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9th
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Fight Back to Protect Your Family and Your Community

Who Is Changing Wisconsin?

By Bob Menamin,
Verona, WI menamin@charter.net

Whats going on here & why? WI has a long history (over a hundred years) of progressive government which was created and sustained for many years by Progressive Republicans and Progressive Democrats. Progressives believed good government was essential and worked hard to build and sustain it. Bob La Follette created the nations 1st comprehensive statewide primary election system. WI was one of the 1st states to have public financing of political campaigns. Governor Walker, with help from Republican Senator Luther Olsen, just passed a law killing the WI public campaign financing program. In 1911 WI created the 1st Workers Compensation Program to aid injured workers. WI started the 1st state income tax, making taxation proportional to earnings. WI initiated the 1st unemployment compensation program in the US in 1932. Edwin Witte, a UWMadison professor, along with other WI colleagues, was the chief author of Social Security Legislation in 1935. Witte is commonly referred to as the father of Social Security. Employee bargaining began in WI in 1959. WI was highly respected for these landmarks and the rest of the country held us in high regard for these types of accomplishments. What happened? WI maintained its progressive tradition for many years, but in the last 30 years erosion began. This coincided with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 who embraced ideology of Ayn Rand. Rand encouraged greed, the pursuit of self-interest and destruction of government programs by cutting revenue (taxes). During the Reagan period organizations such as the American Legislative Change Council and individuals such as Paul Weyrich, Grover Norquist, Karl Rove, Dick Army and the Koch brothers established a coordinated effort to demonize government and cut programs that were aimed at the common good. Paul Weyrichs Free Congress Foundation created what has now become known as the Paul Weyrich Training Manual, a clever plan for brain washing and spreading propaganda. The emphasis was on destruction of existing institutions

What has happened to regular folk?

By Bob Menamin,
menamin@charter.net

and replacing them with their own. New WI Senator Ron Johnson spoke of tactics in defeating Senator Russ Feingold. We will use guerrilla tactics to undermine the legitimacy of the dominant regime. Plainly speaking they will do anything or say anything to win. It is an amoral approach where telling half-lies or full blown lies doesnt matter. Only winning matters! Even before Scott Walker took over he signaled to the federal government that he would kill a program for making WI a hub state in the development of high speed rail. Our state lost $810 million dollars in federal grants. The high speed rail program had been planned with cooperation from state Republicans and Democrats over a span of 25 years with strong support from Republican Governor Tommy Thompson. Since Walker took over most Republican legislators have acted like rubber stamps. Nearly anything Walker wants Walker gets. Bills are rammed through the legislature with little discussion, little compromise and good government laws and rules are bent or violated. With the help of rubber stamp senators like Luther Olsen, the Republicancontrolled legislature has engineered new laws, orders and two budget bills which are damaging families, communities and our state. Our highly rated public schools (consistently rated in the top 5 states nationally) are being undermined. Walker and Olsen are cutting $1.6 billion in education aids and expenditures over two years. Senator Olsen was responsible, with others, in cutting dollars for public schools and shifting them to charter schools which would benefit his wife former State Assemblywoman Joan Wade, the CESA 6 administrator. Olsen proposed the shift in funds, from public schools to Cesa 6. Critics argue Olsen had a direct conflict of interest and an ethics complaint has been filed with the state against Olsen. Wisconsins highly rated human safety net services for seniors and the poor are being cut by over $1 billion dollars during the middle of a largely jobless recession. Walker and Olsen have twisted democracy in our state to make it work for the wealthy and corporations by reducing political checks and balances thus making it harder for ordinary citizens to participate in their democracy. This is resulting in a financial rape of the poor and middle class. Walkers policies are making it harder for

WI to recover from the recession by taking away money from the middle class. Fully 70% of WIs economy is dependent upon consumer spending whether for homes, cars, food, boats, education, etc. Walker and rubber stamp Olsen cut funds to keep our environment strong and clean and cut funds to promote alternative forms of energy production. Walker and Olsen promote a continued reliance on oil and coal which are such polluting energy sources. They deny the reality of global change and fail to meet new challenges for the environment, energy conservation and alternative energy production. Governor Walker and key Republican legislators have been trained in the politics of destruction and are skillful in transferring wealth from the poor and middle class to the wealthy and powerful international corporations. We need to win the recall elections and get wealth and resources flowing back to small businesses and the middle class. We must also have a human concern and empathy for those that are not doing well financially, for those who have health problems and for those who are in need of assistance. We must restore the financial infrastructure to our entire educational

In the midst of the Civil War, Nov. 21, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln wrote, ... this cruel war is nearing its end. It has cost a vast amount of treasure and blood. . . . It has indeed been a trying hour for the Republic; but I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed. I feel at this moment more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war. God grant that my suspicions may prove groundless. system allowing for and promoting success. Finally we must restore a mechanism that would fairly allow public sector workers to collectively bargain and have a stake in their future.

Clark, We Need You!

By Michael Berkowitz,
Political Writer

Lets look at some practical facts that clearly underline that Economics and Politics are directly intertwined. Joseph Stiglitz (http://www.vanityfair. com/society/features/2011/05/top-onepercent-201105), an award winning economist, notes that the upper 1% are taking in a quarter of the nations income. In terms of accumulated wealth the top 1% control 40%. Twenty-five years ago the corresponding figures were 12 percent and 33 percent. During the past 30 years we have

been under the influence of an Ayn Rand philosophy and policies set by the influence of Republican Ronald Reagan. Much of the shift of wealth has been accomplished through tax policy that created exemptions and loopholes for the wealthy and corporations. In addition the cutting of taxes has become a religious concept. But despite the catastrophe that we have harvested by these policies for the last 30 years, the radical right wing Republicans want to ramp up more of the same. In 2009 the Supreme Court ruled, in Citizens United, that money is See Walker on page 2

Fred Clark is a helpful guy. During the floods that ravaged Wisconsin in June of 2008, he went out in his tractor to help his neighbors. As rising waters threatened local businesses, Clark pulled equipment and property to safety, including saving the nearby business that recycled wood from old buildings into new ones. Clark has a history of community service. He was Senior Forester with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and an ecologist with The Nature Conservancy, to say nothing of his membership in the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Society of American Foresters. His valued service was recognized by both Republicans and Democrats. Republican Governor Tommy Thompson appointed him to the Lower Wisconsin Riverway Board in 1998. In 2004, he was appointed to the Wisconsin Council on Forestry by Democratic Governor Jim Doyle. In 2008, Fred Clark was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly. His committee assignments on Education, State Properties and Resources Committees are crucial in a state which is looking at selling off property and resources and privatizing schools. So if Clark is so helpful and neighborly, why are he and Republican State Senator Luther Olsen on a collision course? Why is Fred Clark so determined to replace Luther Olsen in the August 9 Recall Election? It has been difficult for Luther Olsen lately. He expressed grave reservations about his colleague Republican Governor Scott Walkers Budget Repair Bill, calling it pretty radical. It affects a lot of good working people, he said. Further, he

Fred Clark at a rally. Over 850 volunteers gathered over 23,000 signatures to recall his opponent Republican Luther Olsen . http://www.clarkforwisconsin.org/

expressed serious reservations about voting for Walkers collective bargaining repeal denying workers of their well-established constitutional rights. Olsen also expressed conflicts about Republicans wanting seniors to give up Wisconsins Senior Care Program, especially since the program was easier and offered better coverage than the national program. But he had no such reservations about eliminating many other healthcare provisions such as $500 million in Medicaid support for the neediest families (2011 SB 40), Healthy Youth Act (2006 See Clark on page 4

This paper is authorized and paid for by WisconsinRecall.net PAC, Bob Menamin, Treasurer. WisconsinRecall.net is a community-based, grassroots organization. Our purposes are to help recall those elected officials who are damaging WI and to help elect officials who will get WI back on the right track to a better future for ourselves and our children. We work through citizen activism. That means we need you to help however you can. Please see the form in this paper to get involved. We fight back to protect our families and our communities. Please help!

