Hanging out at the Conservative Tribune online I found out why the labor participation rate is so low; retiring baby boomers. Look at the graph and years of high participation, it's pretty obvious.(the image was already blurry)
The story itself never made that claim, but instead whined about the participation rate and blamed Obama, saying he was successfully turning the U.S. into a welfare nation.
I'm posting this because I thought it was funny, and because of the blatantly juvenile way they went after Obama:
The U.S. workforce now has the fewest number of laborers
since 1978. For the first time ever the number of Americans 16 and older
who can work but don’t has exceeded 93 million. Obama’s plans to turn the greatest nation into
a welfare nation appear to be working. The participation rate in the economy has dropped from 62.8
percent to 62.7 percent, a 37-year low. The BLS determines the number
of workforce-able people as those who are 16 years and older. But what about all of the millions who can work
but don’t? The BLS claims that the largest factor is the aging baby boomer
generation (H/T cnsnews.com). “The baby boomers’ exit from the prime-aged
workforce and their movement into older age groups will lower the overall labor
force participation rate, leading to a slowdown in the growth of the labor
force,” explained the BLS.
Here's the next line, and the lunacy that is the right wing...
But then, none of this should really surprise anyone. Obama
has been increasingly encouraging illegals and able-bodied-but-lazy Americans
to join
the welfare state and let the U.S. government care for their needs while
they sit on the couch and watch reruns. And vote Democrat. Share this if you think Obama is intentionally ruining our
great nation by encouraging Americans to depend on government handouts instead
of their own God-given ability to provide for themselves.
They call themselves constitutional conservatives. They say they're like regular people and elected politicians, but they're really the most misguide Neanderthal’s
America has ever seen. They repeat “freedom and liberty” like its some kind of incantation that will solve every problem.
To me, constitutional conservatives represent a sick kind of nationalism. It's a Bizarro World version of the constitution. They're also the first ones looking to change it, or devise a way to get around the original intent.
These flag waving phony’s now want to require a civics test to
graduate high school, basically the same list of questions immigrants take to become
citizens. Really, that’s what 12 years of school is boiled down too?
Here's WPR's story featuring State Rep. "Jimmy Boy" Edming, the author of another copy cat law making the rounds in other red states:
Republicans could stop cutting education spending and expand our nations history courses. Oh, look who cut spending that cut these important civics and history exams, the Republicans:
Unfortunately, in 2013 the U.S. Department of Education suspended
national exams in civics and history for 12th-graders as a result
of budget cuts, making it harder to assess whether students are making progress
-- and easier for schools to walk away from these subjects. The National Assessment of Educational Progress lost $6.8 million to national budget cuts under “sequestration.”
So they caused the problem they now say the want to fix?
To be perfectly honest, my own two sons have already been through some incredible classes, so I'm not sure where Rep. "Jimmy boy" is getting the impression history is getting short changed. Maybe, just maybe, by 12th grade, some kids have forgotten a few of the smaller details...as they focus on a career!!!
The citizenship test requirement idea comes at the same time another Republican wants to pass a law that makes it easier for parents to opt their children out of school testing. Would I kid you?
The Hill: Too many Americans don't
understand the principles of a free society based on freedoms guaranteed by the
U.S. Constitution. The
Department of Education's Nation's Report Card, revealed on April 21, 2015, findings showing students' failure to grasp basic concepts of civics and social studies ... only 18 percent of eighth-graders reached
the proficient level, with little improvement since 2010. Without change,
leaders of tomorrow — today's students — will undertake leadership obligations
in Congress, state legislatures, city councils, school boards and other
important venues without the knowledge necessary to perpetuate the
constitutional freedoms that have developed over two centuries.
Right now we're being guided by the worst of the constitutional conservatives, like Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Scott Walker, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas...I could go on and on.
Is this what we want, dictatorial leaders demanding a state sanctioned Christian faith, guns, positive patriotic history lessons, flag pins, control over our bodies, and free market corporate "people" buying our elections?
Various states
are passing laws requiring graduating seniors to pass the immigrant citizenship
test as a condition of graduation, and many states are requiring more civic
learning. All states should adopt basic civics requirements for graduation.
My conservative friend really, really, really, really hates
President Obama. I can’t imagine why.
