Of course the BIG deal of the day is the presidential race and Electoral College count. Will Obama win big? McCain squeak by? Will we even know today or this week?

What will happen with the majorities in the House and Senate. It is difficult for me to understand how a Congress with the lowest approval rating can gain more seats for the party in power, but I have given up trying to understand people's irrational choices. 

If California's Proposition 8 passes, it would eliminate gay marriage. If it fails, gay marriage stays.

In Wisconsin I am watching the Assembly races. I think Leah Vukmir is safe. Hope Rich Zipperer does well too. Dan Knodl from the 24th Assembly District will attract my attention--remember the endorsement problems? Will Republicans still support him?

I'll also be watching Yash Wadhwa's race--not just because I want another Republican seat in the Assembly, but because I like his personal story.

In the State Senate, I am pulling for John Gard* and Alberta Darling. 

Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner should be a sure thing, but Paul Ryan? I hope voters have the good sense to send him back to Washington.

As for Germantown's $22.5 million Elementary School Referendum (some tech and safety upgrades included too?), will voters there buy the Brooklyn Bridge, oh, excuse me, the idea that a new school won't really cost them because the state aid will make up for the added bonding expense?

Supporters of Tuesday's main referendum measure argue that the increase in property taxes needed to pay for the borrowing would be offset by additional state aid collected as a result of higher enrollment.

Remember the Germantown School Board discontinued full-day kindergarten next year because of space constraints. If this referendum does not pass, what will they do then? Go to all half-day or work out some other solution?

It should be interesting!

*Correction, John Gard ran for Congress not State Senate 

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

Links: 

We are all growing weary of the campaign ads, but there is one ad I love to hear. It is Yash Wadhwa's radio ad for Wisconsin's 22nd Assembly district.

Yash tells how he came to America in 1969 with just $5 in his pocket and a dream in his heart. His story reminded me of my own foreign born grandfather who came here at age 13.

Yash says, I believe in this country you could do anything you were willing to work for, and it was true. From a graduate student to an owner of a consulting engineering company, I have been blessed to live the American dream...

This is the best country on earth. When I became a citizen in 1982 it was the happiest day in my life. 

This country has given me so much I am eager to go to Madison and give something back. 

Listen to his complete ad: Yash Wadhwa and the American Dream

He gets it. Work hard and succeed. It worked for him, it can work for anyone.

I spoke at length with a Pakistani woman at a party last week. She has lived all over the world, and she appreciated what America had to offer too. No one else works (or plays) as hard as you do here in America, she said.  

My sister-in-law lived in Canada for a year. She often commented how people were so different up there. We tend to think we could easily adapt to life in Canada. Not so, she said. They don't possess that same sense of entrepreneurship. There is none of that go get 'em attitude up there. They wait instead for the government to do for them what they could do for themselves.

I agree with Yash. We are privileged to live in the best country on earth. It breaks my heart that the front runner in this presidential race doesn't agree. Worse yet, Obama wants to copy the failed economic policies of socialist countries and restrict the freedoms we take for granted.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

Links: 

Our 24th Assembly District neighbors to the north have had quite a week since their Sept. 9th primary election. Candidate Dan Knodl won by about 400 votes, but his victory is not without controversy,

A woman who was falsely listed on Republican Daniel Knodl's campaign literature as a supporter on Wednesday asked district attorneys in Waukesha and Washington counties to launch an investigation into the campaign.

As if that was not enough, the Knodl backers tangle expands:

Assembly candidate Daniel Knodl, under investigation over falsely listing names of supporters on campaign literature, faced a new accusation Monday that he erroneously claimed one of his primary opponents has endorsed him.

This latest error, that LaSage is endorsing Knodl, is a little easier to understand. Evidently the 3 opponents met with Knodl and other Republicans to discuss the coming Nov. 4th election. (My emphasis)

Meanwhile, he [Knodl] said he met with his primary challengers and other local Republicans at a post-election fence-mending, unifying breakfast where they agreed to work for a Republican ticket clean sweep Nov. 4.

“All of them have agreed to back my campaign,” he [Knodl] said.

Knodl's opponents, Randall Melchert and Michael Moscicke, stated on Monday that they do endorse Knodl, according to the Journal. Melchert affirmed this when I spoke with him on Sunday.

From the tangle expands article:

LaSage, in his letter to Knodl, said he attended the Republican rally on Wednesday to support conservative principles.

LaSage, in an interview, said it was possible that Knodl thought he supported his campaign because he attended the rally.

