Uppitywis Blogs

The protests at the Dakota Access pipeline site continue with very little coverage in national news. The company building the pipeline has apparently purposely destroyed Native American burial and sacred sites, going out of their way to target exactly the sites the tribes have been trying to preserve.  Today a judge ruled that the construction can continue, overruling an emergency stay in construction.  This is coverage from Democracy Now from yesterday.

The worst enemy of clean water in Wisconsin is Gov. Scott Walker.

The second-worst is State Rep. Scott Krug (R-Rome), explaining why Walker held a fundraiser for Krug on Labor Day weekend.

Wisconsin State Rep. Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa) listed his district's office phone for a campaign finance fundraiser Friday, Sept. 2, using taxpayer dollars.

Happy Labor Day 2016! I will be visiting with folks around the district this weekend. Just wish to pay my respects to the people who brought us Labor Day, paid for with blood, lives and a lot of work from the American Labor Movement. Thank you. From our friend, Ralph Nader: "Labor Day should be used to reflect on the historic victories of American workers such as establishing the minimum wage and overtime pay, the five-day work week and banning of the use of child labor. Many in the U.S. would find it difficult to imagine living in a country where these things weren’t a given."

Who Will Be My Teacher? by Senator Kathleen Vinehout   “Who will be my teacher?” my son asked me years ago. For a brief point in time, the teacher was the most important person in his young life.   As children head back to school and parents scramble with new schedules, schools are facing their own scheduling headaches. This year a teacher shortage hit many local schools. Around the state, school districts have hundreds of vacancies.   Recently, I presented an overview of state education budget issues in Viroqua. At least a dozen local superintendents, school board members, principals and teachers

Scott Walker is attending a fundraising reception in honor of State Representative Scott Krug (R-Neekosa) as Republicans work to raise money for the polluters' caucus against water warriors in central Wisconsin.

Krug is being challenged by David Gorksi in a closely watch race pitting the environmentalist Gorksi against the polluters' man, Krug. David Gorski said today, "For Scott Krug to take the side of polluters against the people of the 72nd assembly district is a further betrayal that continues what Krug and Walker have done to Wisconsin. People are being brought to tears as they watch their homes and futures be sacrificed for corporate profits. We should be promoting our region's tourism and recreational treasures, not destroying them."

Richard 'Tricky Dick' Nixon invented push-polling in 1946 in his race against Jerry Voorhis, but even the big dick would be shocked to discover the defamation to which Republicans have sunk in their latest push-polling in central Wisconsin

By Senator Kathleen Vinehout   “It gets overwhelming,” my neighbor told me. We were walking through her flooded barnyard. Floodwaters left silt everywhere: in the house, the garden, the barn, and the farmyard.   Family members were working hard to clean up. But they were filled with unanswered questions: where to go and what to do?   Western Wisconsin was hit with several severe rainstorms in the past few weeks. Early morning on August 11 parts of Buffalo County received 5 ½ to 11 ½ inches of rain in just 45 minutes. The beautiful rolling hills intensified the power of the water as it raced towards

State Assembly candidate David Gorski has received endorsements from Wisconsin environmental organizations, including from the Sierra Club - Wisconsin John Muir Chapter, Protect Wood County and Its Neighbors, and the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters.
Gorski is running as the Democratic Party nominee for Wisconsin’s 72nd district assembly race in central Wisconsin.

David Gorski' campaign for central Wisconsin's 72nd assembly seat is drawing attention as Gorski carries the fight for citizen action for clean water and opposition against a massive factory farm in the town of Saratoga

For two clean water activists, seeking elected office is one part of their activism protecting their communities, families and children, our future

Where Did All that Money Go? Business Tax Credit Costs Pile Up By Senator Kathleen Vinehout   “Where did all that money go?” Dennis asked me during a recent visit to the Jackson County Fair.   Dennis is one of many constituents who ask where the money for schools and roads is as our state recovers from the recession. Economic recovery means more money and more money should equal more resources for the public. Instead, state funds are very tight. For example, state aid to local public schools is less now than in 2006.   One reason is that the state is not collecting tax money from some large, and in

It's on - It's off - It's halfway on - It's a quarter of the way on.  It's off again. Now it's back.

Honestly, who can keep up with this mess? (and yes, I really wanted to work in that Plan 9 poster because it's a film I love for its pure enthusiasm and ineptitude - it could be a symbol of the Walker administration). Just when we thought we might know the status of Voter ID for the big November election, we get yet another court decision that puts the voter ID law back into place again - well, almost. I'm really glad I don't have to edit the bringit.wi.gov web site with Voter ID information. 

So

Editor's Note - I am one of the people in the state who is blessed with a great Internet connection by virtue of belonging to a phone co-op that has invested in infrastructure. My rural farm house has fiber connection for phone, tv, and internet. Most are not so blessed. Let your voice be heard, and fill us in in the comment section about your own internet experience. Have an Opinion about Your Internet Connection? Let Your Voice be Heard! by Senator Kathleen Vinehout   Do you have a great Internet connection? Less than what you’d prefer? Makes it impossible for you to do your work or your children

Once again it's time to vote in Wisconsin. I know a lot of you are feeling disappointed and not in control of the political process. I understand, ths is part of the reason you've not been seeing a lot of posting here recently, at least from me. Some of the twists and turns of the political sphere of late make it difficult to have anything to say. A country where even a minority of people embraces Donald Trump as a potential leader is frightening.

But - all the more reason to go out and vote tomorrow. Here in Wisconsin we have some actual choices to make in a lot of districts, and some genuine

God knows it's hard to be amused by anything at the moment, so I am choosing to be amused by the current flap of the George Harrison estate being incensed that the RNC used Harrison's "Here Comes The Sun" as intro music for Ivanka Trump's speech. The Harrison estate joins a list of living musical artists who do not want to be associated, but in a more Beatle-esque way.

The unauthorized use of #HereComestheSun at the #RNCinCLE is offensive & against the wishes of the George Harrison estate.

More interestingly they followed up with

If it had been Beware of Darkness, then we MAY have approved it! #T

Saying “Good Bye” to Benjamin By Senator Kathleen Vinehout   “I make the promises and my staff keeps them,” said former state Senator Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center). I don’t know if Senator Schultz was the first to say this but his statement certainly describes the important role of Capitol staff.   Our 31st Senate District long-time staffer Benjamin Larson will be leaving soon for Minneapolis. Ben is following his wife who will take up advanced studies in the Twin Cities.   Legislative staffers touch many lives and Ben has certainly influenced the course of life for many people. He is often the

No, that's not a quote from Melania Trump's speech.  I wrote it myself with a little help.  Though it does have a familiar ring to it. Not to beat a dead horse.

Actually the flap over the speech brings to mind two things. For one, I think it's typical that the big flap from the Republican Convention seems to revolve around these little score-keeping gotcha moments, rather than the big story of the convention. Republicans have gone completely off the rails and are now running completely on a platform of fear, anger, jingoism, and lies. The Trumpization of the GOP appears to be complete, as even

UWEC and Local Business: A Flourishing Relationship Worthy of Investment

By

Senator Kathleen Vinehout

“One hundred years ago the Chamber rented a rail car to go down to Madison,” President Bob McCoy of the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce told the gathering of business leaders. A century ago, Chamber members traveled to Madison to advocate for a new UW campus in Eau Claire.

“Maybe next time we’ll have to take a high speed train,” he joked.

Recently, I attended a Chamber event at which University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Chancellor Jim Schmidt spoke to members about the university and its relationship

Government Accountability Died the End of June by Senator Kathleen Vinehout   Government Accountability passed in a quiet death the last day of June.   There was no fanfare, no long speeches – just hard working employees packing up personal items.   I imagined the nonpartisan judges of the Government Accountability Board (GAB) breathed a deep sigh as they left their service on the GAB and ended the rough and tumble ordeal as broad members.   All the fanfare, public speeches and hyper-partisan rhetoric happened last winter in what GAB board member, Judge Thomas Barland, called a “public lynching”.   Judge

Peace takes courage! In the last couple of decades I’ve seen the actions of Myron Buchholz exemplify that statement. Today Myron’s campaign has released a new video featuring former Captain Amanda Buchholz, Myron’s daughter. Here’s the press release that has accompanied this release. 

Buchholz campaign: Former US Army captain Amanda Buchholz endorses her father, Myron Buchholz, for Congress. 

For immediate release, 6-28-16.  Contact Jodie Arnold: 715-726-8613 or 715-944-9948 

Eau Claire WI- The Buchholz for Congress campaign released a new video this morning containing an endorsement from