This Just In...

Here is the complete text of the New American article in the event the links I posted to the article in previous entries are changed.


Illegal Immigrants in a State of Disarray: The New American
2/7/07
Kurt Williamsen

Through the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles, the state of Wisconsin has been aiding illegal immigrants to stay in this country and flaunt our country's immigration laws. Part of an anonymous letter from an employee of the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) as read by Wisconsin State Representative Mark Gundrum to a committee of the Wisconsin legislature during a hearing on Assembly Bill 69/Senate Bill 334 in 2005 is as follows:

If Osama Bin Laden came to a Wisconsin DMV customer service center, affirmed he was an illegal alien, presented two forms of identification and one proof of residency in his own name, he would be issued a Wisconsin ID card. Unless he caused a disturbance or displayed a document that was clearly fraudulent, the police would not be notified.... Once he had his Wisconsin document, Osama would then qualify to get taxpayer benefits, vote in the next election, and do untold harm to our society.

Lee Steines, who worked for the Wisconsin DMV until February 2006, assured The New American that the anonymously written letter gives an accurate picture of daily procedure at Wisconsin DMV offices. If Osama bin Laden requested a Wisconsin driver's license, there is absolutely nothing in DMV policies or procedures that directs an employee to call the police. In fact, there are memos that state that employees are supposed to look the other way - that known criminals and manifest criminal acts are for "law enforcement" to deal with and are none of the DMV's business.

In Wisconsin, neither American citizenship nor legal residency in the country is required to get a drivers license or an official state ID. Proof of identity and state residency are required - but these are really "proof" of nothing. A foreign birth certificate, which a DMV employee may or may not be able to read or check for authenticity may be used to show a person's name and date and place of birth, or a signed credit card may be used as proof of identity. And proof of residency may be verified using a paycheck stub, a state welfare card, or a utility bill. Because Wisconsin has lax standards, it has become a magnet for illegal immigrants. Using Wisconsin documents, ordinary illegal immigrants or international terrorists are able to begin to create identities in this country that cannot be distinguished from native Americans.

Prevailing Procedures

DMV rules, Steines said, mandate that DMV frontline agents not only issue state IDs and driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, they threaten those agents who refuse to issue them with being fired for insubordination. "I can't comprehend it," he added. "They are supposed to be a regulatory agency, but they've become mere ticket sellers, letting in everyone for the cost of admission."

Wisconsin's procedures for obtaining a driver's license or ID, Steines asserts, are ludicrous, and illegal immigrants know it. In one instance, he was working behind the service counter when he observed two Hispanic men who were without Social Security cards at another agent's work area. The men were heavily tattooed in a manner typical of Hispanic gang members. When the agent stepped away from the counter to retrieve paperwork to continue the process of getting the men their state ID cards, the men burst out laughing. Likely, the men were gang members, gaining de facto legal status in the United States.

Several current DMV agents agreed to speak with The New American under the condition of complete anonymity because they are speaking as private citizens and fear reprisals. One of them said that on multiple occasions he has had Hispanics at his service counter who sported viewable tattoos of MS-13, one of the ultra-violent Hispanic gangs originating south of the border that are plaguing the United States. In one case, a Hispanic girl brought an interpreter to get her driver's license because, as her interpreter related, she only spoke Spanish. After she finished her written test, she brought it to him to get it corrected. He noticed a small tattoo under her eye and asked in English what gang she belonged to. In English, she responded, "The People's Nation in Minneapolis."

To put it bluntly, the Wisconsin DMV is responsible for aiding the entry of illegal immigrants - many of whom are violent criminals - into the United States. Or more correctly, the government of Wisconsin is responsible. It sets the rules by which DMV workers must abide, and its rules make it nearly impossible for DMV employees to stop illegal immigrants from getting virtual legal status. For instance, DMV rules state that because Wisconsin has no requirement for legal presence in the United States, employees are not allowed to ask the legal status of those applying for licenses and IDs. Even when people arrive at DMV service counters without valid Social Security numbers, DMV personnel are not allowed to inquire if they have a green card or current passport authorizing their presence in this country.

DMV rules actually go in the opposite direction, making getting a driver's license almost assured. The DMV has a form called the Social Security Number Noneligibility Certification for foreigners, through which they can bypass requirements for presenting a S.S. number. Making the system more of a farce is a DMV rule requiring employees to accept almost any form or document, from any country, in any language, as proof of identification as long as the document appears genuine. Since DMV employees may not be able to read Spanish, Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, Arabic, or whatever other language the document is printed in, it's impossible to know for sure what they are being asked to authenticate. Moreover, the DMV employees are told to accept as valid ID the matricula consular card, an ID card issued by the Mexican consulate that the FBI has warned against accepting as proof of identification because of rampant fraud.

