Guest Poster

Folks,
I have been a wee bit busy as of late and so I have not been able to update for a while.  I am using the words of our county Communication Director now to update you all on happenings.  Please feel free to send me ideas for columns or any other tidbits that should be shared with our Democratic and Progressive populace.

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, April 13 - "All About Citizens United" Conference,  8:45 AM - 3:45 PM, at Promega BTCI, 5445 E. Cheryl Parkway in Fitchburg (registration from 8-8:45AM). Speakers include David Cobb (Co-Founder of Move to Amend), Bob Edgar and Jay Heck (Common Cause), Lisa Graves, Mike McCabe, John Nichols, Rep. Peter Barca, and more. Cost is $20 which includes lunch. Seating is limited so it is best to register ahead of time online. For more information and to register, go to: http://www.allaboutcitizensunited.org

Sunday, April 14 - Green County Democrats & Progressives monthly meeting - 6:00 PM at Luna Maya (formerly Fiesta Cancun) Mexican Restaurant, 128 W. 8th Street, Monroe. Greg Neil from the AFL/CIO and Jeff Leverich from WEAC will discuss unions, issues related to recent changes, and their importance in our society. A short business meeting will follow the program. You're invited to come early (5:00-6:00 PM) for an informal social time and dinner hour (Dutch treat). For the latest information and points of view, remember to check the GC Dem's blog at http://greendems.blogspot.com and its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/140623545987402/.

Sat.-Sun, April 20 - 21 - The 15th annual Democratic Leadership Institute (DLI) will be held at Hotel Mead in Wisconsin Rapids. DLI is an intensive workshop for young, emerging leaders ages 18-35 who are committed to progressive values and interested in a career in politics. Lodging, meals and materials are covered by sponsorships for those 18-25 years of age. The cost for participants 26-35 yrs. is $100. People wishing to attend should apply online by this Friday (29th) at wisdems.org/DLI. 

Saturday, April 20 - 2nd Congressional District Convention will be held at the Reedsburg Public Library starting at 12:00 PM to vote on resolutions to send to the June State DPW Convention. If you are a paid Democratic Party member and would like to attend, please contact one of Green Co. Dems' Co-Chairs, Sandy Stauffacher (swissms68@hotmail.com) or Phil Fransen (pcfransen@gmail.com).

Interesting Reading:

Appleton's Post Crescent newspaper, not known for having a liberal bent, recently printed an editorial well worth reading that is strongly critical of Walker's plans to expand the voucher school program. You'll find some good points that could be used in letters to the editor of our local papers -- fire up those pens, letter writers! Citizens need to push back against all the voucher school lobbyists who have rented office space around the state Capitol building to be near our legislators.  

"School's in Session on Voucher Expansion"

http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20130324/APC0602/303240122/Editorial-School-s-session-voucher-expansion

The Medicaid funding debate: "Scott Walker should listen to Chris Christie"

http://host.madison.com/news/opinion/editorial/scott-walker-should-listen-to-chris-christie/article_f8c56334-8e5f-11e2-919b-0019bb2963f4.html

And for the statistically-challenged among us (of which I count myself as one), here is a short video with effective "infographics" that clarify the current wealth distribution in the U.S. 

"Wealth Inequality in America"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPKKQnijnsM

April 2nd Election

Folks,
This is a submission from a fellow Democratic County Chairperson who I had the opportunity to meet and learn from.  I wanted to share his eloquent words about the upcoming election.  Please take note of his suggestions and help to bring Wisconsin back to a more Progressive path.
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Let's take a serious look at this April 2 election.  Here are some thoughts:

THEIR SIDE:

****************

Roggensack has more money, although not astronomical. ($200,000 plus)  How much money would it take to equal paying for all our grassroots volunteers on the ground?  Our experience is becoming quite substantial.

They have the corporate machine. (Remember, that machine lost on Nov. 6)

OUR SIDE:

*************

1. Obama for America (2008 & 2012) built an unparalleled grassroots organization for winning campaigns.  He had huge numbers of Democrats and Progressives. phoning, doing doors, & working an extensive network of offices across Wisconsin and the U.S.  Huge numbers of Democrats & Progressives built amazing campaign skills.

2. Citizen United decision forced greater grassroots campaign operations for Democrats since that happened.

3. We got a taste of winning during the Clinton years and have had greater "fire in the belly" grassroots campaign efforts since Clinton. Obama campaigns have put that campaign "fire in the belly" on steroids!

