Hey kids! Look what Santa Budget brought! Recycling bins!

It's a small item. But then, so many items are. Then we wonder where did all that money go?

The town of Wrightstown is getting $46,000 in brand new recycling bins. The only explanation anyone has for this budget item involves elves and reindeer. From a press release from state representatives Rich Zipperer and Leah Vukmir:

Madison - Today Representative Rich Zipperer (R-Pewaukee) and
Representative Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) blasted a provision added to the state budget by the Democrat-controlled Joint Committee on Finance earlier this week. The provision provided $46,000 for new recycling bins in the town of Wrightstown at a time when Legislators are trying to solve Governor Doyle's $6.6 billion state deficit. The $46,000 represents a 735% increase over what the town received for recycling aid in the last budget.

"This provision is preposterous," said Vukmir. "This is exactly the kind of nickel-and-diming that has put Wisconsin in such a mess over the years. Wasteful earmarks for things like recycling bins for only one town should not be a priority of the state, but to the Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee, it apparently is."

According to a recent news article in the Green Bay Press Gazette, the Wrightstown Clerk didn't know about the spending provision, and the Democrat co-chairs of the Finance Committee claimed that they didn't know who brought the provision forward. Wrightstown's representative in the Assembly, Democrat Ted Zigmunt, did not return a press call seeking answers.

"The fact that the Democrat co-chairs of the Finance Committee, who control every motion and vote brought forward to the committee, can claim they don't know how the provision was included is ridiculous," said Zipperer. "Taxpayers deserve transparency in the state budget, and they deserve to know who thought recycling bins in Wrightstown are important enough to have priority at a time when we are trying to fix Governor Doyle's $6.6 billion state deficit."

Zipperer and Vukmir are the authors of the Earmark Transparency Act, which is before the Joint Committee on Finance but has not yet been given a public hearing. The Earmark Transparency Act would require complete disclosure of the state budget, including disclosing who brought motions and earmarks forward during the Finance Committee proceedings.

"This is just one example of multiple spending provisions that should not be in the state budget. Once the budget reaches the full Assembly, we will watch out for the taxpayers and work to remove these wasteful earmarks," Zipperer concluded.

Let's start disliking his appointment now

The next time someone starts talking about a "non-partisan judiciary" my laughter will be uncontrollable. Governor Doyle appointed former Waukesha Democratic Party Chairman Rick Congdon as a judge.

Among the candidates for the position was former Waukesha County Assistant District Attorney Dennis Krueger. Republicans should start planning his campaign now to defeat Congdon in the 2010 election.

"Trouble maker that he is"

Heh. Well, I try.

Just another reason why the Waukesha Freeman is well worth the 50 cents.

(For those of you just catching up, part 1, part 2, part 3.)

Movies and omelets cancelled this morning

First I want to thank Mark Belling for the nice complement*.

I had a nice conversation this afternoon with Jeff Christensen, Communications Director of the Waukesha Democratic Party. Christensen informed me the planned program for the breakfast was actually cancelled a week ago because some (but not all) were uncomfortable with the topic. Then he told me the Oconomowoc Democrats are not actually an official organization, but that the county and the state party post "progressive" groups' events as a matter of course.

(Update! 6/8/08 I probably should have been clearer that the Oconomowoc Dems did not tell the county party the agenda had changed.)

Christensen also told me that the county party is reconsidering their policy regarding listing "progressive" groups' events if they are controversial.

Christensen told me that the reason the breakfast was cancelled because of the scrutiny the meeting received. He also told me that a number of people called the restaurant and a few of the local Democrats to complain, some rudely. I told him, of course, that I would clearly not encourage the rude phone calls. I also told him that had Rick Congdon returned my call or answered my e-mail that this story would have ended much earlier. He and I agreed that I would contact him directly if I had any questions in the future.

Of course, it still doesn't change the fact that nobody with the Democratic Party at the state or the county saw anything wrong with promoting the event until Mark Belling mentioned my blog post on the air, and that this reveals a significant segment of the county party (unofficial affiliation or not) believe in 9/11 conspiracies.

(* And thanks to Dave at Carrick Bend and anyone else who did for sending the tip to Belling)

Democrats attempting to hide conspiracy theory beliefs

Despite not responding to my e-mail or my phone message, Waukesha County Democratic Party Chairman Rick Congdon must have got the message. The Oconomowoc Democrats' breakfast meeting with a 9/11 conspiracy theory video is off their website. Unfortunately for them, Dave Carrick has the screen print posted at his website.

This matter will not be dropped.

Are the Oconomowoc Democrats the party of conspiracy theorists?

The Oconomowoc Democrats are having a breakfast meeting this Saturday at Schwefel's Restaurant, 39877 Highway 16, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. They'll be showing some killer videos.

Dale Mackdanz will be the "Welcome Person." The DVD's:

1. "Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers" - there is a 20 minute version which hits the highlights. I will ask Dale to help with a Q. & A.

2. 9/11 Mysteries: Part 1 - Demolition. Experts have asked many questions about 9/11 which have never been publicized on public media. Did you know that George Bush's brother was the ultimate authority over the World Trade Center Complex - to which all actions/decisions regarding that facility had to pass? We will simply ask the questions again in our group setting - I think all the questions at least should be public knowledge.

We will go no further.

There will always be some reports on Democratic Candidates from now on until the Election.

"9/11 Mysteries: Part 1 - Demolition" is exactly what you think it is, a 9/11 conspiracy video.

Since it's posted as an official event on the Waukesha County Democratic Party's website, unless I hear differently from the party chairman and he condemns the Oconomowoc Party, we'll just assume that they have no problem with conspiracy theories. and we'll just ask each and everyone one of their candidates who they feel was responsible for 9/11.