Vote for Brian Hagedorn for Supreme Court April 2nd

Also after some recent attacks, a gay man sets the record straight on Hagerdorn.

Dear Editor:

As an openly gay man who has interacted with Judge Brian Hagedorn on numerous occasions, including spending more than 16 hours driving him to campaign events across the state, I feel a responsibility to cry foul on the political attacks alleging he is homophobic and unfit to be a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice.

continue at Right Wisconsin

Wisconsin Family Council report card: https://wifamilyaction.org/election-central/

Gov Tony Evers seeks to freeze enrollment in private voucher schools, suspend charter school expansion

Milwaukee Bucks Eric Bledsoe visits Eric Bledsoe visits Messmer Catholic Schools

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers in his first state budget is seeking to undo expansions of private voucher schools and independent charter schools passed by Republicans over the last decade.

Aides say the proposals are an attempt to reduce property taxes and stabilize what the Democratic governor sees as two parallel systems of education in Wisconsin.

But Republicans who control the Legislature are likely to block many, if not all, of the measures Evers wants.

Evers, the former chief of the state's education agency, is seeking to freeze the number of students who may enroll in private voucher schools across the state, including in Milwaukee where the nation's first voucher program began nearly 30 years ago.

continue at JS

Umm... okay.  I can understand going after the whole state program, but attacking the Milwaukee program??

The oldest school voucher program was created in Milwaukee in 1990 with a singular focus on African-American students living in poverty. This school year, the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program issued nearly 28,000 vouchers for low-income kids to attend dozens of private and religious schools at public expense.

NPR:  Lessons On Race And Vouchers From Milwaukee

Tony, Let's Have That Honest Discussion About Vouchers - RightWisconsin

Evers’ State of the State Speech Omits Pledge of Killing School Choice

MacIver: University of Wisconsin Issues Voting ID Card To Non-Citizen

The University of Wisconsin Madison is making a big GOTV push this year. In addition to hosting three early voting sites, they’re putting extra resources into providing students with the documentation they need to register and vote – all students.

The two key documents are proof of residence and a photo ID. The university is making it as easy as possible to get these documents.

All students can print off a “Voter Eligibility Verification Letter” simply by going to their online university account. The process is automatic and instant.

continue at MacIver

WI Sen. Tammy Baldwin could be more vulnerable than people realized

Newly minted GOP Senate nominee Leah Vukmir is within striking distance of incumbent Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin.

A new Marquette University Law survey has the two candidates polling within the margin or error. "Among likely voters in the race for the Wisconsin U.S. Senate seat on the ballot in November, 49 percent support the incumbent, Democrat Tammy Baldwin, and 47 percent support Republican Leah Vukmir, while 3 percent say they lack a preference or do not lean toward a candidate," the pollsters reported on Wednesday. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. Note also the small share of voters without a preference or lean, meaning that, as often seems to happen with Wisconsin elections, the candidates will be fighting over a very small piece of the electoral pie going forward.

continue at WA Examiner

In interview, outgoing House Speaker Ryan says he doesn't see himself ever running again

House Speaker Paul Ryan said in an interview Wednesday he doesn’t expect to ever run for political office again.

“I really don’t,” the Janesville Republican said.

“I always sort of thought when I took this job, this would be the last elected office I’d have, which I’m fine with,” Ryan said after announcing his decision to retire from Congress this January, ending a 20-year career in Washington.

“I never thought of myself as a lifer in politics, let alone a lifer in Congress. And so I really don’t know what I’ll do next,” said Ryan, who spoke at length with the Journal Sentinel and reporters from three other news organizations.

“I wouldn’t mind being ambassador to Ireland in my 60s,” joked Ryan, who is 48.

continue at JS

Election today! Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate's 1989 arrests for abortion protests provide window into his views

A pair of arrests nearly 30 years ago provides insight into the views of one Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate on abortion and civil disobedience.

