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Braun faces uncertain future with endorsements

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With Ryan Braun getting suspended for the rest of the season and him admitting to doping, how will this hurt his endorsements and marketability?

Richard Reider, who teaches a sports sponsorship course at Marquette University, says, “I don’t think anybody really knows. When you get back down to it Ryan is still a very young guy. He’s highly marketable. He’s loved by the fans of Milwaukee and he’s got a national following.”

As to how this will affect the Brewers image or fan base, Reider says the scandal won’t “help the team,” but he doubts it will harm the team much as tthey have done a “remarkable” job in engaging the Milwaukee fan base.

Bill targets huffing and driving

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Current state law falls short in trying to prosecute someone who is under the influence of an inhalant while driving, according to sponsors of a bill that would change the law’s definition of an intoxicant.

During a public hearing on the bill, the case of an Appleton woman accused of huffing and driving was cited numerous times. Following a crash in 2011, Marilyn Torbeck was cited for a third offense — operating while intoxicated. However, a circuit court dropped the charges as the chemical in her system “1, 1-Difluoroethane”, found in spray cans, is not covered under state OWI law. An appeals court upheld the ruling.

State Rep. Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) says the bi-partisan bill would include all inhaled substances as an intoxicant under OWI laws, adding to the statute’s existing coverage of alcohol and nitrous oxide. Bies says the measure will give law enforcement the “tools they need” when dealing with those who huff and drive.

The bill was heard by the Senate Transportation, Public Safety, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee.

Bill to give veterans priority in college registration

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Lawmakers hear a proposal that would give military veterans priority in registering for classes on UW campuses. State Senate sponsor Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) says the measure would help vets who may face challenges of being an older student in class while working and supporting a family.

A number of those who testified spoke about the difficulty those in the military face when trying to register for classes while deployed.

The proposal was spearheaded by David Tuseck, a student at UW-Milwaukee who spent six years in the military. He learned about other states with similar laws while meeting with student veterans from around the U.S. After his nearly 200 emails to lawmakers, state Representative Diane Hesselbein (D-Middleton) began drafting the bill which has since picked up bi-partisan support.

No one spoke against the legislation during the public hearing held by the Senate Transportation, Public Safety, Veterans, and Military Affairs.

Push to keep paramilitary mine guards from returning

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The Sierra Club has requested the state Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) deny a license application by Arizona-based Bulletproof Securities. Its military-style guards had been stationed by Gogebic Taconite (GTAC) to protect its North Woods mining site, but were removed after it was discovered that security firm was not licensed in Wisconsin.

GTAC claims the masked guards were needed after a June incident, caught on video, which depicts masked protestors threatening the safety of workers and their families.

“There are plenty of local in-state security guards that could’ve been hired. There could’ve been more coordination, I think, with local law enforcement,” says Shahla Werner, director of the Sierra Club John Muir Chapter. She is also concerned about the possibility of tourists being injured as the project is located in an area open to public recreation. The group is also asking the Iron County District Attorney’s office to criminally charge GTAC.

Iron County D.A. Marty Lipske says any possible charges would involve more investigation and information from state officials on the company’s licensing violations.

Lipske says a Wisconsin security firm would alleviate the licensing issue, but adds the aggressiveness of the demonstrators gives “some legitimacy” to GTAC’s response. He cites the actions documented in the criminal complaint of 26-year-old Katie Kloth whose alleged group of protesters threatened mine site workers and their families. He says they are seeking information about the identities of the other demonstrators.

Lipske says he’d like all parties involved to go forward in a manner that is “non-threatening, non-violent, and non-destructive.”

DSPS confirmed it received a complaint from the Sierra Club.

New WEAC head at national convention

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Immigration reform is among the topics that top officials from the nation’s teachers unions are taking up at the annual National Education Association meeting.

“It’s time to fix the system and create a road map for citizenship for those who’ve been part of our communities and our families for many, many years,” says Betsy Kippers, president-elect of the Wisconsin Education Association Council. “And we just want some common sense solutions to reflect our values.”

More than 10,000 educators are taking up issues surrounding school safety and student interest rate hikes this week in Atlanta, Georgia. Kippers adds that the event is also to “celebrate what our educators do every day for our students.”

The event runs through Friday.

WEAC remains watchful for voucher accountability plan

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As the voucher school system is expanding statewide, Republican lawmakers are drafting an accountability bill for those private schools. Meanwhile, the state’s largest teachers union remains watchful for this proposal.

“We believe every school should be set to high standards and high accountability. And it will be interesting to see if they (voucher schools) have to meet the state standards or if they’re going to create another system, a whole separate system of accountability, because right now we’re funding two education systems,” said Betsy Kippers president-elect of the Wisconsin Education Association Council.

WEAC has long criticized voucher schools for lack of accountability measures. Nevertheless, Kippers says they remain fundamentally opposed to the program’s use of tax dollars for private school education.

Governor Walker said Monday he wants any school that gets tax funding–including virtual and voucher–to be graded under the state’s existing school report card system.

Hintz grateful for unified opposition to bail bonds

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A major critic of a state budget plan to allow bail bondsmen gives credit to Gov. Scott Walker for vetoing the provision, while remaining critical of other elements that survived Walker’s veto pen.”And I’m grateful for Attorney General Van Hollen and the other supporters we had. Our caucus was unified in saying ‘this is unacceptable,”‘says state Rep. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) about the bail bondsmen proposal.

For the second state budget in a row, Republican lawmakers included a measure that would’ve allowed bounty hunters to begin operating in Wisconsin. Hintz questions why Republicans are “continuing to going to bat for the bail bonds industry?”

The list of reasons Democrats dislike the budget includes its rejection of federal funds to expand Medicaid, tax cuts they say will benefit the wealthy, and statewide expansion of the private school voucher system. Hintz says the decisions were made “behind closed doors” rather than with public input.

Gov. Walker issued 57 vetoes in the state budget which he signed at a ceremony Sunday.

New political party promotes personal privacy

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A new political party is gathering in Milwaukee Saturday. The Wisconsin Pirate Party (WIPP) is holding a rally in the city’s downtown. Treasurer Francis Klein says their group which believes in empowering the people through government transparency, personal privacy, and copyright reform.

Klein says the event was scheduled before it was discovered the Obama administration monitors citizens’ phone calls. “It was a pre-planned event actually, but given what has happened recently we find it particularly well-timed I guess you could say.”

The WIPP will also announce a candidate for governor in the 2014 election.

With the political system dominated by the Democratic and Republican Parties, it’s been difficult for third parties to put forth viable contenders. But Klein says today’s political climate is relatively favorable to third parties.

“You notice around the country people are fed up with the two-party system especially given the last (presidential) election,” says Klein, adding a number of people felt the choice of Barack Obama or Mitt Romney amounted to the “lesser of two evils.”

The WIPP is affiliated with the International Pirate Party founded in Sweden in 2006.

Budget signing location touted as success story

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Among the bills Governor Walker signed into law, shortly after taking office in 2011, is a tax credit for businesses that relocate to Wisconsin. Catalyst Exhibits, then-located in Illinois, quickly took advantage of it.

“That brought 105 jobs initially up into Wisconsin and they’ve expanded since then and they’re looking at expand again,” says former Republican Senator Van Wanggaard, who authored the bill. “This is the type of momentum that is going to continue to drive Wisconsin forward.”

Walker will sign the 2013-15 state budget Sunday at the trade show exhibits provider which is now located in Pleasant Prairie.

While Wanggaard portrays the Catalyst Exhibits success story, other media reports say there may be another reason the governor decided on that location.

Quota finalized for state’s second wolf hunt

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(Photo: WDNR)

(Photo: WDNR)

At its meeting in Wausau today, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board unanimously approved a statewide quota of 275 wolves for the next hunting season, up from the quota of 271 set last year for the state’s inaugural hunt. Although it’s the legislature not the board which sets related laws, that didn’t stop a number of wolf hunting opponents from lashing out at the state Department of Natural Resources.

Alice Miller claimed while DNR officials opposed to the wolf harvest are “given gag orders,” others who are allowed to speak are “Walker puppets.” Luanne O’dell accused the DNR of having no scientific evidence in its population claim of 800 wolves currently in Wisconsin:”You can’t put a number on something you don’t know anything about. You need to stop the lying.”

DNR Ecologist Bill Vander Zouwen later summarized the agency’s extensive, scientific method including eye-witness reports, radio collaring, and tracking the animals to determine population totals. He said the information comes from a number of staff members, volunteers, and federal officials who are involved in the process. Additionally Wisconsin, unlike many other states, does a wolf total every year.

A number of conservation and hunting groups support the quota while calling for an increase in its number. With more than 800 wolves in the state and the DNR’s goal of 350, the groups testified the 275 quota falls far short of obtaining that.

Vander Zouwen admitted the recommended quota, like last year’s limit, is a “conservative approach.”

A number of those who are opposed to wolf hunting believe it’s okay to let farmers shoot wolves who are a danger to livestock. Melanie Weeburg says, however, very few wolves that are killed by hunters are near farms. She says a wolf harvest splits up the pack making it less likely for the predators to hunt large animals, thus prompting them to go after livestock.

The approved plan would issue 2,750 permits but the DNR may have to reduce that number if the state’s Chippewa tribes decide to participate in the wolf harvest. The Chippewa would be entitled to hunt up to 115 wolves. The tribes, who are staunch opponents of hunting wolves, chose not to kill any of the animals last year.