Declared candidate for the 6th District Congressional District, Roger Kittelson has made it into the New York Times!

To find out more about Roger, email him at: kittelsonforcongress@gmail.com

Here is the full article (usually only up for a few days w/out a subscription):

Here are some excerpts:

Wisconsin Dem Says He Can Test House GOP Veteran — B’Gosh
By Jessica Benton Cooney, CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

Wisconsin Republican Rep. Tom Petri has now served more than 28 years in the House, and the last time Democrats in his 6th Congressional District waged a serious effort to unseat him was in 1992. In fact, Democrats in 2006 did not even field a challenger — the sixth time that has happened in the 15 elections dating to Petri’s first victory in an April 1979 special election.
…
Democrat Roger Kittelson, a dairy marketing specialist, has entered next year’s race against Petri and contends he should not be counted out.

Kittelson enters the race with little experience as a candidate: His only past run was a defeat in a state House race in 1982 in his native Minnesota. By comparison, Peggy Lautenschlager, the Democrat who held Petri to 53 percent of the vote back in 1992, was a state House member and former county district attorney, who would go on to serve between 2003 and 2007 as Wisconsin’s first woman attorney general.

But Kittelson can’t be accused of not aiming high. His Republican opponent in his 1982 candidate debut was then the Speaker of the Minnesota House.

“I think I can win,” said Kittelson, who in an interview with CQPolitics.com said his determination to run is attributable “in part because of the direction of the country,” and also, he said, because “Petri tends to support the president’s lack of direction on the war in Iraq.”

Kittelson, who lives in the small town of Lomira, calls himself a conservative Democrat and says he plans to tout his support of affordable health care and a balanced federal budget.
…
Another Democrat from the district, state Rep. Gordon Hintz, noted that Republican Mark Green — a former four-term representative of the neighboring 8th Congressional District — barely carried the 6th District with 51 percent of the vote in his unsuccessful 2006 bid to unseat Democratic Gov. James E. Doyle.

Hall, Petri’s 2004 foe and now chairman of the Winnebago County Democratic Party, said there has been a huge political swing in the district that he suggested might be following a national change. “People don’t want to be Republican anymore,” he said. “Republicans don’t even want to be Republican, people here are clamoring for a change. The numbers are more on our side than they ever have been.”

Are we at the tipping point?

Polls as of 7/5/07:

Do you favor or oppose the US House of Representatives beginning impeachment proceedings against President George W. Bush?
7/5/07 - Favor - Oppose - Undecided
All Adults - 45% - 46% - 9%
Voters - 46% - 44% - 10%
Democrats - 69% - 22% - 9%
Republicans - 13% - 86% - 1%
Independents - 50% - 30% - 20%

Do you favor or oppose the US House of Representatives beginning impeachment proceedings against Vice President Dick Cheney?
7/5/07 - Favor - Oppose - Undecided
All Adults - 54% - 40% - 6%
Voters - 50% - 44% - 6%
Democrats - 76% - 24% - 0%
Republicans - 17% - 83% - 0%
Independents - 51% - 29% - 20%

Breaking News?

The OshNW has this item under the heading "BREAKING NEWS":

Lender foreclosing on 100 block apartment building

BB Syndication Services, the commercial lending arm of Banker’s Bank, has initiated foreclosure action on the apartment building at 100 N. Main St.

The Madison-based bank filed its initial paper work on June 29, and a receiver was appointed to oversee the building’s day-to-day operations on Tuesday by Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge Barbara Key.

More on my opinion on the 100 Block later, but first just a simple question:

How is a report on July 13th about a case filed June 29th and before a judge on July 10th considered "BREAKING NEWS"?

Shouldn't the banner read: "WE'RE ONLY 3 DAYS TO 2 WEEKS BEHIND"?

That said, I think the key to this story is Ben Ganther. I will go on record that the 100 Block is good for Oshkosh. I like the development, I love Cranky Pat's and have attended several nice events on the patio.

There is no reason for it not to be successful, it seems to me.

Other than one thing: Ben Ganther. It was mis-managed. Hopefully the new management group will bring some competence to this endeavor.

I believe we have seen similar mis-management in other projects he has been involved with.

I believe in Oshkosh, I believe in new development for Oshkosh. And I hope that Mr. Ganther's poor record does not doom some of the great ideas and projects that are going on in Oshkosh right now.

Republicans to Protest Taxes... From the deck of an 85-foot yacht

You can't make this stuff up:

JOIN US AS WE SAIL OFF AND PROTEST OUR HIGH WISCONSIN TAXES!
Republican Party of Ozaukee County "Boston Tea Party"
21st Century style"Wine and Appetizer Sail"

Join us aboard the 85ft long tall ship "Appledore IV", for a little fun, whine and relaxation, as we set sail out of Port Washington to enjoy a two-hour adventure on Lake Michigan in protest of Wisconsin's High Taxes. While sailing, we will hear from a special guest speaker about our high Wisconsin taxes and what is being done about them; and, have the opportunity to participate in our very own Ozaukee County Tea Party.

(Note: the spelling of 'wine' as 'whine' is from their website. Freud...?)

As Republicans sail on their luxury yacht to protest 'high taxes' in the Assembly budget these same Republicans:

- cut nearly $12 million in tuition remission funding from Wisconsin veterans
- eliminated state funding for Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television
- deleted one-time funding for an infant mortality project in Racine County
- deleted the funding increase for breast cancer and cervical cancer screening services
- dramatically reduces funding for domestic violence victims
- cuts aid to poor first-time mothers who are in the third trimester of an at-risk pregnancy and are unable to work
- rejects provisions to require insurance policies to cover autism spectrum disorders
- reduces funding for foster care by $1.6 million
- deletes $1 million in funding for civil legal services for the indigent
- cuts funding for domestic abuse grants by about $1.3 million
- slash over $133 million from the UW System, including $26.4 million from Higher Education Grants that keep tuition affordable for lower income students
- lay off over 1,700 teachers
- slash more than $58 million from the funds our communities use to pay for police and fire protection
- cut what schools could spend per pupil by $64


However, it includes:
- tax cuts for venture capitalists
- health care savings accounts for those who can all ready afford their healthcare

I would hope that Wisconsin Republican's take to heart FDR's quote:

"It is an unfortunate human failing that a full pocketbook often groans more loudly than an empty stomach."

And realize that those who find misery on 85-foot yacht deserve no sympathy from those who find hunger or sickness in old-age, poverty and illness.

Where's Roessler?

Check this out: http://www.wheresroessler.com/

According to B&S, there is a bill board as well:

ACLU of Wisconsin and NAACP Wisconsin Community Summit on Fair Elections

From an email I received today:

ACLU of Wisconsin and NAACP Wisconsin Invite you to a Community Summit on Fair Elections

Help build the movement to repeal the most damaging of Jim Crow laws still in effect in Wisconsin.

Enfranchise all citizens in our community, including those who have finished incarceration sentences.

Thursday, July 19
11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
NAACP Headquarters – lower level
2745 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Milwaukee

Over five million people in the U.S. have been disenfranchised due to felony convictions. In Wisconsin, even after incarceration, citizens deemed safe to live in our communities, work, pay taxes, raise families and are still denied the right to vote if they are “on paper.” Some of them for years! This restriction adds confusion and bureaucracy. It even makes voting, the most sacred responsibility of a citizen in our country, a crime.

Join us in bringing Wisconsin up to date with most other Midwestern states who are streamlining their rules on voting.

This is a brown bag lunch event, however, if you RSVP by July 16, 2007, lunch will be provided. We are accepting $5.00 donations to offset the costs of lunch.

Please RSVP to Angie Vasquez in the ACLU of Wisconsin office, (414) 272-4032 x11

For more information on this issue, contact Renee Crawford, Associate Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin at: rcrawford@aclu-wi.org

Diversity is important in government and business...

A few years ago, we had a discussion in Oshkosh about the importance of diversity as it relates to city government.

I argued that someone who does not believe in diversity should not be the leader of our city.

It looks like the New North agrees with me:

Leaders from New North, Inc. the regional economic development hub of Northeastern Wisconsin, are continuing efforts to highlight the importance of workplace diversity in the region.

An article in the July 9 edition of USA Today, entitled “Companies Ramp Up Diversity Like Never Before,” singled out Procter and Gamble and Weyerhaeuser for proactively seeking diversity in their respective workforces. Both companies are large employers in the region, as Procter and Gamble has a strong manufacturing presence in Green Bay, and Weyerhaeuser operates plants in both Green Bay and Manitowoc.

“In order for our region to remain competitive in the global marketplace, diversity and understanding the importance of supporting the needs of a diverse workforce are essential for our success,” said Jerry Murphy, Executive Director of the New North, Inc.

Something to remember come election time. Understanding both economic, ethnic and social diversity is the first step to truly representing an organization, whether it is to voters, customers or prospective businesses.

Republican Party Press Release of the Week - Waukesha Edition

bwvFrom Wispolitics.com - The Waukesha Republicans are going to the fair!

The parts that confound me....

The Waukesha County Republican Party will once again have our booth at the fair in the arena. We are encouraging fair goers to stop by, join up, and vote in our Presidential Straw poll. Along with voting for your favorite candidate, if you haven’t renewed your membership or are interested in joining as a new member, we will have all the necessary forms to take care of your needs.

and then

The Republican Women of Waukesha County will once again have their jewelry and other merchandise for sale. Memberships for the RWWC will also be available.

Will someone clear this up for me once and for all? Do they not allow women to join the regular party? Why a separate organization and member dues for women?

Seriously... I want to know. I know what many of the ladies in the Democratic Party would do to me if I suggested they needed to have their own organization...

It might be the last thing I was ever allowed to say.

Ex-Republican Senator Urges Passage of Health Wisconsin Plan, Refutes Assembly Republican Spin

From Joe Leean, former Republican State Senator from Waupaca:

Here are the positives of the Healthy Wisconsin Plan:
Everyone is covered - that is why it is called universal.
The existing provider networks are maintained - that is why it is different than the Canadian or European models.
Every family may choose their own provider network - the same as state and many local government employees.
Your insurance stays with you regardless of whether you change jobs or lose your job.
The plan is governed by a board of trustees who will contract with the private sector for both administration and health care delivery - this is not a government health care program.
The funding for the plan is collected from assessments on income and payroll - this makes it fair, administratively simple and verifiable.
The plan provides affordable, comprehensive health care for every individual and family in Wisconsin not already covered by Medicare, Medicaid/BadgerCare, or in a state institution.
This plan will reduce state and local government costs by hundreds of millions of dollars. These savings could and should be used for tax reductions at both the state and local level.

Here are my responses to criticisms of the Healthy Wisconsin Plan:
"It is the largest tax increase in state history." Because the funding for the plan is assessed on payroll, it is collected as a tax. But the naysayers are neglecting to
point out that the approximate $15 billion collected for this plan eliminates more than $15 billion currently paid by businesses and consumers in insurance premiums.
"Families will have to change doctors." Not true. Families will have choices of health care provider networks just like legislators and other government and school employees.
"This is a government-run program." Not true. This plan is governed by a board of trustees made up of representatives of large and small businesses, labor, education and agriculture with an advisory group from the health care provider community.
"This plan is a last minute idea with no public scrutiny or input." Not true. Several groups including the committee I chaired have been working on this for over two years. Labor unions, business groups, health care providers, farmer organizations, senior citizen advocates, legislators, and the insurance industry have been part of these discussions. Furthermore, scores of forums, debates and news articles have covered this over the past year.
"This plan does nothing to control the cost of health care." Not true. The plan includes co-pays and deductibles to discourage inappropriate use of health care. It also provides preventive care with no co-pays and addresses chronic disease management. As I stated earlier, I wish Republicans would work with Democrats to include co-insurance and funded Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as my committee proposed in our health plan.
"This plan destroys the practices of health care professionals and their relationship with patients." Not true. Health care professionals will probably not even notice a change except that everyone will now have insurance.
"This will destroy Wisconsin's economy and drive away employers and jobs." Not true. Most businesses currently providing insurance will see an overall reduction in their health care costs. Businesses not currently providing insurance will incur increased costs but now both the owners and their employees will have affordable health care.

Healthy WI Overview

Click here for an overview of the Healthy WI plan.