Michael Screnock was arrested and ticketed for trespassing and obstructing officers twice in 1989 when he participated in large protests at a Madison abortion clinic. He reached plea deals that dropped the obstructing citations and required him to perform community service for the trespassing charges, according to Screnock and public records.

“In the context of my life, it’s not something I’ve ever regretted doing,” Screnock said.

Screnock, 48, is a Sauk County judge who is seeking a 10-year term on the state Supreme Court in the spring election.

continue at JS (article from last year)

Sounds like a great guy!

HT FK

Wisconsin Senate Passes Bill Ending Abortion Coverage for State Employees

Madison, WI – On an 18-14 vote last night, the Wisconsin Senate passed legislation to prohibit elective abortion coverage in Wisconsin’s public health insurance plans. Having passed the Wisconsin Assembly last November, Assembly Bill (AB) 128 now heads to Governor Walker for his expected signature. If AB 128 becomes law, Wisconsin taxpayers would no longer pay for state employees’ abortions.

“Pro-Life Wisconsin thanks Senate Republicans for persevering in their ongoing effort to end taxpayer funding of abortion in our state,” said Matt Sande, PLW Legislative Director. “We especially thank the bill’s authors, Senator Dave Craig and Representatives André Jacque, Ron Tusler and Janel Brandtjen.”

Abortion - the direct, intentional killing of a preborn child - is not health care. In poll after poll, Americans overwhelmingly say they oppose taxpayer-funded abortion. Politico and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health conducted a poll in September 2016 showing that a majority of likely voters, 58 percent, opposed the use of Medicaid funds to pay for abortion. Similarly, a July 2016 Marist poll found that 62 percent of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.

“We must fully end taxpayer funding of abortion in Wisconsin,” said Sande. “It’s bad enough that child killing is legal. At the very least, taxpayers should not be forced to fund it.”

Pro-Life Wisconsin

Wis State Assembly Passes Bill Ending Abortion Coverage for State Employees

via Pro-Life WI

By a 61-35 vote last Thursday, the Wisconsin Assembly passed legislation to prohibit elective abortion coverage in Wisconsin’s public health insurance plans. The legislation now heads to the Wisconsin Senate. If Assembly Bill 128 becomes law, Wisconsin taxpayers would no longer pay for state employees’ abortions.

Pro-Life Life Wisconsin thanks Assembly Republicans for persevering in their ongoing effort to end taxpayer funding of abortion in Wisconsin. We especially thank the bill’s authors, Reps. André Jacque, Janel Brandtjen and Ron Tusler and Senator Dave Craig.

Abortion - the direct, intentional killing of a preborn child - is not health care. In poll after poll, Americans overwhelmingly say they oppose taxpayer-funded abortion. Politico and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health conducted a poll in September 2016 showing that a majority of likely voters, 58 percent, opposed the use of Medicaid funds to pay for abortion. Similarly, a July 2016 Marist poll found that 62 percent of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.

We must fully end taxpayer funding of abortion in Wisconsin! It is bad enough that child killing is legal. At the very least, taxpayers should not be forced to fund it.

A Wisconsin Dairy Queen Owner Posted This 'Politically Incorrect' Sign. It's Creating A LOT Of Buzz.

Despite hanging without a hitch (or a complaint) for nearly four years, the sign recently became national news after an out-of-town customer became triggered by the "politically incorrect" message and posted a snapshot and a complaint to the offical Dairy Queen Facebook.

"I find this extremely offensive," whined an Oregon woman who goes by the name Ashley Coleman on Facebook. "Please speak with the franchise owner," she added.

full story at Daily Wire

HT WisFA

State Senator: Wisconsin will move quickly on Article V resolution to amend US Constitution

MADISON, Wis. — By the time President Barack Obama leaves office this week, the U.S. debt will be approaching $20 trillion.

Fiscal conservatives say it’s long past time to deal with the mess.

A Wisconsin lawmaker says the Badger State will soon take a big step toward getting the federal government’s fiscal house in order.

State Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, said he will soon introduce a bill calling for Wisconsin to join the much-discussed Article V convention of the states that would draft a federal balanced budget amendment.

Another initiative elsewhere calls for a package amendment that would limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and impose federal term limits.

The constitution includes two mechanisms to bring amendments: through Congress and by a convention the states. Under Article 5 of the U.S. Constitution, it takes two-thirds of the states to call a convention. That magic number is 34 states.

As of late last year, a reported 28 states had gone on record in support of a convention of states to discuss a balanced budget amendment.

continue at WatchDog

Podesta email: "WI has many culturally conservative Democrats"

P36 of this document: Selected Polling and Media Recommendations 2008.

While Democrats will of course rely on polling to set and assess their message delivery in Wisconsin, they should not at all assume that Wisconsin is an environment where “progressive” messaging can succeed. The Wisconsin electorate overwhelmingly passed a 2006 ballot measure to ban gay marriage and civil unions, despite a well-organized and well-funded campaign to defeat it. That campaign targeted Wisconsin largely on the false pretense that progressive values could win the day.

And dont forget this:

School voucher program in Milwaukee. Many community leaders and African American ministers and pastors strongly support continuing this program. This issue has given Republicans an opening to address African American congregations in the past two elections. There are a lot of politics surrounding the issues of voucher schools; many of the schools generate tremendous revenue for the corresponding churches, and local pastors view their ability to provide a safe and quality learning environment as paramount over other concerns. Other leaders, moved by more political and economical concerns, have built large business ventures from the voucher school structure and are willing to give Republican leaders a platform to speak on this issue. Although it has not yet cost Democrats votes, it is extremely important for Democrats to handle their politics and message on this issue very carefully. It may and likely will cause them a few headaches, and it will require a little handholding and an examination of the magnitude of the problem facing parents who want their children to get a good education in the city of Milwaukee.

via  New Podesta Email Exposes Playbook For Rigging Polls Through "Oversamples"

Milwaukee Archdiocese disavows flier saying archbishop backs candidate

A Milwaukee aldermanic candidate's campaign flier identifying Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki as a supporter was not authorized, Milwaukee Archdiocese spokeswoman Amy Grau said Monday.

The candidate, Chris Wiken, has a good chance to unseat veteran Ald. Terry Witkowski in Tuesday's spring election.

A Wiken campaign flier mailed to homes in the 13th Aldermanic District includes a photo of Listecki and identifies the archbishop as a "Proud Supporter of Chris Wiken" and "100% behind him."

Not true, Grau said. The archbishop did not endorse Wiken, she said.

In a statement, Grau drew a distinction between Listecki the individual and Listecki the archbishop.

continue at JS

Gov Walker Signs Bills Defunding Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin!

Waukesha – Governor Walker signed two bills into law Thursday that, together, are expected to eliminate approximately $8 million in public funding from Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (PPWI), the state’s largest abortion provider. Assembly Bill 310 redirects federal Title X family planning funds away from organizations that perform abortions to public entities including state, county, and local health departments and clinics. This will eliminate $3.5 million from PPWI. Senate Bill 238 reduces PPWI’s Medicaid reimbursement rate for contraceptive drugs, requiring that PPWI be reimbursed the actual cost they pay for these drugs and not the artificially inflated rate they are currently receiving. This will eliminate $4.5 million from PPWI.

more at Pro-Life WI

At Life's Connection in Waukesha I signed into law changes to improve women's health at noncontroversial providers pic.twitter.com/vSbl6NpkNH

— Governor Walker (@GovWalker) February 18, 2016

Gov Walker on whether Planned Parenthood measures open up state to lawsuit

I give up on fixing autoplay. You can watch here.

