That's very nice of you Steve! ;-)

Alfred, why do you portray yourself as "low information" here? You are not.

Sobriety, or lack there of, probably has a lot to do with it.

@ Craig
Bears are much over-rated, as is hearing children calling other people names, like "crybaby liberals"...
One would think that you might find a more mature, productive and positive way to express your frustration and anger... best wishes to you...

What a simple minded comment to a simple minded article. Haters suck!

There you have it: Sniveling BS just as I predicted.
Other predictions: You can not put brains into a soccer ball.
And another poster has a fixation on sucking something for reasons other than hate.

@Bren
That is only half the equation. If you were replacing him with a qualified candidate, this blog would not have been written. However, Barrett has done none of the things you are looking for in Milwaukee, why would you think they will happen state wide? Barrett's Idea of fiscal responsibility is using Walker's Act 10 legislation, while trying to push forward a fiscally responsible trolly. He has no plans put forth to fix our budget assuming Act 10 were repealed.

Since you are not replacing Walker with some one able to fulfill the needs you have listed (a side maybe from the bogus ALEC thing which has its Democratic equal in the unions), it is simply because there is a Republican in office and that is selfish.

I disagree about Tom Barrett. In his time as Mayor he has overseen the rejuvenation of the Menomonee Valley, including new businesses there. He has focused on workforce development, and other initiatives that have served our city well. I believe he is the better candidate, not only because of his related degrees, but by dint of his national-level political expertise and a personality that encourages discourse and trust.

I suspect that the state budget, without the County Board of Supervisors to play "dad" to Walker's budget antics, is a train wreck. Balanced budget, not balanced, cash shortfall projected, surplus projected, I wouldn't make a statement about it either. The entire document, and every department, and every action since its implementation, needs to be reviewed for accuracy, right down to the most recent crony hire. Then the actual state of shortfall or surplus can be forthrightly stated.

Right now the election is between a Republican and a Democrat. As my personal knowledge about the Republican candidate precludes my ever voting for him, I will vote for Barrett. Let him complete the term, then we'll see. I won't vote for Scott Walker, I won't vote for any radical Tea/ALEC puppet running on the GOP ticket.

@Bren
"Let him complete the term, then we'll see", interesting phrase. I thought that was a privilege we offered all governors. If Walker loses, that idea is dead in Wisconsin; since it sets the precedent that any action taking by a governor is a recall worthy action. That precedent is an act of selfishness, not what is best for the state.

For a professed independent, your descriptions of Walker and Barrett come straight from the Democratic playbook.

These are my own perceptions, J.B. I do live in southeastern Wisconsin and I have reasons beyond my Patch hobby to keep abreast of city and county developments.

I have no issue with the trolley, my actual issue was that they were removed from the city by the early 1960s in favor of the automobile. If that hadn't occurred, Milwaukee County might have a lower pollution/particle count today.

Remember that school districts already had flexibility in arranging contracts. Concerning the budget, Barrett had stated that Wisconsin needed to go on a "diet" back in 2010. With his background in economics he certainly understands what he is talking about. The difference in 2012 is that an unknown amount of money has been handed over in tax breaks (GP being a substantial recipient, among others), and the budget flips from deficit to surplus depending on whether one is looking at a federal report or an AFP campaign ad. As I've written before, I wouldn't say one word about that budget until all Walker expenses were identified and tallied, in addition to impending expenditures.

@Lyle
Where exactly have you seen the mantra "self-responsibility equals selfishness"? Being responsible for your own actions is not the same as being selfish.

Lyle you are confused. Conservatives are all about self responsibility. It's the liberals who think that productive independent people (conservatives) are selfish.

Are you on the wrong meds or something!?

@J.B. Schmidt...Whenever conservatives use the term self responsibility they invariably are talking about taking care of their selfish interests by assuring that they accumulate as much for themselves and that those in need are only in need because they are not self reponsible and are dependent on govenment handouts. Therefore, since people are only in need because of their own actions or lack of actions, they don't deserve to be helped. Following the logic foisted by conservatives, then you get the mantra "self-responsibility equals selfishness", since they are one in the same. Conservatives make selfishness a virture and those that see it as a vice, are categorized as unitelligent and subject to projections of pursuing selfish interests. Clearly self projection and rejection of social justice.

Get off of it Rube, you probably more selfish than the average conservative. Holier than thou attitude is sickening.

First off, "liberal" and "conservatives" describe intellectual tendencies, they are not cut and dried. Having been raised in a "mixed" household I find myself most comfortable in the moderate spectrum. Human decency is not a political mindset but the result of advanced social, intellectual, and emotional/spiritual development.

