tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34810620670816363172024-03-13T08:14:39.080-05:00THE Milwaukee Blog"The best interests of the people, and the best interests of business are the same best interests"
<p>A COMPILATION OF THOUGHTS, AND AN EXCHANGE OF OPINIONS, IDEAS AND CRITICISM, ABOUT THE CITY of MILWAUKEE, THE STATE of WISCONSIN AND THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA!
<p>TO POST ORIGINAL THOUGHTS SEND AN EMAIL TO: THEMILWAUKEEBLOG@GMAIL.COMUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-81528446142777011002008-09-10T09:24:00.001-05:002008-09-10T09:26:00.209-05:00Mayor Barrett and County Executive Walker debate Transportation - moderated by Mike Gousha<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="437" height="370" id="viddler_548bb0cc"><param name="movie" value="http://www.viddler.com/player/548bb0cc/"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.viddler.com/player/548bb0cc/" width="437" height="370" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" name="viddler_548bb0cc"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-24252694143240684872008-08-26T21:30:00.003-05:002008-08-26T22:15:11.993-05:00GOVERNOR DOYLE ADDRESSES DEMOCRATS<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwBVAEuAIaII6rGp2MKYVQp1p__--YAtetYX4hXkYKnhqe_ZLZ6fGYOjPDfQ0sWhe_xmYQkK2XUNEoMKJbaQw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-15243167055216849612008-08-25T12:00:00.001-05:002008-08-25T12:00:05.612-05:00AirTran Agent Screams, Curses At Travelers While Supervisor Looks On<a href="http://consumerist.com/5041274/airtran-agent-screams-curses-at-travelers-while-supervisor-looks-on">AirTran Agent Screams, Curses At Travelers While Supervisor Looks On</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-14050478927716932022008-07-22T11:42:00.001-05:002008-12-10T11:10:57.067-06:00Come to the First Ever Protect Wisconsin's Vote Summit - Thursday, July 24<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SIYOw9FfhzI/AAAAAAAAAFs/Uh-pzlez-II/s1600-h/Institute-Wrapper---General.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SIYOw9FfhzI/AAAAAAAAAFs/Uh-pzlez-II/s320/Institute-Wrapper---General.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225880651804149554" /></a><br />Election Protection Expert Sheila Cochran and The Institute for One Wisconsin invite you to <br /><br />Protect Wisconsin's Vote Education Summit <br /><br />Thursday, July 24 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm<br /><br />at the Times Theater, 5906 W. Vliet Street, Milwaukee, WI. <br /><br /><br />The Protect Wisconsin's Vote Summit will feature a lively panel discussion on:<br /><br /> * Voter Suppression<br /> * The Myth of Voter Fraud<br /> * Felon Re-Enfranchisement<br /> * Bilingual Voting<br /> * Accessibility at Polls<br /> * Pitfalls of Voter ID<br /> * Same Day Registration<br /><br />We will feature new films on voter rights by MATA Media and excerpts from the film Uncounted.<br /><br />You can RSVP by clicking the link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/event/detail/conference/wrjh">http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/event/detail/conference/wrjh<br /></a><br />The goal of our event is to inform the media about these important issues, educate community groups on what steps they can take to prevent voter suppression, dispel the myths of voter fraud, as well as collaborating to create an action plan to protect voting throughout the state. <br /><br />The Institute for One Wisconsin is excited to partner with Voces de la Frontera, ACLU of WI, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Labor Council, and Disability Rights WI and hopes that you can join us for this historic event. <br /><br />If you are interested in attending or participating in the event please feel free to contact Rob Ruzanic at 414.220.9250 or RSVP by clicking the link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/event/detail/conference/wrjh">http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/event/detail/conference/wrjh<br /></a><br />Hope to see you on July 24 at the Times Theater!<br /><br />Scot Ross<br />Executive Director<br />Institute for One WisconsinUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-20982070994522874112008-07-08T15:56:00.003-05:002008-12-10T11:10:57.415-06:00GALLERY NIGHT<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SHPVEYz0X9I/AAAAAAAAAFk/9UUatlfl5ok/s1600-h/Gallery+Nite+page2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SHPVEYz0X9I/AAAAAAAAAFk/9UUatlfl5ok/s320/Gallery+Nite+page2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220750664408522706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SHPU4Ey8LII/AAAAAAAAAFc/_lr-0QOMGP4/s1600-h/Gallery+Nite+page1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SHPU4Ey8LII/AAAAAAAAAFc/_lr-0QOMGP4/s320/Gallery+Nite+page1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220750452877700226" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-30304997463008441502008-07-04T10:07:00.001-05:002008-07-04T10:07:53.701-05:00UrbanMilwaukee.com