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Obey: GOP stimulus input sought

January 28, 2009 By

Rep. Dave Obey (D-WI) As the House debates the federal stimulus bill, Wisconsin Democrat, Rep. Dave Obey says Republicans have no cause to complain that they're input has not been sought.

"If someone says I'm sorry I was shut out, but it was they who turned the key in the lock that kept them on the outside, that certainly wasn't our fault," says Obey.

The Wausau Democrat chairs the House Appropriations Committee, and says he's been willing to listen to Republicans. "I sat down with the ranking member . . . and discussed in general terms where I thought the bill was going, and again urged that we be given any information about what program levels were appropriate," says Obey, adding that he "got no real indication of interest."

The House is expected to vote by this evening, on the $825 billion economic stimulus package.

 

Filed Under: Economy, Politics & Government, Top Story

Sheboygan job losses "serious cause for concern"

January 28, 2009 By

The economic downturn is costing another Wisconsin city hundreds of good jobs. Minnesota based Pentair Corp . has announced plans to close its plant in Sheboygan, and automotive supplier J.L. French has announced cuts, due to plummeting auto sales. In addition to the Sheboygan job losses, the Kohler Company, in the nearby community which bears its name, has also laid off hundreds of workers.

"When you take those three in combination, collectively, it's a very serious cause for concern," says Sheboygan Mayor Juan Perez , noting that the Pentair and J.L. French decisions mean the loss of some 300 jobs each. "These are not the kinds of jobs that are easily replaced," says Perez. "A lot of these employees have been employees for these companies for a long time . . . they've been able to achieve salaries and benefits that complement that status."

Perez says other area manufacturing plants are not laying people off, he's hopeful some may even be hiring. And he'd like to see the stimulus package out of Washington inject some money into creation of jobs in his city.

Filed Under: Business, Economy

Push to end license suspensions for unpaid fines

January 28, 2009 By

There's growing interest around the state to end the practice of suspending someone's driver's license if they fail to pay a traffic fine. Dane County Clerk of Courts Carlo Esqueda says the practide means increased case loads for judges, because people continue to drive, which can lead to more tickets. "We could excercise other collection options and get the money in, and avoid all of this," says Esqueda. "DL suspensions are just more trouble than they're worth, quite frankly."

Some court clerks are concerned about how a change in the system would impact the amount of money collected. A recent study by students at UW-Madison shows that driver's license suspensions help speed up the payment of a fine. Milwaukee County has already curtailed the practice. Esqueda says his plan may have societal benefits, like making it easier for people to get to work.

Milwaukee County has already curtailed the practice with success in meeting revenue targets and saving court system resources, according to Esqueda.

Filed Under: Politics & Government

Street count tallies homeless

January 28, 2009 By

Rock County volunteers are joining in a nationwide effort to reduce homelessness. "The main reason is to prove need," says Community Action Director of Planning and Development Marc Perry of today's street count of Rock County's homeless. "We're asked twice a year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to conduct a 24 hour "point in time" count of homeless individuals and families in our communities."

Perry says agencies involved in the homeless intervention task force do a 24 hour survey of those people who identify themselves as homeless. "Our goal is not just to sustain people in the place that they are, not just to provide emergency shelter, but to help people towards economic self-reliance," says Perry. "For some people the first step is getting them off the street, but there are other steps involved. Essentially, our goal is to work ourselves out of a job."

Perry says volunteers will deliver care packages to the homeless during the street count, and help them connect with local services. The homeless count starts with preparation of care packages in Janesville at 9:00 PM. Teams take the streets for a physical count at 11:00. "We actually go out to areas where we've heard from homeless individuals and homeless families, where people frequent, and actually try connect with those individuals and get them connected with services," says Perry. 

Filed Under: Human Interest

Rebuilding the economy with jobs that build

January 28, 2009 By

Congressman Steve Kagen (D-Appleton) says the federal stimulus plan differs from a previous bailout the country saw that rescued the financial giants. He calls the package an investment in people, not Wall Street.

Republican House members claim the package is loaded with pet projects. The Democratic Kagen was not pleased when he learned of family planning and money to fix up the National Mall in D.C. Democrats' did eliminate $20 million meant to re-sod the mall, and cut nearly $200 million for contraceptive services.

Kagen says the stimulus plan will help rebuild the economy. The Appleton physician says within 60 to 90 days construction projects can be up and running.

The state government has created a special agency to speed up project approvals. Wisconsin expects around $3 billion.

AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :86)

Filed Under: Politics & Government
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