Although it helps the political strategists for We the People to accept the categorizations they have helped create, they don't fully represent any of us.
None of us will argue that a governor is elected for a term, and that under normal circumstances should be allowed to complete it. But Walker was unqualified to begin with but was elected on party lines and bold promise to create 250,000 new jobs in his first term. The man lied to get into office. But what politician doesn't distort the truth a bit on the campaign trail? Except that these were egregious. He lied about the jobs knowing it was impossible. And negotiating with public employee unions. Worst of all, he committed the lie of omission in failing to share that he had joined a multi-state initiative to implement the ALEC agenda. He has polarized our state (divide and conquer) with his lies about public employee unions, education and program cuts, etc. He's focused on ALEC, self-promotion and fundraising. There was no intention to focus on our state's specific needs. Now he obfuscates about the budget and jobs numbers. And what about the criminal defense team. Wisconsin deserves better.

Bren what is your medical condition? You seem to have OCD with this ALEC group, do you rock back and forth on your sofa muttering 'Alec, Alec' 'Scott Walker evil, Scott Walker evil'......Get help young woman.

@Lyle
I attempted to connect the dots within your post and reach the same conclusion you did, but instead I ended up with a unicorn.

"Invariably" which conservatives are you talking about and where is this information? As a conservative I have never believed not been told the information you are projecting as facts. Maybe you need to do a little better research on what is the conservative mindset, rather than let Mike Tate educate you.

Selfishness is not a virtue; using your God given abilities to their fullest is. Since ability ranges between people, not all are capable of achieving greatness. Selfishness exists within those who believe we need to punish greatness to equalize ability.

Please find me a prominent conservative that claims the poor should not be helped vs the conservative that wants to end out of control government entitlements. There is a vast difference. Who is more selfish, the man who believes that hard work earns what you deserve or the man who believes that government (ie his fellow citizens) should provide him with what he feels he deserves? No one would argue the latter and that would be the liberal.

@Bren
"250,000 new jobs in his first term" You Democrats haven't let him get through one year. Who is the liar here?

As for negotiating, looks like he negotiated in the same good faith the teachers unions did in Milwaukee, Kenosha and Janesville.

LOL @ Oak Creek. Taking a job based on benefits is part of personal responsibility. You just agree with your little talking points, though. I am so sick of simple minded little jackasses who take issue with people because of their view on politics. It's ridiculous. You are going to regret your horrendous behavior someday.

Alfred, as we are discussing Walker the public figure his record and affiliations must needs be included in the conversation. You seem very defensive these days...

JB liberals don't believe the government should provide people what they think they deserve. They believe people who temporarily need assistance3 should get it. It sounds like you think that way too. Since most liberals work and make plenty of money, I don't see how selfishness plays a part. You are so blinded by your preconceived notions you make no sense.

@Bella
Really? Have you heard of the redistribution of wealth? The concept that you tax the rich in order to provide handouts or subsidies to those that are not wealthy. It is then left to the politician to determine what is wealthy and what is not wealthy. In France, where this practice is done on a far grander scale than in the US, the people just elected a man who will probably drive then in bankruptcy because he promised to give them what they felt they deserved. Our own president is hinting at reducing the burden of college debt because he knows people feel they deserve an education without paying for it. Unemployment benefits have been extended to 99 weeks because people feel they deserve money for not working.

Liberal policy is based on getting people thinking that all people deserve to live like the rich no matter your ability to produce. If you believe that it is about temporary assistance, then why do these benefits have ever increasing amounts of people signing up and staying for longer and longer periods of.

When all rational argument fails, accuse somebody of racism. Nice.

@Keith
What does any of that have to do with the blog?

So Keith is crying about 44 million, how does that compare to Obama's Solyndra scandal!?!? What's that, you don't know what to say? Idiot.

And calling the poster chrome dome, etc, is pretty weak. It goes to show just how much of a weak pathetic human you are.

Kief, you are one to talk about the every expanding forehead my friend. Funny how you throw stones at Romney about deals that went bad....what about the $35000 you stole from the Village of Shorewood for your failed Coop book store? What about the Coop fees you swindled from little old ladys on the northshore? Come on Kief.

The chrome dome comment is actually funny coming from master comb over.

Talk about a tangent. I think Keith smoked that $30,000 instead of passing it back into the economy.

This is what happens when washed-up uber-progressives (read: Socialists) like Keith Schmitz play with other peoples' money in the free market.

Sooner or later, they run out of other peoples' money. And 'Open Book' did just that. Remarkably quickly, I might add. $35K just doesn't go as far as it used to, especially when you have to, say, pay those pesky vendors for inventory and other such "unforeseen" nuisances.

Enjoy your free health care.

A lot of businesses have failed because of the recession. Greendale's bookstore closed too. Move on, guys.

There are a lot of issues that I have with Mitt Romney, not so much his low tax rate, but because he is not paying that tax rate on all his wealth. He recently closed one offshore account but he has money squirreled away in other countries. He should bring it all home and pay tax on it. Yes, it happened long ago, but the stories of school bullying disturb me. It suggests a disconcerting level of arrogance.