4. Wisconsin Democrat and Progressive campaigns have been some of the most competitive and most developed in the nation. We have been at the heart of the battle. We have many battle hardened Democrats in Wis.

5. Republicans can sit back and let their corporate friends do their campaign work. However, that leaves them with a Republican grassroots team that is of  no comparison to ours.

6. The number of phone banks and campaign distribution locations have been working for weeks and are now noticeably increasing in Milwaukee and S.E. Wisconsin.  Madison is set to enlarge their operation significantly this week.

7. Milwaukee is a gold mine of votes for us.  African Americans are dedicated, serious voters, and they are grateful to be reminded about the importance of the April 2 election. A few words sets them ablaze!  You will enjoy working a GOTV grocery store shift in Milwaukee!  Organizers Jim Brown, Linea Sundstrom and Judith Free are expertly experienced and great to work with.

8. Great numbers of Hispanics in Milwaukee are Progressive supporters. Working the Hispanic grocery stores for GOTV is a special joy. Hispanic music and art create a celebration-type mood in giant supermarkets with heart warming Hispanic people putting you in a pleasant "foreign culture" atmosphere.  Great! Friendly!  However, only about 50% are U.S. citizens that can vote.  Also, however, the crowd in those stores are huge all day long and 50% of big numbers are still big numbers!

9. We might have enough votes in Milwaukee to swing this election if we got everyone out!

10.  Our November 6 majority still has a momentum in the heart!  A slight echo of a fully alive Democrat/Progressive/OFA type spirit could ignite this state. It could bring back to full force of that spirit if every OFA volunteer became active again for 2 weeks until April 2.

****************************************************************************************************

HERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO HELP:

**********************************************************************

1. Super Market Legends and student GOTV at UWM and MATC. Call Judith Free at 414-581-5201.

2. Phone Bank with Wisconsin State AFÒ-CIO. Call Steve Kwaterski at 414-975-8650.

3. Phone band for Fallone. Email  A.J. Kahle at: ajkahle@gmail.com.

Note: Electing Ed Fallone to the Wisconsin Supreme Court could be the most important election in Wisconsin history - all things considered.

4. Call or contact any of these sources to do phone bank work at home.

5. Remind your Democrat and Progressive friends to vote for Fallone and Evers on April 2. Early voting starts on March 18.

6. Oconomowoc Phone Banks:  Call Kristen Maguire at 262-490-1270 or Steve Ralph at 262-567-9813.

7. Waukesha Phone Banks: Call Scott Trindl at 414-254-2058 or Email Scott at: strindl@att.net.

8. Hand out Fallone/Evers brochures in Milwaukee - Wisconsin's largest voter market. Call:

    *Jim Brown at 262-834-8033 or email Jim at: jimwauk@gmail.com.

    *Linea Sundstrom at 414-963-088 or email Linea at: linea.sundstrom@gmail.com.

9. Contribute to the Ed Fallone Campaign:   www.falloneforjustice.com.

10. Contribute to the Tony Evers Campaign:  www.tonyevers.com.

Thanks for all you do!

Dwayne Block

Oconomowoc Democratic Group

Ed Fallone for Wisconsin Supreme Court

March events for Ed Fallone, candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court - Please feel free to attend any you may be available for and support Ed Fallone for Supreme Court of WIsconsin

Green Bay
Join Honorary Host Senator Dave Hansen

Monday, March 11

6:00 - 8:00pm

Riverside Ballroom

1560 Main Street

Green Bay, WI

Suggested Contribution: $25

Sponsorship Levels: $500, $250, $100, $50

RSVP: brittani@falloneforjustice.com or (414) 979-9662

Fallone for Justice 

4230 N. Oakland Ave, #164

Shorewood, WI 53211

www.falloneforjustice.com

Wausau

Join our hosts: John and Mary Robinson, Bart and Lila Hobson, Carolyn Bronston, Carol Michalski, Dorothy Miller, Sheryl Hemp, Christine Bremer Muggli, Frances Slezak, and Rep. Mandy Wright

