Scott Walker "Cowers before a few Rotting Corn Stalks, a Fraidy Cat, ready to Torch his staff."

I think the title of The Week story below tells the whole story:

Scott Walker, the gutless wonder of the 2016 presidential race:

Sometimes the most inside-baseball political stories tell you something essential about a presidential candidate. That's what happened this week to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who apparently wants to win the Iowa caucuses so badly that he's willing to torch his staff and his reputation to do it. 

Forcing Liz Mair out was like amputating your finger to deal with a paper cut. Instead of having a problem with a few Iowans and a writer at Breitbart.com, Walker has now baffled his admirers across the right. Mair's resignation signaled that Walker's team either didn't do its homework before hiring Mair, or that it was too spineless to defend her. It is hard to believe the former, since Mair consulted for Walker before during his 2012 recall.

Walker's unwillingness to defend his own hire will give other consultants and policy experts jitters before joining the team. It totally undercuts his reputation as a tough-minded fighter who stands on principle. And it may contribute to an alternate interpretation of Walker as a 'fraidy cat.' Earlier this month, Walker caved to Iowa ethanol interests by reversing his position on the federal mandate.The problem, in other words, wasn't the tweets of a single staffer, but the way Iowa's parochial concerns act like kryptonite on Walker's convictions and reputation.

If you were a top expert, a policy-thinker, or a consultant, which candidate would you want to work for? The guy who tosses his people out on the say-so of an Iowa Republican whose name he had just learned, or Jeb Bush, who doesn't give a just exclusive to his enemies? Until this week, Walker supporters could have pointed to his white-knuckle fight with Wisconsin's public-sector unions. Now his critics can point to the way he cowers before a few rotting corn stalks. 

Scott Walker's record means he'll only add half the jobs created under the Obama administration?

What a weird record to brag about. 

AP: Wisconsin added jobs at half the national average: 

Ranking 40th in private-sector job growth for the 12-month period that ended in September. 

The state has lagged the national average since July 2011, bad numbers for Gov. Scott Walker as he talks about his record Walker (since) January 2011.

Private-sector jobs grew 1.16 percent in Wisconsin during the 12-month period, while the national growth rate (Obama's) was twice as high at 2.3 percent. 

All other neighboring states grew at a higher rate than Wisconsin.That doesn't matter to our bubble world right wing dreamers...like Walker. Despite the truth behind the "gold standard" quarterly numbers, Walker continued to talk about a world most of us have never seen: 

"Wisconsin's economy is growing and we are moving in the right direction," Walker's spokeswoman Laurel Patrick said in a statement. 

"Governor Walker's policies are working and our unemployment rate is down for the right reasons," she said. 

We Built Wisconsin, Obama and the Democrats built the economic comeback, and Walker is giving it all Away!!!

I've been saying for some time now that Scott Walker can't just give everything Wisconsin taxpayers built away, like the UW and our state parks. They aren't his to give, they're ours to keep.

It now looks like Walker is trying to take advantage of the economy Obama built with the much criticized stimulus money Republicans say failed miserably. But the media is onto him:

Politico: Republican governors in the heartland are taking an economic victory lap for what might be called the Midwestern miracle: Michigan is achieving the unbelievable and Wisconsin—well, according to Gov. Scott Walker, “the Wisconsin Comeback is working.” What—you thought this was President Obama’s recovery?

It’s an article of history, almost of faith, that a rising economy benefits the president, his party and its White House ticket. And there’s plenty to brag about: The national jobs report for February was greeted with“strong” to “wow” to “barnburner.” “The United States of America’s coming back,” 

The story goes something like this:

These governors are claiming the resurgences as their own in narratives that don’t mention Obama or the federal government, except as impediments. Yet economists say (it was) the policies Obama muscled through to strengthen the safety net and prevent collapse on both Wall Street and Main Street. To paraphrase Texas populist Jim Hightower: These governors were born on third base and they’re claiming credit for hitting triples. The irony is rich given that Obama confronted a solid wall of GOP opposition.