Obama's initiatives are working and should continue. If Romney wins, the Paul Ryan budget plan will be passed and a generation of people whose earnings were ravaged by the recession will be left to deal with insufficient income for retirement and even higher medical costs. The following generation will have to rely far more on their own earnings for retirement, while earning less (in many fields) or struggling to find work in a shrunken job market. No thank you.

Bewildered, others; being somewhat familiar with the closure of the Schwartz bookstores and subsequent developments, your assessment of the situation is fundamentally skewed. As such, your comments are potentially libelous and in the event of litigation I surmise it would be a relatively simple matter to subpoena Patch for your contact information. I would recommend/strongly suggest refraining from future discussion of the matter in a documentable forum/format. Just a thought.

Worldwide Grinding wasn't the only firm that became insolvent due to debt-loading by Bain Capitol. Although Romney has extensive experience in venture capitalism/short-term investment, I want to understand how that translates to overseeing the federal government.

Brendan, That advice sounds like it comes from a studious Law Fellow.

@Nick
As usual you are blinded by your own faux intelligence.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304743704577383832704918766.html

http://caledonia.patch.com/articles/when-it-comes-to-fundraising-walker-crushes-democratic-opponents

Walker is receiving money from the 99% at a higher rate then Barrett. However, don't let facts keep you from asking the deeper questions.

This must be the first post by pseudo intellectual Poulos where he did not reference some dead philosopher.

Did you sleep during history? The United States of America is a Constitutional Republic. You will not find the word democracy in the Constitution or other founding documents. Our Forefathers purposely left out the word democracy and warned us of it.

democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting what's for lunch. A Republic protects the lamb and the wolves.

@Cynthia -- With two wolves and a lamb voting for representatives, the lamb still ends up being lunch if the representatives are wolves themselves.

@ Cynthia
You children of the Corn really are something; lack maturity much?

LOL @ Cynthia. Another small minded little girl simpleton who doesn't realize she looks like a fool with her sweeping generalizations.

bella you seem to have an anger problem.... maybe you should get some help for that....

Bravo you almost hit every talking point lie the dems have... You are highly misinformed and there was NO repeal of equal pay.... I really wish you people would stop repeating lies given to you by your wacked out graham cracker.

@John Wilson
What is Barrett's plan to fix the budget shortfalls that Walker took care of with Act 10? With unemployment dropping state wide, yet is increasing in Milwaukee; what makes Barrett the better choice for the community? Lastly, Walker was able to do what he did without raising taxes, while Barrett has only been able to fix his budget by raising fees and and taxes (accept when taking advantage of Walker policy); how is that better for the community?

I will assume you did not vote for Walker in 2010 and are currently using Democratic talking points to get a mulligan in this recall. Sounds selfish.

As for all humans being selfish; you are confusing selfishness with self preservation.

"Enlightened self interest" is a bogus phrase and means nothing. You are using it to make people think you are smart. It is all about individual experiences and a vote cast for Barrett is blind to the good that has occurred in Wisconsin since Walker took office. Hence, your enlightenment turns out to be closed minded Democratic arrogance.

@John Wilson: Walker is a rock star because he performs at a high level, has caught the attention of a nation wanting to duplicate his success, and yet he stays very humble about his own greatness. State policies were reformed because they were choking business. His negotiation with the unions was truthful and forthright: WE ARE BROKE AND 3.6BILLION IN THE HOLE TO BOOT. Divide and conquer shouldn't come as a suprise to lefties like you; you have been practicing it forever. Expecting state employees to be accountable to their own benefits is hardly the act of selfishness, and why is is sooooo revered.

There was a repeal of equal pay in the state law little miss simpleton Cynthia. There are reasons why someone would want to use state rather than federal law. Take your legal expertise(or lack thereof) and stuff it up your simplistic little butt.

@Bella
The state never set equal pay. That is a purely Federal law and the state has zero influence on it. The law in Wisconsin was the only one of its kind in the country and added an extra level of litigation not made law till late 2009 and was never used. Please explain the reasons for it.

State Court is less costly, it's more accessible. I don't know what laws pother states pass but it's not relevant what they do.

You accuse other people of talking points yet you bring up Solyndra? LOL. Those types of investments occur under all presidents(and Bushie started this one). Why do you think the biggest city in the state''s economic issues are all the mayors fault but anything you perceive as good is because of Walker? Who was the Milwaukee County exec again? I guess he was a saint, that's why people are being arrested all around him.

@ Cynthia

What does Obama and Solyndra have to do with Barrett & Walker and the Recall Election?

I know it is difficult for you ideologically straight-jacketed folks, but try and keep up, huh?

ALSO: regarding your previously comment about Walker NOT taking away womens right to equal pay...

WASHINGTON -- A Wisconsin law that made it easier for victims of wage discrimination to have their day in court was repealed on Thursday, after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) quietly signed the bill.
The 2009 Equal Pay Enforcement Act was meant to deter employers from discriminating against certain groups by giving workers more avenues via which to press charges. Among other provisions, it allows individuals to plead their cases in the less costly, more accessible state circuit court system, rather than just in federal court.
In November, the state Senate approved SB 202, which rolled back this provision. In In February, the Assembly did the same. Both were party-line votes in Republican-controlled chambers.

