Steve Nass battles "Delta-variant hysteria" with ban on UW System health "mandates."

Only Vos-Republicans think the smart government thing to do is put vehement opponents of specific issues in charge of managing their eventual destruction. Case in point; Sen. Steve Nass' brutal dismantling of public education.

Here's how Nass describes his latest COVID denial effort endangering the lives of children and their parents: 

"Take back their public schools" from what? The threat of private vouchers schools? No. Nass is responding to, get this, just 20 anti-mask parents and student protesters:

Huge crowd too...actual story snapshot:

Minority Control? How can you argue with the publics anti-science brain dead lunacy like this?

Tami Hajcak spoke against the mask mandate. “The vast majority of students have returned to their unmasked lives. We are no longer in a pandemic.

Jade said, “I’m in 5th grade at the middle school my muscles get tense and they don’t get the oxygen they need. It makes me anxious and I can’t see the smile on people’s face.”

Amanda Roedl: “Our kids learn through emotion. How do you expect our kids learn through emotion with a mask?”

Tzvia Springer explained her background in science and said the science does not support the efficacy of mask wearing. “When my son returns for instruction in fall 2021, he will not be wearing a mask.”

Star Trek's George Takei has their answer:

Fear Mongering Delta Infection Sweeping Country?: Sen. Nass wasn't done yet, passing his latest insane attack on our kids...WKOW: 

Nass believes our "liberal" UW System is... 

"...take advantage of the Delta-variant hysteria to enact excessive COVID-19 mandates."

The senator pointed to public health measures including "newly announced Covid-19 mandates such as requiring healthy unvaccinated students submit to weekly Covid-19 testing, requiring students to submit their Covid-19 vaccination status and pending announcements on mandatory masking," as the reason for his proposal. "Unfortunately, some chancellors in the UW System consider themselves mini-Andrea Palms not beholden to following state law and moving quickly to take advantage of the Delta-variant hysteria to enact excessive COVID-19 mandates."

Nass, stating total nonsense as fact, doesn't like to be challenged in the "control/compliance" department:

How about today's data on the "Delta-variant hysteria"...

WISN in Milwaukee: 

Throughout the United States, all public school districts require a vaccination record prior to enrolling a student. It is interesting that in many Republican-dominated states that reject the notion of requiring its students to be vaccinated against COVID-19, there is no opposition to requiring vaccinations for many other life-threatening diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella etc.

Smarter in 1905? Yes: A challenge is likely at the State Supreme Court level, but after rejecting and describing Gov. Evers efforts to stop the deadly virus as "tyrannical," ya kinda know where this is going. Yet even they can't ignore the federal Supreme Court Ruling in 1905, which we hope may win the day:

There is a Supreme Court precedent allowing any state to “enforce compulsory vaccination laws” regardless of anyone’s claim of individual or religious liberty protections.

In the 1905 Supreme Court case, 197 U.S., Jacobson v. Massachusetts, the High Court upheld the authority of states to enforce compulsory vaccination laws. The Court’s decision articulated the view that individual liberty is not absolute and is subject to the police power of the state.

Recognizing that public health is more important than an individual’s personal liberty, the High Court held that:

“In every well ordered society charged with the duty of conserving the safety of its members the rights of the individual in respect of his liberty may at times, under the pressure of great dangers, be subjected to such restraint, to be enforced by reasonable regulations, as the safety of the general public may demand. Real liberty for all could not exist under the operation of a principle which recognizes the right of each individual person to use his own liberty, whether in respect of his person or his property, regardless of the injury that may be done to others.”

National Movement to UNMASK: It's still hard to imagine "adults" ranting juvenile tantrums like this, since right wing COVID denial is actually prolonging the slow return to schools:

Latest Sen. Nass UW outrage pale in comparison to GOP Estimated cost of Manufacturing Tax Credit!

With our full time GOP legislative geniuses about to take the rest of the year off (think about that), one criticism stood out for me.