And this is how it happened:

Marc Levine, founding director of the Center for Economic Development at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, says Walker was “surfing on the impact of the stimulus” in his early months. Wisconsin’s share of the money resulted in a 50 percent increase in federal dollars coming into the state and helped push Wisconsin into the top 20 states for job growth in 2010. “We came out of the recession much more rapidly than other states,” Levine said. “My view is the stimulus played a very important role.”

And the real reason so many are still unemployed:

Richard Stock, director of the Business Research Group at the University of Dayton, says that is partly because the labor force has shrunk by more than 100,000 ... due to older workers forced into early retirement by layoffs, shutdowns and difficulties finding new jobs ... new jobs … are not comparable to the high-wage manufacturing jobs that were lost. Levine cites similar asterisks … The growth of jobs and the Gross Domestic Product “has been inferior compared to national rates.

Walker leading, ignores 88% of Wisconsin residents who oppose freezing DNR Stewardship Program till 2028!!!

How out of step is our "unintimidated" leader Scott Walker with the rest of us Wisconsinites?

For a guy who never believed in the state in the first place, campaigning on the slogan “Believe in Wisconsin Again,” his scorched earth agenda looks more like he’s got a score to settle than a guy trying to help.

After just finding out 58% of Wisconsinites want Walker to expand Medicaid and another 53% want him to ready a State Health Care Marketplace in case the Supreme Court strikes down the federal exchanges tax credit, we’re now learning farmers and hunters are fuming over cuts that effect them!!!

WKOW: A new poll commissioned by the Wisconsin chapter of the Nature Conservancy shows nearly 90 percent of those surveyed want the state to continue purchasing land for conservation through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, which does polling for a number of Republican candidates, found that even 76 percent of GOP voters want the land purchases to continue … (instead of) freezing all new land purchases until 2028 … 83 percent of those polled said they would tell their legislators to vote to continue funding stewardship purchases going forward.

Yea, like telling their safe seat Republicans lawmakers will have any effect at all.

Forget Wisconsin, Walker takes his orders from Iowa now.

Remember when the Iowa Republicans told Scott Walker not to approve the Kenosha casino? He did just what they said and killed thousands of jobs and took a pass on millions in state revenues. 

Iowa Republicans continue to pull Walker's strings, for now...

WKOW: Liz Mair, the online communication strategist Governor Scott Walker's (R-Wisconsin) political action committee (PAC) who was hired Monday, resigned Tuesday after the chair of the Iowa Republican Party demanded Walker fire her. After she left Walker's campaign, Mair fired off about 40 tweets that clarified her positions on issues like ethanol subsidies and reiterated her criticism of King.

Even the biggest conservative personalities are feeling mighty uncomfortable. Just as revealing are those silent loyal Walker talk show hosts who are now looking like the shameless shills we knew they were:

On Wednesday, a number of conservative columnists slammed Gov. Walker for caving to the pressure applied by the Iowa GOP.

Eric Erickson, editor-in-chief of redstate.com wrote: "Given Liz's work history, I will put it to you this way — Team Walker has botched this. There's just no way Liz Mair resigned with it being her idea. I haven't talked to her yet, but there's just no way. So instead of Walker owning this, he's passed the ball and made a staffer off herself. That's unfortunate and plays into the “not ready for prime time” theme already developing around Team Walker." 

In the Washington Examiner, conservative columnist Timothy P. Carney wrote: "The pattern is this: Scott Walker will stand up and fight the special interests, if they're already his sworn political enemies. But when he gets pushed around by a political power broker, or a well-heeled lobby group that's 'on our side,' Walker rolls over." 

All in with Chris Hayes featured libertarian and editor of Reason.com, Matt Welch. Will Walker survive this pathetic pandering to Iowans again?

Walker just under 55% of the way to fulfill 250,000 Jobs Promise, as state drops to 38th for job creation.

Perhaps Scott Walker can do for the nation what he did for jobs in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin gained 27,491 private-sector jobs in the 12 months from September 2013 through September 2014, a 1.16% increase that ties Wisconsin with Vermont at a rank of 38 among the 50 states in the pace of job creation during that period. Economists consider Thursday's job creation figures, known as the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, to be the most credible and comprehensive available.

Is this what supply side success looks like?

