garageman's Blog

Last night Mike Lowe reported on a town hall meeting about an advisory referendum that will be on the ballot on Nov. 4th.  Members of the Milwaukee County Board want the authority to put a one percent county sales tax in place to fund the county park system and transit and emergency medical services. It took a couple of hours to digest what I took in at that town hall meeting.

It's a tax increase!  Under the guise of property tax relief, if passed supporters of the referendum have calculated that they will take in some $130 million dollars.  Twenty seven percent of the Milwaukee County property tax levy.  How much of that $130 million goes toward property tax relief?  Less than half!

Why stop there?  If the numbers that were put out were correct and twenty seven percent of the property tax levy can be replaced with a one cent county sales tax, by my calculations the entire property tax levy can be replaced with a 3.65% county sales tax. Including the wolf in sheep's clothing tax increase they want to create. That would make the total sales tax in Milwaukee County 9.25%. Still a full point less than Chicago.  Why isn't anyone talking about that?

The most bang for your tax buck.  It's been reported that a controversial letter was sent out to at least a portion of the citizenry (I did not receive one) explaining the referendum and calling them to this town hall meeting.  The cost of the letter exceeded $20,000.  Regardless of what "fund" the money came from, it was still taxpayer money that paid for it.  So how many people showed up for the town hall meeting?  I counted ten. Was this a wise use of taxpayer's money? 

As this is an advisory referendum my fear is that, much like Congress and the bailout, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors will be in a position to ignore the will of the people and pass the tax increase anyway.  They may be able to generate a new tax revenue stream for Milwaukee County, but it's the County Executive's budget that decides what money goes where.  They can't guarantee that the revenue generated by the county sales tax will be used for the purposes being put forth.  Some other "economic emergency" will appear and the Board of Supervisors will "Doyle"  the money for other purposes. Nor can they guarantee a commensurate property tax cut.

It's a hurry up world, but this is one thing I had to stop and think about before forming my opinion.

 

The rush to bail out our financial institutions has all the lustre of a smarmy used car salesman telling me I have to buy the car I'm looking at right now!  Another guy was just looking at it and went to get his money!  If another guy went to get his money, why is the salesman pressuring me to buy?  Our Senators and Congressmen think we're stupid!

To be certain...something had to be done.  But I don't think this was it.  When the first proposal failed the stock market actually bounced back.  The second proposal passed and the stock market went down.  What does that tell you?  They could have waited.  They could have taken their time and done only what needed to be done.  They didn't. It's business as usual in Washington, D.C. and one wonders if there will ever be such a thing as "change".

I would not have voted for a bailout package that had money in it for anything other than propping up financial institutions and it would be a loan not a gift from Uncle Sam.  I have yet to speak anybody who's even remotely encouraged by the deal.  Once again our elected officials have ignored the American People and the United States Constitution.  Instead they have opted to once again get over on the taxpayers. 

From badgerblogger.com

Posted on Friday, 28th April 2006 by Patrick Dorwin

A few weeks ago, Congresswoman Gwen Moore was one of the politicians that helped to kill the plan for a Waukesha company, BuySeasons, which is listed by Inc. Magazine as the fastest growing privately held business in the state, from moving to and expanding in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley. The company has 150 full time employees that earn on average, $11.55 per hour, and last year they hired 218 central city residents and expected to hire even more after the relocation These seasonal employees earned between $9 and $16 per hour. But Congresswoman Moore and other local politicians argued that these “were not the right kinds of jobs” to bring to the area. This is an area where unemployment and poverty rate is sky high, but I guess these Liberal politicians prefer this blight and despair to the opportunity this would give people to climb out of the morass.

Today, Congresswoman Gwen Moore’s news letter came in the mail. The lead column is titled Poverty Harms The Whole Community, in which she talks about the struggle that people in poverty have, and how hard it is for lower skilled and less educated workers to find decent paying jobs in Milwaukee.

She then discusses the government programs that she is supporting that will encourage new small businesses, and federal tax dollars that she is bringing home to the district to stimulate the local economy and combat poverty.

Excuse me Congresswoman, but you killed real jobs just a few weeks ago, jobs that would really do the things that you hope these programs will do in the future. The jobs you killed were just what the lower skilled workers that you claim to want to help, need. These jobs would give the employees the experience they need to succeed in the job market, but you killed them, then a few weeks later you brag about all that you are doing for us… Bah!

