UPDATE : Former Scott Jensen Communications Director Steve Baas leads “Chicagoland” Free Trade project for Wisconsin

The July 25 Badger Democracy blog  revealed the Walker Administration’s participation in a regional study by the “free-trade,” “trade union reform” multi-national Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Badger Democracy has learned the Southeastern Wisconsin Coordinator for the study is Steve Baas – lobbyist for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, and former Communications Director and Defense [...]

Walker email, study means more anti-Wisconsin ideas

An email obtained by Badger Democracy through Open records request from Governor Scott Walker’s staff to The Greater Milwaukee Committee, discloses Wisconsin participation in a tri-state study to promote “international competitiveness in job creation” and “labor reforms.”  The study is being conducted under the auspices of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – a [...]

Hansen Landslide is reason for optimism (and reality)

With Democratic Senator Dave Hansen’s landslide defense of his State Senate seat in Green Bay Tuesday, there is cause for celebration and optimism – followed by a dose of reality. One can almost sense the momentum building as the summer recalls heat up, moving into next month’s Senatorial recall elections. In a few short months Scott [...]

New ALEC Bill in committee means drastic Prevailing Wage law changes

Assembly Bill 183 was referred to the Committee on Jobs, Economy, and Small Business on June 16, 2011. Thanks to the Center For Media and Democracy’s “ALEC Exposed” website, the true influence of The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) on this bill, and the Legislators introducing it, can now be confirmed. Prior Badger Democracy articles exposed the corporate influence [...]

Update: Wisconsin Democrats – are you listening?

Update – Over the weekend of 7/15, Rep. Mark Pocan and Sen. Mark Miller announced the drafting of a bill which would restore Colective Bargaining Rights for Wisconsin Public Employees. This is a great first step, and should be embraced by every Democratic Candidate invololved in recall elections, and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. This [...]

Walker email reveals purpose of meeting with Tom Ridge

An email from a lobbyist to Governor Scott Walker links a meeting with Tom Ridge to a multi-national “professional services organization” with a history of government privatization worldwide. Badger Democracy received the email as part of an Open Records Request. Former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge  is currently a board member or senior consultant with over a [...]

GOP Redistricting maneuvers Wisconsin into Constitutional Crisis

The GOP redistricting strategy has one goal, and it is not to accurately represent shifts in voting populations since the last census. It is a power grab, plain and simple. Any objective analysis of the entities involved, outlined districts, and rushed timetable confirm that accusation. The greatest impact the GOP desire to retain power will have, however, will be to plunge Wisconsin [...]

Kaukauna School Board and Scott Walker have something in common…budgeting is not about the money – it’s about union busting

The Kaukauna School District has been put on display by the Walker Administration recently as a shining example of how the passage of Act 10 (curbing collective bargaining rights for teachers) has saved Wisconsin Public Schools. The story has received national attention, being cited by right-wing talk show host Rush Limbaugh, and Byron York in [...]

Walker emails expose knowledge of Foley and Lardner (and Company) work on radical Municipal Governance Legislation

An email received by Badger Democracy through Open Records Request from Scott Walker’s staff prove that Walker met with Foley and Lardner lobbyists and the Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC) in January, 2011 to discuss GMC-supported Municipal Governance Reform Legislation.  A further email from December 2010 proves that Walker had discussed the key issues of statewide Municipal Governance Reform with GMC President Julia Taylor [...]

Wisconsin Worker’s Struggle, Global Solidarity, and Resistance

Early in the Wisconsin Movement against the corporate coup d’etat, it was apparent state labor and progressives were in solidarity with a worldwide resistance. Scott Walker has adopted the policies pushed by the new age of “Robber Barons” – plundering state resources for unfettered profits, leaving a trail of human devastation  in their wake. It is [...]