Jobs figures for January that were released Tuesday complete the cycle on Walker's first term and shows how far the state fell short. Wisconsin reported … a gain of 137,400 over January 2011. That's just under 55% of the way to Walker's goal.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Current Employment Statistics report can be subject to large revisions … the BLS adjusted 2014 figures through a process called benchmarking … job estimates for 2014 were revised downward by as many as 25,800 jobs.

Since January 2011, Wisconsin has seen growth of 5.75 percent in private sector jobs, which trails the national average (9.12 percent) and neighbors Michigan (10.58 percent), Minnesota (6.74 percent) and Iowa (6.25 percent). Illinois had a lower growth rate in that time, 5.35 percent.

Walker knows better than 58% of Wisconsinites who want Medicaid Expansion, and better than 53% who want Governor to plan for a State Health Care Marketplace!!!

During Scott Walker's "flip flop excuses tour," we discovered Walker's real weakness, and the origin of every one of his great ideas; he's listening to the people. That's his problem? 

“I think the key is if you've listened to people and you have a valid argument for why you've done it—we've laid out exactly what we've done—but I think people want strong leaders and they want leaders who’ll listen to the people,” he said.

Let's see if that's true, by comparing Walker's agenda to the recent Public Policy Poll (PPP):

Citizen Action: The polling shows massive public support for Wisconsin to take the enhanced federal funding for BadgerCare rejected in the Governor’s budget. It also shows overwhelming support for Governor Walker and the Legislature to prepare for the possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court could yank health insurance subsidies from over 183,000 Wisconsinites. Both are closely related budget issues.

And yet the secret to Scott Walker's success is listening to the people:

On taking the BadgerCare dollars currently being left on the table by Governor Walker, the public supports taking the money by an overwhelming 31 point margin (58% to 27%).

And if you wanted to be cruel and mean spirited, then why not take the most irresponsible position on public policy ever; let's millions nationwide, and 183,000 Wisconsinites lose their marketplace doctors and insurance:

On the question of taking precautions against a U.S. Supreme Court decision that could endanger health insurance subsidies for over 183,00 Wisconsinites, the public by a 20 point margin (53% to 33%) thinks it is the Governor’s responsibility to take action to prevent anyone from losing their health care.

Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin said, “The public wants Wisconsin to take all the money that is on the table to strengthen BadgerCare, and believes it is Governor Walker’s responsibility to take action to safeguard the health coverage of the over 183,000 Wisconsinites at risk from a potentially dangerous U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Just in case you were wondering the political makeup of the people polled:

Walker Exposed! He really doesn't like Iowa, plays them for suckers.

Like Scott Walker's deceptive ruse to get as many undeserved votes as possible in the Racine/Kenosha area, just before rejecting the casino, he's now duping Iowans to get their votes on ethanol (bottom tweet).

Iowa has been a punching bag in online quips by Republican Scott Walker's new strategist for online communications. Walker's political action committee has been wooing Iowans, opening office space in Iowa, and hiring Iowa staff ... Republican political consultant Liz Mair is one of the latest hires by Walker's PAC, Our American Revival. She'll offer advice on social media and blogger outreach.

Reflecting the general behind the scenes sentiment of the Walker campaign, these tweets are amazing:

Ready for another now infamous non-answers? It’s a killer:

When The Des Moines Register asked Team Walker what Mair was referring to when she said Iowa is "once again" embarrassing itself, Rick Wiley, a top political adviser to Walker, answered: "Liz Mair was brought on to Our American Revival as an online consultant, not as a policy adviser. Governor Walker has had very substantive conversations with Iowans on issues important to them and will continue this dialogue through Our American Revival."

ALERT UPDATE:  Mair fired…I mean quit! Mair’s behavior was way too much of a glimpse into the way Walker looks at people and the process. Or should we assume no one, including Walker, interviewed her or knew where she was coming from? Mair publically said what the campaign was privately thought:

Liz Mair resigned … after taking fire from Iowa Republicans for tweets criticizing the crucial first caucus state. "We accept those who have a variety of viewpoints on issues but what we ultimately must have is absolute respect for people across the country,” top Walker strategist Rick Wiley said in a statement.

Just as insulting? After accusing farmers of being “government dependent” on subsidies, a familiar Republican complaint, Mair said she was referring to Iowa Democrats? WOW!

