Jeff Fitzgerald announced his plan to run for Herb Kohl’s senate seat in 2012.  Jeff is the Assembly Speaker and the brother of Scott Fitzgerald (who is the State Senate Majority Leader).  His father, Steve Fitzgerald, was appointed by Scott Walker to head the Wisconsin State Patrol (an agency that was spared from Walker’s union-busting efforts).  What a tangled web…

Republican state Senator Alberta Darling lies again, plus additional information on the recall elections, linked above.

Democratic Senators Fred Risser and Lena Taylor on The Ed Show.  It’s a must-watch.

This ghastly voter suppression legislation saves no money, creates no jobs, expands no rights, fixes no problems and makes no sense. In the past, Wisconsin led the way in ensuring the fullest participation in democracy. Now, in a move that will reek through history as the baldest of political grabs, Wisconsin shamefully leads the way in abridging democratic freedoms.

The Wisconsin Senate passed the voter ID bill this morning.  The vote was 19-5.  Staying true to form, Republicans cut off debate and called the vote while Senator Risser was still speaking.

Wisconsin’s voter ID bill moves to the Senate after being approved by the Assembly.  linked above.

Widespread voter fraud remains unproven, as does the allegation that photo ID laws suppress turnout. One thing is clear: The bill could cost the state millions at a time when Republicans are also fighting to dramatically cut the budget.

On election night in November, after it was clear Republicans would take control of the Legislature, the soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, listed passage of photo ID as one of his top priorities.

Wisconsin’s bill, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, would cost more than $5.7 million to implement.

A must-watch.

Right now you’re probably asking yourself: How are all the angry new governors doing? Great! Fear and loathing may abound, but it’s business-friendly fear and loathing.

“Wisconsin is Republican broke, but it’s not broke,” said Mordecai Lee, a UW-Milwaukee political science professor and former Democratic state lawmaker. “Broke suggests near bankruptcy.”

Using the word “broke” helps Walker frame the debate around his controversial budget plans on his terms, Lee said, suggesting spending cuts are the only option and any tax increases are out of the question.

Thanks, businessmanhedrinkmywine!

The Wisconsin Assembly will be considering a bill that will pre-empt Milwaukee’s Sick Leave Ordinance.  The ordinance was passed by voters in 2008, with 69% favoring it.  The bill to nullify Milwaukee’s ordinance was already passed by Republican Senators while the Wisconsin 14 were away.  So much for “local control” and all that jazz.  But hey, at least Mayor Barrett will be happy. 

Update: Bill voiding Milwaukee’s sick leave ordinance now moves to Walker.  Shame.

Cheers!

gourmetgypsy:

I propose this as the official drink of FItzwalkerstan: Grapefruit Margaritas… why? Because it really has nothing to do with Wisconsin, but it will numb us enough to survive the regime.  [Repo: Confessions of a Foodie Bride]

A few days ago, UW-Madison Professor William Cronon wrote a thoughtful, well-researched op-ed for The New York Times. 

The Republican Party of Wisconsin responded by filing an open records request for Cronon’s emails (although they misspelled his name in the press release they issued).  Specifically, they requested all emails “into and out of Cronon’s state email account from January 1, 2011 to present which reference any of the following terms: Republican, Scott Walker, recall, collective bargaining, AFSCME, WEAC, rally, union, Alberta Darling, Randy Hopper, Dan Kapanke, Rob Cowles, Scott Fitzgerald, Sheila Harsdorf, Luther Olsen, Glenn Grothman, Mary Lazich, Jeff Fitzgerald, Marty Beil, or Mary Bell.” 

Cronon has started a blog about this issue and I would encourage you to check it out (it, too, is very thoughtful and well-written) and keep an eye on this story as it unfolds.

“This is some spectacular generosity toward some very specific parts of society among these governments that are pleading poverty, claiming giant budget deficits.”

They are free to cast votes to signal their support/opposition, but those votes will not count, and will not be recorded.

You can watch what happened here.  The link should take you to essentially the WI. version of CSPAN and you can watch it on that site.  Please, please, please take 5 minutes to watch it.  It is a tragedy you have to see to believe.

This special committee was convened to essentially move the collective bargaining elements of the “budget repair bill” into a separate bill that could be voted on without any Senate Democrats; quorum was not needed because stripping people of collective bargaining rights is apparently not considered “fiscal.”   In the clip posted above, Democratic Rep. Peter Barca tells it like it is.  Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald allowed no discussion, no motions, gave no notice (which would seemingly violate the open meetings law?) and took roll while Barca was still talking.  In less than five munutes, this committee passed the bill, moving it to the Senate, which then passed it, as well.  The Assembly will likely vote on it tomorrow.  I am heartbroken.