DOYLE RECALL NEWS What Enquiring Minds Want to Know
The Doyle Recall organizing is under with several thousand
volunteers already signed up. The recall begins when 10,000
volunteers have been recruited. Go to
www.recalldoyle.com to
register and learn more. Tell your friends to join you in joining
the effort. If every current volunteer recruits two friends we
will reach our goal in the next few weeks!
How Much Has MPS Already Spent This Year?
CRG
Announces New Addition to GASP MPS Spending Now Online
The Milwaukee Public Schools system has just been added to the list
of online, searchable spending databases. It follows Milwaukee
County and MATC as the third unit of Wisconsin
government to commit to the ultimate in openness and transparency.
The MPS GASP database allows users to select, sort, total,
download, and analyze over 432,000 invoices representing over $2.2
billion dollars in spending.
Click
Here to go directly to the MPS database.
Click
Here to access all the GASP databases.
Click here to read the CRG Network press release.
Click here use
the CRG Automatic Open Records Request Generator to create your own
open records requests for any unit of government!
CRG
Announces New Addition to GASP MATC Spending Now Online
CRG Network has launched the second of its
searchable spending databases designed to place all government
spending in the State of Wisconsin in the hands of anyone with an
Internet connection. The effort has been dubbed the Government
Accountability in Spending Project (GASP).
MATC follows Milwaukee County as the second unit of Wisconsin
government to commit to the ultimate in openness and transparency.
The MATC GASP database allows users to select, sort, total,
download, and analyze over 54,000 invoices representing almost 125
million dollars in spending.
Click
Here to access the GASP databases.
Click here to read the CRG Network press release.
A
"Death Tax" on Businesses? The Latest Craziness from Business Unfriendly Milwaukee
And Mayor Barrett wonders why people are saying Milwaukee is not a
business friendly town. Apparently, city officials are not
satisfied with taxes and fees for going into and running a business.
They also want to tax them for the privilege of going out of
business - sort of a business "death tax!"
Consider the sad story of Marc and Teri Bold, owners of the T&M True
Value on the city's southside. After about 20 years in the
hardware business the Bold's decided to close their store.
They only winced slightly when told they must pay the city $43 for a
permit to hang a "Going Out of Business Sale" sign in the window of
their shop (see
Exhibit 1). However, within days a city health inspector
stopped by to inform them they must also pay an additional $510 for
a "Closing Out Sale" license (see
Exhibit 2 and
Exhibit 3). So, after
years of providing jobs, goods, and services (and paying taxes on
all of it), the city thanked the Bold's by nicking them one last
time for an extra $553 on the way out. Milwaukee, what a great
place to do business - NOT!
One final thought. Does it strike anyone as weird that the
City of Milwaukee Heath Department, Disease Control and
Environmental Health is charged with issuing and inspecting "Closing
Out Sale" licenses?
CRG
Announces New Gov't Accountability Project" All State and Local Spending Slated to be Placed in Online Searchable
Databases.
CRG Network has unveiled the first of a planned series of online,
searchable spending databases designed to place all government
spending in the State of Wisconsin in the hands of anyone with an
Internet connection. The effort has been dubbed the Government
Accountability in Spending Project (GASP).
Scott Walker and Milwaukee County stepped forward to be the first
unit of Wisconsin government to commit to the ultimate in openness
and transparency. The county Information Management Services
Division, Controller’s Office, and Department of Administration
collaborated with CRG Network professional volunteers to bring this
inaugural effort to completion with funding provided by the Sam
Adams Foundation, National Taxpayers Union, and Citizens in Charge.
The county GASP database allows users to select, sort, total,
download, and analyze over 188,000 county invoices representing over
1.3 billion dollars in spending.
Click
Here to access the GASP databases.
Click here to read the CRG Network press release.
County Trust, Leadership Take a Sucker Punch Ethically Challenged Board Reveals True Character
Want to know the true character of a person? Then look at who
they choose to lead them. Let's review the record of "Hammerin'
Lee" Holloway.
Voted for the outrageous Ament pension plan.
Supported Ament during the recall.
Like Ament, sued his constituents during recall.
Holloway ticketed for impersonating police officer.
Failed to report campaign contributions from Ament.
Holloway campaign worker convicted of vote fraud.
US Attorney uncovers $165,000 in payments from OIC to Holloway.
Holloway charged with 90 ethics violations.
Holloway settles charges and pays fine.
Holloway physically assaults county supervisor.
Later, he assaults ANOTHER supervisor.