She even blamed the messenger...

Walker comes clean; clarifies non-answers with no nonsense non-answers.

Slippery Scott Walker exposed, again!!! He really can’t answer a question honestly. You have to wonder if he even knows what he really thinks.

What I can tell you is the Time article below is the closest thing to comic relief you'll see this week. 

Wisconsin media created this monster and is to blame for letting him get this far.

Immigration flip flop: “Reputation for keeping our word…” huh? The ultimate non-answer:

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker rejected the “flip-flopper” label Saturday after he shifted his position on immigration reform. “Just a narrative from the other campaigns that are frustrated with the fact that we've got a strong reputation of keeping our word.”

Supported Right-to-Work, he just called it Act 10: “My point is, I’m not pushing for it.”

Walker said claims that he had changed positions in other areas “ridiculous.” “I've always been a supporter of Right to Work, I was a sponsor of it,” Walker said. “I gave 300,000 union workers in my state the right to work four years ago, and I just signed it into law.” But for years, Walker had no interest in pushing legislation that would prohibit agreements between businesses and unions that require employees to pay union dues. “My point is I’m not pushing for it,” Walker said during his re-election campaign last year. “I’m not supporting it in this session.”

Walker really meant he wanted a 20 week abortion ban? “They’re taking an ad out there…” The campaign ad had nothing to do with the 20 week ban, and more importantly, Walker deceptively said he would leave it up to "a woman and her doctor:"  

Walker has also come under scrutiny on his commitment to opposing abortion … his 2014 campaign ad said he supports “legislation to increase safety and provide more information for a woman considering her options. The bill leaves the final decision to a woman and her doctor.” Walker told reporters, “My position’s consistent on that. They’re taking an ad out there that talked about what the law did in the state which was endorsed by Wisconsin right to life.”

Walker loved Common Core before he was against it: This isn't just tea party pandering. Walker's trying out a new scheme to neutralize his flip flops by saying he's just "listening to the people." Really, since when do leaders like Walker listen to the people, especially after seeing how he ignored hundreds of thousands of those same people protesting his decisions? 

On education, Walker’s first budget funded the implementation of the Common Core standards, now anathema to the GOP base. Walker has since backed away from supporting the standards ... Asked what the difference is between changing his mind and flip-flopping, Walker said the politically damaging charge shouldn’t apply when politicians are responding to voters.

“I think the key is if you've listened to people and you have a valid argument for why you've done it—we've laid out exactly what we've done—but I think people want strong leaders and they want leaders who’ll listen to the people,” he said.

Big Oil Walker hates alternative energy, that includes ethanol: Jaws dropped over this one:

Walker, who is on record opposing Ethanol mandates in Wisconsin, said last week in Iowa that he supports maintaining the Renewable Fuels Standard, before gradually phasing it out. Asked about the discrepancy, Walker said, “I didn’t enact it in Wisconsin. My position was about Wisconsin and my position was clear. What we’ve done in terms of what we said in Iowa was pretty clear as for going forward. Eventually we want the standard phased out, but right now it needs to be in place for Iowa.”

..."for Iowa," because he needs their vote!!! His online consultant had already tipped Walker's hand.

Walker okay with failing septic systems contaminating groundwater!

When Scott Walker proposed downsizing the DNR at a time when the state couldn't keep up with sand mine inspections, and defunding our state parks, you knew something was up right?

Could Walker be the most anti-environmental governor in state history?   

The answer is a resounding yes. Small government is one thing, but cutting a program that stops groundwater contamination (drinking water) to achieve that ideal is crazy irresponsible:

WPR: Walker Budget Ends Program That Helps People Update Septic Systems, Close To 500 Low-Income People Have Applied To Grant Program This Year: Low-income property owners who make under $32,000 a year would not be able to receive financial assistance for replacing their aging septic systems under Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget.

"It’s one of the best funding sources for low-income people to replace these systems that are an environmental concern and a health concern," said Terri Dopp-Paukstat, president of the Wisconsin County Code Administrators ... the grant money goes toward replacing older systems that are shown to contaminate groundwater or drinking water. She said close to 500 people have already submitted applications for assistance this year. "They would not get funding or reimbursement if this budget were to pass the way that it’s written now," she said.