So today he sent me the following ridiculous article about
6,000 stores closing nationwide, proving Obama economy sucks.
The stores listed aren't closing because of Obama, and many
aren't closing because Americans don’t have enough discretionary money,
although that’s true in general terms. Maybe the stores and the "times" have something to do with it?
My friend was quick to blame Obama, but what about all those austere governors and legislatures? Don't they have control of their own economic engines? And yet, they like to take credit for low unemployment and job creation. What about store closings?
Here’s the snarky “unbiased” way the article started:
You’ll never hear the Obama administration pass
on an opportunity to gloat about the miracles they think they’ve
managed to pull off over the past seven years to get
America’s economy back on track. The only problem with that is, it’s
not remotely true. If you want a real indication of how President
Barack Obama’s economy is fairing, just look to a recent report that
shows a coming “retail apocalypse,” with major retailers across the country
planning on shutting the doors to thousands of stores due to a sharp decline in
discretionary consumer spending.
And who’s against raising the minimum wage? Who’s destroying
unions, passing right-to-work-for-less, repealing prevailing wage laws, and
forcing people to work for nothing just to get food stamps? They don't get the consequences of their ideology.
And this
conservative site is whining about “declining discretionary consumer spending.” Yikes.
Here’s where I’ll step in with the real reason the following
stores are closing:
Some of the major retailers who plan on closing at least 10
stores over the next year or so include:
Radio Shack: Dated and no longer relevant today. I love the
stores, I just don’t use them anymore, now that I gave up my cassette and reel
to reel tape decks. Office Depot/Office Max: They merged, and are closing stores
all over because many stores are too close to each other. Dollar Tree/Family Dollar: Expanded in a ridiculous way,
especially during the years coming out of the recession. Still fun, but not as
relevant anymore. Walgreens: Expanded in a ridiculous way, threatened to move
overseas, and internet orders for drugs is picking up. Barnes & Noble: Seriously, with Kindle’s, e-books, and
tablets, do you really have to ask. Macy’s, Sears and JCPenney: Sears has been having trouble
for years, and has improved. Macy’s and JCPenney are “Mall” stores, and we all
know how malls are doing.
Speaking of malls, the article treats them like they’re
still magical places to hang out.
Most
malls around the country sport a Sears store along with a Macy’s or
JCPenney and experts are advising not to be surprised to see the doors of many
of those stores shuttered over the next year or so. “It’s getting ugly out
there.”
Oh, and before ObamaCare, insurance rates were really low?
So what else is the problem? For one, Americans are maxing
out their credit cards far too early into the year and some of that can be
blamed on higher
health insurance costs (thanks, Obama) and rising taxes (thanks,
Obama). (H/T WND).
So, maybe our activist conservative state supreme court isn't just something dreamed up by Democrats? Getting major notice, our completely dysfunctional and discredited court. And this is just a sample:
New Yorker: The discredit to the court caused by the toothless recusal rule is now unmistakable, as it faces the most controversial legal matter in the state since the
budget-repair/collective-bargaining case. It is about what is known as the second John Doe investigation. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, in Chicago, immediately stayed that part of the order and, last September, a unanimous panel of three judges overturned the ruling. Frank Easterbrook, a conservative who is one of the country’s most respected judges, wrote the opinion. Calling the lower court’s decision “imprudent” and “unnecessary,” he said that “the policy against federal interference in state litigation is especially strong when the state proceedings are criminal in nature.” He also emphasized, “No opinion issued by the Supreme Court, or by any court of appeals, establishes (‘clearly’ or otherwise) that the First Amendment forbids regulation of coordination between campaign committees and issue-advocacy groups—let alone that the First Amendment forbids even an inquiry into that topic.” The U.S. Supreme Court is now considering whether to weigh in. All of the Wisconsin justices look a lot like politicians, in particular the conservatives, who came to the bench with the support of powerful and aggressive political groups. Those justices’ integrity is compromised, as plainly as if they had personally solicited every dollar that helped elect them—and that helped drag the standing of their court so low.
Scott Walker is just God’s conduit. Everything Walker has
done, from destroying unions, stripping education and the environment? That's God
working through Walker's leadership.
