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4/1/2009
Budget hearing: More opposition to QEO, support of domestic abuse funding
12:35 p.m., Appleton. The theater has emptied substantially since 10:30; probably 175 folks still here.
Members of the VP Oconto School Board spoke to teacher contracts and pension programs. Please do not eliminate the QEO. "It seems apparent elimination of QEO is aimed at increasing salaries of teachers. We would like to do the same. But, in just one year Oconto Co. unemployment has doubled and referendums will most likely not pass." In addition, the increased assessments for teacher pensions "do not build minds." Additional costs for pensions are $47/pupil now, over $300/pupil in 2012. Suggested solution was to change retirement ages to closer to federal retirement ages, 65, and 62 for early retirement.
The Superintendent of schools in Kaukauna concurred about QEO. Over past 4 years, costs up beyond their control, but allowed revenue has not kept pace. We are being strangled. Do not repeal QEO unless you repeal revenue limits. Please do not weaken arbitration laws. There was mention, as from AASD, of inclusion of local economic conditions in arbitration guidelines. We also need a new funding formula for schools.
Veterans tuition remission program addressed by a Sergeant in the Marine Corp. "Wisconsin provides a free lunch for veterans, but hasn't paid the bill." If we are going to support the growth of the economy, must fund the free tuition the state has committed for veterans. Four students from FVTC, dressed in suits and ties, spoke in support of increased financial aid for Tech Colleges, comparing 3% increases in the budget for Techs, to 30% increases budgeted for financial aid for UWs.
Representatives from Christine Ann Services, Harbor House and sister programs asked to maintain funding proposed in the budget. No one is immune from domestic violence; one in four will be impacted in their lives. The challenge is to maintain the funding to meet the growing need. Despite funding challenges, women continue to come forward. Twelve women, victims of domestic violence, stand before the panel. Two women giving their full names, testified with passion. Rep. Roger Roth thanked the women for their courage.
More Smoking Ban folks. Of the approximately 350 here at one time or another, at least 50 of them represent Smoking Ban groups from counties in NE WI.
Representative of Wisconsin Association of Retired Persons advocated for independent home care. Availability of quality home care is threatened by shortage of qualified workers, as well as low wages and lack of benefits.
President of UW-GB student body testified that a tuition freeze was irresponsible; he was there to support a modest tuition increase. Critical that UW-GB not sustain any further cuts. It's inevitable university will continue to see financial hardship, but it's critical education quality.
First anti-smoking ban testifier, vastly outnumbered by pro-ban representatives. The smoking ban is an attack on small business - and if the legislature wants to limit smoking, this gentleman's solution is that the state must outlaw all tobacco products.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
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• Solberg: Healing After an Abortion
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• Blame it on the outmoded computers
• Scott Brown victory does not scuttle health bill
• 8th Congressional Candidate Forum, Jan. 25
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• MORE taxes on investment income - dreadful and wrong
• Join the blaze orange army and say ‘Enough is Enough’
• The future of government-run health care
• Tax on banks is a really bad idea
• Roth, Savard on the stump, grassroots style
• Savard speaking in Appleton, 8 PM, Wed., Jan. 13.
• Rahmlow: Savard, Bies frontrunners for State Senate
• Burri: Failing Political Correctness 101
• School contracts and Race to the Top
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• This is really important. Contact Rep. Kagen. Now. Please.
• This is exactly what we need from Governor Doyle
• This guy is my hero
• Why am I not surprised?
• Talk health reform with Feingold (Th), Petri (today)
• Give the Mayor power over MPS - if he can break contracts
• Burri: Yup, Dems really are going to bypass a conference
• The $2.7 billion Wisconsin deficit no one told you about
• Walker launches county accountability website
• Rahmlow: Why is Van Hollen dodging the Nebraska deal?
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| 2009 |
December
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October
• The Lawton-Bader files
• Yup, it’s the TAX LEVY, not the tax RATE
• Ellis: costly automobile insurance laws must be rolled back
• If not Barrett, who?
• The subsidy game
• Burri: Bailouts, Banks, Health Care, and the Mob
• Attend Appleton Schools budget meeting tonight
• A public option WON’T increase costs? That’s delusional!
