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Wisconsin Politics

Friday, September 14, 2012

Collective Bargaining Law Determined Unconstitutional

A Dane County judge has declared Act 10 — the budget repair bill — as unconstitutional at both the state and federal levels.

The law that ended most collective bargaining rights for public employees was struck down Friday by Dane County Circuit Judge Juan Colas. According to our media partners at Fox 6 News, Colas ruled Act 10 — the budget repair bill — as null and void because the law violates both the state and US Constitutions. Specifically, the law violates the guarantee of freedom of speech and citizens' freedom of association. Colas' 27-page decision is summarized in The Capital Times, quoting the judge's primary reason for his decision as " (Act 10) single(s) out and encumber(s) the rights of those employees who choose union membership and representation solely because of that association and therefore infringe upon the rights of free speech and …

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The Anti-Alinsky

3:27 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012

Bewildered, Half the fun is proving Johnny wrong. The other half is as you pointed out, seeing him shoot himself in the foot. Johnny's posts are the written equivalent of watching Jack-Ass.   more ›

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Wisconsin GOP Leaders Urge Paul Ryan to be Himself in Big Speech

Party leaders and delegates offer up some advice for U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan on what will be the biggest speech of his life.

TAMPA, FL -- All eyes will be on U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan on Wednesday night as the Wisconsin congressman formally accepts his vice presidential nomination in a prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention here. Patch chatted with Wisconsin delegates and other party leaders in Tampa about Ryan's acceptance speech and asked them what they thought he needs to do to introduce himself to America. __________________________________ Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch: "Paul Ryan just needs to go and be himself. Paul Ryan is loved in Wisconsin. Paul Ryan is a hero not just to the GOP in Wisconsin, but to all of us who share his values, who share his love of the outdoors, his love of family and his Midwestern virtues that he is going to bring to …

Monday, August 13, 2012

Senate Showdown: Wisconsin GOP Primary Looks Too Close to Call

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson and businessman Eric Hovde appear to be frontrunners, but many voters still undecided - which could help candidates Mark Neumann and Jeff Fitzgerald.

When conservative voters went to the polls in Wisconsin’s recent recall elections, their choice for candidates was pretty clear. Tuesday’s U.S. Senate Republican primary, however, poses a difficult decision for voters — and a clear favorite is far from evident. Hedge fund manager and businessman Eric Hovde; former Gov. Tommy Thompson; state Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald; and former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann will face each other in the statewide primary. The winner will advance to take on Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin in the Nov. 6 election for the seat left vacant by the retirement of Democrat Herb Kohl. Gov. Scott Walker, who has said he will remain neutral in the primary, said the quartet of candidates have combined to offer voters …

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Alfred

4:10 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Keif, go eat some more pudding.   more ›

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Flash Poll: Wisconsin Republican Insiders Thrilled About Paul Ryan VP Pick

A Patch survey of Wisconsin Republican "insiders" say they see Ryan as a strong conservative.

A Patch poll conducted Saturday found that Wisconsin Republican insiders are enthusiastic about Mitt Romney’s decision to tap Rep. Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate. The overwhelming majority of respondents — 96 percent — to the "Red Wisconsin" Survey agreed that the selection of Ryan will "galvanize" support for Romney in the Badger State. "I absolutely love Romney making a bold decision like this," said one GOP influencer. "I believe I speak for the majority of conservatives when I say we have been waiting for Romney to make this sort of decision — a very specific one — for months... I am excited, and I believe Romney just showed he is all in. Game. Set. Match. " Added another respondent: "Paul Ryan is a great pick for …

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Carbon Bigfuut

12:25 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Renee, Lauren is the one that indicated that she voted for Obama because of the color of his skin. If that isn't racist, what is? I only pointed out that he of mixed race.   more ›

Friday, July 6, 2012

Walker Raised Nearly $7 Million, Barrett $2.5 Million in Recall's Final Days

With no limits on contributions, Gov. Scott Walker raised $37 million over the course of the recall — roughly the same amount both his opposition and independent groups spent.

Gov. Scott Walker raised $6.7 million in the final days before and weeks immediately after the June 5 recall election, according to his campaign. That brings Walker's total fundraising during the recall to $37 million and his total cash on hand, accumulated since he took office in January 2011, to $1.6 million. Meanwhile, other candidates and independent groups raised $37.4 million during the recall, bringing total spending to more than $70 million. In May, $62 million had been pumped into Wisconsin recalls. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a Democrat who lost to Walker in both the 2010 race and the recall, raised about $2.5 million during the recall's home stretch; $6.3 million from March 30 to June 30. He spent $6.6 million and had $250,000 …

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James R Hoffa

10:43 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012

@Greg - Perhaps I do! But if we're talking a campaign song, as opposed to theme, then I was thinking something a little simpler like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D_srHpH6jg Substituting 'Diet Pepsi' with 'James R Hoffa,' of course!   more ›

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Ryan, Walker Blast Obama's Deficit-Spending Policies

Also, Ryan deflects any talk about vice presidential nod, but Walker hints that he wouldn't mind seeing a home-grown executive-in-waiting.

