As Scott Walker Appears to be Testing Waters, ‘Truth Squad’ Debunks ‘Pants on Fire’ Claims

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker could appeal to both social and fiscal conservatives, making him a candidate to "fear" in the Iowa Caucuses, progressives warn.

West Des Moines, Iowa — Amid growing speculation that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is testing GOP presidential waters in Iowa and elsewhere, progressive activists warned Thursday at a rally here that a Walker presidency would be “terrifying" and disastrous to middle-class families. Walker hasn’t said he’s a candidate, but his appearance Thursday at a Republican fundraiser in Iowa’s largest county, as well as a handful of appearances in the Northeast and before powerful conservative groups, suggest that he’s at least considering a 2016 run for the Republican presidential nomination. The “Scott Walker Truth Squad,” as activists from Progress Iowa and One Wisconsin Now call themselves, told reporters at a news conference that Walker has the …

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Scott Walker in Iowa: Is Wisconsin Governor Floating Presidential Trial Balloon?

Our sister Patch in West Des Moines, Iowa, reports that a Scott Walker “Truth Squad” plans to rally ahead of Wisconsin governor’s appearance before Republican activists.

West Des Moines, Iowa — Advocacy groups for progressives in Iowa and Wisconsin are holding “Scott Walker Truth Squad” in advance of the Wisconsin governor’s appearance Thursday at a Polk County Republican Fundraiser, one of several of appearances before GOP activists that point to a possible presidential run in 2016. Advisers to Walker say he’s returning a favor to Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, who hosted a fundraiser in Dubuque, Iowa, for the embattled Wisconsin governor during his 2012 recall election, the Washington Post reported. Even if Walker’s advisers are telling it like it is, and that Walker’s appearance with Branstad is just a little quid pro quo among political friends, the pre-banquet rally by Progress Iowa and One Wisconsin Now …

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Steve ®

12:14 am on Saturday, May 25, 2013

Have you researched smart post yet midday?   more ›

Money & Politics

Non-Fiscal Items in State Budget Draw Flak

Did Gov. Scott Walker break a campaign promise when he vowed to keep pork out of the state budget?

Some campaign promises build in a bit of wiggle room. The one made by candidate for governor Scott Walker to “Strip policy and pork projects from the state budget” did not. This unequivocal pledge, posted on Walker’s campaign website, committed the candidate to eschewing both parties’ longstanding practice of using the budget to make policy changes and reward special interests. In April 2011, less than four months into Walker’s term, the truth-testers at PolitiFact Wisconsin branded this a broken promise. It noted that the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau had identified dozens of non-fiscal items in the governor’s budget repair bills and first biennial budget. Walker’s latest executive budget, for 2013-15, included what the Fiscal …

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Dnaiel J. Phillips

6:42 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Mark, The Repubs didnt want you and yours to feel left out, seeing that your boy Doyle"s budgets were loaded with non fiscal items.   more ›

No Reception For Verizon's Cell Tower Proposal

Verizon Wireless has received stiff opposition from residents in a neighborhood whose homes abut a proposed site for a 130- to 150-foot cell tower. Neighbors fear for their safety, Verizon planners say they have nowhere else to go.

Despite promises that a new 130-foot cell phone tower would alleviate reception issues in Brookfield, the proposal still received no reception at Monday’s Plan Commission Meeting. A group of six Verizon Wireless planners attempted to allay residents’ concerns about the safety of the tower. However, roughly 10 residents voiced their opposition to the project and asked commissioners, “Can you hear me now?” Verizon is hoping to build a 130-foot monopole adjacent to a water tower at 19295 W. North Avenue, which runs shoulder to shoulder with yards and homes in a residential neighborhood along Alta Vista Circle and Alta Vista Drive. The plans call for construction of the tower, which could expand to 150 feet if other service providers lease …

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Camelot Park Tennis Courts Getting Upgrades

The upgrades will begin mid-August and end mid-September.

Camelot Park Tennis Courts will be getting a $29,000 upgrade. Upgrades include milling the existing surface, crack filling, asphalt paving, color surfacing and line painting, reported Brookfield Now. Upgrades to the 18 year old tennis courts will begin Aug. 12 and will be completed by Sept. 13.

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Is Another Walmart Store Necessary?

Plans for a Walmart nearby in New Berlin spark controversy.

$200K Grant from FEMA Puts Brookfield Firefighter, Department on a Winning Streak

The latest grant dollars will update radios as the county goes digital, but the hard work of the department, led by firefighter and grant writer Bob Tiarks, made the third such award in as many years more than luck.

Brookfield fireman and paramedic Bob Tiarks has taken extensive training from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but it's not what you might think. Fire Chief Charlie Myers said Tiarks took the opportunity to learn more from FEMA on how to ask for funding through their Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, and it's apparent he's paid attention. Since attending a number of seminars offered by the agency, Tiarks has "honed his writing skills" to more effectively request money to garner the department approximately $445,000 over the past 3 years. The dollars have paid for defibrillators ($89,100), self-contained breathing apparatus ($156,600) and now digital radios ($199,242). However, Myers was quick to add that the most …

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