John McCain: "NAFTA Has Created Millions Of Jobs"

Senator John McCain visited and spoke to the five remaining workers at a Fabart steel fabricating factory in Youngstown, Ohio, that had more than 100 employees a few years ago. (Photo: Mary Altaffer/Associated Press)




http://www.progressohio.org/

Is John McCain the Right Choice for America's Future?

Mayor Tom Barrett Supports UWM Expansion in the City of Milwaukee

On April 15, 2008, on the day of the inauguration for Mayor Tom Barrett’s second term, the
Mayor signed a resolution promoting the expansion of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
(“UWM”) within the City of Milwaukee, specifically in the downtown area.
A week earlier, this resolution was unanimously approved by Milwaukee’s Common Council.
The entire resolution can be found here: http://legistar.milwaukee.gov/detailreport/?key=27178
UWM Downtown applauds this effort and believes that downtown Milwaukee offers the best
location for a UWM expansion in the entire Milwaukee region.

BOTH SIDES SIZE UP IMMIGRATION DEBATE AS ANOTHER ‘DAY WITHOUT LATINOS’ APPROACHES

As Wisconsin approaches a third annual "Day without a Latino" march May 1, those on both sides of the immigration debate say nothing of substance is being done to address the issue.

Organizers announced plans for next month's march today, saying the purpose was to send a message to elected officials and presidential candidates that things need to change.

"This year we are sending very clear message and that message is to whichever next president is elected in 2008 that we want to see comprehensive immigration reform in the first 100 days in office," Christina Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, said today at City Hall press conference to announce the May 1 march.

"And to the current administration a very strong message that we want to see a immediate stop to arrests, deportations, on raids and immediate stop to the criminalization of low wage working families and employers in this country."

During the past two marches, locally owned Hispanic businesses have closed for at least part of the day or operated with minimal staff. This year, Voces is asking business to stay open and help by mobilizing for the march or offering economic support. Neumann-Ortiz said Voces is asking employers allow their workers to attend the march without retaliation.

"The reason we are doing this march because we are, I think, at a very exciting moment in the struggle in this country," Neumann-Ortiz said.

She said that last year's march was significant in stopping legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Menomonee Falls, that he dubbed the Border Protection, Anti-Terrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005. Sensenbrenner's bill called for a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, requiring employers to verify employees' citizenship status and making it a crime to assist undocumented immigrants.

State Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, said that he does not think that anything is being done either on a local or national level.

"It seems to me that the Bush administration has, for whatever reason, encouraged illegal immigration with their inactivity for the last seven years," Grothman said.

There have been a series of fights at the state level over immigration over the last several years without many changes. Lawmakers fought attempts by Gov. Jim Doyle to allow children of illegal immigrants who graduate from Wisconsin high schools to attend the UW System at in-state tuition rates; they now pay the more expensive out-of-state rates.

Other proposals lawmakers have grappled with include legislation to prohibit local ordinances that restrict public employees from inquiring about the immigration status of those seeking public services. The bill, sponsored by Grothman, did not become law. At the national level, the Real ID Act and the Social Security "no-match" letters are two bills recently that have dealt with the issue of undocumented immigration.

Sensenbrenner also sponsored the Real ID Act, which placed new restrictions on state driver licenses and identification cards. The Department of Homeland Security earlier this year announced a delay in the implementation of the law.

Both Grothman and Neumann-Ortiz said that Sensenbrenner is a leading figure in the anti-immigration movement. Sensenbrenner declined to be interviewed for this article.

The Social Security "no-match" letters program, which was halted by a federal judge last year, would send employers a notice that a worker's identification number did not match government records. The employee then has 90 days to rectify the situation or the employer would have to terminate the worker. Those employed have to be a U.S. citizen or here legally.

Illegal immigration was a topic at the recent Future Wisconsin Conservative Leadership Coalition conference in Wauwatosa.

Attorney Chris Carson, co-founder of the Wisconsin Conservative Digest, was invited by the journal’s publisher Robert Dohnal to take part in a panel discussion on immigration. Carson is not an immigration lawyer, but he has represented undocumented workers in the past as part of his practice.

