Saturday, May 2, 2015

$662,000 Basketball Locker Rooms vs. $200,000 Gym and Locker Rooms Renovation


Sources:  U.S. News (Arrowhead, Racine Case)

New bleachers? Shiny lockers? School challenges intensify.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/1/2015)

In this corner.
Arrowhead High School in Hartland had just completed new $662,000 locker rooms for its basketball teams, and posted a time-lapse look at what it billed as "the best high school locker rooms in the country."

And in the other corner.
Compare that with the situation facing Case High School in Racine. In April, it began a $200,000 renovation of its field house, which includes a gymnasium and locker rooms. Case is renovating to remove half-century-old asbestos-based paint in the gym floor and in the tiling of the locker room showers. The funding comes entirely from an $8.5 million per year referendum passed by voters last fall. 

The Usual Hypocrisy: What Scott Walker sez on his campaign website and what he does in the Governor's office are two different things



Scott Walker signs 'Uber' bill over local objections.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 5/2/2015)
The state representatives signed the letter sent to Walker, complaining about Uber’s response to the allegations against drivers and calling on Walker to veto state regulations for Transportation Network Companies such as Uber.
Those regulations are less restrictive than the ones passed by the city of Madison, and they bar municipalities from enacting their own rules.  [Emphasis added.]

I'd call municipal government a lot closer to the people than state government.

Without a hint of irony, Scott Walker trumpets Wisconsin tourism in his latest weekly e-update





Wisconsin Tourism Activity Up $1 Billion in 2014
The overall strength and growth of Wisconsin tourism continues to have a positive impact on our economy, and what’s more, research shows that tourism advertising goes beyond simply promoting vacations; it also boosts the state’s overall image.

Related posts:
It's becoming a daily routine to update Scott Walker's presidential campaign travel schedule.  (5/2/2015)
Scott Walker adds a couple of stops to his Iowa itinerary.  (5/1/2015) 
From Iowa to Massachusetts.  (4/28/2015)
Scott Walker runs to the arms of Iowa Republicans for approval.  (4/17/2015) 
Where in the world is determined presidential candidate/distracted Wisconsin governor Scott Walker?  (3/16/2015)
Furiously campaigning for the Presidency, Scott Walker travels on the Wisconsin taxpayers' 'dime'.  (3/4/2015)

It's becoming a daily routine to update Scott Walker's presidential campaign travel schedule


Scott Walker Heading to Michigan as Part of his Midwest Strategy.  (Bloomberg Politics, 5/1/2015)

Ingham County Republican Party. 

Oakland County Republican Party.


Photo credit:  Wisconsin Office of the Governor
Quote source:  Bloomberg Politics

Related posts:
Scott Walker adds a couple of stops to his Iowa itinerary.  (5/1/2015) 
From Iowa to Massachusetts.  (4/28/2015)
Scott Walker runs to the arms of Iowa Republicans for approval.  (4/17/2015) 
Where in the world is determined presidential candidate/distracted Wisconsin governor Scott Walker?  (3/16/2015)
Furiously campaigning for the Presidency, Scott Walker travels on the Wisconsin taxpayers' 'dime'.  (3/4/2015)

Scott Walker and Marco Rubio will be 'bridge' candidates only if moderate Republicans don't pay attention


Rubio and Walker Competing For 'Bridge' Candidate Spot.  (Des Moines Register, 5/1/2015)
 

And as for Scott Walker, he's already demonstrated his appeal to very conservative voters, while antagonizing moderate Wisconsin Republican voters in the process.


Not to mention Tea Party members.
 

No Friend to the Environment: Republican Representative Louie Gohmert, Texas's 1st Congressional District


Photo sourceU.S. Congress
Text source:  Washington Times



Tea Party favorite Gohmert was re-elected to a 6th term in 2014 with 77.5% of the vote. 

Required reading for Rep. Gohmert and his east Texas constituents.

How Climate Change Will Impact Texas. (State Impact, 2013) 
More greenhouse gases mean a warmer and warmer planet. Texas just ended what could be its warmest year in history, with an established trend of warming over the last few decades.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/news/local/article13852676.html#storylink=cpy
5% lifetime rating (3% in 2014) from the League of Conservation Voters.


No Friend to the Environment dishonor roll.

Alabama Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives.   (Their anti-environmentalism can be summed up in one world:  coal.  Which is odd, since Alabama contributes a mere 1.9% of U.S. production, good enough for an overall ranking of 13.  The state's peak year of production:  1990)  
Alaska Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
  • At-large District.  Don Young (R).   Ridiculed environmentalists as a “self-centered bunch of waffle-stomping, Harvard-graduating, intellectual idiots.....not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.” 
 Arizona Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Arkansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
California Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Colorado Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
No House Republicans hail from Connecticut and Delaware. 
Florida Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Georgia Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Idaho Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Illinois Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Indiana Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Iowa Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Kansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Kentucky Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Louisiana Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Maine Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Maryland Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
No House Republicans in Massachusetts delegation.
Michigan Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Minnesota Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Mississippi Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Missouri Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives 
Montana Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Nebraska Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Nevada Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
New Hampshire Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 New Jersey Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
New Mexico Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
New York Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 North Carolina Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
North Dakota Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 Ohio Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 Oklahoma Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 Oregon Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
  Pennsylvania Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
South Carolina Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
South Dakota Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Tennessee Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Texas Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives

Friday, May 1, 2015

Scott Walker adds a couple of stops to his Iowa itinerary


Such a busy guy!

