On First hearings on Walker bills set for Tuesday

Posted on January 10 at 4:38 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Where are the 250,000 jobs Scotty?

On Janesville police launch OWI tracking map

Posted on January 4 at 9:07 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

People have a higher chance of getting hit by a drunk driver, than you or your child do of being sexually assaulted. The unfortunate thing is that most people who are injured by first offense drunk drivers, not your 4th or 5th offense. Note, I said most not all. And as for the bus routes, those cost tax dollars to run, so are you going to complain next that your taxes are to high so we can pay for drunks to get home at bar time?

On Walker makes state budget promises

Posted on January 3 at 5:37 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Well, for people to be self sufficient in their jobs, they have to be at least 15-20 dollars an hour. A minimum wage job will not be able to full support a family a four(National average for families). After rent/mortgage, light, water, phone, gas, car payment(s), what is left to pay for health care? Nothing. Then the GOP wants to bolster the economy, get people out spending. If they can't pay for rountine care, how can they buy a pair of jeans, or go to the movies. I agree that people abuse the system, but when gready money hungry CEO's don't pay a good wage, how will we make it. Aurora Health Care is a 501(c)(3) corporation (not for profit), explain to me how they let 75 employees go one week and their retiring CEO gets a multi-million dollar severence package. And let's not forget their Luxury Box suites at Miller Park and the BC.

On Walker proposes revamping Wis. Commerce Department

Posted on December 28 at 1:03 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Just a point of information, it is fruitless to debate who create/destroys jobs, all politicians are to credit/blame for both. People complain about the size of government and the amount of employees. The state government work force swelled to it's highest in the late 80's and throughout the '90s when Tommy Thompson was governor. Oh yeah, he was a Republican. And to reference my point on gas prices in my last post, When I got out of the service in 1999, gas prices were below one dollar. When George Bush was in office, oil skyrocketed to close to four dollars a gallon at some points. This is the most stable gas has been in a long time. I note that the price speculation is expected to rise after the Republicans take office. Coincidence??

On Walker proposes revamping Wis. Commerce Department

Posted on December 28 at 12:56 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

For job creation to be effective, in today's society, the employEE needs to make between 15-20 dollars an hour to survive. With oil speculations reflecting the possibility of 5 dollars a gallon, people need to make more, and they need to have comparable benefits for the market in which they live. An employer cannot create jobs at minimum wage with no benefits and call it success, because with the poverty level where it is, people making those wages would still qualify for badger care and such programs. To be a success, the employEE needs to earn a good wage with good benefits to be able to be self sufficient to get off government assistance.

On to the train, it would have created a temporary stimulus in the job market for the construction of the rail system then those would be gone. The only permenant jobs would be those staffing the train and that would be probably 200ish given the ticket clerks, engineers, and probably two to three per train and factor in days off and 7 day a week operations. It would be successful for a period of time because it would be a novelty, then it would die off.

On Walker proposes revamping Wis. Commerce Department

Posted on December 28 at 9:29 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

I don't think the article is stating that he would create 250,000 state jobs, but 250,000 jobs in the state. Walworth County has a Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and it hasn't done one thing to add jobs to Walworth County. They keep taking tax payer dollars and we don't see a return other than hot air and BS from their Board. No accountability with our money either. It is another way for Republicans to funnel money that the county doesn't have to their money grubbing friends who don't do a thing for this county. EDC's are defunct and a GOP waste.

I also note that Walker states that he would move or eliminate regulators in the Dept of Commerce. Look what happened in the banking industry with deregulation. The economy headed south, just what we need, more deregulation.

On Walworth County Board opposes member increase

Posted on August 11 at 10:44 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

I think the 11 member board is just fine, 9 may be taking it a little to far. As a county employee for over a decade now, we have reduced the number of employees from almost 1200 down to somewhere near 850. We have taken plenty of cuts in staff and are having to do more and more work because of cuts that were made by the county board. So we the citizens vote to reduce them and they don't like it, OH WELL. Mr. Grant, you have been on the board long enough to know what a decrease in the numbers would mean. You ran for re-election voluntarily, you knew what the work load would be. If you feel overworked, don't run for re-election. What's keeping you on the board, the annual stipend, mileage to and from your meetings, the laptop you get for being on the board? Let me ask you this as a "FULL TIME EMPLOYEE," when the meetings are at 8, 9 10 and so on during the day, who is going to make? You set it up so that only retired people can be on the board.

On Walworth County plans for cuts

Posted on May 31 at 6:28 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

checkout the amount of middle management in the jail and public works that could be cut. It's amazing that they cut one position, give everyone a promotion and payraise and call it a budget savings.