Walker: we fight back Aug. 9th

FROM PAGE 1B speech and corporations are people. The result is that our political system, which has always been influenced by money, is now firmly based in fact on bribery, buying votes, purchasing politicians (their bodies & minds) and controlling the media with money. The final result is that the very wealthy and corporations have unlimited speech and money to buy votes, politicians and public policy. The rest of us are sucking air in an environment with no oxygen left because it has all been sucked up by the wealthy and corporations. What is left for common folks like us? Gov. Walker has mounted the strongest attack in the nation on working people. And the rubber stamp Republicans who control both state assembly and senate approve just about anything Walker proposes. WI is Ground Zero in the fight to protect working families and retirees. It

is our boots on the ground versus massive amounts of money spent by the radical GOP controlling the air waves. Regular folks must jam the voting booths in the Aug. 9th recall elections to disperse the Republican Senate candidates. Democrats must win three or more of the senate seats in order for the state senate to be controlled by Democrats. Only then will Gov. Walker have to negotiate rather than dictate. Wins Tuesday, August 9th, must be followed up with a successful recall petition drive in early 2012. Then a new governor must be elected to replace Mr. Walker in the summer of 2012. Seniors and working families will be in a world of serious hurt and long term suffering if this does not come to pass. We need to have a revolution at the ballot box. We must avoid a revolution in the streets. We have the power if we understand the stakes and vote, vote, vote!!!

Tax cuts for the rich and tax increase for regular people.
TAX CUTS FOR BUSINESSES & FAT CATS in 2011 special session & 2011-13 Biennial budget -Tax breaks for new hires $67,000,000 -Health savings accounts for individuals 49,200,000 -Tax cut for relocated businesses 1,000,000 -Capital gains tax cuts 36,300,000 -Tax break for multi-state corporations 46,400,000 -Tax cut for Manufacturers 10,100,000 Total $210,000,000 or $210 Million in Tax Cuts for Fat Cats & Corporations TAX INCREASES FOR LOW-INCOME WORKING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN & LOW-INCOME OWNERS & RENTERS -Increase for low-income families $56,200,000 -Increase for low-income owners & renters 13,600,000 Total $69,800,000 or $469.8 Million in Tax Increases for Low Income Families
Data source: Wisconsin Council on Children and Families

An exAmple of how weAlthy And regulAr people Are being treAted

Yes, its time to bring up that T word

By Karen Royster and Jack Norman
May 7, 2011

Scotty, Were Coming for You

increase collection of delinquent taxes: Over $40 million. A 2% assessment on health care providers parallel to the fee on hospitals: $475 million (which would generate $712 million more in federal funds, to reimburse providers). Spending is not the problem. Wisconsin is frugal with government. Census Bureau data show that per-person spending on state and local government is below the national average and the number of public workers relative to population is among the 10 lowest in the nation. Revenue is the problem. One reason Wisconsin has a deficit is the many tax cuts in recent decades. Income tax cuts alone since the late 1990s depress revenue by well over $1 billion annually. Middle-class homeowners pay an increasing portion of state taxes, compared with high-income households and very large corporations. A balanced budget strategy is crucial for economic recovery. What discourages business growth isnt slightly higher taxes but deteriorating roads and bridges, unskilled job applicants, a lack of public security and dirty parks. A balanced approach to budgets means everyone is a part of the solution. It means those who are most capable contribute a greater amount to the common good. This is as much a part of Wisconsins tradition as hard work, good beer and shared prosperity.

Recipe For The Perfect Political Storm

Why are things like they are in Wisconsin politics?
By Marcia Riquelme,
DeForest, WI marciariquel@wisconsinrecall.net

In 2011, politics and life in Wisconsin hit an all-time high for turmoil. All the indicators hit crisis mode, and we were ripe for: THE PERFECT POLITICAL STORM RECIPE This didnt happen overnight or start with Walker: The recipe for this storm took a number of decades to brew. The ingredients lined up perfectly in 2010, and by January 2011, with the inauguration of Scott Walker and his right-wing collaborators, the Perfect Political Storm Recipe got frosting on top. He made it possible for Wisconsin to be launched, tornado-style, into the final stage of the Perfect Wisconsin Political Storm. STORM INGREDIENTS: 1. A New President IMMEDIATELY confronted with major crises on many fronts: (made worse by lies spread 24/7 by right wing TV, radio, newspapers and politicians to generate fear, hatred,and mistrust) Economic Meltdown already underway, caused massive drop in stock market (that felt like a CRASH) causing economic instability and uncertainty helped along by: i. Massive mortgage foreclosures caused by deregulation permitting corrupt finance practices. ii. Unemployment at all-time high caused by job outsourcing overseas. 2. TWO LONG WARS causing massive financial and human losses and untold longterm suffering. 3. DISASTROUS 2010 Mid-term Elections putting right wing majority in U.S. House and almost taking Senate, as well right wing sweep of Wisconsin legislature. 4. TAKE-OVER by Republican Governors in United States! 29 Republican governors! Republican majorities emerged in 22 state legislatures who are focused on using LEGISLATION WRITTEN BY CONSERVATIVE BUSINESS DESIGNED TO CONTROL THE USA via THE INDIVIDUAL STATE GOVERNMENTS! Now we are in danger of losing the democracy created by statehood and the checks and 2

balances of a national tricameral government system. The U.S. will soon be governed via state takeovers. 5. U.S.SUPREME COURT, dominated by conservative justices, favors big business. Example: Citizens United case permits corporations to contribute massively to rightwing political campaigns anonymously-opening doors wider to corruption of candidates. Provided by: A storm of lifelong Supreme Court Judges favoring big business (same thing happened in Wisconsin with re-election of Justice Prosser.) 6. INCESSANT LIES BY MEDIA (radio,TV, movies, newspapers of all sizes). Media owned by a shrinking list of large conservative corporations, supporting programs scaring and confusing the public. 7. 40 + years of INFLUENTIAL, constant work by many conservative Think Tanks and Right Wing Organizations--which provide expert speakers,write books, train young political candidates and prepare and fund professorships promoting right wing courses. 8. Legislation Writing Organizations such as A.L.E.C. the American Legislative Executive Council. whose members write 1,000+ pieces of legislation available to all members EVERY year! See their mission statement and history online. Their goal: slash social services, workers benefits & rights, eradicate unions, environmental, industrial, and business regulations, taking advantage of the storm to ram bills thru legislatures. 9. Citizens Unaware of what was coming and the nightmare on the way! ALL THESE INGREDIENTS ARE BEING POURED INTO WISCONSIN VIA A GIGANTIC POLITICAL FUNNEL! The funnel has grown in proportion to all ingredients in Walkers precrafted legislation recipe presented on DAY ONE. Wisconsin is experiencing how theseingredients work together in a giant pressure cooker exploding on us all! We are IN the Recipe for the Perfect Political Storm! A destructive recipe damaging Wisconsin every day! It is time to fight back! Vote for Democrat Fred Clark on Tuesday, Aug. 9th to help get Wisconsin back on the right track! mom.pazyarte@gmail.com

Its time to talk about taxes. The proposed 2011-2013 state budget cuts more than $2 billion from education, community services and infrastructure, medical assistance and other programs. This assumes that Wisconsin cannot afford to maintain good schools and safe neighborhoods. The public knows this is not true. Across Wisconsin and the nation, people are telling pollsters that higher taxes must be a part of the solution to budget problems. About 70% of Wisconsinites favor higher income taxes on the wealthiest, according to recent surveys by the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute and WisconsinReporter. com. New national polls by McClatchyMarist and Washington Post/ABC News found the same result. Its time for legislators to openly discuss a balanced approach to the budget. A balanced approach uses both program efficiencies and revenue expansion to sustain quality services and infrastructure during rough economic times. Our grandparents built strong communities with extensive transportation networks, beautiful parks, health programs and excellent education. The state is allowing these treasures to fall into disrepair by cutting our investment in them. But there are constructive alternatives. A recent report - A Catalog of Tax Reform Options for Wisconsin - offers 30 ways to generate state revenue to prevent drastic cuts. Not every option should be adopted, but enacting some would help balance the state budget while protecting vital programs. Basing estimates on the latest state reports, options include: Taxes on the wealthiest Increasing the top income tax rate (which applies to income above $300,000 for married couples) from 7.75% to 9.0%: $125 million a year. A tax on inheritances of more than $1 million dollars (exempting family farms): $107 million. Fully taxing investment profits/capital gains on investments outside Wisconsin: $50 million. Taxes on large corporations A tax on oil company receipts: $171 million. Blocking proposals to reopen corporate income tax loopholes: $40 million. Sales tax Increasing state sales tax from 5% to 6% (one penny per dollar): $870 million. (A portion of the funds would go for tax credits, such as the Homestead Credit, to offset the impact on low-income people.) A sales tax on personal, business and professional services: $731 million. Other changes Raising tax on beer, wine and liquor to national averages: $42 million. Staffing the Department of Revenue to

Karen Royster is executive director of the Institute for Wisconsins Future; Jack Norman is research director.