Break out the boxing gloves for another 4 years. The most ethically challenged
chairman in county history has now been re-elected in what has to be among the greatest betrayals of
trust in county history. Say "Hello" to the the 12 county supervisors who voted for Holloway and
in the process established themselves as traitors to trust and character in
government. Meet Milwaukee County's new DIRTY DOZEN. Note the newly elected
supervisors who voted for Holloway. Is this what you expected their first official vote would
be? Click any picture to contact your county supervisor.
The DIRTY DOZEN Who Voted for Holloway
Gerry Broderick
Toni Clark
E. Coggs-Jones
M. Dimitrijevic
Willie Johnson, Jr.
Christopher Larson
Theo Lipscomb
Michael Mayo, Sr.
John Thomas
John Weishan
Peggy West
Lee Holloway
CRG Network at Future Wisconsin Become a Modern Revolutionary and Declare Your Independence from
Kings and Tyrants at the CRG Network Booth
The
CRG Network booth at Future Wisconsin 2008 will feature a life-size
diorama taken right from the famous Trumbull painting of the signing
of the Declaration of Independence. Sit down at the the table
with John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin. Take the
seat occupied by John Hancock and make history by signing your name
to fight along side other patriots in a new, well-mannered American
revolution.
The Future Wisconsin conference is being held Saturday, April 5th at
Bluemound Gardens Conference Center, 11703 West Bluemound Road,
Wauwatosa, WI 53226 starting with a 7:30AM breakfast.
Click here
for additional details.
CRG
Announces New Gov't Accountability Project" All State and Local Spending Slated to be Placed in Online Searchable
Databases.
CRG Network has unveiled the first of a planned series of online,
searchable spending databases designed to place all government
spending in the State of Wisconsin in the hands of anyone with an
Internet connection. The effort has been dubbed the Government
Accountability in Spending Project (GASP).
Scott Walker and Milwaukee County stepped forward to be the first
unit of Wisconsin government to commit to the ultimate in openness
and transparency. The county Information Management Services
Division, Controller’s Office, and Department of Administration
collaborated with CRG Network professional volunteers to bring this
inaugural effort to completion with funding provided by the Sam
Adams Foundation, National Taxpayers Union, and Citizens in Charge.
The county GASP database allows users to select, sort, total,
download, and analyze over 188,000 county invoices representing over
1.3 billion dollars in spending.
Click
Here to access the GASP databases.
Click here to read the CRG Network press release.
More
DOT "Highway Robbery" Doyle and DOT Cave In to Road Builders, Sell Out Southside
Citizens.
It looks like Governor Doyle has learned a lesson about messin' with
the Road Builders from former Senator Tom Reynolds. Reynolds
was recently ousted from office after the Road Builders poured
thousands of dollars into the campaign of his opponent in
retribution for his engineering of the repeal of automatic gas tax
increases. Given that Doyle raided the Transportation Fund to
achieve the illusion of a balanced budget, he is doubtlessly fearful
he may be the next to face their wrath. His answer, sell out
local residents and small business owners by creating an additional
highway project to pad the construction bill at the expense of the
devastation of businesses, jobs, and property values in the 27th and
Layton area.
Click
Here to read a press release detailing CRG's involvement and how
citizens can rally to fight back!
YouTube Video of Press Conference compliments of Patrick Dorwin
at BadgerBlogger
Holloway
Disqualified in 1st Milwaukee County Fight Club Kingpin Repeats Round One Debacle.
For the second straight time, Milwaukee County Fight Club fanatic
Lee "Hit Man"
Holloway dropped a decision by disqualification in the first round,
this time against newcomer Joe "The Enforcer" Rice. Holloway
lost an earlier bout with veteran pugilist Rodger "Ramjet" Quindel
in a similar round one disqualification. Referee Paul Cesarz
stepped in quickly to separate the combatants as Holloway unleashed
a barrage of below the belt shots to the unsuspecting Rice.
Observers note it is unlikely the weak and ineffective Fight Club
Ethics Board will sanction Holloway. Most pundits predict
Holloway's antics will continue until an unfortunate ringside injury
or fan pressure forces Holloway off the canvas.
Read the blow by blow recount by County Fight Club beat reporter
Dan Bice for additional details.
Sheboygan
Sheriff Shakedown! Department Runs Private Security Firm at Taxpayer Expense.
County DA Looks the Other Way.
Who the hell is running Sheboygan County? Right on the heals
of the Mayor Perez meltdown, another local resident comes forward
with a mountain of documentation that the Sheboygan Sheriff's
Department is running a de facto Private Security firm. The
Department takes requests for private security details, posts
sign-up sheets, contacts "customers", allows deputies to work
off-duty in uniform (they even have a request form), provides squad
cars, and even worker's compensation coverage while serving as
private contractors. And do the County DA and State Attorney
General take action after being informed by local security firm
operator Matthew Elliott? Well maybe now they will. Read
the
CRG Network Press Release. Click the links below to review
several examples of the many pages of damning evidence obtained via
open records.
Typical sign-up sheet circulated by Sheriff's Department
One of many such sheets. Note that it sets wages and hours,
provides for the use of an official Sheriff's squad, provides forms
and clerical support for taxes and off-duty employment, and even
coordinates customer callbacks!
Typical Department permission form
It confirms that deputies will work in uniform and are eligible for
taxpayer paid worker's compensation if injured while employed for a
private enterprise.
The first of several formal complaints lodged (and largely ignored)
with the Sheboygan County DA.
Page 1,
Page 2
WEAC SAYS TAXES ARE TOO HIGH
Here is that old web link where WEAC admits Wisconsin
taxes are too high! In fact, here is the first
sentence. "When counseling members about retirement, I
frequently hear comments about moving out of Wisconsin
to avoid our high taxes."
www.crgnetwork.com/media/weac/retire.htm
INVESTIGATIVE UPDATE: See it Here
First! Response to First CRG Open Records Request
Click the links below to access copies
of replies to our first set of open records as we
investigate the intimidation of citizens by Sheboygan government.
Mayor Perez has dirty hands, citizens scream back, and
the scrambling begins!
The Waukesha School Board and Mayor of
Pewaukee tried harassing and intimidating citizen
organizers. Now, it's the
Sheboygan
Police and City Attorney. You want a fight,
fine, BRING IT ON! P.S. We have begun
investigating YOU!
City of Milwaukee taxpayers turned out in force at a public meeting
to lambaste the MPS Board and Superintendent Andrekopoulos over its
proposed 16.4% tax levy increase. The crowd was so
overwhelming that hundreds of residents were barred from the 304
seating capacity auditorium (some were redirected to rooms with
piped in audio). Citizens were clearly upset over what they
saw as outrageous waste and failure within the ranks of MPS with a
passion not seen since the Ament recall (CRG is ready willing and
able to repeat that effort if Milwaukeeans feel the need). If
you missed it, watch excerpts from citizen comments by clicking the
video below. The comments become increasingly forceful with
each speaker.
CRG offered this observation. This is no
longer about taxes. It is about discarding a generation of
children. We have spent money on better facilities, better teachers,
and better equipment and programs yet remain saddled with failure.
Most taxpayers agree, we would write a bigger check today if MPS
could guarantee results. The problem is irresponsible policies
from elected officials more concerned with winning popularity
contests, irresponsible administrators too fearful of rocking the
boat and irresponsible parents who refuse to invest time in their
children. When children are sent to school tired, hungry,
sick, ill-prepared, unmotivated and undisciplined no amount of money
can solve the problem. Unfortunately, today's leaders are too
cowardly and selfish to address the problem head-on!
AFP Taxpayer Rally in Madison
Hits the Mark Pro-Tax Counter-Protest Fails to Dampen Rally Crowd
Overburdened Taxpayers from across Wisconsin (some traveling over
four hours) convened in the State Capitol Wednesday in a rally
sponsored by Americans For Prosperity (AFP). CRG Network and
its affiliates participated and provided the eye-catching 60-foot
"No New Taxes" backdrop for the main stage.
Anyone who couldn't make it missed the event of the
year (check
out the video). The weather was perfect, the crowd and
speakers were electrifying and AFP provided transportation, lunch,
and novelties. New WISN Talk show host Vicki McKenna kept the
crowd charged with her rhetoric and several stuffed pigs she tossed
in to audience. Our fellow union taxpayers and
counter-protesters were mostly on message exhorting the legislature
to "Do Their Job" and pass a budget but, as expected, they lost
points for attempting to limit free speech by blocking our 60-foot
sign (the Capitol Police were forced to cordon off the area) and
shouting group epitaphs such as "loser" and "bullshit" to drown out
speakers. It was also curious that several firefighter unions
showed in full uniform and fire-trucks were seen circling the
Capitol. We wonder what that cost taxpayers and the risk the
missing equipment posed for residents of those communities!
Wasser-Bush?
"Read my pledge ... no new taxes"
Read Our Lips.
"No More Lies!"
Did Wasserman Really Think No One Would Remember His Tax Pledge?
They say history repeats itself and apparently Representative
Sheldon Wasserman is now channeling George H. Bush and the great tax
lie of the 20th Century. Wasserman signed the
Americans for Tax Reform Tax Pledge in which he unequivocally
promised he "will oppose and vote against any and all efforts to
increase taxes." Oops, guess he forgot about that Cigarette
Tax he supports! He says he took the Hippocratic Oath before
he took the tax pledge. Tell us again Shelly, old bean, about
the part where Hippocrates said it's OK for a doc to let people to
continue to kill themselves as long as the government gets their
cut! Perhaps you meant "Hypocrite Oath?"
We should have busted this backroom schemer when
Wasserman called Tom Ament to voice his support for him during
the pension recall. Perhaps he did not expect CRG and the
Journal Sentinel would discover his subterfuge by doing an open
records request. Don't let the medical degree and "boy
scout" smile fool you when he knocks on your door. Sheldon
Wasserman is just another hack politician who puts party above
people and is willing to say and do anything to get elected!
More Lies, Deceit, and Hypocrisy!" Open Records Reveal Big-Tax Bigshots Won't Put Their Money Where
Their Mouth Is
Some Milwaukee County leaders insist that we need to triple the
county sales tax. They claim it is all for a "good cause" and
would be happy to contribute a little more in taxes. But a
recent open records request reveals not one has contributed so much
as a dime to these "good causes." Some even chastise County
Executive Walker for vetoing a dishonest referendum on the issue.
Click Here to learn more about their
hypocrisy and other lies surrounding the proposal to triple the
county sales tax.
They're Baaa..aaack!" New Milwaukee County Pension Sharks Take Another $50 Million Bite
Out of Taxpayers
Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. In yet
another stunning example of cronyism and self-dealing, the Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel has uncovered a second Milwaukee County pension
scandal [Read
Story] reminiscent of the story that ignited rampant recall
retribution. CRG has been quietly building national alliances
that give us newfound strength and capabilities. We now have
the tools to finish the job we started back in 2002. Click Here to find out how you can
be part of the effort to squash the last of the cockroaches
infesting county government.
Supervisor Luigi "The Squeeze" Schmitt Demands,
"Hand over da loot youse taxpayers!" CRG Audit Reveals the Truth About Supervisor Pay - Calls for
Board to Drop Pay Increase Proposal
Supervisor Schmitt would have taxpayers believe the poor Milwaukee
County Supervisors are woefully underpaid. At the direction of
Chairperson Lee Holloway and the County Board, Audit Director Heer
did a marvelous job in ferreting out the facts and figures as CRG
learned when they obtained a copy of his voluminous working papers.
Now read Part 1 of the CRG audit into what the Board and Supervisor
Schmitt DIDN'T tell you. [Read
Report]
CLICK HERE to contact your County Supervisor or simply call
414-278-4222 (just give them your address and they will connect you
to your supervisor). Tell them, "enough is enough!"
Petition
Rights Strangled! SEB Kills Recall Statutes
"We don't care what the law says. If you don't like our
ruling, sue us." That is what the State Election Board (SEB)
effectively said when it decertified the recall petition of
Milwaukee Alderman Michael McGee. In doing so they created the
template by which any recall can be stopped regardless of how
closely citizens follow statutory requirements or the number of
signatures they collect. CRG Network to participate in Legal Defense
Fund to force the SEB and Milwaukee Election Commissioners to comply
with the law. Rally and fundraiser set for January 26th at Serb
Hall. [Learn More]
WHAT
NEXT?! Kick Back with New Grassroots Tool
It was recently revealed that state legislators receive a sick pay
benefit but are not required to report sick days. They can
accumulate this benefit and cash it in when they leave office.
This amounts to a stealth bonus plan for legislators. CRG
Network has developed an automated tool to allow you to quickly and
easily voice your displeasure to your elected officials.
CRG
Network Releases Audit of MATC Waste and Overspending Detailed
The Answer: 7% yearly pay raises, spending at 2-1/2 times
above the Consumer Price Index (close to one billion additional
dollars since 1990 at MATC alone), full-retirement after 10 years of
service, 4-weeks of sick pay and personal time per year above and
beyond holidays and vacation, six figure salaries, and much, much,
more! The Question: How are Wisconsin Technical Colleges spending
your tax dollars? The full, 4-part audit is available by
clicking below.
The CRG Network News
Channel Makes Its Debut
Click screen to activate, then click the "Play"button.
Go to CRG TV in the Media Center for
more info.
Report
Exposes Financial Fraud State Skirts Balanced Budget Laws
A Wisconsin Policy
Research Institute (WPRI) report written by
former State Department of Administration Director George Lightbourn
revealed that the State of Wisconsin has been keeping two sets of
books since 1990 to hide the fact that it has been operating at a
deficit and has rendered Wisconsin's balanced budget laws
meaningless. The report details how the state has been run in
Enron-like fashion and how the facts have been routinely buried or
ignored by the Governor and Legislature alike to cover-up a
multi-billion dollar deficit.
Read Report
Let CRG Network arm you with the tools and info you need
to fight back and win!
Search and analyze government spending.
CRG
Announces New Addition to GASP
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Wasser-Bush?
Report
Exposes Financial Fraud
