17 February 2009

Glenn Grothman: ties infant mortality to being born out of wedlock.

Hi everyone,

Yet another example of "even Steven King on acid couldn't have imagined this".

A correspondent from UW Madison found some Glenn related news I'd missed.

Erica writes:

Here's something from Grothman that's irritating me today: infant mortality is due to babies being born out of wedlock. Race and healthcare access, pshhh--it's marriage, stupid!

http://badgerherald.com/news/2009/02/17/death_rate_high_for_.php

Erica A
University of Wisconsin

Thanks Erica!

Under the frightening headline

Wisconsin leads nation in baby mortality; UW program intends to address problem,


here is Glenn's thoughtful response:

Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, attributed infant mortality for all races and ethnicities to pregnancies out of wedlock.

“I never like it when they talk about race being a factor,” Grothman said. “I know it’s old-fashioned, but we’ve got to do a better job of sending the message that you should get married before you get pregnant.”
-- because if you don't get married, apparently, your babies will die.

And, as they say, so on.

hiho
Mpeterson

08 February 2009

Glenn Grothman: cuts off own feet by taking pay increase.

Hi everyone,

The WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL reports that only 10 of our lawmakers said no to the recent pay increase for Madison legislators.


From the State Journal:

Let's give credit to the 10 lawmakers who showed leadership by returning their pay raise:

* Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills
* Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee
* Sen. Ted Kanavas, R-Brookfield
* Sen. Dan Kapanke, R-La Crosse
* Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan
* Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center
* Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville
* Rep. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown
* Rep. Margaret Krusick, D-Milwaukee
* Rep. Keith Ripp, R-Lodi

The self-sacrifice of these 10 public servants will save the state money and, more significantly, reassure the public that we're all in this together.

Behavior like this irritates the rest of us who work for state taxpayers -- and who have not had anything like a cost of living adjustment in 20 years. A significant portion of Glenn's political blather depends entirely on criticizing the pay and benefits of other state employees. Take away his "government spends too much on ...." meme and he'll have to talk about abortion 24/7.

Maybe it'll be harder for the pot to call the kettle black from now on. Anyway, we'll all remind him.

hiho
Mp

04 February 2009

Glenn Grothman: ranked among the merely "Almost worst" legislators.

Hi everyone,

Good news for Glenn for a change.

In Dubious Battle - Features - Milwaukee Magazine


hiho
Mp

Glenn Grothman: most Americans an "angry fringe element"?

Hi everyone,

Glenn's press release from Wispolitics.


Sen. Grothman: Thanks pro-lifers for large turnout Saturday
2/3/2009

Contact: Senator Glenn Grothman
1-800-662-1227 - Capitol
262-689-8421 – Cell

Citizens Across the State Urge UW Hospital and Clinics to Stop Plans for Late-Term Abortions

MADISON: Today, State Senator Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) thanked members of the Pro-Life community for their peaceful dignified demonstration Saturday on the Library Mall.

“I’m usually not one to exaggerate things, but it appeared we had 1,200–1,600 people there on Saturday standing for life in the heart of the UW-Madison Campus,” said Grothman. “We know Planned Parenthood and their ilk were emailing people and trying to get supporters to turn out in support for the UW’s proposed late-term abortion clinic, but they only had 50-60 people. It appears the pro-abortion community had to rely on odd angry permanently protesting sorts like the International Socialist Organization to defend their extreme agenda.”

If you told someone that in Madison, Wisconsin, a pro-life demonstration would be 20 times the size of the pro-abortion demonstration, they likely wouldn’t believe it, but when you are dealing with these late-term abortions where the humanity of the babies is so obvious even the campus becomes overwhelmingly pro-life. Many of those who generally support abortion agree there is nothing mainstream about killing a viable child.

“Walking around campus Saturday morning before and after the demonstration, I found UW students shocked and appalled their university would be involved in something like this,” said Grothman.

“It was unfortunate that so many campus churches had their student retreats over the weekend, otherwise we would have had hundreds more join in this life-affirming rally,” observed Grothman. “I would hope the UW Hospital and Clinics Board would do the right thing and side with the vast majority of the citizens in the state instead of the angry fringe element like the ISO and NARAL.”

First, in nearly 30 years working in the field of reproductive ethics, I've never been able to find anyone who is actually pro-abortion. This is the bogeyman the anti-choice side needs to keep the fires stoked and provide a reason not to sit down over coffee and figure out how to prevent unwanted pregnancies. They're hemmed in by a religious proscription that potential humans are the same as actual humans. That's why they believe any interruption in reproduction is a sin. You can't interrupt the pregnancy, but you also can't interrupt the process of becoming pregnant either. In both cases you interfere with the potential life of a human being.

Second, a majority of Americans are in favor of abortions in the first trimester, fewer find the second trimester abortions appropriate -- except where the life of the mother is at stake -- and nobody finds third trimester abortions reasonable -- except in the most dire cases where the life of the mother is at stake. It might shock the Senator to discover that this is precisely what the law says as well. So, in what universe can you refer to the morality of a majority of Americans as "fringe"?

So why all the noise? Maybe Glenn isn't familiar with the laws surrounding abortion? Or maybe he isn't familiar with the polls indicating overwhelming support for some abortions? Or maybe he isn't aware that even the current Supreme Court, the most conservative in history, is not going to overturn Roe v. Wade?

Doesn't seem likely, does it. But then why does it sound like they're all protesting something that's illegal when it isn't?

Maybe this isn't about yet to be born children but about a yet to be born campaign for Sensenbrenner's seat when he retires? Glenn got the signatures to run against Sen. Kohl last time -- and then bailed out when the reality of his situation got through to him.

As always, I'm probably wrong.

hiho
Mp

02 February 2009

Glenn Grothman: believes raising the minimum wage is bad for workers?

Hi folks,

I swear, some days when Glenn speaks, it's like trying to catch a Heffalump.

Wisconsin Radio Network: Panel approves minimum wage hike


A proposal to increase Wisconsin's minimum wage has cleared its first legislative hurdle.

The Senate committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs approved the bill Thursday on a 3-2 vote. The measure would increase Wisconsin's minimum wage from $6.50 to $7.60 an hour, and tie future increases to inflation.

The proposal is from Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Schofield), who says the hike is needed to help struggling workers. Decker says he can't see how anyone can get by supporting a family if they're trying to live on the minimum wage.

During a hearing at the Capitol Thursday, State Senator Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) questioned whether the measure could actually hurt workers. Grothman says it could force struggling businesses to scale back their workforce, resulting in more lost jobs.

Grothman says many businesses are already hurting, and the Legislature should not be adding to their burden.

Decker says arguments against increasing the minimum wage come up each time as if an increase will cause the "sky to fall," but the economy just moves right along after an increase goes through.

The measure now heads to the full Senate for a vote.


[My italics.]

Back in 1976, working minimum wage as a desk clerk for Ramada Inn, I earned $2.10 an hour. Adjusting for inflation over the past 32 years, using the Consumer Price Index calculator, that works out to $7.84 in 2008 dollars. ... which means that the real value of the minimum wage has fallen in the past 32 years.

And yet, to hear Glenn tell it we're all supposed to be better off? Maybe he is.

hiho

Mp