Last year, the program awarded around $2.3 million to 654 low-income property owners.

Tea Party Voters love Walker's near last place position in Midwest for job creation.

Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan highlights Scott Walker's miserable record in Wisconsin and a formula he promises will work nationwide. PolitiFact: 

Our rating: Pocan said Wisconsin is "dead last in the Midwest for job creation."

Among 10 Midwestern states -- in terms of percentage growth in private-sector jobs -- the latest figures show Wisconsin is tied for ninth. So, not quite "dead last."

We rate Pocan’s statement Mostly True.

Scott Walker's Cuts to your Public Schools....

School Funding Reform for Wisconsin is featuring an amazing list of graphs detailing just how much your district will lose under the proposed biennial budget. Check out your districts cuts here.

example of district graphs

STATE BUDGET FOCUS:
CUTS TO PER PUPIL AID IN 2015-16 SCHOOL YEAR
The graphs to the left summarize, by county, cuts that will be made to school districts in year one of the proposed state budget.  School boards will be unable to raise their tax levies to make up the losses.  

The Journal Sentinel just posted a detailed look at Walker's hit on schools.

Republicans don’t know squat about health care, as they try to hide their ignorance and planned cuts.

There is a solution to health care insecurity.

We could increase the Medicare tax on our paychecks to shore up the program, or to create a national single payer system that would cut costs dramatically. We could also raise taxes to help cover everyone.

Americans need to have health care certainty. It’s the price of freedom and liberty.

Health insurance companies by the way are the biggest road block to the GOP’s ideal of a free market system, since they provide their own network of doctors and hospitals at an already agreed to price.  That's not competition. You won't always get the best price or doctor, since you can't go through a different insurer. 

House and Senate Republicans are now coming up with a scheme to cut more taxes by cutting…wait for it, Medicare. Remember their outraged over Obama's supposed cuts Medicare? For some reason, cutting Medicare is better when it's done by Republicans.

(Republicans) will propose major spending cuts to programs such as Medicare, health care subsidies, food stamps and the Medicaid program for the poor and elderly to produce a budget that's balanced.

Republicans even said they won’t tell us what they’ll cut, because it’ll only make us mad, like Paul Ryan’s detailed plan did (what details?).

Senate Republicans are shying away from the controversial Ryan budget, instead opting to introduce a plan that outlines the size of budget cuts — but not how, exactly, they would change entitlement programs like Medicare. A lack of specifics also likely insulates Republicans from political attacks moving into 2016 — and makes it harder for outside groups to analyze their plans.

Right, we wouldn't want to be able to analyze their plan. Just in case you're still not sure:

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member of the Budget panel said, "From the standpoint of a budget, the less words of the English language you use, the better off you are.” Grassley said it’s preferable to "just have figures in there" instead of spelling out specific reforms, as Ryan did.

Any questions?

Magical Free Market? To make this easy, we first have to understand health care is not a consumer product. If you make that claim, you don’t understand health care. But what about laser eye surgery/knee & hip replacement, they’re “products” that came down in price due to competition, right? These are “elective” services we choose to get fixed, not covered by insurance, and still costly. That’s why we have to take “medical vacations” to countries like India.

The Affordable Care Act replaced the failed “individual market.” That’s where we saw premiums skyrocket, policies dropped and pre-existing conditions excluded. That was the whole point of ObamaCare. Republicans now want to put all of us into the individual market with no group rate savings and junk policies that cover only what we can afford.

The poor will get shut out of Medicaid once Republicans block grant the program to the states, who will then put in place a myriad of impossible hoops to jump through, forcing the needy to get help at already cash strapped churches and charities. 

2nd Grader gets Climate Change Non-Answer from Scott Walker.

Note to network reporters, see if you can match the tenacity of 2nd grader Aaron Stark, in the video below, who tried twice to get an actual answer about climate change from Scott Walker:

Aaron: "If you were president, what would you do about climate change?"

Walker: "Well, I...I...you know I was a Boy Scout, they always taught me a campsite should be clear, the way that you found it, so I try to work with the people that care about that issue to make sure we have a better place to live than we found it."

Aaron: "Do you care about climate change?"

Walker: "Ultimately to me I want to make sure that we have all the natural resources we have here...(inaudible)...we could possibly afford....(inaudible)."

Aaron was served up a Walker word salad, dodging both of his questions. 

With Wisconsin in rear view mirror, Walker moves on, not looking back.

Scott Walker’s “big and bold” fire sale of public property is a sure sign this governor is so over us. The fact that his approval ratings are tanking now is a sure sign we made a huge mistake reelecting him:

Scott Walker and the ‘home-state haters’ problem: What I find especially interesting is how increasingly common this is among the other Republican presidential candidates. It doesn't look great for Walker that his own state’s voters are skeptical about his White House campaign, but he can take some comfort in the fact that so many of his GOP rivals are in the exact same boat.
Public Policy Polling: Those who say they approve of the job Walker is doing fell to 43 percent, while those who disapprove increased to 52 percent. In late October, the same Democratic-leaning poll found 49 percent approved of Walker’s job performance, while 47 percent disapproved.

Most importantly, the independents are changing their minds since Walker decided to get rid of the UW, stop funding the state parks, take science out of the DNR, and meddle in private sector business unions with RTW:

Walker's approval among independents dropped (from 48% in October) to 36%, (and from 45%) to 57% disapproving of his job.  

Big and bold, Walker style, isn't a popular theme in Wisconsin.

Republicans targeting VA for privatization and profit.

The right wing joke leveled at liberals is this; Koch, Bush, Koch, Bush, Koch, Koch, Koch...

For some odd reason, conservatives like jabbing liberals about how often they bring up the Koch brothers. The fact is the Koch's have multiple front groups pushing privatization, and joking about it doesn't change reality. Like this corny named group; "Concerned Veterans for America." Of course they're concerned.

It'll be interesting to see veterans react to their own party's move to offer them up to the wolves lurking in the free market health care system, where profits and bottom lines take precedent over actual care.

What goes around comes around...

Uh oh, Walker compares ISIS to computer virus?

I liked the comment at Crooks and Liars about Scott Walker's latest whack-a-doodle comparison; "The good news is that he is no longer comparing Wisconsin protesters to ISIS terrorists. The bad news is that Walker is still comparing ISIS to a computer virus."

Walker's odd knack for bad analogies stems from his overall lack of foreign policy experience, which is reminding me of party hopeful and worst candidate ever, Sarah Palin.

A few other warning signs:

1. Mr. Non-Answer himself, Scott Walker, point blank said he won't be answering questions about foreign policy, unlike Obama, because that would be like telling our enemies. Didn't Republicans insist Obama tell them...oh, never mind. Again, Walker is telling us he'll spring whatever scheme he comes up with, on both ISIS and the American public, without ever tipping his hand. You were warned.

2. WKOW's Greg Neumann reported "wrecking ball" Walker got a good reception from the audience after saying he was a self made man. Is that even possible for a mediocre career politician, on the public dole, doing the bidding of monied corporate special interests? Self made huckster maybe.

3. Scarier still is one guys impression that Walker would appeal to the middle. God help us all.

First is WKOW's coverage, and second is Walker repeating his ISIS is like a computer virus:



Here's Neumann's second report and a few audience members opinions. Plus Walker's recent shopping trip to Kohls for the sweater he had on, and really old 20th century stories about his grand parents lack of indoor pluming. You know what, I had a few good shopping trips myself, and had to use an outhouse when I visited my grandfather's house in the 50's, BFD:

Walker, Republicans target biking and transit for cuts.

Republicans like Scott Walker are going after everything touched by the enemy within, liberals, progressives and Democrats. They are wiping the slate clean, as I've pointed out in this post.

As unbelievable as it may seem, they’re actually going after biking and transit.

From WisconsinGazettedotcom:  

Conservative Republicans at the state and federal levels this year launched initiatives to weaken biking programs. So the National Bike Summit this month (is working to) Counter a campaign to strip bicycle funding from the transportation bill. Congress could vote in May on the anti-cycling initiative, which is backed by right-wing groups with strong ties to the fossil fuel industry and billionaires David and Charles Koch. 

