Top Stories, March 12th

Walker Defends Bill At Signing Ceremony

3/12/11 - Governor Scott Walker says his budget repair bill will save 12 thousand Wisconsin jobs over the next two years. He made the comments at a Friday afternoon signing ceremony in Madison. The new law restricts collective bargaining rights for public employees. When asked why he doesn’t expand it to private sector unions for a “right to work” setting, Walker says he’s more interesting in balancing state government’s books. While critics have called the bill “union busting,” Walker mentioned public sector unions among his “partners” in economic development. The Governor is not concerned with the pending open meeting statute lawsuits. Democrats claim Senate Republicans violated the law Wednesday by hastily calling committee, paving the way for the bill’s approval in the chamber. The Governor says GOP leaders consulted with the Senate Chief Clerk, who’s served under both Republican and Democratic majorities, on the procedure.

Lawsuit To Stop Budget Bill Fails

3/12/11 - Those fighting the legislation limiting collective bargaining rights for the state's public workers have lost the first round, but more legal battles will follow. A Dane County judge ruled attorneys for Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk failed to show how publishing the law would cause serious harm. Falk wanted to stop the Secretary of State's office from publishing the language in the Wisconsin State Journal newspaper in Madison. The law can't take effect until official notice is given. State law gives Secretary of State Doug La Follette 10 days to do that. He says he typically waits the full 10 days to do so. The new law requires public workers to give more of their pay to their pension plays and health care coverage. In essence, they're taking an eight percent pay cut. It also takes away their ability to collectively bargain anything about their compensation except wages.

One Threat Suspect Located

3/12/11 - The Wisconsin Department of Justice says it has located one of the people who sent death threats to elected officials during the controversy at the state Capitol. The female suspect wasn't named, but the state says she was located last Thursday. The next step will be up to the district attorney handling the case. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and his brother, Jeff, who is Assembly Speaker, were among the Wisconsin lawmakers saying they got the threats. Both men are Republicans who were working in support of the bill passed this week at the Capitol taking away collective bargaining rights for state workers.

Democrats Return To Capitol For Rally

3/12/11 - The 14 Senate Democrats who left the state to stall action on the governor's controversial budget bill will appear together at a Madison rally this afternoon. The senators will hold a noon news conference at Monona Terrace, then march the few blocks to the state Capitol for a rally at 3 p.m. Senator Chris Larson says he will tell the crowd this is only the beginning. He says he will push for recall efforts against Republican Senators and work on building opposition to Governor Walker's bill. Larson and the 13 other Democrats left the state three weeks ago to slow down action on the bill. It was finally passed last week and the governor has signed it into law.

Tractor-Cade Expected At Rally

3/12/11- A couple of farm groups are joining the budget dispute in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Farmers Union and Family Farm Defenders have organized a tractor-cade and rally at the Capitol today to protest Governor Scott Walker’s efforts to eliminate almost all collective bargaining for public employees. Family Farm Defenders vice president Joel Greeno says “Farmers need to stand behind workers and their freedom to collectively bargain.” The dairy farmer says today it’s public employee unions, tomorrow it could be cooperatives. The groups are also protesting Walker’s budget proposal which cuts more than $800 million in school funding and threatens the state’s Badger Care health care program. Wisconsin Farmers Union president Darin Von Ruden says more than 11,000 state farm family members depend on Badger Care for health insurance. Farmers who take their tractors to the event will gather at the Alliant Energy Center and drive their tractors to the capitol.

Objectivity Focus of Prosser, Kloppenburg Debates

3/12/11 - Incumbent Supreme Court Justice David Prosser says some of his opponents’ supporters want him off the court to prevent him from backing Republican plan for reapportioning legislative and congressional districts. At Thursday night’s debate sponsored by the Waukesha Bar Association, Justice Prosser told the audience he does have 18 years of experience as a partisan Republican legislator, but he pointed to the past 12 years he's served as an objective Supreme Court justice. Prosser says he's against having the court play any role in redrawing state's voting districts. His challenger, Assistant Attorney General Joanne Kloppenburg, dismissed the charge that she would do anyone's bidding should a reapportionment plan come before the court. She stressed her commitment to be a non-partisan and fair-minded judge who would bring civility to a court she says the public sees as polarized and unable to get along with each other. Kloppenburg and Prosser will debate again on March 28th at the State Bar headquarters in Madison. The election is April 5th.

Dodge County Fair Announces Saturday Act

3/12/11 - The Dodge County Fair has filled its Saturday night grandstand slot. Danny Gokey, Milwaukee-native and third place finisher on American Idol in Season Eight, will perform on the fourth night of the fair. The Fair Association had previously announced that Rodney Atkins will be performing on Wednesday, Luke Bryan on Thursday and Joan Jett on Friday. The announcement of a musical act for Saturday was delayed after two separate performers decided to do other gigs. The Dodge County Fair will be held August 17 through August 21 at the fairgrounds.

Wind Farm Concerns Blowing In The Wind

3/12/11 - Public Service Commission chairman Eric Callisto told a group in Milwaukee this week that he's frustrated with Republican state lawmakers decision to put wind turbine siting rules on hold. The PSC may also have to come up with new rules that set those turbines farther away from homes. A few previously-approved, large-scale projects are being built. The Appleton-based Boldt Construction Company will continue working the Glacier Hills Wind Farm in Columbia County. But CEO Thomas Boldt says the suspension of the PSC siting rules could affect future business in Wisconsin. Michael Vickerman of the pro-wind group RENEW Wisconsin says he's going to try to convince Governor Walker to fill a new vacancy on the commission with someone who would be more fair to the wind industry. Vickerman says some opportunities do remain in Wisconsin, but mainly for smaller turbines.

Columbus Schedules Assessment Hearings

3/12/11 - The Columbus Council has scheduled two public hearings for property owners expecting assessments for street and storm sewer repair this summer. Residents along Farnham and Water Streets are invited to the hearing sessions scheduled for Tuesday, March 29th. When last years’ holdover Farnham Street repair was lumped in with this summer's Water St. and James Street Sewer repair, the Farnham Street project bid came in lower than the original 2009 estimate.

Juneau Vets To Detail Memorial At Saturday Event

3/12/11 - Juneau Post 15 American Legion is welcoming all area Military Veterans to an event Saturday afternoon recognizing their service to our Country and our Community. Juneau Post 15 members will have an exhibit giving details of our developing Juneau Area Veterans Memorial and will they be able to accept names of any Veterans to be added to the Memorial and to explain how businesses and members of our community can become donors and how to be recognized. Dodge County Veterans Service Officer Mark Grams will be on-hand from 1 to 3pm to answer any questions and to explain benefits available for Veterans. They will also have Medical Provider representatives from the Watertown/UW Hospital Partners Juneau Clinic and the Beaver Dam Hospital Juneau Clinic present to provide services for Veterans and guests. Juneau Post 15 American Legion is on East Oak Street in Juneau and again the event is today (Saturday) from 1pm to 6pm.