So Jason LaSage has not officially endorsed Knodl. Perhaps he is still hoping for a special election?

As a side note on the subject of endorsements, Randall Melchert told me he was the only candidate of the 4 who officially endorsed James Sensenbrenner.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,  Vicki Mckenna

I am happy to report that Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner will continue serving in the United States House of Representatives. He won with 36,665 votes to Jim Burkee's 10,080.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,  Vicki Mckenna

I don't know that many people are even thinking about voting today, but Tuesday, Sept. 9th is the primary election for the Nov. 4th election. As usual, we will go vote. (One of the joys of having an adult child is that our household vote total now is 3!)

Don't assume that this election does not matter. There are primary challengers to Congressman Sensenbrenner, Register of Deeds, and Assembly, depending on your district. 

We all vote on United States Congressman in our area. You would think Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner would be running unopposed, but "Republican" Jim Burkee is challenging him for the job.

I don't even have to wonder about which one to support--Burkee's Journal Sentinel endorsement along with the Shepherd Express' tells me all I need to know. (The Journal also endorsed Sensenbrenner's opponent Bryan Kennedy 2 years ago.)

I will cast my vote of support for Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, because he has been a steadfast supporter of fiscal and social conservative values. I do contact Congressman Sensenbrenner fairly often about legislation.

I live in State Assembly district 14--east Brookfield, West Allis, etc. Here is my sample ballot. 

Leah Vukmir is my 14th Assembly Representative. She gets my enthusiastic support too for being a champion for taxpayers and conservative values. Leah will be challenged by Democrat David Hucke in November.

If you live in State Assembly district 98--west Brookfield and Pewaukee area--this is your ballot. 

Rich Zipperer, Republican 98th Assemblyman, will be challenged by Democrat Victor Weers this November. If I lived in the 98th, I would wholeheartedly support Zipperer. He too is a strong conservative voice in Madison.

State Assembly district 24 is to our immediate north--Menomonee Falls, Germantown, etc.--here is their ballot. 

The 24th district will be choosing their Republican Assembly candidate from a field of 4 contenders (listed in order on the ballot): Michael Moscicke, Randall Ryan Melchert, Jason Lasage, and Dan Knodl. As I have already stated, my choice would be Randall Melchert.

The Democrats are also presenting two 24th Assembly candidates: Charlene Brady and Torrey Lauer on tomorrow's ballot.

By the way, Republican 8th District State Senator Alberta Darling will be challenged in November by Democrat Sheldon Wasserman.

So go vote today!

If your district was not listed, you can find your sample ballot here. 

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin,  Vicki Mckenna

Here is a little news for residents to our north, Randy Melchert* is running for State Assembly, 24th District. That area starts just north of Lisbon Road on up to Pioneer Road and from 124th St. west to Hillside Road and includes Butler, Menomonee Falls (most), Germantown, Hubertus and Colgate.

Suzanne Jeskewitz, the current area's representative, announced earlier this month that she would not be running again.

If you live in the 24th District, Melchert will start collecting nomination signatures on June 1st. The primary is September 9th. Check out his website:

"Melchert envisions a pro-life, pro-family, pro-growth Wisconsin. Melchert will be working to make Wisconsin an economic greenhouse attracting high quality corporations, jobs, and families. As posted on his website (www.randymelchert.com) Wisconsin has the seventh highest state and local tax burden according to The Tax Foundation. Melchert believes we need to stop raiding settlements and reserved funds to pay for our out-of-control budget. With aggressive spending controls we can begin to reduce taxes, and thereby revitalize the state economy."

His blog, Randall Melchert for Assembly Blog has interesting (and disturbing) postings containing graphs and information on how Wisconsin is losing jobs and increasing taxes and debt. This would be of interest to all Wisconsin residents, not just those in the 24th District.

Wish we had more like him in Madison! 

*I have known the Melchert family for 8 years. 

Don't forget the Music Concert to Benefit Chinese Quake Victims, Saturday, May 31st, 10AM - 1PM, Brookfield Civic Plaza

Links:

It is nearing the big day for the 2008 spring election on Tuesday, April 1st. True, it is April Fools Day, but this election is no joke. There is a lot riding on the ballot this day, for one thing, a $62.2 million dollar school referendum.

Add an important State Supreme Court race and half of Brookfield's Common Council too, throw in a Constitutional Amendment and a few other races and I hope it adds up to a good turnout.

I will start with the biggest ticket item first. My picks are in bold and marked with an X. I live in the 7th district, but I will also include my picks for other districts as well. As always, familiarize yourself with the candidates and issues and make an intelligent choice.

