New segment of cops arresting people for filming them

Cullerton to Walker: Bring it on
* From a Press Release… Bring it on Wisconsin, Cullerton tells Gov. Walker SPRINGFIELD, IL - Illinois Senate President John Cullerton extended a warm “thank you” to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker for highlighting Illinois’ low Tax Rates. “Between our investments in infrastructure, our recent moves to stabilize our Budget and now Governor Walker leading the marketing effort, we hope to see a lot of interest in Illinois from businesses,” said Cullerton. “I’d lik

After Their Tax Increase, WI Gov. Begs Illinoisans To Escape To Wisconsin Where Taxes Are Actually Higher
Wisconsin’s new Republican Governor Scott Walker has rushed to make hay out of the Illinois Assembly’s decision to raise individual and Corporate Tax rates, urging Illinois residents and businesses to move to Wisconsin. But, ironically, Illinois residents who move to Wisconsin should bank on paying higher taxes. Conservatives like Walker have insisted on using the figure that Illinois is increasing taxes by a whopping 66 percent. While this is factually accurate, it’s mislea...

Half the states now suing the federal government over Obamacare
While ObamaCare will pay for all of the benefit expansion for the first three years of the law, and 90% of it after that, ObamaCare never pays for any of the state administrative costs for adding those 18 million Americans to their welfare rolls. That amounts to billions in unfunded federal mandates for states to absorb. That is why 33 Republican governors signed a letter to the White House and Congress making an emphatic appeal that Obamacare’s Medicaid provisions be repealed. It is also ...

Illinois Taxes Rising; Wisconsin Hopes To Benefit
Illinois lawmakers have voted to increase the state's Income Tax almost 67-percent to help reduce the state estimated 15-billion dollar Budget Deficit.  Illinois Governor Pat Quinn supports the move, and promises to sign the measure.. Illinois is a fiscal mess. The state is months behind in paying it's bills and it's not just vendors and social service agencies waiting to be paid, but schools and local governments, too. The state's been borrowing so much and racking up such a huge Debt that Ill...

And Maine Makes 25: Half of All States Suing to Stop ObamaCare
(The Foundry)- If it is allowed to be implemented,ObamaCare will eventually do deep and irreparable harm to our nation’s Budget Deficit. But while Obamacare is more of a long-term threat to fiscal health at the federal level, it is a clear and present danger to the states. Of the 34 million Americans who gain Health Insurance through Obamacare, over half (18 million) will receive it through Medicaid. …It is also why the newly elected governors of Ohio, Oklahoma, Maine, and ...

Half Of All States Now Suing Over Obamacare
Before the Elections, 21 states were suing the Federal Government either on their own or as part of a multi-state case over the implementation of ObamaCare. In Maine, Oklahoma, Ohio and Wisconsin new governors were elected, and those governors have decided to add their states to litigious ranks as well. …the newly elected governors of Ohio, Oklahoma, Maine, and Wisconsin have all decided to sue the Obama Administration in hopes of stopping ObamaCare. Specifically, Gov. Mary Fallin of Oklah...

Wisconsin Activists Ask: Where Are the Jobs in Gov. Walkers Tort Reform
Across the country, newly elected Republican governors and State Legislatures are trying to gut pro-worker, consumer and workplace safety laws and pass new Legislation to weaken workers’ and consumers’ rights . Wisconsin AFL-CIO field communications coordinator Karen Hickey sends this report on a recent hearing on the so-called tort Reform Bill. If you are a Wisconsin resident, a scroll down to find out how to take action. It’s being billed as a special session on Job Creation, but

Hot dog! Let's promote state
We're open for business, it has been declared by our new Governor, Scott Walker. So how are we going to get "them" to put Milwaukee and Wisconsin on "their" radar? The answer is with the creation of a better business climate (and all the pain that is going to entail) and the promotion of what's great in Wisconsin. There are many government and private-sector resources that need to better promote what is great about Wisconsin. The Jan. 5 Food section of the Journal Sentinel ...

Republican tells AP: Wis. gov., others threatened
A person within the Republican party tells The Associated Press that police are investigating a threat against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. The Republican was briefed on the threat and requested anonymity because the person was not authorized to release the information. Word of the threat came when state Senate Chief Clerk Robert Marchant sent a memo to all Senate offices Wednesday. The memo said the FBI, the Capitol Police and other Law Enforcement agencies are "t...

Neighboring governors welcome Illinois' income tax hike
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, center Two Governors in states bordering Illinois are celebrating the Prairie State's massive Tax Increase. "You guys are nothing if not entertaining. It's like living next door to the Simpsons — the dysfunctional family down the block." —Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, commenting on Tuesday's rush to raise taxes in Springfield in an interview on WLS-AM's "Don Wade and Roma" show. Wisconsin's new governor, Scott Walker, is more succinct: "Escape to Wisconsin."...

This time, the people stood up
Now that we're all worked up, let me tell you about a Tea Party type up in Washington County, doing something radical. Mike Bassill is circulating a petition. He doesn't sound very angry, either, defying the narrative that's blossomed since Jared Loughner allegedly shot 20 people, including a Democratic congresswoman, in Arizona. There was swift stab at finding some right-wing link in Loughner, who seems simply to be disturbed. Since then, some progressive commentators have tried tying the gun...

Illinois business 'bristles' at huge tax increase
Image via Wikipedia Reuters: Illinois companies hit by an extended economic downturn say the state's proposed remedy to its own Financial Crisis -- a beefy Tax Increase -- will deplete investment in local businesses, trigger Job Losses and force companies to leave the state. The Midwestern state is home to some of the biggest and best-known U.S. companies, including three components of the Dow Jones industrial average -- Boeing Co, Caterpillar Inc and McDonald's Corp. An income Tax Increase th...