Tuesday, March 12

5:30-7:30pm

Home of John and Mary Robinson

821 Franklin Street

Wausau, WI

Suggested Contribution: $25

Sponsorship Levels: $500, $250, $100, $50

RSVP: brittani@falloneforjustice.com or (414) 979-9662

Fallone for Justice 

4230 N. Oakland Ave, #164

Shorewood, WI 53211

www.falloneforjustice.com

La Crosse

Honorary Host Congressman Ron Kind

Wednesday, March 13

5:00-7:00pm

The Bodega Brew Pub

122 S. 4th Street

La Crosse, WI

Suggested Contribution: $25

Sponsorship Levels: $500, $250, $100, $50

RSVP: brittani@falloneforjustice.com or (414) 979-9662

Fallone for Justice 

4230 N. Oakland Ave, #164

Shorewood, WI 53211

www.falloneforjustice.com

Eau Claire

Thursday, March 14

5:00-7:00pm

Location: TBD

Suggested Contribution: $25

Sponsorship Levels: $500, $250, $100, $50

RSVP: brittani@falloneforjustice.com or (414) 979-9662

Fallone for Justice 

4230 N. Oakland Ave, #164

Shorewood, WI 53211

www.falloneforjustice.com

Milwaukee

Join Honorary Host Mayor Tom Barrett, Senator Tim Carpenter

Monday, March 18

5:30-7:30pm

MOCT

240 E Pittsburgh Ave,

Milwaukee, WI 53204

Suggested Contribution: $50

Sponsorship Levels: $1000, $500, $250, $100

RSVP: lund@falloneforjustice.com or (414) 531-2042

Fallone for Justice 

4230 N. Oakland Ave, #164

Shorewood, WI 53211

www.falloneforjustice.com

Madison

Join Honorary Hosts Senator Mark Miller, Rep. Brett Hulsey, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, Former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and others

Tuesday, March 19

4:30-6:30pm

Merchant

121 S. Pinckney Street

Madison, WI

Suggested Contribution: $50

Sponsorship levels: $1000, $500, $250, $100

RSVP: brittani@falloneforjustice.com or (414) 979-9662

Fallone for Justice 

4230 N. Oakland Ave, #164

Shorewood, WI 53211

www.falloneforjustice.com

Note from State Representative Janis Ringhand

Time to Put our Money Where our Mouth is

By: State Representative Janis Ringhand

The first month of the new legislative session has come to an end and things are beginning to pick up around Madison.  Committees are starting to meet, legislation is being introduced and the Governor is scheduled to give his 2013-15 state budget address on February 20. 

The highlight of my week was the first official meeting of the Workforce Development Committee.  Although it was just an informational hearing (no bills have been referred to our committee yet) – we were able to hear from some experts in the field that helped all of us on the committee learn about our workforce development system.  By no means is it an easy system either.  Currently, nine state agencies receive funding or have oversight over nearly 40 workforce development programs.  Furthermore, with 92 percent of our workforce development funding coming from the federal government, our hands are often tied with how or when we use those funds.

The day after this informational meeting, I was able to sit down with several members of the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (SWWDB).  These are the folks that not only operate and oversee the Job Centers in our area, but they help execute several federal workforce development programs. When the economy nosedived in 2008, nearly 25 percent of the overall layoffs in the state came from Southwest Wisconsin.   

After participating in these meetings, I have to tell you, I could not be more excited about the Middle Class Jobs Now package introduced by Democrats here in the State Legislature last week.  It is a good first step towards closing the skills gap, offering better job training, creating incentives to attract businesses to Wisconsin and helping keep our local businesses open and our local workers employed.

One bill that is a part of this Middle Class Jobs Now package is the “Made in America” bill.  There is a growing trend of many states purchasing prefabricated bridges and building materials from China.  This is unacceptable.  We need to invest in our businesses here at home.  This legislation requires state and local units of government to give preference to US-made products when purchasing materials.

Another bill in this package creates the Workforce Growth Skills Training Program.  Essentially, this legislation would create a competitive grant program, run by the Wisconsin Technical College System, that would help local businesses and economic development organizations address their local skilled worker training needs.  The grants could be used for scholarships, infrastructure construction, purchasing equipment, faculty costs, and curriculum development, just to name a few. 

Like I said, these bills and the rest of the legislation in the Middle Class Jobs Now package are a good first step at getting Wisconsinites back to work, but there is even more work to do. Wisconsin currently ranks 42^nd in job creation.  Forbes magazine projects our state will experience the second-worst job growth through 2016.  We need to do something now.  The fact the State of Wisconsin only contributes 8 percent towards our overall workforce development budget is atrocious.  With all of the rhetoric on both sides about investing in our economy and our local workers, I sincerely hope we start to put our money where our mouth is.  We should pass a state budget that dramatically increases funding for our workforce development programs.     