The UW took another blow from critic and anti-educations ultimate warrior Sen. Steve Nass, who seems to manufacture a new outrage every time the university needs funding. The latest example shines a light on Nass' lack of self-awareness:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is seeking an additional $33.3 million to fund two building projects and Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, is blaming “poor project management and cost overruns.” Nass called the projects the "most recent example of mounting fiscal management issues" in the University of Wisconsin System. “These are not isolated circumstances and the Board of Regents is partially at fault for failing to provide proper oversight of building projects."

The Irony: Let's look at Nass' "poor project management" and "mounting fiscal management issues" he rips the UW for:  Nass and his band of plundering legislative pirates were breathtakingly off on the projected cost of the manufacturer and ag tax credit. Maybe if he blames the UW no one will notice or bring up the mounting cost overruns depleting state revenues year after year that are now completely out of control and getting worse:

Hunters, thank Walker for Spread of CWD! He's your guy...

The spread of CWD in Wisconsin is pretty much out of control, thanks to Scott Walker. He thought hunters didn't care too much about eating contaminated meat, but since reports came out that it is possible CWD could spread to humans, well, hunting has since declined a lot. Go figure.

While other states have taken action, Wisconsin has not, until now...but wait, maybe not?

JS: An emergency rule recently signed by Gov. Scott Walker to slow the spread of chronic wasting disease in Wisconsin may consider suspending all or part of the emergency CWD rule ... on the day it is scheduled to take effect. The emergency rule would have been the first substantive effort to curtail the disease in more than a decade. The rule was opposed by deer farming interests. 

The fatal deer disease has been spreading across Wisconsin relatively unchecked for the last 16 years. The Legislature has failed to enact measures to reduce the prevalence or distribution of CWD in the state.

Instead of using science and common sense to control CWD, Sen. Steve Nass wants a few unelected whiny hunters to run the DNR:

Sen. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) said he ... can block or alter a rule with a simple vote. "This emergency rule contains substantial and burdensome changes to the way Wisconsin hunters will deal with deer carcasses with little advance notice or education," Nass wrote.

More and more hunters have been contacting their legislators and speaking against provisions in the rule, said Mike Mikalsen, chief of staff for Nass.

Many of the solutions in the approved emergency rules have been debated and researched for nearly a decade, so Nass is lying about "little advance notice or education." These are long overdue actions:

1. The measure has two prongs, one to enhance fencing at deer farms to reduce the risk of contact between captive and wild deer ... Deer farmers would have one year, or a time agreed to with the DNR, to perform any required fencing changes.

2. The other to reduce the distribution of infected carcasses by hunters, the rule would require deer killed in a CWD-affected county to be quartered or boned out before being removed from the county. There are two important exceptions: A whole carcass could be moved out of a CWD-affected county if it is taken to a taxidermist or a licensed meat processor anywhere in the state.

When will Republicans ever be blamed for destroying recreational hunting and outdoor sports in the state? 

George Meyer, executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, said "We know there are going to be challenges for sportsmen and women. But this is about protecting Wisconsin's deer herd."

As of early September, Wisconsin had 55 CWD-affected counties.

Two maps tell the whole Walker CWD disaster, today and from January 2017:

Jan. 2017

Sept. 2018

Sen. Steve Nass is no "Pajama Boy," bashes UW "Men's Project," as "War on Men."

Ouch, what’s so wrong about “toxic masculinity?” Alcohol induced abuses, condescending female references and anti-feminist bullies are the targets of UW Madison's liberal social engineers again. They're trying to stop the violence…and people like Sen. Steve Nass?

No one needs this course more than Nass, which is why he's so afraid of it.

Nass has for years bullied the UW with threats of government censorship through defunding over voluntary UW courses he doesn’t like. Drop them or be punished…censored.

    

This is the guy who successfully passed legislation repealing a ban on racist school mascots throughout Wisconsin. That’s not crazy, is it?  Or when he “blasted an African Studies course set to begin later this month called The Problem of Whiteness.” The 11th District must be so proud. It's a miracle they haven't leveled the UW Whitewater campus yet.

Making his empty case for more UW funding cuts, Nass picked a doozy: 

(Nass’) target is the Men’s Project, a six-week voluntary discussion program that “aims to explore masculinity and the problems accompanied by simplified definitions of it,” according to a UW Health Service news release. Cultural influences distorting ideas of masculinity include “media, hook up culture, alcohol, violence, and pop culture,” said another promotional piece. “Understanding the connections between our experiences and experiences of masculinity and issues in our society can help build stronger communities."