Denial is a much over-used tool for alcoholics and rabid conservatives: Signed into law on April 6, 2012 by the "Rock Star" Walker.

bella did President Bush sign it? NOPE. Who was the majority of President Bush's congress at the time? So easy to try to point blame.... but you fail. Ya, amazing the integrity and leadership one shows to ask for an investigation of his own administration... unlike barrett and other dems that hide and deny....

Seems barrett will be in his own john doe soon, not 1, not 2, but possibly 3........... LOL

And that is my point. We are such a divided state.
The facts of all that Walker has done are not important. The union thugs say you have to hate him. So the teachers hate him.
The teachers (especially the young ones) should be worshipping him. They have jobs BECAUSE of ACT 10.

Also eliminating the first in last out will cause the Teacher of the Year not to be laid off again which happened in MPS in 2010.

Also, because of Act 10...

The Neenah Board of Education wants to attract “top talent” to its district, so it recently raised the base pay for its teachers by 18 percent.

But you are OK with Barrett paying women in his office less than men?

Tosa720 - wow, you hit the college drop out and double down on intellectual - and his supporters are the same caliber? As a woman, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Um, was Steve Jobs a college drop out? Bill Gates? You? I suspect you have some unresolved educational guilt and no aspirations.

Weak comment 720, very weak.

You are ok with malhon mitchell never attending college?

Leftard? Really? If you're that immature you probably shouldn't vote.

Maybe these crazy people should start calling Walker "the One." I never heard anyone talk about Obama like these crazy people praise Walker.

@ John, I could not have written it better. Walker has done nothing more the last 6 months than buy the media influcence with all his money. Outspending his opponent 25:1. Do we really want a country that big money will influence and "buy" elections or do we want a democratic country where voters decide elections and not big money?. If Walker wins, big money wins, and the playbook will be put in place on how to destroy democracy and buy elections by none other than Scott Walker.

A fool wrote your comment.

@RecallWalker
Thanks

You are right, only a fool would want to Recall Walker!

Only a fool would vote for barrett with no plan, no accomplishments in his political career, and a poop dumper.............

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Businesses are all about the employee. Sure whatever you say. That's why many people in horrible conditions with long hours until unions came into existence.

Do you honestly think that our government is going to have their employees working long hours in horrible conditions if public employee unions go away?

@Alzee -- Your characterization of the public schools as bastions of 'leftist indoctrination' destroys your credibility. The only indoctrination my son got in public school was of the conservative variety. The teacher had a right to express her opinion, I suppose, and a respectful discussion with my son cleared things up.

About a lower standard of living -- could you explain to me why Diane Hendricks is in favor of making Wisconsin a 'right to work' state if ABC Supply is all about its workers in the tradition of her late husband? A company that treats its workers well is in little danger from unions. Scott Walker made it clear in his response to her -- first the public unions and then the private.

Once they've removed the 'threat' of private sector unions, employers won't have to be quite so 'generous' and there goes everyone's standard of living, except for the billionaires.

I'm not so sure about the public schools not being a 'bastion of leftist indoctrination'. My elementary school age children both seem to hold the opinion that Scott Walker should be recalled. I'm pretty sure that they aren't getting that message from me or their mother...

No Cowdung I never said that. Unions led the way.

@John Wilson -- If I voted my self-interest AND I believed for one minute that Scott Walker's policies were going to work, I wouldn't have signed the recall and I wouldn't be planning to vote for Tom Barrett on June 5. However, there are two reasons against that -- first, I have a conscience, and second, I don't believe him for a minute.

For the past thirty years, every time income taxes have been cut further up, we eventually feel it down at the local level through mushrooming property taxes or reduced services. Anyone remember California's Proposition 13?

Yes, it was, for example, oh-so civil and mature of Barrett to cancel out on the policemen's memorial ceremony in favor of meeting with union buds in Oshkosh. I keep hearing over and over (and over and over) again how Walker has so sharply divided this state, more than it's ever been before. I agree, it is very sharply divided. But if Barrett wins that division will NOT end. At least not until his plans begin to fail (or succeed, depending on your point of view) and we end up back in the same messes we were in under the Doyle administration. We who are thinking logically enough to want to support a winner rather than a loser will NOT suddenly be all quiet and peaceful-like if idiots and cheats manage to get Walker defeated. This election is about one thing and one thing ONLY: union power.

I don't know why Barrett wasn't at the memorial. I do know that his schedule is crammed. There could have been a logistical issue.

Perhaps he should have done a "Chris Christie," commandeered a state helicopter and arrived at the memorial in style, as Christie did in going to his son's softball game (which he promptly left to fly over to meet with Iowa Tea/GOP'rs who were trying to convince him to join the Presidential race). That wouldn't have shown much respect, would it.