As always, please feel free to contact my office if you have additional questions on this or any other state legislative matter.  I can be reached toll-free at 1-888-534-0045 or by email at Rep.Ringhand@legis.wi.gov.   

Brrrrrr...it's cold outside...let's talk politics!

I know it is cold out, I can tell because my nose has not thawed since approximately the middle of December, but we have started a new year and our government is now hot to trot to work.  We have Congress pushing off the Debt Ceiling issue for another couple of months, the Senate discussing what to do about the filibuster and our own State Assembly trying to figure out hot they can work as a cohesive group.

All that is going on and what can we, as average citizens do to help promote the Democratic and Progressive ideals?  Well, you can always join a Democratic/Progressive event to show your support and usually have fun doing it.  As the new Co-chair, I feel it is my duty to bring fun to everything that I am involved in...actually, I do that whether I am doing "committee" things or not.  We are lucky to live in a state where there is a lot going on both near and far from our happy little Green County.  Check out the activities below:

Saturday, January 26 - Peaceful protest for those in support of the Bad River Tribe regarding proposed changes in WI mining regulations; 12-1:30 PM at the Wisconsin State Capitol. 

Tuesday, February 5 - County Line Progressives - 6-8 PM at Corner Cafe, Belleville; come early if you'd like to order something to eat and have some social time. This is an issues and action-oriented group for folks in the Belleville, New Glarus, and Monticello communities. For further information, contact Tim Sager at tsager@gmail.com or check their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/County-Line-Progressives/188548701193290?fref=ts

Saturday, February 16 - 5th Annual WI Progressive Grassroots Festival - 9 AM-4 PM at WI Heights High School, 10173 State Hwy 14, Mazomanie. Keynote speakers - Mike McCabe and Lisa Graves, 18 break-out sessions, and the Raging Grannies. Suggested donation - $12, includes lunch. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Grassroots Network which facilitates development and growth of community-based grassroots organizations throughout Wisconsin. Currently over 70 groups are involved to increase government accountability to its citizens. http://www.wisconsingrassroots.net/5th_annual_wisconsin_progressive_grassroots_festival

Tuesday, February 19 - Spring Primary Election

Tuesday, March 5 - Candidate Forum for State Superintendent of Public Instruction position - Tony Evers (incumbent; confirmed) and Don Pridemore (Republican member of State Assembly; not yet confirmed), at the Bridges Restaurant, Darlington. Sponsored by the DPW county parties in SW WI. More details to follow.

Tuesday, April 2 - Spring General Election - an important election for State Superintendent of Public Instruction (statewide), Supreme Court Justice (statewide), and Circuit Court justice (Dane County residents). 

WOW!!!  That is quite a bit, but don't forget that we also have our monthly meetings and we are working to ensure that we have speakers who are knowledgeable and timely for what is happening in Wisconsin.  If you have any suggestions for speakers for upcoming meetings, please let me know.  We always like to get feedback from our members and those who are Friends of Dems.  

Have a great week and thank you for checking us out!

Happy New Year Dems!

Happy New Year to all my fellow Dems and Progressives out there!  This is the first blog post we have had in "a while" thanks to a whole lot of activity in Wisconsin and Green County.  We did what we could to recall Walker and it was within our reach, but there is no use crying over spilled votes.  We, as a county and state, did what we personally felt was right on election day and we have to accept that the people of this state wanted to give Walker the benefit of the doubt.  Now, since the election, we can see that it was a mistake, with the jobs number coming in NO WHERE NEAR what Walker was promising nor are we going to have any state option for the health care option.  So what can we as Democrats and Progressives do now?  We can stick together and move FORWARD as we always do.  We need to gather our fellow Dems and Progressives and discuss what needs to be done in the upcoming months and years to get our state back to a place where progressive thinking is encouraged and where we move toward a goal that everyone can win from.  We have done this in the past and we can do it again.  I love this state and my county and I know that the people within it are good people who want to help others and are not above a little sacrifice to achieve it.  We have a strong history of doing what is best for all, let's get back to that.

And now for some Party business...we have a new executive board:

Phil Fransen - Co-Chair
Sandy Stauffacher - Co-Chair (yours truly)
Keith Steffen - Vice-Chair
Deb Pendray - Treasurer
Kris Wisnefske - Secretary

I would like to personally thank our "outgoing" board for all that they have done to bring the County Party to the place it is at now.  I wouldn't have even considered taking on the role of co-chair had it not been for the opportunity to continue on with the great works and deeds of those who have facilitated before.  I thank Carol Mixdorf, Barb Woodruff, Susan and Tom Porter, Keith Steffen for doing such an amazing job and for leaving the group to us in such an amazing shape.  I look forward to continue working with you all and to working with the rest of those who I have managed to accidentally leave out and who are just as valuable in their contributions to what we do.

