Here's a link the the Attorney General's appeal:
http://www.doj.state.wi.us/news/files/Pe...

Information being passed via Twitter regarding Judge Sumi.....

Jake Sinderbrand is the son of Mary Ann Sumi WI court Judge who issued TRO on Governor Walker bill last week. Her son is Field Mgr. with the AFL-CIO and data Mgr for SEIU State Council!

Is there a conflict of interest here??

poobah - I am 'fleeing' to Kentucky in about 15 minutes - in fact, this is my last blog entry. I won't even check to see what your response is.

And where will you flee, PrettyWoman? To Alaska to join your hero, Sarah Palin? You know, you can see Russia from there!

Ghadafi might flee to Illinois .. Obama fled to Brazil - is this a new democratic tactic?

Mudsill,
I didn't vote for Obama.

Also, on Thursday March 10, they were in regular session, not special session.

http://legis.wisconsin.gov/leginfo/sessi...

Kiesha, did you read what I wrote or just not understand it? I'm not trying to "have it both ways", I was just trying to explain how a TRO works.

And try to get the letters in the right order-there's only 3 of them.

No, it doesn't Kiesha. Show me the Statute or Senate rule that you are citing that says you can ignore the law and I'll show you a worthless document.

Boy tdb, you love having both ways don't you....

poobah, they were in special session: This trumps that rule!!!

Then Obama and his administration are in contempt.

Kiesha, if he were to ignore the judge's ruling, he could be in contempt of court and jailed.

The difference here is that the judge in Madison issued a temporary restraining order that prevented publication and therefore enactment of the law. While the judge in FL ruled "Obamacare" unconstitutional, he did not rule that the law be suspended while it works it's way through the appeals process. So it is still in effect until ruled upon by the Court of Appeals and probably eventually the US Supreme Court.

Also it is clear that the republicans were "venue shopping" for a conservative judge that they knew would rule against Obama's plan - other courts have ruled it constitutional, setting up a showdown in the Supreme Court. By statute, Dane County is the correct venue for the suit against Walker's plan. If it goes to the State Court of Appeals and the State Supreme Court, so be it, but Dane County is where the process must begin.

kiesha said, "The way to fix this is just vote again. Call them to the floor and vote."
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kiesha, even if the bill is identical to the previous one that the Republicans passed, they have to issue the proper notices, allow time for debate and then vote. I would think that this time the Democrats would stand to speak in opposition to the bill and vote against it. And I think a few of the Republicans who have their jobs on the line with a threatened recall may be inclined to reconsider their previous vote. Could be interesting...

Dj... you need a hug? All of us who sign the petition know our signature is only an intent. We know the real recall does not start for awhile. It's ok DJ. We'll be fine.

"Walker stated many times that as governor he would create 250,000 jobs."
--Gandalf

I can see how you're easily manipulated by political rhetoric. You need to distinguish between the logical implication and the conversational implication of what people say. Take this for example:
"During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet." --Al Gore
Did Al Gore mean that he actually created the Internet? No. That is the logical implication but not the conversational implication. The conversational implication MUST take precedence.
What Gov. Walker is actually doing is taking the initative to create a business friendly environment, not creating the jobs themselves. But of course he wants to take credit for creating the jobs; he wants to get re-elected.

Well, Walker could always pull an Obama and completely ignore a Judge's ruling. ObamaCare still hanging around and his interior dept is in contempt for the drilling ban which doesn't have any effect. Democrats seem to want it both ways. Rules for Demos-there are no rules.

@ poorrichard…I agree with everything you stated with the exception that the middle class is the ruling class. The true ruling class is the upper class. As of 2007, the top 1% of households (the upper class) owned 34.6% of all privately held wealth, and the next 19% had 50.5%, which means that just 20% of the people owned a remarkable 85%, leaving only 15% of the wealth for the bottom 80%. It is because of the obscene inequality that they are the ruling class. They have the means and power to buy our politicians, thus getting legislation passed that favors them. The wealthy also control the media so there is no “fair and balanced” and they purposely misinform people. So please look at who really controls this country and then read your statement “The ruling class looks down on the real middle class-they think we're too stupid, not educated, mindless sheep led by the Koch brothers or Fox News. We don't know what’s good for us but they'll tell us. We can't figure out the issues on our own so we need their knowledge and guidance. ‘” I have a family member who recently retired from the position of COO of a major international company; you pretty much repeated his words verbatim. So the people you call liberals are not the only ones with that opinion. When people continue to vote for policies that are detrimental to themselves, I can see why the upper class think that the middle and working class are stupid.

