Category: State / Local Issues

I encourage you all to call your state legislator in opposition of AB458 and SB324, the Planned Parenthood Sex Education Bill.  Here is a link about the public hearing that took place today on this matter:  AB458 & SB324 Public Hearing. The first question we all need to ask ourselves is: Why is Planned Parenthood getting taxpayer money at all?  While abortion may be legal based on the decision in Roe vs. Wade, it is still very controversial.  Notwithstanding where the right to an abortion is listed in the Constitution and its Amendments, recent polling indicates an almost even split of people being PRO-LIFE vs. PRO-CHOICE.  Here is the link:  More Americans “Pro-Life” than “Pro-Choice”.  So why should half of the public support with their tax dollars beliefs they are opposed to? An even more fundamental question is why the government is giving away so many grants (our tax dollars) in the first place?  A case can be made to fund some scientific research, but that is where the line should be drawn.  However that is a debate for another day. There is the argument that the taxpayer dollars Planned Parenthood receives does not go to fund abortion.  The money…

This is why we need to remain vigilant!  Even though the referendum has been voted down, look at what they are up to in county government now. Look at the County Board Minutes in the Jefferson Daily Union on September 16, 2009.  In County Board Chairperson Sharon Schmeling’s report, she stated county government is supporting efforts to have a passenger rail line link Milwaukee, Watertown, and Madison. I spoke with Chairperson Schmeling about this matter.  She replied to me that she should have been clearer in her report.  Ms. Schmeling said it is the Economic Development Consortium that supports this, and not county government.  I advised her that the report should be corrected.  According to Ms. Schmeling, the Consortium supports this because of possibility that businesses could “piggy-back” on upgraded rail lines to move their products.  I replied that this is a short sighted view and makes no sense given the ENORMOUS cost to taxpayers.  Businesses can truck their goods where they need to go, or use existing rail lines.  It is not the job of the taxpayers to pay for anything and everything that will help a hand-full of  businesses. As most of you know, light rail is a…

Congratulations to all you conservative minded people! This is a win for the people of Jefferson County! You did not buy into the FEAR perpetuated by the people who wanted to raise your taxes 16.56%.  You see that all levels of government are out of control spending OUR money.  You believe the private sector can do a better job than government.  You realize as Ronald Reagan said, “Government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem.” However, remember the fight is not over.  They still are going to raise taxes over 8%, and probably more in the future.  We need them to see that it is their duty to cut taxes! Now, maybe the county board members who voted for this budget should be voted out when they are up for reelection .  That would mean a lot of change, because only three of the supervisors voted against it.  We need to remain vigilant! Here is the link to the Jefferson County Daily Union Article: County rejects tax levy hike

This is in response to the Daily Union story regarding the grass-roots effort to vote “YES” on the county referendum to increase property taxes 16.56 percent to “save” Countryside Nursing home.  The county is already increasing property taxes over 8.5% even without passing the referendum.  I don’t think many people in Jefferson County have seen a wage increase of over 8.5% let alone 16.56%. Let me start with the premise that Countryside will “leave” if county residents vote “NO”.  This is nothing more than real FEAR perpetuated by the very same people who claim that people should not cast a vote of “NO” out of fear.  While Jefferson County may not run the nursing facility anymore, this does not prevent them from selling it to a company that will continue to operate it as a nursing facility. Then, there is the argument that the quality of care will be reduced.  Again this is more of the same i.e. FEAR.  Nursing facilities have to follow state and federal regulations.  If there are violations, they can and should be cited. The truth is that this is NOT a mandated service, nor is it a role of government.  Half of the counties in…