I will do my utmost best to keep this blog/site updated and keeping everyone informed of what we are doing as a group and how people can join and interact.  We are a group for the people and we cannot accomplish much without the people.

Thank you and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Sandy Stauffacher

How the Money Trickled Up and the Debt Trickled Down!

From the article "Nine Things The Rich Don't Want You to Know about Taxes," by David Cay Johnston,  Pulitzer Prize winning tax investigative reporter:
" Since 1980, when President Reagan won election promising prosperity through tax cuts, the average income of the vast majority -- the bottom 90 percent of Americans -- has increased a meager $303, or 1 percent. Put another way, for each dollar people in the vast majority made in 1980, in 2008 their income was up to $1.01.
Those at the top did better. The top 1 percent's average income more than doubled to $1.1 million, according to an analysis of tax data by economists Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez. The really rich, the top 10th of 1 percent, each enjoyed almost $4 in 2008 for each dollar in 1980.
The top 300,000 Americans now enjoy almost as much income as the bottom 150 million, the data show. 

The Beginning - Where Wisconsin Stood Up and Said "NO WAY!"

Wisconsin "Budget Repair Bill" Protest from Matt Wisniewski on Vimeo.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING HELPS THE MIDDLE CLASS

Why is a single category of employees being targeted for a budget deficit they didn't create? Why are politicians waging anti-labor campaigns and ignoring one very simple fact: unions were a major force in building and sustaining the great American middle class. As unions have declined, so has the middle class. Union membership has steadily fallen since 1967, and so too has the middle class's share of national income as the super-rich have taken a larger share of national income than any time since the 1920s. Another thing to think about - when unions are gone, so is a very significant source of funding for progressive political candidates. Do we really want a Corporate America in total control of our country's policies and politicians?

Promises Kept

“Let’s be the generation that

makes future generations

proud of what we did here.”

– President Barack Obama –

From Vice President Joe Biden:

I believe in the power of public service because I've seen what it has done throughout our country's history to combat social and economic injustice. And I am proud to say it's a story that continues in the remarkable progress we've made in the past two years. To tell it, Organizing for America has written Promises Kept.

Take a look at the Promises Kept report of all the work we've done in two years—you can download a copy or have a few sent to you to share with friends.

There's a whole lot to be proud of.

Of course, the big ones come to mind first: historic health insurance reform, which is reining in the insurance companies and helping control the cost of care for millions of Americans; Wall Street reform, which put in place the toughest consumer protections ever; and the end of combat operations in Iraq, which brought more than 100,000 troops home.

And there is so much more you've helped achieve that is right now improving lives across the country:

• We passed the Recovery Act, which saved and created more than 3 million jobs, provided the largest middle-class tax cut in a generation, and made landmark investments in clean energy, infrastructure, and education.
• We made critical investments in General Motors and Chrysler, saving tens of thousands of jobs—and perhaps the companies—and spurring a rebirth of the American car industry.
• We wrote into law student loan reform and credit card reform, which ended the worst abuses of the banking industries and are making lending fair for American families.
• We put two new Supreme Court justices on the bench—Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, who bring rich and diverse experience to the Court.
• We have begun to reset America's relationship with the international community, from the ratification of a new START nuclear arms treaty with Russia to tough new sanctions on Iran to strengthening our long-term partnership with a unified Iraq.
• And we finally repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which was the right thing to do—not only because it makes our military stronger at a time when it needs to be the strongest, but because we are seeking that military might with an abiding sense of justice.

Telling the story of the past two years will be critical to the fights ahead. And it's not just the story of this president or this White House—it's your story.

And it is literally proof that the organizing you do on the ground—the conversations you have with your friends and neighbors—is working.

Now, I'm not going to say the last two years were easy—and I won't tell you the fights ahead are going to get any easier.

But I didn't sign up for a cake walk. And I'm pretty sure you didn't either.

We're here to move our country forward. We're here to lay a new foundation for this country—for our economy, for our politics, and for our children's and grandchildren's futures.

And, as Barack says, what we will be able to accomplish together is in your hands.

It's how hard we all work, and how well we all tell this story.

Take a few minutes to read Promises Kept—and let's keep moving:

Thanks for everything,

Joe