What will end the division in our state, I believe, is the exorcism of out-of-state special interests. In 2010 Barrett recognized the need to put the state on what he termed a "diet." That need is still with us, but it must be done in a reasoned way, not with a bulldozer, and as a means of hitting the national stage. We first need to understand the true state of our state, clear away the gaseous debris of special interest legislation, money, and contradictory reporting to get a clear financial and economic picture. Once we have that the budget can be reviewed and revised as needed to lessen the potential impact of the July budget cut "bomb."

By no means is the recall solely about unions. It's about restoring focus on our state and meeting the needs of constituents in a fiscally responsible manner. We are currently out of balance on many levels.

"We are currently out of balance on many levels."
I agree, and we have a $16 million tantrum to prove it.
What makes you think that the right, from this day forward, will not react the same way to Barrett's "diet"?
The only campaign promise that Barrett has made is to end the civil war. If he were to win, I hope you would hold him to that. As mayor, he has been pretty poor at fulfilling campaign promises.

I'm not sure what you mean, Greg, unless you mistakenly typed "tantrum" instead of "investment." I believe the cost to our state will be far higher than $16 million if Walker (R-ALEC) is allowed to complete a full term. It's clear from that damning video that Right to Work is next on the Walker agenda if he survives the recall. That would be a likely economic disaster for union and non-union workers alike, but a boon for folks like Diane Hendricks. With job growth and loss on a fairly equal par and unemployment significant, more financial hits on working people is the last thing we need.

As we are in mid-budget cycle, there's little Barrett can do at this point than analyze what has occurred/will occur, and work to rectify the errors and inequities. I know he will bring a sensible approach to planning the next state budget, as he does with the city budget (of which I have a copy). It's a tough budget but it makes sense, unlike Walker's County budgets, which had to be largely reworked for rationality by the County board. Barrett also has a good relationship with the current County Executive, Chris Abele, who has also demonstrated a traditionally conservative approach to fiscal management (Amen). This ensures that Milwaukee County/southeastern Wisconsin will receive adequate focus at the state level and allow the region to work on reducing poverty in Milwaukee, which increased due to the recession.

Bren:

How exactly would being a 'right to work' state be so damaging? There are currently many 'right to work' states that seem to be doing well economically. Note that being a 'right to work' state does not mean that private sector unions are illegal or need to be disbanded...

The statistic I was given indicates that, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics (c. 2009), average wages in Right to Work states was 11.1% lower than in other states. That's reason enough for me! Interesting fact: All former slave states are Right to Work states. Right to Work is a regressive policy.

A February 2011 Economic Policy Institute study found that in right-to-work states both the unemployment rate in 2009 and the cost of living were lower.

Unions are like buggy whips or to twist it for Bren's use, slave whips.

That would be Bren rocking back forth to the slow motion tune of ALEC.

What campaign promises did barrett ever complete? How many did he break?

@ J. B. Schmidt

Please explain your origin...

I'm guessing that his origin was in his mother's womb...

@John Wilson
CD beat me to it. I m not sure what you are asking. Where do I derive my basis for conservative belief?

@ J. B. Schmidt

A rather straight forward question: what is your origin?

Someone who is so profoundly ENLIGHTENED should at least be capable of telling us what planet you came from...

@John Wilson
You want to know what planet I came from. Really? That is not an enlightened question, but one thought of by high school sophomores.

Wilson has the brains of a soccer ball that has been deflated after being kicked around too much.
I am guessing he was made in China, washed up, worn out premature.

Time to get a Spalding.

@ craig, you have told me before that you yourself are disabled and living off of disability! how dare you attack those who work and pay your bills! your a hypocryte and an idiot! so stfu!

How do environmental special interest groups endorse him when 2 of his beaches are in the top 10 polluted beaches in the Nation and he has dumped over 10 Billion of raw sewage into Lake Michigan... a campaign promise he made in 2004... 8 years later there is still raw sewage being dumped....

@ oak creek resident

How could anyone actually living in Oak Creek call anyone a "fool."

oak creek, such remarks do not increase your credibility!

More simple minded assumptions. I am way more intelligent than a person who assumes they know things about people they never met. I read your response and thought how stupid you appear by making said assumptions because I know I don't work for a union. Nice try though.

@John Wilson.... What are the punitive damages award limits that are allowed under the various states Equal Pay Statues that you cite? Wisconsin law allowed $300,000. My understanding was that Wisconsin stood alone with the $300,000 and the most any of our our boarder sharing neighbors allowed was $25,000.

@ Jay Sykes

That’s an interesting question and one, because I am not an attorney and I don’t have an unlimited amount of time to spend researching a plethora of individual state laws, I am going to answer this way.

First, your information is not accurate. [Ultra-Right-Wing Conservatives like to throw out numbers that do not bear up under scrutiny, and attempt to make the state of Wisconsin the ONLY state in the union that is compelled to treat its citizenry fairly.]

