Sunday, February 27, 2011

Approval For Wetland and Forest Pumping Given Nod By Governor

Approval For Wetland and Forest Pumping Given Nod By Governor

Madison – As upheaval continues in response to Governor Scott Walker's proposed budget repair bill, the governor continues to move forth in his efforts to bring the state of Wisconsin's finances into the black from a projected budget shortfall in 2011. The governor announced yesterday his plans to back initiatives that will join state and private interests in utilizing existing Wisconsin natural resources to bring additional funds to state government coffers.
      In an announcement delivered to a largely unattended press conference outside the DNR head offices on Friday, Secretary Cathy Stepp outlined plans for the state to join forces with the corporate entity Invista and the WCPA (Wisconsin Concrete Pavement Association) to open aquifers on or under state controlled lands to pumping with the purpose of extracting drinking water. “This clean, pure, and locally produced drinking water will be bottled in Wisconsin and sold here and in markets throughout the Midwest,” Stepp said.
      She noted that as the quality of municipally produced drinking water continues to come into question, that the state has been blessed with a largely untouched and under utilized clean water resource. Stepp stated that Wisconsin has 5.3 million acres of wetlands, many of which are on fully state owned property. This goes along with the 37% of public acreage that is county and state controlled forest. “The Governor has said that Wisconsin is open for business,” Stepp stated. “He has made it clear that we will utilize all economic opportunities available to us and that our natural resources will be used to benefit and assist the hardworking tax payers of Wisconsin.”
      Invista Corporation, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, is a world leader in the production of polyethylene (PET) containers and has been granted a state contract to begin construction of four bottling sights within Wisconsin. The first two of these bottling plants are slated to be located near Rhinelander and Ladysmith, but are still subject to state approval.
      The governor's report on this pumping initiative indicated that many of the proposed pumping sights are located within wilderness areas of state and county forests. The Wisconsin Concrete Paving Association has been given exclusive rights to contract out offers for leveling and construction of roads to connect pumping sights to existing state and county highways.
      “The benefits of these new roads will be three-fold,” Stepp said. “They will connect pumping sites with existing roads, they will boost local economies with new jobs, and they will provide potential future access for the forestry industry.” Stepp stated that the WCPA will grant these contracts as they deem fit as 'no-bid' offers. She noted that this will streamline the construction process by eliminating the lengthy deliberation that often accompanies distribution of state contracts.
      Per the governor's report, this new state produced drinking water should be available for sale in late 2011 at a variety of retail outlets.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Governor Walker Denied In Application To Finish Degree at UW-Whitewater

Governor Walker Denied In Application To Finish Degree at UW-Whitewater

Whitewater, WI – Chancellor Richard Telfer announced through a press release that governor Scott Walker has been denied in his application to complete his undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. This announcement, originally reported in the Madison based newspaper “The Isthmus” confirms that Admissions Director Jodie Hare-Paynter has denied the governor's entry to the university along with his FAFSA (Federal Assistance for Student Aid) application.
      Walker originally attended Marquette University from 1986-1990 where he withdrew from courses a full 36 credits short of graduation. At Marquette's School of Business Administration Walker earned a cumulative GPA of 1.96 over his four years at the university.
      When pressed as to why the current governor was not admitted, Hare-Paynter pointed to Walker's less than exemplary student record at Marquette, along with his complete omission of a required 2000 word application essay. She also pointed out that Chancellor Telfer was quite miffed last month when Walker requested that the university offer him an honorary degree just days after assuming his governorship over the state, and that the governor would be granted no special privilege. “Walker seemed to think that issuance of an honorary degree would bring prestige to the University of Wisconsin Whitewater,” stated Hare-Paynter. She then noted that the governor is welcome to re-apply with a completed application for the next term.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Governor Walker Calls On Teachers To Take 24% Pay Cut

Gov. Walker Calls on Teachers to Take 24% Pay Cut

Madison – Governor Scott Walker continues to tighten the reins on state spending with his most recent initiative to cut the state budget shortfall through the reduction of compensation to state public workers.  “I respect and admire the efforts put forth by our public school teachers, but in this financial climate we must do all we can to balance the state budget,” Walker said from a state capitol press conference Friday. Walker noted that school is not in session for all 52 weeks of the fiscal year and that salaries should be judged on actual work performed—not based on contracts created through the collective bargaining of teacher unions.
      “By paying these teachers for the time they actually work we will be able to fairly compensate them and make sure that their wages are in accordance with the values of all hard working Wisconsinites,” said Walker. Per the governor's formula, teacher salaries will be reduced by 24 percent, considering that with summer and winter recesses, schools are actually in session for only 38 weeks annually. This puts teachers on the job only 76 percent of the time. Walker called these pay cuts “fair” and noted that these pay reductions still allow for 2 weeks of paid vacation throughout the year.
       Walker noted that the average salary of a school teacher in the state of Wisconsin in 2010 was $46,390. Walker compared teacher compensation in Wisconsin to that of neighboring states of South and North Dakota.  Average teacher salaries there are $34,709 and $37,764, respectively. With these new pay cuts Wisconsin teachers will still be making salaries on par with these neighboring states.
      “It is important for us to balance our state budget while still allowing businesses to grow,” Walker asserted. “With these pay cuts, we will assure that we will not have to raise taxes on small businesses and corporations.” The governor is counting on a favorable climate for businesses to help jump start the local economies of Wisconsin cities, where the governor has pledged to add 250,000 new jobs over his term in office.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Governor Scott Walker Calls for Privatization of the Packers

Walker Calls for Restructuring and Privatization of Packers

De Pere, WI – Governor Scott Walker continues his push for increased private ownership in publicly owned entities with a new swing through the Northeast portion of the state of Wisconsin. Calling the Packers “ripe for realignment” and their association with the NFL's players union “lamentable” Walker is making a push to retract all public ownership over the 92 year old franchise. Walker says that he hopes to instill fiscal sanity to the once financially responsible Packers, which has been owned by the city of Green Bay since 1923.
      According to Walker, Green Bay is “open for business” just like the rest of the state. Walker says that he hopes that the end of public ownership of the Packers will allow the team to make an easier split from the powerful and extraneous NFLPA (National Football League Players Association) whose salary demands and compensation packages provide some top players with salaries in the multi-millions of dollars per year. Walker claims that there are plenty of job opportunities for local football players who might find a chance to play professionally for more reasonable wages.
      The governor undoubtedly hopes that with lower salaries to non-union players the city of Green Bay will reap financial benefits. According to the governor, the decreased financial burden on the city of Green Bay will allow local monies once directed towards millionaires like defensive back Charles Woodson to be funneled toward much needed construction projects like the $186 million development and reconstruction of County Rd. 156 connecting Green Bay to neighboring Clintonville.
      “It is time to stop the spending insanity in the public domain,” Walker told a crowd of around 250 at the VFW Post 234 in De Pere. “Green Bay needs overpaid football players about as much as Madison needs overpaid Professors at the UW.”