TAs Ready to Strike

UW TA’s move toward strike.

UW-Madison’s Teaching Assistants Association is considering a strike, after the state refused to continue providing them with health insurance at no cost.

[...]

The teaching assistants would still pay less than other state employees, she said.

Welcome to the real world, TAs.

Public debate

The Mayor of Madison has his panties in a wad.

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz is not happy the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce has launched radio ads opposing a local hike in the minimum wage.

“It was disingenuous, and the mayor is extremely displeased,” said mayoral spokeswoman Melanie Conklin.

In a letter Thursday to Chamber President Jennifer Alexander, Cieslewicz said the chamber had asked him and members of the City Council last week to delay a scheduled vote on the proposal in order to work on outstanding issues.

“Now it appears the chamber’s intent was not further discussion, but rather to launch a public relations campaign against the ordinance,” the mayor wrote.

“This continues a pattern begun during the inclusionary zoning debate when the chamber was prepared to launch a last-minute blitz to delay the ordinance without engaging in any real dialogue beforehand as many members of the development industry had been doing throughout the process.

Translation: “WAAAAAA!!!”

Apparently the Mayor thinks that debate about public issues should only take place in private meetings between opponents and him.  After all, we wouldn’t want the great unwashed masses to know what was going on and get the idea that they have any say in the matter.

Senator Bob Welch’s Response

A few weeks ago, I sent a list of questions to each of the three Republican contenders who are seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Senator Russ Feingold for his seat this November.  These questions, I hope, will give me a little insight into how they see the world and which one I would most like to support.  Of course, it would be impractical for me to ask everything that was important to me, so I tried to focus on some of the big issues.

The three candidates are Russ Darrow, Bob Welch, and Tim Michels.  I haven?t heard anything from Russ Darrow?s campaign yet.  Tim Michels has committed to a response, but I have not received it yet.  Bob Welch sent me his answers a couple of days ago. 

I anticipate that the differences between the candidates? answers will be slim, because they are all staunch conservatives.  There are always, however, nuances in any response.  In the end, I will support the candidate who I think can best beat Feingold.  The primary isn?t until September, so I have some time to think it through. 

When I sent my questions to the candidates, I promised to post their answers in full, so that is exactly what I will do.  I have posted each of my questions in bold, and the candidate?s full answer below it exactly how I received it.  Below each answer, I have typed a few comments and will follow up at the end with some general thoughts.

Here are Senator Bob Welch?s responses:

Read the rest

Trade Mission

Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin is leading a trade mission to China.  He’s posting details of his trip on a “blog.”

I put his blog in quotes because I don’t think it really classifies as a blog.  However, I do like the fact that he is providing more realtime information about his trip.  I also like that he is using technology is a positive manner (rather than for evil!).  When a politician usually goes on a trade mission, they just disappear for a couple of weeks and then we get a speech or something.  At least we can follow along this time.

I’ll Grant You This

WE Energies (a.k.a. “weinergies”) has given the Urban League of Milwaukee the largest single non-program grant.

League officials listened Wednesday as a letter from Richard A. Abdoo, chairman and chief executive officer of Wisconsin Energy Corp., the parent company of We Energies, was read aloud. After praising the league for helping Milwaukee prosper, the letter came to the point:

“Unfortunately, prosperity may not be the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks about the league’s headquarters building on Wright Street. We know that you’ve been concerned about the condition of the building for some time. . . . I’m pleased to tell you that We Energies, through the Wisconsin Energy Foundation, has awarded a grant of $500,000 to the Milwaukee Urban League to be used as part of your plans for a new league facility.”

Stuff like this really chaps my hide.  WE Energies is the power and gas company in Milwaukee.  They are a private company, but they operate a monopoly which has been granted to them by the State of Wisconsin. 

If a normal private company chooses to give money to a charity, that’s fine.  The people who run the company are subject to the market.  If their giving promotes goodwill and positive press, and results in increased sales, then it’s a good thing.  If the charitable giving is seen as wasting money and results in a decline of sales, then that’s fine too.  Ultimately, the company will answer to the market.

When a monopolistic company, like WE Energies, gives money to charity, it’s quite another matter.  WE Energies is not subject to market conditions.  If they want to give away $500,000 or $500,000,000, the public has no choice but to buy their product at the rates they demand. 

Ultimately, the only power the public has over WE Energies is through their elected representatives.  The next time WE Energies comes to the State asking for a rate hike, let’s tell them to take a hike.

Arbitrary Requirements

Speaking of arbitrary State requirements, I?ll let you in on another one.  My company is currently answering an RFP (Request for Proposal) for the State.  We?ve answered many of them over the years and they all include some requirements that have absolutely nothing to do with the actual project.  You will always see a section with something like this:

Responses from certified Minority Business Enterprises may have their cost decreased by a factor of .95 to 1.0 to provide up to a five percent (5%)  preference to those businesses in support of State policy. (Wis. Stats. 16.75(3m))

The State of Wisconsin is committed to the promotion of minority business and has a goal of placing a minimum of five (5) percent of its total Procurement dollars with certified minority businesses.  Authority for this program is found in Wisconsin Statutes 15.107(2), 16.75(4), and 16.75(5) and 560.036(2). 

