Gov. Scott Walker To Use Foreclosure Settlement Money To Balance His Budget, Not Help Homeowners

Well good bob why don't you donate your goods to help balance the budget !!!

Don't wory about it, I know life will be hard for you and yours out on the street. But hey the budget will be balanced until the crooks steal some more from ya huh ??

does someone piss in your post toasties every day Bob?

Walker is a fool if he thinks he is going to get by with this. Wait...he IS a fool.

Actually balancing the budget is more important. That little grant will do nothing for the housing market. If it is not going to pay off all of the bad home loan debt; then it is all a political show.

I have no dog in this fight but I think this recall stuff sets a bad precedent. Elections will mean nothing in this country going forward. I don't like you so lets gather a few signatures and we will have another election. Meanwhile who pays for all of this ???????

BRO4L:

So allow the criminals to profit while the people still get stuck with holding a bag of crap ??

Really ???

The whole thing about being elected is. You are elected and if you are found to be unacceptable you can be fired !!!

Meanwhile who is getting screwed by the dumb as* who is the govenor now ?? Certainly not the wealthy !!!

A few signatures? LMAO... It is apparent you need to be educated about how a recall works. Only 2 Governors have ever been successfully recalled in the US. You get a bad apple, you use the system in place to deal with that bad apple. Looking forward to the third governor to be added to that list.

I need to be educated??lol....that was a good one. I think I know how a recall works. That was not my point ole' educated one.

bob @ 2

You are correct. And it will do more for Walker's popularity in the state, too. Upstaters are tired of paying Milwaukee's bills. Helping to pay down the state's budget hole will benefit all the citizens of Wisconsin.

bob-1478320

smart move on walker's part, balancing the state's budget will do more for the citizens than the foreclosure bailout. the only better use would be using it to crush the unions more

[heavy sigh] the settlement is not a bailout - it's a pittance tort payment reflecting the fact that people are homeless because they were foreclosed out of homes from foreclosers who did not hold the mortgages.

[heavy sigh] the settlement is not a bailout -

Actually it is a bailout, another bank bailout. There are some big flaws in this settlement and the biggest for me is that the banksters only have to put up a few billion in cash.

Scott Walker's use of these funds shows why there were so many ready and willing to sign a recall petition. It wasn't a "few" signatures it was close if not more than a million. Homeowners hurt by the banks should be compensated and to use the funds to patch a hole in a state budget is FUBAR.

You are correct. And it will do more for Walker's popularity in the state, too. Upstaters are tired of paying Milwaukee's bills. Helping to pay down the state's budget hole will benefit all the citizens of Wisconsin.

I thought walker had fixed the big ol' budget whole?? and the state projected a surplus?? So why would he need to steal the federal funds to fix his great budget...

It is not a bailout. I just can't believe how ignorant right wingers are! It is a settlement from the big five banks that stole our money and our homes and who got BILLIONS in bailout money from Bush in 2008 and decided NOT to use it to assist with the stinking, dirty, rotten, criminal mess they made of our economy.

Walker will add it to his re-election fund. He is a crook and a shill for oil companies.

When Walker is done fixing Wisconsin, maybe he can go down to Illinois and fix the budget there. Quinn doesn't have a clue since he lets the Unions tell him how to run things: into the ground.

I think this recall stuff sets a bad precedent.

Tough @!$%#. Republicans had no problem doing in CA. Now the chickens are coming home to roost, and I can't wait to see Walker fall.

BigRedOne

May be you should do a little research on how Walker started his political carrier here in Wisconsin.

A recall. Ding ding ding .

Scott D,

Your right, research is good. Explain to all these nice people that Walker took over for a corrupt Democrat Tom Ament and the union pension scandalthat nearly bankrupted Milwaukee. The lawsuit with Mercer that showed incompetence in the financial consultants along with financial incompetence within the county.

Hey, isn't that how Walker got his last job? Didn't he become Milwaukee Co Executive because of the recall of Tom Ament? Oh, the cruel irony!!

kj031056-1,

The irony is deep; he took over the county from a corrupt democrat that nearly bankrupted the county and he took over the state from a corrupt democrat that nearly bankrupted the state.

He didn't do the County any favors. Wasn't it about a half million dollars lost in the courthouse guard debacle?

whats even more ironic is that no matter how the last administration behaved (which we only have snipets) It doesnt change the fact that Walker is a crook pandering to corporate interests, frying the economy in Wisconsin. The budget was balanced before Walker came in and HE and the other Republican crooks have screwed things up worse.

His position certainly doesnt entitle him to use ear marked money for any purpose he feels like using it for . I can hardly wait until the investigation catches up with him. --and it will.

Forget recall - go for impeachment out of office. What a SLOB!!!

Isn't the money legally designated to go to relief of homeowners that are victims of predatory lending and auto foreclosure??? And that is to compensate for the Wall Street white collar criminal slobs that were victimizing everyone they could with their mortgages fraud,

Scooter Walker and his cronies have made this once great state, into a laughing stock. As I write this, a few of his hoods have already been charged for criminal wrongdoings as a result of an ongoing "John Doe" investigation and the path will eventually lead right up wo Walker himself.

Whether it be by recall or federal indictment, this guy has to go.

Maybe he will end up in prison, wouldn't THAT be an experience for him.

C'mon man. Stop with the drama.

The drama is on the political stage. I sit here like a drama critic.