My policy is to only vote for those I support. Unless I am reasonably familiar with a candidate's stance, I do not vote for them. If a candidate is unopposed and I don't support them, I don't vote for them. I may vote for a write-in instead as a protest vote. (My comments are in parenthesis.)

HERE IS TUESDAY'S BALLOT  (Thanks Fairly Conservative for the tip on looking up your area's ballot.)

AUTHORIZING GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS (A.K.A. Elmbrook's $62.2 Million dollar referendum )

_ YES

X NO!!!

QUESTION 1: Partial Veto (A.K.A. Frankenstein veto)

X YES

   NO
 

Non-Partisan Races: 

JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT 

X MIKE GABLEMAN (Endorsed by Cong.Sensenbrenner, Ryan, Wisconsin Right to Life, and more info)

   LOUIS BUTLER (Endorsed by Sen. Feingold, Kohl, AFT & WEAC, Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender Center Advocates)

COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE, DISTRICT 2

X WILLIAM GLEISNER (Endorsed by Paul Bucher, who's ads state Gleisner is pro-life, gun rights, and voter ID)

   LISA S. NEUBAUER (Gov. Doyle appointee, more liberal than Gleisner)

 

COUNTY BOARD SUPERVISOR

THOMAS SCHELLINGER (Tom will make it for this one without my vote, remember 2006?)  

Former alderman JIM HEINRICH is also on the ballot for another area.

ALDERMEN, City of Brookfield  My picks if I could vote in every district. My district 7.

DISTRICT 1

X DAN SUTTON*  (Hands down my favorite here. Dan has great instincts. I hope to see him as council pres.)

DICK BRUNNER (My impression: Voted with mayor's agenda for every development and against neighborhoods.)

DISTRICT 2

X TERRY HALMSTAD (Seems to be everything I would look for in a candidate, he would be an asset on the council.)

RICK OWEN (Seems he votes with mayor's agenda for every development and against neighborhoods--including ours. Will the real Rick Owen please stand up?)

DISTRICT 3

X RON BALZER* (Ron often votes independently of mayor's agenda.  I would vote for him if I lived in 3.)

JACK SHAW  

DISTRICT 4

STEVE PONTO (I can't remember a vote of his that wasn't the mayor's agenda. Drives a cute red VW convertible though.)

DISTRICT 5 

SCOTT BERG* (His votes sometimes surprise you--not always with the mayor's agenda--he also is surprising.)

DISTRICT 6 

X CHRISTOPHER BLACKBURN* (I am so glad he is running again and has no opponent. He is very pro resident.)

DISTRICT 7 

X RENEE' LOWERR (Very energetic, hard worker, and I think will be sensitive to neighborhoods regarding development since she had her own NIMBY experience.)

TOM SCHELLINGER*, AGAIN. (Nice enough guy, but a neighbor refers to him as Mr. Roll-a-dex, because when he called Tom about an issue, Tom got the neighbor a phone number to call to solve for himself. Position never known on an issue until vote.) 

*The star denotes the aldermen who voted with our neighborhood to preserve our little Kinsey Park woods from an unwanted, paved, bike road. We barely squeaked a victory and would not have won had Gary Mahkorn not been on vacation.

Oh, I almost forgot...

SCHOOL BOARD: all unopposed 

X TOM GEHL (Tom and I don't see eye to eye on everything, like the referendum, but he made the hard decision to vote NO to 4K because it did not show academic merit. He is very prompt and polite in his response time to email questions.) 

DAVID MARCELLO (David is also pro referendum and will probably get in unless enough people write in CINDY KILKENNY as I will do. Then maybe we can start maintaining our schools.)

GARY JONES (He will get in, but this is another chance to choose your ideal candidate with a write-in. Gary seemed nice enough at the forum, but again, he is pro referendum.) 

Correction: C G SCHMIDT Cost summary of Referendum

ACADEMICS, NOT ATHLETICS AND AIR CONDITIONING!  

Tomorrow is MILLIONS OF DOLLARS Tuesday!

Links: Brookfield7, Betterbrookfield,  Vicki Mckenna 

We've heard the term: Frankenstein Veto, and we have seen what it can do: Doyle's raiding the transportation fund to give to the general fund, comes to mind. But before any Republicans start acting smugly, Tommy Thompson created Frankenstein monsters too. But do you know what it really is?

Mark Belling explained this monster the other day. The Frankenstein Veto uses the trick of the veto pen, altering legislative language, to create something totally unintended. It allows the Governor to eliminate numbers, words, phrases, or sentences from legislation that crosses his desk, and those eliminated parts allow him to alter the intent of that legislation.