166,000 invalid signatures for a recall of Walker. Signatures cannot be dated b4 Nov,2011. Go ahead with your exercise in futility.

"if government plays no role in creating jobs, how come your hero Walker has creating 250,000 jobs the centerpiece of his policies?"
--Gandolf

freedomfighter608 didn't say the government played no role in create jobs, he said: "And he was going to 'create' jobs, when government does not 'create' them."

There's a difference between creating jobs and playing a role in creating jobs. It's true that the government does not create jobs, but the Wisconsin government does play a role in creating jobs like giving incentives to businesses that hire.

http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dls/OMPR/2010...

Here is the law. Enforcing a law is not judicial activism.

Now THIS is judicial activism:The Supreme Court overturns decades of precedents on campaign spending

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10024/103...
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10024/103...

judicial activism by a liberal judge. Nothing new here.

So our attorney general says a county judge has no jurisdiction over a state law that was broken. He also says he will defend the legislature's right to break that law. If the State Attorney General won't enforce a law and acts on the State's side to defend the breaking of a law, who can we trust to uphold the law? Certainly not a partisan AG.

factsplease:It isn't about the unions, or conservative vs. liberal, right vs left or Republicans vs Democrats, these are just distractions to keep us focused on fighting our neighbors so we won't notice that the top 1% has 70% of the wealth, and that the politicians are all either paid off or brainwashed by their propaganda machines called lobbyists. Wake up and smell the oligarchy! Our country has been drained of it's wealth and we are just now starting to see the consequences.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,GOOD POST!!!!!!!!!!

It isn't about the unions, or conservative vs. liberal, right vs left or Republicans vs Democrats, these are just distractions to keep us focused on fighting our neighbors so we won't notice that the top 1% has 70% of the wealth, and that the politicians are all either paid off or brainwashed by their propaganda machines called lobbyists. Wake up and smell the oligarchy! Our country has been drained of it's wealth and we are just now starting to see the consequences.

Money and don't forget POWER - Why else would they have so many hired minions running around Wisconsin? It's all connected to the Democrats, who by the way also have large corporation contributors so to suggest otherwise is ignorant.

Every single one of these people are about money, to act as if anyone in power is about something richeous is funny.
To me the ones that need protection from these money gubbers and power grabbers are the teachers, Fire , and police. What we have found out about gov Walker is if you support him monetarily youll be protected, but oppose him and he will destroy you!!

Unions are about money? look at your governors contributors, and then in turn who he is giving favors to. Your premise is silly at best!

@poorrichard- The difference between GM and the elementary school is that hundreds of teachers dont get drunk on lunch break and go back to work. GM hung themselves out to dry. Not nnecessarily the workers fault, but quality of GM vehicles have been declining for decades.Wonder if intoxication had anything to do with it??

Today's Gazette headline says it all on who is hurting the middle class. This bill would hold my property taxes or even lower them - but no, unions heads must really want there minions to pay up there dues and not lose our government collecting them also. Money, Money, Money and Power is ALL they want.

Tater: your posting is old news to us. It is fine with us that you think the rage is disappearing. Behind the scenes, the rage is intensifying. Stay Tuned.

And I love quilted Northern.
I think of our governor's smiling face every time I use it.

Be careful, he might hurt himself if he tries to think.

It seems that the Dems are pinning all their hopes on a recall. I wonder how many of you are aware of what has to happen? The following is from an article in the Milwaukee Express on March 2:

***********
Wisconsinites outraged by Gov. Scott Walker's attempt to strip public employees of their collective bargaining rights are already trying to determine how best to remove him from office before his four-year term expires in January 2015.

One option is recalling Walker.

But Walker's opponents will have to wait, since elected officials must serve one year before they can be the target of a recall election. The earliest that Walker could be recalled would be January 2012.

But recall supporters could begin collecting signatures to place Walker on a recall ballot before that date, in early November.

Recall supporters would have to collect enough signatures to equal 25% of the previous election's turnout, about 540,000 signatures, said Kevin Kennedy, director and general counsel of the state Government Accountability Board (GAB).

Walker would have 10 days in which to challenge those signatures. Recall supporters would have five days to respond, and Walker would have two additional days to weigh in. The GAB would have 31 days to review the petitions—the 17 days in which the two sides contest signatures, plus an extra two weeks—but the agency could petition the court for an extension.