#3.1 Why is it drama when a Koch brothers bribe-taker is called out? Walker is not serving the people of Wisconsin--he spends his time fundraising with the Kochs and Wall Street.

The GOP has a unique "recall system" it employs:

• Hanging chads
• US Supreme Court
• Swift Boat Vets(astro-turf)

What exactly has he destroyed in your state? He pissed the other side off but what is new in politics?

I think that is an overstatement.

Big He has set up the scene for Wisconsin to move forward and be a top notch place to do business and to work. Best thing since Tommy Thompson.

then why is the economy in Wisconsin going down? How is that good for Wisconsin?

Man you cons sure eat up the lies.

There shouldnt BE a budget shortfall according to those Republicans, remember? That was the first time fools believed Walker saved the day.

What exactly has he destroyed in your state?

The financial stability, the tax base, the credibility of his office, the economy, the law.

Pretty much everything. Walker's toadies and allies are being arrested left and right, he's the target of one of the largest recall efforts ever, and he's scurrying like a little rat to get what he can while the getting is good.

Thompson left Wisconsin with a $3.2 billion deficit when he left to join the Bush regime. That clown could never be considered a one of Wisconsin's better governors.

According to the article, the decision to use the State of Wisconsin's award for budget deficit reduction came from the State Attorney General.

Of a $31.6 million payment coming directly to the state government, most of that money – $25.6 million – will go to help close a budget shortfall revealed in newly released state projections.[Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen], whose office said he has the legal authority over the money, made the decision in consultation with Walker.

Mike in Wisky, I emailed Dept of Justice to bring this to their attention and hopefully this will not stand. Looks to me like the Atty General is in cahoots with the Little Dictator and this should not be allowed.

You e-mailed the Dept of Justice? lol.... He probably is in cahoots. he is the governor's AG...duh.

If you get an answer, let us all know.lol

http://www.jsonline.com/business/walker-van-hollen-chunk-of-mortgage-relief-going-to-state-budget-uj45185-139070349.html

Wisconsin will use a chunk of its $140 million share of a national settlement over foreclosure and mortgage-servicing abuses to help the state budget rather than assist troubled homeowners, Gov. Scott Walker and state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said Thursday.

there's your answer...

http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/press/van-hollen-refused-to-investigate-walkers-cronygate.html

Lynn, and what exactly do you think you will achieve by sending email to the WI DOJ? The AG works for the DOJ and has legal authority over the money. Maybe you can organize a protest outside the DOJ and demand that they turn over the money to the Unions.

Where did I say I emailed the Wisconsin Dept of Justice? I emailed the Federal DOJ in Washington.

Then the Attorney General of Wisconsin has an obligation to the State of Wisconsin to see to it that those funds are frozen.

Every single AG in the country who didn't stand their ground and fight against this criminal conspiracy by the banks, should be recalled. They sure weren't looking out for the best interests of the consumers or citizens, but instead caved to political pressure and the pittance monies offered by the banks.

I would love to be able to scam the banks out of trillions of dollars and then just be "forced" to pay back less than 5% of what I stole, while being absolved of all criminal liability. That is exactly what the banks did and people are defending that action? Unbelievable. The little guys get screwed again and the political donor crooks get away with more crime. Hell of a racket if you can get in on it.

E-mailing the Wisconsin attorney general will do nothing. He's in cahoots with Walker and his band of criminals and corporatists. We need to recall Walker and oust the Repulsivecans.

This guy is nothing short of a crook. I look forward to your recall election and his demise.

And while he was in college (which he couldn't complete), he was punished by it for committing unethical acts and forbidden to participate in campus clubs.

He hasn't changed since becoming governor.

Doesn't it register with you markpup that the whole purpose of the settlement is to help people who are in trouble with their mortgages? This was not a settlement aimed at helping governors improve their budget deficits. There could not be a better example of why politicians are so despised in this country. He is literally stealing the future of whatever number of families could have saved their homes or found new ones with that nearly 26 million that was meant for them and not for the state government's fiscal problems. Conservatives just have no feelings for anyone but themselves and their own families.

Out of 140 million, 109 million is going directly to distressed homeowners. And it is a reasonable assumption for any governor of any state to attribute part of their budget shortfall to the housing crisis in part created by the bank's irresponsibility.

If someone can show me Walker's actions are unusual and other governors aren't doing the same, I could change my mind about this. But I doubt it and I think he's getting singled out.

Again I emphatically don't agree with what he did with public unions, but that's a separate issue. I believe success in changing that is focusing on that, not getting bogged down in other issues.

It is already proven that Walker slashed corporate taxes in order to attract companies to this state. Well, the companies have not been coming and the state is growing a bigger deficit due to the slashed corporate tax rate.

Walker should not use the money for a growing deficit problem that he created with help from the teapublicon legislature. He needs to get that money to the people for whom the money is intended. The people will spend the money and the state will benefit from collecting taxes on whatever the people buy.

Slashing corporate taxes is a side issue. I'd recommend focusing on the issue at hand.

I'm from California and we didn't agree to the settlement. 25 billion sounds like a lot but how much did the major bank's irresponsibility really cost us? The best estimate I saw was around 700 billion - 25 billion is probably just 1 or 2 days of robo-signatures. So if I was to criticize Walker for anything - just focusing on this issue alone and not ranting outside this issue - it's for selling his state short, even though to be fair to him he's one of 40 governors to take the agreement. I don't think they should have.

Markpup

"The banks -- Bank of America Corp., Wells Fargo & Co., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citigroup Inc. and Ally Financial Inc. (the five largest home-loan servicers) -- have committed to spend the bulk of the $25 billion on reducing the principal owed by at-risk homeowners. Smaller amounts will go to people who already lost their homes or are in the foreclosure process. The settlement could help as many as 2 million borrowers, including many whose mortgages are underwater. Cash payments of up to $2,000 will go to those whose homes were repossessed from September 2008 to December 2011."

That was published by Bloomberg Feb 9th

I didn't see the words State or Budget

In my opinion this is stealing !

If it was stealing I'm sure Walker couldn't do it. I do see there's a lot of regulation and inspection to make sure the money's used to its intended purpose.

And I still think very nearly every governor that collects money from this settlement will use what they can to pay down their deficits. If someone can show me Walker's actions in using what amounts to less than 20% of the state's share to close down the deficit is unusual compared to the other 39 governors and states that signed on to this deal, I can be persuaded otherwise. The other 80% is used by the purposes described in Bloomberg by you.

It also seems reasonable to me to use part of the money as tax relief to taxpayers at large. Even if you aren't one of the homeowners who were harmed by illicit banking practices, the whole economy faltered in part because of it and it's reasonable for the class of all taxpayers to get some relief.

During Walkers campaign he did in fact make statements criticizing and denouncing the use of one time payments to fix budget shortfalls.

markpup

Interesting - the state's getting 140 million as their portion of the settlement and Wisconsin is getting 31 million which they can put in any "bucket" they choose. And Walker's using 26 million to help reduce the budget deficit.

This seems reasonable to me. I'll bet most of the governors are following a similar pattern. If it wasn't for the extreme polarization Walker caused because of his stand on public unions, this wouldn't even be a blip.

I agree I don't approve of what he did with the state's public unions. But this particular action is not out of line and is almost certainly consistent with what every governor getting some money out of this settlement will do.

Walker claimed he "balanced the budget." So why is he using money that's suppose to go to struggling, middle-class workers to balance it?

As for state governors and governments taking money given to them for specific reasons and using it for something else because "they do it all the time," and even if that's "legal," it's immoral and unethical and should be illegal. Yes, they do it all the time. Like states that legalized gambling and said all the proceeds would go to fund education, and none of that ever happened. It went to "balance the budget" and for special little projects. Just like states that got a big chunk of money from the tobacco settlements and said all the proceeds would go to held smokers quit and to fund health care costs related to smoking, and none of that every happened. Instead, it went to "balancing the budget" and funding those special little projects. And it's all perfectly "legal."

And we're not suppose to make a big deal about it because "they do it all the time."

I'm not convinced - yet - that a small portion of the allocation of the settlement isn't allowed for helping states balance their budgets and compensate their taxpayers a little bit for the collective suffering they've undergone due to the bank's irresponsibility on the housing market. I don't see this as being immoral in any way. It's apparent to me the settlement allows for this and who could possibly argue with providing money into the general fund that will provide some needed money for some service or other?

Government accounting is all about "buckets" and often is about moving money from a specific bucket to the general bucket or vice versa. I'm happy as long as the money's being spent efficiently on things we really need and I don't see that not being done here.

Walker's no hero of mine that's for sure. But I don't see wrongdoing on this particular issue - except as I stated before he shouldn't have signed onto the deal at all. For the harm the big banks caused homeowners and the economy through blatantly shady practices, 25 billion is almost nothing.

"...as long as the money's being spent efficiently on things we really need..."

Well, that's the crux of the matter, isn't it? So what constitutes "efficiently?" If you have a friend who needs help paying his electric bill, and you give him the money, and he decides to spend it on a hooter-job for his girlfriend because he's decided that's a higher priority (after all, look at what he gets from his girlfriend after he does that), would you have no problem?

Getting stuff is in the eye of the getter. That money allocated to Wisconsin is suppose to go to help middle-class workers. It doesn't help them when it's used to balance a budget Walker already says is balanced because he screwed workers and engrandized the rich (who won't turn any of their loot over to help anyone). That money goes for where it is suppose to go and nowhere else. If there's a budget problem elsewhere, then that problem is dealt with by doing what needs to be done (like hyper-taxing the greedy rich). What's designed for elsewhere (like money for the working middle-class, who actually drive this economy, not the rich) goes there.

Interesting - I would not ever consider money going to the general fund and getting allocated for things like schools and roads equivalent to getting a hooter job. There is nothing wrong with money going to the general fund spent for services good for the whole state. And as I mentioned previously, providing some money for services/tax relief to the middle class across the board to atone for the indirect but definite hit they took in the economy from the bank's irresponsible behavior is entirely appropriate.

Money going to the general fund does help the middle class.

markpup,

if the money is as a result of a negotiated settlement because of the robo-signing, then there is at least a moral/ethical reason to make sure that all the money from that settlement goes to the victims of that debacle. However, whether it is a legal violation, that would depend on the settlement itself, of which someone would have to read it.

Jonathan - I find it hard to believe Walker would ever be able to use a small portion of the total for the general fund if the agreement didn't allow for it.

I also don't find it unethical for a relatively small portion - in this case < 20% - to go to the benefit of all taxpayers in exchange for what they've lost as a result of the bank's actions. Personally I don't see a moral/ethical lapse there. And I don't think a big deal would even be made of it except it happens to be Walker.

How is that recall going? Can we seed that process up a bit?

markpup

Interesting - I would not ever consider money going to the general fund and getting allocated for things like schools and roads equivalent to getting a hooter job. There is nothing wrong with money going to the general fund spent for services good for the whole state. And as I mentioned previously, providing some money for services/tax relief to the middle class across the board to atone for the indirect but definite hit they took in the economy from the bank's irresponsible behavior is entirely appropriate.

If money is allocated to a general fund, then let it go there. By the way, what's a "general fund?" Who gets to decide what that is? If money is allocated for things like schools and roads and helping middle-class workers keep their homes because the greedy banks ripped them off, then it goes there. It isn't taken from that and given to something else. That is the same thing as you giving money to a friend to pay the heating bill and he decides it's more "beneficial" to him to pay for his girlfriend's hooter job. He could claim that either way he stays warm.

Money going to the general fund does help the middle class.

How? All that money was suppose to go to helping the middle class directly. Walker took a big chunk of it away to "balance the budget" he claimed was alreayd balanced, but obvioulsy wasn't because of what he and his Repulsivecan cohorts did to this state. So which middle-class homeowners get told they're out of it? They'll lose their home. What will they get in return from the "general fund" in exchange for losing their homes? A meal in a homeless shelter served up by Walker and his family in order to make a TV commercial to show what wonderful people they are?

The best short lesson on governmental accounting there is - is to imagine all your money going into "buckets" that have specific purposes which all needs to be spent for what the bucket stands for.

Then every governmental entity has a "general fund" which is money you can spend on anything. Every governmental entity there is has one. It's good to have some money in there to make up for the rigid needs of spending money in the other buckets, but not so big that you can undercut money allocated for specific purposes.

I'm in California and if we can get money in our general fund as a taxpayer, I'm all for it. It either means tax relief for me or some additional services - perhaps a paved road or a couple CHP officers on the highways. That's good not only for the taxpayers but everyone in the state.

As far as compensating homeowners who are otherwise responsible by adjusting principal or interest downward which is what this settlement is mostly about, if I criticized Walker for anything it's selling out way too short, but there's 39 other governors who did the same thing so I can't single him out. I'm not that opposed to the settlement because they got a little instead of nothing but the best estimate I heard of actual damages resulting from bad practices and the paid signers is closer to 700 billion, but this was 25 billion which is way short.

I'm still overwhelmed that you're comparing putting money in the general fund is equivalent to paying for your girlfriend's hooter job but you are honest enough to admit you didn't understand the general fund concept so I appreciate that. If you think about what it is and what it's there for, a small portion of the settlement going there is reasonable and universally helpful to all people in the state. Also my bet is all the other 39 states that signed onto this - Democrat or Republican - will do the same or something similar.

The general fund is essentially the 'pot' where all the non directed revenue sits until it is spent. So SS contributions go to the general fund for the year, until the end of the year, when what hasn't been spent on SS benefits (it sits in the general fund but that is only because the treasury department writes all of its checks from the general fund), will be put into various treasury bills (actuaries will determine the term length of the security based on projections). Even though we are in a deficit position, the accounting still puts the excess from SS contributions (we are still in a surplus position) into those treasuries.

If you are running a company and are familiar with accounting, 'cash account' might be a more familiar term.

Hi Jonathan - thanks!! I was going for a somewhat simpler gradient but I liked your explanation. I just wanted to point out there's a good use for the concept of the general fund and money put there isn't wasted (we hope).

Well all money coming in goes into the general fund, it doesn't matter if it is targeted or not. It basically allows flexibility in how you manage your cash inflows and outflows, allowing for outflows to go out before the corresponding inflow comes in and vice versa.

On its own, saying the money from this is going into the general fund means nothing. What does mean something is if that money had a target in the agreement between the feds and the banks in question. It also may not mean anything if the money going into the general fund is replacing previous related expenditures that went to this problem and this is just replacing the funds.

I'm also making the assumption the allocation to the general fund didn't violate the agreement only because that would have caused a much larger reaction and I'm sure the government inspectors would have stepped in. I asked in this thread if anyone had any specific information that it was illegal or explicitly against the agreement to take what amounts to < 20% for general expenditures and I heard nothing.

I had not considered the possibility the 26 million was "parked" awaiting homeowner relief that makes some sense, but I didn't see anything about that either.

My only point on this specific issue is there's nothing wrong to me of getting a piece of the settlement allocated to the general fund is not in and of itself immoral or unjustified. And as I said before, 40 states signed off on this and I'm expecting to see 40 slight variations on the same theme - Walker will not be unique.

Because of Walker, who claimed that he "balanced the budget" without "raising taxes" and "losing jobs," a huge chunk of us are paying higher taxes especially in property. Communities, with the loss revenue (which, I imagine, could have come from the "general fund") have had to raise property taxes. This has proven catastrophic to struggling home-owners who can barely pay their mortgages. The money allocated to the state was suppose to all go to help them. But now, because a good chunk was taken by Walker to balance a budget he claimed he had already balanced, some will be left out in the cold - literally. As I asked before, what benefit will they now get from the money earmarked for them going into the "general fund?" - a meal and a cot in a homeless shelter?

Walker created this mess because he thinks that taking money away from working middle class people and giving it to the rich will "create prosperity." We've lost more jobs in this state because of him. If his balanced budget is unbalanced, then make it up by taking money away from the rich, not from the working middle class and taxpayers. What he's done may not be illegal and "common practice," but it is immoral and unethical. It should be illegal.

Less than 20% went to the general fund and that's helpful for all taxpayers. It's appropriate to me because it's some compensation for all taxpayers for the bad turn in the economy partly caused by the bank's irresponsible lending practices. It's some paved roads or a few extra highway patrol - not bad.

The only way I'd single out Walker for this is if the governors in the other states use all the money for principal and interest deduction and Walker's an exception. But I seriously doubt that's going to happen - all 40 states will follow the same or similar pattern where a small portion goes to the general fund that will provide tax relief or services to all taxpayers. And there's obviously nothing illegal about it otherwise the Federal government wouldn't let him do it.

Granted there are all the other issues you're talking about with Walker he's certainly no hero of mine. I'm just focusing on this issue. I'd also warn his detractors that if you harp on things like this where there really is no wrongdoing, you help justify his other hurtful actions you need to stay focused.

Many of the people who elected him still support him. I know, I can't believe it either.

Isn't that what usually happens. They didn't vote for someone to turn around and vote him out a few months later.

There are just as many people in the world that think just the opposite of what you think. That is life.

They didn't vote for someone to turn around and vote him out a few months later.

They did in CA. I think they will in WI too.

They didn't vote for someone to turn around and vote him out a few months later.

Yeah, BigRed, "they" vote him in and then "we" vote him out. That's how politics work, eh?

Believe it or not, I know quite a few people who voted for that skank and, once realizing how disgusting he is, have signed the recall petitions.

Walker's running scared. More people have signed the petitions than gave him the win. He's desperate to hold onto his job with its big salary and huge benefits for him and his family, like free, taxpayer-funded health insurance and a hefty pension - all those things he insists others should not have. He needs this job. He has no education or experience to do anything else; not that he had either of those for this one, and now he's finding out because his resume is rather short, he might have to join the ranks of the unemployed and unemployable, just as he made so many in this state.

Think about it - if and when he loses this job, what's he qualified to do? He has no degree, no high-career experience. Even WalMart is cutting back on greeters. He knows that he'll be one of those homeless people he had himself and his skanky wife and spoiled kids feeding in a shelter for one of his "save me" commercials. He needs that taxpayer-funded pension. Who'd hire him? To do what? This is it for him - it's either we taxpayers take care of him and his loser family for the rest of his life, or else it's living in a two-room walk-up with gunshots echoing around him and trying to get to his job at a car wash (if he can even do that) in his own rusted-out, coat-hanger-held-together, '90 LeSabre car.

Believe it or not, I know quite a few people who voted for that skank and, once realizing how disgusting he is, have signed the recall petitions.

I do too.....

If it's illegal it will have to paid back.

It isn't. Though it's tacky.

#10.1 And no democrat governors do the same?

And no democrats governor do the same

And again the standard right-wing response of "they do it too!" when questioned.

Tyler, of course they do too. But since they hate Walker this is the news, the new outrage. By now you should have NV demographics figured out :) And all the responses are typically the same. Never mind that most won't admit shortcomings in the ones they support. And you will never get a hyper-partisan to agree with someone of another ideology. It doesn't serve their purpose to do so.

#10.3. And you never hear the left say "they do it too"? LOL. Oh that's right then you defend them saying it wasn't as much so it wasn't as bad.

#10.4 They have to drag up everything they can on Walker and fake outrage because the unions are the laughing stock of Wisconsin right now. They complain about the Koch brothers and then go buy their own candidate. The joke now is that Falk has "union made" stamped on her a$$.

James,

Of course I meant them too. Hence my use of the word "all" and "the rule, not the exception". This means dems and repubs. Of course since the left has a special hate for Walker it seems to be a much greater evil when he does it. Go figure that, huh? :)

Tyler,

Excuse me if I let someone else "look for that union label" :)

tyler, i'd rather have "union made" on my ass than "Corporate Koch Sucker" on my lips.

Paul.....amen brother. Why aren't you blue? FR sent!!

Paul.

I apologize, when I stamped your ass, the 'union made' stamp was out being fixed, so I had no choice but to brand into your ass 'Corporate Koch Sucker'. Again, sorry!!!

:P

Jonathan, whatever image entertains you and your hand tonight.

guess sarcasm is lost on you.

Oh well

guess I missed it.

So your point being that you approve of Walker?

The people who signed for the recall to take place equals more than the people who voted for him.

Yes, it will be Wisconsin electorate that will decide the fate of Walker.

There's nothing funny about Walker's performance, nor his using funds specifically for mortgages to balance his budget.

#13. I haven't seen any poll since 1/19, but that one done by Marquette University showed Walker's approval at 51% and leading all possible democrat candidates by several points. It could have changed by now. If Walker wins, the teachers union is toast and they are desperate.

51% to 48% + or - 3% Walker isn't leading.

If Walker wins, the teachers union is toast

You forget tyler that Walker, should he win, can't do a thing without a congress to back him up and he's lost most of that and will lose the rest, plus he will lose the Lt. Governor. He's dead as a door nail in Wisconsin whether he wins or loses.

Don there is nobody here in Wisconsin that will have a flying @#$% of a chance in defeating Walker. Nobody. If you think Falk has a chance think again.

#13.3 You forget, Don, he will most likely still have a republican congress and the support of those the voted for him. And who says he loses the Lt. Governor. The election is still to come. You are projecting your opinions onto the citizens of Wisconsin and calling them facts.

"You forget tyler that Walker, should he win, can't do a thing without a congress to back him up "

You need to tell the unions and Falk that, Don, since she has claimed and promised them that she will not even pass a budget until union benefits are restored.

I think you need to do the count better than to sit there and fantasize about it. He, not matter his outcome, will most likely loose control.

#14.1 That is a matter of opinion with one being no more credible than another.

Walker did exactly the right thing

Walker did exactly what Republicans always do...whatever fits into their philosophical belief system regardless if it's correct.

Again, he is thinking of ALL the citizens of Wisconsin

He's thinking of being able to say "I did things the conservative way!", not what's actually good for Wisconsin.

read between lines, because it is written with a liberal bias

i.e. -- Doesn't tell the story the way Walker groupies would like.

Walker was right to help ALL citizens in Wisconsin

Walker was given (by your own admission) $140 Million Dollars to help homeowners and he skimmed as much off the top as he could to make up for the state's loss in tax revenue since the mass-exodus of jobs following his Union Busting efforts last year.

Like most right-wing braggarts...the sizzle is a lot bigger than the steak. State's controlled by Democrats averaged 15% more economic growth last year alone.

Combine that with the 3.3 Million jobs that have been created since a Democrat became President and I'm afraid the proof is in the pudding.

Republicans simply can't manage economies (their own, much less anyone else's)

That is a matter of opinion with one being no more credible than another

No, it's not an opinion, it is a verifiable fact. The Jobs situation in Wisconsin has gotten worse, not better, since Walker's Union Busting "bait and switch".

And yet that money wasn't supposed to be for the good of all Wisconsin, was it?

It is supposed to help those who were swindled out of their homes. If there is anything left, then apply it.

Or is it okay for me to take your settlement and give a bit of it to everyone in the state?

#14.4. Yeh, they did lose jobs when Obama's buddy Imelt sent GE jobs to China. How did union busting cost other jobs? One business closed because of no demand for their products. What would you have suggested in that case? Make people buy their products? Maybe the union members should do that.

Walker did exactly what Republicans always do...whatever fits into their philosophical belief system regardless if it's correct.

I think you mean "whatever fits into their philosophical belief system regardless if MJ agrees with it or not."

whatever fits into their philosophical belief system regardless if MJ agrees with it or not

No, it's using a philosophical belief system to make decisions rather than look at facts. The right-wing attacks anyone who doesn't fall lockstep into their belief system. Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, John Kerry, etc. -- the list is endless, if you govern and change your mind based on the facts on the ground, you're called a "flip-flopper" as though it would be better to sail directly into the iceberg than try and change course.

How is that different than taking our tax money and then giving it in tax rebates to those that don't pay any taxes?

Yes, I'd like to have a little talk with Walker about those Corporate tax breaks too!

#16.1 Why not go right to the top and talk to Obama to get off Air Force One and his constant campaigning for money from his wealthy donors and instead fix the tax codes?

Gov. Scott Walker To Use Foreclosure Settlement Money To Balance His Budget, Not Help Homeowners

Hmmm.....I believe this seed is about Gov Walker, not Pres Obama. Yep, just read the headline again, just to make sure. Please feel free to look up^, if you're still confused. Pres Obama is the one who is sending the money back to Wisconsin from the Federal to help the homeowner's already.

Pres Obama has as much right to campaign while on the job as any past President.

#16.3 Translated: This seed is a bash on a republican, don't bring up the democrats warts.

Not a bash with it's the truth.

#16.5. Your truth? Read #14 for the truth. Do your own research. Don't just repeat something some poster you don't even know said and then call it the truth. The rest of us have the right to know the truth, not someone else's version of it.

Gosh tyler I do do the research and if you don't like the results fine but turning your back on the truth is something you are seemingly doing consistently.

This seed is a bash on a republican, don't bring up the democrats warts.

16.4 - Let's see, there are probably 20-30 different seeds that are bashing democrats.....another bunch that are bashing the federal gov't.....THIS ONE is about Wisconsin and Walker! They're out there if want to discuss those topics....

the money is coming from the banks for a targeted purpose

The 31 million is the STATE'S portion of the settlement, the remaining 109 million goes to the homeowners.

wouldn't walker have legal problems if he just used the money to balance his budget?

No, he is only using the states portion, to benefit ALL residents of the state.

The problem is the JOBS have been fleeing Wisconsin at warp speed

Depends on how you look at the data, 2011 compared to 2010 may not show that.

Seems his union busting scheme is not so attractive to companies after all!

Do companies look at the power of the union or uncertainty of the future in deciding to expand and hire? This recall and the uncertainty of the future has stopped job growth in Wisconsin. The blame for slow growth is on this recall. When Walker wins this recall, you will see job growth in Wisconsin.

Depends on how you look at the data, 2011 compared to 2010 may not show that.

Do you have some data for comparison? Or is the comment just.........

Do companies look at the power of the union or uncertainty of the future in deciding to expand and hire? This recall and the uncertainty of the future has stopped job growth in Wisconsin. The blame for slow growth is on this recall. When Walker wins this recall, you will see job growth in Wisconsin.

Job creation at the national level, less than stellar itself, far outpaces job creation in Wisconsin. On average, other states created private sector jobs at a rate three times as fast as Wisconsin. And when you include public sector jobs too, other states created jobs at a rate 11 times faster than Wisconsin. The last six months have been particularly bad for Wisconsin, when Wisconsin lost almost twice as many jobs as any other state.

State policymakers have pursued a variety of avenues in the name of job creation, including adding new tax breaks that largely benefit the wealthy and corporations, stripping more than a billion dollars out of Wisconsin's public education system over two years, and making very significant cuts to the university and technical college systems that are turning out our economy's newest workers. So far, these policies have not resulted in significant job creation.

The fact is Walker's plans are NOT working. You can blame the recall allyou like. Recall is the right thing to do. Walker did NOT run on ending collective bargaining - he pulled a classic bait and switch and the voters have rebelled!

http://wisconsinbudgetproject.blogspot.com/2012/01/is-recovery-leaving-wisconsin-behind.html

Do you have some data for comparison? Or is the comment just.........

I read somewhere that overall, we had a net gain of jobs in Wisconsin last year and a loss in 2010. I Do not have the data, hence the words "may not" in my comment.

Where is the data that says jobs are "fleeing" Wisconsin at "warp" speed?

I read somewhere that overall, we had a net gain of jobs in Wisconsin last year and a loss in 2010. I Do not have the data, hence the words "may not" in my comment.

Really? You read that "somewhere"? You continually post your "opinion" but NO "facts" to bolster them.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says otherwise and that's where these stats come from!

Of course many Republicans are also saying that President Obama is "making up numbers" on JOBS....that's all they have to back them!
So we'll just wait for YOU to post some "facts"!

You DO have "facts" - don't you?

You DO have "facts" - don't you?

Fact - net gain of jobs in 2011

http://badgerstat.org/2011/jobs/

Now it's your turn. Give me your facts that the job losses in the second half were jobs that left the state and they left the state because of Walkers reforms.

I'll be waiting

The Governor and Legislators have focused their efforts on creating jobs in the private sector. But jobs in the public sector are important to the state's economy too. In Wisconsin, hundreds of thousands of people hold public sector jobs teaching our children, repairing our roads, and keeping our communities safe. Over the last year, Wisconsin lost more than 10,000 jobs in the public sector, meaning that the total number of jobs Wisconsin added in 2011 was a measly 3,200. At that rate, it would take Wisconsin 78 years to add 250,000 jobs, whether they are in the private sector.

http://wisconsinbudgetproject.blogspot.com/2012/01/is-recovery-leaving-wisconsin-behind.html

There is NO good news out of Wisconsin!

I am still waiting for your facts on the jobs that are "fleeing the state " and left because of Walker.

You DO have "facts" - don't you?

The facts speak for themselves - Wisconsin is the ONLY state to LOSE jobs the last 6 months in a row...

You say it's because of the recall, well, OK, - the recall is because of Walker and the bait and switch lies!

He didn't run on ending collective bargaining he ran on balancing the budget and here ihe is taking money from needy people in WI to "balance the budget" - you know that as well as I. If he were so honorable - why didn't he run on ending collective bargaining! Why did he lie and now everyone around him is getting indicted?

He's going to jail - if he doesn't get voted out!

And when he does his perp walk I fully expect you to continue to post his lousy JOBS numbers! lol and goodnight!

The facts speak for themselves - Wisconsin is the ONLY state to LOSE jobs the last 6 months in a row...

I do not dispute that fact, it is true.

But, You still can not produce ANY facts to your claim that jobs "left" the state and they left because of Walker. Not one. Where did these jobs go and why did they leave?

the recall is because of Walker and the bait and switch lies!

No. The recall is because democrats and the unions can not except a loss. I believe this is a desperate move on there part. True, Walker did not run on collective bargaining, but he has done what he said he would do. Could it be possible the collective bargaining issue, Act 10, was not conceived until after the election and after it was clear the unions would not work with the state and Walker. If we must hold all politicians to what they say or don't say in the campaign then we must recall all of them. Lets start with Obama who did not run on a health care mandate. If you call Walker a lier you must also call Obama a lier.

I will continue waiting for your facts, I produced the facts YOU insisted I post, now its your turn.

This is the most dishonest politician I've heard of in some time.

Please, Donna, give us some examples with proof. Without the talking points and bumper sticker statements.

He cares only for himself and nothing for the people in his state.

Really? You may not know it, but, in my opinion, what he has done has helped the majority of people in this state. He did things for the next generation not the next election. Something you can not say about many politicians.

Greg, why then have so many people in Wisconsin signed the recall petition? It seems to me a great many don't agree with you. I won't use talking points or bumper stickers, the evidence has been all over the news. Did you read the article in this seed? Is it a lie? I would like you to prove that Walker is not guilty of the things he's been accused of. I believe he must face his accusers and prove he is innocent. He's a governor and must be accountable to the people. If innocent, I will be the first to apologize, but I really don't think I'll have to.

Donna @ 23.2

I think you're going to find out shortly that there were a lot fewer people who signed the petitions than has been reported. I worked on the Verify the Recall project and often there were petitions with only 2 or 3 names on them. And some of those were a bit iffy. There were seldom any full 10 name petitions. Many were only 5 line petitions and not filled. If the original count was done by estimating the number of names from the number of pages, it could be interesting. I don't think the recall effort for the governor will fail, but the numbers are not what you've been led to believe. And I do think he will win the recall election.

Greg, why then have so many people in Wisconsin signed the recall petition?

Signatures do not translate into votes. Most who signed, did not vote for him the first time. Can you tell me how many people did not sign?

the evidence has been all over the news.

What evidence? Do you mean the evidence that Walkers reforms are working? The evidence in a recent poll that he is gaining support and would win an election?

Did you read the article in this seed?

Yes I did, but the seeded article is just a smallpart of the whole story. Try other sources.

I would like you to prove that Walker is not guilty of the things he's been accused of.

In this country the burden of proof is on the accuser. You have him guilty with no proof. Do you have proof? What has he been charged with?

Greg,

My opinion of Walker doesn't matter. It's the people of Wisconsin that have put him up for recall. I am a merely a sympathizer. I've been following this story for some time. I do believe there will certainly be enough valid signatures to proceed. I have not heard that Walker is gaining support of any kind. The Wisconsin folks I speak with via internet are certainly not telling me that, in fact just the opposite. I too am against union busting for many more reasons than I can write here. I can only say it will all come out in the wash. If your guy is doing bad things, the people there will deal with him and rightfully so. Good hearing your thoughts though and I'll be doing a little more in depth research to confirm or deny what you and mymymy have said. I'm not ready to back down on my opinions until then. Republicans have been targeting a number of states to bust unions. Mine is one of them. We'll be fighting like hell to see that doesn't happen.

Donna,

There has been so much mis- information put out there on both sides. I would put this article in that category. In my opinion it is mis leading. I too agree there will be enough signatures to have an election, but in my opinion it is a waste of time and money. Walker will win, recent polls here in Wisconsin have shown support for him. I do not think you are hearing from both sides of the story, but it is encouraging to read that you are willing to explore other avenues.

I too agree if a politician is doing bad things he should be thrown out of office, but, to date there is no evidence that Walker did anything wrong.

Walker removed collective bargaining privileges from govt unions only, these unions had a strangle hold on the taxpayers here and in my opinion needed to be stopped.

Two principles deeply ingrained in this country are due process and fair play.

I totally agree. It is my opinion due process was used. Unions were given the privilege to collectively bargain by the state legislature years ago. Those privileges were, thru due process, removed.

The unions didn't get 'a stranglehold' without the help of the state.

Again, I agree. The state let this go on far too long. The unions had too much control, what Walker did gave the control back to the taxpayers where it belongs.

Now Walker has unilaterally change the terms of the agreement, the contract, changing the terms and taking away the rights of others, all while the other side(unions) was in agreement that concessions needed to be made

This was not a contract or a right. If this is a right then all employees would have collective bargaining. Prior to the changes of collective bargaining, the unions made it very clear they would not work with Walker.

Is it that you think Walker doesn't need to honor tradition, precedent, contracts, due process, or fair play?

Honor tradition? Come on! To me it is the unions and the democrats who are not honoring the tradition of fair elections, they want a do over. Precedent? what precedent are you referring to? Contracts? No contract was violated. Due process? Again where was this violated? As for fair play, finally the taxpayers have a fair shake.

greg,

no that due process was unilaterally removed, It was NOT through due process.

Oh and it was the republicans that wanted a do over in California. Fact is, the state allows for a recall, it is therefore available, as part of the legal process.

no that due process was unilaterally removed, It was NOT through due process.

How so? Do you mean when the 14 democrat senators illegally left the state?

when the republicans refused to debate, they really honestly had no choice.

What are you talking about, you have to be present to debate. They left the state because they lost the election and did not have the votes to stop the budget bill from passing.

illegally left the state?

How do you get illegally Greg? The borders between states are open to anyone. They are adults and do not need parent permission. They are not felons on parole and therefore do not need court permission. They do not need legislative permission to go on their retreat to discuss what they need to do for the state.

greg, you saying that indicates that you have no clue what actually happened. But hey, what else is new from a radical right wing social engineer.

Don,

Compulsory attendance is in the Wisconsin constitution. These senators were fined for there absence, but never collected on. So, yes it is illegal.

Jonathan,

And you know what happened, enlighten me with your FACTS.

Show me the wording in your constitution. Greg. You say it's illegal but you haven't shown that.

Article IV, section 7 and 8 of the Wisconsin constitution.

Link......or you can cut and paste

Look it up and read it yourself.

But before you do that, lets think about this for a minute. If there was no penalty or discourgement from just leaving the state when you do not want to take a vote you know you will lose, wouldn't liberals do this all the time?

Isn't that the decision of the people of his state. Where at do you fit into this?

I look forward to your support of "the people's" decision should they recall Mr. Walker, I really do.

Tyler,

Like many others I fit in on the side of the people of his state. I'm rooting for the ones who've been wronged by this man. The ones I've personally talked to are grateful for the support of all other Americans. But leave it to you to challenge that. All you want to do is try to start an argument with someone. I won't fall for it. Ignore.

#24.2 Keeping in mind that there isn't just one side to the people of his state, it would be more correct to say you are rooting for those who say they have been wronged versus those who support Walker. And talking to a few isn't the same as being a citizen of the state, being in the center of the controversy, seeing the day to day activity. If your partisian ship prevents you from hearing anything but what you want to hear, then you are right to ignore me and any others who also see the other side of the issue

Will you still be here posting against him

This isn't some playground. I'm not "posting against him", I'm pointing out that he's a sh$%ty leader and the only defense his followers can come up with is "he's a conservative".

He might be a good "conservative". If so, I think it demonstrates that a "conservative" isn't what the state needed.

BTW, you have a strange sense of humor.

#25.1. If it weren't for humor, I wouldn't be here. The same for when I go to a conservative site and they are bringing up all the crap in the democrat party and their politicians, it's all good entertainment.

It is a good idea not to take yourself too seriously!!

#25.3. You got that right, but it sure is hilarious listening to those that do.