Top Stories November 16th

Petition Drives Begin, Fitzgerald Included

11/16/11 - Over a-thousand people marched past Governor Scott Walker's private home in Wauwatosa late yesterday. And they set up tables in neighbors' driveways where Walker's opponents signed petitions to recall him. It capped off a day in which two-month petition drives officially began to try-and-force recall elections against Republicans Walker, Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, and senators Terry Moulton, van Wangaard, and Pam Galloway. Walker said the march outside his house was out-of-line, saying it showed a disregard for his wife, two sons, and neighbors. But Ted Kraig, whose group "We Are Milwaukee" organized the event, said it was appropriate because a lot of his neighbors believe quote, "We can't take three more years of him." The recall efforts were spurred by the G-O-P's move to virtually end public union bargaining privileges. The Milwaukee teachers' union was among a number of groups that took part in the rally outside Walker's house. Some of Walker's supporters also showed up. The State Democratic Party distanced itself from the event, saying it neither promoted nor supported it. Party spokesman Graeme Zielinski said other rallies had good crowds. Over 100 petition-signing events took place around the state yesterday. And Zielinski says Democrats plan a major rally at the Capitol on Saturday.

Gibson: ‘One Recall Election Costs Up To $25K’

11/16/11 - Dodge County Clerk Karen Gibson says the recall effort against State Senator Scott Fitzgerald could cost local taxpayers upwards of $20,000…and twice that amount if there is a primary. Gibson says each ballot is estimated to cost 30-cents and there were 31,000 ballots cast during the last gubernatorial election. Once additional costs for things like staffing and publishing are factored in, the cost of one election would be between $20,000 and $25,000. That does not include costs bore by local municipalities for poll workers and absentee ballot postage. It also does not include the possibility that the Senate recall election falls on a different date than the gubernatorial recall. And it is way too early in the process to know if there would be a primary election associated with the recalls. Senator Fitzgerald told reporters on Monday that the G-O-P might consider using “fake democrats” again to trigger a primary and buy Republican incumbents and extra month of campaigning. Fitzgerald says he’ll wait until all the recall petitions are filed to decide on using fake Democrats – and to decide whether to try and recall some of the real Democrats. The recall signatures are due January 17 but the actual date for the recall election and possible primary elections will not be known for some time and are contingent on a number of factors, including review of the signatures by the state and requests for extensions.

DC Dem’s Report ‘Steady Stream’ of Petition Signers

11/16/11 - The Democratic Party of Dodge County is collecting signatures for the recall of Senator Scott Fitzgerald in addition to recalls for the governor and lieutenant governor. The Chair of the Dodge County Dem’s, Peggy Slez, says they had a steady stream of people throughout the day at their Monroe Street office on and even had three people waiting to sign petitions 45 minutes before they opened their doors yesterday. Meanwhile, Laura Welch, Chair of the Republican Party of Dodge County says the recall drive is a waste of time and taxpayer money.

Poll: 58% Want Walker Recalled

11/16/11 - Almost six-of-every-10 Wisconsinites who responded to a new poll said they want Governor Scott Walker recalled -- and a growing number of them are Walker's own Republicans. Fifty-eight percent of almost 500 respondents to the Wisconsin Public Radio-Saint Norbert College survey said the governor should be removed -- and only 38-percent said he should stay. Back in April, it was 48-to-47 to keep Walker. But with a five-percent error margin, that was a statistical dead heat. Wendy Scattergood of Saint Norbert College said 24-percent of Republicans in the new poll favor recalling the governor -- up from just seven-percent last spring. Scattergood said most Republicans who want to recall Walker tend to be younger and less educated than others, and they're also less conservative. State G-O-P spokeswoman Nicole Larson dismissed the poll, saying voters appreciate the money they're saving thanks to Walker's policies. The survey was taken by phone November first-through-10th.

