Today has been a lot of odds and ends. Follow-up to yesterday's court order, continuation of the Capitol protest/citation for sign-holding stories, more about the budget, and more about Choice schools (I did, in fact, start an education post, but fell asleep before finishing).
Today marked fewer entrances to the Capitol (http://capaccess.blogspot.com/2011/03/capitol-entrances_30.html). Previously, entrances were at North and South Hamilton, with media, staff, and people with disabilities using the MLK side. An earlier post on their blog talks about tour groups; maybe we should just form massive "tour groups" and go in requesting tours.
From the Dane County GOP. http://thewheelerreport.com/releases/March11/0330/0329danecountygop.pdf on the open meetings hearing. Which they followed up with a "satirical" "apology" to Judge Sumi: http://thewheelerreport.com/releases/March11/0330/0330danecountygop.pdf. This would be a lot funnier if it wasn't so similar in tone and maturity to many of the releases put out by Walker, the Fitzgeralds, and the RPW. (On the other hand, it is also not any less inflammatory and immature than many of the statements from AFSCME, DPW, and some of the other unions). The full story was covered in the Cap Times: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/health_med_fit/vital_signs/article_36b8963c-5ae8-11e0-bcde-001cc4c03286.html
A multi-year study shows that Choice students are more likely to go to college. http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/118886284.html. Still, we really don't have good data on this program, and won't for quite some time. And, as I'll talk more about, there is vast difference between the Choice schools, and without knowing *which* schools are being studied, it is hard to know whether this research extends to all of them.
Also, fewer schools have signed up for the Choice program next year...but some of them are linked to past problems...http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/118884864.html
Governor Walker introduced the budget repair parts of the Budgetless Budget Repair Bill: http://budget.wispolitics.com/2011/03/guv-releases-budget-repair-bill-part.html, with news story at
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_8f448814-5afd-11e0-be8a-001cc4c002e0.html. Most of this is not particularly unexpected...I have not yet read the bill, however, so I can't speak to what policy items may be tucked in there in plain view.
Apparently Cambridge (MA) has passed a resolution supporting WI AFSCME. Somerville, get going! My union did send me a copy of the resolution, but I couldn't open it.
The JFC is holding budget hearings/briefings where the various agencies come and testify regarding the components of the budget that affect them. These are not open to public commentary, but I believe members of the public can go. I am not going to post everything I read about them, but I do think people should look into it. A lot has been posted at http://budget.wispolitics.com. The JFC members also express opinions and ask questions, so it's a very good way to get both a better picture of the budget *and* a better sense of where some of the key legislators stand on these issues.
The Wheeler Report finally has a nice concise page on hearings/legal stuff: http://thewheelerreport.com/Budgetrepair.htm
I have been wanting something like this for weeks. It isn't perfect, as it doesn't yet list all of the various legal proceedings, but it's a great start. (Other proceedings: The Capitol Access case has not been fully resolved. AFSCME also has a suit pending against Walker for violating the law for not negotiating in good faith. And I believe there may be one or two other challenges).
On the topic of inflammatory messages, apparently, my union (WSEU/AFSCME Council 24) is circulating a boycott ultimatum to businesses: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/118910229.html. Note: I have NOT received anything about this from my union. I have, therefore, not seen the full letter. However, I disagree strongly with the parts that are quoted. I believe businesses have the right to remain neutral, and that this does not make them inherently anti-worker. I believe that boycotting small businesses for simply refusing to take a strong political stance, is more harmful to workers. There are small businesses that will lose just as much patronage by putting up a pro-worker sign as they would by a union boycott. More to the point, however, is that if you want to organize a boycott, you really ought to tell the people who are supposed to be *doing* the boycott. Finally, being outright rude in a letter does not actually help your cause. My cause. Anyone's cause.
And, DOA will continue to implement WI Act 10: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_195e7dd0-5b20-11e0-83bb-001cc4c002e0.html. I have not heard anything from my union about how we will pay dues come that time (possibly because we will be decertifying, though I was under the impression we'd still pay dues). I also have not heard anything from my HR department.
Senators Darling and Hopper (Republicans) say they will fight Walker's effort to dismantle SeniorCare. http://budget.wispolitics.com/2011/03/darling-hopper-vow-to-preserve.html. However, it's worth noting that both of them are up for recall, with Hopper being particularly vulnerable.
The DOA has reported that companies are, in fact, moving to WI from IL as a result of our tax incentives and other new business-friendly laws: http://www.wrn.com/2011/03/huebsch-illinois-companies-coming-to-wisconsin/. Of course, they also manage to get in some digs at the previous administration. And, neglect to mention that about 400 jobs with Talgo moved to IL when Walker declared that he didn't want to use the High Speed Rail money for HSR (and subsequently, the Feds took back the money).
Secretary of the Department of Children and Families apparently didn't realize that the proposed Biennial Budget would give her organization a lot of power to make unilateral changes in the WI Shares program... And, finally, a clearer explanation of what's going on with the EITC (which I have been confused about): http://budget.wispolitics.com/2011/03/questions-for-anderson.html. Yet, the secretary somehow believes that reducing TANF payments will somehow help with Governor Walker's vision of helping low-income families: http://budget.wispolitics.com/2011/03/committee-now-hearing-about-children.html
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Department of Corrections says that the prison population is decreasing: http://budget.wispolitics.com/2011/03/hamblin-says-corrections-population.html . Wonder if that will have an effect on the success of privatization?
I will end tonight on a simultaneously pessimistic and optimistic note: Senator Lena Taylor's statement on the ways in which Walker's budget is hurting the economy and the people of Wisconsin. In addition to being very clear, it cites sources! Which I love. http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/March11/0330/0330taylor.pdf
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