Never one to build strong communities free of domestic violence and public brawling, Nass sees a self-awareness course as the UW's “war on men.” Despite all the shootings, violent crimes and robberies, Nass thinks “mothers and fathers” have done a perfect job raising their sons:

“Our friends at UW-Madison not happy enough with labeling 'whiteness' as a societal problem, now are attacking another societal ill…, Men and their masculinity. UW-Madison has become part of a national liberal effort to rid male students of their 'toxic masculinity … believe that Wisconsin mothers and fathers have done a poor job of raising their boys by trying to instill in them the values and characteristics necessary in becoming a Man.”

The conservative media’s bubble world paranoia is apparently the source of Nass’ pent up rage. You’ll notice the Cap Times story did not include the word “conservative” to describe The College Fix, referenced by Nass, even though the site itself states “…Your Daily Dose of Right-Minded News and Commentary…”

The term “toxic masculinity” was sounded in a post a day earlier by The College Fix, which noted that UW-Madison is among many colleges with offerings that “seek to purge male students of their so-called toxic masculinity.”

No “pajama boy” Nass oddly projects his own predatory scheming to meet women, onto feminists, by including a link to an article that claims “guys who embrace the feminist project (truthfully in part to hook up with feminist women)…” Ah, don’t think so. You’ll also notice below the term “absent fathers,” a racist reference if there ever was one.

An essay at the National Review bemoaning the spread of feminist ideas that Nass linked to in his email to colleagues; “Feminism has infected child-rearing and modern education so thoroughly that legions of parents and teachers are adrift and clueless. They have no idea what to do with their sons, and absent fathers compound the confusion and create yawning cultural voids. Yes, there are some pajama boys out there, the guys who embrace the feminist project (truthfully in part to hook up with feminist women), but there are countless others who reject feminism’s version of a 'man box' and are instead adrift in purposeless masculinity,” wrote staff writer David French.

Another site referred to the program as a continued “jihad against what it means to be a man.”

Parents are already in control of their Kids Education!!

Because too many college freshman need remedial help in math and reading, Republicans have a government solution...yes, a BIG GOVERNMENT SOLUTION, "Education Savings Accounts," with more mandates and regulations that supposedly put parents in charge...again. 

As a parent of two students in the Middleton Cross Plains school district, I've had my hands filled with keeping my guys up to date on current, late and future homework. 

Between face-to-face meetings and email exchanges with teachers, endless arguments with the kids about excessive computer time, college and loan/grant shopping, and basic general family time to shoot the bull, why in gods name do parents need another time consuming complication like K-12 savings accounts? 

Small Government My Ass: It's already enough to just save for college with a myriad of investment choices, but now parents are supposed to manage a K-12 Education Savings Account and find the time to shop for schools, textbooks and tutors? This is an open invitation for fly-by-night ripoff artists. Looks like another big monied special interest group is directing our pay-to-play Republican legislators to do their bidding once again for campaign funding. 

PARENTS ARE ALREADY IN CHARGE: Seriously. Do Republican legislators even know anything about school district "parent portals" that allow parents to watch over their kids tests scores, current and late assignments, to-do lists, email contacts with teachers and staff? Never once was I ever down for help. In fact, just the opposite. That's because teachers are not only professional and concerned about our kids, they also have to answer to the taxpayers. 

Enough already with putting the "parents in charge." And if there is a problem with reading and math, let's put some of that blame on those supposed "in-charge parents." 

Will You Let Other People Spend Your Tax Money with No Accountability? So conservative voters are good with this? Another government program, more rules and regulations, taxpayer money, and no accountability? Parents can spend money based on the sales pitch from the shiniest school brochure? That's "fiscally conservative?"

Assembly Republicans are considering a program that would allow Wisconsin parents to pay for K-12 school expenses — including private school tuition, textbooks and tutoring — with a taxpayer-funded stream of money known in other states as Education Savings Accounts. 

