Steve Kagen, " They Elected Me Again, Fools"

"Monday, February 9, 2009
"Can You Find Your Congressperson?" - The Winner
Thank you to everyone who participated in “Can You Find Your Congressperson”, our first contest at What Are You Looking At?

Here are some of your entries. " What Are You Looking At?: "Can You Find Your Congressperson?" - The Winner

Steve Kagen caught on camera from the inauguration.

My caption is

"Those people in the 8th district, what a bunch of dope's!" "They believe anything." Steve Kagen could of been thinking.

Anyone else want to play the caption game?

Pork Spin

From Bloomberg.

"U.S. Congress Gives Final Approval to $787 Billion Stimulus
Email | Print | A A A

By Brian Faler

Feb. 13 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Congress gave final approval to President Barack Obama’s $787 billion economic stimulus package in hopes of wresting the economy out of recession through a mix of tax cuts and federal spending.

The Senate approved the package 60 to 38 with three Republicans joining Democrats in voting “yes.” Earlier today, the House passed the measure 246 to 183 with no Republicans in favor and seven Democrats opposed. The bill, Obama’s first major victory on Capitol Hill, now heads to his desk to be signed into law.

“After all the debate, this legislation can be summed up in one word: Jobs,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, during today’s floor debate. “The American people need action and they need action now.”

Because of paperwork that needs to be done, the legislation will reach the president’s desk “no earlier than Monday,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said. " Bloomberg.com: Worldwide

Why does it take till Monday to sign? Can't wait for the spin and photo ops on Monday.

Shouldn't Obama sign it ASAP to get their economy breaking bill started ASAP?

People of the U.S and the world. Get ready for a shock and awe to take away your freedom, jobs and your hard earned money. I say the world because as the U.S. economy crashes, so will the worlds economy.

New Golf Book.

E Mail from a friend.
It's almost spring and it's time to start thinking golf.

"Dear Friends,

Many of you may not know it, but I have been very busy over the last 2 years putting my thoughts and ideas together in a book.
I am very proud of the results and to assist with the marketing, I am asking friends and family to help me out.

I believe my new book on GOLF gives the reader valuable playing tips and insider information that I have gained through my years of struggle and experience. I'm hopeful you find this a useful tool to help you enjoy your game that much more as you enjoy the great outdoors.

The cost is only $9.95. Don't wait until they're all gone !!!!

Chapter 1 - How to Properly Line Up Your Fourth Putt.

Chapter 2 - How to Hit a Nike from the Rough, when you Hit a Titleist from the tee.

Chapter 3 - How to Avoid the Water When You Lie 8 in a bunker.

Chapter 4 - How to Get More Distance off the Shank.

Chapter 5 - When to Give the Ranger the Finger.

Chapter 6 - Using Your Shadow on the Greens to Maximize Earnings.

Chapter 7 - When to Implement Handicap Management.

Chapter 8 - Proper Excuses for Drinking Beer Before 9:00 a.m.

Chapter 9 - How to Rationalize a 6 Hour Round.

Chapter 10- When Does A Divot become classified as Sod.

Chapter 11 - How to Find That Ball That Everyone Else Saw Go in the water.

Chapter 12 - Why your Spouse Doesn't Care That You Birdied the 5th.

Chapter 13- Using Curse words Creatively to Control Ball Flight.

Chapter 14-When to Let a Foursome Play through Your Twosome.

Chapter 15 - How to Relax When You Are Hitting five off the Tee.

Chapter 16 - When to Suggest Major Swing Corrections to Your Opponent.

Chapter 17 - God and the Meaning of the Birdie-to-Bogey Three Putt.

Chapter 18 - When to Regrip Your Ball Retriever.

Chapter 19- Throwing Your Clubs: An Effective stress-Reduction Technique.

Chapter 20 - Can You Purchase a Better Golf Game?

Chapter 21 - Why Male Golfers Will Pay $5.00 a Beer from the Cart Girl and Give her a $3 Tip, but will balk at $4.50 at the 19th Hole and stiff the Bartender." 

Since It's Sweetest Day

Motivational Poster for V D lovers.

