The National Debt Road Trip

WHOA there!

MORE Taxes for Wisconsinites

Thank a heap, Democrats of the legislature.

Doyle has said 500 to 1,000 inmates would be released over two years.

EEK!

In other action:

Cigarette tax:The committee voted to raise the cigarette tax by 75 cents a pack, to $2.52, starting around Sept. 1.

Oil tax:Democrats agreed to impose a new tax on oil companies to help pay for roads. Oil companies would be barred from passing on the tax at the pump, but critics say that measure won't withstand a court challenge and drivers will end up paying the tax.

An effort to remove the tax failed 6-10, with Rep. Gary Sherman (D-Port Wing) and Rep. Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) joining the committee's four Republicans.

Income tax:The committee voted to raise the income tax rate to 7.75% for the richest 1% of Wisconsinites.

Earmarks: The committee signed off on $28 million in bonds for a School of Nursing facility at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

They also provided: $6.6 million for a Yahara River project in Dane County; $5 million for the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corp.; $4 million for planning a joint museum for the State Historical Society and Department of Veterans Affairs; up to $1.25 million for Manitowoc Road in Bellevue; $1.1 million for the AIDS Network and AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin; up to $500,000 for Washington Street in Racine; $500,000 for an environmental center in a park that borders Madison and Monona; $500,000 for the Oshkosh Opera House; $500,000 for Eco Park in La Crosse; up to $430,000 for Highway X in Chippewa County; up to $400,000 for State St. in Racine; $250,000 for a bridge on S. Reid Road in Rock County; $250,000 for the Madison Children's Museum; $125,000 to remodel an Eau Claire library; $100,000 for Huron Road in Bellevue; $50,000 for a consortium of seven Dane County schools; $50,000 for the Chequamegon School District; $50,000 for an Eau Claire County shooting range; $50,000 for a playground in the Town of Beloit; $37,200 for the City of Stanley in Chippewa County; $25,000 for the Root River Education Center in Racine; and $20,000 for a pedestrian path in Rock County.

Driver's licenses: The committee adopted a provision that would allow illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses. The licenses could be used for driving but not for other purposes. (Of course illegals should drive, what else can't they do here?)

Rep. Pedro Colón (D-Milwaukee) said it would reduce the number of unlicensed drivers on the road and released letters from law enforcement officials backing the idea because they would know more about drivers they stop.

"If you can't ID them, you can't assess how dangerous they are," Colon said. "You spend . . . hours on a traffic stop that yields nothing but a broken traffic light."

The cards would have a unique design to distinguish them from other licenses. They would say in bold lettering that they could not be used for purposes other than for driving.

But Republicans said they thought the provision would make it easier for illegal immigrants to get government services and commit voter fraud.

"There's a whole lot of clerks who take that driver's license as verbatim that someone is here legally" and can register to vote, Vos said.

License plates: The committee decided to keep in place a requirement that vehicles display two license plates and that drivers get registration stickers to put on their plates every year. Doyle wanted to eliminate the stickers and allow just one plate to save money. (Save money? How ridiculous!)

W-2:The committee agreed to overhaul Wisconsin Works, the state's welfare-to-work program. Among other changes, the committee approved eliminating a program that reduces parents' benefits if their children aren't attending school.

Debt:The state would delay $285 million in payments, helping the budget immediately but increasing long-term interest costs, under the committee's plan.

Tax credits:Democrats put off scheduled tax breaks for health insurance premiums and child care, having them take effect in 2011 instead of this year. (I'm sure they can delay this again.)

QEO: The committee voted to eliminate, in July 2010, the qualified economic offer used to settle labor contracts and restrict teacher compensation. Teachers have long argued the policy has kept their salaries lower than their counterparts in other states, while others say the QEO helps keep local property taxes in check. (Of course, in the pocket of WEAC.)

Hospital tax:The committee agreed to increase an assessment on hospitals and expand it to ambulatory surgery centers. Because the tax increases the state's Medicaid budget, it draws more federal aid, which helps the hospitals and goes toward balancing the state's budget. (WI NEEDS MORE AID FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT - OBAMA, BRING IT HERE!)

Health insurance:Health insurance plans would have to cover treatment of autism, mental disorders, alcoholism and drug dependency under the committee's action.

Auto insurance:The committee recommended increasing the minimum amount of car insurance people would have to buy. People would still have the option to drive without insurance, but if they did buy it, they would have to purchase more coverage than they do now.

Rest stops:The committee voted to allow the Department of Transportation to sign agreements with restaurants and other businesses to build facilities at six rest stops along state highways. Lease payments would be used to help pay for road repairs.

Parentheses mine.

Lost Generation

This is pretty good.

15 Reasons to Quit Facebook

This is kinda funny.

Tired of John & Kate Plus... Hatred

Poor John & Kate.

I taped the premiere of this season when the sextuplets turn 5...but it's all about Kate and John's marriage troubles and the media accusations.

While they defend eachother, she's still full of anger and yet quips that "John decided he needed a weekend off," when he's probably not living at the house b/c they are fighting and going through this awful time.

But what saddens me is TLC continues the show and the insight into a family as complex as twins and sextuplets is ruined by papparazzi and tabloid rumors. I suppose to cancel it would prove all the rumors true and that they simply couldn't take the publicity.

I'd give in and cancel it! Focus on your family, not your book tour, not nights out with random girls who are not your wife.

Rumors true or not, Kate has become a DIVA. She's Ann Taylor Loft-ed out and her beautiful mansion full of kids that can almost stand to play alone without a babysitter leave her to only yell "Be kind" when she waves the away to go get dressed.

I feel badly for them, but I am sad for those kids first and foremost. To have two parents that would work on their marriage would be my only wish for them - not just freebies from Gymboree and inside perks at any destination.

I think I may boycott this show and all the media surrounding it.

Dough Boy Rap

Grands/Pillsbury has a new bigger cinnamon roll which I enjoyed this weekend from the home-made oven.

Someone remarked as to their large size. Which then, of course, necessitated a rap.

Please recite to the tune of "I like big butts":

I like big rolls and I cannot lie
You other mothers just bake pie
But when the doughboy walks in
With his little white legs
and that round tummy in your face
he gets POKED!

No applause necessary. I just get a kick out of myself.

Sweet

If you're ever in Boston, or Cambridge, hit this Sweet spot.

Not quite the Cupcakery of Vegas, but close. :-)

If You're Reading This

Memorial Day

This Memorial Day, let us pray for our brothers overseas and here at home, fighting so we may sleep safely in our beds.

Quotes I can't believe

From today's speech:

"There are 240 people there who have now spent years in legal limbo. In dealing with this situation, we do not have the luxury of starting from scratch. We are cleaning up something that is -- quite simply -- a mess; a misguided experiment that has left in its wake a flood of legal challenges that my administration is forced to deal with on a constant basis, and that consumes the time of government officials whose time should be spent on better protecting our country."

Once again, "Deal with"? Enjoy Wisteria Lane, you major DRAMA QUEEN. Wrap yourself in a towel and trip over a hedge on your way out!

"But I also believe that -- too often -- our government made decisions based upon fear rather than foresight, and all too often trimmed facts and evidence to fit ideological predispositions."

Actually, no. Our government made decisions after clear evidence it had been ATTACKED and there would need to be justice for those brutal killings, not fear. If anything, retaliation against those who participated in the attacks- via the legal system and military action against terrorists, was justice, not fear.

"And this is not my assessment alone. It was an assessment that was shared by the American people, who nominated candidates for president from both major parties who, despite our many differences, called for a new approach -- one that rejected torture, and recognized the imperative of closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay."

Yeah, those voters want a new approach. But because you're so busy dealing with terrorism, you can't approach universal healthcare and your other socialist agenda items.

I will stop there. I'm so mad smoke is pouring out of my ears, and frankly, I can't believe our President has acted so immaturely. It's like he's 5 and someone has taken his Tonka truck away and made him play with Legos.

Obama on National Security

Mr. President,

So you disagree that waterboarding was critical to obtaining information from terrorists. Oh yeah? Why don't you try sitting in a room with a terrorist and getting crucial information from them, through your rhetoric and "diplomacy"?

A few more digs and this looks less Presidential than any speech I've heard.

And Mr. President, I'm so sorry that your administration is forced to "deal" with a mess that is terrorist activity and Gitmo. Sorry it takes up so much of your time.

Tell that to the victims of 9/11 and their families.

Never once did President Bush complain or whine about the challenges he faced as President.

You have truly shown your inexperience today.

Paul on Morning Joe

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Brewers!

I have serious Brewers fever...and I didn't really grow up a baseball fan.

So, KEEP IT UP BREW CREW! I'm actually watching games!

Oh, and J.J.,here is my number...608-... I mean....

Check this out!

Check out my hilarious friend, Kate, and her new blog!

Newt!

WALLACE: Is Notre Dame wrong to honor the president?

GINGRICH: I think that to the degree that Notre Dame still thinks of itself as a Catholic institution, it raises real questions.

One, it invites somebody who, as a state senator, voted to protect the right of abortionists to kill babies who were born -- who were still alive after the abortion. And I think the president’s position has been the most radical pro-abortion of any American president. So I think there is a legitimate question there.

But look. I’m a new convert. I’ll let -- I’ll let the Vatican speak for the church. I’m just speaking for Newt Gingrich.

WALLACE: Wait a couple of years, and then you can start speaking for the pope.

If this guy seriously runs for President in 4 years, you can bet I'll be on that campaign!

Cheney!

Watch CBS Videos Online

GPS Tracking passed

If you don't break the law and your behavior doesn't warrant GPS tracking by the police, what's the problem?

Wisconsin police can attach GPS to cars to secretly track anybody's movements without obtaining search warrants, an appeals court ruled Thursday.

However, the District 4 Court of Appeals said it was "more than a little troubled" by that conclusion and asked Wisconsin lawmakers to regulate GPS use to protect against abuse by police and private individuals.

As the law currently stands, the court said police can mount GPS on cars to track people without violating their constitutional rights -- even if the drivers aren't suspects.

After all the cases of stalking and resulting death, I'm for this.

The ruling came in a 2003 case involving Michael Sveum, a Madison man who was under investigation for stalking. Police got a warrant to put a GPS on his car and secretly attached it while the vehicle was parked in Sveum's driveway. The device recorded his car's movements for five weeks before police retrieved it and downloaded the information.

The information suggested Sveum was stalking the woman, who had gone to police earlier with suspicions. Police got a second warrant to search his car and home, found more evidence and arrested him. He was convicted of stalking and sentenced to prison.

Sveum, 41, argued the tracking violated his Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure. He argued the device followed him into areas out of public view, such as his garage.

The court disagreed.

Now we're just awaiting this law in the legislature.

Credit fees

Look, folks. This is another example of allowing the federal government to intrude on businesses and our economy in a not-so-responsible way.

U.S. President Barack Obama will hold a town hall meeting next week in New Mexico to promote congressional efforts to reform credit card practices, the White House said on Friday.

Banks such as Bank of America Corp (BAC.N)>, JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N), Citigroup Inc (C.N) and Capital One Financial Corp (COF.N) face a new set of rules issued by the Federal Reserve last year aimed at reining in abusive credit card practices.

The rules are to be implemented by July 2010, a date some lawmakers and consumer groups complain is too far away to help struggling consumers.

U.S. lawmakers are trying to codify those rules in legislation and send it to Obama this month to sign into law. Legislative efforts are aimed at stopping credit card companies from imposing certain late fees, restricting retroactive rate increases, as well as other questionable billing practices and marketing to minors.

The Senate is expected to begin debating on Monday on legislation. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved its own legislation last month.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters on Friday that Obama will focus on legislation and urge lawmakers to "get something done on an issue of tremendous importance to middle class families.

"For many people credit cards provide an opportunity to finance purchases," Gibbs said. "But we think there's a more equitable way to do that and I think that those reforms are on their way through Congress."

UGH! So let Obama listen to the poor welfare recipients complain about how their credit card fees are killing their bank balances. Oh woe is me.

And Congress can come up with a plan to stop the evil credit card companies from collecting the money they already pay for people to buy things they can't afford!

If you can't afford it, don't buy it. And if you don't have the money to pay off your credit card, DON'T USE A CREDIT CARD! You SHOULD be fined and you SHOULD have to pay it.

I'm growing exceptionally weary of those who think the government should change everything about their life that they don't like.

Well I don't like Mondays, but they come around eventually!!!

Turn it off.

I am diggin' the GM of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

The head of the Boston-area transit authority said Saturday he'll ban all train and bus operators from even carrying cell phones on board after a conductor told police he was texting his girlfriend before a trolley collision Friday.

About 50 people were hurt in the underground crash in downtown Boston, though none of the injuries was life-threatening.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority already bans operators from using cell phones and recently ran an internal ad campaign featuring a poster of an open cell phone that warned employees not to drive "under the influence."

But general manager Daniel Grabauskas said Saturday the temptation obviously was too great for some.

"I want to remove any temptation by one or two people stupid enough to think a moment of convenience is worth the lives of the people they're transporting," he said. "I'm not going to wait for someone to die to institute a policy whose time I think has come."
Grabauskas said the new ban would apply to anyone working on board a train or bus. He said he hopes to have the policy in place within a week.

One accident, one driver with a text-happy finger blamed, and Grabauskas has had enough. He wants the ban, and in only a week? Total bad-ass.

All in the name of public safety. When you're at work and responsible for the lives of others, you should keep your eyes on the road. I agree.

He's ballsy and I like it.

Arabs love Obama

Hmm. It's one thing to ask about Obama's international approval rating.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's popularity in leading Arab countries far outstrips that of the United States, suggesting he could be able to boost goodwill in the region toward his country, a survey showed on Sunday.

Obama, set to give a major speech to the Muslim world in Egypt next month, "currently enjoys widespread optimism among citizens of that region that he will have a positive effect on their own country, the Middle East, the United States and indeed the world," the polling outfit Ipsos said.

Ipsos said its poll, conducted in March, involved 7,000 adults in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan.

Of those surveyed, 33 percent had a favorable view of the United States, 43 percent had a negative view, 14 percent were neutral and 10 percent said they did not know, Ipsos said.

It's another to know the answer to "why?"...

So Obama beefs it up with Muslims and terrorists, but Israelis are glancing with suspicious eyes:

Israeli confidence in the U.S president plummeted from surveys taken in 2007. While most Israelis considered President George W. Bush's attitude toward Israel to be friendly (73%), President Barack Hussein Obama is considered friendly by only about a third of Israelis (38%).

The younger generation of Israelis is more skeptical about Obama than the older generation, with 41 percent of respondents aged 42 and over believing Obama is capable of making the right decisions regarding the Israeli-PA conflict, as opposed to only 32 percent of respondents under the age of 41.

Very interesting.

Egypt will be quite the news draw.

Conservative 3rd party effort

They're forming, but will they succeed?

Arguing that Wisconsin’s conservatives are being outflanked by liberals, some of the state’s most prominent Republicans — including two who have run afoul of campaign finance law — are creating a new statewide political and policy infrastructure designed to produce wins at the ballot box.

Dubbed the Wisconsin Prosperity Network, the effort calls for an annual budget of $6.4 million and the creation of 14 new organizations, according to a draft outline of the network obtained by the State Journal.

Those groups, which would exist outside of the state Republican Party, would recruit candidates for local and state office, mobilize voters on Election Day, use lawsuits to pursue conservative policies in the courts, research public policy issues and fight perceived media bias, the draft shows.

Dems figured out the key to 3rd party groups and we missed our chance. The problem is, we have some of these groups - Americans For Prosperity, Club for Growth WI that pays for ads backing up WMC's efforts every political campaign....but we're still up against One Wisconsin Now and organized, well-funded efforts to denigrate Republicans. They've all knocked on your door before Election Day and it's damaging.

Can we catch up, or even make a dent, in WI?

Enough, 4 now

Brett, you've saved me from the diatribe. And you've saved yourself in many eyes...

for now.

French Seize Pirates!

So the French may be good for something afterall!

The French Navy said they seized 11 pirates Sunday after they apparently mistook a French military vessel for a commercial ship and made a run at it off the coast of Kenya.

Two pirate assault boats approached the Nivose "at great speed," Capt. Christophe Prazuck said, but a French helicopter intervened before the attackers had time to fire at the French navy ship.

The pirates, who had a mother ship as well as the two assault boats, are being held for questioning on the Nivose, Prazuck said. The vessels were carrying AK-47 rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, but the pirates did not fire, he said.

Make 'em walk the plank!