Fictitious Example: All monkeys must be licensed by April 15th. The license fee of $10.00 is payable to the City of Brookfield to offset costs incurred by the police department and Elmbrook Humane Society. 

On April 1st, voters will have the power to end the Frankenstein Veto through a Constitutional Amendment. If you want to end this practice, vote YES. You are saying, Yes, we want to alter the state constitution. Of course they don't call it the Frankenstein Veto, they call it the Partial Veto. (Thanks FairlyConservative.)

Both sides of the isle are generally in favor of ending this practice, Belling said. Doyle probably would not want it to end, however, since it gives him the power to create something uninteneded out of legislative language.

Eliminating this type of Partial Veto would still allow a governor to veto certain parts of a law, just not transform the intent of a law.

Links: Brookfield7, Betterbrookfield,  Vicki Mckenna 

FYI, Mark Belling, is talking about our referendum and Wisconsin taxes right now on his radio show at 4:35pm. 

He mentioned the alderman who called our schools an embarrassment (Mahkorn) and the 12 aldermen who endorsed Elmbrook's referendum.

Mark said, if the residents vote for this, then they better not call his show complaining of their high property taxes.

A caller noted that the two aldermen who did not endorse the referendum were former city employees. Possibly they know something the other aldermen don't? Belling did not want the caller to speak for Balzer or Carnell. It was an interesting observation though. 

UPDATE: I almost forgot that Bill Carnell once was on the school board too! 

Belling notes and quotes: Wisconsin ranks 44th in favorable business tax climate, 50th for retirees.

"The one positive thing about referendums is that you at least get to vote NO."

"I know it is very hard to be the lone wolf." 

He praises the New Berlin school district in their approach. "I hope the (Elmbrook) referendum fails." New Berlin has built 2 new schools without raising taxes.

"At what point in Wisconsin are we going to say, enough is enough."

You may want to listen to the podcast (hour 2, part 1-housing values, raised taxes, fees, Brookfield council and 2) if you cannot listen live.

The countdown continues: Just 13 days until MILLIONS OF DOLLARS Tuesday!

Email me your thoughts on the $62.2 million dollar referendum.

ACADEMICS, NOT ATHLETICS: VOTE NO

Links: Brookfield7, Betterbrookfield,  Vicki Mckenna 

Former 2007 Referendum Facilities Facts Sheets (Still a good read)

Things are really heating up over the controversial Voter ID Constitutional Amendment. The controversy being that around 80% of Wisconsinites--regardless of political affiliation--want a Voter ID requirement, but the Democrat controlled State Senate won't bring the measure up for a vote before the current session ends next week.

So they just get to it next year?  I don't think so. Voter ID is a Constitutional Amendment. It is my understanding that for a Constitutional amendment question to be brought to the voters on a ballot, it first needs to pass both houses for two years in a row.

Voter ID has passed the Assembly two times and the Senate once. This next week is Voter ID's only chance to pass the senate for the second time. If it is not brought up for a vote, then the question of should the state constitution be amended to require Wisconsin voters to show a Voter photo ID to vote cannot be put on the ballot for Wisconsin voters to decide.

Yesterday Assembly Republican, Rep. Jeff Stone and 6 Senate Republicans held a news conference criticizing the Senate Democrats for not bringing Voter ID for a vote. You can read the account on the Wisconsin State Journal.

The squabble escalated until Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston, stepped toward the lone Assembly Republican, Rep. Jeff Stone, of Greendale, and angrily told him to leave.

"Go back to the Assembly and take care of your business there," Decker told Stone.

As Decker quickly turned to leave, Stone replied, "I did. I'm waiting for you to take care of the people's business here." 

I called my State Senator Jim Sullivan's office this morning. The aid (Steve) said they had received a lot of calls on this.  He was rather vague about the issue though. I tried to pin him down as to Sen. Sullivan's position on Voter ID ( AJR17 ) , but he  focused his attention on telling me that the senator would let me know his views on it via letter.

I said I wanted to know Sullivan's position on Voter ID. Steve said, oh, Sen. Sullivan favors a Voter ID. I said then why has he not pushed to bring it to a vote? Again, some talk about how I would hear Sullivan's views in a letter.

I told Steve that Sullivan's 5th District constituents would be watching how Sen. Sullivan acts on this important issue.

According to a caller I heard on Vicki McKenna's radio show today, when he called Sen. Sullivan's office, the aid told him that the Senator favors Voter ID, but as a law, not a Constitutional Amendment!