Should olSen give our SchoolS And teAcherS rotting AppleS?

Olsen sponsored Senate Bill 22 to make a state wide charter school board, which limits our democracy by takes control out of communities and local school boards. This bill will cause mass closures of local schools in rural areas, including Olsens community. Public schools that have made Wisconsin rank 3rd in the nation, in SAT scores, are being vilified while they are doing their jobs exceptionally well. Teachers could see an average loss of $400 to $600 a month from their paychecks, said Christina Brey, spokeswoman for WEAC. We will see one of the biggest budget cuts to public schools in the states history, nearly $900 million! Olsen sponsors removing income caps on private-school vouchers so taxpayers foot the bill to send wealthy families kids to private school. http://www.isthmus.com/isthmus/ article.php?article=33527 http://studentactivism.net/2011/02/20/ sat-act-unions/

wAlkerS budget propoSAlS: tAxeS And revenue

1. tAx the poor to pAy the rich The governor would cut $51 million from the Earned Income Tax Credit and Homestead Tax Credit. These are the only two programs directly targeting tax relief at low- and moderate-income households. At the same time, he would cut $83 million in taxes for multistate corporations and wealthy investors. This is in addition to the $117 million in tax breaks passed earlier this year in the Special Session. The $200 million in tax breaks would be accomplished by modifying Combined Reporting (the 2009 reform that closed the Las Vegas Loophole by which corporations avoided state income tax); restricting the tax on capital gains (profits from selling stocks and other valuables), creating credits for businesses that move to Wisconsin or hire new employees; and through credits for Medical Savings Accounts. 2. ignore the tAx cheAtS Each year about $1.2 billion in taxes are legally owed but are not paid. In 2010, the Department of Revenue used a beefed-up tax-collections capacity to recover $41 million in delinquent taxes above its usual expectation. Rather than building on success by adding to the Departments tax-collecting capacity, the governor proposes a 5% cut in funding and a lowered goal for delinquent tax collections. 3. no cAll for ShAred SAcrifice from the StAteS weAlthieSt Nowhere is there a call for additional tax revenue from Wisconsins wealthiest. There are many options to increase taxes moderately only on the very richest. Examples: a temporary one percentage point increase in the tax rate for incomes above $250,000; reinstatement of the inheritance tax (which no longer exists) while exempting the first $1 million dollars; elimination of the exemption of 30% of capital gains from taxation; extension of the sales tax to business services such as advertising and accounting. 4. bitter freezeS in the property tAx The governor would prohibit local governmentsschools, municipalities, countiesfrom increasing revenue through property taxes (except to the extent of net new construction). This ensures deep cuts in local services, even in jurisdictions where taxpayers are willing to pay higher property taxes. 5. increASed StructurAl deficit Despite the cries for reducing the states structural deficit, the governors budget would actually increase the deficit by $58.7 million, using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Ironically the use of GAAP is urged mainly by fiscal conservatives. Using GAAP, according to the governors own budget documents, the states deficit would grow during the twoyear budget cycle, ending on June 30, 2013 with an estimated balance of negative $3.0245 billion. Institute for Wisconsins Future www. wisconsinsfuture.org 414 967-1682

Walker & the Republican controlled legislature have abandoned WIs unemployed
By Buzz Davis, Stoughton, WI
dbuzzdavis@aol.com

with more than .5 million in our state who are hurting. We have a sad situation that is very damaging to our nations families, our Governor Scott Walker and legislators WI families, our communities and to our like Senator Luther Olsen have cut funds economy. And again, the corporations that help regular people while reducing taxes are being rewarded for sending jobs of $210 million for businesses and fat cats. overseas. This $210 A footnote for million and more what is happening should have to service veterans been spent on returning from Iraq jobs to update and Afghanistan. Wisconsins aging The national and inadequate The Wisconsin Values Balanced Approach (WVBA) will meet the $3.62 billion unemployment infrastructure. In budget the governor has proposed and maintain the values that have made Wisconsin rate for these vets addition, instead of strong. is 12.2%. For vets giving continuing Walkers giving $200 million in tax breaks to large corporations and the wealthy ages 18-24 the rate handouts to huge and spending another $200 million in voucher schools and highways vs. accountable is 21.9%. About corporations and state savings of $400 million under the WVBA budget. one million are wealthy individuals, Walkers budget doesnt ask for any shared responsibility from corporations and unemployed. They the state should the wealthy vs. $1.04 billion concessions in tax increases on those who can afford it. serve, get injured, be assisting job The cuts-only budget reduces funding to Medicaid by $500 million vs. the WVBA they are lucky development in approach which keeps an extra $300 million in this socially needed program to enough to come areas that have been protect those impacted most among us. home and then they devastated by loss face unemployment. of jobs. We need a jobs The state program like needs to assist Franklin Roosevelt with creating real did with the WPA in jobs rather than the 1930s. continuing to If Senator reduce state revenue Luther Olsen and the by giving money other five recalled to the fat cats Senators are not and multinational http://www.wccf.org/pdf/valuesbudget.pdf defeated in the corporations upcoming election in who export jobs August, we will see overseas. Walker adopting policies that pauperize the for both the one who is unemployed and A huge state jobs program would be WI citizenry at the expense of sending jobs the family. a two for one solution. It would get our overseas and creating more unemployment In WI we have 7.4% unemployment or infrastructure updated and provide real jobs in WI. to people living in Wisconsin. And it would about 225,000 people looking for work. To encourage people to make out pump money into the local economy across According to the national experts we job applications for non-existent jobs can add another 225,000 people who are WI. is criminal - that is why we have to fire working part time and looking for full time In the United States about 14.1 million Senator Olsen on Tuesday, Aug. 9th and for work. When we add in the discouraged workers are unemployed and experts Governor Walker in early 2012. workers who have given up, we end up estimate about 10 million more are underemployed or have quit looking for work. This is a total of 25 million workers without jobs, or working part time, who want full time work. For all of us who have been unemployed or have a family member unemployed, we know how crushing unemployment can be

500,000 people looking for work in WI!

who SAyS the governorS cut-only budget iS the only option?

Future takeover of credit unions by big banks. Walker approves, Olsen Rubber Stamps, Clark fights for the 2.2 million credit union members in WI
By Bob Menamin,
menamin@charter.net

interests like the Koch brothers and Wall Street Bankers.

Under previous WI law banks could not buy or gain control of credit unions. The lobbyists urged a last minute inclusion of a new law in the budget bill. Olsen approved it, Walker approved it and Clark fought it. It was noted in a 6/28/11 biztimes.com article that Governor Walker refused to use his veto which would have eliminated a nonbudgetary financial institution chartering policy that permits direct conversion of a member-owned credit union into a stockholder bank. This item was, at the last minute, slipped into the 1500 page $66 billion budget bill. Senator Luther Olsen and the other recalled Republican Senators supported this last minute sneak attack to make it easier for Wisconsins 2.2 million credit union members to be stripped of their equity in the financial institutions they own. Democrat Rep. Fred Clark voted against the budget and the inclusion of this policy. The change will enable banks, in a hostile takeover, to render credit union members hostages to banks when in fact they joined credit unions for the express reason that profits were shared among the members. The banks would be able to pay huge bonuses, higher dividends to shareholders and outrageous salaries to their top administrators at the expense of the former credit union members. According to The Wisconsin Credit Union League, this onerous legislation was added to the budget at the last minute without notice to any credit union, any member or any credit union trade association and without a public hearing. This raises the question, which banks and special interests asked for this radical change? Republican senators such as Olsen are nothing but rubber stamps for Walker who is no more than an agent for special

Brett Thompson, the Credit Union League President, stated, We sincerely hoped Governor Walker would have heeded the recommendation of nearly 1000 credit union advocates, dozens of cooperative businesses and the credit union trade association, all of whom requested a veto. Controversial and complex financial institution chartering policy clearly does not belong in a bill related to the states finances. This new Walker law can easily be abused by a small group of individuals at the expense of the majority of credit union member-owners. This sets up a condition where the banksters can raid and financially rape credit union members with ease.

