Weekend Reading

The Quest to Tell Science from Pseudoscience

Listen, Progressive People!

Not a Housing Bubble

America’s Corporate Welfare Queens

Who Helps Pay Amazon’s Low-Wage Workers? You Do

Pastor’s wife planned husband’s killing with man they had sex with, Oklahoma cops say

Evers vetoes bill to give Legislature control of federal COVID relief funds

With ambitious new infrastructure plan, Biden isn't fooling around

GOP Legislators Want Pandemic Aid for Tax Rebate

Weekend Reading

Republican lawmakers refuse to approve any building projects in Evers' $2.4 billion plan

Wisconsin Senate approves Limbaugh resolution, Dems object

Kleefisch Spokesperson Compares Evers to Dahmer

Milwaukee expects $405 million from stimulus bill with first half arriving by May

New Support for Friedman's Plucking Model

The “Plucking Model” of recessions and recoveries

Announcer for high school basketball game uses racial slur after team kneels during anthem

Ten years ago, when Wisconsin legislators drew voting maps in secret, it cost taxpayers $3.5 million. We need a more open process.

Private Schools Have Become Truly Obscene

Republicans Mock Rescue Plan While Pushing A Tax Cut For The Richest

Pelosi says GOP will vote against COVID-19 relief and then take credit for it

Grothman accuses Black Lives Matter of disliking the 'old-fashioned family,' drawing rebuke from Democrat on House floor

A $60 billion surprise in the Covid relief bill: Tax hikes

Rep. Tim Ryan Demonstrates Proper Level of Anger Toward Republicans in Congress

Pandemic Bill Would Cut Taxes By An Average of $3,000, With Most Relief Going to Low- And Middle-Income Households.

Donald Trump (Unironically) Requests a Mail-In Ballot Ahead of Palm Beach Municipal Election

Helping Wisconsin Voters Would Be Harder—or Even a Criminal Act—in Some Republican Proposals

Low IQ & Conservative Beliefs Linked to Prejudice

Here Are the 8 Democrats Who Just Joined GOP to Vote Down Sanders' $15 Minimum Wage Amendment

Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren quietly releases massive social media report on GOP colleagues who voted to overturn the election

Weekend Reading

Someone Is Going to Have to Explain to Me How This Makes Any Damn Sense

Wisconsin GOP Are Manipulative Pieces of Sh*#

Foxconn Sued For Being Lying Pieces of Sh*#

What happens if the Wisconsin Legislature repeals the state mask mandate? Here are five things to know

In First Speech as Budget Chair, Sanders Rebuffs 'Partisanship' Complaints From GOP That Unilaterally Passed $1.9T Gift for Rich

Here are the 11 House Republicans who voted to remove Marjorie Taylor Greene from her committee assignments

City Creating Plan to Develop and Preserve Bay View

Why Chicago Is Lighting Its Railroads on Fire

Biden Beats Back The Austerians At The Gates

The Economic Consequences of MajorTax Cuts for the Rich

Income inequality in America is at its highest level in more than 50 years

More than 80% of the stocks in the US are owned by the wealthiest 10%

One Emergency After Another: Wisconsin Governor And Legislators Battle Over COVID-19

Weekend Reading

Joe Biden’s Dogs Shepherd In New Era of Presidential Pets at the White House

Wisconsin GOP Rejects Special Session on Unemployment

America Abandoned Its Economic Prophet. The World Embraced Him.

Debt and Deficits, Yet Again

Hearings Scheduled about Proposed Privatization, Loss of Public Access to Bradford Beach's Historic Bathhouse
Senate Joint Resolution 3: terminating the COVID-19 public health emergency, including all emergency orders and actions taken pursuant to declaration of the public health emergency.

The Nazification of the Republican Party

Poor Dan O’Donnell Feels Persecuted

Wisconsin Senate votes to end Gov. Tony Evers' statewide face mask mandate

Weekend Reading

Should Sheriff’s Budget Be Cut?

How to Spend Less On Police

Conservative Group Seeks Immediate Stop To Wisconsin Mask Mandate

Wisconsin Is on the Brink of a Major Outbreak

The truth about violent crime in American cities, explained in 11 charts

Revealed: pro-Trump activists plotted violence ahead of Portland rallies

Black people were 8 times more likely to be pulled over by Milwaukee police in 2019 than white people, new report says

Trump’s Closing Message to Seniors: I Don’t Care If You Die

Idaho pastor who encouraged congregants to go maskless is in intensive care unit after contracting coronavirus

GOP appeals ruling that extended time to count Wisconsin absentee ballots

A Disgusting Night for Democracy

Night Parking Rules a Tax on the Poor?

