Blogging Blue

$36.3 million dollars.

That’s the amount the state Department of Corrections
paid out in overtime costs between mid-2005 and mid-2006, a jump of 27 percent. Rising numbers of inmates in the state prison system, coupled with staff shortages in state institutions, are largely to blame for the overtime costs, and since the situation came to light, lawmakers have approved hiring 50 officers, a move expected to cut overtime costs to $26.3 million this fiscal year. Already some state lawmakers have begun raising questions about the overtime costs, with Rep. Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) stating, “The answers they gave us didn’t seem to quite add up,” he said. “We feel there’s something else going on, but we haven’t been able to pinpoint it. It seems there’s something not quite right. Perhaps they need an audit.”

Rep. Suder can call for an audit until he’s blue in the face, but ultimately these overtime costs are the direct result of a concerted effort on the part of the Department of Corrections not to fill vacant positions in order to eliminate enough positions to satisfy the Governor’s annual request that state agencies tighten their collective belts. Sure, the DOC tries hard to cut administrative positions, but they’re not above eliminating vacant corrections office and probation and parole agent positions, which gives us the situation the DOC’s currently in. What folks don’t seem to realize is that cutting positions - and thus creating a situation where massive amounts of overtime are needed - only leads to huge overtime bills. If vacant positions were filled, there’s no doubt in my mind costs would certainly decrease, so what’s needed isn’t an audit, but rather an increased effort to fill all vacant positions so that overtime costs can be kept to a minimum.

2 Comments »

So now that former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen’s three felony convictions have been overturned on appeal, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is calling for Jensen’s case to be resolved without another trial. Predictably, Jessica Bucher is on board with Van Hollen’s recommendation, going so far as to say that if allowed to plead to a series of misdemeanors “He’ll be punished far more severely that way than any of the other legislators over the years who did the same thing and skated.”

Now someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but Jensen won’t be punished “far more severely” than Chuck Chvala and Brian Burke, both of whom did the right thing by accepting responsibility for their roles in the same criminal behavior Jensen engaged in and accepting the punishments meted out. Apparently, Jess Bucher seems to think Jensen should be held to a lesser standard, making me wonder why that could be. However, I’m sure it has nothing to do with Jensen’s political affiliation, because that’d expose Jess Bucher as nothing more than a conservative shill…oh wait, too late.

(cross-posted to Whallah!)

No Comments »

As candidates begin to crawl out of the woodwork for the upcoming 2008 elections, I’ve decided to start taking a look at some of the candidates running for the various elected offices here in Milwaukee County, as well as throughout the state as a whole, with the intent of highlighting some of those candidates who might not be as well known.

This week’s candidate spotlight focuses on Jason Haas, who’s running for the 14th district’s seat on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, a seat currently held by Richard D. Nyklewicz, Jr., who isn’t seeking re-election. Jason’s campaign campaign will be centered around three main principles: Clean Government, Clean Air, and Clean Parks. Jason has said he’ll refuse to accept donations above $100, as well as any money from out of state Political Action Committees. In addition, Jason wants to work to have Wisconsin-made biofuels used in the county’s fleet, and he fully supports the Milwaukee County “Green Print” environmental plan. Jason’s a real progressive at a time when the County Board needs more progressives to protect the parks and preserve services from cuts by County Executive Scott Walker and his supporters on the Board. Jason’s wide ranging life experience, enthusiasm, and vision would serve his potential constituents well, and so BloggingBlue is proud to endorse Jason Haas for the 14th District’s seat on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.

No Comments »

capper over at folkbum’s rambles and rants has a great writeup on all the promises Scott Walker has broken during his tenure as Milwaukee County Executive, but the one that really sticks in my mind is this nugget from his own reform plan: Will not serve for more than one full term (no longer than 2008)

Of all the promises made by Scott Walker, it seems to me this promise not to serve more than one full term is the most important, and not just because I’d like to see him out of office, but because it goes to the heart of Scott Walker’s integrity. Sure, he could argue he couldn’t achieve some of his other promises due to outside forces - such as the County Board - but his promise not to serve more than one full term is something Scott Walker has full control over. As such, Scott Walker should live up to his word and not seek another term, because in doing so he’s exposed himself as a liar who simply cannot be trusted.

I hope Lena Taylor makes a point to bring up Walker’s promise not to serve more than one full term, because I’d love to hear his explanation for why he’s chosen to break a promise he made to the voters of Milwaukee County in 2002.

EDIT: If I had read the All Politics Watch blog, I would have noticed Lena Taylor’s already fired a shot across the bow, saying Walker Walker broke a 2002 campaign promise when he announced he’ll seek a second full term in office next year.

2 Comments »