You can read Moore’s column by clicking the thumbnail below.

Update

BuySeasons is reconsidering their decision to give up on the Vally site.

The Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee is now supporting the sale of the desired land to BuySeasons. Alderman Bob Bauman still opposes the sale saying that Milwaukee is “running short of land available for industrial use, and should better protect that ’scarce resource.’” He also calls BuySeasons “a fad business,” and goes on to attack this company that wants to bring a few hundred jobs to Milwaukee… as if we had an overabundance of jobs in the area… Moron.

Posted in Home | Comments (4)

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Write-in Dan Sebring for Congress

www.dansebringforcongress.com

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I received this via email this morning! 

 

Views expressed in her linked speech below and in past speeches bred "Supreme's" and others' behavior.  Robert-Milwaukee   http://badgerblogger.com/?p=7488   The Messiah and the Tire Slasher

Posted on Wednesday, 10th September 2008 by Bruce

Two weeks ago, Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore rallied her fellow party faithful with a fiery speech at the DNC convention in Denver, Colorado. In her speech, Moore blasted Republican presidential candidate John McCain for what Moore alleged was a history of “anti-woman” positions on health care and reproductive rights.

Moore’s own offspring, whom Wisconsin residents recognize as “Supreme Solar Allah“, is best known for his work as a political operative in the 2004 John Kerry campaign who was later convicted of slashing tires on Republican “get out the vote” vehicles.

BadgerBlogger recently discovered a rather interesting photograph, featured at the Congresswoman’s son’s MySpace page. At the social networking site, “Supreme” (legal name Sowande A. Omokunde) is shown next to (then) Senator Barack Obama in what appears to be a September 2006 photograph.

If the date on the photo, September 9th, 2006, is an accurate date stamp, the photo would most likely have been taken at the annual conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, which was being held in Washington D.C. during that time. Obama had moderated a forum entitled “Africa: The 21st Century” at the conference just two days earlier, according to published reports.

BadgerBlogger is inclined to wonder whether Mr. Obama was made aware of exactly whom he was standing next to when that photograph was taken. We tried to ask the question, but representatives of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and Wisconsin for Obama didn’t respond to repeated phone calls and e-mails inquiring about Obama’s presence in the photo.

“Supreme’s” own sentencing in his tire slashing conviction had taken place the previous April; according to state online court records, on April 26th, 2006, Congresswoman Moore’s son had been sentenced to four months in the House Of Correction, with work release privileges, to begin on or before May 23, 2006, for his role in the tire-slashing incident.

BadgerBlogger confirmed with insiders in Milwaukee County government late this afternoon that Omokunde reported for his sentence in the House of Correction in “late April”, completing his stint on August 28th, 2006.

Two weeks later, “Supreme” was smiling for the camera next to the Democratic Party’s current presidential candidate.

The Journal/Sentinel’s Spivak and Bice authored a report in November, 2006, which
disclosed that “Supreme” had been added to Congresswoman Moore’s 2006 campaign payroll. According to Moore’s campaign finance reports, her campaign paid her son a total of $3,100.00 for “political consulting services” late in 2006. Spivak and Bice reported that “Omokunde told others that he was the campaign’s deputy field director” at the time.

In their 2006 report, Spivak and Bice asked the question: “How many other criminals can walk out of jail and into a job on a congressional campaign payroll?”

Almost two years later, it appears that a better question would have been: “How many other criminals, two weeks removed from a jail sentence, after being convicted for destroying property belonging to the opposition party, would be able to visit a political conference and get their picture taken with Barack Obama?”

Oh, and lest we forget… All the while, being paid for all this fun by your mom’s political campaign fund.

Being a Congresswoman’s son does, apparently, have its privileges.

Bruce J Redenz

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Want real change?  Write in Dan Sebring for Congress.

www.dansebringforcongress.com

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The argument is not about smoking or not smoking, bars closing or not closing.  It's about what the government can and can't tell you what you can and can't do.  When smoking ban proponents, mandatory paid sick day proponents, and politicians in general talk about "The Greater Good" they're talking about, at best...socialism.  At worst...communism. This is not what America is supposed to be about.  THAT'S why feathers get ruffled when things like this come up.  The government, democrats in particular, wants all Americans to be dependant on the government for everything!  We'll tell you what to wear, where to work, what to eat, when to sleep.  What is healthy, when your sick. What car you can drive and where to drill.  So go play your XBOX and let us take care of everything for you.  Personal freedom and responsiblitiy are overrated anyway.  Why don't you just go back to sleep!  And don't forget to vote for change!!!

PAID SICK DAYS

Ask anyone who owns a business in Milwaukee...the City of Milwaukee has created a hostile business environment and continues to drive nails in the "economic suicide" coffin for small businesses located or considering locating in Milwaukee.  On the one hand city leadership cries for jobs, jobs, and more jobs.  Then they come to you and do everything in their power to dissuade you from doing business in Milwaukee.  They want to approve your business plan like they've loaned you money or something.  They want to tell you that you need a fence here and a bush there.  Now they want to require me to provide benefits to employees that I and many other business owners simply cannot afford to provide.  To quote Ross Perot, "If this passes your going to hear a giant sucking sound and that'll be your jobs leaving (Milwaukee)."  It makes my blood boil to think about it!  People who have never run a business, and have no clue what it takes to run a business, think the more they interfere with business the more business will thrive.  What's worse, even though it's only a vote to send the question to referendum, it's expected to pass and face a challenge in court.  Is this a wise use of taxpayer's money?  To pass ordinances that they know or at least suspect might be unconstitutional and will have to be defended in court at taxpayer's expense?  The last time I can remember the City of Milwaukee being hauled into court for violating constitutional rights they settled out of court for $6,000,000.00 (that's six million dollars friends).  Things weren't even this bad for local businesses when the elected mayor was a socialist!  He was also a businessman, and as a businessman knew that the running of the city was a business.  City hall needs to wake up and realize that they are driving jobs and business away from Milwaukee!

America Needs A Leader Like This!

Prime Minister John Howard -

Australia Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks. Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: 'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture.

Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians'. 'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'. 'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!' 'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture. ' 'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us. '

'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'. ' 'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted. ' Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, American citizens will find the backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths.

I guess they already finished their English homework!!!
Montebello High School in California


You will not see this heart-stopping photo on the front page of the NY Times, nor on the lead story of the major news networks.

The protestors at Montebello High School took the American flag off the school's flag pole and hung it upside down while putting up the Mexican flag over it.  What exactly they're protesting I couldn't tell you.  But I'm sure it would be hard for me to fathom.

 

 

Where are the school administrators?  Where's the media?  Where's the Governator??

They sleep under the blanket of freedom we provide and then pull something like this??

This is an outrage!!

300 BILLION BARREL+ OIL RESERVES DISCOVERED IN MIDWEST! 

Monday geologists announced the discovery of oil reserves stretching from Nebraska to the Dakotas that are second only to Saudi Arabia.  Enough oil to supply half of America's projected needs for the next one hundred years!  (as reported on CNN)

We can put a man on the Moon, send robotic explorers to Mars, and retrieve artifacts from the TItanic.  The techonlogy exists to safely access these reserves as well as oil reserves in the Cuban Basin where the Chinese are currently drilling with 50 year old technology and recently discovered offshore oil reserves near Lousiana while simultaniously (not instead of, hahnmeister) expanding research and development, without duress, of renewable and alternative fuels.  How long do you suppose Eco-facists and other various tree hugging entities will tie this up as the American economy swirls down the drain on the back of rising fuel costs (and the war)?

Kudos to the gentlemen on North Avenue who fought off the would be robber at their filling station and to Fox6 for reporting it!  And let's not forget the person who chased down a purse snatcher, stole his wallet and turned it over to police. It's high time the citizenry literally "fought back", and the criminal element in Milwaukee knew that we will fight back.  I cringe every time I see a police officer on the news telling people to give wanton criminals what they want.  Give them what they want?  Do you mean like an open invitation to take everything I own from me?  C'mon it's okay...no one is going to stop you!  LIKE HELL!   I'm not giving up anything without a fight and neither should anyone else.  I don't care what the so called experts have to say.  In previous police administrations I'm sure the people who have recently taken a stand against criminals would have been arrested themselves. So Kudos to the new police chief for allowing us to excercise our right to defend ourselves as well!    Now if the U.S. Supreme Court decides that the individual has the right to keep and bear arms and local government may not enact measures to overide that right, we'll be golden.