The following statement boggles the mind:

A letter signed by representatives of Tea Party Nation, the Heartland Institute, Club for Growth, American Energy Alliance and Americans for Prosperity seeking to eliminate federal transportation money for cycling programs read: “Despite billions in Highway Trust Fund shortfalls, Washington continues to spend federal dollars on projects that have nothing to do with roads like bike paths and transit.”

I wish I were making this up. And guess who is one of the leaders of this anti-biking movement?

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who has strong political and financial ties to those in this conservative coalition, is at the forefront of the campaign to puncture the state’s bicycling program … at the start of his second term as governor Walker offered a budget that proposed:

• Cutting $2 million from the Transportation Alternatives Program.

• Repealing the Complete Streets Law mandating that bicyclists and pedestrians be considered whenever a road is built or rebuilt.

Yes, repealing a law that "considers pedestrians"...outrageous?

State Sen. Chris Larson said repealing the Complete Streets Law “jeopardizes pedestrian and bicyclist safety, resulting in fewer safe places for our neighbors to bike.”

Here's an important wrinkle I've already had to deal with regarding my own kids bike "path" to school:

Larson added that cutting TAP “will result in fewer pro-bike projects, some of which seek to create more safe ways for children to get to their schools. The governor’s budget lacks a long-term, sustainable vision for our state. In fact, at the same time the governor is seeking to curb the growth and popularity of cycling in the state of Wisconsin, he is also borrowing $1.3 billion to pay for large highway projects. Each day, I grow more amazed by how backward Walker’s priorities are for Wisconsin.”

Will Republicans insist Scott Walker, unlike Obama, take high road and unseal his College Records?

This story cannot be forgotten, because down the road, Republicans are going to have to demand Scott Walker's Marquette University records. If it was important to see Obama's, than to show they walk the walk, Walker has to comply. Right? 

First they'll have to convince Walker he never really unsealed his records:

The BS never stops spilling out of Walker's memorized, monotonous and repeatedly disproved set of talking points. PolitiFact took a look:

On Feb. 27, 2015, while attending the Conservative Political Action Conference outside of Washington, D.C., during an interview with Dana Loesch, a conservative radio and Blaze TV talk show host, Walker made a claim as Loesch prepared to ask a question.

Loesch: "A lot of folks like myself thought it a little elitist -- because everybody’s vetting you now. You’ve already been more vetted than the current commander-in-chief."

Walker with a chuckle: "Yeah, and more written about my college days than the president. I unsealed my records."

Our rating: Walker said he "unsealed" his student records at Marquette University. In fact, he has taken only the very limited step of authorizing the school to confirm that he was in "good standing" during his time at Marquette and that he voluntarily withdrew. We haven’t seen any records. We rate Walker’s statement False.

29 States, Big and Small Business minimum wage increases disprove GOP Doom-and-Gloom Predictions!!!

I think some people are missing the big picture when it comes to recent wave of minimum wage increases; Big business is proving how wrong Republican have been. It’s a scare tactic and lie conservatives have still not deepsixed, even as a tide of raises are washing over them.

29 states are beating the federal minimum wage standard. Are they crazy?

According to the conservative bill writing mill ALEC:

“Despite good intentions, this proposal will hurt lower-income, less-experienced and less-educated Americans. Furthermore, it will place an additional burden on businesses, especially small business owners struggling in the current economy.”

The burden...is listening to this crap day after day. We can only assume at this point big business doesn't know what it's doing, and freeloading ideologically driven Republican politicians do. The following is only a partial list wage hikes we're seeing week after week:

Wal-Mart ($10) follows other big retailers that have announced plans to increase pay. Home furnishings retailer Ikea this year gave a 17 percent average raise to $10.76 an hour. And the Gap raised its minimum wage to $9 last year and $10 this year.

Meanwhile conservative business baron's are getting caught doing what they've done so well for years, cheat their low wage employees out of the money they've earned:

A Papa John’s pizza franchise in New York must pay its workers nearly $800,000 in unpaid wages over allegations the business underpaid employees and failed to pay overtime. Emstar Pizza Inc., which operates seven Papa John’s franchise locations in Brooklyn and Queens, allegedly underreported hours worked by drivers over the past six years, rounded employee hours down to the nearest hour, and did not pay overtime.