Second, Until the arrival of Walker, Wisconsin did not statutorily limit punitive damage awards… Now, for all cases filed after February 1, 2011, punitive damages cannot exceed twice the amount of compensatory damages recovered by the plaintiff, or $200,000, whichever is greater.

Some states allow for punitive damages – 41 do – some do not. However, all punitive damages come with a long list of QUALIFIERS...

For example, you may have to first win the COMPENSATORY phase in order to qualify for PUNITIVE damages... and then you must meet 26 discrete metrics in the COMPENSATORY phase in order to qualify for a potential PUNITIVE damage award.

@John Wilson... You say my "information is not accurate", yet you fail to cite any data that contra-indicates the the information I provide. Furthermore, you call the law "an attempt to make Wisconsin the ONLY state in the union that is compelled to treat its citizenry fairly". However, you fail to provide any data from any of the 41 states, that have similar laws, as to the evidence of success in their 'attempt'(s) in creating fairness in pay.

@ Jay Sykes

Jay, I am truly sorry, but I am NOT going to waste my precious time, doing your RESEARCH FOR YOU… you stated in your original blog, “Wisconsin law allowed $300,000.”

That is INACCURATE… and it is plain and simple BS…

Wisconsin NEVER had a $300,000 cap on punitive damages, no matter which of your tooth fairies told you that.

Again, until the arrival of Walker, Wisconsin did NOT statutorily limit punitive damage awards… Now, for all cases filed after February 1, 2011, punitive damages cannot exceed twice the amount of compensatory damages recovered by the plaintiff, or $200,000, whichever is greater. Effectively, since Walker, the state now has a $200,000 cap on punitive damages.

I purposefully, did not address the other portion of your blog: “My understanding was that Wisconsin stood alone with the $300,000 and the most any of our boarder sharing neighbors allowed was $25,000.”

That is YOUR UNDERSTANDING; that is for you to SUPPORT with YOUR RESEARCH… I do NOT know/care what our boarder states or any other state has for a punitive damage cap… I live in the state of Wisconsin and my primary area of concern is my state, how Walker is killing it, not the other 49.

I will say this, it is extremely doubtful, that you would find a state, where punitive damages were allowed, for them to limit the amount to $25,000…

GOYA = GET OFF YOUR A$$!

Do some RESEARCH… this information should be easy to find on any of Bush’s Internet(s)…

John:

According to this piece published on JS Online, there was indeed a $300k cap. Granted it is an opinion piece, but it is a piece that isn't pro-Walker, and it isn't a 'far right extremist' making the claim.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/repeal-of-09-law-harms-discrimination-victims-c44vmcl-147250235.html

Just one more Non-issue being put out there by the left to perpetuate their Civil War.

@ CowDung

I am familiar with the piece, and I do not have the foggiest idea just where this opinion piece writer pulled the $300,000 figure from; I stand by my post(s) regarding this issue. Wisconsin did NOT have a cap on punitive damages until Walker made it $200,000. [Minnesota also does NOT have a cap on punitive damages; however, and again, I am only interested in my state, the GREAT state of WISCONSIN.

From the piece:

"State Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) said that repeal of the law puts Wisconsin in line with neighboring states. But according to employment attorneys, every state that abuts Wisconsin allows for compensatory and punitive damages in their state courts, so one wonders exactly what Grothman was talking about. Of course, this is the same guy who was quoted as saying that perhaps women are paid less than men because money means more to men, so maybe the question should be what planet is Grothman living on."

The "employment attorneys" referenced in this piece, have it RIGHT!

My tooth fairy, the State Bar of Wisconsin and labor lawyer Saul Glazer, magically delivered this pixie dusting of Great State of Wisconsin information back in March. Maybe they can help explain that compensatory and punitive damages of up to $300,000 are no longer available for Wisconsin’s Fair Employment Act (WFEA) claims.

http://www.wisbar.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=109534&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm

@ Jay Sykes

I am pleased to have introduced you to GOYA; Kudos to you for that long overdue journey…

A quote from the law article below, capitalization is mine:

As of February 1, 2011, 2011 Wisconsin Act 2 changed the landscape of business litigation in a number of areas. I wrote recently about the altered expert evidence rule, but other changes are of interest, as well. New Wis. Stats. §895.043(6) limits the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded.

Before Governor Scott Walker signed the bill into law, WISCONSIN DID NOT STATUTORILY LIMIT PUNITIVE DAMAGES AWARDS. Now, for all cases filed after February 1, 2011, punitive damages cannot exceed twice the amount of compensatory damages recovered by the plaintiff, or $200,000, whichever is greater.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I POSTED…

Now, I am anxiously awaiting your “understanding” regarding neighboring states having a “$25,000 cap on punitive damages…”

Understand now?