By Paul Malischke

Find Your Polling Place

According to Thompson, any policy to allow for the conversion of a state-chartered, not-for-profit, member owned credit union to a shareholder-owned, stock bank should include a transparent, neutral and prescriptive member notification process and a meaningful voting threshold. These are necessary to ensure the membership truly understands the consequences of the conversion vote and all have made an informed judgment about the future of the institution they currently own. Unfortunately the policy the Governor left in the budget bill fails on all counts Thompson stated. The Wisconsin Attorney General should investigate who asked for this radical change and whether any bribes or large donations were given to Republican legislators or Governor Walker.

Find your polling place and check your voter registration at Voter Public Access https://vpa. wi.gov/, a website run by the Govt. Accountability Bd. If you are not registered as a voter, you can register at your polling place on election day! To register, you need to bring proof of residence. See http://gab. wi.gov/elections-voting/ voters/registration-voting for full information. You can vote early at your municipal clerks office between Monday July 25 and Friday August 5.

top ten fiScAl fActS for wiSconSin

1. wiSconSin iS frugAl with the tAxpAyerS dollAr. State and local employment ranks 41st out of 50 states. State and local payrolls ranks 33rd among the 50 states. State and local spending is 25th out of the 50 states. In 2009, we spent below the US average per capita on public health, police, parks and public welfare 2. wiSconSin iS finAnciAlly StAble. The pension and debt liability is 42% less than the national average 37th out of the 50 states The state budget deficit is only 12.8% of one years spending median among the 50 states 3. wiSconSinS overAll tAxeS hAve not increASed. Current state taxes are at a 25-year low as a percent of state income Wisconsin sales tax are the lowest among neighboring states, 3% below the national average Corporate income taxes are 12% below the national average Property taxes adjusted for inflation have been flat for a decade General state tax collection is lower now than ten years ago when adjusted for inflation 4. AnnuAl tAx cutS hAve contributed to the StAte deficit. Between 1999 and 2009, income tax cuts reduced state revenue by $1 billion every year Removing the state tax on inheritances over $650,000 has cost the state $110 million a year Cutting the tax on computers has cost the state $70 million each year. 5. the StAte tAx SyStem fAvorS the weAlthy And leAnS on low And moderAte income fAmilieS. Wisconsins tax rate on the rich is near an historic low Middle-income families pay twice as much of their income for property taxes as the wealthiest 1% Low-income families pay six times more of their income for sales tax than wealthy households 6. wiSconSinS current fiScAl criSiS wAS cAuSed by the wAll Street fiASco, not worker benefitS. The state lost 160,000 jobs, 85,000 families lost their homes and millions of dollars in tax revenue Federal stimulus aid worth over $1 billion for state and local government was not renewed 7. cutting SchoolS, community ServiceS And worker compenSAtion hurtS the StAte economy. The proposed cuts in public worker compensation will cost the state economy almost $1 billion a year Every dollar invested in public infrastructure generates $1.38 in growth. 8. cutS Are not neceSSAry. the StAte iS not broke; there Are pocketS of untouched money Increase sales tax by one penny and raise $860 million each year. Extend sales tax to business and professional services and raise $517 million a year Tax capital gains on investment profits for $140 million a year 9. cutS in revenue depArtment StAff coStS the StAte $40 million A yeAr. Full staffing for the Revenue department can close the $1.2 billion annual tax gap (the difference between what is owed and what is actually collected.) 10. moSt StAteS thAt cAter to buSineSS tAx demAndS do not proSper. Six out of ten states with the best economies rank in the bottom 40% for business climate Six out of ten states with the worst economies rank in the top 20 for best business climate Institute for Wisconsins Future www.wisconsinsfuture.org 414-967-1682

Grassroots Organizing Why Communities Need It!

By Nate Timm, Mazomanie, WI
nptimm@chorus.net

FROM PAGE 1B SB 286 SA 2), Planned Parenthood and Family Planning Coverage (2011 SB 40). At the same time that he was voting to cut back these and other health services, Olsen strongly supported Conceal Carry legislation, giving gun owners the right to take their guns into what Health Care Facilities remained. (2011 SB 93). While he was voting drastic cuts in healthcare, Olsen was much more generous to himself. Olsen is now the subject of an ethics investigation on a complaint by One Wisconsin Now that alleges that he introduced an amendment to a Charter School Bill which would remove prohibitions and regulations on charter schools. This would allow State Senator Olsen and his wife, former Assembly Representative Joan Wade, to directly enrich themselves by setting up such schools. (2011 SB 22) Senator Luther Olsen believes he is above the law and that he can use his office to benefit himself and his wife, said Scott Ross, One Wisconsin Now Executive Director. Not only did Senator Olsen know the implications of the vote he was taking, but also he joked about it as if it was a laughing matter. Senator Olsens biggest backers -- Koch Industries, Wisconsin Realtors Association, WalMart, tobacco companies and Alliant Energy -- are also betting he will be good for their economic growth. Already he voted to support the $140 million 4

Clark: Saving our businesses

tax break for out-of-state corporations that Governor Walker pushed through in his first month of office. The signing ceremony for the Olsen supported budget slashing, union busting Budget Repair Bill, which would make up $136 million of this deficit, was originally scheduled to be held at The Badger Sheet Metal Works in Green Bay. The site was the perfect symbol of Olsen and Walkers new Republican regime, as their CEO had been convicted of 8 counts of tax evasion. Olsen further rewarded his contributors, infuriated his opponents and supported Governor Walker by voting to deregulate telecommunications, defund the popular internet program for schools, further reduce healthcare programs to rural communities, cutback on senior drug prescription programs and acquiesce to Koch Brothers Club for Growth positions by voting to cut environmental regulations, easing restrictions on Koch Industries. The reactions to these votes was a grassroots uprising. Not only did thousands upon thousands rally to the State Capitol at Madison. But in Olsens district, over 850 volunteers working in the worst Spring weather in memory, went door to door to collect over 23,000 signatures... far more than needed to recall Luther Olsen. So on August 9, Fred Clark will face Luther Olsen in what many believe will be the pivotal Recall Election that could give Democrats the majority in the Wisconsin State Senate. Once again, Wisconsin needs Fred Clark and his tractor to help pull them out. Clark... We need you!

The Preamble of the Constitution begins with the phrase We the people. It has long been a tenant of America that democracy requires that the people have a voice. This idea is enshrined in the constitutional protections of freedom of expression and assembly found in the Bill of Rights. Today the Peoples Voice is under assault from all sides -- declining news coverage, corporatization of radio, TV and the press by people of extreme wealth such as R. Murdock and the Koch Bros. with the decision of US Supreme Court that money equals free speech as decided in the Citizens United case permitting unlimited contributions by corporations to campaigns. Responding to this threat to the Voice of the People are none other than the people themselves. Since 2004, citizen groups calling themselves grassroots groups have formed in Dane and Iowa Counties. They started as all volunteer groups reaching out to their communities to advocate for some local individual or issue. These groups were soon followed by a new round of grassroots community groups which grew out of the Obama Campaign of 2008. The leaders of these groups banded together to form the Dane County Grassroots Network (DCGN). Through this network organizational energy was leveraged to sponsor a regional grassroots gathering called the Progressive Grassroots Festival which has been held for the last three Februaries. The next Festival is Feb., 18, 2012 in Black Earth, WI. Other events sponsored by DCGN took the form of rallies for health care, candidate listening session training, Politics in the Park and more. Following the 2011 Progressive Grassroots Festival many of the Dane County Grassroots Network activists migrated over to a new grassroots group called WisconsinRecall.net. This group was formed to respond to the assault on Wisconsins democratic values and traditions by the Walker administration. They have met every week since Sunday February 20.2011. This all volunteer group formed around a core of grassroots advocates that had worked together for several years in a short 24hrs. The shared knowledge, skill, and friendship of this group resulted in a nimble open group which has been characterized by this recent statement of a guest They made me feel welcome on my first visit and I can see they get things done. The mission of WI Recall.net is: Provide the resources to recall the 8 Republican Senators, Support the candidates who run to replace the Republicans who are recalled, Support the recall and replacement of Walker, and

Support the creation of grassroots groups throughout the state. The implementation of the last goal has been incorporated into the Community Empowerment Project. The focus of this project is a curriculum which assists people in communities to establish their own group through a training and mentoring process offered by project volunteer staff members.