"We want to make sure as taxpayers whether it's state funds or federal funds that come through the state of Wisconsin that they're used in the way that's responsible and reasonable," Walker said before signing the bills, which he emphasized would withhold money to "controversial entities like Planned Parenthood."

more at JS

GREAT WORK TEAM LIFE!

via Live Action News

Wis. GOP Leader Lies About Aborted Fetal Tissue Research

Last week, Media Trackers, a state-based conservative watchdog group, reported that the University of Wisconsin – Madison for at least two years worked directly with Planned Parenthood’s Madison, Wisconsin clinic to obtain up to 40 aborted fetal tissue samples for an academic study. The revelation was the latest in a long-running investigation that Media Trackers launched in the wake of undercover videos released last summer showing Planned Parenthood officials callously negotiating the sale price of aborted fetal body parts to tissue suppliers and academic and scientific researchers.

Stunningly, on Sunday, Speaker Robin Vos, the top Republican lawmaker in the Wisconsin Assembly, took to the airwaves to dismiss pro-life lawmakers pushing for legislation that would ban the use of aborted fetal tissue in research in Wisconsin.

Vos claims to be a conservative.

Vos claims to be pro-life.

Vos claims to be “disgusted” by the Center for Medical Progress videos released last summer.

Vos lied when he claimed on television (2:15 mark onward) that aborted fetal tissue is not used in research in Wisconsin.

continue at The Resurgent

University of Wisconsin doctors admitted to needing freshly killed babies for their research.

Image

HT BC Aunt

Scott Walker signs fetal pain abortion ban: It sets a ‘reasonable standard’

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, signed a bill today barring abortions on unborn babies capable of feeling pain.

"For people, regardless of where they might stand, when an unborn child can feel pain I think most people feel it's appropriate to protect that child," the governor said.

A child's ability to feel pain constitutes a "reasonable standard" for the state to offer protection.

"At five months, that's the time when that unborn child can feel pain," he added. "When an unborn child can feel pain, we should be protecting that child."

The measure would disallow abortions after 20 weeks except to save the mother's life or if she would suffer major, irreparable physical harm within the next 24 hours.

Abortions outside that criteria would be classified as felonies carrying a maximum sentence of three-and-a-half years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

continue at LifeSite 

National Review: Wisconsin’s Shame: I Thought It Was a Home...

‘THEY CAME WITH A BATTERING RAM.” Cindy Archer, one of the lead architects of Wisconsin’s Act 10 — also called the “Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill,” it limited public-employee benefits and altered collective-bargaining rules for public-employee unions — was jolted awake by yelling, loud pounding at the door, and her dogs’ frantic barking. The entire house — the windows and walls — was shaking.

She looked outside to see up to a dozen police officers, yelling to open the door. They were carrying a battering ram.

She wasn't dressed, but she started to run toward the door, her body in full view of the police. Some yelled at her to grab some clothes, others yelled for her to open the door.

“I was so afraid,” she says. “I did not know what to do.” She grabbed some clothes, opened the door, and dressed right in front of the police. The dogs were still frantic.

“I begged and begged, ‘Please don’t shoot my dogs, please don’t shoot my dogs, just don’t shoot my dogs.’ I couldn't get them to stop barking, and I couldn't get them outside quick enough. I saw a gun and barking dogs. I was scared and knew this was a bad mix.”

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/417155/wisconsins-shame-i-thought-it-was-home-invasion-david-french

This is a must read, especially because the "investigation" is still being reported by major news sources as something legitimate and within the contains of the rule of law.

Update: Yikes, the belligerent judge whom authorized these terrorisms is an associate member of the School Sisters of St Francis! (Dad29)  Not surprising, she is a fan of Joan Chittister.

Barbara Kluka is a long-time associate who was born, raised, and has lived most of her life near Kenosha, Wisconsin. As a single person, she has pursued a life of quiet holiness since childhood, when she learned to play the organ and played at daily Masses and for funerals in her parish.

Marquette poll: Walker 50, Burke 45 among likely voters

Gov. Scott Walker opened up a slight lead among likely voters on Dem rival Mary Burke in the latest Marquette University Law School Poll, the first time since March the advantage for either candidate has been outside the margin of error.

