Rep. Marlin Schneider got called out by the Associated Press for a claim he made on the number of constituents who contacted him about his laughably-unconstitutional bill limiting the public’s right to the online Circuit Court Access Program.

It reminded us of a similar constituent claim made by right-wing seat-filler Sen. Mary Lazich. Back in 2009, in the midst of the debate on the state’s biennial budget, Lazich offered from the floor of the senate on June 17, “...I'm getting a few hundred communications a day on this budget, and they are not positive. They are negative...” (Go to 1:11:40)

Yesterday Walker announced that he would "borrow a page from his county budget strategy book" in reshaping the state budget if he's elected Governor next year.

Let's get specific about exactly what those strategies look like: 

1.) Unrealistic revenue projections that have led to repeated mid-year budget corrections (remember 2003?), resulting in pool closings, layoffs and other draconian cuts;

2.) Balancing the budget on the backs of workers and threatening layoffs to win employee concessions in the midst of a steep recession;

3.) Announcing cuts to social programs that provide a safety net to thousands of unemployed and low-income workers and their families;

4.) Privatizing jobs;

5. Waiting 7 years before creating an economic development program that's little more than a marketing strategy;

6.) Repeatedly increasing bus fares, making them the highest in the nation, while cutting service and weakening the public transportation system;

7.) Playing politics with federal stimulus funding to help weather the economic crisis. 

And let's not forget that Walker declared at the Wisconsin Republican convention earlier this year that he will "transform the governor from the "chief bureaucrat" to the state's chief business advocate." Because it just wouldn't be fair to expect businesses to pay their fair share of taxes that pay for the roads, sewers, education system and other public infrastructure that they need in order to make a profit. 

Yes, this is exactly what Wisconsin needs the next governor to do to "reshape" the state budget.

photo credit: bredgur.com

Using typical back-of-the-envelope, context-free math, the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute’s is claiming that since the cost of the extraordinarily successful bipartisan BadgerCare program has increased since it was created, that we shouldn’t have federal health insurance reform that includes a public option to end the stranglehold insurance companies have on our entire nation.

(h/t for graphic Whallah)

The “evidence”? BadgerCare spending has gone from (using WPRI's numbers) $205.6 million in 2004 to...$194.4 million in 2006. A more-than five percent reduction.

We have all seen the misleading smear ads Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce runs each election cycle, and WMC consistently ranks at or near the top in lobbying expenditures each legislative session.

But what does WMC get in return?

The short answer: anything it wants from the corporate-lapdog Republicans it helps elect to the Wisconsin Legislature.

The long answer? After the jump.

Guess for Republican Assembly Minority "Leader" Jeff Fitzgerald, timing is everything:

“I don’t have to solve that problem. Obviously, that’s the Democrats’ problem.” -- Fitz on the budget, 1/09

"Common sense would have dictated a very different budget." -- Fitz whiny column, 7/09

Nuff said.

"If we don't change and change soon, I may bump into my lawyer friend again, but it just might be in Texas." -- Senator Ted Kanavas's threat to move to Texas, 6/30/09

What do you think of when you think of Texas? The Dallas Cowboys (shudder)? How about Enron? George W. Bush (double-shudder)?

Despite those horrible inhabitants, State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield) thinks the grass is greenest in the Lone Star State. Not happy to just echo WMC's talking points and bash Wisconsin, Texas Ted goes a few steps further and actually names the state in which he'd rather live. 

The legislative Republicans said it as early as 2008 -- the state budget is the Democrats' problem. Assembly Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald said it. He was quoted saying it.

"I don't have to solve that problem," he said. "Obviously, that's the Democrats' problem."

At no point during the last six months did Fitzgerald nor his more shrill older brother, Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald offer a budget plan that closes the state's $6.6 billion budget deficit -- caused by the failed economic policies George W. Bush.

Angry Joel Kleefisch wanted to be heard today. Oconomowoc's GOP state rep took to the floor to protest what he considered, a lack of consideration given to members of the minority party.