Operatives from an organization called "Advancing Wisconsin" began leafleting doors in Bay View for the first time this political season.

We should expect many more trees to be sacrificed for such efforts.

Advancing Wisconsin attacks John McCain for not voting to raise taxes on oil profits or give consumers a tax credit.

According to the group's fledgling Web site, "We seek to advance the public debate around progressive issues by engaging in face-to-face conversations with citizens throughout Wisconsin through an expansive door-to-door educational and grassroots lobbying outreach program. Advancing Wisconsin will educate Wisconsinites about critical social and legislative issues, such as health care, education, the economy, the war in Iraq, and retirement security."

There is little other content on the site, other than a disclaimer saying that because the group is an independent expenditure entity it doesn't have to register as a political action committee. At www.AdvancingWisconsin.org, a full Web site is promised as "coming soon."

More Gas Pains Needed: Take comfort that there are benefits to $4 a gallon gas prices. Los Angeles Times columnist Joel Stein makes a compelling argument that high gas prices are actually good for society.

"With public transit use nationally at a 50-year high, traffic dropped 2.1% in the first four months of this year across the country," he writes. "That mileage reduction -- along with people driving smaller cars, and more slowly, to save gas -- could mean that 12,000 fewer people will die in traffic accidents this year. ... Air pollution has been reduced enough to prevent 2,200 respiratory-related deaths over the last year. Less eating out and more walking and biking could mean a 10 percent reduction in obesity."

What's needed, he says, is gradually increasing taxes until gas reaches $8 a gallon, as it is in Europe.

"Cheap gas is unfair. Driving creates huge social costs in the form of traffic, health-damaging pollution and global warming that aren't suffered solely by the person buying the gasoline," Stein writes. "Governments usually set up idiotic systems to offset such social costs (emissions trading, ethanol subsidies, taco truck regulations) instead of forcing individuals to pay for their own mess by adding a tax to remedy the imbalance."

Other perks to pricey gas include better socialization among our neighbors since people will be forced to move from the exurbs and suburbs back to the dense city as well which will also reduce stress due to fewer commutes.

"Sure, $8 gas is unfair to poor people, but so is all of capitalism," he writes.

Numbers Crunching: Milwaukee County Exec Scott Walker vetoed a County Board resolution calling for a referendum to be held in November asking residents if they would agree to a 1% increase in the sales tax to pay for our depleted transit and parks systems.

In his veto announcement, Walker said Milwaukee County would become a "tax island," driving people to do their shopping in neighboring counties because they would want to pay an extra penny-per-dollar for their stuff.

County Board Chairman Lee Holloway did some math of his own, using Walker's location of announcement -- Art's Camera Plus in Greenfield -- as ground zero.

"For a camera costing $500, the sales tax in Milwaukee County would rise by $5. But, factoring in our current gasoline prices, it would be slightly more costly for many Milwaukee County residents to drive to the nearest camera stores in Waukesha County," Holloway says in a press release.

"At a minimum, the nearest camera store outside of Milwaukee County is 24 miles round-trip from Art's Greenfield location. If an average vehicle gets 20 miles per gallon and fuel is $4.29 per gallon, then the $5 in sales tax savings for a $500 camera would be offset by an increase in fuel of $5.14, making the Waukesha County purchase slightly more expensive than purchasing at the Art's Camera store in Greenfield. If the customer would choose to drive to the Art's Camera location in Pewaukee (36 miles round-trip from the Greenfield location), fuel costs would increase by $7.72, making the Milwaukee County purchase $2.72 cheaper.

Of course, Holloway doesn't delve into how much the extra cost of a Prius would be in Milwaukee County vs. others and he also missed the opportunity to note that Waukesha County, unlike Milwaukee, does not even have a county sales tax.

Political Party Pilloried: Milwaukee County Supervisor John Weishan -- not known as a Walker fan -- is attempting to call Walker on the carpet for holding a campaign fundraiser at the Milwaukee County Historical Society, site of the recent filming of "Public Enemies."

The society building was turned back into a bank for the movie, featuring Johnny Depp, and Walker's $100 to $1,000-a-head event said it was a must-attend soiree since the set is "not open to the public."

Weishan wants to remind residents that the building is open to the public.

"I'm sure the County Executive's campaign is paying to rent this facility, but it should be put into perspective," he says. He also pointed out that the building is open to the public and is in fact, free on Mondays to county residents.

"It's not up to me to decide whether this political fundraiser is legal or ethical," he continues. "But it is certainly improper for the county executive to rent this hall while the Historical Society's 2009 budget request on his desk."

You Won't Hear This Coming From the Milwaukee County Courthouse: Dane County supervisors will be considering a proposal to require county contractors to provide health insurance benefits for domestic partners. That prompted this statement from Dane County Exec Kathleen Falk:

"Dane County has always been proactive in strengthening the ability of citizens to take care of their families. Under my leadership, Dane County employees have been eligible for these benefits since 1999. This is a matter of fairness. Domestic partner benefits ensure workers and their families are treated equally."

Doubtful we'd hear such support from Walker, Waukesha County Exec Paul Vrakas or Racine County Exec Bill McReynolds.

War Walkers: The Witness Against the War began to pound the pavement this week as anti-war protesters are marching from Chicago to St. Paul to protest the war in Iraq. The plan is to reach St. Paul by Sept. 1.

The walk, sponsored by Voices for Creative Nonviolence, is making stops and holding events at cities along the way. The Milwaukee stop begins with a dinner at 5 p.m. Sunday and a presentation at the Friends Meeting House, 3224 N. Gordon Pl. There is also a planned stop in Brookfield at 7 p.m. Monday at the UUC, 13001 W. North Ave.

To find out more about the walk, the walkers and to see the routes go to http://vcnv.org/witness-against-war. On Tuesday, they will be in Waukesha. The group plans to stop for a non-violent demonstration Aug. 10 at Fort McCoy.

Bread for Bread: Kangaroo Brands, aka the Kashou Brothers, are well-known in camping and outdoor circles for their pita and flatbreads, which make life easier on the trail.

Because of that brand loyalty, the company is looking to expand its North Side operations at 7620 N. 81st St. And it is asking the city for help. The city's Redevelopment Authority has been requested this week to take out up to $700,000 in bonds to loan the Kashous so they can put in a new driveway and get some new equipment. A preliminary resolution indicates city support.