Ron Martin, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, said the programs amount to a “back-door scheme” to take money away from public school funding. “Education savings accounts literally take money out of our neighborhood public schools and hand it over to subsidize private tuition, with zero accountability.” 

Republican Hypocrisy on Poverty: You'll notice that when it comes to getting life saving health care, government draws the line at 100% of the poverty level. But with for profit private education, and special interest cash on the line, the poverty line moves from just 100%, to 185%-300%. Money talks: 

Rep. Dale Kooyenga, R-Brookfield, said a starting point might be to offer the programs to families whose income currently makes them qualify for school vouchers — which is 185 percent of the federal poverty level in the statewide voucher program and 300 percent of the federal poverty level in the Milwaukee and Racine programs.

New Idea? One newspaper called this a new idea, which is never the case for our monolithic Borg-like Republican Party. GOP states that have it:

Arizona, Florida, Mississippi, Nevada and Tennessee.

ALEC sets the Pace: Coincidentally, state Republicans are bringing this up now:

The conservative group American Legislative Exchange Council, which helps lawmakers write model legislation, released model policy language on Education Savings Accounts this year.

Wisconsin might find itself with the same problem as Nevada:

Nevada allows any parent — regardless of income or a child’s ability status — to use the accounts. But on Friday, the Nevada Supreme Court struck down the law that provides them, saying the program violated the state’s constitution by sending money reserved for public schools to parents who could use it to pay for private school tuition. Attorney Tamerlin Godley said, “The court said ‘You can’t do it. You have to fund your public schools sufficiently. After you’ve done that, then you can go back and look at competing state money to put some aside for ESAs.”

Republican State Sen. Steve Nass, the enemy of public education, sent staffer Mike Mikalsen to promote the idea on Mitch Hank's radio program. Mikalsen's visceral hatred for public education comes across in the clip below. Check out the nonsensical reasons (highlighted) Mikalsen lists that no parent already involved with their children's education would recognize as real:

Mikalsen: "If your child isn't doing well, you don't care what the schools do, you're worried about your child. This is another way to get individual parents which I know Jeff (caller) doesn't like, because he thinks everybody should be at the control of government...um, and we should be in control of what they think and how they think it and when they think it. But that's passe...we're looking at the next phase of how do you empower parents." 

Yea, screw actual education curriculum and standards. Go Parent Power!!!

Another big problem:

The state’s public school districts cannot charge tuition, raising questions about whether public school districts could be part of the program and receive money from parents using the accounts.

But I don't get the following argument; that it's okay to send taxpayer money to people so they can put it into a savings account.

Grants ... shall be set apart as a separate fund to be called “the school fund,” the interest of which and all other revenues derived from the school lands shall be exclusively applied to the following objects, to wit: (1) To the support and maintenance of common schools, in each school district...

...not people!!! Note; people should not have the choice to spend that money on a religious schools in Wisconsin. According to our Constitution:

; and no sectarian instruction shall be allowed therein; 

Republican shakedown UW, demand Conservative Speakers in exchange for Funding!!!

It’s budget time again, and Republicans are gearing up to extort the UW system again. But really, this is friggin over the top:

Now that's what I call BIG GOVERNMENT Republican meddling. 

Yes, the super majority Republicans and governor are worried that there aren’t enough young malleable minds receiving their specific kind of indoctrination. It's simple too; use a few “trigger” words that set off the wondering conservative mind; Black lives Matter, I hate Scott Walker, Food Stamps, Tax Cuts, Big Government, Climate Change…etc. and your done converting the few low information voters in the class caught drooling.

One problem, and it's well documented, paranoid conservative speakers require heavy security that most colleges just can't afford to provide. They fear being questioned. 

But that won't stop Rep. Robin Vos from inserting government bureaucracy into the funding formula for the UW System. Can you say extortion?

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is calling on the UW System to invite more conservative guest speakers to its campuses. Vos' remarks come as another contentious state budget debate looms in 2017, which again could put UW System funding on the chopping block. 

For Robin Vos, free speech means forcing certain conservative speakers on campus...wait, I'm sorry, "extorting" is a even a better word: 

In an op-ed for the website Right Wisconsin titled "A Free Speech Challenge to the UW System," Vos praises the UW Board of Regents for passing a resolution affirming "its commitment to the principle of freedom of expression." But a look at who is invited speak on UW campuses contradicts the system's call for protecting diverse viewpoints, Vos said ... conservatives are "noticeably absent" from a list of top-paid recent guest speakers at UW campuses.

But who the hell is Vos to make this call, in a blatant effort to stuff UW money into the pockets of a few "top-paid" national speakers begging for a handout at the Capitol.

"Perhaps what could be most worrisome about going to college these days is the plague of political correctness that creates an environment that ends up stifling free speech," Vos wrote. "I challenge the UW System this school year to find more ways, beyond a two-page policy statement, to ensure that all perspectives, including conservative ones, are present in the classroom." Vos said his office obtained records on speakers at four-year UW System schools in 2015 who were paid with taxpayer dollars.

Vos isn't the only one guiding the academic and social direction of our state university, remember Sen. Steve Nass:

Sen. Steve Nass says a new diversity outreach program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is "sinister" …  "they never lack money for advancing new and more sinister ways of liberal indoctrination of students."

This is only the beginning, just wait till we find out what strings Scott Walker has attached to his results based funding idea:

The process of crafting the next state budget ramps up next week when state agencies submit their budget requests to Gov. Scott Walker. The UW system, which sustained a $250 million funding cut in the 2015-17 state budget, this time is asking Walker and lawmakers for a $42.5 million funding increase in the next budget.

Sen. Steve "I'm not racist" Nass threatens UW for proposing New Cultural Center to increase Opportunities for Black Students.

Republicans either think it’s funny or a good idea to appoint fellow legislators to public policy they hate the most. And so it is with Sen. Steve Nass, the bigoted racist overseeing our state universities.

He's not what I would call a great defender of the 1st Amendment. Remember these violations?

1. In a news release Rep. Steve Nass stated protesters feel "entitled" to take action without serious consequences in the capital city.

2. He expressed cutting funding of a UW-Madison center because its studies were "too far to the left."

3. State Sen. Steve Nass blasted a UW-Madison economics professor ... calling the academic's report on right-to-work legislation "partisan, garbage research."

4. Republican Rep. Steve Nass has gotten the UW’s School for Workers to cancel an “Art in Protest” exhibit that had been scheduled for next month. “The problem with it is that it would be funded with taxpayer dollars and that’s through the Extension.” Nass charges the exhibit would have provided a one-sided view of last year’s protests at the Capitol, with UW Extension taking the side of protesters. “I did indicate to Extension that … any problems that arise from that, or any misbehavior by the protesters – which I certainly would expect, it would probably be very despicable … and I will be watching.”

5. Postcrescent: Nass called on a state Justice Department lawyer to resign for sending an email offering legal advice to Democratic state senators after they fled the state in February.

6. Rep. Stephen Nass is calling for the review that could result in a possible removal from Tubbs' position as Capitol Police Chief. Nass said, "By not doing anything, by treating them with kid gloves, that made it worse. If they'd done more, we would not be seeing what we're seeing today." Nass said, "If they were arrested vigorously, I believe that would slow them [protesters]."

He also co-wrote a bill that would amend statutes allowing the use of race-based nicknames, logos, mascots and team names by school boards. A swell racist guy.

Race Relations Sinister Liberal Plot: Nass is Mr. Big Government himself, micromanaging and threatening the university systems at every turn with defunding, if they don't "voluntarily" back down. WPR:

Sen. Steve Nass says a new diversity outreach program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is "sinister" … made the comments Thursday in reaction to UW-Madison announcing its plans to improve the experiences of minorities on the flagship campus.

That’s right, improving our social differences with ethnic studies is considered something liberals do, which by itself a scorching indictment of the rot, hate and racism growing within the Wisconsin Republican Party. What else would explain having a tantrum over a new cultural center and increased ethnic studies:

The plan calls for having new students discuss social differences, a new cultural center for black students and increased opportunities to take ethnic studies courses.