The key components of this training are: The vision and values of grassroots organizing, How to build a group, The effectiveness of a nonhierarchical group, The impact of decisions by consensus, How to plan and run a meeting, and Planning for the long run.

Why organize a grass roots group now? In the old days when Democrats and Republicans saw a problem they would work together to define it and then developed alternative solutions for solving or reducing the problem. Then the vote is taken and whichever alternative solution gets the most votes wins and that is how the problem is solved/reduced. Today the radical right wing Republicans have changed into a party of destruction in WI. The old rules for playing the political game have changed. Now the objectives of Mr. Walker and his followers are to destroy the public schools in WI and provide vouchers for parents to use to pay part of the tuition to charter and private schools. Their objectives are to reduce and remove the capabilities of government agencies to serve the public while contracting out many or most public services to private for profit contractors. The result of what is happening is that the legislators, in control of legislature, are no longer looking after the best interests of your family and your community. Just look elsewhere in this paper for budget cuts of Gov. Walker and Sen. Olsen - cuts aimed at your schools and community. You must protect your family and yourself by fighting back. And you need to fight back in groups so that you have more power. Therefore it is critical to organize a grass roots group in your community or join such a group if it already exits. Please see the form in the paper to contact the Dane County Grassroots Network and start organizing now. The first thing you can do is organize your neighbors to help get out the vote on Tuesday, Aug. 9th in the recall election against Sen. Olsen. Sen. Olsen is on the legislatures Joint Finance Committee. None of the massive cuts to your schools and municipalities are made without his approval. He is doing this destruction to your communities on purpose. Act now to stop the destruction before it is too late!

COMMUNITY GRASSROOTS EMPOWERMENT

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I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
Last Name

mAil to: WIRecall.net P.O. Box 620452 Middleton, WI 53562

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Scottyopoly the Game of the Year!

Madison, WI Wisconsin has a new board game that helps you relive the reaction to Governor Walkers budget. Scottyopoly is a Wisconsin Historical and Educational Board game based on events that took place during Governor Scott Walkers turbulent first 100 days in office. It is a game of power and influence in the form of bringing people to your events or having control of all the Cheesehead Bank money. The game cards are full of humor and references, to things that happened, that you just cant make up! In the game you buy events instead of buildings. Event Examples: Rachel Maddow interviewing people standing by blown up palm trees. Scottys Baseball bat, the 14 Senators going to an undisclosed location in Illinois, cow bells, tractors, prank phone calls Every event is dated. A fun game to play and since the Wisconsin State Historical Society wants a prototype --it is history in the making. You dont want to miss out on owning this collectors item. Half of the net proceeds of the game go to a Wisconsin community health clinic and the other half to the Dane County

A Historical and Educational Board Game of Power and Influence Based on Real Events
Grassroots Network. See the order form next to this article. For more information visit:

www.scottyopoly.com

pre-order the Scottyopoly gAme

First Name Last Name Address City, State, Zip Email Price: $30.00 (One game=$30, Two games=$50, Four games=$100) Quanity Shipping & Handling $3/Game ScOTTyOpOly GAmE Fund TOTAl p.O. Box 259536
Please make check payable to: ScOTTyOpOly

School Dist. Revenue Limit Cuts in 14th Senate District = $42.25 Million the 1st Year and More Coming the 2nd Year!
By Buzz Davis
dbuzzdavis@aol.com

madison, WI 53725

Luther Olsen and Scott Walker, what would your mothers say about your hurting little children by doing this especially when you give wealthy corporations & the super-rich billions of dollars/yr. in tax breaks?
Fond du lac Co. School Dist. Cuts
Campbellsport Fond du Lac North Fond du Lac Oakfield Ripon Rosendale-Brandon Waupun

School boards will be required to lay off teachers, educational assistants, reading specialists, art and music teachers, other staff, cut supplies, cut maintenance, etc. Class sizes will increase making it more difficult for students to learn and many other parts of the educational programs will be damaged. All for what reason - so that legislators can give billion dollar tax breaks to the super rich and corporations which are failing to provide jobs in WI and America. Instructions: Find your county and then your local school district. The amount listed is the reduction in amount of dollars the state will prohibit your school board from getting from property taxes this school year which starts in September. In addition Gov. Walker and Sen. Olsen have reduced the state aids to your school district for the next two years. Those reductions are not shown in this table. Result: Your school board has been cutting programs and staff since this damaging budget was passed. Action: Vote in Sen. Olsens recall Tuesday, Aug. 9th. If you like what is happening, you know what to do. If you think your public schools are being destroyed, then vote to fight back. Vote for Fred Clark the Democrat to help turn WI around so once again we are a state we can be proud to raise our families in. Columbia Co. School Dist. Cuts
Cambria-Friesland Columbus Fall River Lodi Pardeeville Area Portage Community Poynette Randolph Rio Community $243,615 $649,782 $222,995 $901,408 $379,854 $1,113,276 $584,260 $288,342 $265,772

TOTAL IMPACT $7 million in cuts hurting kids

Berlin Area Green Lake Markesan Princeton

$708,920 $3,081,936 $583,638 $232,597 $969,650 $495,356 $925,382

Waupaca Co. School District Cuts

Clintonville Iola-Scandinavia Manawa Marion New London Waupaca Weyauwega-Fremont

TOTAL IMPACT: $3 million in cuts hurting kids

$764,805 $326,915 $236,000 $198,719 $1,298,528 $303,290 $490,496

Waushara Co. School District Cuts

Tri-County Area Wautoma Area Wild Rose

TOTAL IMPACT: $1.2 million in cuts hurting kids

$375,570 $570,825 $218,296

Green Lake Co. School Dist. Cuts

TOTAL IMPACT: $1.3 million in cuts hurting kids

Montello Westfield

$632,716 $212,397 $295,680 $153,200

Marquette Co. School Dist. Cuts TOTAL IMPACT: $651,287 in cuts hurting kids
Appleton Area Freedom Area Hortonville Kaukauna Area Kimberly Area Little Chute Area Seymour Community Shiocton

$211,800 $439,487

The data sources for this table are: Wisconsin Departments of Public Instruction, Administration, and Workforce Development, the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau and the Institute for WIs Future (IWF) (http://wisconsinsfuture.org). The IWF has an excellent link to what the state budgets cuts are for each county in WI.

fightingbobfest.org
No widespread voter fraud has been found in WI. The Republicans new Voter ID bill is a solution looking for a problem. One Dane county town chair estimates that in a presidential election it may take twice as long to vote due to the Voter ID bill. Upon seeing the long lines at voting places, many voters will decide they dont have the time to vote, thus voter turnout will be decreased. We need more voter turnout in WI not less! Approximately 51% of WI voters stayed home in the last governors race. Gov. Walker won with only a bit more than 25% of all the eligible voters in WI. 5

Take Back WI from the Walker criminals! Join us at Fighting Bob Fest, Sept. 17, 2011 The coliseum/Alliant Energy center, madison See more at:

Outagamie Co. School Dist. Cuts

TOTAL IMPACT: $16.6 million in cuts hurting kids Sauk Co. School District Cuts
Baraboo Reedsburg River Valley Sauk Prairie Weston Wisconsin Dells

$7,705,614 $712,656 $1,403,684 $2,205,984 $2,250,810 $615,464 $1,313,664 $408,917

TOTAL IMPACT: $5.9 million in cuts hurting kids

Bonduel Bowler Gresham Shawano Tigerton

$1,319,740 $1,380,379 $610,720 $1,455,300 $174,812 $942,312

Shawano Co. School District Cuts

TOTAL IMPACT $4.6 million in cuts hurting kids

TOTAL IMPACT: $2 million in cuts hurting kids

$358,400 $245,808 $165,688 $1,136,520 $65,228

eeek A mouSe

State Biennial Budget Overview

Senator Olsen: Why are you damaging our schools, families and communities like this when you approve billions in tax breaks for the super-rich and corporations?
By Buzz Davis
dbuzzdavis@aol.com

For the two years from July 1, 2011 thru June 30, 2013 Gov. Walker and Sen. Olsen are requiring schools and governments to cut 3.6 billion dollars from their budgets. These cuts are unnecessary and are mean spirited to children, families, the sick and the elderly and will damage our environment. Over the two years, WIs public schools will be cut a total of $1.752 billion. Specifically, $822 million is cut from state school aids. In addition, Gov. Walker and Sen. Olsen have reduced the amount of money schools can raise from property taxes by$930 million. The total cuts over two years are $1.752 billion.