Covid-19’s stunningly unequal death toll in America, in one chart

When the American Dream Became the Urban Planning Nightmare

The Decline of Wisconsin’s Republican Party

GOP leaders go to court in support of effort to strike down Tony Evers' mask mandate

Trumpworld delighted in cruelty. Now that Trump has COVID, it demands empathy.

They Went Full Malkin. You Never Go Full Malkin.

‘A Symbol Of Your Own Failures’: Jake Tapper Takes It To Trump

Do Students Need Calculus Anymore?

Why Should Court End Mask Mandate, Judge Asks

Wisconsin’s Legislature Laziest in U.S.?

Weekend Reading

Barr Condemned For Spreading Misinformation On Vote By Mail

Rep. Jayapal was on fire, and absolutely destroyed Bill Barr.

150,000 Americans have died from Covid-19. Here's why that staggering loss of life can't be ignored

Great Time for a Vacant Property Tax

It’s Going to Be a Long and Harsh Recession: NYT Warns of Skills Gap

Thoughts on Zachary Carter’s The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes

United States of Conspiracy

A Milwaukee pastor compared mask mandates to the Holocaust at a Brookfield Common Council meeting

We already know how to beat COVID-19 in three easy steps

Why Vos and Fitzgerald Fear Fair Maps
Most Americans Are Buying Into President Trump’s False Arguments About Crime

Gov. Tony Evers Issues Statewide Mask Mandate For Wisconsin

Conservative Legal Expert: Trump Election Tweets Are Grounds For Impeachment

Midweek Reading

Bryan Adams apologises after 'bat eating' coronavirus rant

Democrats’ $3 trillion opening bid for the next stimulus package, explained

Rand Paul Tells Dr. Anthony Fauci He Should Have a Little “Humility"
Gov. Tony Evers: GOP Leaders 'Unconcerned' About Patchwork Of COVID-19 Response

Ousted whistleblower warns US facing ‘darkest winter in modern history’

How the Coronavirus is Killing the Middle Class

McConnell admits he was wrong to say Obama administration failed to leave a pandemic playbook

Trump calls coronavirus testing ‘overrated,’ claims U.S. would have ‘very few’ cases if no testing

Oil companies have received $1.9B in tax benefits under coronavirus stimulus

Politicians failed us. So it's up to citizens to protect Wisconsin

The Sears Headquarters Deal Cost Taxpayers $500 Million. 30 Years Later, There’s Little to Show for It.

We could stop the pandemic by July 4 if the government took these steps

WISCONSIN IS NO LONGER AT HOME—AND NO LONGER SAFE

The Great Lakes are higher than they’ve ever been, and we’re not sure what will happen next

We Can Prevent a Great Depression. It’ll Take $10 Trillion.

The 12 deadliest viruses on Earth

Wisconsin's economy is reopening and it's a hot coronavirus mess. Don't do what we did.

See which states still have increasing rates of COVID-19

Conservative Chaos

Talk about a dereliction of duty. Conservatives at the Federal, State and Local level are acting irresponsibly, endangering people and completely ignoring common sense and good judgement.

Wisconsin's stay-at-home order has been overturned by the state Supreme Court; here's how people are responding

Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down Wisconsin's stay-at-home order that closed businesses to limit spread of coronavirus

No. We cannot shut down parts of the economy and stay at home forever. But we are a large enough economy and have the expertise to figure this out. Another massive recession or thousands of deaths are not the only two choices. Leadership and decisive action are what's needed. Conservatives, thus far, have provided neither.

A proper Federal response would have been to take this seriously in January, start getting everyone tested, begin contact tracing, restrict travel and begin staying at home. At the same time, invoke the Defense Production Act to produce ventilators, masks, personal protective equipment and any other items the pandemic response team or medical professionals feel are necessary.

Also, this can't be a state-by-state decision. A pandemic needs a Federal, if not global, response. Due to the travel of people and goods, we need everyone operating by the same rules.

Safer-at-home order extended in Brown County after state Supreme Court overturns it

And, if you're not going to take this pandemic seriously, don't bother going to the hospital or taking the time of medical professionals if you're infected or experiencing symptoms. Since you think you know more than the actual infectious disease experts, you're on your own. Curl up in your MAGA hat, cling to your gun, and pray for relief. Ya know, thoughts and prayers.