Doctors Who Wrote Fake Sick Notes to Learn Their Fate

11/16/11 - Seven doctors will find out today if they'll be disciplined by the state, for handing out medical excuses to pro-union protestors outside the Capitol in February. U-W Madison doctor Lou Sanner has commented on his actions. But none of the others were publicly identified until the state Medical Examining Board put out the agenda for its meeting today. Five other U-W family medicine doctors face discipline -- James Shropshire, Hannah Keevil, Kathleen Oriel, Bernard Micke, and Mark Beamsley. The other doctor is Adam Balin of Madison's Dean Clinic. The board will vote publicly on their discipline after discussing it in a closed session. The doctors were investigated after they showed up on street corners, where protestors lined up to get sick notes they could use at work or school. Sanner said it was not a quote, "nod-and-wink thing," and he said the protestors were suffering from stress. The U-W School of Medicine discipined at least a dozen doctors for writing sick notes at the Capitol. It said the punishments ranged from written reprimands to losses of leadership posts. Sanner is still appealing his action -- and a hearing on it is set for November 29th.

Dodge County Board Adopts 2012 Budget

11/16/11 - The tax levy for Dodge County taxpayers is staying the same for 2012 but the mill rate is going up. The Board of Supervisors approved the $114-million 2012 budget yesterday on a 35-2 vote. Members approved a levy of nearly 32.1-million dollars, the same as this year, but due to a 2.2-percent decrease in county property values the mill rate will go up to $5.52 per $1,000 of assessed value. County Administrator Jim Mielke says if they lowered the levy they could never get that money back, and it would make funding the 2013 budget even that more difficult as aid from the state is expected to continue to drop. The budget included an amendment submitted by the Finance Committee that changed how raises for county employees would be given. Instead of a 1% increase for all employees, Supervisors approved a 22-cent across the board raise, which many felt was more equal for workers up and down the pay scale. The meeting started yesterday with a public hearing in which several county employees spoke, imploring the board to increase the county’s contribution to employee health insurance, while Sheriff Todd Nehls asked the board to consider unfreezing the wage step scale. Neither proposal made it to board floor in amendment form.

No Pay Decrease for Supervisors

11/16/11 - A resolution to decrease the pay for members of the Dodge County Board was voted down overwhelmingly yesterday. Supervisor Jeff Schmidt introduced the resolution that would have dropped compensation by nearly 18%. That would mean board members would receive $32.88 instead of $40 per meeting, while committee chairpersons would receive $36.99 instead of $45 per meeting. Schmidt says it isn’t about the money but instead an effort to bring the community together and let them know that the board understands that tough times are affecting everyone. Other Supervisors pointed out the pay hadn’t been raised in 13-years and that the fix would be cosmetic at best.

Average School Property Taxes Down One Percent

11/16/11 - After going up steadily for the last 10 years, Wisconsin’s average school property tax went down by one-percent this fall. The state Department of Public Instruction released the new figures Tuesday. It said the total amount of school assessments on the December tax bills will be 47-million-dollars less statewide than the previous year. Before that, Wisconsin school taxes jumped by an average of 176-million dollars each fall. Governor Scott Walker’s office said the new figures show that his initiatives are quote, “protecting taxpayers while keeping schools great.” But state Superintendent Tony Evers said there are better ways to cut taxes, while not reducing money to schools. The state budget approved by Walker and legislative Republicans cut state school aid by 800-million dollars this year, which schools cannot make up by hiking local taxes. But it also gave schools new ways to raise revenues, by having employees pay more toward their health insurance and pensions.

Davis Pleased With Facilities Committee Make-Up

11/16/11 - Columbus Schools’ Superintendent Bryan Davis was pleased with the “Facilities Committee” inaugural meeting. The 36 volunteer members who agreed to serve represented a broad cross-section of District residents. A new web page has been set up for committee members and district residents. The Committee was directed to give the School Board specific recommendations for the future by March of 2012. The Committee’s meeting number two is scheduled for Nov. 30th.

BDPD Investigating Breaking and Entering

11/16/11 - Authorities are investigating a breaking and entering that occurred at a Beaver Dam apartment. A resident in the complex at 820 South Lincoln reported to police Monday night that he arrived home to find his door kicked in and a laptop and gaming machine stole. Anyone with information should contact Beaver Dam Police. 887-4614