Village of Mount Calvary Village of North Fond du Lac Village of Oakfield Village of Rosendale Village of Saint Cloud Plus cuts to townships

Total Impact in Co. = $3.2 million in cuts hurting residents GREEN LAKE COUNTY $144,218
City of Berlin City of Green Lake City of Markesan City of Princeton Village of Kingston Village of Marquette Plus cuts to townships

$4,639 $107,235 $15,365 $18,893 $2,347 $389,900

Village of Shiocton Plus cuts to townships

Total Impact in Co. = $5.9 million in cuts hurting residents SAUK COUNTY $512,801
City of Baraboo City of Reedsburg Village of Ironton Village of Lake Delton Village of La Valle Village of Lime Ridge Village of Loganville Village of Merrimac Village of North Freedom Village of Plain Village of Prairie Du Sac Village of Rock Springs Village of Sauk City Village of Spring Green Village of West Baraboo Plus cuts to townships

$9,453 $694,900

Total Impact in Co. = $415,751 in cuts hurting residents

City of Montello Village of Endeavor Village of Neshkoro Village of Oxford Village of Westfield Plus cuts to townships

$136,272 $8,276 $26,020 $25,964 $2,727 $508 $88,400

SAmple budget cutS

K-12 schools $822 million UW and colleges $250 Local government $104 Technical colleges $72 Corrections $67 Low income tax credits $60 Medicaid $446 Plus cuts to other programs $1,779 Total Cuts to schools & state & local services = $3.6 Billion

MARqUETTE COUNTY $240,868

Total Impact in Co. = $358,768 in cuts hurting residents

City of Appleton City of Kaukauna City of Seymour Village of Bear Creek Village of Black Creek Village of Combined Locks Village of Hortonville Village of Kimberly Village of Little Chute Village of Nichols

$20,782 $4,647 $1,174 $6,892 $21,426 $63,000

Total Impact in Co. = $1.6 million in cuts hurting residents SHAWANO COUNTY $555,158
City of Shawano Village of Aniwa Village of Birnamwood Village of Bonduel Village of Bowler Village of Cecil Village of Eland Village of Gresham Village of Mattoon Village of Tigerton Village of Wittenberg Plus cuts to townships

$307,711 $178,016 $651 $107,623 $4,751 $412 $6,997 $543 $7,874 $15,252 $101,720 $4,065 $85,759 $29,321 $25,822 $240,600

WAUPACA COUNTY $942,971

City of Clintonville City of Manawa City of Marion City of New London City of Waupaca City of Weyauwega Village of Big Falls Village of Embarrass Village of Fremont Village of Iola Village of Ogdensburg Village of Scandinavia Plus cuts to townships

Total Impact in Co. = $1.6 million in cuts hurting residents WAUSHARA COUNTY $270,273
City of Wautoma Village of Coloma Village of Hancock Village of Lohrville Village of Plainfield Village of Redgranite Village of Wild Rose Plus cuts to townships

$76,630 $17,817 $17,718 $113,179 $166,849 $31,209 $105 $1,592 $5,612 $17,961 $1,087 $726 $230,400

OUTAGAMIE COUNTY $2,277,671

Cuts to Cities & Counties in the 14th Senate District Are $16.1 Million the 1st Year With More Cuts Coming the 2nd Year! Luther Olsen, why are you cutting municipal services when you give wealthy corporations & the super-rich billions of dollars/yr. in tax breaks?

$2,114,541 $307,344 $56,814 $2,866 $15,776 $63,559 $40,495 $122,035 $193,203 $1,332

Total Impact in Co. = $1,136,639 in cuts hurting residents

$218,708 $979 $6,606 $37,923 $2,439 $2,455 $891 $8,324 $4,406 $7,653 $12,972 $278,800

Total Impact in Co. = $463,806 in cuts hurting residents

$32,411 $3,936 $4,507 $1,196 $6,635 $13,757 $17,996 $113,100

Sources: Wisconsin Departments of Public Instruction, Administration, and Workforce Development, Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau www.wisconsinsfuture.org 7/13/2011

Buy Local - We Must Save & Rebuild Our Local Communities

By Buzz Davis
dbuzzdavis@aol.com

Instructions: Find your county and then where you live. The dollar number given is the cut for the year starting Jan. 1, 2012. There are so many townships that they are not included in this table. All townships are being cut also. Cuts mean reductions in all services - police, fire, EMS, senior centers, parks, libraries, street repair, snow plowing, garbage pickup, sheriff deputies, county health and social service programs, rides to doctors for seniors, jails, etc., etc., etc. All governments are under state revenue controls so they cannot raise taxes to keep the service levels that the community wants. Local control is gone. Republicans and Democrats in the legislature and Gov. Thompson killed local control in 1993 when they passed the state revenue control limits on local governments and schools. The legislature and people like Sen. Luther Olsen have all the power. You no longer have local control of your schools or municipalities. Fight back to regain local control of your schools and community by voting in the recall election of Sen. Olsen on Tuesday, Aug. 9. Vote for Democrat Fred Clark so he can fight to return local control to the people of our state. The governors and legislature have proven, over the last 18 years, that state control does NOT work. The 145 years of our history prior to 1993 proves that local control by locally elected school boards and municipal governments works BEST for all the families in our state. Vote Tuesday, Aug. 9th! Then help us recall Gov. Walker in early 2012! COLUMBIA COUNTY $539,724 in cuts
City of Columbus City of Lodi City of Portage City of Wisconsin Dells Village of Arlington Village of Cambria Village of Doylestown Village of Fall River Village of Friesland Village of Pardeeville Village of Poynette Village of Rio Village of Wyocena Plus cuts to townships $97,321 $50,351 $234,394 $105,457 $4,791 $9,276 $840 $29,470 $1,824 $25,475 $33,102 $17,141 $3,411 $200,000

For years most Republicans and many Democrats have been enacting laws and policies at the state and federal level that enable big and moderate sized businesses to ship jobs sweat shops overseas. They call this progress. We call it destruction of our communities. Most local officials have looked at proposals for big box stores/chain restaurants and strip malls just like kids look at wondrous toys under the Christmas tree. When good job disappear from our com

munities, our kids disappear to the big city chasing family supporting jobs. We are left with too many dying downtowns and strip malls in the outskirts of town that you cant get to unless you have a car. Gov. Walker and rubber stamp Olsen have been pushing community destroying laws their whole careers in government. The laws they push help the large corporations bottom line while destroying your communities with closed factories and shuttered downtowns. A recent study found ... that spending $100 at one of the neighborhoods independent businesses created $68 in additional

STOUGHTON

www.bigboxtoolkit.com
Forward

local economic activity, while spending $100 at a chain produced only $43 worth of local impact. (Civic Economics, The Andersonville Study of Retail Economics, Oct. 2004) To fight back we need to take four steps: On Aug. 9th vote in Fred Clark for senator and end Olsens destruction of your community, help us recall Walker in early 2012 and start a new day in WI, and organize a grassroots group in your town to Think Local, Buy Local & Be Local. Read more on the web about buy local campaigns see the Institute for Local Self-Reliance at:

Why Support Locally Owned Businesses

In an increasingly homogenized world, communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character have an economic advantage. Locally owned businesses build strong communities by sustaining vibrant town centers, linking neighbors in a web of economic and social relationships, and contributing to local causes. Local ownership ensures that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions. Compared to chain stores, locally owned businesses recycle a much larger share of their revenue back into the local economy, enriching the whole community.

Local Character and Prosperity Community Well-Being Local Decision-Making

Keeping Dollars in the Local Economy

Illustration: Ken Avidor

Locally owned businesses create more jobs locally and, in some sectors, provide better wages and benefits than chains do. Entrepreneurship fuels Americas economic innovation and prosperity, and serves as a key means for families to move out of low-wage jobs and into the middle class. Local stores in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure and make more efficient use of public services relative to big box stores and strip shopping malls. Local stores help to sustain vibrant, compact, walkable town centers-which in turn are essential to reducing sprawl, automobile use, habitat loss, and air and water pollution. A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based, not on a national sales plan, but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

Job and Wages

Entrepreneurship

Public Benefits and Costs

Environmental Sustainability Competition

Total Impact in Co. = $1.4 million in cuts hurting residents

FOND DU LAC COUNTY $1,179,773 in cuts

City of Fond du Lac $1,224,970 City of Ripon $199,227 Village of Brandon $15,661 Village of Campbellsport $31,988 Village of Eden $9,183 Village of Fairwater $2,858

Product Diversity

Institute for Local Self-Reliance 1313 5th St SE Minneapolis, MN 55414 (612) 379-3815

www.HometownAdvantage.org

Wisconsins institutions, economy, democracy, people, and resources are under assault in ways which will change us forever. You must get involved and fight back. WE NEED YOUR VOTE ON AUGUST 9TH AND HERE IS WHY: By Roger Springman
Wyocena, WI hotpeppers2@frontier.com

Since Gov. Walker took over in January, he and his Republican cronies like Sen. Luther Olsen have engineered new laws, policies, and two budget bills which are damaging to families, health, communities and our environment. Walker and Olsens work has the net effect of undermining our highly rated public schools (consistently ranked in top 5 states nationally) by cutting $1.6 billion in education aids and property tax reductions. Class sizes will increase, programs will be cut, and teachers will have fewer materials. Still not enough? Walker and his friends want to increase the use of vouchers beyond Milwaukee and Racine which would take hundreds of millions from public schools and transfer it to private and charter schools. These actions will eventually destroy public education in our communities and that is their intention. The budget also eliminates funding for advanced placement programs and reading specialists. Our public schools will soon be a shell of what they once were . . . and this when our kids need a better education than ever to compete in a global economy. Walker and Olsens work has the net effect of reducing human safety net services for seniors and the working poor by nearly $1 billion in the middle of a depression/recession. Badger Care, a medical insurance program for the poor, was reduced by $500 million alone, removing nearly 65,000 adults and kids from coverage. Family Care, a program providing longterm medical assistance and in-home care to seniors and the disabled was reduced by $110 million. The program of providing elderly seniors rides to doctor appointment has been privatized and messed up. $1 million in assistance for womens health care services was eliminated. And on it goes. As these cuts are made, corporations and the wealthy receive well over $400 million in tax breaks, exemptions and credits. . and a new sales tax exemption for junk mail!! Just where is the shared sacrifice, Sen. Olsen and Gov. Walker? Taking from the poor and middle class to give to the rich cannot solve real problems or lead to a just society for all!

Fully 70% of Wisconsins and Americas economy is dependent upon consumer spending for homes, health care, education, cars, food, boats, etc. Public employees and their salaries help drive local economies. Owing to Walker and Olsens benefit reductions (estimated at $3,227 per employee), Wisconsins 356,227 public employees will now have about $1.2 billion less to spend locally. This decrease in purchasing power will hit Main Street hard with an estimated 9,000 to 11,500 private sector jobs lost as local businesses downsize or close. That is not the end of the story. Walker and his cronies intend to privatize as many government services as possible (like prisons), replacing good paying jobs with lower-wage jobs with no or little health insurance. And, of course no unions. Contracting out services at the new veterans home in Chippewa Falls and promoting charter and private schools through vouchers give solid evidence of these trends. Wisconsins economy cannot survive on low-paying service jobs! The middle class must have opportunities to expand and prosper IF Wisconsin is to move forward. Walker and Olsens work has the net effect of opening up Wisconsins natural resources for greater use for development through reductions in environmental protections. The appointment of Cathy Stepp, a former Republican senator and DNR critic, as Department of Natural Resources Secretary sent a clear signal right away. They say it is all about a business friendly environment . . .but their definitely not for clean energy. In reality, it is appointing the fox to guard the hen house. Walker and his Republican cronies dropped support for innovative bio-mass projects, energy conservation, effectively ended wind farm siting, and defunded the Office of Energy Independence. Why do this when we are a national leader? The answer: The multibillionaire Koch Brothers, Walker campaign supporters, own billions in oil and gas projects in Wisconsin. Other attacks? How about Walkers Executive Order which exempts construction on wetlands and increases phosphorous discharge. These actions will destroy wetlands and pollute our rivers. Walker and Olsen took millions from our renowned Stewardship Fund for natural areas land acquisition and shifted it to business development where the money will be given to business cronies. Wisconsins proud heritage as a clean, visionary state is in jeopardy. If every resource is measured in terms of its business potential, there will be nothing left of our natural heritage. And, little will remain for our greatgrandchildren 100 years from now. Make no mistake, Walker and his rubber stamp Republican majority like Sen. Olsen have hijacked our democracy in favor of the wealthy and corporations. It is time to take our democracy back!! We need a fair, just system and that will not happen UNLESS YOU GET INVOLVED AND FIGHT BACK STARTING NOW. Two broad actions are needed to accomplish this victory:

OUR STATE . . .

beginning later this year and going into 2012. Over 600,000 people will have to sign petitions for recall. That can happen quickly if you get involved, sign a petition, circulate petitions to your neighbors and help this vital cause. See the form in this paper to send in to join the recall team. For over 100 years, Wisconsin has been recognized for its clean, open, and progressive government. Those traditions are now being systematically stripped away. This is the moment for you to step up and show your concern about Wisconsins democracy, traditions, and future.

tuesday, Aug. 9th

Urge your family and friends to vote and then get involved in the Walker recall.

pleASe vote for democrAt fred clArk on

What happens if all public workers took an 8% cut in take-home pay?

The chart shows public-sector employment by county; the average impact of an 8% pay cut; and the total loss of purchasing power in that county.
County Columbia # Public employees 3,612 Average annual pay cut $2,685 $3,099 Total loss of Purchasing Power $9,696,432 $17,238,524 $2,484,724 $1,642,508

Fond du Lac Green Lake Marquette Sauk Outagamie Shawano

5,562 704

1,040 9,765

$2,389

$2,333

5,108

$3,358

Waupaca

2,774 1,411

$2,625

$32,790,597 $6,478,585

Walker and Olsens work has the net effect of gaming democracy to work for the wealthy and corporations by reducing political checks and balances and making it harder for citizens to participate in their democracy. The recently passed Voter ID bill suppresses college student, the poor, and elderly voting by requiring state-issued IDs and changing voting eligibility. Walkers legislative cronies took control of redistricting (the creation of new voting districts) away from counties to create districts which hugely disadvantage Democrats . . . especially in recall areas. Other victims? The Government Accountability Board (GAB) which keeps elections clean and fair took a significant cut, public funding of Supreme Court races was eliminated, and Walker formerly declared himself dictator with the passing of Act 21, allowing him to assume complete control of government during an emergency. Wisconsin was once a leader in clean, open government; we are now headed back to the 19th Century when government was controlled by robber barons!

Totals for Senate Dist. 14 Totals for WI

Waushara

3,874

$2,335

$13,407,059 $10,001,674 $3,903,135

$2,582

33,850 356,227

$2,766

$97,643,238 or $97.6 million/yr. $1,167,186,194 or $1.2 billion/yr.

$3,277

By Buzz Davis
dbuzzdavis@aol.com

Walker and Olsens work has the net effect of making it harder for Wisconsin to recover from the recession by taking money and jobs away from the middle class.