Nass is carrying out the will of his districts voters though, and they must be proud. Yes, he was so good in the assembly that they made him a senator, just so he could battle against those sinister liberal enemies of American exceptionalism:

Nass said university leaders "constantly complain about lacking money" but "they never lack money for advancing new and more sinister ways of liberal indoctrination of students."

And as we all know, students always react well to being told how to think and act:

He said the initiative isn't about advancing critical thinking, but about "telling students to think and act in ways approved by the liberal leadership of our universities."

Democrats join Republicans, vote away local control, allowing Fire Hazard live Christmas Trees in Churches.

What the hell Democrats? The “battered partner” party has secured itself as a minority fringe group of spineless whiners. You can forget about our current band of losers ever standing up for anything specific, unless Republicans bring it up first.

Adding to the Republicans long list of trashing local control,now with the help of Democrats, is this gem:

Local fire departments would have to allow Christmas trees in churches under a measure that passed the Senate … The plan would prohibit cities from enacting or enforcing any rules related to fire safety that prohibit the placement of a Christmas tree in a church. It would also apply to the rotunda of the state Capitol. 

A live tree in the Capitol makes sense because the building is under the watchful eye of security at all times, but churches?

Whitewater-area Republican Sen. Steve Nass called it a common sense bill. "Never did I think that we would be here in the state Senate having to pass legislation so people can enjoy a Christmas Tree."

The plan passed on a bipartisan 25-7 vote.

Anytime you make a guy like Republican Steve Nass seem like the voice of reason, you've got a big identity problem. Why weren’t Democrats on the same page with Sen. Fred Risser about letting local government decide?

Sen. Fred Risser said the bill was essentially asking local officials to ignore their own judgement. "Can you imagine legislating against fire safety?" he said. "That's what we're doing here."

The cowering Democrats that went along with this party breakdown should be ashamed.  

Republicans ignore Jobs, Wages, Business Startups...dream up ways to stay in Power.

Imagine finally electing a Democratic governor, bringing to an end one party Republican rule. Well, that's not going to make much difference if Republicans get their way.

The scheme is simple and costly to taxpayers: Our Republican gerrymandered legislature is planning to insert their own partisan “inspector generals” into the governors agencies to supposedly stop what they would call “waste, fraud and abuse.” Hey, it’s just oversight of the executive branch, that’s all, a not so separation of powers grab.

And it would cost every budget tight department hundreds of thousands of dollars. LaCrosse Tribune:

Republican lawmakers are pushing a bill that … could cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars and open the door to cronyism, according to critics.

Not mentioned in the article? How this proposal sets up an earlier Republican idea that would get rid of the Legislative Audit Bureau. That didn't go over very well, but who knows, maybe no one will notice this time.

And with their partisan “inspector generals” in place for 6 years, they could muck up and delay state agencies until another election cycle.

Craig

Rep. David Craig and Sen. Stephen Nass’ proposal calls for 13 inspectors general … assigned to investigate waste, fraud and abuse across 16 state agencies, including the University of Wisconsin System, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the departments of Administration, Corrections, Natural Resources and Public Instruction.

And what about conveniently timed “investigations:”

Legislative leaders also could direct the inspectors general to investigate agencies.

Of course they could. 

The inspectors general would be more pro-active than the Legislative Audit Bureau, which typically launches its reviews after the fact, they said. The party that controls the Legislature can further entrench itself by placing its inspectors general appointees within state agencies for six years. The inspectors general may feel beholden to launch or drop investigations according to partisan wishes.

Matt Rothschild, executive director of government watchdog group Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, warned “This could increase cronyism. It could increase corruption. It could entrench one-party rule. All three of those things are bad for democracy.”

You might have noticed the enemy of public education and the UW, Sen. Steve Nass, will have his inspector hitman inside the university to dig up another convenient phony outrage to cut even more funding. 

MacIver Institute's loony bin history lesson twists free speech into pretzel.

The right wing propaganda think tank MacIver Institute is at it again, pushing preposterous and tired ideas that have long been laughed out-of-the-room. Let’s explore quickly their nutty conclusions:  

“It is a long-established practice of so-called Progressives to confront speech they do not like by trying to silence the offending voices. Campus speech codes circumscribe debate while angry leftist mobs shout down public speakers. They organize boycotts and public ostracizing for anyone daring to not conform to left wing orthodoxy, no matter how recently it changed.”