And that thing about not worshiping false idols? Nah, he
wants your worship through prayer:
jsonline: Gov. Scott Walker told a heavily — if not exclusively —
Christian crowd gathered at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee Thursday
to … pray for their leaders in government and business regardless of party or
position. "Always pray for our leaders so that God's will, will be
followed rather than their own," he said.
So this budget mess is God's fault? The ultimate passing of the buck.
Finally, at least one Republican candidate for president may have to answer for his own failed economic policy, Scott Walker. Here's a sample of that coverage:
Bloomberg Business: Wisconsin’s projected tax collections … a blow as the
potential Republican presidential candidate presents his state as a laboratory
for limited government … a more robust forecast could've softened unpopular trims to primary and secondary education as
well as the University of Wisconsin. The state’s nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau: “If there
is any additional revenue in the current year, it will likely be offset by
reduced growth rates.” Outside Wisconsin, the second-term governor presents his
state as a model for the fiscal philosophy favored by his party’s core voters
and top donors. Democrats blamed Walker’s policies for the budget
challenges: “With his complete failure to grow our economy, a deeply unpopular
budget, and plummeting approval numbers, I get why the governor would rather be
in any other state but Wisconsin,” Senator Jon Erpenbach said in a statement. Without changes, the state faces a shortfall that may reach $2.2 billion in two years
starting in July, according to Walker’s analysts. Tax cuts supported by Walker
and Medicaid spending contributed to the deficit.
While republicans talk about halting or getting rid of laws that don't work, they're not talking about their failed policies. Democrats have a logical and better idea:
Journal Sentinel: Democrats ... on the Joint Finance Committee say the state should avoid the proposed education cuts by accept federal money to offset state health care spending, halting the phase-in of tax breaks for manufacturers, and not expanding state money for voucher programs for private K-12 schools.
But that kind of flexibility isn't possible. Republicans are on ideological autopilot:
Legislative leaders said they wouldn't delay the phase-in of
previous tax cuts or stop expansion of private taxpayer-funded voucher schools
to undo more of the $300 million in proposed cuts to the University of
Wisconsin System over two years. "For those of us who have been crossing
our fingers and going to church on Sunday, it didn't work," Vos said of
the flat tax projections. "We'll figure a way to make it all work out in
the end." Bob
Lang, the veteran head of the fiscal bureau, said that tax revenue for this
fiscal year is running behind projections by about 0.4 percentage points, or
about $60 million.
Always a blistering critique from PoliticusUSA, and Sarah Jones:
PoliticusUSA: Governor Scott Walker (R-WI) promised Wisconsinites that he
could jump start the economy with tax cuts for big business, even though this
Republican economic model was partially responsible for the recession from
which the state — and indeed the nation — was suffering. Just days ago, the Republican
Governor trolled President Obama, claiming the country needed Walker’s
“pro-growth economic policies”. Enter crazy Republican math, stage right.
Things are not adding up for Walker’s budget. The state’s GDP
growth and personal income growth have trailed the national rate. Republicans
have tried to blame Democrats for the economic failure of their policies by
saying they were in charge “for many years”, but PolitiFact
threw water on that false notion. Sane people who can add would be thinking maybe we won’t
roll out our additional tax cuts to manufacturing and farm businesses that
started in 2011, especially because it turns out that the tax credits are going
to cost “at least $275 million in additional lost tax collections over the next
biennium, or more than double what was originally estimated.”
Here's what I consider the most logical and factually accurate coverage of the tax cut myth:
Tax Increase in Green and Balance
Correlating Tax Increases and Decreases with Revenue: By conveniently pointing to places where tax cuts were
enacted at or around the time of a recovery or boom, tax cut advocates argue
that tax cuts increase revenue. The problem with this is that the
revenue increases following the Bush and Reagan tax cuts are dwarfed by the
revenue increase following Bill Clinton’s tax increase on the wealthiest
Americans. In fact, as a percentage of GDP, post-Reagan & Bush tax
cut revenue falls below the 1965-2005 average. In other words, revenue
increased because the economy was recovering/growing, and the tax cuts
have little (probably nothing) to do with growth in GDP ... if anything,
these tax cuts actually lowered revenue increased from what they would have
been otherwise. So the real question to ask is this: how much revenue did
these tax cuts cost us? See Historical Tax Rates.
Here's one of my favorite graphs, highlighting what my wife has been telling me for years about her own business. It's funny no one ever mentions it:
Tax revenues happen for a number of reasons, reasons a graph in the Wall Street Journal purposefully avoided. I didn't picture it here for space and because I have better graphs that take into consideration many other factors, like these:
Reagan Tax Cuts: The Facts: Many Reagan apologists claim that these tax cuts created the robust economy that followed. However this ignores ignores the effects of the Federal Reserve’s lowering of interest rates. Reagan also increased military spending and ran up the federal deficit (the combined effect of tax cuts and increased spending). In other words, Reagan did exactly what Republican pundits who praise him are currently criticizing Obama for. Reagan advocates claim his tax cuts bolstered the economy while ignoring the lowered interest rates and increased deficit spending (kind of like an ongoing stimulus package).
Pretrial drunk driving diversion grants, used to help get people treatment instead of costly stays in jail, is getting purposely shuffle off to another department to get defunded and then lost forever. Kind of flies in the face of republican efforts to get tough on drunk drivers by making the first offense a felony.
With little effort to hide their intentions, Rep. John Nygren let the cat out-of-the-bag with this:
"We're sending it to DHS. DHS will evaluate the effectiveness of this program. And if it's program seems to be effective, it will be funded."
Sen. Chris Taylor tried to lay a little guilt trip on them, for any deaths caused by their action, but then we are talking about a party of raging psychopaths:
"Somebody is gonna to be killed by one of these drivers who could have got treatment in this program if we don't do this and fund it."
Why would Scott Walker vehemently oppose recycling? It cuts down on the landfills, saves the environment and creates jobs. Crazy? And it's not like we're not used to doing it yet.
But Walker's at it again. With the help of republican legislators, they want to destabilize the recycling program by cutting its budget the first year, but then restore it the second. Huh?
The recycling program cut that Republican committee members voted through reduces funding for local governments from $20 million to $16 million in the first year of Walker's budget. The funding would be restored in the second year.
It's a downward slide:
Rep. Amy Loudenbeck
It's not the first time Walker has cut recycling grants. The state used to spend about $30 million a year on the program before Walker was elected.
Fiscally clueless, Loudenbeck made this argument, like it actually made sense:
"I think what we are really trying to do is make the decisions that are going to put us in a good position for the beginning of the budget next year," said Rep. Amy Loudenbeck, who was among those who supported the measure.
Forcing recycling businesses to make cuts, then later, restore them when the funding returns seems...oddly stupid?
Madison Democratic Rep. Chris Taylor couldn't resist asking the obvious question:
"Who's saying 'recycle less'? I have never heard that argument. Ever."
Scott Walker Republicans aren't just calling all the shots statewide from Madison's Capitol, like they once whined Democrats did, they're now quickly taking control of liberal Dane County, possibly turning it to a deep red.
In another big government republican power grab, the DNR will now over-develop Dane County at the expense of their water quality standards.
Republicans approved anewly introduced
proposal to prevent Dane County from making decisions about its own
water quality standards … require(ing) the Department of Natural Resources to
handle water quality management decisions that cover issues like wastewater and
sewage treatment, while banning the department from working with Dane County.
Just to be clear, according to republican Sen. Marklein, businesses have been suffering costly delays just to protect clean drinking water and the pristine lakes that make this a destination city:
Sen. Howard Marklein, whose district does not include Dane
County, said the move was about speeding up decisions that affect economic
development. "In the economic development business, the unknown costs a
lot of money. Waiting months and months and months for a decision is
expensive," he said.
Business complaints from who? Well, fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants Marklein didn't know:
Marklein (R-Spring Green), said he put forward the measure at the behest of developers but claimed he couldn't recall their names. "I don't even remember who they were," he said. "We had a couple meetings with a couple people."
Now that's what I call good government.
Yes, republicans are only doing this to Dane County because liberals are destroying the business climate here, unlike the rest of the state?
Fourth Economy, which refers to the newest phase of economic
investment nationwide that combines agrarian, industrial and technology, announced
it selected Dane County for its Economy Community Index for Mega-Sized Counties
for 2015. The report highlights “communities ideally positioned to attract
modern investment and managed economic growth.” Dane County was ranked #2 in
the top ten. Dane County is among the strongest counties in the U.S. in
terms of increasing jobs in information technology and related sectors during
the five years ending in 2012, according to a report published this month ... Identified as one of the ten best places to live in the
United States for three consecutive years in a row by Money Magazine (2007-09).