UPDATE: For some of you out there, get over it , IT'S A JOKE.

I LOVE YOU MRS BERRY LAKER.

No, Mrs B is not mad over this.

Wisconsin Nurse Shortage

"February 9, 2009
Not Enough Nurses"
Not Enough Nurses - Career | Male Nurse

by Jim O'Connell

The state of Wisconsin will see a drastic increase in nursing shortages if the University of Wisconsin and other nursing programs around the state do not increase their number of graduates, UW nursing officials said Monday.

According to a recent task force report conducted by officials from all five of the UW System’s nursing programs, the nursing system needs to expand in order to reduce the projected nursing shortages.

UW School of Nursing Dean Kathryn May met with representatives from UW-Milwaukee, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Green Bay to discuss the shortage problem currently facing the state.

Golly, when we move to socialized medicine this year the question must be, Why go into nursing?

The government will mandate coverage, mandate medical help and mandate pay.

You want to help the sick and needy and work for peanuts!

No wonder a shortage. Young people are seeing through this insanity and are staying away.

"UW-Milwaukee: Awesome. Affordable.", Say What

From a UWM class blog.

"Monday, February 09, 2009
New UWM ad campaign: Not that awesome" JMC262: New UWM ad campaign: Not that awesome

I recently found out that UW-Milwaukee has begun a new ad campaign, for which there will be billboards stating, "UW-Milwaukee: Awesome. Affordable." The new ad wording will replace the slogan we've been used to for the past year, "UW-Milwaukee: Something great in mind."

Here's my opinion on the change in slogan, and on the choice of the new slogan in particular. I really had to read the new wording twice before taking it seriously. Just two words: Awesome. Affordable. Are you kidding me?

I guess I have to ask Son # 1 about this.

Wisconsin State Autism SCAM

It looks like 2/3rds of Wisconsin children won't be covered. Why? Where is the MSM on this? A good read and call to action for AUTISM for all Wisconsin Children not just the children of state workers! Link to Representative Petersen

Wisconsin Senate Bill 3 - the Autism Insurance Mandate

State Representative Kevin Petersen's E-Newsletter - February 13, 2009
On Monday, February 9th, I testified against Senate Bill 3, the Autism Insurance Mandate. I testified because I couldn’t in good faith watch a bill pass which promises hope to so many families, while in reality covers few.

After you read the testimony below, it’s time for a call to action. We need to stand up as Wisconsinites, and do what’s right. If the Autism Insurance Mandate passes in its current form, over $10 million dollars per year of taxpayer money will be spent on additional insurance premiums to ensure kids of state government employees (including legislators) are 100% covered for autism services. While at the same time 100% of state legislators’ kids are covered, 2/3’s of the rest of the states’ children remain uncovered by such mandate.

Rather than spending an additional $10 million tax dollars on state and local government employees’ healthcare premiums, we can spend less than $6 million dollars fully funding the autism waiver program to ensure 100% of the states’ autistic children receive the care they so desperately need.

Tell your legislators not to spend money which gives them a benefit not accorded to you. Tell them 100% of the autistic children of this state need to be covered.

To start a call to action, click here and send me your name and address along with a message on this issue. If I see you are not from my district, I will ensure it is forwarded to both your Representative and Senator.

Then, please forward this edition of Petersen’s E-Press to all your friends and family members around Wisconsin. Ask them to also contact my office.

Following is the exact testimony I gave to the Senate Committee on Public Health, Senior Issues, Long-Term Care, and Job Creation:

Thank-you Chairman Carpenter and other members of the Senate Committee on Public Health, Senior Issues, Long-Term Care, and Job Creation for hearing my testimony today on Senate Bill 3 – The Autism Insurance Mandate.

The Lord has blessed my wife and myself with two beautiful daughters sitting with me today – Nicole age 11 and Kaylee age 9. Both daughters diagnosed autistic pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD – NOS).

Our lives are just like the lives of all the other families at this hearing and throughout the state of Wisconsin with autistic children. It is a daily roller coaster of challenges and emotions.

As a legislator with autistic children I am able to both relate with the autism challenges and emotions as well as the legislative bureaucracy involved with this bill. What has to be remembered is when we vote on the floor, we don’t vote on emotions, press releases, or news media hype, we vote on the words as they are stated in the bill. For it is the words printed in the actual bill that become law.

It is for that reason I find Senate Bill 3 – the Autism Insurance Mandate - has three major flaws when addressing the needs of autistic children and their families.

First, read the analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau for the Autism Insurance Mandate bill, Sentence one: “This bill requires health insurance policies and self-insured governmental and school district health plans to cover the cost of treatment for an insured for autism …”

Noticeably exempt from those words are “self insured private business.” Nearly 50% of all Wisconsin residents get their insurance through their employers who self-fund their health insurance plans. These plans are regulated by federal law (Employee Retirement Income Security Act [ERISA]) and are exempt from all state mandates.

Approximately 20% of Wisconsin residents are in government programs, like Medicare, which are also exempt from state mandates. Furthermore, the bill can only apply to Wisconsin employers, so if you live in Hudson, Prairie du Chien, or Hurley and cross the border to work at a job in Minnesota, Iowa, or Michigan, your autistic child would not be covered by the mandate either.

In a memo to my office dated January 13, 2009, from the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, these numbers are confirmed. The memo states: “The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) estimates that approximately 29% of Wisconsin’s population has health insurance coverage to which the state insurance coverage mandates directly apply.”

Even Governor Doyle’s press release dated February 3, 2009 confirms this fact. The last sentence in the second to last paragraph states: “By passing this bill, the current waiting list for autism treatment can be cut by one-third, providing more kids access to the services they deserve sooner.”

In other words, less than one in three autistic children in Wisconsin would get their intensive in home therapy paid for by insurance under the Senate’s autism insurance mandate.

Secondly, per the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau’s estimate attached to this bill: “This bill requires all health insurance plans offered by the Group Insurance Board (GIB) under Chapter 40 of the Wisconsin State Statues to provide coverage for Autism Syndrome Disorder (ASD) which includes Autism, Asperger’s syndrome and Pervasive Development Disorder not otherwise specified.”

According to the Government Insurance Board’s consulting actuary, the estimated cost of insurance premiums for this bill would range from $7.4 million to $8.7 million dollars annually for state employees. Additionally, the annual cost for plans offered to local government employees would range from $1.4 million to $1.6 million.

I want you and everyone in this room and in the State of Wisconsin to realize that if legislators vote “yes” for the Autism Insurance Mandate, they are voting to spend over $10 million dollars per year of taxpayer money to ensure kids of government employee’s including themselves are 100% covered for autism services while leaving 2/3 of the state’s population uncovered by such mandate.

Rather than spending an additional $10 million tax dollars on state employee and local government healthcare premiums to cover only 1/3 of the state’s autistic children, we can spend less than $6 million dollars fully funding the autism waiver program to eliminate the waiting list completely. Many of you are aware that last session, Representative Newcomer (another parent of an autistic child) and I brought just such a proposal forward. We will be bringing this proposal forward again this session.

Thirdly, there is no funding mechanism guarantee in Senate Bill 3 - the Autism Insurance Mandate - that would ensure the 2/3’s of the children not covered would have access to state assistance.

Under 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 (the 2007-09 biennial budget act) approximately $83 million dollars is budgeted to support autism treatment services. Of that $83 million, $34 million is Wisconsin General Purpose Revenue and $49 million is Federal matching funds.

We can not forget that in 2003, Governor Doyle’s first budget proposed to eliminate state funds for intensive in-home care for autism. There are no safe guards in this bill which would keep him or other legislators from raiding or eliminating the state’s current financial commitment to autism in the next biennial budget. Because of the Autism Insurance Mandate’s exclusion of 2/3 of Wisconsin’s autistic children, a decrease in funding could effectively increase the state’s waiting list for the autism waiver program.

I find it unfathomable that legislators under the Capitol dome in Madison - both the Senate and the Assembly - would prey on the emotions of families like mine throughout the state with autism, and give them false hope that an insurance mandate only covering 29% of the autistic kids in this state is satisfactory.