Steeles time as RNC chairman seems closing
OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele’s bid for re-election looks in serious doubt, but it’s not clear which of his rivals has a clear advantage heading into balloting. Steele sought support from his party’s member on Thursday after a gaffe-filled and costly two years. Four challengers campaigned to replace him in an unpredictable race to lead the party into the 2012 presidential and congressional campaigns. The rivals included Wiscon...

Wisconsin LG attempts to poach Illinois business, while Texas guv piles on
* Turnabout is fair play, I suppose. As you already know, Gov. Pat Quinn is trying to snatch away a rail car manufacturer from Wisconsin after that state’s new Governor rejected federal High-speed Rail money. Well, Scott Kluth of CouponCabin.com has said recently that the so-called “Amazon Tax” passed by the General Assembly in a few days’ time could drive him out of Illinois… Scott Kluth runs CouponCabin.com from an office in downtown Chicago. Some days, he says...

Illinois tax hike: Will businesses flee to Wisconsin?
The day the Illinois Legislature approved a 46 percent Corporate Tax hike, Wisconsin's Governor released a statement to woo disgruntled businesses. But experts say Illinois' broader fiscal health - not its Tax Rate - will be the greatest concern for in-state firms....

Nearly Bankrupt Illinois Raises Taxes
While most of us (me included) are still talking about the shootings in Arizona and the foaming-mouth ranting of idiots who see one small woman as the font of all evil (now that I think of it, I’ve heard THAT one before), Illinois, as you may know, is more or less bankrupt. Here’s the transcript on a recent 60 Minutes piece about State Governments in trouble - featuring Illinois. In the piece, Meredith Whitney talks about what troubles her about state government Debt. Whitney ...

All your bases are belong to us!
* No, this Press Release is not from the Onion… Governor Quinn Becomes Chair of the Midwestern Governors Association llinois Governor Pat Quinn assumed the duties of Chair of the Midwestern Governors Association (MGA) earlier this week. “I am honored to become Chairman of the Midwestern Governors Association. The association has a long history of governors who are committed to working together to improve our entire region, and I look forward to continuing that legacy,” said...

Half of All States Now Suing to Stop Obamacare
If it is allowed to be implemented, ObamaCare will eventually do deep and irreparable harm to our nation’s Budget Deficit. But while ObamaCare is more of a long-term threat to fiscal health at the federal level, it is a  clear and present danger to the states. Of the 34 million Americans who gain Health Insurance through Obamacare, over half (18 million) will receive it through Medicaid. While ObamaCare will pay for all of the benefit expansion for the first three years of the law, and ...

This time, the people stood up
Now that we're all worked up, let me tell you about a Tea Party type up in Washington County, doing something radical. Mike Bassill is circulating a petition. He doesn't sound very angry, either, defying the narrative that's blossomed since Jared Loughner allegedly shot 20 people, including a Democratic congresswoman, in Arizona. There was swift stab at finding some right-wing link in Loughner, who seems simply to be disturbed. Since then, some progressive commentators have tried tying the gun...

Neighboring states gleeful over Illinois tax increase
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- While many states consider boosting their economies with Tax Cuts, Illinois officials are betting on the opposite tactic: dramatically raising taxes to resolve a Budget Crisis that threatened to cripple State Government. Neighboring states gleefully plotted Wednesday to take advantage of what they consider a major economic blunder and lure business away from Illinois. "It's like living next door to 'The Simpsons' -- you know, the dysfunctional family down the block," India...

Huge Illinois Tax Hike Could Mean Exodus To The North
That sucking sound you hear in Illinois might be jobs and moving vans leaving the state. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, Illinois lawmakers squeaked in a massive Tax Increase at the end of its session before a new legislature, that is unlikely to pass tax increases in a down economy, started Wednesday. Some lawmakers say the increase was desperately needed to balance the state's fledgling Budget. Now both residents and business owners in the "Land of Lincoln" are threatening to move out. ...

Illinois business leaders bristle at tax hike plan
By Kyle Peterson Chicago | Wed Jan 12, 2011 5:33pm EST Chicago (Reuters) - Illinois companies hit by an extended economic downturn say the state's proposed remedy to its own Financial Crisis -- a beefy Tax Increase -- will deplete investment in local businesses, trigger Job Losses and force companies to leave the state. The Midwestern state is home to some of the biggest and best-known U.S. companies, including three components of the Dow Jones industrial average -- Boeing Co, Caterpillar Inc...

Wis. gov uses Ill. tax hike to bolster his state
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is rolling out the welcome mat to Illinois businesses hours after lawmakers there approved a 66 percent income Tax Increase. Walker has proposed Tax Cuts on small businesses in Wisconsin and those that move to the state. He says those measures and others will make Wisconsin a more welcoming place to do business and on Tuesday and again today he specifically targeted companies in Illinois. The Republican referenced an old Wisconsin advertising campaign that targeted I...

Yes, Unions, Pension Reform is Coming
The Florida AFL-CIO calls contemplated changes to the state's Pension system "radical." It's long past time the union started being honest with its members. Pension Reform is coming to the Public Sector, just as it has to the Private Sector. As former New York City school chancellor Joel Klein wrote the other day: "Defined-benefit pensions helped bring the once-vibrant U.S. Auto Industry to its knees. The promised benefits just proved too costly. In that industry such pensions are mostly a thing...

Holloway's miscue
In spelling out his ambitious agenda for Milwaukee County last month, Acting County Executive Lee Holloway said, "You may not like Lee Holloway, but you'll love what Lee Holloway's doing." Maybe not. Take his hiring of Renee Booker for the county's top staff position. How does this hiring make any sense? Back in 2001, Booker was in charge of the county's Child Welfare division when a county audit found $6 million in overspending in the division, prompting calls for his dismissal and,...