The whole Glenn Grothman thing |

Nice work from our friends over at Blue Cheddar.

The whole Glenn Grothman thing

Glenn Grothman: encouraging teenage pregnancies... again.

Glenn continues to support a disgusting, ideologically imposed regimen of sex ed -- disgusting because it actively and demonstrably prevents young people from making responsible decisions.

Why Does Your State Senator Want Teen Pregnancy Numbers to Go Up? « Forward for Liberty

That would be a good question for Senators Lazich, Galloway, Grothman and Leibham as well as Representatives Thiesfeldt, Bernier, Bies, Brooks, Craig, Jacque, Kleefisch, Knodl, Kooyenga, Tom Larson, Litjens, Meyer, Nass, Nygren, Alvin Ott, Pridemore, Ripp, Spanbauer, Strachota, Stroebel, Wynn, Ziegelbauer and LeMahieu who have all signed on to a bill that would repeal the Healthy Youth Act.

Glenn Grothman: continuing the McCarthy Legacy with pride.

A reminder of why Glenn needs to speak more often in public. Note to friends in distant places who wonder why the Senator remains a person of interest: this is what Conservative America looks like in our part of Wisconsin.  Senator McCarthy is somewhere in Hell -- my guess, Malebolge, circle 8 -- getting a little momentary satisfaction that his legacy did not die with him.

Senator Glenn Grothman - YouTube

Teachers Union Lays Off 40 Percent of Staff

The Walkeristas all believe that by laying off teachers, they're saving teachers' jobs.

So, the analogy must work, right?

Let's see: by cutting spending on education, they're saving education. By destroying American infrastructure, they're saving American infrastructure. By destroying the village, they'll save the village.

Yep, now it tracks. I thought it sounded familiar.

WUWM: News - Teachers Union Lays Off 40 Percent of Staff

Glenn Grothman on Sly in the Morning: I HAVE THE POWER

Right.... Have a listen. But I was weirded out by this bit of text on Sly's homepage.

Sly In The Morning: Senator Glenn Grothman (R-D20): I HAVE THE POWER

Glenn is always energetic about his job, but now that the moderate Republican representing several counties in southeast/central Wisconsin, he will be scrutinized on every divisive vote under these conditions of balance. While not really a true swing vote, his claim is that he is one of the most moderate Republicans in the legislature. The truth is, that he will listen to opposition but is unlikely to pay much attention. Alas, he's still on the Walkertrain for collective bargaining and the policies regarding teacher performance-vs-tenure, and wants to see large corporations . And just plain goofy.

Um, seriously?? "the moderate Republican"???


The Republican whose sole claim to fame is that he's relentlessly FURTHEST to the right?


So, upside down Sly is.

Glenn Grothman – State Senator or Walker Education Policy Puppet? « Badger Democracy

The primary "conservative" deception about education revolves around the idea that, somehow -- and they can't say how of course, since this is a lie -- teachers get worse the more experience they acquire.

Imagine making this same argument with Wall Street CEOs... or State Senators.

More deceptive yet, these supposed conservatives avoid mentioning the murderous hiring process teachers have to go through. No State Senator could endure the years of vetting and testing required.

If politicians were forced to go through the same hiring process as teachers -- huh, only teachers would end up running state (and national) legislatures.

Huh. There's an idea. (Barbara Jordan, we miss you!)

Anyway, thanks to our friends at Badger Democracy for this nice write up of Glenn's latest folly.

Glenn Grothman – State Senator or Walker Education Policy Puppet? « Badger Democracy

In a letter to constituents, and Wednesday on “Sly in the Morning”, Senator Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) extolled the education-saving virtues of Act 10, saying it was “…the best thing we could do for our public schools.” Grothman went on to say that “Wisconsin Schools are just not that great right now,” citing recent test scores as signs of an education emergency that only eliminating collective bargaining could remedy. Specifically noting that the “…most recent test scores show that black kids have the worst scores in the country…” and “…white kids scored lower than the national average.” Grothman stated his belief that collective bargaining is a roadblock to student achievement that had to be removed – for the sake of the kids. According to Grothman, there are too many “bad teachers” protected by unions that are “too hard to get rid of,” and that “people shouldn’t need an Education degree to teach.”

After speaking with Senator Grothman today two things are very clear – first, he was not very familiar with the full data from the scores, admitting that Governor Walker seemed to have “cherry picked” the scores he cited. The Senator was merely repeating the information he was given by Scott Walker, trusting its accuracy – even out of context. The other issue that was perfectly clear is that he (and the other Republicans) are behaving as puppets to Scott Walker and the Corporatics pulling HIS strings – believing every bit of misinformation being fed to them to demonize teachers and their unions. The best thing for Wisconsin and our children is for this propaganda to be exposed and debunked, so that a real debate about education can take place.

[...]

Glenn Grothman: wrong for disenfranchising college students.

I guess what with the tea they've been snorting, there's nothing a Wisconsin Republican won't threaten these days... like getting outside help from the MacIver Institute... soon to be an officially branch of the Wisconsin Security Police?

WisPolitics.com: Grothman Campaign: Grothman calls on clerks, GAB, law enforcement to step up on absentee ballot abuse

Grothman Campaign: Grothman calls on clerks, GAB, law enforcement to step up on absentee ballot abuse
8/4/2011

CONTACT: SENATOR GROTHMAN
262.689.8421

[West Bend, WI]- Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) released the following statement today on the subject of legal voting requirements in the upcoming Recall elections:

“It has come to my attention that absentee ballot applications have been filed on college campuses, last May, by students in dormitories and other areas on the La Crosse, Oshkosh River Falls and Stout campuses.

“Young people who move frequently, and college students in particular, should remember that when they vote on Aug 9th, they are legally required to have a residence in their ward on Aug 9th. A dorm contract that expired in the spring or a lease that begins in September is not enough.”

“I strongly encourage Clerks and law enforcement to crack down on any voters who may try to influence elections in wards in which they don’t even live.

“I am also reminding all clerks that if applications were made for all elections for the rest of the calendar year, that if a voter did not vote in the July election, they should not be receiving an absentee ballot in the August election unless they notified the clerk that they wanted a ballot in August.

“I would also point out that independent organizations such as the MacIver Institute may also be on the lookout for election scofflaws.”

Glenn Grothman: sells us out to the American Legislative Exchange Council's agenda.

Some telling comparisons.

It must be a lot easier to be a State Senator when someone else writes the legistlation for you.

Glenn Grothman - SourceWatch

Sen. Grothman is a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). He is a member of the ALEC Education Task Force.

Grothman and Worker's Rights

Sen. Grothman was a vocal supporter of Governor Scott Walker's Wisconsin Act 10, which restricted collective bargaining rights for public employees, and introduced or co-sponsored the following bills:

• Family and medical leave: state law construed as an enactment of statewide concern and preempts city, village, town, or county ordinances............SB-23
  • Compare to preemption effort in the ALEC Living Wage Mandate Preemption Act

Grothman and Education

• Private school grades K-12 tuition: nonrefundable individual income tax credit created............ AB-112 / SB-69
  • Compare with the ALEC Family Education Tax Credit Program Act

ALEC- Related Campaign Contributions

According to ProPublica, Grothman received the following ALEC-related contributions:

• 2010 JOHN DEERE & CO $500
• 2010 AT&T $500
• 2006 KOCH INDUSTRIES $250
• 2006 AT&T $500
• 2006 ALLIANT ENERGY $250
• 2006 PFIZER $500
• 2006 PFIZER - $500
• 2006 WAL-MART $1,000
• 2006 WAL-MART -$1,000
• 2002 VERIZON $100
• 2000 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS $100
• 1998 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS $300
• 1998 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS $250

Here's how we fix unemployment in West Bend!

Something for Glenn to remember.

Glenn Grothman: not competent to make laws about Sex. Again.

WUWM: News - After Budget, Lawmakers Focus on Personal Agendas

[...]

There are only a few days remaining in the current floor period, and then the full Legislature is not scheduled for another session until September. Sen. Glenn Grothman of West Bend says Republicans delivered the bulk of their promised agenda in the budget and now will have time to focus on issues they personally want to address. One item he’s looking at is the sex education curriculum in the public schools. Grothman says when Democrats were in control, they passed a law allowing some sex ed in first grade.

“Last session we mandated that school districts have sex ed at ages that I think are inappropriate. I think it would be better to mandate the districts not begin sex education until about seventh grade and require these classes to be not coed but the boys and girls separate,” Grothman says.

Grothman says he also wants to advance a bill that would cut welfare benefits for single mothers, believing the state’s generosity has led to an increase in out-of-wedlock births.

[...]

Of course. Because Glenn, as a single, childless, lawyer living in Madison is the one best suited to decide how to teach responsible sex education.

Glenn Grothman: even wronger on Planned Parenthood

Another statement "not intended to be a factual statement."

Wisconsin Cuts Only $1 Million from Planned... | Gather

Republican state Sen. Glenn Grothman regretted that the new budget doesn't cut even more funding from Planned Parenthood. He stated, "There's an ugly side to this organization, and I regret that they're going to take such a tiny cut in this budget." The Wisconsin state senator is absolutely correct; the pro-abortion group needs to have all of its funding cut.

This particular abortion-rights organization is one of the favorites of the liberal Democratic left, and since these people were voted out of office, and replaced by conservative Republicans, the preferred projects of the Democrats must pay the price for their support of the Democrats. This is how democracy works. Those who are in the majority get to decide how taxpayer's funds are spent, and they do not want their tax dollars going to Planned Parenthood.

Glenn Grothman: not wrong on microbrews

It is satisfying to know that regardless of a political and moral compass set to 1620, Glenn can still be right on important things, and this is one of 'em.

Glenn Grothman, Wisconsin State Senator, District 20

Madison: Today a bipartisan group of legislators led by Senators Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) and Pam Galloway (R-Wausau) asked Governor Walker to veto a controversial provision in the state budget that restricts craft brewers’ ability to wholesale other brewers’ beer, own taverns, and creates uncertainty among contract brewers.

“Wisconsin is known for its breweries, and allowing small craft brewers to own their own taverns will highlight their product,” Grothman said. “This is the type of provision that should have been dealt with in a separate bill. It was complicated and the thriving craft brew industry did not participate in drafting this provision.”

Glenn Grothman: wrong on government intervention in private decisinon.

Apparently US Supreme Court decisions remain irrelevant to Senator Grothman's sense of legal propriety, but that's not surprising. What is a bit surprising is that a 'small government' conservative wants government interference on moral and economic issues across the state.

UW Hospital: Abortion language inserted into state budget could jeopardize OB/GYN accreditation

Glenn Grothman: wrong for dishing out misinformation on Fox

Fox Continues To Misinform About WI Anti-Union Legislation | Media Matters for America

Wrong on two counts:

1) Glenn could only make statements like "there's no question the ruling [Supreme Court ruling regarding whether the legislature had violated its own rules] was right" if he hadn't actually read the ruling.

2) The Repair bill did not require public workers to "pay more toward their health insurance and pensions." That's a clever mis-characterization. The bill is simply a cut to our deferred compensation. It's a pay cut, put in place to pay for tax breaks for those currently in control of the Republican Party. But hearing that state workers were getting an 8.6% pay cut would have generated some sympathy. Instead, they trotted out a clever slogan: "Make those slackers pay their fair share." That generated hostility toward public employees and, therefore, a more politically useful and effective inertia.

Glenn Grothman: wrong for voting against school kids.

Could it really be the case that Glenn doesn't understand the state funding formula that will choke out the West Bend School District in the next few years?

Apparently.

GOP lawmakers reduce cuts to schools by $116 million - JSOnline

Glenn Grothman: wrong for voting against local farmers

Because government help for local businesses isn't as good as tax breaks for big out of state corporations?

From Biz Beat: Buy Local grants restored

In a surprise move last week, the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee voted overwhelmingly to fund the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program and keep the door open on the state's Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements program (PACE).

"Democrats and Republicans on the committee came together to support two programs that really support the vitality of the state's agricultural sector," Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden said in a statement.

On a 15-1 vote, the Joint Finance Committee restored the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program and funded it at 90 percent of the 2009-2010 level: up to $200,000 annually.

Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon, made the motion to restore the program, and Rep. Robin Vos, R-Burlington, seconded. The only "no" vote came from Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend.

Really?

Glenn Grothman: Not intended to be a "factual Senator"Take on Defunding Planned Parenthood Wisconsin | SBA-List

The Anti-Choice interpretation of Glenn's work to defund Planned Parenthood.

Pro-Life State Sen. Glenn Grothman's Take on Defunding Planned Parenthood Wisconsin | SBA-List

an example:

Finally, the Wisconsin Legislature is taking action to roll back Planned Parenthood’s funding—just as Sen. Grothman suggested. To be certain, Planned Parenthood and its allies aren’t taking the news lying down. They still purport the distorted tale that Planned Parenthood Wisconsin (PPWI) is a healthcare provider. This is despite the fact that PPWI is the largest abortion provider in the state, doesn’t provide mammograms, and often covers up “purported statutory rape.”

Again, ironically, limiting access to good advice on planning pregnancies has the effect of producing more unplanned pregnancies. Maybe this is a kind of weird surrogacy for the Senator?

Or maybe Glenn's rationale for defunding Planned Parenthood isn't intended to be a factual statement.

Glenn Grothman: The Law isn't important if you think you're right.

The Badger Herald: Judge rules collective bargaining legislation violated state law

Sumi’s decision remains a final order, said Rep. Kelda Roys, D-Madison. She said while the case is likely to end up in the Supreme Court, she considers the facts of the case to be clear and said Sumi’s reasoning is sound.

Roys said she thinks Republican’s will have to start over but are likely to put the legislation in the Biennial budget bill to avoid voting directly on an issue which continues to draw heated response from citizens around the state.

“The bigger question is why didn’t Republicans just pass the legislation again following the rules more closely?” said Schweber. “The suspicion is that mounting pressures on Republican legislators meant they no longer had the votes to pass it.”

Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, said Republicans had the votes to pass the legislation.

“When you’ve done the right thing, it’s frustrating to be told by an ideologue judge that you have to do it again,” he said.

What's interesting here is that Republicans did NOT do the right thing. Had they, no judge, regardless of ideological bent, would have been able to rule that they'd violated the Open Meetings Law (and remember, this judge was a Tommy Thompson appointment -- something the right rushed to, rather hilariously, try to work around). Actually, anyone who's read the law would have been able to tell you this -- which is why Glenn here is so intent on changing the subject.

While it may be true they HAD the votes to pass this before they woke up an angry electorate, they may not have the votes now. This bill could have always simply been reintroduced at any time... but Republican leadership didn't.

So, now we'll see.

But we can already see where Glenn is on this: the law doesn't apply to Republicans because ... well, they're just right, that's all. Better Right than right.


hiho
Mp

Glenn Grothman: promoting failed policies: in LaCrosse

Apparently enough of our neighbors believe in these failed policies at home.

Steve Janecek: GOP still promoting failed policies

[...]

Grothman, along with Gov. Scott Walker and other Republicans, panders to big business donors. When I asked Grothman where the jobs were, he said Walker has lowered the tax rates for businesses to attract more businesses and create jobs.

“You can lower taxes as much as you want for businesses, if there is no demand for their products, they will not hire new employees,” I said.

“I’m talking about international manufacturing,” Grothman said.

Well said. Republican policies continue to create jobs in China and India.

How does Glenn keep wining with this kind of slogan?

There is, of course, the obvious answer....

Glenn Grothman: wrong on family planning.

Sometimes, in the haze of incredulity, I forget that Glenn is actually a right-wing extremist.

Chris Taylor is right: GOP assault on family planning outrageous

“For years, extremists like Glenn Grothman have been attempting to eliminate access to family planning services for Wisconsin women and men, including cervical and prostate cancer screenings, testing and treatment for STDs, and access to birth control. As the public policy director for Planned Parenthood, I have been proud to fight for each individual’s right to access these services and exercise their fundamental right to make personal, private health care decisions,” Taylor explained.

Ironically, when you eliminate access to family planning, you increase the number of unplanned and unwanted pregnancies and, therefore, you increase the number of abortions... but then, figuring this out would require the same neural pathways you'd use to distinguish between "gross" and "net" -- something none of today's "conservatives" are able to do either.

-- unless Glenn is smart enough to figure this out and is intentionally working to cause MORE abortions.... wait, of course that's what he's doing! Without the abortion issue, he'd never get reelected. Oh, the genius of it... he needs to increase the number of abortions to give his anti-abortion-in-every-single-case stance merit.

Now it makes sense.

Glenn Grothman: wrong for sending tax dollars to religious schools.

I don't want my tax dollars going to schools that discriminate against and encourage bullying LGBTQ students and I don't want my tax dollars spent teaching kids that Bible stories (important moral and spiritual lessons) are really science.

Glenn Grothman

Today, Senator Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) and Representative Andre Jacque (R-Bellevue) announced they will be introducing legislation providing a non-refundable tax credit for religious and independent schools beginning in school year 2012-2013. The credit will start at $1,500 per year for every first grade student and $2,500 for every ninth grade student. The following year, second and tenth graders will be added to the program with additional years added each year until all students will be covered by the 2021 school year.

Glenn Grothman: wrong for eliminating evaluation procedures for teachers.

Do I really understand that Glenn wants to get rid of evaluation procedures beyond looking at student test scores?

That's like judging a doctor by whether or not her patients take their medicine.

Oh, wait... I see: it's exactly the same as deciding whether a state Senator is any good based on whether enough people vote for him -- like doctors who are popular because they give their patients all the prescriptions they want, rather than the ones that are good for them.

Now it makes sense.

I guess it's still better to be Right than right.

legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/data/SB-95.pdf

Recall Glenn Grothman: Glenn dodges recall.

Recall Glenn Grothman, State Senator, Wisconsin District 20 (5)

The press release.

The Grothman recall effort collected over 15,000 signatures from people unhappy with his representation, building a strong foundation for future campaigns.

According to campaign staff, many signers were upset with Grothman's support of the proposal to strip public workers of their collective bargaining rights. Others were angry about his proposal to drastically reduce support for public education. Still others opposed his derogatory views about women. All thought Grothman should not support balancing the state budget on the backs of the elderly, the poor and the middle class in favor of tax breaks for the rich.

"While we did not get the magic number we needed, we know that many of the Senator's constituents believe he does not represent their interests," said Waring Fincke, a West Bend lawyer who helped organize the campaign.

"We are really proud of the thousand plus volunteers who contributed to the effort," said Richard Schwalb who led the effort in Ozaukee County.

"There are thousands of people in our communities on record for a change and eager to work towards finding solutions for problems based on facts, not ideologies," said Tanya Lohr, a West Bend teacher who led the effort in Washington County.

All the organizers are happy with the effort and the foundation they built for future work. "Hopefully, more moderate leadership will come to Madison as a result of the statewide recall efforts," Fincke concluded.

So, while Glenn's seat is safe for now, whoever runs against him now has 15,000 volunteers coming out of the box.

Glenn Grothman wrong for believing the government wants single parent families..

Seriously,

legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/sen20/news/Press/2011/Grothman families.pdf

But I think what Glenn must have meant is that since greedy industrialists spent the money to put him and his buddies in power, they've made it cost effective for businesses to pay American non-professional workers less over the past 30 years thus increasing the economic, emotional, and spiritual pressure on young people to the point where they have to worry about taking care of themselves rather than taking care of each other. After all, as Mr. Ryan and Sen. Johnson, and the other Randians now in power will assert, it's good to be selfish -- and Glenn has enabled economic policies designed to produce as much selfishness as possible.

That must be what he meant. Maybe one of his secretaries screwed up the copy in his news letter.

hiho
Mp

Glenn Grothman: School too psychologically dangerous for kids?

I'm beginning to find that the psychological explanations for Senator Grothman's behaviors are the only ones that make sense...

Like, did he just get beat up a lot when he was in Kindergarten?

State ranks 6th in prekindergarten access - JSOnline

There are 4 "not intended to be factual statements" Glenn makes in this quote. Can you find them.

The nonsense from Senator Grothman:

"As Wisconsin has added more 4-year-old kindergartens, our fourth-grade reading scores have plummeted," Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) said in an interview Monday. "I think early education, like any preschool program, can have harmful psychological effects, and any academic benefit disappears by the time one is 9 or 10."

Did you find all four?

The reality:

Wisconsin met five of 10 quality benchmarks in its 4K program. It met having early learning standards, requiring teachers to have degrees and licenses, requiring teacher training and having a process in place for monitoring sites.

So, was the Senator just lying when he made his comments or were they too not intended to be factual statements? Or was he counting on Wisconsin voters to be such timid numb skulls that they don't care?

Or, after the past few months, can he even tell the difference anymore?

hiho
Mp

Plain Talk: Vouchers for the rich anger sincere believer

Even Fuller believes Grothman and Walker are going too far.


Plain Talk: Vouchers for the rich anger sincere believer

Glenn Grothman and The New Republican Landscape

I think our Senator was ahead of the curve on this one. He's been trying his hardest to cut government services to working people, in order to pay out tax cuts to the rich, for years.

Nice to know Glenn has been a major player at the cutting edge of increasing the American disparity in wealth.

How is this conservative again?



The New Republican Landscape - NYTimes.com

[...]

The mania for blindly cutting has also spread to statehouses, many with new Republican governors and legislatures. Several states have cut their unemployment benefits below the standard 26 weeks. Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona has proposed removing 138,000 people from Medicaid. Many recession-battered states, including some led by Democrats, have been forced to cut other services because Republicans have made it so politically difficult to raise taxes. Education, mental health and juvenile justice funds have been particular targets.

In Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Maine and Florida, Republican governors have used the smokescreen of a poor economy to pursue a long-held conservative goal of destroying public and private unions. This has nothing to do with creating jobs, of course, and it has shocked many blue-collar voters who are suddenly second-guessing their support for Republicans last November.

Senator Chris Larson at Grothman Recall Rally 4/16/11 Saukville WI

Senator Chris Larson at Grothman Recall Rally 4/16/11 Saukville WI

Even Glenn has managed to alienate a lot of his former supporters with the kind of arrogance we saw on CNN and MSNBC.

Sen. Glenn Grothman accidentally refers to slobs as "determined people."

He meant 'slobs' of course.

Sen. Glenn Grothman Responds to Escalating Recall Efforts - Port Washington-Saukville, WI Patch

Glenn Grothman: is he lying because he's afraid or does he just want the money?

Glenn's been sending out pleas for help that include increasingly hilarious, and vicious, lies.


Here's the latest.

From Apr 9, 2011 Grothman Letter

Put civility back in pubic discourse

Glenn spreads his Slobbery to voters.

Waring Fincke's column this week. Article - Put civility back in pubic discourse

Grothman urges DNR to hire older workers - JSOnline

Grothman urges DNR to hire older workers - JSOnline

Madison -- Sen. Glenn Grothman advised the Department of Natural Resources on Monday to consider hiring people in their 40s and 50s because he believes younger workers don't have an understanding of the costs of regulation on the private sector.

The West Bend Republican made his comments to DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp as she addressed the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee.

"Maybe you (should) look to hire those people who know what the real world is like, rather than a recent graduate from UW-Stevens Point who doesn't know what the real world is like," Grothman said.

Grothman said older workers who have been laid off during the recession would have a better sense of the cost to businesses when involved in disputes with the agency.

Because having to work 3 crappy jobs to pay for college means you don't know what the real world is like? Apparently, for Glenn, you only get a view of the real world from your window seat in the bar at the Country Club.

Sorry Glenn, but I don't know what that world looks like either.

Glenn Grothman: providing more work for maintenance staff.

Tsk. ;^)

On the Capitol: Signs of the times

In an email, lawmakers were reminded that a state Department of Administration manual says, "No signs, displays, banners or similar items shall be visible through exterior windows of the State Capitol Building."

Democrats suspected they were being targeted — probably because about 99 percent of the signs are hanging in their windows. But DOA spokeswoman Carla Vigue said one of the offending signs actually belongs to a Republican.

That's right: the "Vote Reagan for President" sign visible in the window of Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, inspired some to write inappropriate messages on his window using soap or soap pens — hardly permanent damage, but a pain for those cleaning the windows, Vigue said.

Glenn Grothman: wrong for giving tax credits for private schools.

Wow. Let's see: claim the state is broke. Claim the state cannot provide full funding for public education. Give tax breaks to wealthy. Continue to guarantee your home district is hit hardest by government cuts. Provide tax credits for private schools. Check.

The Badger Herald: Bill offers tax credits to private school families

“With the government already subsidizing private education by up to $6,500 per year for Milwaukee residents, the proposal would offer assistance, albeit a lesser amount, for outstate parents who want an alternative to the public school for their children,” Grothman said.

Grothman said the proposal would save money because every time a person goes to a private school instead of a public school it saves the state around $10,000 a person.

He also said the bill would allow parents upset with their current school system another option.

“Whether their concerns are Wisconsin’s declining test scores, a radical new sex education program pushed through the Legislature last year or public school teachers proselytizing a liberal political agenda in their schools, it is unfair not to provide a little assistance to independent-minded parents,” Grothman said.

Apparently the Republicans believe it's okay to use taxpayer dollars to subsidize private, religious education.... although not public education.

Does Glenn think most of his constituents are rich enough to send their kids to private schools? And that the rest of us should pay for them?

Yes, on all counts.

Hm.

A 21-year-old signs up to recall Glenn Grothman » peoplesworld

A 21-year-old signs up to recall Glenn Grothman

A personal note on Glenn "my constituents are slobs" Grothman.

Glenn Grothman: sticks it to his own constituents.West Bend would shoulder one of the biggest state cuts

Way to go Glenn. Way to represent the interests of the folks back home.

Who are you working for again? From here it looks like it's your new friends in Washington DC.

West Bend would shoulder one of the biggest state cuts - JSOnline

West Bend - The largest cut in state shared revenue payments to municipalities in Ozaukee and Washington counties, and the 16th largest statewide, under Gov. Scott Walker's proposed 2011-13 budget will be borne by West Bend.

The city will receive $535,421 less in shared revenue payments in 2012 than it did this year, under the proposed state budget. Shared revenue payments generally are used to help communities reduce property tax levies.

Savings that will come from city employees contributing more to pensions amount to $498,000 in 2012, or $37,421 less than the shared revenue cut, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

But the city will not reap the full amount of those savings in its general fund budget financed by property taxes, City Administrator Dennis Melvin said. Some of the employees work for the city's water and sewer utilities so any savings will impact customer rates paying for those separate utility budgets, not the property tax rate.

A few weeks ago, Melvin thought shared revenue cuts might be manageable when state officials were discussing reductions in the range of 8.8% to 15%, he said.

The 40.7% cut handed to West Bend surprised him and he is preparing a memo for the City Council and city department heads informing them that cuts in all state aid categories "have become much less manageable," he said. "This will be much more challenging to us."

Glenn Grothman: wrong for baiting protesters.

Looks like Glenn has been busily trying to bait the protesters in Madison -- when he isn't being feted by lavish GOP $1000 a plate feasts.

The rest of the Grothman story - First Draft The video is great.

Oh, and there's this one too.

Grothman gets more than he can handle

Crazy loves crazy.

Glenn Grothman's $1000 a plate dinner interrupted

Looks like Glenn's sitting at the Big Table now. Too bad they got interrupted.

Teamster Nation: Protesters seize DC bldg during WI GOP fundraiser

Participating in the $1,000-a-head gala-that-we-hope-wasn't-much-fun were Wisconsin Senate President Scott Fitzgerald; his brother, Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, and two senators eligible for recall, Alberta Darling and Glenn Grothmann.

Here's the story from the Journal Sentinel

State Republicans are holding the fundraiser at the offices of the lobbying firm BGR Group in D.C. It cost $1,000 to attend the event, which starts at 5:30 p.m.

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson's one-time top aide, Bob Wood, is president of government affairs for BGR, the firm co-founded by Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. he is no longer with the firm. Public Campaign noted that BGR has worked for such Wisconsin companies as WE Engergies.

Those featured at the Wisconsin fundraiser will be: Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau; Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald of Horicon; Rep. Scott Suder of Abbotsford; Sen. Glenn Grothman of West Bend; and Joint Finance Committee co-chairmen, Sen. Alberta Darling of River Hills and Rep. Robin Vos of Burlington.

Glenn Grothman | Recall Glenn Grothman

Here's a good start.

Recall Glenn Grothman has it's own website.

Forward is better than backwards.

GOP Senators Are Selling You Out | Progressives United

GOP Senators Are Selling You Out | Progressives United

Today, Wednesday March 16th, Republican state senators from Wisconsin are in Washington, D.C. attending a big fundraiser at the headquarters of a corporate lobbying firm.

That's less than one week after Republicans rammed through an anti-worker bill that polls showed was heavily opposed by Wisconsinites -- but was heavily favored by corporate lobbyists.

If your senator is Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau, Glenn Grothman of West Bend, or Alberta Darling of River Hills, your senator is at the fundraiser. But no matter where you are in Wisconsin, your interests just got sold out to big corporate interests.

If that doesn't sound like a good deal to you, join Progressives United. We're committed to reducing corporate influence in politics.

Blaska's Blog looks for signs of courage in the battle for Wisconsin - Isthmus | The Daily Page

Blaska's Blog looks for signs of courage in the battle for Wisconsin - Isthmus | The Daily Page

It took the courage of 19 state senators who did not flee, even when cornered by an angry mob, as was Sen. Glenn Grothman. It took the courage of Assembly members, especially Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, who endured death threats.

Death threats always bad, but I'm trying to parse the ideas "Wisconsin state senator" and "angry mob". Take a moment to imagine making Wisconsinites angry. Seriously.

When they do get mad, there are usually good reasons... some of which do not involve Brett Favre.

First, when your livelihood is threatened unjustly, anger is justified. When the quality of life in your state is threatened, anger is justified. When you discover that the governor you elected feels the need to lie about the platform he campaigned on, calls out the national guard in case there's any 'trouble,' and adds that Jesus tells him what to do anger is justified.

And when someone calls you a slob, repeatedly and vindictively, anger is also justified.

The classical definition of courage is quite fascinating (check Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics 3.6). It's the mean between cowardice and recklessness... but it contains the idea of "knowing when to be afraid." If you're not afraid, it doesn't really count as courageous.

By any such measure, it's difficult to imagine Glenn Grothman as courageous -- or the 19 lapdogs who dutifully barked, possibly in violation of the law, to start the process of dismantling state services. Reckless, yes. Courage? The courage of a pack of entitled poodles who've been promised a bone.

Glenn Grothman Recall process now underway.

Suggestion for the next state senator from West Bend: promise never to call constituents who disagree with you slobs... and in our case, that's about a third of the population. It's bad form -- and even worse manners.


Glenn Grothman Recall

We have started to take names to force Wisconsin State Senator Glenn Grothman to face the voters in a recall election.

Come Join Us.

Glenn Grothman Recall Locations

We will have three locations in West Bend on both Saturday, 3/12 and Sunday, 3/13 to jump start our recall effort.

The following locations will be open and staffed from 9-11 am and 2-4 pm on Saturday and 10am-12 p.m. and 2-4 pm on Sunday.

Keberle and Patrykus
2100 Gateway Court (near HY 45 & Paradise Dr.)

Bob and Barbara Deters
1402 W. Decorah Rd. (between 18th and Silverbrook)

Candlelight Collective
258 N. Main St. Lower Level
(Downtown and downstairs from Jeanne's Collectables)

Come sign recall petitions, pick up petitions and instructions so you can collect signatures and/or make phone calls to supporters on your cell phone (except at the Collective).

For further info or to volunteer to help out contact:

Waring Fincke (262) 629-1567 wrfincke@charter.net

Glenn Grothman: The Agitator. A nice bio.

I was a moderate everywhere else in the universe, until I moved into Glenn's district where Glenn's described me as an atheistic baby killer.

Whoops, I mean a communistic atheistic baby killer. :^)

But the Isthmus does a nice job on our local plutocrat and demagogue. 

Glenn Grothman: The Agitator - Isthmus | The Daily Page

Including some choice examples of Glenn's commitment to thoughtfulness.

The wit and wisdom of Glenn Grothman
On the good old days: "Homosexuality was not on anybody's radar. And that's a good thing." (As quoted in The Capital Times, Feb. 11, 2010)
On government waste: "I've interviewed over a dozen people who check out people who pay with food stamps and all felt people on food stamps ate better — or at least more costly — than they did." (Grothman opinion column, April 14, 2004)
On holidays: "Hallmark sells Kwanzaa cards. The Post Office sells Kwanzaa stamps. The rest of us should treat Kwanzaa with the contempt it deserves before it becomes a permanent part of our culture." (Opinion column, Dec. 9, 2003)
On the threat to America: "In this country, can we continue to exist if we have a government that is actively discouraging businesses from hiring men? Our country is not going to survive if we continue this war on men." (Tea Party speech, Aug. 7, 2010)
On the UW-Madison: "There are all sorts of people who are conservatives who want to be history professors or journalism professors and they're scared to death they won't get tenure because people on the other end of State Street don't want to hear the truth." (Remarks at "Rally for Marriage" rally, July 28, 2010)
On the UW's diversity mandates: "Does the university hate white men?" (Press release, March 5, 2009)
On stem-cell research: "Some people enjoy creating babies to experiment on, but I don't." (As quoted in Isthmus, Jan. 21, 2011)

Glenn Grothman callsfor more partying.

Glenn's being mentioned in dispatches all over these days.

Annual rally is fueled by Walker | Students for a Democratic Society

If protesters gathering across Wisconsin are simply “college students having a fun party,” as Republican State Sen. Glenn Grothman suggested on MSNBC’s “Last Word” on Tuesday, then UW-Milwaukee certainly threw a party Wednesday afternoon.

And there, in the mirror....

Grothman says confrontation with protesters didn't scare him

Grothman says confrontation with protesters didn't scare him: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"


It did scare them, of course.

Glenn Grothman calls firemen and kindergarten teachers 'slobs'

The Last Word - Wisconsin St. Senator calls protesters 'slobs'

Sen. Grothman said they are trying to shut people out because the place is "becoming a pigsty." He also called protesters staying overnight in the Wisconsin Capitol "slobs." When pressed to clarify he remarks, he insisted all those people were just a bunch of "college students having a fun party."

It also finally occurred to me that maybe Glenn is simply jealous because he never had any fun while he was in college... or afterwards.

Glenn Grothman: wrong for writing off veteran.

Sgt. Chet Millard deserves better.

Iraq/Afghanistan Vet Chet Millard Fighting for Freedom in the Workplace | FDL News Desk

MADISON, WI (FDL) – Sen. Glenn Grothman (R) appeared this morning on MSNBC, and was asked about the protests in the Capitol. He dismissed them. “Most of them are college students who are always up for a demonstration,” he sniffed. It’s a common refrain from supporters of Walker, marginalizing their opponents by calling them hippie college students.

First of all, 100,000 Wisconsinites are expected in Madison today. I don’t think that many students matriculate at UW. Second, and Grotham wouldn’t know this because he and his Republican colleagues wouldn’t set foot in the common areas of the Rotunda, but there are families sleeping over. There are cops. There are firefighters. There are teachers. There are public union and private union and non-union workers. There are single moms and sheet metal workers and janitors and truck drivers and office workers. And there are students. Last I checked they all have a vote and a voice in our democracy.

But maybe the best example disarming this dirty hippie meme is Sgt. First Class Chet Millard, who I spoke with a couple days ago. Millard served in Iraq in 2003-04 and in Afghanistan in 2009, as a platoon sergeant from the Wisconsin National Guard. While on tour in Afghanistan on a mission disarming roadside bombs, his vehicle was hit. He suffered multiple injuries, including traumatic brain injury, and was taken on a Medi-vac to the hospital. A Time Magazine photojournalist snapped his picture, and itappeared on the magazine’s cover.

Glenn Grothman: favors cutting public employees out of the middle class.

A bit of a Glenn round up -- now that he's the face of Wisconsin 'conservatism.'

RealClearPolitics - Politics - Feb 26, 2011 - Interview With Wisconsin State Senator Glenn Grothman

GROTHMAN: Right. All -- we need one. It`s tough in this job. We are human beings. You do not like to be all alone. So my guess is it`s not one that will come back. It will be three or four that will come back, but there are a variety of things that will push them.

First of all, the threat of layoffs. I mean, the whole purpose of Governor Walker`s proposal is to make sure nobody gets laid off. Everybody takes an 8 percent to 10 percent cut in take-home pay. Few people get laid off. The alternate would be have lots of people being laid off. And I don`t think the Democrats want that on their conscience.

So, extortion will do the job that reason can't. Makes sense.


He also made a tweet in the Huffington Post

“Start recall or impeach Glenn Grothman wisconsin”

Obviously written by someone who doesn't know about Glenn's base here in Washington County.... although, after he pushes through the *real* cuts, and we won't be able to plow and have to cut teachers and police and fire departments and the roads don't get fixed and local property taxes will be forced through the ceiling, then... who knows? Maybe people will be grateful to him for forcing up their property taxes and driving them into foreclosure rather than simply bumping the state sales tax by 1% for a few years. Maybe.


And something from all the way down in North Carolina...

One of the little known provisions in the pending Wisconsin legislation would allow the Governor to sell off certain state owned energy assets in a no bid process. Koch Industries, (yes that Koch), owns among many other things, energy businesses. Remember I have always said that Republicans view campaign donations as investments. Could the Koch brother be looking for a return on their investment?

Tea Party/Republican Wisconsin State Senator Glenn Grothman, who has become Walker’s de facto press secretary with many news outlets, has repeatedly stated that the non-financial provisions are needed for efficient deployment of labor. That translates to we don’t want the union interfering with transferring workers as a punishment. Let’s say you are a prison guard who takes an anti-Walker stand. Without union protection retaliation wouldn’t have to take the form of termination, you just get transferred to another prison hours from where you live. I could go on with other examples but you get the idea. The plantation mentality is alive and well with the haves that back this movement – listen to the master who lives in the big house.

It's suddenly easy to recognize Walker... and Glenn. Maybe Glenn is hoping for crumbs of some kind from this experience -- but it's almost too psychically masochistic to really understand properly.

That's about it for now... until Fox puts him back on to represent... well, remember, he does represent his district. But again, I wonder if they'll thank him when the property taxes soar... we'll see.

hiho

Mp

Glenn Grothman: wrong on MSNBC.

How great is this... even more famous now than he was when he tried to legislate garter snakes off the state's Threatened Species list...

msnbc video: Workers rally in Wisconsin

Glenn Grothman: wrong for pushing Walker's Budget Crisis Trojan Horse

The snow outside is melting, and Glenn isn't any smarter.


Walker budget plan would limit state unions to negotiating only on salaries - JSOnline

Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) said he would have liked to see an even bolder plan. "It's about time. It's not as far I'd go, but it's about time," he said.

Too bad it's all just a Trojan Horse, faked Crisis:

Wisconsin needs to be fiscally responsible.

There is no question that these are tough times, and they may require tough choices.
But Gov. Scott Walker is not making tough choices. He is making political choices, and they are designed not to balance budgets but to improve his political position and that of his party.
It is for this reason that the governor claims Wisconsin is in such deep financial trouble that Wisconsinites should view this as a crisis moment.

In fact, like just about every other state in the country, Wisconsin is managing in a weak economy. The difference is that Wisconsin is managing better -- or at least it had been managing better until Walker took over. Despite shortfalls in revenue following the economic downturn that hit its peak with the Bush-era stock market collapse, the state has balanced budgets, maintained basic services and high-quality schools, and kept employment and business development steadier than the rest of the country. It has managed so well, in fact, that the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau recently released a memo detailing how the state will end the 2009-2011 budget biennium with a budget surplus.

In its Jan. 31 memo to legislators on the condition of the state’s budget, the Fiscal Bureau determined that the state will end the year with a balance of $121.4 million.

To the extent that there is an imbalance -- Walker claims there is a $137 million deficit -- it is not because of a drop in revenues or increases in the cost of state employee contracts, benefits or pensions. It is because Walker and his allies pushed through $140 million in new spending for special-interest groups in January. If the Legislature were simply to rescind Walker’s new spending schemes -- or delay their implementation until they are offset by fresh revenues -- the “crisis” would not exist.

The Fiscal Bureau memo -- which readers can access at http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/Misc/2011_01_31Vos&Darling.pdf -- makes it clear that Walker did not inherit a budget that required a repair bill.

The facts are not debatable.

Huh. So why would anyone lie like this... unless Glenn doesn't know it's a lie -- in which case, he obviously hasn't checked. Either way, he continues to serve us well. Not.

Glenn Grothman: closet progressive??

Who can say what lurks in his true heart, but this is a happy symptom.

Payday loan limits still undefined

Glenn Grothman surprise: Right on Payday lenders.

This surprises me because helping poor people who are down on their luck is not usually a conservative priority. Maybe the Payday lending lobby didn't shell out as much in campaign contributions as WMC?

No matter what the reason for Glenn's support, go boy go.

Editorial: Payday loan bill is defining issue for GOP as well

We're hopeful the strong statements of Republican Sens. Glenn Grothman and Jim Ott in favor of strong regulations will result in effective and encompassing regulations because payday lending figures to be a defining issue for the new leaders in state government. Few issues offer such a stark example of predatory tactics, potential for abuse and financial ruin as payday loans propped up by an industry that benefits the most when people can't pay. Many Republicans, including Gov. Scott Walker, say the legislation goes too far.

Glenn Grothman: Still wrong on 4 year old Kindergarten -- Again.

A couple of stories this week regarding Glenn's Don Quixote imitation going after 4 year old Kindergarten.

Why is it that conservative bias is always worse than liberal bias? Oh yeah, because it reduces human beings to economic equations.

Let's see, here's one:

The Badger Herald: State senator pushes to end 4K education expansion

Beth Graue, professor of curriculum and instruction at the University Wisconsin School of Education, said investment in 4K has researched and proven benefits.

“Most scholars would say the investment in 4K is one that will provide positive outcomes in the long term,” Graue said. “I recognize the state is in a huge economic crisis, but the evidence [Grothman] brings forward does not match scholarly evidence.”

And here's another:

Waupun schools moving forward on 4-year-old kindergarten

The director of curriculum said several school districts have tuned into the discussion in Madison initiated by state Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, who is calling for support to abolish state funding of 4-year-old kindergarten.

"(Grothman) is citing one study which claims that 4K doesn't have an impact on student learning," Wulff said. "That's only one study. We have 41 percent poverty in our primary building. By offering 4K, we're giving all kids a fair chance."

By Glenn's usual logic, the fact that they have such high poverty proves they're all lazy and don't deserve help from their own government. Although for Glenn, if I understand him correctly now over the years, no one deserves to have a government that actually helps people. Government's job is to wash the floor for its corporate owners.

Glenn Grothman: Still wrong on 4 year old Kindergarten

So, at this point in Glenn's long term effort to stamp out a demonstrably useful and proven program, we're pretty safe in assuming that either he's now lying in order to maintain ideological purity or he's incorrigibly ignorant of the facts.

You make the call.

PolitiFact Wisconsin | Wisconsin state Sen. Glenn Grothman says recent research shows that the benefits of 4-year-old kindergarten don’t last

The debate over 4-K is about more than whether kids benefit in their later schooling. It’s about money, politics, social agendas and more. For support of his position, Grothman said recent reports "confirm" that academic benefits are soon lost. Some studies reached that conclusion. But Grothman is citing one small portion of a much broader debate and declaring the whole matter settled when there is considerable evidence on the other side.

We rate Grothman’s statement False.

Glenn Grothman: wrong on MLK day.

Is it a shock that Glenn really is a racist after all? Not anymore.

Democurmudgeon: Racist Sen. Glenn Grothman, Defers Working on MLK Holiday to Employee Day off of their Choice.

WSJ: Staffers worked in the office of state Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, who says giving public employees the day off "is an insult to all the other taxpayers around the state" who may want to get in touch with government offices.

Grothman told Wisconsin Radio Network it's not racist to keep his office open on a holiday dedicated to the slain civil rights leader. "Let's be honest, giving government employees off has nothing to do with honoring Martin Luther King Day and it's just about giving state employees another day off." Grothman told the State Journal that he doubts state workers would be "checking out DVDs or reading books" about King and would probably just be out shopping or watching television instead. "I'd be shocked if you can find anybody doing service," he added.

When asked if he had any plans to honor King on Monday, Grothman answered that he's "got kind of a busy schedule."

I imagine that Glenn's staff all sit around and read copies of the Constitution when they get the July 4th Holiday off from work too.