There’s a big difference between a political answer and a real solution. The last thing autistic children and their families need are 1/3 measures. The parents of autistic children have told us what their children need. Now, let’s work together to ensure that 100% of autistic children receive the service they so vitally require.

Respectfully;
Kevin

If you know anyone who would enjoy receiving updates on state issues, please have them contact me at Rep.Petersen@legis.wisconsin.gov to subscribe.

U W Enrollment

Just keeping tabs on Berry Laker Son # 1 at UWM.

"UW campuses seeing a drop in applications

Published Friday, February 13, 2009" UW campuses seeing a drop in applications |  Pierce County Herald  | Ellsworth, Wisconsin

On Wednesday, Madison said its freshman applications were down 5 percent from last year, the first such decline since 2004.
RELATED CONTENT

But at UW-Milwaukee, applications are down for the second year in a row, about 7 percent less than in 2008.

At least seven of Wisconsin’s private colleges have increases. Mount Mary College in Milwaukee has had a 47 percent jump in applications.

It is interesting about increases at private schools.

Thank You Steve Kagen, Herb Kohl and Russel Feingold

From the GBP.

"News in Northeastern Wisconsin

February 13, 2009 " News in Northeastern Wisconsin | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press-Gazette

Oconto County's unemployment rate has climbed to 8.2 percent, the seventh highest among the state's 72 counties, according to the Department of Workforce Development's statistics for December.

The county rate is up from 7.5 percent in November and 6.3 percent a year ago. Layoffs at businesses, especially among boat building firms such as Cruisers Yachts in Oconto, are being blamed for the increase.

Neighboring Marinette County is at 8.1 percent, the 10th highest in the state.

Wisconsin is at 5.8 percent, above the 5.3 the previous month and it was 4.6 percent a year earlier.

What would we do without these gentlemen?

Kagen, Kohl and Feingold Now Own It

From the Green Bay Press.

"Democrats muscle through stimulus bill

By ELLYN FERGUSON • eferguson@greenbaypressgazette.com Press-Gazette Washington bureau • February 14, 2009 " Democrats muscle through stimulus bill | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press-Gazette

But Kagen saw something different in the bill.

"It allows us to transform our economy, generating millions of new jobs in the process and invests our hard-earned tax dollars right here at home," Kagen said. "The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act invests in our future by funding education, preventing teacher layoffs and other cutbacks in education."

In the Senate, Kohl and Feingold said the package had its shortcomings, but that overall it would aid the economy.

How many of those millions of jobs Kagen mentioned will happen in Wisconsin. Is that all he can say is it will protect teachers jobs? What about the rest of us. Feingold said it has shortcomings. Why did he vote for it? Russ, when and how many jobs will it create?

These democrats and others who voted for this PORK plan are now responsible. They voted for it and they now OWN IT! Good job boys!

It will be interesting how they will try to spin this when the country starts going to hell even more. Kagen will blame Cheney, Feingold will blame Bush and Kohl will as always be silent.

Welcome back to the Carter years.

Obey, We Screwed You 400 Bucks

From Wausau Daily Herald.

"Obey: Stimulus will help

By Robert Mentzer • Wausau Daily Herald • February 13, 2009

The economic stimulus bill poised to pass Congress today would create jobs and provide necessary benefits to Wisconsin families, including tax cuts of up to $800 per couple, Rep. Dave Obey said Thursday." Obey: Stimulus will help | wausaudailyherald.com | Wausau Daily Herald

At least Bush gave us $600 each or $1200 a couple.

Dave Obey taking credit for screwing us again.

How could you in his district keep reelecting this guy?

Shawano Wis., Dukes Of Hazzard

From the Shawano Leader from Feb. 12,2009

The Shawano Common Council passed the following.

"By Tim Ryan, Leader Reporter

In other business, the Common Council:

— Approved a bid from Ewald Automotive in the amount of $19,800 for a 2009 Chevrolet Impala and $20,771 for a 2009 Dodge Charger for Shawano Police Department squads.