In addition, CNNMoney.com ranked us among the top 20 places to launch a
business in the United States (2009). Home to the fastest growing population of any county in Wisconsin … consistently rank among the top communities for work and play.
If the Name Fits - Big Government Republicans - Wear it...:
The move caught Dane County lawmakers like Middleton Sen.
Jon Erpenbach by surprise. Democrats bristled at the idea of Republicans writing a separate set of rules that target the most liberal county in Wisconsin while leaving the rest of the state alone. "I know you don't like Madison, but this is no way to show it," Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) told Republicans on the committee."For the big government legislators out there who say state government's too damn big, this is why."
Gee, revenues came up short. Who could have foreseen that happening?
Democrats, that's who. And who didn't believe the Democrats? Republicans and their Borg-like believers who laughed at the whiny Democratic tax and spender election losers.
After all, Scott Walker sounded so sure of himself and his supply side corporate welfare state. Businesses did promise more jobs if they just had more money via tax cuts...suckers. No avalanche of jobs folks. Funny how republican politicians keep falling for that.
Magical Budgeting: Tax Cuts = Revenue Increases. That how they say it works...in fantasy land.
Scott Walker's twisted spin on the bad news? He wants credit for seeing the huge budget deficit coming, prompting his fire sale cuts to everything that makes us Wisconsin. He's a courageous leader with big and bold ideas. And that previous bad budget republicans couldn't stop bragging about in the 2014 elections? Heck, that made all of the big and bold cuts today possible. Are they good or what?
Here's the tweet history:
Come on conservative voters, don't tell me you'll let these guys talk to you like this:
The Joint Finance co-chairs stressed today the revenue projections remain on target compared to what LFB announced in January. They also stressed the $2 billion in tax cuts Republicans have pushed through in recent years.
Weirder still, who knew budgets weren't for paying bills, but showing priorities? Like WEDC's lost loans and payouts to outsourcing companies? Getting rid of the state university and parks the taxpayers built? It's all about "priorities:"
"Budgeting is about priorities ... and continue to protect Wisconsin taxpayers," said Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, and Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette.
A reminder that Obama's Medicare reform plan, part of the Affordable Care Act, did not cut the program as republicans warned. More than that, it's saved money and ushered in a better, less costly way to provide health care. The Hill:
ObamaCare program saves Medicare $400 million. An independent report released by the Department of Health and Human Services on
Going broke or starting to save half billion?
Monday finds that the pilot program saved Medicare more than $384 million across 2012 and 2013. The pilot program, called Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations, is part of an effort to shift Medicare to paying for quality instead of quantity of care. Under the program, groups of doctors agree to accept lump payments under Medicare instead of individual payments for each service they provide, as in the traditional Medicare payment system. The idea is to discourage unnecessary tests and procedures and better coordinate care. If the groups of doctors, known as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), end up keeping costs below the target, they get to keep some of the leftover money, providing an incentive to keep costs down.
Sadly it took an Australian to "Hulk Smash" EVERY ridiculous argument about guns and the 2nd Amendment. Down Under's gun ban is working out quite well.
Australian comedian Jim Jefferies was the victim of a home invasion once. He was tied up and beaten, and his girlfriend was threatened with rape. So you might think he'd sympathize with the idea that Americans want guns to protect their families. Quite the opposite — he does an excellent job of summing up why so many foreigners are baffled by America's gun culture:
I've never understood the level of anger and envy republicans like Scott Walker have when liberals, progressive and Democrats making lots of money. It's as if only conservatives have the formula for success and deserve bigger incomes.
Walker joins the ranks of other conservatives who have denounced the minimum wage, all the while claiming their goal is to give everyone a chance to make lots of money.
Mitt Romney made millions closing down companies and off shoring jobs. I guess he should have been president. But Bill Clinton, a former president, making money doing what he does best, speaking? Outrageous?
Will a "stand with Walker" supporter please tell me why Clinton's speaking fee is a problem for our conservative nanny state busybodies?
Over the top wage envy is clearly a problem for conservatives:
The public’s eye’s glaze over when republican politicians
talk about turning federal dollars into “block grants.” Republicans are counting on it. Block grants cut the federal strings that protect programs from restrictive rules and complicated nanny state requirements.
Below is an example of a nanny state republican road block. As it turns out, republican controlled states are revealing their extreme nanny state objectives, rolling out incredibly invasive, many times unconstitutional rules and regulations directed at our social safety nets. It's also a simpler way to cover up for their inability to increase job growth slowed by supply side voodoo economics.
Digging deeper, here's how they use repetition and a common theme to create the illusion of fraud:
Using "voter fraud" as the template for everything else, here's the GOP standard talking point: "When it comes to "voter fraud," we've got a solution that would save money and return
“confidence” and “integrity” to the system." Sounds familiar, doesn't it. That's because it now oddly applies to everything republicans want to do.
Substitute “voter fraud” in the previous sentence with “food
stamps” or “unemployment.” See? This whole smoke screen became clear to me after republicans said the same thing about requiring a photo ID when using food stamps. Repetition that plays on the known conservative fear someone is getting something they're not.
Believe it or Not: A Work requirement for Medicaid? Using the same twisted logic, republicans nationally are hoping to provide health care for only those they feel have worked for it. Forget all those years of employment or possible job creation as a business owner, what have you done for us lately. According
to Politico…
In nearly a dozen Republican-dominated states, either the
governor or conservative legislators are seeking to add work requirements to
Obamacare Medicaid expansion, much like an earlier generation pushed for
welfare to work. The move presents a politically acceptable way for
conservative states to accept the billions of federal dollars available under
Obamacare. The Health and Human Services Department has rejected all requests
by states to tie Medicaid to work. Most potential Medicaid recipients already work – about 57 percent, according
to a 2014 Kaiser Family Foundation study. Of those who don’t work, about a third said they
were taking care of a home or family member, 20 percent were looking for work,
and 17 percent were mentally ill or disabled. That‘s not much lower than the national labor force
participation rate of nearly 63 percent as of February 2015.
Republican Gov. Gary Herbert of Utah put it this way:
“I
wanted to be able to say, ‘If you want the taxpayers to fund your health care,
then you need to go out and be involved in a work program, no ifs, ands or
buts.’ I've been accused by the Obama administration: ‘Well, you’re trying to
turn this health care program into a work program.’ And I've said, ‘You’re
right.’” But the administration and its allies counter adding job
requirements, time limits or other conditions subverts the health law’s goal of
providing affordable and accessible care to the people who need it. It’s wrong to subsidize health insurance for middle-class people in exchanges while picking and choosing who among the poor deserves
Medicaid assistance.
But the most grotesque way of looking at human suffering came from the most unlikely source:
Rev. Donnie Copeland, a pastor and rookie state lawmaker,
who defeated an incumbent last year on an anti-Medicaid message. “We give
them some money, that’ll get them by for the day. But it’s really not helping
them long-term.” Medicaid is the same, in his view. "People should prove they
are worth the investment."
The $126 million cuts to K-12 continues the school funding slide in Wisconsin, with more to come if republicans have their way. But check out what happened in Kansas when the state cut $51 million a little over a month ago in March for the current school year (on top of their past cuts):
Kansas shows us what could happen if Republicans win in 2016: At least 8 Kansas school districts recently announced
that they’re starting summer break early this year … It’s because these schools
ran out of money, thanks to state leaders’ decision to ax education spending
midyear to plug an ever-widening hole in their budget. Kansas politicians ... may also be doing the rest of the country a favor, by giving us a preview of
what might happen if Republicans control the White House and Congress after the
2016 election.
Supply Side Infallibility…as long as you continue to cut taxes
and public services:
The consequences in Kansas, after all, are a result of
fulfilling the great Laffer Curve dream that has Republican
presidential hopefuls such as Marco Rubio, Scott Walker and Chris
Christie all salivating: dramatic tax cuts, concentrated among those at the
top, coupled with the promise that such action will, through trickle-down
voodoo, increase tax revenue and boost economic growth.