In an interview, Carson said he thinks that people are not informed about the drain that undocumented immigrants have on public services and non-payment of taxes.

“They need to be aware of how much it costs the legal residents of Wisconsin,” Carson said. “Nobody really thinks of it in terms of economic reality. They think of it in terms of, very often particularly the liberal end of the perspective, tend to think in terms of emotional arguments, the right of people to live self-fulfilled."


www.wispolitics.com

Midwest Airlines to lay off 109, cut back schedule

The Business Journal of Milwaukee

Midwest Airlines confirmed Wednesday that it will lay off 35 pilots and 74 other employees -- and cut the frequency of certain flights -- to counter rising fuel costs.

"Midwest Airlines is not immune to the staggering impact that fuel prices are having on the U.S. airline industry," Midwest chairman and CEO Timothy Hoeksema told employees Tuesday, according to a Wednesday press release.

"The actions we are taking today will enable us to maximize revenues, reduce our cost structure, provide for efficient cash and help us weather this storm, moving forward."

The Oak Creek-based airline also is seeking to cut costs by reducing weight on planes -- so less fuel is burned -- restructuring various departments to remove redundancies, and improving on-time performance and baggage handling.

The changes also involve an initiative called "Midwest Class," a seating choice program to debut this fall on the Boeing 717 fleet that allows passengers a chance to upgrade their seats for a higher ticket price. The program is expected to boost revenue.

Last week, the company told its pilots union that 35 pilots will be laid off under a revision of the flight schedule and that 22 will receive position and pay downgrades, according to Paul Sweet, a first officer with Midwest and a spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Association.

On Wednesday, Midwest confirmed the pilot layoffs, and released additional information.

Map of Memories - Wild Space Dance Company's Season Finale

The colorful early settlement of Milwaukee's Jones Island becomes an evocative Map of Memories in Wild Space Dance Comapny's season finale. Wild Space merges expressive contemporary dance with images and text inspired by the stories of Polish, Kaszubian and Eastern European immigrants who founded the Island's fishing village in the 1870s. Prior to the evening performances, Milwaukee historian and author John Gurda will reveal the island's journey from thriving fishing village to harbor hub.

Danceworks, 1661 N. Water St
May 2nd and 3rd - 8pm, May 4th - 2:30pm and 8pm
Tickets: $25 premium, $20 adults, $15 students and seniors
(7:15 pm pre-performance talk with historian and author John Gurda)
BOX OFFICE: (414) 277-8480

for more info, wisit www.WildSpaceDance.org or call (414)271-0307

Finley to discuss museum's future at Newsmaker Luncheon

MILWAUKEE, WI— Dan Finley, president of the Milwaukee Public Museum, will be the featured guest at the Milwaukee Press Club's Newsmaker Luncheon on Wednesday, April 23. The event will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Newsroom Pub in downtown Milwaukee at 137 E. Wells St.

Finley will discuss the Milwaukee Public Museum's financial condition and outlook. He will assess the success of the "Body Worlds" exhibit and discuss future exhibits and other changes planned for the museum. He also will discuss the future of the former Discovery World space adjacent to the museum and the state of Milwaukee's tourism industry.

The Milwaukee Public Museum recently made its final repayment on a $6 million loan that was guaranteed by Milwaukee County. The repayment of the loan closed a rocky chapter for the museum. Finley, the former Waukesha County executive, took the helm of the museum in July 2005.

The public is invited to attend the Newsmaker Luncheon, where Finley will take questions from a panel of professional journalists.

The Milwaukee Press Club's Newsmaker Luncheon Series is sponsored by Journal Communications and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The Press Club presents the Newsmaker Luncheons monthly to shed light on issues of the day. The public is invited to attend the luncheons. The cost to attend is $15 for MPC members, $20 for non-members, $10 for students. Lunch is included. Pre-registration and advance payment is required and may be done online at www.milwaukeepressclub.org. Checks may be mailed to the MPC at PO Box 223, Hales Corners, WI 53130-0223. Cancellations will be accepted up to 48 hours in advance for a full refund. Contact the Milwaukee Press Club at milwaukeepressclub@gmail.com or 414-588-9571 with any further questions. To pay by credit card, call 262-894-2224.