Wisconsin Limits Punitive Damages Awards - Wisconsin Business ...
http://noahfiedler.com/2011/02/wisconsin-limits-punitive-damages-awards/

@John Wilson...When I made my first post in this string,that you started: ""@ J. B. Schmidt....You stated: "The state never set equal pay......."", it was clear that the scope of the discussion was 'Employment Law' not 'contract law'. You will further note that my posts make reference to employment or equal pay. Your last post, with the link to the changes in punitive damages in 'contracts law', indicates that you do not understand that only specific 'employment laws' apply to 'employment';the law changes that you cited,on the 'statutory limit to punitive damages', are not germane to the discussion on 'equal pay' laws. The rules for awarding punitive damages in business litigation are distinctly separate from the employment discrimination laws.

You should further note that I didn't take a side or express my personal opinion regarding the Wisconsin’s Fair Employment Act ;I asked questions or stated facts and you attacked, without any provocation on my part. Generally, I dis-engage from those that spend their time on the attack or out doing Joseph Goebbels in beating the same dead horse. I don't post/read blogs on patch to convince others why my opinion is right and theirs is wrong. I'm trying to find the chink in the armor that protects my own opinions.

@John Wilson
I WAS MISINFORMED I APOLOGIZE. i USUALLY VERIFY MY INFO, BUT WAS DISTRACTED BY MY KIDS THAT ALSO HAVE ORIGINS ON THIS PLANET. WE ALL CAN'T BE AS ENLIGHTENED ABOUT ALL SUBJECTS AS YOU ARE.

@ J. B. Schmidt

Your apology is graciously accepted; thank you...

Writing only for myself, on a multitude of blogs, I attempt to double check my information before I click that infamous point-of-no-return button... obviously, I am not always successful either...

We learn, and that is GOOD...

someone (ocr) is obviously frustrated with life.

John Wilson, you own nothing other than a sh*tty life and a loathing for those who are your betters... hence your hatred for me and other successful productive family men who live in the suburbs.

NOW GO TYPE YOUR CAPITAL LETTERS SOMEWHERE ELSE!

@ oak creek resident

I already own you... and it is never my intention to intrude on my own property...

Please check your still-to-be-painted out-house; I left you a litre of Hennessy Black Cognac and 100 (10MG) Valium so you could reach the same level of psychosis as your radical, right-wing, social engineering, twin- brother, J. B. Schmidt...

I would also suggest that you visit Phoenix Online University, where you may pay a few more dollars and obtain a PhD; a degree is a piece of paper, that neither guarantees knowledge, wisdom, intelligence nor critical thinking… it merely means that you spent some time and money to occupy a seat in a post-secondary institution of higher learning… in your case it was a monumental waste of both time and money, as you cannot even control your own emotions…

oak creek, have I missed something? A Master's degree, in numerous fields, is the culmination of an educational and experiential journey, or an integral step toward the terminal degree. Why do you believe I don't appreciate Oak Creek?

Sorry, if you are suggesting a "Second Amendment Remedy" to my free speech problem, I'm unlikely to accept your invitation to visit your home--unless the snacks/beverages are spectacular and you have a swimming pool. Some things are worth risking one's life... ; )

What a lame comment.

gubmint worker by nature is a very stereotypical racial slur used over and over by the so called moral right! i'm really sick of the racial tone from the right as it is white governor walker who has taken money off of the table of thousands of white , hispanic and black working people in this state! don't penalize people for making a living! this is really just a case of the haves trying to keep the rest of us down so that we can be their slaces! white, black or hispanic!

@Tom
Thanks.

LOL!

@jt
What is fair about a class of citizens (public employees) completely supported by the taxpayer? The desire for public employees to kick in a small portion for their benefits was not so we could see $40 back on property taxes (which I believe was done at the local level in some communities) but to close the $3 billion deficit left him by the past administration. I believe we were civilized until the recall. If you forgot, the republicans were left out of many pieces of legislation when Doyle was governor; however, they allowed him to rightly serve his term.

If Walker is truly a conqueror as you say, then Act 10 is his crowning achievement. Why is Barrett not running against Act 10? Maybe because the people of Wisconsin approve of the restraint placed on unions?

The teachers and other public employees render a service. The taxpayers' pay for those services as they should. Only an immature mind would fail to recognize that. That 8% or more beyond off take home pay is not a small portion, especially for people who have had to put in reduced schedules thanks to furloughs.

Sure Doyle left out the GOP from time to time, but what has been going on here in this state under these GOP fanatics is major.

Meanwhile, enjoy this -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a--DYssMw90.

Chromie, why do you continually turn off people to organized religion?

@Keith
Are we to pay public employee higher wages and better benefits then they could receive under private employment? I am in favor of paying them for the work they do at a competitive wage and when the state can afford to hire them. We should have just done what Milwaukee, Kenosha and Janesville did and fire their teachers; that appears to be a better choice to you liberals then to have them kick in a little for benefits.

Sure, Doyle's unconstitutional raiding of different funds was nothing major.