Really? The facts offer up a different reality, like when GOP legislators demanded police “crack a few heads” to send a strong message to peaceful Capitol protesters. Sadly for Republicans that didn’t happen. One of the loudest voices, then Rep. Steve Nass, lead the assault:

Nass #1: In a news release Rep. Steve Nass stated protesters feel "entitled" to take action without serious consequences in the capital city. "The risk of a major incident continues to grow since protesters now feel immune to any real consequences." The JFC voted Wednesday to withhold roughly $750,000 from the Madison Police Department, (because they) believe there were "legitimate concerns about actions of individual officers." Nass said, "If they were arrested vigorously, I believe that would slow them [protesters]." Madison Police Chief Noble Wray (said) questions about his department's conduct during the protests constitute "almost a slap in the face."

Nass #2: Rep. Steve Nass sent Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen a letter asking for an investigation into Assistant Attorney General Thomas Bellavia for emailing the Democrats on Feb. 27 and telling them he supported their efforts … concerns that Bellavia could attempt to sabotage the defense of the Wisconsin Legislature.

Nass #3: …he expressed cutting funding of a UW-Madison center because its studies were "too far to the left."  

Nass #4: State Sen. Steve Nass blasted a UW-Madison economics professor ... calling the academic's report on right-to-work legislation "partisan, garbage research." "Attached is yet another example of wasted resources at the UW-Madison/UW Extension … Hiding behind academic freedom to issue partisan … I will certainly forward this email on to UW System President Ray Cross … as just one suggestion of a faculty member with time to teach more courses. Or maybe not!"

Nass #5: WRN: Republican Rep. Steve Nass has gotten the UW’s School for Workers to cancel an “Art in Protest” exhibit that had been scheduled for next month. “The problem with it is that it would be funded with taxpayer dollars and that’s through the Extension.”  Nass charges the exhibit would have provided a one-sided view of last year’s protests at the Capitol, with UW Extension taking the side of protesters. “I did indicate to Extension that … any problems that arise from that, or any misbehavior by the protesters – which I certainly would expect, it would probably be very despicable … and I will be watching.”

Permit to Protest? How about Walker’s attempt to silence free speech by charging a fee and permit to protest at the Capitol? Republicans desperately rationalized away free speech to get back at protesters:

McKenna of WIBA participated in the Liberty Singers event, and tells 27 News, "We just want folks to understand, the permit is easy to get, it's a way to protect all of us and our ability to come here to our beautiful capitol and express ourselves." 

Sound anything like the state Constitution's Article I, Section 4: “The right of the people peaceably to assemble, to consult for the common good, and to petition the government or any department thereof shall never be abridged.” Didn't think so.

Here's another MacIver nugget: 

“Here in Wisconsin the assault on free speech took a more ominous turn when a rogue partisan prosecutor in Milwaukee, District Attorney John Chisholm, unleashed the power of the state upon the Progressives' political enemies.”

They must have missed this historical inconvenient truth; the endless investigation of Gov. Doyle, and Walker’s demand to “purge” his liberal administrative staff:

Back in 2006 when Georgia Thompson was charged by then-U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic - who now represents Walker's campaign - Walker went on the attack against Doyle, even though Thompson was a civil service employee who was hired in 2001 under Gov. Scott McCallum, a Republican.

"Today's indictment provides further confirmation that the Doyle administration is damaged and must be removed from the Capitol," said Walker of his Democratic predecessor. "Governor Doyle needs to purge his administration of individuals who place politics and special interests ahead of the people of Wisconsin."

And as we all know, no one in Walker’s administration is political, or beholden to special interests. But let's cut to the chase. The Wisconsin State Journal reported:

“The controversial case … was used by Wisconsin Republicans to paint Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle's administration as corrupt during his 2006 re-election campaign … An appeals court, though, tossed the conviction, saying the evidence against Thompson was "beyond thin." State investigators kept open the alleged corruption case for six months last year after a federal appeals court struck down the only prosecution in the high-profile case.