Big Tax Breaks for Businesses in Housing Bill

By STEPHEN LABATON and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Published: April 16, 2008

The Senate proclaimed a fierce bipartisan resolve two weeks ago to help American homeowners in danger of foreclosure. But while a bill that senators approved last week would take modest steps toward that goal, it would also provide billions of dollars in tax breaks — for automakers, airlines, alternative energy producers and other struggling industries, as well as home builders.
Big Tax Breaks for Businesses in Housing Bill

Condi Must Go - Watch the Smoking Gun Video

Thanks to a new report from ABC News, we now know that Condoleezza Rice led White House meetings authorizing torture that were so detailed, "the interrogation sessions were almost choreographed."
How can we express the terrible shock we have felt from the fact that our government is using torture? How can we express what so many of us are thinking-that it is absolutely appalling to know that our representatives are implementing barbaric instruments of torture as policy? How do we express our moral outrage?

Perhaps more importantly, how do we begin to take steps towards ending this heinous crime? We demand Secretary of State Rice to resign.

Our allies at True Majority, USAction, and Democracy for America have launched a campaign to START calling out our leaders by focusing on Condoleezza Rice. No, she is not the President. But we want to call attention to the fact that the Secretary of State called for torture when she was National Security Adviser.

This is our campaign to get all three Presidential nominees to call for Rice's resignation. Accountability must start with her, especially now that she's being mentioned as a potential Vice Presidential candidate. We want to push all the Presidential candidates on this issue. They need to make a public stance: Condi Must Go!

Join us in taking action. Join us in creating a firestorm while the traditional media is missing in action. Join us in spreading the word to mobilize our country. We cannot tolerate officials with a blatant disregard for human rights.

Yours,
Robert Greenwald
and the Brave New Team

Help Russ End The War

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition Opens October 10, 2008

Actual artifacts, recovered from two and one-half miles below the surface of the North Atlantic, tell the story behind the legendary Titanic's short journey from construction and destruction to eventual recovery. Walk her decks, peer into her cabins, and meet her passengers and crew.
Tickets On Sale July 19

Click here to sign-up for future email updates about Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.

view video here

THREE TRILLION DOLLAR SHOPPING SPREE

OneMilwaukee.org

In 2007, Milwaukee reported 105 homicides in the city, up slightly from 2006.*2

In 2006 Milwaukee had 622 non-fatal shooting victims compared to 485 in 2007.*2

Between 2004 and 2006 there was a 15% decline in homicide in MHRC review districts (2,5 and 6) and a 44% increase in Districts 1,3,4 and 7.*2

In 2005 and 2006, 11% of homicide suspects and 13% of homicide victims were under 18.*2

In 62% of homicides, the suspect has known the victim.*2

Nearly 40% of homicides are the result of an argument.*2

Roughly 80% of the homicides in Milwaukee are firearm related*2

Of the 236,408 children living in Milwaukee County in 2005, 2,265 were the victims of abuse and/or neglect.*1

*1 - Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Report, 2005
*2 - Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission

Milwaukee Common Council Endorses UWM Expansion in the City of Milwaukee

April 9, 2008

This morning, at the last Milwaukee Common Council meeting of the 2004-08 cycle, the Council
unanimously approved a resolution promoting the expansion of the University of Wisconsin –
Milwaukee (“UWM”) within the City of Milwaukee, specifically in the downtown area.
Resolution number 071708 was co-sponsored by Ald. D’Amato, Ald. Zielinski and Ald. Bauman.
The entire resolution can be found here: http://legistar.milwaukee.gov/detailreport/?key=27178
UWM Downtown applauds this effort and believes that downtown Milwaukee offers the best
location for a UWM expansion in the entire Milwaukee region.

http://www.uwmdowntown.org/

PROTECT MILWAUKEE'S FUTURE

ELECT LENA TAYLOR MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE!!

RETURN JUSTICE BUTLER TO THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT