http://onmilwaukee.com/rss/rss_politics.xml Milwaukee's Daily Magazine Politics en-us Sun, 5 Jul 2009 15:00:25 CST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://onmilwaukee.com/images/layout/omc_rssfeed_logo.gif http://onmilwaukee.com 204 67 At lunch on Monday I wandered the halls of the County Courthouse and stumbled (not literally) onto the Register of Deeds office. The result is that I spent the rest of my jury service downtime studying the history of my house. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/househistory.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/househistory.html?19481 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:57:00 CST I'm currently serving my third jury duty and so far, like the last two times, I've done nothing more than read a book, shuffle my feet, pace around and try not to die of intense state-sponsored boredom. Isn't there a better way? http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/juryduty.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/juryduty.html?19476 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:54:00 CST A special task force, chaired by former state Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler, would like to see the Common Council modernize the mechanism for hearing license requests in order to keep politicians from tampering with the process and alleviate the appearance of "aldermanic privilege." http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics061909.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics061909.html?19438 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:28:00 CST A strapped government sometimes pits good groups against each other. This week, there is a battle between people who probably agree more often than not. Jim Goulee of the Park People crafted an e-mail calling for the preservationists to quickly call their legislators to make sure that a half-percent tax increase doesn't just go for Regional Transportation Authorities, but that lawmakers put another half-percent tax increase for the county parks. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics061309.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics061309.html?19389 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:14:00 CST This week the Milwaukee Common Council's Public Safety Committee voted 4-1 to recommend adoption of an ordinance that would make permanent a program allowing residents who live in or near Downtown and on the East Side to park for five days consecutively on city streets without fear of tickets or towing. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/24hourpark.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/24hourpark.html?19314 Fri, 5 Jun 2009 10:15:00 CST Lawmakers are considering stiffening penalties for drunk driving in the state and the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department has an idea -- just one -- to help. Sobriety checkpoints are the solution, Sheriff's Department representatives said this week at a hearing in front of the state Senate's Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform and Housing Committee. "We cannot arrest our way out of this problem," said one sheriff's rep. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics060509.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics060509.html?19310 Fri, 5 Jun 2009 05:27:00 CST Back in April, I blogged about the $84 / three-point ticket I received from Shorewood's Finest, after making an allegedly illegal U-turn on Capitol Drive. Yesterday, I had my day in court. I fought the law, and the law won. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/shorewoodticket.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/shorewoodticket.html?19305 Thu, 4 Jun 2009 10:39:00 CST Jazz in the Park kicks off its 2009 season Thursday night at Cathedral Square Park. Earlier this week, a state assembly committee, prompted by Rep. Leon Young, unanimously passed a bill allowing carry-ins, but officials likely will uphold their plans to ban patrons from bringing their own beer and wine to the event. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics052909.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics052909.html?19254 Fri, 29 May 2009 14:21:00 CST When President Obama announced his plans to nominate Sonia Sotomayor, a federal appeals judge in New York, to the Supreme Court, the political press and blogosphere shifted into overdrive and the talking points, counterpoints, spin and bluster came flooding from virtually every direction. Frankly, it was enough to make you reach for the aspirin -- if not a bottle of the hard stuff (Tylenol, of course). http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/supremecourtsotomayor.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/supremecourtsotomayor.html?19225 Wed, 27 May 2009 05:24:00 CST Photographer and author Eddee Daniel has something to say to the County Board about the proposed UWM engineering campus on the County Grounds ... http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/countygroundsdaniel.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/countygroundsdaniel.html?19217 Tue, 26 May 2009 11:47:00 CST Now that state lawmakers have reached a deal to prohibit smoking in virtually all workplaces -- including restaurants and taverns -- we wondered how local business operators would react to the ban, which will start in July, 2010. The plan would replace the hodgepodge of local ordinances restricting smoking that have been passed in dozens of communities, including Madison, Appleton, Eau Claire and, for a time, Wauwatosa. Upon ratification, Wisconsin will be the 26th state to ban smoking in all bars and restaurants, joining Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/smokingbanreact050709.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/smokingbanreact050709.html?19056 Fri, 8 May 2009 11:14:00 CST Arguments aside, the way leading lawmakers handled the issue of a potential statewide smoking ban in taverns and restaurants this week was not in the spirit of a more transparent government. The two committee chairman handling the bill -- Jon Erpenbach and Jon Richards -- gave a just a shade more than the required 24-hour notice before holding a hearing and then voting on the bill. With the Democrats now in control of the dome, it's expected that the ban will sail through the Legislature swimmingly. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics050809.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics050809.html?19048 Fri, 8 May 2009 05:27:00 CST It's possible that a bill for a state-wide smoking ban could be heading to Gov. Doyle's desk as soon as next Wednesday, May 13, according to State Rep. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee). http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/smokingbanupdate.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/smokingbanupdate.html?19028 Tue, 5 May 2009 17:13:00 CST With a stunning victory in the Kentucky Derby, jockey Calvin Borel and Mine That Bird may have affected Mark Belling and the next Wisconsin gubernatorial race. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/twvod050409.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/twvod050409.html?19018 Mon, 4 May 2009 16:59:00 CST Jack Kemp, the Buffalo congressman who became Bob Dole's vice-presidential running mate in 1996, died this past weekend. I met Kemp in Lake Geneva in 1991. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/kempandme.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/kempandme.html?19005 Mon, 4 May 2009 11:15:00 CST Public officials in these parts seem totally silent on the effects of proposed energy cost increases on their constituents from area power monopoly WE Energies. The utility is asking that rates go up 4.9 percent in 2010 and another 4.5 percent in 2011. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics050109.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics050109.html?18972 Fri, 1 May 2009 05:29:00 CST One of the easiest, most effective ways to sell a used car is to park it on the street and slap a "For Sale" sign in the window. If Milwaukee aldermen have their way, city residents will pay $40 for that right. Making matters worse, they'll have to wait in line at a tow lot in order to purchase the permit. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom041709.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom041709.html?18841 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:15:00 CST One of the great things about American presidential elections is that candidates get together and debate the issues. Thus, each side gets to hear what the candidate is saying. And undecided voters then determine who wins. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/extremists.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/extremists.html?18803 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:26:00 CST According to the Shorewood Police Department, I made an illegal u-turn this morning on the way to conduct an interview for an upcoming article on OnMilwaukee.com. I'm not sure what I did wrong, but if I'm unsuccessful in fighting the ticket, I'll owe Shorewood $83.80 and lose three points on my license. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/shorewooduturn.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/shorewooduturn.html?18815 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:05:00 CST Never underestimate the value of fast food coupons. A Milwaukee woman claims her car was damaged when the City of Milwaukee towed it. She is trying to sue for damages, including some lost coupons for a Wendy's restaurant. Would you like fries with that deposition, ma'am? http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom041009.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom041009.html?18761 Fri, 10 Apr 2009 05:28:00 CST The drama surrounding the power struggle between the Milwaukee County Board and County Executive Scott Walker over federal economic stimulus funds is showing no signs of conclusion just yet. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/walkernever.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/walkernever.html?18682 Fri, 3 Apr 2009 11:36:00 CST Private efforts to pay for more street surveillance on the near South Side will be back for another year, says Ald. Bob Donovan. It's called "Operation Impact" and it uses cameras and increased foot patrols to saturate certain high-crime areas. The 2009 version will expand its scope both geographically and financially. Donovan said the program, which raised $176,000 last year, hopes to net $250,000 in 2009 in order to facilitate an expansion east of South 16th Street and west into the Jackson Park neighborhood. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom040309.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom040309.html?18678 Fri, 3 Apr 2009 05:23:00 CST Last year, I was among the first to say the economic sky was falling, and I took some grief for it at the time when others said the fundamentals of the economy were fine. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/jagerrecovery.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/jagerrecovery.html?18626 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:22:00 CST It sounds like a noble goal: tighten up the rules on ships emptying ballast water in order to keep invasive and foreign species from contaminating the Great Lakes. A group of mayors and industry types is pushing for the state to essentially do nothing. The American Great Lakes Association says Wisconsin's three major ports would be cut off from international trade and agricultural exports if forced to follow the proposed permit for their ports. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom032709.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom032709.html?18617 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:12:00 CST The latest findings of the American Religious Identification Survey find that 34 million adult Americans -- that's almost one in five of us -- are now nonreligious. The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation was quick to leap on the fact that they are now in the majority. The findings may not rival the "Great Awakening," but the United States is clearly in the midst of a "Gradual Awakening," and catching up with Europe's embrace of secularism, the group notes in a press release. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom032009.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom032009.html?18510 Fri, 20 Mar 2009 05:24:00 CST Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker said he was caught by surprise this morning by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's announcement that the federal Omnibus Budget bill includes a provision to spend $91.5 million in long unused federal funds for mass transportation in Milwaukee. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/walkeromnibus.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/walkeromnibus.html?18466 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:58:00 CST Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced this morning that the Federal Omnibus Budget Bill that was signed into law this week includes a provision to spend the $91.5 million that has been on hold since 1991 on transportation in Milwaukee. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/fedrailproject.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/fedrailproject.html?18463 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:57:00 CST The City of Milwaukee will give a break to vehicle owners who have had their registration stickers ripped off -- sort of. For the past two years parking checkers issued $50 tickets to unregistered vehicles and those without stickers no matter the circumstance. The city can also tow those vehicles. In an effort to be less punitive the city now issues tickets for failing to display registration, which run $17 instead of $50. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics031309.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics031309.html?18449 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:18:00 CST It's growing more difficult by the day to find true objective analysis of the issues of our time. Both ends of the political spectrum are loaded with false prophets, people who take a predisposed vision of the world and then try to mold the facts to fit that viewpoint, even if that reality is in absolute contradiction to their core beliefs. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/greenearth.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/greenearth.html?18432 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:32:00 CST Although Gov. Jim Doyle was greeted with polite, albeit subdued, applause at the Milwaukee 7 Council Meeting Thursday, the tension in the room at the Manpower Inc. headquarters was palpable. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/govplan.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/govplan.html?18388 Fri, 6 Mar 2009 09:37:00 CST The annoying television sets on county buses, which blared advertising and old news, went off permanently when TV Transit, the company that gave the county the TVs for free in exchange for a piece of the ad revenue, folded. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom030609.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom030609.html?18387 Fri, 6 Mar 2009 05:04:00 CST The future of the dam at Estabrook Park is a hot topic these days, with environmentalists backing its destruction as advocates fight to save it. The County Board soon will vote on whether to repair the dam, close it permanently but keep it in place or remove it completely. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom030409.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom030409.html?18366 Wed, 4 Mar 2009 16:33:00 CST If you would have told me two years ago that Marshall and Ilsley Corp. would one day be losing more than $2 billion, mostly because of bad real estate investments, I would have chuckled and then politely asked you, "Man, what have you been smoking?" http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/mandi.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/mandi.html?18352 Tue, 3 Mar 2009 08:29:00 CST This morning at the Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett delivered his fifth report on the state of our city. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/stateofthecity09.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/stateofthecity09.html?18309 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:13:00 CST President Obama delivered a nationally-televised speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. Here is a transcript: http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/obamatranscript022409.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/obamatranscript022409.html?18302 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:11:00 CST Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal gave the Republican response to President Obama's speech before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. Here is a transcript: http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/jindalresponse.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/jindalresponse.html?18301 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:08:00 CST Conversations about a potential takeover of the Milwaukee Public Schools continue, with politicians considering ideas ranging from letting the mayor run it to creating a pseudo MPS czar. Last week, the Public Policy Forum released a report that looked at other cities with mayoral control over the school system. Mayor Tom Barrett hasn't entirely dismissed the idea, which was entertained by former Mayor John Norquist some time ago. Another pitch would have the mayor appoint a "chancellor," and that chancellor would appoint the school board. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom022009.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom022009.html?18253 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:25:00 CST Though many banks have drawn fire for using government "bailout" money to pay bonuses and send top-performing employees on retreats, not everyone is against the behavior and ready to blame all banks for the current financial crisis. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/jaglerblog021809.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/jaglerblog021809.html?18221 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 07:29:00 CST The Combined Locks Police Department wanted to raise money for Special Olympics. The noble gesture lost a little gloss in some circles when it offered to have officers absorb shocks from taser guns in exchange for $500 donations. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom021309.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom021309.html?18173 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:15:00 CST Milwaukee's Will Allen was one of many farmers from across the country nominated to transform part of the White House lawn into an organic farm to raise fruits and vegetables for use in not only the Obama family's meals, but also in local food pantries. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/futureoffood.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/futureoffood.html?18144 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:54:00 CST Backers of Milwaukee's paid sick leave ordinance plan to show up at the Milwaukee County Courthouse en masse Friday at the first hearing the ordinance will have in front of a judge. Since Milwaukee voters approved the measure, nearly half the county's suburbs -- including Greenfield, Brown Deer, Oak Creek, and Racine -- are taking steps to institute anti-sick leave measures. Milwaukee 9to5 has sent out an e-mail asking supporters to show up at the courthouse to Room 413 by 10 a.m. today. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom020609.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom020609.html?18090 Fri, 6 Feb 2009 05:29:00 CST The state Department of Transportation took its road show to the Common Council last week briefing Milwaukee officials on its plan to redo the Zoo interchange. DOT says it is the busiest interchange in the state and needs some help in moving vehicles along. They offered a new road term called the "Texas U-turn." But it didn't get a warm reception. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics020409.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/politics020409.html?18073 Wed, 4 Feb 2009 14:17:00 CST Although the number of vehicles in our fair city went down compared with recent years, the number of crashes are up, according to a report from the Milwaukee Public Works Department. The city had 384,798 registered vehicles in 2007 and 12,870 crashes, compared with 396,037 and 12,465 in 2006. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissomnumbers.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissomnumbers.html?18014 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 05:25:00 CST The City of Milwaukee's idea for an energy efficient development in Bay View has received a surprising seven prospective bids, reports the Department of City Development. The approximately 5.6-acre lot bordered by Bay and Conway Streets and Logan and Lincoln Avenues, that formerly housed the Army Reserve is the largest vacant space in Bay View. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/bvsolarvillage.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/bvsolarvillage.html?17992 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:35:00 CST In 1491, a man named Franz Mueller lived in Germany. He had three sons and made his living as a judge. He was my great (x13)-grandfather. And the reason you don't know him is because he was a normal Joe and lived his life as most did. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/wrongsideofhistory.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/wrongsideofhistory.html?17993 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:27:00 CST Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn, seeking to spend the slush fund known as "asset forfeiture expenditures," sent a laundry list of ideas to a Common Council committee last week. As usual, many of the items don't necessarily qualify as "proper spending" under federal guidelines. No one seems to care about that anymore. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom012309.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/hissom012309.html?17946 Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:28:00 CST As America turns its eyes to soon-to-be President Obama's inauguration this morning, I'm instead looking back to my only experience at a presidential inauguration in 1993. I was just a freshman at George Washington University when Bill Clinton took the oath of office, a mere 18 years old that blustery January morning. I remember a handful of specifics about that week, though in retrospect, not as many as I'd like. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/clintoninauguration.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/clintoninauguration.html?17901 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:54:00 CST As long as everyone is thinking about presidential inaugurations, here is a look at John F. Kennedy's speech, which took place on this date in 1961. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/twvod012009.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/twvod012009.html?17910 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:02:00 CST OK, well, it's not really Barack's Obama's bathroom anymore, but Milwaukee native Carl Fuldner, who lives in the Windy City's Hyde Park neighborhood while attending the University of Chicago, rents the same apartment Obama lived in during the 1980s. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/obamaapt.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/obamaapt.html?17841 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:23:00 CST In the summer of 1963 I had just finished my first year of college at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. My roommate that first year was from Washington D.C. In August my family went to New York for a vacation and I got invited to Washington to visit my friend. I accepted. http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/begelspeech.html http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/begelspeech.html?17904 Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:24:00 CST