SIDE NOTE: I thought the rest of Walker's press release was just as interesting. Double standard maybe?

"I am also calling on the Governor to adopt the reforms I proposed earlier this month that would prohibit anyone bidding on a state contract from contributing to his campaign for Governor. 

I am calling on Governor Doyle’s campaign to return any contributions from individuals made while bidding on a state contract.

Additionally, I am calling on the Governor to prohibit his appointees from both giving to his campaign and/or hosting fundraisers on his behalf. Also, he should return any and all contributions from administration officials immediately.”

Love to see PolitiFact get a hold of this one.

Sen. Steve Nass already challenging academic freedom, calls for Professor's termination.

Before the ink is dry and the new rules on tenure are signed into law, Republican State Sen. Steve Nass was already asking the UW to fire a professor he did not agree with, accusing him of "partisan garbage research" and "hiding behind academic freedom."

Really, "hiding" behind academic freedom. Outrageous, what scoundrel. Tenure was in place to protect against this exact thing, ironically proving the point opponents made about the GOP changes back in March:

Tenure by definition offers protection for academic freedom, grounded in a conviction that creating knowledge and expressing ideas should be free from intimidation or retaliation. Under policy currently in state law, tenured professors can only be dismissed for just cause or a campus wide financial emergency.

Nass' iron fisted control over academic research is only the beginning:

State Sen. Steve Nass blasted a UW-Madison economics professor in a scathing email ... calling the academic's report on right-to-work legislation and economic performance "partisan, garbage research."

The email, sent to Senate and Assembly Republicans and UW System officials with the subject line "UW-Madison Professor Steven Deller Uses State Resources to Trash Right to Work," cites a two-page fact sheet written by a Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics faculty member.

"Attached is yet another example of wasted resources at the UW-Madison/UW Extension to issue a trumped up report from a partisan academic against Right to Work. Hiding behind academic freedom to issue partisan, garbage research is what we have come to expect from some of the overworked and stressed faculty at UW-Madison.

I will certainly forward this email on to UW System President Ray Cross and UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank, as just one suggestion of a faculty member with time to teach more courses. Or maybe not!"

Nass has been the enemy of public education for years:

Nass, an outspoken UW System critic who chairs the Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform, took issue with Deller's findings, the way they were presented and released to the public, says his chief of staff, Mike Mikalsen.

"Steve is frustrated with what we see as a faculty member abusing their position within the UW System to issue, frankly, just pure garbage research," Mikalsen says. "This piece clearly takes a side or a position."

Yes, research and facts eventually took a side...funny how that works:

Deller, who works with the UW Extension's Center for Community and Economic Development, says he wrote the report about a month ago with the intention of providing individuals with an overview of the controversial anti-union legislation. "I tried to make it as objective as possible," says Deller. The report summarizes the common arguments for and against right-to-work legislation, acknowledging that there is "little agreement within the literature that has attempted to empirically document the impact of [right-to-work] laws."

Does this sound like a partisan researchers to you?

Deller says the cooperation between UW System academics and government officials is a two-way street: Researchers shouldn't use the university as a "bully pulpit" to promote a political ideology, but lawmakers "shouldn't shoot the messenger."

"We try to provide information and ideas and let citizens make a decision," Deller says. "If we filtered everything that came out of the university based on whether or not it's going to pass through some political lens, then why are we here?"

Ever more proof this guy is pretty impartial:

Deller, coincidentally, says he declined to join a union when he taught at the University of Maine, opting instead to donate the dues he would have paid to a general scholarship fund that the university used to support low-income students. The donation option was the alternative the University of Maine offered to address the issue of "free riders," or employees who benefit from union contracts without paying for membership. "I think you could set up the same thing in Wisconsin," Deller says.

Using income, poverty and unemployment data from states with and without the anti-union legislation and comparing them using a statistical test to identify significant differences, Deller found that "right-to-work states tend to have lower manufacturing wages and overall income levels, higher poverty rates and lower education levels."

Mikalsen also questioned whether Deller, who has a doctorate in agricultural economics and a master's in economics, was even qualified to present findings on the topic of right-to-work.