For the let's say past half year Shawano Wisconsin has been in the news with SIST. What in the world would the city of Shawano buy a Dodge Charger for the police Department?

Do they need a Charger to catch a member of the SIST? Can we call the leaders of Shawano Boss Hog?

What in the heck are they thinking?

Gee, Daisey, there is no way Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane will ever catch us!

The first picture is the original Duke car and the second is some accessories that the new Charger will have , hot cold cup holders. Gee Uncle Jessie, what a car!

UP Moose Sales Run

Sorry for the non posts to you two who read this blog. I had to make my sales trek to Upper Michigan this week and this is what I am always worried about. Email from a friend. Don't know what I would do in this case.

Probably would need extras briefs.

MOOSE STORY
The following pictures are of a moose
that went through a car's windshield
and out the rear window this month
near South River , Ontario .

The VERY lucky woman driver ended up
with just a broken wrist and needing
a good bath. When you view the pictures
you will wonder how the woman managed
to survive.








Please, you lefty wackos giving me grief for these pictures. You wackos would rather see the girl killed and the moose saved! Hope she got to keep the meat!

It's been a long four days, as Owen would say, off duty till Saturday.

Go Kellogg's # 5 at Daytona

Front Row For The 500

From NASCAR.com

1- 1 Martin Truex Jr. 188.001 47.87 0
2 - 5 Mark Martin 187.817 47.92 0"
NASCAR.COM

Dam, the old man lost out in 5/100th of a second.

Please buy all Kellogg's, Car Quest and Cheese Its products in the future.

New Blog

From Asian Badger

Welcome The Black Sphere

Welcome Kevin, keep up the GREAT work

Gary Tauchen Gets A Pay Raise, How about You?

From TMC News.

How did your representative do? Mine,( Tuauchen ) gets a grade of "F" for failure.

"EDITORIAL: Just 10 nays to pay raise among the 132-member Wisconsin Legislature

(Wisconsin State Journal, The Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Feb. 7--In your face, Wisconsin.

Nine out of 10 state lawmakers took a 5.3 percent pay hike last week.

They're taking the extra cash just as the rest of state government braces for service and job cuts to fix a record $5.7 billion budget deficit." EDITORIAL: Just 10 nays to pay raise among the 132-member Wisconsin Legislature

Let's give credit to the 10 lawmakers who showed leadership by returning their pay raise:

--Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills

--Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee

--Sen. Ted Kanavas, R-Brookfield

--Sen. Dan Kapanke, R-La Crosse

--Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan

--Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center

--Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville

--Rep. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown

--Rep. Margaret Krusick, D-Milwaukee

--Rep. Keith Ripp, R-Lodi

The self-sacrifice of these 10 public servants will save the state money and, more significantly, reassure the public that we're all in this together.

I guess Gary Tauchen, R-Bonduel; needed extra pay while the rest of us get laid off or are on pay freezes.

Another reason someone that is conservative needs to replace Gary Tauchen. time for Gary To go!

Harvick Wins Shoot Out

From NASCAR.com

"Harvick's deja vu

Kevin Harvick is back in Victory Lane at Daytona, winning the Budweiser Shootout in the wake of a last-lap crash behind him. Sound familiar to the 2007 Daytona 500?
" NASCAR.COM - News, Schedule, Drivers, Tracks, Fantasy & Video from NASCAR

Oconto County

From the Times on the Internet.

Who would do this? I guess we wait for more of the story as it happens.

"200 wild turkeys poisoned in Wisconsin"
200 wild turkeys poisoned in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis., Feb. 7 (UPI) --

About 200 wild turkeys were fatally poisoned in northeastern Wisconsin, said state game officials investigating the incident.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said Friday it has identified the person believed to have killed the turkeys, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Saturday.

The birds were found in a wooded area near a farm in north-central Oconto County. Officials said an aerial survey indicated no other animals were poisoned.

"This is very disconcerting," said Byron Goetsch, a regional DNR warden in northeastern Wisconsin. "It really isn't representative of the people in this area."

The DNR said it has contacted the Oconto County district attorney's office.