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The real Public Enemies

June 27, 2009 By

An OshKosh Public Museum exhibit looks at the circumstance around 1933 to 34 crime wave that inspired " Public Enemies ." The blockbuster film stars Johnny Depp as John Dillinger as he knocks over banks throughout the Midwest.

The exhibit will also take a look at the Wisconsin locations that were transformed into sets for the Depression-era gangster flick. Saturday's grand opening will feature a 1929 Packard Roadster and the Midwest Motorized Bandits performing holdups.

"The Era of Public Enemies: A Wave of Crime in a Troubled Time" exhibit runs July 27 to October 18.

AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :31)

Filed Under: Recreation & Entertainment

Obey in dustup on House floor

June 27, 2009 By

Wausau Congressman Dave Obey lost his temper on the House floor Thursday night and reportedly pushed a fellow Democratic lawmaker. Reporter Jared Allen with The Hill says he saw Obey and California Congresswoman Maxine Waters get into a shouting match over a million-dollar earmark for a public school employment training center she wants in her home district.

Allen says the veteran Wisconsin congressman denied the earmark, based a new policy change from House Democrats banning what are called "monuments to me."

Allen says Waters continued to press Obey on the earmark and the conversation turned physical. "There was some – I wouldn't say pushing, others have described it as pushing. There were some hands placed on shoulders if you will, and the two parted ways and began shouting at each other."

Allen says the confrontation comes as a surprise: "you don't generally expect members of Congress to act like this on the floor." But he says it's not that revealing, for those who know the Wausau Democrat. "Chairman Obey does indeed have a reputation for being very blunt. Says what's on his mind, does not hesitate to say what he feels, even if it's gong to upset any number of people, other members and constituents included."

Obey spokesman Ellis Brachman says Obey tried ending the confrontation but Waters chose to make a scene. Allen says it's unclear whether Obey and Waters will be reprimanded for getting into the shouting.

AUDIO: Matt Lehman reports (:40 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics & Government

Assembly passes budget

June 26, 2009 By

042709capitol.jpg On time and balanced. That's how Democrats in the state Assembly highlight the state budget bill passed Friday evening. But Republican Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald has two other words to describe the plan: jobs killer. "We're not making it easy for working class families," said Fitzgerald. "If we continue on this course, there'll be no working class families, 'cause there'll be no jobs to go to. We have to quit demonizing businesses in the state of Wisconsin." Fitzgerald said the increase in the capital gains tax included in the $62 billion plan will hurt investors and small businesses.

Madison Democrat Mark Pocan said the plan does what Democrats pledged they would do after gaining the majority in the Assembly: dealing with a record deficit, while protecting schools, public safety and health care, and shielding working families from big tax hikes. A family earning the median state income, said Pocan will pay "about 128 bucks" in new taxes and fees. "Given a $6.6 billion deficit, a historic deficit, I don't think that's all that bad." But the budget, the final details of which were worked out by Democratic leaders in the Assembly and Senate meeting behind closed doors, is "the little shop of horrors," according to Green Bay Republican Phil Montgomery. "Feed me, Seymour," Montogomery joked. The budget increases minimum car insurance rates, imposes more than forty new state mandates, and, insisted, includes some three billion in new taxes and fees, when combined with the February budget repair bill. "The monster of big government that is never enough," he said.  

"We're all going to have an opportunity to go home and talk to our constituents and make sure that they understand that this does protect working families," said Sheridan. "And as this economy recovers, people are going to look to see who rolled up their sleeves and got the work done." Sheridan said Democrats asked the GOP to partner with them on a budget but "they chose to sit on the sidelines." The budget, which passed on 51-46 vote, now heads to the desk of Governor Jim Doyle, who will have little time to consider vetoes in the two year spending plan, if he's to sign it into law prior to the start of a new fiscal year on Wednesday.  

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Budget, Politics & Government, Sports, Top Story

More cuts to tobacco prevention efforts

June 26, 2009 By

Wisconsin's Tobacco QuitLine could be negatively impacted by funding cuts Wisconsin smokers will pay another 75 cents in taxes, under terms of a provision in the state budget, but they won't necessarily see the benefits of that revenue when they decide they want help to quit smoking. Budget negotiators have dealt another cut to Wisconsin's stop smoking efforts.

Maureen Busalacchi, Executive Director of Smoke Free Wisconsin , says budget conferees, working in secret, cut another $5 million from the state's programs to help smokers kick the habit. "We've been looking through a lot of documents and details, and if you look at the major income sources to the state, you see corporate taxes, and at roughly the same amount, you see cigarette taxes." Busalacchi says that makes the entire cut 55 percent, not the 40 percent in earlier versions of the budget.

It's unlikely that this further raid on tobacco programs can be reversed by anything short of a veto by the governor. But Busalacchi wants the public to know what occurred behind closed doors. "They need to tell their lawmakers, that's not ho we do things in this state. We actually help people who have a problem."

Smoke Free Wisconsin believes drastic cuts to tobacco control programs will result in higher youth smoking rates, and that getting a handle on health care costs become more difficult without investing in programs that help people to quit smoking. Busalacchi says the 75 cent increase on cigarette taxes without a program to combat smoking is just a tax increase — and a regressive one at that, because a third of all low-income people are smokers.

Filed Under: Budget, Health & Medicine, Politics & Government, Top Story

Runaways from youth treatment center sought

June 26, 2009 By

The Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing and Exploited Children and Adults is assisting the West Bend Police Department in the search for three teens missing from a treatment center.

According to a press release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Kyle French is a runaway from the Washington County Youth Treatment Center. French was last seen on Tuesday when he ran away from TYC with two other individuals; Josh Kropp and Victoria Frase . French is from Baraboo, Kropp is from Colgate, and Frase is from Beaver Dam

It is believed that the three runaways are in the Sauk or Dodge County area. Kyle was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black gym shorts, and a black baseballcCap. He also had on an ankle bracelet. Josh was last seen wearing a gray hoodie and PlayStation pajama pants. Anyone having information on Victoria, Kyle or Josh should contact the West Bend Police Department at (262) 335-5000.

Filed Under: Human Interest
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