|
 |
8/6/2009
Doyle does the Flamenco
This Spanish train business is unbelievable. According to Tuesday’s Wisconsin State Journal, Alstom Transportation (France), Bombardier (Canada) and Nippon Sharyo/Sumitomo (Japan) all expressed an interest in doing business with the state, expected specifications and requests for bids, and ultimately were “very disappointed” and surprised to hear of the state’s contract with Talgo of Spain.
Records released Monday also showed that as late as February the state was intending to seek competitive bids on the trains — an idea state officials said they scrapped because of lack of interest from other manufacturers.
….E-mails … confirm Alstom had expressed interest in the train deal even though the firm missed a state deadline of March 6 to reply to the state’s request for information.
“We are interested in your procurement. Any information that could be provided regarding the car design requirements and vehicle quantity would be appreciated,” Alstom customer director Joe Quigley wrote in a March 10 e-mail.
In a Feb. 18 e-mail to Quigley, state DOT employee Jim Donlin told Quigley that the state would use a competitive bidding process on the train purchase. Something surely smells fishy.
Super Steel is lobbying to build the Talgo trains at its Milwaukee plant. Janesville is also vying for the business and accompanying 80 new jobs. ($47.5 million for 80 jobs. Geez. Over $1/2 million per job. Wow.) According to the Journal Sentinel,
Super Steel already has contracts with a Japanese company, Nippon Sharyo, to build trains for two commuter railroads, Metra in the Chicago area and Virginia Railway Express in the Washington, D.C., area. The Milwaukee company does not design trains itself but operates as a subcontractor to manufacturers of both passenger and freight trains. In the same piece, DOT defends its no-bid contract with Talgo as apparently a tight-spec situation – Talgo was supposedly the only train that could make needed tight curves at high speeds. Give me a break. I’m assuming this may be surprise information to other interested train manufacturers around the globe. And these tight curves Doyle and the DOT are talking about are on routes (to Madison, the Twin Cities and Green Bay) not even close to being approved. Geez.
I learned one of Super Steel’s suppliers - impacted by the Talgo deal - was most definitely taken by surprise at the Talgo development.
“… I am so angry about this that I could just spit fire.” And in a letter to a legislator by the supplier:
One of [Super Steel’s] core businesses is the construction of rail cars and locomotive frames. They have a great manufacturing facility which is strategically located on rail and in a central location that can effectively and competitively build and distribute these cars to the entire U.S. They have been doing so for some time. They also have been working for some time to develop a strategic relationship with a Japanese firm to build their rail cars here at the Milwaukee facility. … Not only is it going to torpedo the relationship that Super Steel Products has worked so diligently to nurture with the Japanese, it’s a slap in the face to all Wisconsin workers who are struggling to preserve and to grow jobs in this state. The Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee tried to stop the $47.5 million expenditure. Even Rep. Pocan (D-Madison) was pretty ticked off. Unlike Pocan, Rep. Vos (R-Caledonia) voted against the bonds.
"This whole process is just a sham," said Rep. Robin Vos (R-Caledonia). "It is embarrassing for the state of Wisconsin that we went ahead and are signing and negotiating without a competitive process." I’m on record and will stay on record. The public is never served by a spec so tight that only one supplier “bids.” Never.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
How about the govenator staying the heck home and figuring out how to keep the industry we ALREADY have from bailing out on the USURIOUS state taxation that is out of control?
While we're on the subject Governor, where the heck are your receipts for these trips?
Steve Wells (Thu Aug 06 14:30:28 2009)
this state is so far in the red, that doyle should be thrown out of office today. doyle without any care for the taxpayer, and only loves weac,unions.casions and sticks it to the taxpayer everytime without any representation. why weren't represented against this trail deal. where was tom nelson. cowles,ellis.hansen? sick of this state and it's habits and doyle the money throw away guy. bogibob
bob recla (Thu Aug 06 17:51:29 2009)
I'd say it smells Doyle-y rather than fishy...oh, wait, that's the same thing. Bob, if you're serious about getting Doyle out of office, email Jo and she can email me.
We tried earlier this year to run a recall, but due to lack of publicity, the numbers came in too slowly for it to be effective timewise. In other words, by the time we'd have been doing the actual recall it would have been early 2010, so we are now concentrating on not letting folks forget how bad he is. And we are going to recall smaller fish; much easier to do.
emily matthews (Fri Aug 07 16:13:35 2009)
|
|
Blog Archives
| 2010 |
  December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Solberg: Healing After an Abortion
• Basketball fans eyeing extension of Miller Park sales tax
• Nanny sex-ed bill goes to Doyle
• A first. Village limits pension contribution for employees
• Nanny State update: Toothbrushing mandated
• Obama pushes education inflation
• WI Investment Board votes to borrow to juice up returns
• So Republicans have brought nothing to the table?
• You have got to be kidding me
• Nygren: Governor Continues Terms of Failure in State of the State
• Sen. Fitzgerald: Governor down the wrong track at high speed
• Phosphorus is the new CO2. $Billions in Wisconsin
• More Obama giveaways
• A reprimand? Would you keep him on the job?
• Burri: Sarah Palin for Prez troubles me
• Quote of the Day – Obama after the pie-eating contest
• Populism, abused and trampled
• Fitzgerald: Senate Republicans Propose Real Job Creation Agenda
• Stripped down health insurance – it’s about time
• Ok GOP, scrap the Party of NO; time to lead
• No way Feingold is a Coakley. Is Wall a Brown?
• Burri: Conservatives off the chart for a RINO?
• Paltry quid pro quo?
• Doyle says ARRA has ‘created or retained’ 44,000 WI jobs
• Does most of the public fall for this stuff?
• When you get signatures, always get a couple extra
• Blame it on the outmoded computers
• Scott Brown victory does not scuttle health bill
• 8th Congressional Candidate Forum, Jan. 25
• Scott Walker Meet-and-greet, Monday, Jan. 18
• Aren’t consumers taxpayers too?
• 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
• Senator Feingold worrisome and big red flags
• Psephological?
• 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?
|
| 2009 |
December
|
November
|
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
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
|
| 2008 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
• 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
|
February
|
January
|
| 2007 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• 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
|
| 2006 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
| 2000 |
May
|
|