In fact, DMV rules require employees to break federal immigration law. Federal law, Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii), says that anyone who helps an illegal in any way whatsoever (this would include issuing documents to them) is in violation of federal law and shall "be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both." Yet Wisconsin DMV employees are told that even if someone at their counter admits to being in the United States illegally, the employees are supposed to pretend that they did not hear the remark and go about issuing them a license or ID anyway.

Similarly, to prove residency, sometimes illegal immigrants will present a check stub with a S.S. number listed, yet they will sign the Social Security Number Noneligibility Certification attesting that they are not eligible for a S.S. card. This would indicate that the illegals may be committing S.S. fraud, but the DMV employees are "instructed to ignore the S.S. number, ask for additional proof of residency and proceed as if the customer has no S.S. number," according to one DMV worker.

Even when illegal immigrants get caught with clearly fraudulent documents and the police are contacted, by and large, the police merely issue the lawbreakers a fine or let them go - if the police respond at all. In a recent incident, a policeman was called to pick up an illegal alien who presented a foreign driver's license that was clearly fabricated. When the DMV officials explained the situation to the officer, he helplessly shrugged his shoulders and said, "You know all we can do is issue him a citation. The feds no longer come to pick them up for deportation, so our hands are tied."

Card-carrying Terrorists

Obviously, legitimizing Hispanic gang members, and their associated criminal activities, is bad and should not be allowed. But providing a helping hand to gang-bangers is not as bad as legitimizing terrorists.
There is, according to one unnamed source within the DMV, strong evidence that people who are out to harm the United States are operating freely throughout the country, using Wisconsin IDs or driver's licenses to aid them. He says he has personally spoken to "Russian KGB agents who made little effort to hide their true purpose for being here." Additionally, another DMV employee, who is a retired Army officer, has stated that some of the Russian and Polish immigrants who apply for Wisconsin driver's licenses - who are often well-spoken, are dressed in suits, and arrive in very expensive vehicles with dark-tinted windows and out-of-state license plates - are clearly Spetnaz officers (Russian special forces).

It is noteworthy that even when DMV employees observe a person driving whom they know has no license, the employees are not supposed to call the police, and so illegal immigrants can drive up to a DMV Customer Service Center under the eyes of the employees, still obtain a license, and then drive away.

Moreover, an AP article from November 13, 2003, entitled "Ex-Mexican consul arrested in connection with trafficking of illegal Arab migrants," solidified claims that Arabs were regularly being smuggled across our southern border. Mahmud Abouhalima, leader of the 1993 Trade Center bombing, was granted citizenship as part of the 1986 amnesty intended for Hispanic agricultural workers and Abdel Hakim Tizegha, involved in the millennium plot, posed as a Mexican migrant.

Affirming Activities

On top of all this may be the pinnacle of foolhardiness: DMV managers must give affirmative-action talks to illegal-immigrant advocacy groups and tell them how to avoid "hassles" for the illegal immigrants whom the advocates help get licenses. They must do this by explaining to the advocacy groups how illegal immigrants can skirt the system - whether that be through explaining how agents determine if a document appears to be authentic or through telling advocates what illegal immigrants should say when they are asked certain questions by the staff, such as "Do you have a valid S.S. number?"

The illegal immigrants, in this case, are supposed to tell the truth and say they do not have a S.S. number. There is no penalty for being illegal anyway, and it wouldn't pay to have an illegal immigrant get caught for identity theft. Even if advocacy groups do not make requests for presentations, DMV managers are instructed to seek out the groups and offer their services.

Consequential Costs

Wisconsin's efforts to give sanctuary to illegal immigrants by granting them official state documents have evidently been successful. According to the DMV personnel we interviewed, there has been a veritable flood of illegal immigrants besieging DMV offices to get IDs and licenses over the past four years. Illegal immigrants arrive at DMV stations almost daily. On some days they represent the bulk of a service center's customers, especially in the southeastern and mideastern parts of the state. Because of the extra time that DMV officials must spend aiding foreign license applicants, costs rise.

Estimates of the number of illegals who have Wisconsin IDs and driver's licenses are somewhere in the area of 350,000 to 400,000. According to one DMV source, the number cannot be affirmed with specificity because for years there "was an 'informal' agreement between the Madison DMV and the local Social Security office. If the DMV found someone there illegally, the person would be referred to the local Social Security office, which would somehow issue the person a number.... Thus many illegals appear to have valid Social Security numbers in our system and cannot be distinguished from genuine citizens." Apparently, the informal agreement was dropped sometime after 9/11.

The increased costs at the DMV centers are undoubtedly a drop in the bucket compared to the costs that the illegals impose on the state and county welfare systems. All of the DMV agents whom we interviewed affirmed that it is a common occurrence for illegal immigrants to use Wisconsin QUEST cards (which are used to get foodshare benefits) and Wisconsin Forward cards (which are used to access Medicaid and Badgercare healthcare programs) as proof of their identity when applying for licenses and IDs, indicating that the first priority for many illegals upon entering the state is to obtain welfare benefits at taxpayer expense.

When The New American called a state welfare representative to find out to what extent illegal immigrants can take advantage of welfare programs to obtain food aid, healthcare, housing allowances, and child care, she would only tell us that each county determines eligibility and that eligibility is mainly dependent on one's income level.

Besides abusing the state's welfare system, the illegal immigrants also abuse driver's insurance programs and the right to vote. One of the DMV officials has made it a point to ask illegal immigrants if they have valid drivers insurance, and he has never had a single immigrant say that he had insurance. And so when an illegal immigrant crashes into a U.S. citizen who has insurance, the American's insurance pays, and the American's insurance rates rise. Illegals have also made it known to DMV personnel that they intend to vote using their new Wisconsin IDs and licenses, likely to aid the election of politicians who are willing to further help the illegals break U.S. law.

The Game in Play

Because of pressure brought to bear on Wisconsin's state legislature, Act 126 was passed to address the problem of illegal immigrants getting licenses and IDs in Wisconsin, despite a very pro-illegal immigrant Governor Jim Doyle at the government's helm. Act 126 mandates that the law change on April 1 to require people to present a valid S.S. number or proof of legal residence in the United States before they can be issued a license or ID. That's the good news. The bad news is that since this past November's state elections, the state's now primarily Democratic legislature is working behind the scenes to rescind the act altogether or nullify its effectiveness.

Act 126 is already facing obstacles: several of the documents that will be used to certify a legal presence in the United States are easily duplicated. Employees, especially in southern Wisconsin, have already seen many fraudulent copies of them.

Also, before the act can be fully implemented, changes to Wisconsin Transportation Rule 102 must be approved. Approval is scheduled to take place on May 1. Until it is, the DMV will continue to accept foreign birth certificates as proof of identification. Unfortunately, DMV workers learned this week (week of January 29) that the necessary rule changes may be delayed or not take place at all.

If the law is implemented as it was originally written and intended, it will be a great blessing for the taxpaying citizens of Wisconsin. If Act 126 is rescinded or undermined in some way, the end result would be more of the current insanity, accompanied by greater expense (the time spent examining the new documents, etc.).

The fate of the approximately 350,000 to 400,000 illegals who already have Wisconsin documents is unclear. If the law were fully enforced, the illegals would be notified via mail that, unless they come to a station and prove legal presence, their product would be cancelled in DMV computers. This should happen because, as one driver's license examiner stated "we have to remember that a person who is in the United States illegally has broken valid, safety-assuring U.S. laws and should not be rewarded with a Wisconsin driver's license or ID card." But the governor and Department of Transportation secretary are reviewing the possibility of "grandfathering" them in - anybody who already has a license will get to keep renewing it. (Of course, we know what Doyle would like to do!)

Here are some of the e-mails I got in response to my segment yesterday on the Mark Belling program on Newstalk 1130 WISN about the article in the New American. The article exposes how the state DMV assists gang members, illegal immigrants, and terrorists.



Mr Fischer -

Interesting this FINALLY made some news outlet.

I was told everything you mentioned about this over two years ago by someone I know who is an examiner at the DMV.

Thanks for bringing it to the public's notice.



Mr. Fischer,

I know I am talking to a wall here, but I must correct you on a statement that you said on your 2/27/07 fill-in program for Mark Belling in which you said that illegal immigration is a slap in the face to all legal immigrants in this country. Wrong!

I am one, and your assumption is only yours, as I certainly do not share it, and neither do many. I agree with the caller from Cedarburg who said that you are only fanning flames in pursuit of ratings; -he hit it on the nail! I would only add that you do it in pursuit of racism and bigotry.

You are wrong in associating terrorism with illegal immigration. Do you know for a fact that the 9/11 perpetrators were illegal immigrants? You very well know that they did not cross any river swimming nor walked through the desert from the neighboring country to the south. You know that none of those terrorists went to the Wisconsin DMV to apply for a driver's license to get on those planes. Do you call that "reality" as you expressed on the radio? Sir, this is your flawed reality, as I would call it "fanning the flames of racism and bigotry against people with different skin color and with voice accent".

I share the views of the people of Wisconsin in regard to standing up against terrorism. I enjoy living in Wisconsin, in a suburb just as you do (are you panicking knowing that I could be your neighbor?), but I totally disagree with you and with people like you who see us immigrants as scapegoats for your own fears. If people from the Middle East caused 9/11, why do you direct the blame toward Mexicans? -because that is what you are doing.

So illegal immigrants don't pay taxes? Wrong again! Taxes are taken out from their paychecks just like from yours and mine. The difference? You probably get tax credits and deductions at the beginning of the year, while illegal immigrants abstain from filing for tax refunds, thus leaving the collected taxes the government's hands. Social Services? Most of the brown skinned children than you refer to are actually American citizens, born in the US, who happen to speak their maternal tongue. If you criticize these people, you most likely are also condemning your grandparents or your great-grandparents who did the same thing, or are you going to tell me that the last name "Fischer" is Native American? Your ancestors were immigrants too and came over to this country seeking prosperity and a better life.

Do you know that the meal that you pay at most restaurants $15 - $20, would probably cost $40 - $50 bucks if the restaurant you patronized hired only American citizens, or if the fields where the potatoes that you ate weren't harvested by immigrants? If you don't realize this, you are very shortsighted, as I assume you are, as by now you are probably infuriated from hearing another side of the story... your story that is far from the truth.


Sincerely,

A Mexican



Hi Kevin,


Heard you on the radio this morning and just read your blog and the article about the DMV.

I have no doubt that the anonymous DMV employee who gave up this information is telling the absolute truth.

Two years ago, my husband and I moved up here from the Cincinnati/Northern KY area. We went to the DMV office in Waukesha to change our drivers licenses over to a WI license.

As we were standing in the line, I can tell you that there was a group of no less than 15 Hispanics waiting in line behind us and a group of no less than 10 ahead of us.

Most of them either could not or would not speak English.

There was one older woman, in particular that I remember, who had just finished her written test with the help of another individual. I remember her walking up to the counter and she couldn't speak a word of English.

I thought to myself, "this woman can't speak English, how in the hell is she going to read a road sign?"

It is disgusting that this is going on. The state of WI and the rest of the country had better wake up or all our road signs are going to be in Spanish one day.

I have absolutely no issue with anyone who wants to come to this country
to make a better life for themselves or their family... legally.

My great-grandparents came here from Italy nearly 100 years ago through Ellis Island, as did many European immigrants at that time. They came here with pride, with honor, with respect and didn't expect a handout.
Their names are now listed on the Wall of Honor at Ellis Island.

There is a good reason why it's called the "Wall of Honor". What is happening today is a disgrace to the immigrants of 100 years ago, a disgrace to the Statue of Liberty and a disgrace to our flag and this entire country.

The United States of America is becoming a homeless shelter for any illegal who wants a free ride and those that continue to allow it to happen have got to held accountable NOW. Or perhaps when Osama bin Laden comes calling again, we should send him to their front doorstep.



THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

Franklin's referendum questions on April 3 are quite costly, close to $80-million.

The stakes are even higher in the Elmbrook School District. Voters are being asked to approve over $108-million in spending.

Not confident to sell the referendum questions on their own merits, Elmbrook School District officials are trying to lure voters with free meals.

Have they no shame?


THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

If you missed it, this afternoon while subbing for Mark Belling on Newstalk 1130 WISN, I read an outstanding article from the New American exposing in great detail how the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles is aiding and abetting illegal aliens to obtain Wisconsin ID's and drivers' licenses.

My segment aired from 5 -6 pm on the Mark Belling program.

At 7:11 tonight, I received the following e-mail from one of my WISN listeners:

"Not one hour after your WISN segment on illegal aliens and forged documents, and an OFFICIAL from dot licensing department named JOSE is on "ADELANTE" Channel 10 TV telling illegal's how to beat the new ID requirements coming on line in April. This just takes the cake! I cant keep typing Im so P.O.ed!"

This person is correct. The Channel 10 website has a description for tonight's 6:30 broadcast of ADELANTE.

Your property taxes include taxes to support MATC that produces the ADELANTE program.

BTW, I am a guest on Channel 10's INTERchange program every week and have been since the program debuted 11 years ago. I am positive the un-elected, highly-liberal MATC Board hates me and everything I say every week. To ensure my appearance on INTERchange this week, I simply could have avoided this blog entry. I cannot. What's wrong is wrong.

I worked at WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio from 1978-1989. During my tenure there, one of my duties was to produce a monthly documentary on minority issues. I did, and the program entitled, "Urban Focus," won many awards I'm proud to say. Not once did I produce a program instructing illegal aliens how to beat the system. ADELANTE, produced with taxpayer dollars, should NOT be broadcasting this type of material.

God Bless America!



THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

Today I filled in for Mark Belling on Newstalk 1130 WISN and devoted a segment of the program to an article in the New American that exposes how the state of Wisconsin has been aiding illegal immigrants to stay in this country and flaunt our country's immigration laws.

The article quotes an anonymous employee of the Department of Motor Vehicles who wrote the following in a letter read at a legislative hearing:

"If Osama Bin Laden came to a Wisconsin DMV customer service center, affirmed he was an illegal alien, presented two forms of identification and one proof of residency in his own name, he would be issued a Wisconsin ID card. Unless he caused a disturbance or displayed a document that was clearly fraudulent, the police would not be notified.... Once he had his Wisconsin document, Osama would then qualify to get taxpayer benefits, vote in the next election, and do untold harm to our society."

You can read the entire eye-opening, shocking article here.

It's a must-read.



THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

A lot of people from Franklin fought very hard last year to get the bill to track sex offenders with GPS approved by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

That's why they were extremely angry to learn that a provision in Governor Doyle's budget would gut the GPS law.

Not so fast!

Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-La Crosse) says the Governor's attempt to gut GPS won't stand because neither party will allow that to happen. Read the story here.

Here's background on the issue from a blog I posted February 17:


OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK

From Governor Doyle's May 22, 2006 press release:

Governor Doyle Signs Legislation to Better Monitor State's Most Dangerous Sex Offenders

MILWAUKEE - Governor Jim Doyle today signed legislation making Wisconsin the national leader in protecting our kids from dangerous sex predators.

"I understand that everyday when parents send their kids off to school, they worry that something could happen to them before they return home," Governor Doyle said. "And that's why as a prosecutor, Attorney General, and now as Governor I am doing everything I can to keep sex predators locked away and to make sure that those released by courts get the strictest supervision."

As part of this larger effort to protect our kids against sexual predators, today Governor Doyle signed Assembly Bill 591, which extends lifetime GPS monitoring beyond just Chapter 980 offenders to serious and repeat child sex predators, and to those who were found not guilty in court due to mental disease.

"This expanded GPS will help law enforcement know exactly where these people are every minute of every day," Governor Doyle said. "And if they go someplace where they put kids in danger and violate their probation, we'll know immediately - and we'll put them back behind bars."

This is from Governor Doyle's own campaign website:

"Governor Doyle has enacted legislation extending lifetime GPS monitoring beyond just Chapter 980 offenders to serious and repeat child sex predators, and to those who were found not guilty in court due to mental disease. This expanded GPS will help law enforcement know exactly where these people are every minute of every day, and if they go someplace where they put kids in danger or violate their probation, we'll know immediately - and we'll put them back behind bars."

This is an ad Governor Doyle ran during his campaign boasting about how tough he was on the issue of sex predators.

And this is from the La Crosse Tribune newspaper this past Wednesday, February 14:

Doyle backtracks on sex-offender tracking
MADISON - Electronic tracking for Wisconsin's worst sex offenders - required under a law signed by Gov. Jim Doyle less than a year ago - would be dramatically scaled back under his two-year budget proposal.

Doyle's budget, unveiled to lawmakers Tuesday night, would require child molesters and sexually violent offenders to wear global positioning bracelets only while they're on supervised release or parole.

That's a significant step back from the law Doyle, a Democrat, signed in May to set up GPS tracking until the offender died or was too feeble to pose a threat. The Republican-sponsored law is due to take effect in July.


THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

Let me get this straight.

City of Franklin taxes are going up.

Franklin school taxes are going up.

Milwaukee County taxes are going up.

MATC taxes are going up.

Sewer taxes are going up.

Now we get this news.

Despite all of these tax increases, some people are still considering going to the polls in April to willingly give themselves ANOTHER property tax increase by voting for the two Franklin school referendum questions.

God help us.



THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

In case you've forgotten, the Associated Press tried to remind you this past week of a major political story.

Congratulations to them.

Unfortunately, the only newspaper I saw that picked up or followed up on the AP story was the Green Bay Press Gazette.


THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

Since today is Oscar Day, this item in today's USA Weekend in the Sunday Journal caught my attention.

USA Weekend asked the CEO of Roto-Rooter, Spencer Lee, to give a review of the new animated film, "Flushed Away."

According to USA Weekend, the movie set in London's sewer system "is about a classy pet mouse named Roddy (voiced by Hugh Jackman), who is flushed down the toilet by an uncouth rodent intruder (Shane Richie). Roddy discovers a bustling world in the London sewers where a staple gun becomes an automatic weapon and hand mixers become speedboats. Disoriented and homesick, Roddy teams up with tailed gal pal Rita (Kate Winslet) to fight off the French frog mafia. "

Lee was chosen to give an "offbeat" review of the digitally animated film because as Chairman and CEO of the international plumbing and drain company, Lee "has rescued everything from MP3 players to GI Joe dolls from customers' pipes."

Lee gave a positive review about the film, but added the following:

"I'm thinking children who watch this might throw a small pet or toys down the toilet, thinking there is this underground world down there. In "Finding Nemo," Nemo is flushed down the toilet to freedom. After that movie came out, we got several calls from parents saying their kids flushed their fish, and we couldn't help them. We wouldn't have been able to help Roddy either, unless we could have stopped him from being pushed into the toilet."

I know Lee's review was all in fun, but c'mon. This is not an animal or pet crisis. Parents should not refrain from taking their kids to see "Flushed Away," out of fear a guppy or goldfish might get tossed town the toilet.

"Flushed Away" is nothing.

You want cinema that messed with kids' minds? Try sixty-five years ago. In 1942, Walt Disney shocked theater-goers when Bambi's mother was gunned down. I doubt pre-schoolers needed support groups back then.

This one is real simple. Mom, Dad, tell Mary and Jimmy they are not to put Goldie in the toilet and flush.

In 2007, kids who play video games where human appendages explode into bits and pieces are not going to be scarred for life by "Flushed Away."


THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

If you have a fire hydrant on your property, don't forget to shovel a path to it so firefighters can get to it easily. You may save a life.


THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

You know how I feel about Governor Doyle's budget of close to two billion dollars in tax and fee increases. What does the average citizen think?

The Wisconsin State Journal newspaper in Madison has printed several letters to the editor on Governor Doyle's budget. You can read them here.


THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

Last Tuesday morning, I drove to the Polish Center at 68th and Rawson. As I walked in the front door I noticed a fairly large number of people. A woman stopped me shortly after I entered.

"Are you here to pick up an order?"

I paused very briefly before the light bulb went on......she thinks I'm here to pick up paczki's. It was the day before Ash Wednesday and the Polish Center was selling the donuts, some in large boxes ordered ahead of time.

"No, I'm here to vote."

"Oh. For that, you've got to go upstairs."

Sounded as though I had been banished to some dark, usually forbidden area of the Polish Center. So up the stairs I went to a room with tables, poll workers, and...............no one else. It literally took me seconds to vote.

On Thursday when I filled in for Jay Weber on Newstalk 1130 WISN, I devoted a segment to a legislative proposal to make Election Day a holiday in Wisconsin.

Then I wrote about the proposal here.

Now the Capital Times newspaper in Madison has issued the following editorial:

Editorial: Response needed to low turnout

Wisconsin has 4.2 million adults of voting age. On Tuesday, 287,000 of them bothered to cast ballots in the three-way primary for the state Supreme Court.
If officials actually took democracy seriously, they would recognize that something has gone horribly wrong with a process that can draw only 7 percent of eligible Wisconsinites to the polls for an election that will shape the character of the state's judiciary.

Do we need to give people Election Day off if they can prove that they have voted? Do we need elections on weekends? Do we need mail voting? Computer voting? Should votes for Supreme Court be held during higher turnout fall elections in even years?

We are not suggesting an answer here. We are suggesting that there is a need for a questioning, challenging, searching response to election turnout figures that should serve as nothing less than a red flag for those who believe that elections are only meaningful if citizens are actively engaged in the process.


I disagree.

Would it be nice if more people voted? Of course. But I'm not all bent out of shape when voter turnout is low.

Last Tuesday, when very few people went to the polls, their votes actually had more clout, carrying more weight. Ideally, I'd much prefer a lower turnout of more educated, informed, concerned voters. That's more desirable than people voting a certain way because their spouse is, their teacher told them to, they just saw an ad on TV the day before, someone looks better or nicer, "let's give someone else a chance," "He's been in awhile so he must know what he's doing," and you get my point.

An election holiday is a bad idea. Low voter turnout is not the end of the world.


THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

Some states are extending the hours in each school day or extending the number of days in the school year. Others are considering doing it.

Good for them. It appears to be working, and once-skeptical parents now support the concept.

Read more about it here.




THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

I don't go to many movies. At the risk of sounding like an old fogy (I'm not), they just don't make 'em like they used to.

There are no great actors or actresses anymore that can be revered, admired, respected, or looked up to. No one compares to John Wayne, Spencer Tracy, Kirk Douglas, Gregory Peck, Paul Newman, Katherine Hepburn, and I could go on and on.

There are no contemporary films that deserve to be played 20-30 years from now on the American Movie Classics network.

What today's crop of so-called Hollywood talent does excel in is liberal posturing and grandstanding. Give them a cue card and they have to struggle through two dozen takes. Put them at a podium at a PETA, Greenpeace, or ACLU rally and they can pontificate for hours without stumbling.

The Oscars will be handed out Sunday night. In the audience will be a host of arrogant, full of themselves, no-talent egotists who couldn't have been theater ushers when Hollywood had real bona-fide stars. That's why I won't waste my time watching the Oscars on television. I recall when Bob Hope hosted the telecast every year. You knew Bob Hope would be the emcee, you knew he'd be topical and funny, and you knew you wouldn't have to suffer through bubble-headed acceptance speeches.

Three cheers to Vivian Roe and her column in this week's paper that's right on when it comes to the over-rated mutual admiration society known as the Oscars.

Want to win an Oscar? Make a film, then go on the lecture circuit to save some sort of animal.

This isn't the first time Vivian Roe has written a compelling column for the Journal/Sentinel. I was impressed with her piece on the new Wisconsin booster seat law.

Nice work, Vivian! The editors at 4th and State probably cringe at your material. That's a sure sign it's pretty good stuff.



THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

A look back at the people and events that made news the past week. Week-ends is a regular weekly feature of This Just In...

HEROES OF THE WEEK

The young person who delivered my newspaper very early this morning and will do it again tomorrow. The snow plow drivers. The postal delivery people. Anyone who has to work outside so they can make things easier for us.

And former Summerfest Director Bo Black, valiantly fighting for her life. Black did so much for this community. Hang in there, Bo. We're all praying for you.

VILLAINS OF THE WEEK

State Senate Democrats.

On Tuesday, Senate Democrats voted down a move by Senate Republicans to bring the constitutional amendment to ban the Frankenstein veto to the Senate floor for a vote. Tuesday was the last day for the Senate to take action to ensure the amendment to go to a statewide referendum April 3. Despite bipartisan support in the Legislature, strong support from the public, and numerous editorials statewide in favor of the amendment, Senate Democrats (some of who voted for the amendment last session) voted unanimously not to bring the measure to the Senate floor for consideration. That means Governor Doyle can use the Frankenstein veto in the next budget to play all kinds of games with your tax money.

Senate Democrats also say they will refuse to take up legislation to do away with the extremely generous sick leave perk enjoyed by lawmakers.

Over in the Assembly, State Representative Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) objected just before the Assembly was to take a final vote on the sick leave measure, delaying action until the Assembly meets again on March 1. Schneider, who is usually quite the windbag (they call him Snarlin' Marlin at the capitol) wouldn't say why he had objected to a final vote, although he has been a vocal opponent of efforts to end the sick leave benefit. Could this be why Marlin wasn't Snarlin' this time: Schneider has more than $110,000 worth of sick leave accumulated.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Over-rated!
The crowd at Michigan State as the Spartans upset the #1-ranked Wisconsin Badgers.

I never said that. I am for a full ban in the state.
Governor Jim Doyle, flip-flopping on an earlier statement that he would consider exempting taverns from his proposed statewide ban on smoking.

I don't understand money. I really don't like money.
Wisconsin Public Radio talk show host and my co-panelist on Milwaukee public Television's INTERchange and ultra-liberal Kathleen Dunn, defending Jim Doyle's avalanche of tax and fee increases in his budget, including the tax on oil companies. Even though she's been a friend for years, I can't defend Kathleen's open mouth-insert foot episode on our weekly TV show. When Kathleen uttered her phrase, you can hear yours truly in the background replying, "That's obvious."

"It's all in Spanish and I don't understand a word of it. I only bought it for the hot chicks."
Oconomowoc's Bret Stieghorst, who was watching an adult DVD in Spanish called "Casa de Culo" in his apartment when a neighbor broke down his door, carrying a sword, claiming he did so because thought a woman was being raped.

"No way, I'm a man and I'm a normal person. But I think I will get some good headphones, maybe some wireless ones.
The above-mentioned Stieghorst, when asked if this entire debacle would change his video viewing habits.

OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK

It's a tie between this and this.

MOST UNDER-REPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK

The decision by Senate Democrats on Tuesday to remove from the calendar a bill authored by Senate President Fred Risser (D-Madison) to allow certain 17-year olds to vote.

How embarrassing! The party in power (in this case, the Senate Democrats) only schedules bills that are assured to have the desired outcome (in this case, approval). The Democrats who have the majority refused to take action on Risser's bill and sent it back to a Senate Committee.

It was the first major bill proposed by a Senate Democrat to be considered by the Senate this session, and the Senate Democrats had to scratch it from the calendar because they didn't have enough Democrat votes to support one of their own members.

Why no press coverage? Would the Capitol press corps pick on grandfatherly Fred Risser? No chance.


MOST OVER-HYPED STORY OF THE WEEK

1) Anna Nicole Smith
2) Bald Britney
3) The Oscars

Take your pick.

STRANGEST STORY OF THE WEEK

That's easy.


THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

I have expressed my opposition to both Franklin school referendum questions on the April 3 ballot.

That doesn't mean I'm anti- education, anti- teacher, anti-student, anti-American. It means I'm pro-taxpayer.

One of my readers contacted the people who run this website (I have a spot on my blog where you can click and e-mail me directly. Don't be shy.) and suggested I take a walk in the schools before I speak out against the referenda.

To whomever sent that e-mail: Sorry. I've been in any number of the Franklin schools. I still recommend voting NO.

Another blogger on another website is whining that I am closing each and every one of my posts until the election with a link to my first post explaining why I'm advocating a NO vote.

Excuse me???

That blogger has every right and opportunity to blog to his heart's content why I'm wrong.

And let's be honest. The school district has already conducted a number of meetings to discuss the referenda with several more scheduled. The district has produced a video on the referenda. I'll bet my side is not represented at these many meetings or on that video. (I wonder if tax dollars were used to fund the video's production.) Jen Klug of the Franklin Schools just wrote a piece for FranklinNow.com endorsing the referenda.

Meanwhile, there is no "CITIZENS OF FRANKLIN OPPOSED TO THE REFERENDUM" group or any organized effort working on behalf of residents who support education but simply don't want to see their exorbitant taxes continue to go through the roof. As far as I know, I'm it so far.

I have received e-mails from readers who say they are fed up with high taxes and plan to join me in voting NO. So, until Election Day: THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

Interesting.

Wal-Mart wants to expand on S. 27th Street.

Prediction: A lot of people are not going to like this idea. Those same folks won't say a peep about a Target coming to Franklin.



THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

When I substituted for Jay Weber Thursday on Newstalk 1130 WISN, I devoted some time to a proposal by state Representative Josh Zepnick (D-Milwaukee).

Zepnick essentially wants to declare Election Day a holiday. In other words, everybody gets the day off to afford people time to vote.

Let's back up a bit.

I'll bet you didn't know that current law in Wisconsin states every employer, including the state and local governments, must grant to its employees at least three successive hours off work on Election Day for the purpose of permitting the employees to vote. To take advantage of this right, an employee must provide notice to his or her employer no later than the day before Election Day, and the employer may designate the time at which the employee is permitted to take off work. No penalty may be enforced against an employee for exercising this right, except that an employee is not entitled to be paid for time not worked.

So right now, if you can make the arrangement with your boss, you can leave work at noon on Election Day, go vote, and not have to be back at work by 3:00 pm. That seems totally unnecessary. Who needs three hours to vote? Callers to my program on WISN Thursday said the longest it ever took them to vote, even at the busiest of Presidential elections, was 45 minutes.

Representative Zepnick wants to increase the successive hours an employer must give to an employee to vote from three to eight. In effect, Election Day would be a day off.

There's more.

On elections in November in even-numbered years, Zepnick wants to close state offices, giving state workers a paid holiday. That would bring the total number of state holidays to 10.

There are so many things wrong with this goofy idea:

1) No one needs a whole day off to vote. If Zepnick is so serious about sufficient time to cast a ballot, why doesn't he suggest election day be held on a Saturday?

2) Current law, while questionable, is more than accommodating. You've got three hours to vote, then get back to work.

3) Most people can juggle work, kids, and family and find time to vote either before or after work, or during a lunch break. The majority of voters do not take advantage of the current law allowing them three hours away from their jobs.

4) Zepnick's idea would be unfair to businesses. He'd shut down the state economy. Brilliant.

5) Do state employees really need another paid holiday? Is it any wonder people hate the government.

6) Some callers to my WISN program hinted that part of the motivation behind this proposal is to give more voters more time to engage in voter fraud.

Not a single caller to WISN during the hour we talked about this proposal was in favor.

The political reality is that this proposal is DOA in the Legislature. Zepnick is an Assembly Democrat. Assembly Democrats are mired in the minority of that house in the Legislature. The odds of the Zepnick bill even getting a hearing are extremely slim.

Then what's the big deal, Kevin?

There is a larger issue. In November, Republicans had their hats handed to them, their clocks cleaned, whatever cliché you want to use. Jim Doyle kept the Governor's mansion. Democrats took control of the state Senate. And Democrats, while still in the minority in the state Assembly, did make some gains.

Democrats, as a result of the November results, feel emboldened. They wanted some power and they got it. But what are they doing with it? I've yet to see significant legislation or any concrete ideas being proposed by that party since November.

Does Zepnick support reducing spending, a property tax freeze, a photo ID requirement to vote?

I'm afraid the Zepnick election holiday bill is just the beginning of the types of silly legislation we'll witness during this legislative session in Madison.


THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

Maybe you've been outside already.

This might take your mind off the white stuff.


THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3

We're told Franklin Schools Superintendent Bill Szakacs is leaving his position, but no one is saying why.


THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3