News - Badger Bubbler

Milwaukee is in a financial downfall, by all accounts the city and county are facing bankruptcy if the state doesn't fold and give the poor leadership a free financial ride after years of mismanagement. We encourage the State Legislature to give the people of the city and county of Milwaukee the opportunity to determine their future and that includes finally holding the policymakers accountable.

LET US VOTE.

People often complain about complacent voting and this is a chance to awaken voters and encourage them to bypass the hate-filled ads, one-sided media interviews and look for truth in issues.

Make no mistake, the influx of proposed money and taxes is really nothing more than a short-term bandaid. No one inside the political elite will admit that the proposed fixes will not be the long-term solution. Media sources willing to look past the immediate landscape have discovered this and honest reporting tells the story that this additional money will not stop cuts in services and jobs. The information is out there if one's willing to look.

Another problem is that not only are those in "political power" looking for a free ride of responsibility but many business leaders are begging the state legislature and governor to bypass the voters of Milwaukee so their businesses will continue to be unimpeded by the failing course Milwaukee's been on for decades. A regressive tax for the residents of the city and county is not the permanent answer as can be seen by the county's request to up the current proposed sales tax increase from .0375% to .05%. It's obvious that the attitude of electeds is Milwaukee will be never taxed enough.

The solution is not easy and the consequences of any action will not be pleasurable for everyone. True leaders are willing to put their careers on the line to stand up for what is right. If they can't do it, they need to leave and allow others to make the stand.

Milwaukee's made-up MKE Peace Week didn't quite live up to expectations as 21 people were shot with 3 being killed.

It's not that Milwaukee leaders aren't trying, it's just they don't have the fortitude to make the tough decisions and instead keep trying things that haven't worked in the past and won't work in the future. Milwaukee doesn't need more meetings and paper mandates, they need to put pressure on themselves to take a tough stand and putting political pressure on the DA and Judges to stop the soft-on-crime attitudes they have accepted as usual.

The mayor has spent the week fixing potholes wearing a long sleeve shirt and tie, bragging about the bang-up job the faux Office of Violence Prevention is doing, and showing up whenever the TV station cameras show up at any glimmer of positive news.

When there is terrible news Mayor Johnson and the common council are nowhere to be found.

I have to admit, I don't trust most media on both the left and right. The underlying issues for me is the hypocritical bias and the lack of informative questions they don't ask.

NewBias01

In Milwaukee, David D. King sent out a press release about his announcement that he is running for mayor of the city to all the major news outlets on Monday, May 22 at noon in the heart of the city. He had over 20 volunteers (not paid by anyone including outside groups) show up in support. Where were the news outlets? Nowhere to be seen. When a group of five protesters show up to announce their grievances the news stations are all over that like bees to honey. I guess we know what sells ads and it isn't positive news.

Monday at least one of the Milwaukee stations covered the current mayor in a staged propaganda-filled "news story" fixing a pothole, in a tie and business shoes. If Chevy really cared he would have spent the day helping the crews fill the potholes, not just one to feed the media photo op. Was it a coincidence that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ran an article on Tuesday bemoaning the fact that "Milwaukee has some of the worst road conditions in the country?" You decide.

"Milwaukee has some of the worst road conditions in the nation, according to a study from California-based software company Teletrac Navman. Tied in fourth for the worst road conditions in the country, more than half of Milwaukee's roads are currently in "poor condition," according to the study. The average cost to maintain or repair a car damaged in Milwaukee due to bad road conditions is $944."

The mayor also announced on Monday a bogus MKE Peace Week, that basically does nothing but paper over the ills the city is facing. One week of the year? How about every day of the year? Hey MKE leadership get out from behind your desks if you even show up at City Hall and do something concrete rather than pander to the media with press releases and pontification when the cameras are rolling.

Screenshot 2023 05 23 at 22 49 01 Budget boost could help Milwaukee DPW keep up with potholes

MKE Peace Week is a week created by Mayor Cavalier Johnson that is dedicated to promoting peace and unity throughout the City of Milwaukee

It's time for the media to stop catering to the abysmal leadership and make them answer for decades of poor decisions. Ask them the follow-up question and don't just buy into the false narrative they are pushing. I would like to know why only police, fire, garbage pick-up, and other services that directly affect everyday Milwaukeeans are the ones on the chopping block in this self-made financial crisis and not the top-heavy bureaucratic commissions and do nothing studies aren't. Why aren't common council jobs? Maybe someday a "reporter" will wonder that too. Is the media afraid that by not playing the leadership's game of hide and seek they will not be privy to the next lines of political gamesmanship and propaganda? Perhaps they believe the everyday voter can't handle the ugly truth.

Last week I talked about Wisconsin changing the laws regarding carpetbagging which I would like to see modified to make residency requirements unified for all local elections. This week I'd like to address the campaign finance reporting exemption. There are two aspects concerning exceptions on the books, one is a Statement of No Activity which I believe should be maintained as is.
CampaignFinanceReport01

The second is a Reporting Exemption. Here is the law according to WEC website:

To be eligible for a reporting exemption, the committee must not accept contributions or expenditures in aggregate of $2,500 in a calendar year. Wis. Stat. § 11.0104(1)(a). Incurred debts and obligations are included in the $2,500 threshold. A committee which in a calendar year, collects $1,600 of contributions and spends $1,000 has $2,600 of aggregate activity and is not eligible to claim exemption.

- For a candidate committee, contributions (including loans) from the candidate are included in the $2,500 threshold.
- As a conduit does not report its receipts, the $2,500 threshold only applies to expenditures. Wis. Stat. § 11.0104(1)(a).
- A committee or conduit's exempt status remains in effect only for the calendar year in which the request is made. Wis. Stat. § 11.0104(2).

A committee or conduit's exempt status remains in effect only for the calendar year in which the request is made. Wis. Stat. § 11.0104(2).

In a calendar year in which a state candidate committee is participating in an election, the candidate committee cannot claim the exemption covering any period ending sooner than the date of the election. Wis. Stat. § 11.0104(1)(bm).

A candidate committee of a candidate for local office is eligible for exemption at any time and may claim the exemption on its initial registration statement or on an amended registration statement. An exemption claimed by a local candidate applies until the committee exceeds $2,500, or amends its registration statement to become a state candidate committee, or is dissolved. Wis. Stat. § 11.0104(1)(c)

If a committee or conduit exceeds $2,500 in contributions or expenditures in that calendar year, an amended registration should be filed within 10 days indicating that the registrant is no longer eligible to claim exemption. Campaign Finance reports for that calendar year must be filed. Wis. Stat. §§ 11.0203(3)(a), 11.0303(3)(a), 11.0403(3)(a), 11.0503(3)(a), 11.0603(3)(a), 11.0703(3), 11.0803(3)(a), 11.0903(3)(a).

I believe this exemption should be eliminated if for no other reason than transparency concerning money in campaigns.

In Milwaukee, we had an election for a seat on the common council. The lady who won the election claimed a Reporting Exemption despite purchasing yard signs, reported multiple mailings, campaign literature, and hiring a lawyer to help prove she met residency requirements. The election included a primary. It's almost impossible to imagine running in a primary and a general election without meeting the threshold of collecting and spending less than $2,500. But who knows when someone claims the reporting exemption?

This change along with the carpetbagging laws should be easily supported by both the Republicans and Democrats in the legislature and signed by the Governor.

Why do we have so many different residency requirements for people running for office in Wisconsin? Don't you think we could simplify the requirements to eliminate any confusion, especially at the local level, which are statutes and not constitutionally mandated?
My suggestion would be to require all candidates to live in the district they are wanting to represent before they start circulating nomination papers. It would help eliminate the carpetbaggers who "want to serve the district."

The following are copied from the WEC website.
FEDERAL OFFICES
US Senate - 30 year of age, a citizen of the United States for 9 years and an inhabitant of the state at the time of the election. Article I, Section 3, U.S. Constitution.
US Congress - 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States for 7 years and an inhabitant of the state at time of election. Article I, Section 2, U. S. Constitution.

STATE OFFICES
Governor & Lt. Governor - A qualified elector of the state at the time of taking office. Article V, Section 2, Wis. Constitution.

Attorney General - A qualified elector of the at the time of taking office (odd that the AG doesn't need to be a lawyer
State Senator and Representative to the Assembly - A resident for one year within the state and a qualified elector of the district at the time of taking office. Article IV, Section 6, Wis. Constitution. 65 Atty. Gen. 165.Sup

Supreme Court Justice, Appeals Court Judge, Circuit Court Judge - Licensed to practice law in Wisconsin for 5 years immediately prior to the election and a qualified elector of the state, district, or circuit at time of election. Article VII, Sections 7, 10, 24, Wis. Constitution
District Attorney -Licensed to practice law in Wisconsin and a resident of the prosecutorial unit (county) at the time of taking office. Wis. Stat. § 978.02.

LOCAL OFFICES
County Supervisor and other County Offices - Qualified elector of district at the time of filing nomination papers. Wis. Stat. § 59.20(1).
Alderman - A qualified elector of the city and, if aldermanic district, a qualified elector* of the district and actually residing in the district at the time of election. Wis. Stat. §.62.09(2)(a).
Other City Offices - A qualified elector of the city and an actual resident of the city at the time of election. Wis. Stat. § 62.09(2)(a).

Village office: A qualified elector and an actual resident of the village at the time of election. Wis. Stat. § 61.19
Town office: A qualified elector and an actual resident of the town at the time of election. Wis. Stat. § 61.19
School Board Member:

At-Large Office: A qualified elector of the school district at the time of filing a Declaration of Candidacy. Wis. Stat. §§ 120.06(2), (6)(b)2.

Representative of an Apportioned Area: A qualified elector of the school district at the time of filing a Declaration of Candidacy and a resident of the apportioned area at the time of taking office (4th Monday in April). Wis. Stat. §§ 120.05(1)(d), 120.06(2), (4).

Chantia Lewis, the disgraced felon who pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations has threatened to turn in a candidate for the Common Council because they didn't pull all their campaign yard signs within the 7-day period after they were unsuccessful in their run for office. That's a common problem in Milwaukee and not everyone can canvass the district and get all the signs in the 7-day period. Unlike the former dishonored alder, people actually have to work. Heck, we still have Obama and Evers signs being displayed in yards in the city. The signs for the candidate who was threatened by the shamed former alderperson were taken down over two weekends after the election.

So let's look at this hypocrisy by the convicted felon. She pleaded guilty to a felony: misconduct in public office and “A review of the documents for all of the alderpersons showed material inconsistencies in Lewis’s filings as well as in her reimbursement for city-approved travel. In particular, they showed that Lewis had received reimbursement from the City of Milwaukee for travel, which travel she then paid for out of her campaign account, Chantia 4 Progress, keeping the reimbursement for herself” says the complaint.¹
She was charged with [1] Misconduct in Public Office (Act in Excess of Lawful Authority, [2] Theft (Embezzlement, value exceeding $10,000), [3] Theft by Fraud (value not exceeding $2,500), [4] Campaign Finance - Intentionally File False Report or Statement, [5] Campaign Finance - Intentionally Accept Unlawful Disbursement.
She also claimed a lack of knowledge of campaign laws as the reason that she broke the laws she was convicted of.The hypocrisy of this is beyond a Babylon Bee headline.This is the type of hypocrisy that is prevalent in the City of Milwaukee. If you're a Democrat, then the laws don't apply to you, but if you don't tow the liberal line you are held to an overly strict enforcement of laws.¹(quote from Urban Milwaukee, Dec 7, 2022).

Back in January, the media was all abuzz about voter suppression and the Republican Party, particularly Bob Spindell words. In a recent very unbiased article by DNyuz news about the Wisconsin Supreme Court race the author states the following:

"The Protasiewicz strategy is to pound away on advertising to energize Democrats while depressing Republican support.
“For the typical voter, 90 percent of what they learn about this election is probably going to wind up being from campaign ads,” said Ben Wikler, the chairman of the state Democratic Party."

How does a national publication understand the obvious, yet local media overlooks an undeniable political advertising strategy? Will all the TV stations and shows, printed media, and interwebs media interview those running Judge Janet's campaign and Ben Wikler about the obvious statements by the campaign about voter suppression? Or is it only important when the political right admits to the obvious ramifications of political ads and conversations?

It's time media on both the right and the left report the news with balance in mind and not their political bias. And if they do, be honest and upfront about their prejudices. By the way, non-partisan is often nothing more than an IRS designation, not a political stance.

Let’s do a bit of Wisconsin Supreme Court long ballin’.

zieglerlg First, we need to congratulate Annette Kingsland Ziegler on her reelection as Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The two-year term will begin May 1, 2023. The position is different from the US Supreme Court Justice in that it is mostly administrative in nature. So why does that matter?

Depending on the outcome of the current Supreme Court election the Chief Justice position may well swing to Justice Ann Walsh Bradley in 2025. If uber lefty Judge Janet Protasiewicz wins, it would be safe to assume the Democrats on the bench will vote for Bradley to be the new Chief Justice in 2025. bradleylg

If Justice Bradley is elected chief, I would think that would be an incentive for the then-aged 75-year-old Justice whose current term ends in 2025 to run for another ten-year term.

If Dan Kelly wins the current election, one could assume that Chief Justice Ziegler would remain in that position and remove the incentive for Bradly to run again in 2025.

There are many things that could change the above scenario as 2 years seems to be a lifetime in politics. Just thinking out loud and this is total conjecture.

Here's the oath every state and municipal elected official (and some not elected) has to take and sign when taking office.

Wisconsin Statute 19.01 Oaths and bonds.

19.01(1)(1) Form of oath. Every official oath required by article IV, section 28 (Members of the legislature, and all officers, executive and judicial, except such inferior officers as may be by law exempted, shall before they enter upon the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe an oath or affirmation to support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, and faithfully to discharge the duties of their respective offices to the best of their ability), of the constitution or by any statute shall be in writing, subscribed and sworn to and except as provided otherwise by s. 757.02 and SCR 40.15, shall be in substantially the following form:

State of Wisconsin, County of ....

I, the undersigned, who have been elected (or appointed) to the office of ...., but have not yet entered upon the duties thereof, swear (or affirm) that I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, and will faithfully discharge the duties of said office to the best of my ability. So help me God.

.... ....,

Subscribed and sworn to before me this .... day of ...., .... (year)

....(Signature)....,

(1m) Form of oral oath. If it is desired to administer the official oath orally in addition to the written oath prescribed above, it shall be in substantially the following form:

I, ...., swear (or affirm) that I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, and will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office of .... to the best of my ability. So help me God.

The Wisconsin Constitution is only 17 pages long. While listening to a David King podcast about the constitution, I got to thinking about how many of the elected officials have actually read the Wisconsin Constitution, to say nothing of so-called patriots and other self-proclaimed "constitutionalists". So I asked a few elected officials and a friend who described herself as a "constitutional conservative". I admitted to them that I hadn't read it until a few weeks ago. Only the constitutional conservative and a Justice said they had read the Wisconsin Constitution.

I would like to propose to every legislative body that they call a session or incorporate into one of their first sessions the public reading of the Wisconsin Constitution, including every member participating by reading a section of the document.

It seems to me that taking an oath to something one's never read is a false oath.

Yes Milwaukee, there is an answer to the uptick in violence that permeates our city. It's been successfully accomplished before and can be implemented victoriously again. Area Saturation Patrol (ASP) is the answer and after reading retired Police Captian Glenn D. Frankovis's book of the same title, it's a common-sense solution.

Now it will take all concerned people to become involved and buy into the fix. This includes the Mayor, the Common Council, the Fire and Police Commission, the police infrastructure, the DA, and most importantly the concerned and attacked citizens of the city. From my small silo, it's my understanding that people are tired of not being able to enjoy the inalienable right of the Pursuit of Happiness. It's time to give them a reason and a person to vote for.

The process is simple but will take the powers that be to stand firm and that includes standing up to the attack from the ACLU and the Collins Agreement the city currently operates under.

Area Saturation Patrol can be summed up as decentralized preemptive policing with the cooperation and communication of local citizens and that includes active neighborhood groups. The goal of ASP is to create crime-free neighborhoods with Street Sweeper Operations to tackle problems before they become unmanageable. Because of the immediate availability of ASP's they are able to attend to potential problems on a timely basis and that grows not only the safety of people but the communication between the police and citizens.

Before anyone thinks this is a partisan policy ploy, it's important to note that former Judge Derek Mosley wrote the introduction to this book, and the strategy was supported by former Police Chief Arthur Jones. It's a strategy that's been successful in the past and will work again.

As Glenn states in his book, "Enforcement of all City Ordinances and State Statutes is imperative if this mission is to accomplish its goals". It's time for city leaders to stop with useless commissions and studies and take real action to protect Milwaukee.

The book is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon at a cost of $12.95. Worth the investment in money and time.

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