Unconstitutional, but Appeal gives way to more Educational
cuts:
Kansas’s elected officals have a decades-long history of
shortchanging students, and the state has been subjected to multiple lawsuits over
whether its funding levels violated the state constitution’s requirements for
adequate and equitable public education spending. The most recent major case
was filed in 2010 before Brownback took office. The state’s Supreme Court found school funding levels indeed to be unconstitutional ... the state appealed the decision and has since cut funding further.
The results conservatives seem quite happy with?
For
districts, that has meant permanently closing a school here,
expanding class sizes there,
eliminating a math and science teacher here,
maybe instituting pay-to-play athletics there. Teachers in the
schools that are closing early are hustling to revamp their curricula so they
can still cover all the material the state requires. Students are feeling the
heat, too.
Republican Rep. Rob Brooks has apparently never shopped for cheddar cheese. I have, and it's clear he's clueless. He would know that “sharp” cheddar cheese IS the real thing, and the most flavorful authentic choice for the smart shopper. He would also know that many times, “sharp” isn't always that sharp, despite its label. But it beats out the buttery mild and medium cheddar options.
So Brooks is really gutting the true flavor and essence of our state symbol for a 20 to 30 cents per pound savings in FoodShare.
Brooks' bill is as bad as Republican State Rep. Dale Kooyenga’s brilliant bill to repeal the law that guarantees butter on every restaurant table in the dairy state. Yes, he really did attack Wisconsin butter.
Farmers and dairy industry supporters of the GOP were also appalled at this nanny state madness from our Big Government Republicans. Let’s face it, the tired old “stop abuse” “restore integrity” and “get back to the original purpose” excuses just don't cut it anymore.
Just as bad, Brooks is basing his bill on hearsay and anecdotal
tales from the checkout line. Those tired old mythical stories where the extravagant
poor buy “crab, lobster, shrimp or any other variety of shellfish.” Cap Times:
Rep. Rob Brooks, R-Saukville, cited "anecdotal and
perceived abuses," adding that his bill is designed to target abuse, not
fraud. "My intent is not to stigmatize, not to shame anyone."
Not fooling anyone, Democrats pointed out the absurdity of
this bill:
Rep. Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee, held a platter of four
Wisconsin cheeses. All four were cheddar. One was shredded and three were in
block form. Three displayed flags that said "GOP Prohibited." One
flag said "GOP Approved." The approved cheese was a block of mild
cheddar. Two sharp cheddars — one shredded and one block — were not approved.
One mild cheddar was not approved because it was too large, Goyke said.
Rep. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, couldn't help but point out the obvious:
"When you look at something like this cheese plate, there's no evidence of sharp cheddar fraud. People are not buying sharp cheddar in order to defraud FoodShare, and there's no nutritional difference. So if those are the stated goals, the bill is not accomplishing either."
Republicans were also quick to turn on their deep pocketed business supporters to stoke fear and envy in low information conservative votes:
A memo to lawmakers from groups including the Wisconsin Cheesemakers Association, Wisconsin Agri-Business Association, Grocery Manufacturers Association, Kwik Trip, Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers and Wisconsin State Cranberry Association says the bill would harm their businesses, "dramatically increase government power" and place checkout clerks in a difficult position.
Job killing legislation? No, really?
"Though well-intentioned, Assembly Bill 177 is a threat to both job creation in our state and our right to decide for ourselves what to put in our grocery carts," the memo reads. "…the unintended consequences of the proposal will do far more harm than good."
"Why in the world would you bar someone from buying shredded cheese vs. a block of cheese?" Goyke asked. "Don't blame the federal government. You wrote a bill that makes a difference between shredded and non-shredded cheese, and then you come to Madison and say, 'Let's let common sense prevail.' How in the world does that make sense?"
This is all symbolic clap trap anyway, but it is a reminder why "block grants," with no federal strings, is on the republican agenda. This is what they want to do on state-by-state level:
No state has received such a waiver … to impose restrictions on food purchases.
I thought this post summed it up well at the Political Environment:
About
new WI GOP rules for food stamp recipients: Let's have legislators be drug-tested before they can
receive their $44-$88 tax-free daily meal, lodging and housing payments and
make sure they are only buying healthy meals with public, entitlement payments.
I put together just a few pages of the complicated upside down nanny state regulations no one in their right mind could keep track of. I mean really, no ketchup?