If some Americans won’t take COVID-19 seriously, they should agree not to be treated

For Further Reading:

Which states have done the least to contain coronavirus?

Midweek Reading

Injections of Bleach? Beams of Light? Trump Is Self-Destructing Before Our Eyes

Billionaire Trump Donor is Pushing for Recall of Wisconsin’s Governor Over Stay-at-Home Order

'It's overhyped': Trump Mega-Donor Pushes to End Wisconsin's Stay-at-Home Order
The Junk Science of Robin Vos
The Pandemic Has Led to a Huge, Global Drop in Air Pollution

COVID-19 Coronavirus Epidemic has a Natural Origin

Stunning CNBC Anchor, Venture Capitalist says Let Hedge Funds Fail and Save Main Street

Here's the Reason We Are Still Shut Down Right Now

President’s Intelligence Briefing Book Repeatedly Cited Virus Threat
Tyson Foods Helped Create The Food Crisis It Now Warns Against
The Pandemic Shows What Cars Have Done to Cities

Why the US shouldn’t let states go bankrupt

Scott Walker Loses Again

Covid Reading: How Republicans Are Ignoring Experts, Prolonging The Pain And Killing Citizens

Heartland hotspots: A sudden rise in coronavirus cases is hitting rural states without stay-at-home orders

Thousands of Americans backed by rightwing donors gear up for protests

Some governors are easing coronavirus restrictions. Experts say it’s too soon.

She discovered coronaviruses decades ago—but got little recognition

Epidemiologist Delivers Blunt Reality Check On Current Phase Of Coronavirus Pandemic

People Make ‘Mad Dash’ To Florida Beach That Reopened Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Owner of Jackson's pub in Tosa says he will open the dining room May 1

Racine County sheriff will not enforce stay-at-home order, says it will have 'dire lifetime consequences'

Pastor Flouting Stay-At-Home Order Remains Defiant After Parishioner’s Death

Hundreds in Brookfield protest Evers' extension of safer-at-home order

Joy Reid: Those Re-Open Protests Are All About Helping Trump And Wall St., Not Main St.

Hundreds Defy Common Sense, Safety At Infowars Rally To Reopen Businesses

The coronavirus was not engineered in a lab. Here's how we know.

A top German doctor recommends whiskey to protect against COVID-19 (he's joking...but still)

Sen. Kennedy: We Gotta Let Americans Die From Coronavirus So We Can Reopen The Economy

Why Did The World Shut Down For COVID-19 But Not Ebola, SARS Or Swine Flu?

Robin Vos Threatens Lawsuit Over Gov. Evers' Stay-At-Home Orders

Republican lawmakers are planning to ask the Supreme Court to block Evers' stay-at-home order extension

Pandemic Changing State’s Political Landscape?

USA: Tests per COVID-19 case

‘We need to be the Rosa Parks’: Trump ally plans Wisconsin protest of coronavirus restrictions

COVID-19 Protesters Just Like Rosa Parks, Says White House Adviser Stephen Moore

South Korea’s New Coronavirus Twist: Recovered Patients Test Positive Again

Workers Are Getting the Short End of the Stick from the Cares Act

House Democrats introduce plan to pay Americans $2,000 a month until economy recovers from COVID-19

Wis. Republicans to Push Amendment Making It Harder for Essential Workers to Get Workers Comp

The Republican Way: Hypocrisy, Partisanship, Pettiness, Selfishness & Stupidity

Trump Goes Full Conspiracy Theory About Wisconsin’s Coronavirus Concerns

Wisconsin GOP Forced Thousands Of Voters To The Polls During A Pandemic

'This is ridiculous': Wisconsin holds its primary election in the middle of a pandemic

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Goes Off on Conservative Majority for Jeopardizing Voters’ Safety Amid Pandemic

The Republican Death Cult

New York Times Blasts State Republicans

The Supreme Court Has Sided With Wisconsin Republicans to Put Wisconsin Voters in Danger
Joe Scarborough Explodes Over Trump’s Coronavirus Lies, Networks Airing Them

Please Vote Against Republicans. They Are Trying To Kill Us.

Wisconsin's Governor Tony Evers tried to do the right thing. And, as usual, Republicans did not.

In an effort to allow people more time to vote, Evers tried to extend the period for absentee ballots. You know, since we're in the midst of a pandemic and people have other things on their minds.

Wisconsin's election is still April 7, but a federal judge has extended the deadline for absentee votes to be counted

Evers tried to postpone the election until June. You know, because we're in the midst of a pandemic and it would be foolish and dangerous to go forward with an election.

But, of course, the conservative-stacked courts, at the state and federal level, denied more time for absentee ballots and overruled Evers delay of the election.

High courts block Evers on 2 fronts: Wisconsin justices overturn ban on Tuesday voting, U.S. Supreme Court restricts absentee ballots

I'm sure the Republicans, along with the court justices, that felt we could not dare delay the election, will be working at the polls tomorrow on election day. Yes, I have no doubt that these great public servants will be putting their righteous devotion to democracy above their own health and helping process the thousands of others that will be risking their own health in an attempt to vote, or work the polls, tomorrow. 

This is epic irresponsibility. Republicans should be voted out. Public servants should not be so selfish and short-sighted that they are putting the people, they claim to represent, at risk.

For Further Reading:
Wisconsin's coronavirus case total increases to 2,440, deaths surpass 80
Justice Ginsburg sends out dire warning about the new Supreme Court ruling in Wisconsin election case
Wisconsin Election Back On For Tuesday In The Middle Of Coronavirus Pandemic

The Supreme Court’s disturbing order to effectively disenfranchise thousands of Wisconsin voters

Charting the coronavirus pandemic state by state

Wisconsin Republicans rebuff governor’s 11th-hour bid to delay Tuesday’s election

Republican Hypocrisy on Election
Nakedly Partisan Wisconsin Republicans: Safety For Me But Not For Thee!

Wisconsin Republicans Are Egotistical, Duplicitous Scumbags

Wisconsin governor denies Republicans' request to allow in-person Easter and Passover services during coronavirus pandemic

A dismissive Vos declares in-person voting 'safe.' Says poll work beats boring TV.

Vos claims Milwaukee is not looking for election solution; top election official invites him to work in city's 'hot spots'

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers calls special session to stop in-person voting, but Republican leaders say it should go forward

Supreme Court candidate Jill Karofsky files suit asking court to pull two TV ads for making false statements

Weekend Reading

Hosting G-7 At Trump's Resort Is 'Profound' Emoluments Breach
Newly Uncovered Tax Documents Show Trump Kept 2 Sets Of Books And May Have Committed Financial Fraud
Andrew Yang Is Full Of It
GOP Group Uses Trump's Own Words On Corruption Against Him In Searing New Fox Ad
High Court Will Review Evers Veto Power
Private School Vouchers Cost $350 Million
Think Trump's Cruelty Is Unique? Meet Robin Vos
What Walker Cost Wisconsin

I Am So Tired Of Republicons

Wisconsin Supreme Court takes case challenging Gov. Tony Evers' vetoes

Three taxpayers represented by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty asked the high court in July to take their challenge directly, without making them first go through the lower courts.

The court agreed to do so Wednesday, according online court records. A ruling is expected by summer.

The lawsuit argues Evers exceeded his authority by issuing vetoes that enact policies the Legislature hasn't endorsed. It's a practice that governors from both parties have engaged in for decades. The state Supreme Court has repeatedly sided with governors over the years, granting them extensive veto powers.

Wednesday's decision to take the new challenge means the high court is willing to at least consider whether it should reverse its long-standing precedents. Conservatives control the court 5-2.

The Wisconsin Institute For Law And Liberty [try not to laugh at the ridiculousness and outright misdirection of the organization's name] was formed in 2011.  What has taken them 8 years to challenge the governor's veto powers?  Oh, yeah, if a Republicon is doing the vetoing then it's fine.

The article explains, "Those bringing the lawsuit are asking the court to reverse vetoes that effectively rewrote parts of the budget written by Republicans who control the Legislature."

It continues, "Ordinarily the Supreme Court waits for cases to go through lower courts before taking a case. But Esenberg asked the justices to take the case immediately so that the case could be resolved quickly.  He acknowledged this summer that lower courts would have been required to side with Evers because of Supreme Court precedents. But the high court is free to rule on the case as it sees fit.  Esenberg is seeking to overturn precedents going back to 1935."

No need for a paper trail from the lower courts reiterating the precedent.  Much easier for the conservative State Supreme Court to agree to hear the case and pretend there's no history here to consider.

These Republicons are so slimy and corrupt.

Republicons have no problem ignoring precedent.  They have no problem wasting taxpayer time and money.  This is clearly self-serving, anti-democratic grandstanding.  Another attempt, like gerrymandering, at consolidating their power.

