Walker’s Latest Appointee
Walker appointed Phil Montgomery to chair the Public Service Commission today. The PSC is responsible for regulating public utilities (including electricity, natural gas, and water, among others). PSC’s approval is typically required before utilities can set new rates, issue stocks or bonds, or undertake major construction projects (remember those state power plants Walker wants to sell in a no-bid process?). A few fun facts about Phil:
- ALEC considers Phil “a good friend.” He was even Treasurer of their Public Sector Board in 2010.
- He’s probably best known for a bill that eliminated local regulation of cable (and his friends at AT&T were thankful).
- Despite serving on the task force that made recommendations about a state global warming bill, he vehemently opposed it.
- Along with Mike Huebsch, he introduced a bill to end Wisconsin’s ban on new nuclear power plants.
- He’s an advocate of coal. Anything that’s cheap will get the job done for Phil.
On this date in 1954, a bipartisan, grassroots campaign to recall Senator Joe McCarthy began in Sauk City. Over 400,000 signatures needed to be collected in just 60 days in order to force a recall. Despite very few financial and organizational resources, the group was able to collect 335,000 signatures. Although the recall effort was unsuccessful, the Senate voted to censure McCarthy later that year.
Help make history this time around. Get involved.
Calling it “your job” don’t make it right.
I’m sure this is a very unpopular opinion, but I can’t refrain from voicing it any longer. After two months of nonsense like this, followed by a tired chorus of “I just feel sooooo badly for the capitol police” I’ll just leave it to Cool Hand Luke to explain how I feel.
Update: Indiana Prosecutor Quits Over Email He Sent to Walker
linked above. Notably, this is the second prosecutor from Indiana to lose his job recently for advocating violence in Wisconsin. Creepy.
Perhaps that is why I have found myself returning over the past few weeks to the question posed by the lawyer Joseph N. Welch during the hearings that finally helped bring down another Wisconsin Republican, Joe McCarthy, in 1954: “Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?
--William Cronon’s New York Times article, “Wisconsin’s Radical Break.” A fascinating piece.
They are free to cast votes to signal their support/opposition, but those votes will not count, and will not be recorded.
--Republican Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, explaining how the Democratic Senators’ votes will no longer count because they’re in contempt after going to Illinois to prevent quorum.
Randy Hopper’s Persuasion Partner?
Oh, my. Perfectly named state senator, perfectly named lobbying firm. Republican Sen. Randy Hopper is allegedly no longer residing in the district he represents; instead, he’s shacking up with his 25-year-old mistress, a lobbyist whose firm represents Americans for Prosperity.
Anyone who does farming knows that hope springs eternal.
--John Peck, Family Farm Defenders. Wisconsin farmers are organizing a tractorcade in Madison tomorrow to offer hope to fellow Wisconsinites and protest Walker’s budget. They are also helping to educate people on the profound ways in which the bill changes BadgerCare and the impact these changes will have on farmers and rural communities. On, Wisconsin.
Peter Barca, my new hero, brought out a megaphone. A megaphone is necessary when your Republican colleagues are known for turning off your microphone, ending debate without making a separate motion and closing the roll within seconds, and violating open meeting laws.
With 19 people still waiting to speak, debate was closed. Wisconsin workers lost their rights in a 53-42 vote.
Wisconsin GOP's Late-Night Bill Allows State to Fire Employees for Strikes, Walk-Outs
This is how quickly people can be stripped of their rights when elected officials abuse power. If it happened in Wisconsin, it could happen anywhere.
Yep, it’s in the fine print: Scott Walker can declare a “state of emergency” and fire teachers, firefighters, and janitors if they so much as stage a sick-out. Democracy in action!
- Reblogged from motherjones
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Recall The Republican 8!
Your help is needed this weekend to help recall the Republican 8.
On both Saturday & Sunday, at 10 am and 2 pm each day, people will be meeting in the following locations to help gather signatures:
Robert Cowles (Green Bay/De Pere/Ashwaubenon)
1061 W. Mason St., Green Bay AND 132 South Main Street, Shawano
Alberta Darling (Milwaukee/North Shore suburbs)
2510 E Capitol Drive, Shorewood
Sheila Harsdorf (Hudson/River Falls)
800 Carmichael Rd., Hudson AND 321 N 2nd St, River Falls
Luther Olsen (Portage/Waupaca/Ripon)
813 W. Carroll St., Portage AND Waupaca Woods Shopping Mall at 825 W. Fulton St. AND 443 Scott St., Ripon
Randy Hopper (Fond du Lac/Oshkosh)
325 Trowbridge Drive, Fond du Lac, AND 748 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh
Dan Kapanke (La Crosse/Onalaska)
1307 Market Street, La Crosse
You can also check out my post (here) with brief answers to FAQs for more info. Make your voice heard!
Please note: I do not have any info on organizing for Grothman or Lazich yet, but will update if I find out.