1) VOTE AUG. 9TH! You live in senate district 14. Over 23,000 people in your district signed petitions to recall Sen. Luther Olsen because of his poor performance as an elected official. The recall election primary has taken place. Republicans ran fake Democrats in the six primaries across the state wasting hundreds of thousands of your tax dollars. All six real Democrats won the primary elections easily. Real Democrat state Rep. Fred Clark and Republican Luther Olsen are battling it out to win the general election Tuesday, Aug. 9th. We urge you vote for Democrat Fred Clark if you do not like what is happening to your family and community. Vote on or before August 9th. You can vote early by stopping at your local clerks office OR you can request an absentee ballot be sent to your home. Contact your clerk for complete details. 2) HELP RECALL WALKER! Then, you can help in the Gov. Walker recall

Conclusion: Gov. Walker and Sen. Olsen are requiring all public workers in the state to pay 5.8% of their total salary per year to pay the employees share of the annual payment into the WI State Retirement fund. In addition they are requiring each public employee to pay approximately 13% of the cost of the monthly health care insurance cost. For all public employees in the state the average cost of these two monthly payments will be $273 or $3,277 per year. This money will come out of their take home pay. Thus they will NOT be spending this money in the communities where they live and work i.e. their purchasing power will decrease about $3,277 per year forever. This means that in Senate District 14 there will be $97.6 million LESS spent in your local stores each year. Some businesses will have to cut back the work hours of employees, lay people off, and in the worst case the business may have to go out of business with job

losses for all employees. In summary just when local economies need a boost to get your community out of the economic depression/recession, Gov. Walker and Sen. Olsen are causing a reduction in consumer spending. The Institute for Wisconsins Future, a non-partisan Milwaukee think tank, estimates that statewide Walkers and Olsens dictate will cause a drop in purchasing power of up to possibly $1.2 billion per year. The potential private sector impact will be a loss of 9,000 to 11, 500 jobs lost across WI. These decisions are unwise in these economic times. Walker and Olsen have made unwise decisions in these economic times. Let us hope those additional layoffs do not occur in your community. You can fight back to protect your family and your community on Tuesday, Aug. 9th by voting for Democrat Fred Clark. The choice is yours. Source for data: Institute for Wisconsins Future (Wisconsinsfuture.org)

How Did Walker Win? Why Is He Cutting Government?

PUBLIC OPINION POLLS SHOW THE mAjORITY OF WISCONSIN CITIzENS WANT:
Good public schools for all kids regardless of capabilities and disabilities, Good municipal services (fire, police, EMS, libraries, street repair/ snowplowing, senior centers, parks and recreation, etc.), Good county services (parks, sheriff, courts, assistance for disabled/sick/ poor/mentally ill, veterans services, zoos, county library systems, public health departments, etc.), Good state services (the State Patrol, protection of natural resources, water, air, animals, hunting, fishing, state parks, good highways, Medicaid programs, state courts, prisons, etc.), Good vocational schools and colleges for all citizens, Progressive tax systems where the super-rich and corporations pay a higher share of total taxes as was required in the past, More gun controls and the majority are against concealed carry Local control of their school systems and local governments, Better health care for all like single payer/Medicare for all, More citizens to participate in voting for our representatives not voter ID, Less political corruption by moneyed interests buying politicians and votes via multibillion dollar campaign contributions, independent expenditures (ads) and lobbying, Politicians to talk to one another, compromise, listen to the publics concerns, and work together to build better schools and communities, Collective bargaining rights and unions for those private and public sector workers who choose to be so represented, and the list of citizen expectations goes on and on. QUESTION: So why did we elect Gov. Walker? government, lower taxes, privatization and cheaper workers for the super-rich and corporations; NOT to go after the estimated $1.2 billion in state taxes that are owed to the state each year and are not paid by individuals and companies; To give MORE tax breaks to WIs super-rich families and corporations in the biennial budget; NOT to repeal some of the billions and billions of dollars in tax breaks given to wealthy families and corporations over the past 40 years by both Democratic and Republican governors and legislatures; was $3.6 billion. By collecting the estimated $1.2 billion in state taxes owed each year and NOT paid, our state would collect another $2.4 billion. That leaves a $1.2 billion shortfall to be patched. Repealing some of the billions of dollars in tax breaks given to super-rich WI families and corporations would provide the rest of the money needed. And NOT giving any more new tax breaks to wealthy families and corporations as Walker did in his budget (at a tax loss of nearly $200 million) would have helped him actually increase state aids to schools and communities. So What Can We Do to Protect Our Families & Our Communities? Political Alternatives. We could wait until Nov. of 2014 and try to defeat Walker when he runs for re-election. But that allows him another 3.5 years to destroy WI. So what can we do. Under our WI Constitution, we have the right to impeach Walker and his cronies but this can only be started by the state assembly. As of November that body is controlled by radical right wing Republicans. So that option is out. Under the WI Constitution, we also have the right to recall any elected official after he/she has been in office for 12 months or more. Using this right thousands of volunteers gathered over 100,000 signatures of citizens in 6 senate districts and we recalled those Republicans. Why did we do this? So that we can win 3 or more of those elections and Democrats can then take over the state senate. Once this happens Gov. Walker will have to negotiate with the Democrats or he will get nothing passed. Next Step in Returning Good Government to WI is to recall Walkers THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS FIGHT BACK. To fight back for your family, you must be organized. And that means help win recall elections! Fred Clarks campaign, the Democratic Party and the union effort, called We Are Wisconsin, are each organized and have been working hard. In these last few days before Tuesday, Aug. 9th -- they need YOU to help them!

six rubber stamp Republican on Tuesday, Aug. 9th. If you do not like what is happening to WI, you need to vote for Fred Clark for state senate on Aug. 9th. Then you and your family will have a fighting chance. If you and your family dont vote, the rubber stamp Republicans will continue to do Walkers bidding and Walker does the bidding of the corporations and the super-rich. You have a choice. Dont let someone else make your decision. Vote yourself on Aug. 9th.

Reason #2 - Walker Wants Unions & Democratic Politicians Destroyed. Unions are being destroyed because Walker and his right wing friends want to be able to reduce workers wages. Secondly, Walker wants to destroy the political power Democrats have. Though most unions donate to and endorse both Republicans and Democrats, they help more Democrats. By destroying unions, the money and volunteer workers will not be there for the Democrats. Business gives far more money to Republicans than Democrats thus Republicans will win most elections. This is also why the Republicans biennial budget eliminated/destroyed WIs system of publicly financing political campaigns for state offices. Destroying public financing helps destroy the Democrats. Walkers Propaganda Campaign: Spending must be cut because we dont have the money at the state level & reducing all taxes is good for WI and good for you. This is false. The two year budget deficit

Donate to: Fred Clark For Wisconsin, POBox 383, Baraboo, WI 53913 or see website at clarkforwisconsin.org or email: volunteer@clarkforwisconsin.org or to volunteer w/Cark and the Democratic Party please stop in or call an office: Portage Clark Office at 216 W. Wisconsin Ave., Portage, WI 53901 715-418-9118 Waupaca-New London Clark Office at E6136 State Road 54, New London, WI 54961 715- 418-9113 We Are Wisconsin is a coalition of union brothers and sister. The Baraboo Office email is: SD14@allianceforabetterwi.org or call at: 920-450-4853 or stop in to help at the HQ: 215 8th Ave, Baraboo, WI Buzz Davis, Stoughton, WI dbuzzdavis@aol.com

7-21-11 lAteSt clArk poll

Will clark get beat by special interest groups spending big corporate money on dirty ads and lies? Only yOu will decide that Aug. 9th!

clark leading 45% to olsens 43%!

There are at least three major reasons: Low Voter Turnout. In the governors election Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010 nearly 2.25 million WI adults 51% of the voters were no shows who decided to skip voting. Only 25.6% of the people in the state voted for Walker and a bit fewer voted for Barrett. Pathetic right! But we will all be damaged by Mr. Walkers decisions. Weak Democratic Campaign. Walker was elected because the Democrats ran a weak campaign that was not progressive, not aggressive and did not catch on. Walker Spent 57% More $. Walker spent $11.3 million while Barrett $7.2 million. Walker spent 57% more money than Barrett. In American politics, whoever spends the most usually wins. Plus, various outside groups spent an additional $12.1 million on efforts to defeat Walker or Barrett. QUESTION: So why are we cutting all these services and eliminating these concepts when public opinion polls show the majority of us want them?

Please Donate to this Recall Effort

Wisconsin Recall Task Force PAC is a volunteer effort to make the Recalls of 2011 and 2012 succeed. We need money for flyers, signs and to cover costs like this one we create to assist in the Recalls, Recall elections and to Recall of Scott Walker. If you would like to help us, please contribute with a donation to help us buy materials.

Reason #1 - Walker WANTS to Cut. Drastic cuts are being ordered because Walker and his rubber stamp legislators decided; To reduce government services in WI. Ideologically these radicals want smaller government, weaker

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