• Appleton Schools budget meeting Monday
• Wisconsin should be screaming for accountability
• Burri: If anything, we need more obstructionism around here
• WI on the leading edge - in the wrong direction
• Rep. Montgomery: Utility Customers Join State’s Crime-Fighting Efforts
• Public Conservation and Recreation Lands Total 16.5% of State
• In the crow's nest of the Titanic, shouting 'Iceberg!'
• Is Rep. Nelson a political hack?
• Health care: The road ahead will be brutal
• Kagen's pandering again
• Birthers - good stuff for you
• How much do we bend over backward for seniors?
• The trouble with health care is paying for it
• Two-parent families: The Gold Standard
• Burri: Kids... the joys and blessings
• Very, very worried about health care
• Rep. Huebsch: Wisconsin is proof government health care isn’t the answer
• School district contracts push up tax levy
• What? Obama, the Peace Prize?
• TODAY - hearing on Campaign Finance Reform
• Appleton School District tax levy up way too much
• CBO report is out - and the bill isn't even written yet?
• So, how much do YOU budget for health care?
• Burri: Copenhagen trip was amateurish
• “Sotomayor, you have blood on your hands...”
• Cap and Trade. Always follow the money
• Rep. Kagen gets (almost) free health services
• I actually agree with Rep. Kagen
• Future Wisconsin Conference for Conservatives, October 10, Wauwatosa
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• Important votes Tuesday, including Appleton Common Council
• Democrats are becoming supply siders??
• Further debunking Hillary myths
• WEAC has created an unsustainable monopoly
• From Mark Gundrum: One of the greatest honors an American can experience
• 'Operation Chaos' working?
• Joe Martin the best candidate in Appleton's 8th
• State programs to cut? - Volume II
• Oh the naivete of youth
• Not just disingenuous - flat wrong
• Steve - you will be missed
• Make cuts only AFTER you're elected....
• Getting serious: What programs can we cut?
• Rep. Steve Kagen joining me on Jerry Bader Show today
• Rep. Van Roy: Dental Care Pilot Program
• Has Dave Obey turned the corner on earmarks?
• Speaker Huebsch: Governor turns down Federal Aid?
• Mark Rahmlow: "We're Broke."
• As taxpayers, how do we know if it's a Chevy or a Lexus?
• This is trash talk - about a veteran
• Frank Lasee: Take time to get the Compact right
• 'The Gableman Ad' - is it racist?
• Roth thankful, Kagen shaking money tree
• Gov. Doyle's office not enamored with Freedom of Information
• Governor Doyle will never do it
• Leadership on smoking ban? Not Hanna
• Rep. Van Roy speaks out about smear ads
• You're threatening me about potholes?
• Losing the Hastert seat is NOT a trend and NOT curtians for the GOP
• First suggestion for 'slashing' programs
• Big money-saver for municipalities
• More one time fixes. Nuts.
• Any chances???
• I'm doing the Jerry Bader Show, today, the 11th
• Representative Frank Lasee: Final Waltz of the Season
• Guest Blog: It's not the county's business to be in the nursing home business
• Yup, Hillary won Texas and Ohio
• Gableman/Butler race featured - and it isn't pretty
• Lies from Planned Parenthood and NARAL
• He who sacrifices liberty.....
• Duh.
• The Troha sentencing, Doyle and that $200K
• Guns, passion and "originality"
• How hard is it anyway, to shut down a government program?
• Voting is a PRIVILEGE. And so are property taxes....
• Guest Blog: Governor Doyle, cancel your Ireland trip
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• Lots of ideas. No money.
• The Cigarette Tax - "Poor Policy Instrument?"
• School budget Lite?
• Frankenstein - not in the library, but in the legislature
• A librarian, a legislator, a president
• $1.25/pack - NO, NO, NO, and NO
• Kagen and Reagan in the same breath?
• Menasha: behind the 8-ball, but not biting the dust
• Any way you slice it, Wisconsin government wants (further) in on health care
• The World is Flat...what about health care?
• The PAC - too precious to fail. Day 3
• News follow-ups: Appleton West, Kagen at the White House
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail - Day 2
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail
• New Transit Tax coming your way
• Rep. Petri has his finger in the dike - I guess
• AASD Retirement Costs Burdensome
• Health care, health care, health care, health care
• Water rate increase was no slam dunk
• Education for all is just a bad dream
• New Year's resolutions from a parade snob
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