Wauwatosa – Introduced by state Sen. Alberta Darling as Wisconsin's Republican "superstars" of national politics, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan and Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday blasted away at President Barack Obama's fiscal policies in a joint press conference in Wauwatosa. The occasion: The fourth anniversary of a speech by then-candidate Obama in Fargo, ND, in which he branded President George W. Bush's $4 trillion increase in the national debt "irresponsible" and "unpatriotic." There was no question, though, that despite his name being mentioned only sparingly at first, the event was all about promoting Mitt Romney, Obama's Republican opponent in November. Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, went on the warpath first, saying that after…

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James R Hoffa

4:26 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012

@Bren - Why don't you contact Badger Democracy - you and misty were the ones asserting the truth of what Badger Democracy blogged - not Hoffa! Why do we need to talk to Badger Democracy at all when we have access to the PRIMARY sources of information that are being referenced by Badger Democracy? Or can't you read and analyze the primary sources yourself - you need Badger Democracy to do it for …   more ›

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Gov. Scott Walker Recall Revisited: Breaking Down the Vote

Use Patch's interactive tool to get detailed results on how area communities voted in the recall election.

How did Waukesha County municipalities and the rest of the Milwaukee area vote in the June 5 recall election between Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Democrat Tom Barrett? Here's a breakdown of votes you won't find anywhere else - at look at who carried each of the 89 municipalities in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Racine counties. Use our interactive tool to search for detailed results for the entire metro area or just your hometown.

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red

8:31 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Teacher layoffs in districts that didn't use Act 10 reforms.... that's not news Ho hum another lefty talking point based on nothing. http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2011/06/08/mps-approves-2012-budget-layoffs.html   more ›

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

How Did Gov. Scott Walker Survive the Recall?

Experts, exit polls point to numerous reasons why Republican governor defeated Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett: money, turnout and displeasure over the recall process.

Tuesday’s recall election was the ultimate course of action that Wisconsin residents could have taken to unseat Republican Gov. Scott Walker. However, the nature of the recall process itself might have been a big reason why Walker became the first U.S. governor to survive a recall attempt when he defeated Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Just 49 minutes after polls closed, major news outlets across the country called the race for Walker as vote tallies trickled in. Ultimately, Walker posted a 7-point victory — garnering 53 percent of the vote to Barrett’s 46 percent. In 2010, Walker won by an almost identical margin — 52 percent to 47 percent. “Unlike a normal election, a recall puts the burden on the challenger to explain why the incumbent …

Mr. Conservative

10:32 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012

It's been a while since I've visited the boards here on Patch...but I can see not much has changed. Liberals making the same old emotion based arguments, whining and moaning and, oh yeah, let's not forget, bringing up the Koch bros, LMAO. Fellas (and Ladies), arguing with a Liberal is like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter how good you are at chess, the pigeon will just knock over all the …   more ›

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

LIVE BLOG REPLAY: Wisconsin Recall Elections

Revisit Patch's real-time coverage of Tuesday's historic recall election in this replay of our Election Night blog.

Wisconsin voters headed to the polls in huge numbers Tuesday to cast their ballots in the state's historic recall election — and keep Gov. Scott Walker in office. Patch's live blog provided updates from polling places throughout the Milwaukee area and well as reports from the Walker and Tom Barrett campaign parties, and plenty of comments from readers.

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T.Gibson

10:57 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012

It's not over till I say it's over. Like I told you This is a Blew State.These Democrats were benefit envious and that's what threw the election. They are the 99% and the Teachers Unions are fat and Rich 1%. Stop listening to Rush and Hannity.   more ›

UPDATED: Voter Turnout in Milwaukee Suburbs Climbing Toward 50 Percent

State elections officials predict turnout of 60 percent, but some local election officials say the number could go higher.

State election officials were estimating turnout for Tuesday's election at 60-65 percent, but it appears suburban Milwaukee communities could smash that mark. Patch is compiling anecdotes and voter counts from throughout the area. If you have news to share of high turnout or your experience at the polls today, Tweet us @SEWisconsnPatch or email milwaukee@patch.com. Shortly after noon at McKinley Elementary School in Wauwatosa, 600 of 1,340 registered residents in Ward 17 had voted, or 45 percent, the highest figure in a sampling of voting sites. Shorewood Village Clerk Sherry Grant said turnout was close to 50 percent in the entire village before 2 p.m. "I think we are going to exceed what the state has been predicting (for voter turnout…

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C. Sanders

9:37 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012

@Keith Schmitz ... eat your words like a good buffoon.   more ›

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