@j.b. , what is fair about public employees or any other working person having to py higher health care rates when several so called job creators or buisiness owners won't even buy health insurance? then, when they get sick, they side step the bill and let the rest of us pay for it! this is why there is a need for national health care!
even if i was self employed, i would still buy some catostrophic coverage of some type! but unfortunately, i know quite a few entrepenuers that do not have any coverage! who pays for that? the people who have coverage! that's who!
that is why insurance premiums are up! but yet, those same people have new vehicles, big houses, and plenty of vacation money because the rest of us are footing the bill when they file bankruptcy on their medical bills, but their company owns their property and vehicles, so those don't get touched in the bakruptcy and the rest of us pay for their defaults!

LOL...wow...extremely clueless.

really craig? prove me wrong! you know that what i just said is true. c'mon craig, let's hear an intelligent retort from you for a change, not just name calling or fox news soundbites!

jt: Not to be mean but you have a $10/hr job. If you don't like how much you are being paid to lean on a broom, go somewhere else to work. Don't assume you know about people's finances, and don't assume that those who share that info are truthful with you.
Regarding your comments about ObamaCare- you do know that ObamaCare still includes the evil insurance companies and make the US government the premium payer? You allow the Government to buy $700 toilet seats, imagine what they will end up paying in insurance premiums. It is a doomed system, and will fail. It may take a decade, but it is unsustainable. The insurer, being the middle man, will keep increasing his cut at our expense and we will not notice it until it is too late.

@Craig...The problem with healthcare, whether privately funded or government funded doesn't address the real issue, double digit inflation of medical care, big pharma and medical device manufacturers. Healthcare displays all of the negative characteristics of an out of control monopoly. Even shopping around for lower fees and costs leads to nothing. There is price fixing that no self regulating industry will or can effectively control. The last arbitrator available is the Federal Government. If we are going to involve the government, then let's not mess around and go to a government run healthcare service. It will be cheaper, more efficient and more beneficial in the long run.

@Lyle: That is exactly my point. I am not in favor of NHC, but a true NHC would be better than ObamaCare for the exact reasons you listed. Under ObamaCare, the medical costs will continue to rise without anyone noticing.
With a true NHC system, you would have big pharma and medical device manufacturers, along with Dr's, clinics, and hospitals all under the control or employ of the Government. Correct?

@Craig...You are correct.

healthcare would be like any other product if the government would simply exit it. Anytime the goverment becomes the biggest customer of a product, prices skyrocket. Pick any product where government is the biggest consumer and you see the same thing. Government is the problem, not the insurance companies,not the hospitals, not big pharma...gubmint.

@Alfred...Since the government can't manage to control costs where it is the chief consumer, does that include the U.S. military?

Lyle of course, there is mucho price inflation in all military purchases, remember the $100 toliet seats?

@Alfred...What do you purpose as an alternative; a free market military?

Auntie Alinsky is probably getting paid by the post by the Bircher Kochs.

@$$ and sense, oh yeah, i'm just begging for a beating by the religeous right wing bible thumpers wno carry guns for protection because they have little man syndrome and can't fight their own way out of a wet paper sack! the tea party can kiss my democrat country boy ass! i am their worst nightmare, an independant thinker who is straight, beleives in god and can actually hit a target when i carry!

Nick I am curious if you ever really worked a single day in your life?

@Nick
It amazes me how so many words strung together can say so little. You throw slanted tidbits of information with the assumption that they are interrelated.

While no one wants to be fired, free government money is a drug and it can be just as addictive and create just as much dependency as cocaine. When you provide people the addictive free government money for 99 weeks, that habit will be and is hard to break.

The rest of your attack on capitalism is lock step with the rest of the progressive movement. You liberals, come in and add your socialist policy to a free market system claiming it is broken and when the system breaks under the socialist policy you sit cry that the sky is falling. It is a self fulfilling prophecy. At the same time, you close your mind every time (as you did above) to the proof the plutocracy consists of the people you support and vote into office.

Democratic socialism is a myth as it only exists to trick the citizenry into thinking they have any say in socialism. The recent France elections are a perfect example. Hollande simply played to the addictive nature of government money in order to win. He has no actual plan to save France from a Greece like disaster. Yet, he will sit and claim he is fighting for the people. All the while enjoying his multiple vacation homes like any good plutocrat. Not unlike Obama feeling our pain from the 15th hole or the sunny shores of Hawaii.

The verbal masturbation of Nick Poulus certainly gets tiring. Never have I witnessed a failed business man so full of himself, typical pseudo intellectual lefty with nothing to say and nothing to contribute to this blog or society. Go away Poulos, you know nothing.

You don't have to do anything, it's still a free country. Write in your choice. Maybe even jojobo. That sounds good, Governor jojobo. I may even vote for you.

Get a job Dirk.

Republicans, working hard so you don't have to.

@Alfred - Get a soul, Alfred.