Wisconsin Reading

Taxpayers Make Bucks, Brewers Rich
Gov. Tony Evers Wants To Renegotiate Foxconn Deal
Wisconsin Republicans Are Yucking It Up About AOC's Green New Deal While Trade Wars Crush Dairy Farmers
7 Numbers That Explain The Election
Committee Questions Grand Avenue Deal
Canadian National Investing $120 Million In Wisconsin Rail Infrastructure
True Colors Show In State Capitol

End Welfare...Unless It's For Me

The conservative, free market, anti-socialism boosters sure do love welfare and market-intervention when it benefits them.

Amount of cash provided to developers by Wisconsin communities limited by Evers' budget proposal.

Evers' budget plan includes a provision targeting communities which provide financing help for commercial developments through tax incremental financing districts...

The governor's 2019-'21 budget proposal, released Thursday night, would limit cash grants for developers to 20 percent of a tax financing district's project costs.

One of the private sector shills whined,

It "would undo years of bipartisan work to create the most important, and really the only tool Wisconsin municipalities have to spur economic development and create jobs," said Jim Villa, chief executive officer of the Wisconsin chapter of NAIOP, formerly known as the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.

As I wrote in a previous post, “Another much touted, yet becoming ever more so destructive, policy tool is tax incremental financing (TIF). These were initially established to bring investment to blighted, low-income areas. But nowadays, more states are loosening their eligibility requirements and allowing affluent areas to reap the benefits. TIFs allow a municipality to issue a bond to pay for part of the costs of the new development. The property tax revenue generated by the development is then used to pay off the bonds. Some municipalities also allow sales tax increments, where the sales tax generated by the new development can be diverted to redevelopment costs.”

In essence, using taxpayer money (cheap credit from a municipality) to finance speculative development where the rewards benefit the usual cast of characters at the expense of the community at large.

And, to claim this is the only tool municipalities have to spur economic development and create jobs, is complete horseshit.  By providing good public transportation options, broadband access, modern water and electrical infrastructure, and adequately funding public education, the public sector can spur economic development and create jobs. 

This is just the gravy train crying because someone is trying to cut off some of their corporate welfare.  

Governor Tony Evers merely wants to bring back some of the original intent and more accountability to tax incremental financing.

Weekend Reading

Tax On Wealthy Helps Other States Grow
Where To Now With Foxconn?
California Is At War With The Trump White House
Milwaukee's Pedestrian Plan
Evers' Budget Will Include Nonpartisan Redistricting Process
Some Of America's Biggest Companies Paid Little To No Federal Income Tax In 2018
Amount Of Cash Provided To Developers by Wisconsin Communities Limited By Evers' Budget
Wisconsin Might Not Get A Foxconn Plant Of Any Size, Analyst Say
Dairy Farmers Are In Crisis - And It Could Change Wisconsin Forever
The Making Of The Fox News White House

Good Riddance, Scott Walker

It was a good night for Democrats. Not a great night, but a good one.

Sad so many in Wisconsin (and around the country) are still voting Republican after all we know and at this point in time. Those of you clinging to your sexism, racism, parochialism, or whatever other pet cause makes you still vote Republican, you truly are the worst of us.

For those of you (that normally vote Republican) that put country before party to help elect Democrats, kudos to you. Well done.

Remember, though, this is just the start. Keep talking, keep campaigning, keep pushing Democratic policies. We need to carry this momentum into the 2020 election.

Even though this was a record-breaking turnout for Wisconsin, it was still only 60 percent of the voting-age population. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Based on state population estimates from earlier this year, turnout was equal to almost 60 percent of the voting-age population, though that number is likely to change when the official count is complete."

It's just ridiculous to think that 40 percent of the voting-age population is just sitting on the sidelines. If Democrats could get these people to the polls, Republicans would never win another election.

Good riddance, Scott Walker. Now you can lick the boots of your paymasters full-time. Burn in hell, you selfish and corrupt tool.

Wisconsin Reading

The Incoherence Of Scott Walker
Milwaukee County On A Crash Course
Scott Walker's Economic Record In Wisconsin: Nothing To Brag About
New Development Plans For Streetcar
Who Pays In Wisconsin? Not The Rich, Unlike Minnesota
For Some Wisconsin Voters, Road Quality Is A Major Concern
State Jobs Agency Still A Failure
Schimel Suit Cost Workers $23 Million
Rewarding Corporations That Cut Jobs
WEDC, Foxconn And The Need For The Return Of Good Government In Wisconsin
New Memo On "Big Giveaway" To Rich Makes Evers Plans Look Even Better