Fifty percent of likely voters backed Walker, while 45 percent supported Burke. Among registered voters, it was 46-45 Walker.

In the last poll two weeks ago, Walker and Burke were tied at 46 percent apiece among registered voters. Among likely voters, Walker had a 49-46 edge.

Poll director Charles Franklin said with the race now a little more than a month away, he is starting to focus more on likely voters.

He also called Walker’s lead on Burke among men “astonishing.” Walker led among men 62-34, while Burke led among women 54-40.

continue at WisPolitics

Photo

US Supreme Court rejects appeal from Wisconsin school on graduations in church

WASHINGTON -The Supreme Court has left in place a court decision that said public high school graduations in a church adorned with religious symbols violated the separation of church and state.

The justices' action Monday comes more than a month after the court upheld Christian prayer at the start of town council meetings.

The justices did not explain their denial of the appeal from the Elmbrook School District in southeastern Wisconsin, however. Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas said they would have heard the case.

In 2012, the federal appeals court in Chicago found that a giant cross on the wall of Elmbrook Church and other religious symbols that were visible during graduation ceremonies conveyed a message that government was endorsing a particular religion. The district no longer holds graduations there.

Channel 3000

Wisconsin government’s pro-life leadership deficit continues to worsen

Over the past few months, the actions of Wisconsin’s Republican leadership have raised red flags among pro-lifers for abandoning legislation that would ban sex-selection abortion and protect Wisconsinites’ conscience rights against forced subsidizing of abortion. Disturbingly, not only has the trend continued, but it may be getting worse.

First, Wisconsin Family Action reports that the GOP-controlled state Senate “refused to schedule” a final vote on AB 206, a bill making available “Choose Life” license plates (the sales of which would fund pregnancy resource services), “on the last day of session, effectively killing it.”

Granted, license plates are hardly the biggest item on the pro-life agenda, but the fact that they pose no threat to legal abortion makes it all the more baffling why ostensibly pro-life leaders would feel the need to stifle them. The mildest possible pro-life measure is still too controversial? Pathetic.

Second, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Gov. Scott Walker has hired a new spokeswoman, Alleigh Marre, for his gubernatorial reelection. In 2011, Marre declared, “I’m a Republican, and I support Planned Parenthood, a woman’s right to choose, access to STD testing, birth control, etc.” Marre has also worked for pro-abortion ex-GOP Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts. So far there’s been no outright confirmation as to what Marre thinks about abortion today, but as the MJS’s Daniel Bice points out, statements by Team Walker have “all but confirmed Marre’s pro-choice position.”

continue at LiveActionNews

Federal court upholds injunction blocking Wisconsin abortion law

A federal appeals court panel Friday upheld an injunction delaying Wisconsin's new law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, writing state attorneys failed to show implementing the law quickly would protect women's health.

The three-judge panel from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago upheld U.S. District Judge William Conley's preliminary injunction. Judge Richard Posner wrote in a 25-page lead opinion that the law unreasonably gave providers just two days to obtain admitting privileges. Delaying the law's implementation shouldn't hurt because abortion complications are rare and nothing shows such privileges make any difference to a woman's health, he added.  [Tell that to Tonya Reaves, pictured right]

"The state can without harm to its legitimate interests wait a few months more to implement its new law, should it prevail in this litigation," Posner wrote.

The GOP-authored law requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles. Nearly a dozen other states have similar laws. Wisconsin Republicans contend the law ensures continuity of care if a woman experiences complications following an abortion. Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed the law July 5, a Friday. Under Wisconsin statutes governing when laws become effective, the measure would have gone into effect July 8, the following Monday.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/federal-court-upholds-injunction-blocking-wisconsin-abortion-law/article_b6f97f6a-69bc-11e3-a5e5-001a4bcf887a.html#ixzz2oJbiQM8W

Goes to show how utterly unreasonable abortion advocates have become. Would dentists fight like this if similar measures were taken?