A lotta IA.


Walker adds two Iowa stops to May schedule.  (Des Moines Register, 4/30/2015)

As Assembly Speaker Robin Vos sez....
 “Whether he’s in Burlington, Vermont, or Burlington, Wisconsin, the exact locale where he is doesn’t really matter as long as he’s doing his job, and I haven’t seen a single example where he’s not.”


Related posts:
From Iowa to Massachusetts.  (4/28/2015)
Scott Walker runs to the arms of Iowa Republicans for approval.  (4/17/2015) 
Where in the world is determined presidential candidate/distracted Wisconsin governor Scott Walker?  (3/16/2015)
Furiously campaigning for the Presidency, Scott Walker travels on the Wisconsin taxpayers' 'dime'.  (3/4/2015)

Emerald Ash Borer Found on Hubbard Avenue near Downtown Middleton


Photo by Retiring Guy

The announcement describes how Middleton is approaching this problem.
Middleton began preparing for the arrival of EAB with an adopted strategy and public tree inventory in 2009.  Over 2,500 ash trees were identified on public right of ways and parklands.  Pre-emptive removal of ash trees were started in 2010.  Trees with a green “X” on them are designated for removal.  These removals take place throughout the year.  To date, the City has not conducted treatments on City trees due to the costs vs. benefits of treating.  The City strategy favors removal of Ash trees and replacement with a diversity of species.

The City once planted lots of ash trees along its terraces.  The aerial view below shows a section of the citywide ash tree inventory that includes the newly infected area.  It does not include ash trees located on private property.



Related posts: 
What were once ash trees are now stumps.  (3/25/2015)
You can cut down only so many ash trees in a day.  (8/1/2014)
Another day dawns on even fewer ash trees.  (8/1/2014) 
A new day dawns on fewer ash trees.  (7/31/2014)
Ash Trees on Cooper Avenue in Middleton: Going......going.....  (7/10/2014)
Emerald Ash  Borer's impact on Middleton.  (7/5/2014)

Chris Kapenga, ALEC waterboy, keeps himself busy


Rep. Kapenga Co-Sponsors Drug-Testing Requirements.  (News release, 4/30/2015)
“I am proud to join with Rep. Rohrkaste (R-Neenah), the author of Assembly Bills 191 and 192, in supporting these important pieces of legislation” said Representative Kapenga. “Unemployment Insurance and FoodShare both require eligible participants to be job ready; this is one key step in the process to prepare people to get back to work as so on as possible. I believe these bills give people a hand-up, rather than a hand-out, towards a family-supporting job. ”


Related posts:
Chris Kapenga, ALEC Waterboy, Is At It Again.  (12/11/2014) 
Of course Rep. Kapenga hasn't drafted a bill; it's already been done for him.  (12/4/2014)
Speaking of plagiarism: The Kapenga chronicles.  (9/22/2014)
Meet Chris Kapenga, ALEC's waterboy.  (2/18/2014)

No Friend to the Environment: Republican Representative Stephen Fincher, Tennessee's 8th Congressional District


Photo sourceU.S. Congress
Text source:  United States Representative Stephen Fincher

Tea Party Caucus member Fincher was re-elected to a 3rd term in 2014 with 71% of the vote.


Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/news/local/article13852676.html#storylink=cpy
5% lifetime rating (0% in 2014) from the League of Conservation Voters.


No Friend to the Environment dishonor roll.

Alabama Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives.   (Their anti-environmentalism can be summed up in one world:  coal.  Which is odd, since Alabama contributes a mere 1.9% of U.S. production, good enough for an overall ranking of 13.  The state's peak year of production:  1990)  
Alaska Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
  • At-large District.  Don Young (R).   Ridiculed environmentalists as a “self-centered bunch of waffle-stomping, Harvard-graduating, intellectual idiots.....not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.” 
 Arizona Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Arkansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
California Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Colorado Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
No House Republicans hail from Connecticut and Delaware. 
Florida Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Georgia Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Idaho Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Illinois Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Indiana Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Iowa Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Kansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Kentucky Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Louisiana Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Maine Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Maryland Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
No House Republicans in Massachusetts delegation.
Michigan Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Minnesota Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Mississippi Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Missouri Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives 
Montana Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Nebraska Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Nevada Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
New Hampshire Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 New Jersey Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
New Mexico Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
New York Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 North Carolina Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
North Dakota Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 Ohio Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 Oklahoma Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 Oregon Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
  Pennsylvania Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
South Carolina Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
South Dakota Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Tennessee Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives