700 Walker Supporters Hold Rally at the Edge of Madison

Visualizing Walker's budget, thanks to James Rowen's colorful description, as a 'steaming pantload'.

Supporters of Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill hold rally in Madison. (Appleton Post-Crescent, 3/6/2011)

Excerpt:    About 700 people rallied Sunday in support of Republican Gov. Scott Walker and his anti-union plan to balance the state budget. (Compared to the tens of thousands who have rallied against Walker's budget repair bill and 2011-13 budget proposal during the past 3 weeks.)

[snip]

Matt Seaholm, the state director of Americans for Prosperity, said the purpose of the bus tour and rallies was to show that Walker still has support among those who voted him into office in November. (Apparently, these folks are now hard to find.)

LINK

What Walker's Budget Means for Oshkosh

And, to be sure, the rest of us.

Editorial: Budget's first 
blush leaves 
a pale shade. (Appleton Post-Crescent, 3/6/2011)

Excerpt: Officials figure that even with 
higher public employee contribution 
rates outlines by the governor, the 
city will have to cut about $50,000 
above and beyond the difference between that savings and the cut in 
state aid. In addition, the budget bill 
reduces the amount municipalities 
can increase spending each year 
from 3 percent to 0 percent.

However, 
about 50 percent of the city’s spending goes to public safety expenses, 
mainly salaries and benefits for police officers and firefighters, two 
public employee groups the governor 
puts off limits when eliminating 
most collective bargaining rights.

In order to hold spending flat or 
risk losing $1.2 million in state revenue as a penalty, where can the city 
cut costs? Remember, public safety is 
off limits. Parks, the public library, 
public museum, seniors center, on-
going street maintenance and street 
plowing. Municipal spending is one 
small example where the state budget makes Scott Walker the defacto mayor and city manager of Oshkosh.

Indeed, pondering the impact on 
communities and loss of local control should leave us all pale.

The Final Thought: Early reviews of state 
budget are not encouraging. As we dig deeper, 
we’ll share other thoughts on how the budget 
falls short and how it can be improved.

On the List of 100 Best Jobs for Mom, Librarians Ranks #37

Behind movie star at #25.

100 Best Jobs for Moms. (The Stir, a cafemom blog, 2/25/2011)  Thanks to Cat Smith for sharing.

The top 10
1.  Interior designer
2.  Homeopath
3.  Landscape architect
4.  Life coach
5.  Organic farm manager
6.  Day care operator/employee
7.  Sonogram technician
8.  Market research analyst
9.  Lactation consultant/doula
10.  City Planner

37. Librarian -- Don't forget your sexy librarian glasses when you're organizing the stacks. Just be sure you get up to date on the digital revolution that's putting Dewey to shame.