That sounds like a dodge to me, but if it is true, why has not Sen. Sullivan introduced such legislation? 

More from the Wisconsin State Journal:

With Sen. Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee, observing the news conference, the Republicans cited a recent report on voting irregularities in Milwaukee in calling for the voter identification requirement.

Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Falls, challenged Coggs to explain why he was "afraid to let the people decide" on the constitutional amendment.

Coggs replied that Democrats disagree with Republicans on the issue and that requiring photo identification at the polls wouldn't stop voting irregularities.

Coggs and the Republicans continued to debate the merits of the proposed amendment, with Stone saying, "Let's let everyone in Wisconsin have a voice on something that's a basic principle."

I know I am sounding like a broken record here, but call Senator Sullivan and  Senator Decker. Tell them, Let the people decide, bring AJR17 to a VOTE!

Senator Russel Decker, Senate Majority Leader
Sen.Decker@legis.wisconsin.gov  608-266-2502

Milwaukee Police Department Special Investigation Report on 2004 Election Voter Fraud

Prior Posting: Virtual Schools, Ethanol back in committee, Photo ID languishing in Senate 

Links: Betterbrookfield,  Vicki Mckenna 

Assemblyman Leah Vukmir's office called today in response to an email I sent*. Her aid informed me that the Renewable fuel bill (Ethanol) was going to committee again this Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 10 am.

He also said that Leah Vukmir was in a hearing meeting on the Assembly version of the Virtual Schools bill AB870(?) It was to go to Executive Session (committee) Tuesday, Feb. 26, 10 am. The Assembly version of the Virtual Schools bill did not have the cap restriction as the Senate SB396 version did.

Fifth District Senator Jim Sullivan voted FOR capping the Virtual School program. The capping will eliminate about 3,000 children from this very popular program unless the Assembly comes up with a solution.

Contact the Assembly about the Ethanol bill and Virtual Schools. 

Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald (Assembly Majority Leader), from Horicon. Counties: Columbia and Dodge
Rep. Michael Huebsch (Assembly Speaker), from West Salem. Counties: LaCrosse and Monroe

State Representative Leah Vukmir, Republican, 14th District
Rep.Vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov  608-266-9180

Representative Rich Zipperer, Republican, 98th District
Rep.Zipperer@legis.wisconsin.gov  608-266-5120 

On another note, the Photo ID bill amendment, AJR17 is stalled in the Senate. Kevin Fisher of New Berlin was filling in for Mark Belling today. He relayed that unless Majority Leader Russ Decker brings it to the floor soon, it will be a dead issue--the 2007 legislative session ends March 13th. 

State Senator Mary Lazich of New Berlin wrote an informative piece on how this simple ID requirement will not adversely effect our election process as Governor Doyle and others suggest.

Kevin stated it is estimated that about 80% of Wisconsin residents would like to have a photo ID requirement for voting. Hey, I would be happy if they would ink our fingers too. Anything to discourage vote fraud.

If you would like to see Wisconsin adopt voter ID, please contact Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker and urge him (politely) to bring this bill to the floor now. As a Wisconsin voter, you have the right to request this vote, since he is blocking this important legislation. Let your Senator know how you feel about voter ID too.

Senator Russel Decker, Senate Majority Leader
Sen.Decker@legis.wisconsin.gov  608-266-2502
 

State Senator Jim Sullivan, Democrat, 5th District
Sen.Sullivan@legis.wisconsin.gov  608-266-2512,  866-817-6061

State Senator Theodore Kanavas, Republican, 33rd District
Sen.Kanavas@legis.wisconsin.gov  608-266-9174, 800-863-8883

Governor Doyle
608-266-1212, 414-227-4344

*(Don't you just love responsive government? Leah Vukmir always emails or calls me back. Even Rich Zipperer and Ted Kanavas email me, and they aren't my representatives! I am still waiting to hear from my State Senator Jim Sullivan on these and other  issues I have contacted him about over the past weeks. My last response from him was about the budget, dated November 2007.)

Familiarize yourself with this issue: Ethanol: The bad bill that just won't die! It's back

A MUST read: Ethanol bill poses conflicts, One sponsor has $20,000 interest in fuel producer, 

Clearing Land for Biofuels Makes Global Warming Worse, The Ethanol Fallacy

Ethanol bill heads to senate Thursday--Speak Up, Ethanol bill: Just what would be a conflict of interest?

Links: Betterbrookfield,  Vicki Mckenna