If enough signatures are deemed valid, the GAB would call a special election for governor to be held on the sixth Tuesday after the signatures were certified.

Walker would automatically be a Republican candidate for governor, unless he would resign from office.

The election could be a primary election if another Republican decides to run, or if more than one candidate from another political party—Democratic, Libertarian or Green, for example—also decided to run. All of these candidates would have to file with the GAB and collect signatures to be placed on the ballot.

The winners of the partisan primary would then advance to a general election.

If each party has only one candidate for office, then only one election would be held.

If Walker would lose any of those elections, he would have to give up his office 10 days after the final election.
***********

We'll see if this rage is still in place 10 months from now. It will still take an election and there are plenty of Walker supporters around that will not necessarily make this a "slam-dunk". In the meantime, why don't you all use your efforts to better this state rather than stewing in your hate?

yada, you are stating that the Republicans are destroying the middle class. What about the Messiah in the Whitehouse? Massive spending, bailing out and owning auto makers, forcing government run healthcare down our throats, etc. And he was going to "create" jobs, when government does not "create" them. Very high unemployment, U3 and U6.

Drive thru an elementary school parking lot (not this week though cause they're on spring break) and count how many cars are foreign made. I guess it's OK for them not to support their fellow union "brother's and sister's" but not for us. Any business or company I hear that has a union boycott against it I will go out of my way to patronize and the union sympathisers I will avoid- it works both ways.

The way to fix this is just vote again. Call them to the floor and vote.

Walker has other options too. He could wait, and that’s what he may do, but he could make a bold statement here and that would be my plan.

Ignore the judges ruling.

Yeah, that’s right. Ignore it. He could do this for two reasons. One would be because it’s going to become law anyway, no matter what is done here. This is just another delay tactic by liberals. The second takes a page right out of Obama’s play book. The Obama administration is ignoring a federal judges ruling on “The Paitiant Protection and Affordable Care Act” also know as Obamacare. The administration continues to force this law down the throats of the American people even though Judge Roger Vinson has ruled the law unconstitutional. When Vinson’s ruling came out, the administration dismissed it, saying it was “judicial overreaching” by a Reagan appointed judge. Vison’s ruling was the equivalent of an injunction, yet the Obama administration holds the courts ruling in contempt. Good luck with that Mr. President.

By this standard, Scott Walker could do the same. If he did, it would be really interesting, but he will stick to the legal letter of the law I’m sure because that’s what Republicans do. Liberals find the law to be only an obstacle.

Exhibit A: When asked if Obamacare was constitutional, then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “Are you serious? Are you serious?” The reporter said yes. She then said, “You can put this on record: That is not a serious question.”

They (liberals) can ignore what laws they don’t like. We (conservatives) cannot.

Every time I hear how Walker is trying to destroy the middle class I think "Ruling Class". After all that's what these people think they are. The ruling class look down on the real middle class-they think we're too stupid, not educated, mindless sheep led by the Koch brothers or Fox News. We don't know whats good for us but they'll tell us. We can't figure out the issues on our own so we need their knowledge and guidance. We're like little kids who will behave if they give us a time out or a smack on the butt.
So please stop saying Walker is trying to destroy the middle class- he's trying to save it from the ruling class.

A final point - Another big rally today to attend today and this will NEVER end even if the bill is defeated. As of yesterday - over 166,000 have signed the pledge for his recall. Walker will be removed from office - it could happen in the one year recall or in four. This is a big business game for him and the Koch boys. It is also about getting rid of your union political opponents. This is NOT about the economy and a fiscal crisis! It is about getting rid of the unions and much of what is happening is not coming just from Walker. You have the Koch brothers who worth over 40 billion that are a big part of this. Some of you that are supporting Walker need to research what the Koch brothers are doing business wise and politically.

Right Wing Conservative Tea Party Republicans - are the problem - nuff said! Walker is hurting the middle class and has recently given financial help - money and tax credits of over a million dollars to away to 2 WI businness places. It will cost the pulic worker and family around 10 grand with the new bill. It"s all about KOCH and big business.

Left wing socialists are ruining this once great country

"Koch block."

Like

YAY!!! Now let's hurry and find the illegal stuff so we can impeach this yoyo!

now we have a some common sense in Madison.

Koch block.

Stll waiting for a republican blogger to try to defend the conservative judges, all while trying to demean the "liberals" , good luck!

freedomfighter: You're right, it is the same judge. But it wasn't a strike, the teachers were all out sick : )

This is the same judge who basically stated that is was ok for the teachers to break the law to walk off their jobs and protest. I maybe wrong, but it may have been placed in their collective bargining agreement from several years ago. Can someone who knows this help me here, if it is true, this judge does not do her homework before she issues any ruling.

I am guessing that these right wingers have no problem with David Prosser stating he would be a "conservative" judge right? Or hows about our conservative attorney general, trying to say this ruling essentially means nothing. Thats all good right?
Scooter has it right, the two party system needs to go. Take the money out of politics, make it a 4-6 party system with one term for EVERY office, All while repealing that horrible "citizens united" decision. Ruled on 5-4 by a divided PARTISAN supreme court, those pissing and moaning about a "liberal" judge or DA are just whining bc they lose this one, thats it!! When you have Supreme court justice Antonin Scalia attending and speaking at tea party functions in DC , you will cry about this? Your arguements of partisan bias fall on deaf ears , and quite honestly make you look uninformed and kind of dumb.

When the republicans use the courts trying to stop heathcare because they feel it violated the US constitution its the right thing to do. But when the democrats use the courts because they feel the republicans violated the law it is wrong. Typical hypocrites!

This is a great read, regardless of which side of this issue you stand on. It's from the beginning week(s) of the debate on the budget repair bill so some of the things are outdated, but overall it's a good article.

http://motherjones.com/contributor/2011/...

scooter47
Mar 18, 2011 at 4:59 p.m.
--
Well said. thank you.

To all those claiming that there was some sort of liberal bias in the courtroom, I would like to point out that Judge Sumi was appointed by former Republican Governor Tommy Thompson.

nemesis said, "Legally she can have issue with the process but it can not stop the law from being enforced. Those kind of injunctions can only be to "published" and "signed" laws. She obviously has no concept of separation of powers either."
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And where did you get your law degree from, nemesis? Have your read her judgment? I doubt it. Subsection (3) of §19.97 CLEARLY states that ANY ACTION is voidable. It does NOT have to be a law, published or unpublished, but ANY ACTION. Can you show me what statute states a court can not void an action until it is published into law by the Secretary of State? Don't bother answering that -- there isn't one.
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The authority for a temporary restraining order is set forth in §813.02. The Court may, with or without notice to the other party, (although notice to the other party is preferable and certainly achieved here), determine whether the pleadings show that a party is doing or is about to do an actin violation of rights of another party, and tending to render the judgment ineffectual. If the court so finds, it may issue a temporary restraining order.
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The enforcement section of the Open Meetings Law, subsection (3) of §19.97, states: “Any action taken at a meeting of a governmental body held in violation of this subchapter is voidable,upon action brought by the Attorney General or the District Attorney of the county wherein the violation occurred."

http://addins.wkow.com/blogs/scoop/2011/...
Why is this not making headlines? Hopper's mistress getting hired for $11,000 more than the person she replaced? Sounds quite corrupt to me!

"A state worker with ties to Sen. Randy Hopper is being paid $11,000 more annually than her predecessor in a position at the department of regulation and licensing.

State officials said the woman, 26, was hired to a limited term, communications specialist position last month, with a salary equivalent to $42, 328 annually.

State officials Friday said the woman’s predecessor left the position in January, with a salary equivalent to $31,200 annually. No explanation was given for the new hire’s higher pay."

The process of passsing the law was of questionable legality, hence the law is void, at least temporarily. It's not that complicated.

She issued her injunction against a law that LaFollett hasn't even published yet. Her injunction is not for the law itself but to the process of how it was brought down. Legally she can have issue with the process but it can not stop the law from being enforced. Those kind of injunctions can only be to "published" and "signed" laws. She obviously has no concept of separation of powers either.

Oh, it was Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne. Fine. Sounds like a valid legal point. So why is it necessary to make this into a republican vs. democrat issue if it's really just a legal issue? It should be a legal issue regardless of the political leanings of Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne. That's the bigger issue. The two-party system must die!

This was "in response to a lawsuit filed by the local Democratic district attorney." Who the F*** is that!!! There are lots of names named in the article. Why is this key person not named? Talk about spin and biased reporting. Is "the local Democratic district attorney" an official position? Does the DNC control our legal system? Why is there a democrat or republican moniker attached to every person named? Just another reason we need to break the disfunctional two-party cesspool of a situation.

nemesis, can you explain how (you think) she has disregarded the constitution?

This should be amusing.....

Scooter,

Great post. Could not have said it better myself.

Another activist judge who thinks they can disregard the state constitution and make her own laws. Then after she does the damage she follows the example of the 14 fugitive senators and takes a vacation making herself unavailable for interview or comment.

worker, their latest story is because it doesn't deal with appropriating (spending)money then they didn't need the quorum. That's different than the earlier story that they couldn't have a budget bill without this stuff.

Gandalf, I think you're thinking recall which is different than impeachment. If he commits "high crimes and misdemeanors" the Assembly can vote to impeach him and the impeachment trial would be in the Senate. This would not be a criminal trial, only to remove him from office. It is unlikely since both Assembly and Senate are republican dominated.

Is a vote to impeach Walker possible?

I just don't understand the logic behind these posts. I have basically stepped back and watched and read through this whole process. But DAMN IT, wake up people. Do you really want to be a puppet on a string? I sure don't. Walker has his head up his nether region and you Republicans think it is okay as long as some one else suffers. Is that what human beings are made of? HATE! That is all I see in these posts. Hate for your fellow worker, the one who teaches your children/grandchildren, the one who picks up your stinky garbage, the ones who build the objects YOU use in everyday life. What is wrong here? Please tell me.

Just grasping at straws.

It's interesting that a Democratic District Attorney and a Democratic County Executive are filing lawsuits against how the bill was passed by Republicans. Would they be filing lawsuits if the situation were reversed? I doubt it.

if the bill stands, I thought they needed a quarem to pass all bills that were fiscal, then how come in this bill is it requiring state workers to pay towards pension and health insurance, money items right? the republican party can't figure out if it is or isn't, it was in then its out. When the unions are decertified who pays to get them certified again? A state journal article mentioned that the state would have to pay $200,000 to get the ballots out and if thats the case, it will cost at least that each and every year.

Yes, it would have taken guts to go and make worthless votes and watch the bill pass quickly, but it was cowardice that led them to stand up to the republicans, placing their jobs on the line, in order to give the people more time to digest what was happening. Nice logic.

Yes, a judge has to issue a restraining order against a bill that the republicans pushed through illegally, and it's the democrats that should be sent packing. Nice logic.

Cullen and his minions should start packing.....

Oh there is a war on the middle class. And its not about trying to get rid of unions. Thats what they want you to think its about. Its about getting rid of the "middle man". Take a look around town. Its not that hard to find someone who is struggling right now. But lets take away community services that could put them back on their own feet. And then lets make it more difficult for them to educate their children. Tell me why anyone should bother crawling out of the hole they are possibly in if their own government puts businesses needs before peoples needs. And thats what they want you to do. Become lethargic and lazy. They don't want you stand up for yourself. It makes it easier for them to do what they want when they have you scared and beat down. This should be more about US the citizens against THEM the corporations. Until we stand together against them all they will always be the ones pulling the strings one way or another.

truecitizen....Getting rid of the middle man so that the big man can step all over the little man. You must have the good fortune to be on top of the economic heap. Because if you are not then you have merely bought into the Republican lies. And if so, then I feel sorry for you.

"Until then, Walker is doing what he needs to do."

If you think breaking laws to get bills passed is "what he needs to do," then I weep for the future of our state.

Cullen is just trying to appease, waffle, or what ever to save his job for next term.. You should not have left the state in the first place. It is damaging to our institution. I keep hearing about other spending that Walker is doing, but no proof of it. I want to see it. Until then, Walker is doing what he needs to do. As for the 'war on the middle class'-I don't buy it. It's about leveling the playing field and getting rid of the 'middle man'-unions.

you mean "1/4 term" Walker. LOL.

She was appointed by former Governor R-Tommy Thompson.

Is this woman elected? If so, watch the outside money flow towards a smear campaign against her next election.

"One-Term" Walker hits a speed bump??

In light of all the posters who have been saying that unions are passe, I find it interesting that yesterday the NFL Commissioner sent a letter to all NFL players practically begging for them to bargain collectively saying the only way to aviod a strike was for the owners and the players union to sit down at the bargaining table and come to an agreement and the owners made a very reasonable offer. Maybe CB isn't so bad after all.