http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/blog_rss/scotross As ruthless as F. Jim Sensenbrenner ruled while the GOP ran Congress, it's hard not to take some satisfaction in his plummeting influence. But then he goes an does something that warrants mentioning, despite his eroding relevance to the national debate. The midwest has suffered greatly during the recent floods. Since late-May 24 deaths are blamed on the weather and 40,000 have been displaced from their homes. Yesterday, the Congress passed a modest $2.65 billion midwest flood relief plan. Twelve members showed utter indifference to the victims and those in need by voting against the bill. Sensenbrenner , you guessed it, was one of the 12. Unbelievable. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHGs http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHGs/commentary#comments Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:48:17 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHGs Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHGs/ George Lightbourn, former head budget guru for Gov. Scott McCallum and current pro-corporate shill at the right wing Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, is attacking the $2-billion-saving "Healthy Wisconsin" plan to provide access to affordable and quality health care for all. George Lightbourn's central thesis that Medicare and Medicaid were bad ideas is as bankrupt as his previous work with Gov. Scott McCallum to sell off the $6 billion that would have come to the state from the tobacco settlement for pennies on the dollar. History reminds us that as Gov. McCallum's top budget aide, Lightbourn's last major undertaking was to dig us into a historic budget deficit . For the people of Wisconsin, we can breathe easy knowing that at least now his failed economic analysis is only paid for by the pro-corporate forces funding his research, not us taxpayers. Lightbourn's assertion that reducing the state's health care bill by $2 billion, as Healthy Wisconsin does, is financially imprudent, is the same logic that says tax cuts for the rich help working families and more tax breaks for Big Oil will reduce gas prices. It doesn't add up. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHGT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHGT/commentary#comments Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:33:14 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHGT Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHGT/ Gazillionaire Kotex heir F. Jim Sensenbrenner spent today doing his best to keep Wisconsinites who have lost their jobs because of the endless Bush economic policies he has supported away from extended unemployment benefits. Sensenbrenner, famously characterized by Matt Taibbi in Rolling Stone as…well, read the story here , was the only member of the Wisconsin House delegation to vote against a plan to extend unemployment benefits for workers by 13 weeks. This despite the jobless rate skyrocketing by the largest percentage in over 20 years and despite the fact 325,000 jobs have been lost so far due to the failed Bush economy. F. Jim’s birthday is this Saturday. How appropriate his message to Wisconsin’s unemployed is “let ‘em cake.” http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHGZ http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHGZ/commentary#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:47:45 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHGZ Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 1 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHGZ/ Millionaires Paul Ryan and John McCain have a prescription for $4-a-gallon gas prices for working families: Nearly $4 billion in tax cuts for Big Oil. Ryan reiterated his support for the disatrous McCain Big Oil tax cut on a conference call today in which he praised McCain for " economic discipline ." Ryan and McCain already provide $5 billion to Big Oil in just the last two years, so it's not surprising they're in lockstep on this one, too. OWN has called for Ryan to distance himself on this ridiculous $4 billion Big Oil bonanza. If you haven't had the chance yet, click here to sign our petition telling Paul Ryan enough with big tax cuts for Big Oil. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHGX http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHGX/commentary#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:27:34 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHGX Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 1 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHGX/ It was appalling to see Sen. John McCain in Louisiana to try and distance himself for the horrors of George W. Bush and the federal government’s response to Hurricane Katrina. Considering how McCain voted to shield Bush from accountability for this national disgrace, he might have thought twice. Consider McCain’s record protecting Bush and abandoning those in need when it comes to Katrina. McCain Twice Voted Against a Commission to Examine Government Response to Katrina. In 2005 and 2006, McCain voted against creating a congressional commission to examine the federal, state and local response to Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Region.  Both motions failed. [H.R. 2862, Vote #229, 9/14/2005; H.R. 4297, Vote #6, 2/2/2006]  http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C27N http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C27N/commentary#comments Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:11:22 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C27N Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C27N/ The more than 100 percent hike in gas prices under the Bush administration continues to take a devastating toll on Wisconsin families -- the latest casualties are 2,600 family-supporting jobs at Janesville's General Motors plant. According to the Capital Times , "The unprecedented rise in gasoline prices helped put 2,600 General Motors employees out of work in Janesville." The Janesville plant was first opened in 1919 and will close as early as the end of 2009. No word yet John McCain, who visited Wisconsin last week, if he will end his support to give another $3.8 billion in tax breaks for big oil . This is on top of $5 billion in tax breaks for big oil he already supported while serving as a rubber stamp for the failed economic policies of the Bush administration. Perhaps Janesville's Paul Ryan, the McCain-Bush cheerleader featured so prominently last week, will hear from his constituents about just how effective those tax cuts for big oil have been. But considering the message from all these Washington insiders is "stay the course," none of the workers, nor their families who are being shown the door because of $4-gallon gas prices should hold their breath. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C275 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C275/commentary#comments Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:20:27 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C275 Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 5 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C275/ The State Senate took the lead today to end the loophole that lets Wal-Mart and other big corporations evade $15 million annually by exploiting the state tax law (and the taxpayers). Under the tax evasion scheme, tells the Institute for Wisconsin's Future, Wal-Mart would have one part of its business pay another part of the biz for rent allowing it to "reduce" its Wisconsin profits and consequently, reduce the amount of money it's required to provide the taxpayers of Wisconsin. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C24b http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C24b/commentary#comments Tue, 13 May 2008 23:35:33 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C24b Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 1 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C24b/ Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota's first openly-mulletted governor , is making the trip to Wisconsin later this week to visit his pals during the state GOP convo in Stevens Point. And if he speechifies as good as he interviews, it should be a raucous affair. Consider this gem from a Saturday radio show : "I have a wife who genuinely loves to fish. I mean, she will take the lead and ask me to go out fishing, and joyfully comes here. She loves football, she'll go to hockey games, and I jokingly say, 'Now, if I could only get her to have sex with me I'd really have it made.''' Hi-lar-ious! The poor hubby whose wife won't meet his needs -- a joke as timeless as it is classy. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C24r http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C24r/commentary#comments Mon, 12 May 2008 19:05:53 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C24r Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C24r/ On Sunday's This Week program, George Stephanopoulos asked John McCain, who wants to make health insurance benefits by workers part of their taxable income, the following question: One of the points Mrs. Edwards made in the Wall Street Journal, she said that your whole life, you had government health care. You were the son of a Naval officer, a Naval officer, now a member of Congress. And her point is, why shouldn’t every American be able to get the kind of health care that members of Congress get or members of the military get? McCain has been getting ink (finally) about his volatile temper and its relevence. He showed why some have concerns, when he fired quickly back: It’s a cheap shot, but I did have a period of time where I didn’t have very good government health care. I had it from another government.  http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2Pn http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2Pn/commentary#comments Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:31:45 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2Pn Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2Pn/ Twenty-one years to the day after he attended the second meeting to put pressure on federal regulators which became known as the Keating Five scandal, John McCain is showing how out of touch he is by continuing to cozy up to lobbyists. A new report from Public Campaign Action , shows a real mixed record on McCain's support for public financing -- despite overwhelming public support for real change for the way campaigns are financed. Whether it's Keating Five or the recent revelations about his questionable intervention for Paxson Communications, McCain's reputation as a good government champion is under serious scrutiny. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2y9 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2y9/commentary#comments Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:09:15 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2y9 Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2y9/ The Bush-McCain economic blueprint of tax cuts for the rich and corporate bailouts continues to cost American jobs with the latest news that over 80,000 were lost last month alone. That's on top of 152,000 more since the beginning of the year. And McCain wants to stay the course.  "So my friends, we can fix this economy. We can fix it. But the first thing we need to do, my friends is make the Bush tax cuts permanent." [Town Hall Meeting; Polk City, FL 01/27/08] Then again, economics aren't really McCain's bag, at least according to him. "The issue of economics is something that I've really never understood as well as I should." [Chicago Tribune, 12/18/07] Um, that's abundantly clear, Senator Obvious.    http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2y7 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2y7/commentary#comments Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:32:23 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2y7 Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2y7/ Wisconsin AFL-CIO President David Newby has it spot-on regarding John McCain's unwillingness to join a roundtable to talk with working people about the incredible challenges facing families under the current economic disaster of George Bush and his cheerleader John McCain.  Read what Newby had to say, after the jump. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2y4 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2y4/commentary#comments Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:55:20 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2y4 Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2y4/ John McCain is going to Memphis tomorrow to visit the National Civil Rights Museum. Nice change of pace for a man who in 1989 voted against the establishment of the birthday of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a national holiday. Thankfully, McCain failed and the holiday honoring Dr. King was eventually established. Maybe this'll be a sign of things to come and he'll flip-flop on his flip-flop in order to support the ridiculous Bush tax cuts for the rich and approving of torture which demeans America and puts our troops in additional peril. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yT/commentary#comments Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:17:15 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yT Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2yT/ Paul Singer has come to Wisconsin in the form of $40,000 in late contributions to Judge Mike Gableman from himself, an executive at his company and couple of people with Singer’s same last name. Singer is the slug who’s made his money by operating so-called “vulture” funds, where he purchased government bonds from poor counties and got an enormous return on the loan. As Greg Palast reported , he jacked Peru for $58 million on an $11 million debt and sued Congo for $400 million on a $10 million debt. Singer’s the guy who ponied up $250,000 to the radical-right Club for Growth. He’s the guy behind the California referendum to slice up California’s electoral votes. He’s the guy who was helping Rudy 9u11iani’s aborted campaign including raising $500,000 and bundling $200,000 from his employees for the thrice-married historical footnote. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yl http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yl/commentary#comments Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:19:00 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yl Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2yl/ Exactly one year ago, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel thundered with rage at Linda Clifford. The Supreme Court candidate had the temerity to use the name of the might Journal Communications newspaper's name in an autocall going to potential supporters that referenced, well, the Journal Sentinel's endorsement of her. In virtually the last seconds of the race, the Journal Sentinel's coverage of this "infraction" included two big news articles, a condemning editorial and a "cease and desist" letter from the corporate media giant's team of well-priced lawyers. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yf http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yf/commentary#comments Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:32:08 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yf Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2yf/ Hey Scott, Thanks so much for explaining to me what’s wrong with Milwaukee County in your latest mailer. You know the one I’m talking about, with the little blond girl on the front , in a police uniform with a badge that reads “City of Toyland.” Now, it all makes sense to me—you’re not playing around—the women must go. This mailer is really a trifecta perfecta. In this one picture, you clearly explained that: • Your female opponent is weak • Any female candidate running for office is weak • Women are unfit to work in law enforcement Yep, it’s a scary world when little girls are in charge of policing the big city. I mean, according to you, girls like Lena Taylor would do silly stuff, like keep our teens out of prison and work to keep guns off the streets. But man, do I feel more confident when I open it and see the real law enforcement—men, predominantly white, of course. Whew! Doesn’t everyone know that males are best equipped for serious jobs, like law enforcement and County Executive? Maybe all females are too “soft on crime” to effectively enforce the law and keep our streets safe. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yQ http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yQ/commentary#comments Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:26:48 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yQ Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2yQ/ Mike Gableman's largest donors come from Colorado it turns out. John & Carolyn Saeman of Denver wrote $20,000 in checks to Wisconsin's Gableman a couple of weeks ago. The Saeman's, who run an investment company in the Rocky Mountain State, are also big fans of George "Macaca" Allen and Rick "Man on Dog/Savage Love Noun" Santorum . In addition to the $20,000 to Gableman, they collectively dumped $4,000 on Allen and $8,400 on Santorum. You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yF http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yF/commentary#comments Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:48:36 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yF Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2yF/ Citing this week's comprehensive FamiliesUSA report showing five uninsured adults between ages 25 and 64 die each week due to no health care insurance, The Monroe Times editorialized on the importance the state legislature act on real health care reform. The Times, the home town newspaper of Rep. Brett Davis an opponent of the $2 billion health care cost saving-universal Healthy Wisconsin proposal, is right on that is far past time the legislature act. Healthy Wisconsin would ensure all of Wisconsin have access to the same generous health care plan state legislators, like Davis, have availble to them. Let's not forget -- we pay for legislators (including those fighting against us getting their same coverage) to have this comprehensive health care. A state legislator can get full coverage and never worry about health care costs for their entire family for as little as $2 a day.      http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yc http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yc/commentary#comments Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:28:04 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yc Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2yc/ Roundly criticized for his Willie Horton-style race-baiting TV spot, Burnett County Judge Mike Gableman got more bad news yesterday. Dodge County District Attorney Stephen Bauer officially yanked his support for Gableman, citing the ad and calling the ad "revolting." According to Bauer: "This is not a factual ad. ...This crossed the line. It was revolting, quite frankly. I do think it undermines the entire judicial system." Editorial boards have begun weighing in on the ad as well and the news isn't good for Gableman. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yJ http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yJ/commentary#comments Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:51:19 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C2yJ Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 3 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2yJ/ The Institute for One Wisconsin has completed a comprehensive online library of information about Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state's largest and arguably most influential corporate lobbying organization. At WMCWatch.org , visitors will find information about the priorities, people, corporations and contributions of WMC. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce has an enormous amount of influence on state policy. WMCWatch.org will provide the information and it is up to the people of Wisconsin to decide whether WMC wields far too much sway in our State Capitol. At WMCWatch.org , visitors have access to extensive information about Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, including: http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C29y http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C29y/commentary#comments Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:13:47 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/C29y Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/C29y/