A listing of certified minority businesses, as well as the services and commodities they provide, is available from the Department of Administration, Office of Minority Business Program, (608) 267-7806.  The list is published on the Internet at:  http://www.doa.state.wi.us/dsas/mbe/report2.asp

 

And this:

The State of Wisconsin is committed to the promotion of minority business in the state’s Procurement program and a goal of placing 5% of its total Procurement dollars with certified minority businesses.  Authority for this program is found in Ss. 15.107(2), 16.75(4), 16.75(5) and 560.036(2), Wisconsin Statutes.  The contracting agency is committed to the promotion of minority business in the state’s Procurement program.

So, if the company responding is minority owned, they automatically get a 5% jump on the rest of the competition.  Furthermore, if the company responding outsources anything, then the 5% of the total revenue must go to a minority owned subcontractor.  It goes on to say that responders must file quarterly reports to show how they are accomplishing this goal, yadda yadda yadda.

Here we have an RFP for a multimillion dollar, long term, and technically difficult project and some people will be eliminated for this arbitrary requirement.

I?ll let you in on another dirty little secret ? actually, a couple of them.  The first secret is that Wisconsin doesn?t have very many minorities.  Wisconsin is 88.9% white.  Beyond that, only 3.7% of the companies in Wisconsin are owned by minorities. 

The second dirty little secret is that these numbers are even further skewed in the world of telecommunications.  For whatever reason, telecommunications is dominated by white guys.  I often joke with my wife that I could never cheat on her because I can go weeks without even talking to another woman.  It?s almost as bad with minorities.  Minority telecom people are very rare.  If you are one, you will never be out of a job.  Furthermore, I work in a highly specialized part of telecommunications.  It?s even worse in my sphere.  I do not know of a single female technician in my area of telecom.  I do know of a very few ethnic minorities, mainly Latinos and European ethnic minorities, who work in my field, but no blacks or Hmong folks.

Now, none of this is to say that minorities and such can?t do the work.  I?m sure there are some in other parts of the country that I haven?t met, but there aren?t many around Wisconsin.  Right or wrong ? that?s just how it is.

So, what happens?  There are only a few telecom companies that are certified as minority owned by the state.  None of them are bidding on this particular project because it?s not in their specialty.  The scope of this particular project is too large for any single company to do all of it (except for perhaps SBC), so everyone will have to subcontract some of the work.  Every company, ours included, will seek out some task to subcontract to one of these companies.  I have no idea what their skills are, so I will basically have them do menial work ? and pay them a fortune for it.  Or at least pay them 5% of the total revenue.  If I?m lucky, they will have someone who is actually of some use to me, but I doubt it.  As I said, I work in a very specialized area and I know everyone in Wisconsin who would be of use to me. 

The minority-owned businesses will get this business from whoever wins the business.  They know it.  That?s why they are on the list with the state in the first place.  Since they are only competing against each other, and not the whole market, their prices are often above the normal rate.  My company isn?t just going to eat that cost, and neither is anyone else.  We build this cost into our bids. 

Sad, isn?t it?  The taxpayers are going to pay more for this project, regardless of who wins the contract, because of an arbitrary requirement that makes the folks at the state feel good.

Foreign Work

There’s a little controversy going on here in Wisconsin because the State has apparently been outsourcing some work to foreign companies.

The New York-based J.P. Morgan Electronic Financial Services Division that provides electronic benefit transfer services for Wisconsin’s food stamp program - at a cost to the state of $2.1 million - subcontracts its customer services center to Cincinnati-based Convergys, which has call centers based in India.

However, the Department of Health and Family Services is renegotiating the contract so the work will be done in the United States, on orders of Gov. Jim Doyle, according to DHFS
spokesman Jim Malone.

And Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, and Sen. Judy Robson, D-Beloit, are trying to advance a bill - called the American Jobs Act - that would require that all contractual services purchased by executive branch agencies be performed in the United States if the services are available in this country.

Although I know that it’s not politically attractive, I think that this issue is total bunk.  I would rather that my state spend my tax dollars as efficiently and effectively as possible rather than worry about arbitrary requirements about who will do the job.

For instance, let’s say that the State needs to buy 1 million pencils for the year.  Company A is a Wisconsin company that can offer the pencils at $0.30 each for a total price of $300,000.  Company B is a Mexican company that can provide the exact same pencils at $0.20 each for a total price of $200,000.  I think that the State is obligated to buy the pencils from Company B.  If the State buys the pencils from Company A, then it is shirking its duty to manage the taxpayers’ money wisely.

Rubbers

I heard about this story on the radio this morning.

A cell phone valued at $100 was reported stolen March 10 from the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center after middle school students had entered the center and asked for and received condoms. After they left, the cell phone was gone.

I offer it to you without comment.

Medicaid Scam

This story is just amazing.

Congressional investigators said Tuesday that Wisconsin is receiving $936 million more in federal Medicaid payments than it should under an arrangement with the Health and Human Services Department, run by former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson.

It’s confusing, but here’s what’s going on:

Minimum Wage Veto

Governor Doyle has been busy this week.  He vetoed a minimum wage bill yesterday.  What this bill would have done is forbid local governments from raising the minimum wage. 

The bill was brought about mainly in response to Madison’s effort to raise the minimum wage within the city limits to $7.75 per hour. 

Believe it or not, I think that this is a good veto for two reasons.

First, as most of you know, I oppose any minimum wage.  But if loonies in Madison want to raise their minimum wage, let them.  It will keep them from pressuring the State to raise the minimum wage for the whole state.  Furthermore, local ordinances are much easier to repeal than state laws.  So if my town raised the minimum wage, we’d only need one election cycle to get people in there to repeal it. 

Second, Doyle’s veto may spike the legislator’s effort to raise the minimum wage for the state.  Doyle had indicated that he would have signed this bill banning local governments from raising the minimum wage if the legislature would have committed to raising the minimum wage for the state.  Since Doyle vetoed the bill, he has removed one incentive for the Republicans in the legislature to pass Doyle’s bill to raise the minimum wage. 

So, both philosophically and tactically, I support Doyle’s veto.

Flag Desecration

Here’s a bill that’s headed to Jim Doyle’s desk.  It looks like he will sign it.

Assembly Bill 157 would prohibit any acts that would destroy, damage or mutilate the U.S. flag. It would provide for a maximum fine of $10,000 and nine years in prison for people committing such acts. The bill has passed both houses and is on its way to Gov. Jim Doyle’s desk.

I respect and love Ol’ Glory as much as the next red-blooded American, but this law would desecrate what it stands for far more than whatever people do to it.

It’s called “free speech” folks.  If you want to roll a pound of tobacco into your flag and smoke it on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial - that’s your right.  Personally, I’ll consider you a dirt-bag, but it is your right.  I find it unconscionable that the government would put someone if prison for what is clearly an exercise of our natural right.

3 Vetoes

Governor Doyle of Wisconsin is set to veto 3 bills.  I?d like to take a look at them.

The first bill would let medical professionals withdraw from medical procedures on moral or ethical grounds.  So, for instance, if a patient asks a doctor to euthanize him and the doctor agrees, the nurse must help, regardless of her own moral code.

In practice, the law has little effect.  That same nurse could refuse and it would be up to her employer to decide whether to continue her employment.  If she were a good nurse, I suspect that it wouldn?t be a big deal.  If she did end up getting fired, then that is a choice that she will have to make.  The job belongs to the employer and the employer has the right to determine the requirements of the job.  In fact, most medical facilities already have policies to address this.

Although I am somewhat on the fence with this one, I don?t mind the veto too much.  If it had passed, I think the effect would have been more political that practical.

The second bill that Doyle plans to veto is a bill that would ?prevent obese individuals from suing restaurants and food distributors for contributing to their weight problems.?  Doyle is helping out his lawyer buddies.

As I?ve said before, I think that these kinds of bills are a necessary evil if the legislators won?t enact actual tort reform.  I do think that it is interesting because Wisconsin has a huge healthcare industry.  There are several reasons that make Wisconsin attractive for the healthcare industry.  If Doyle would sign this bill, it would attract even more healthcare jobs to Wisconsin.  As usual, politics trump the state interest in Doyle?s mind.

The third bill that Doyle plans to veto is the most outrageous.  The bill ?would allow governments to consolidate or privatize their operations without seeking the approval of public employee unions.? 

In the current state of things, the public employee unions have a virtual veto power of consolidation initiatives.  So, if Milwaukee and Shorewood want to consolidate their garbage pickup service to save the public some money, the labor union can refuse ? which they would, because ?save the public some money? means that there will be fewer union jobs.  This fact alone means that elected officials? hands are tied on the issue of consolidation. 

Furthermore, when Doyle vetoed the Property Tax Freeze last year, he specifically said that local governments should take the steps to consolidate services in an effort to keep the property tax levy down.  So on the one hand, Doyle is telling local governments to consolidate services to save money, and on the other hand, he is making it virtually impossible for them to do so.

Loser: taxpayers.

Lies, Damn Lies, And Statistics

There’s a little problem here.

In a move likely to confuse almost everybody, the state released 2002-‘03 school year data Thursday that shows Wisconsin has more teachers considered “highly qualified” than are fully licensed in the subjects they teach.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction says about 98% of teachers of core school subjects last school year were considered “highly qualified,” under a definition crafted to comply with the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

At the same time, the state reported that only 96% of its teachers were fully licensed, with the remaining 4% split between unlicensed teachers and teachers working outside their licensed fields.

So, if having a teacher certification is so dang important, like the teachers’ union swears, then how can some teachers still be “highly qualified” without one?

Constitutional Amendment

The Wisconsin Senate is debating whether or not the Wisconsin constitution should be amended to define marriage as between one man and one woman.

The Assembly has already passed it.

Log Cabin Republicans

The Log Cabin Republicans will be running an ad in Wisconsin.  You can view the ad here.