by striking individual numbers and writing in a lower number.</i></li>
<li><a href="http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/ib/98ib1.pdf">Special and Extraordinary Sessions of the Wisconsin legislature</a><br />
Excerpt: <i>When the legislature calls an extraordinary session, it can focus its attention on specific legislation it wants to expedite.</i></li>
<li><a href="http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2011/06/in-wisconsin-more-republican-fast.html">More Republican Fast-Tracking</a><br />
Excerpt: <i>Their buzzword is "<a href="http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2011/06/more-proposed-dnr-streamlining-more.html">streamlining</a>," but their intent is to limit citizen input and pave the way for special interest favors at the expense of shared, publicly-held resources. </i></li>
</ul>The Wisconsin Hypothesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10384525087638331855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7714291001026678905.post-34959996361710281962011-06-20T18:45:00.004-05:002011-07-08T18:23:25.844-05:00Governor Walker will now "ax" the Legislature's axingsWalker & Co. have shown they can taketh away. For their next trick, they will demonstrate their power to pardon.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">In the news: </span></b><a href="http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_aa316250-9a27-11e0-8fc9-001cc4c002e0.html">Gov. Walker plans a 'fair number' of line-item vetoes of budget bill</a><br />
<blockquote>Gov. Scott Walker is promising a “fair number” of line-item vetoes to his controversial two-year budget.<br />
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Walker wouldn’t elaborate on what he’ll ax before he signs his budget bill into law by June 30 but said he will spend the next week combing through the $66 billion spending plan passed Thursday by the Legislature.<br />
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“We’re … making sure there’s nothing in there that surprises us,” he said. “There’s a lot of things we need to look at the details on.”</blockquote><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hypothesis:</b></span> The recalled Senators bullied us with impending cuts to our public programs. Governor Walker will now play "good cop" by removing the ax from a few token projects. See how much we can save when we don't have unions? <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Future work:</b></span> Which line items will Walker & Co. pit against unions?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fun with resources: </b></span><a href="http://www.wisconsinbudgetproject.org/budget_comparative_analysis_2011-13.pdf">Comparative Analysis of 2011-2013 Biennial Budget Bill</a>The Wisconsin Hypothesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10384525087638331855noreply@blogger.com