Official LaunchOn June 1st, the creators of UrbanMilwaukee.com and MKEDevelopment.com joined together<br />to create the new UrbanMilwaukee.com with the goal of "Championing Urban Life in the Cream<br />City. And today we announce the "official" launch of UrbanMilwaukee.com<br />Jeramey Jannene, co-founder of Fresh Coast Ventures, LLC, and creator of<br />UrbanMilwaukee.com says "When I started UrbanMilwaukee.com the idea was for the site to<br />be a blog about my thoughts on urbanism and Milwaukee. But it took on a life of its own and<br />has become a source for social, economic, and other urban Milwaukee news. The idea of<br />combining the sites came out of the desire to give Milwaukeeans a premiere place to hear, and<br />be heard, about urbanism and its benefits in Milwaukee."<br />MKEDevelopment.com, a leading site on development news in Milwaukee, adds features such<br />as Milwaukee development photos to the site, extensive City Hall coverage, the perspectives of<br />Dave Reid, and the development resources of Texo Development, LLC. Dave Reid, co-founder<br />of Texo Development, LLC and creator of MKEDevelopment.com says "the merging of sites<br />seemed to be a natural fit with the purpose of both sites meshing so well. And once Jeramey<br />and I talked, we knew we both had the same goals of promoting urban ideals, and urban life in<br />Milwaukee. It's one of those cases where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."<br />The site has undergone a redesign, with a new style more reflective of a news site than a<br />personal blog. The site will continue to add features over the summer, and looks to continue<br />promoting urbanism and discussing urban issues with its readers.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-41954289243466144862008-07-04T10:02:00.001-05:002008-07-04T10:06:35.768-05:00Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-82287275123600887412008-06-11T13:23:00.001-05:002008-12-10T11:10:57.601-06:00Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro Executive Chef Named Best Chef in Midwest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SFAY3klhKwI/AAAAAAAAAFU/HAbz3lV1rXU/s1600-h/adambanner2008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SFAY3klhKwI/AAAAAAAAAFU/HAbz3lV1rXU/s320/adambanner2008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210692111860574978" border="0" /></a><br /><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><i><span style="font-size:11;">National James Beard Culinary Award Goes to Adam Siegel </span></i></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><i><span style="font-size:11;"> </span></i></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:11;">MILWAUKEE</span><span style="font-size:11;">, Wis. – Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro in Milwaukee today announced that Executive Chef Adam Siegel has been named The 2008 Best Chef in the Midwest by the nationally acclaimed James Beard Foundation in New York City.<span> </span>Siegel, 35, was selected from an esteemed group of other Midwestern finalists, including three prominent chefs from Minneapolis and one from Kansas City. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:11;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:11;">The James Beard award recognizes Siegel for his culinary expertise in preparing French bistro cuisine at the Lake Park Bistro.<span> </span><span> </span>Siegel offers a contemporary flair to the French preparation style of Les Plats Classique, Les Plats Traditionnel and La Cuisine Modern du Chef.<span> </span>Siegel is also Executive Chef of Bacchus – A Bartolotta Restaurant in downtown Milwaukee.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:11;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:11;">“We are extremely proud of Adam’s selection as Best Chef in the Midwest by the prestigious James Beard Foundation and are also proud of what this national recognition for culinary excellence brings to the City of Milwaukee and our entire region.” said Joe Bartolotta, owner of The Bartolotta Restaurant Group.<span> </span>“This award reinforces what we have known for many years, and that is that Adam is truly a gifted chef.<span> </span>Those who partake in his culinary creations are always in for an enjoyable and memorable dining experience.<span> </span>We join the dining community of Milwaukee and Wisconsin in congratulating him for his creativity and leadership at two of our restaurants.”</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:11;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:11;">Siegel has worked for The Bartolotta Restaurant Group for eight years.<span> </span>He’s traveled the world during the early part of his career studying under several James Beard Award winners in San Francisco and Washington D.C., and also in Italy and France.<span> </span>In addition, Siegel also trained under Paul Bartolotta at the Spiaggia restaurant in Chicago.<span> </span>Paul has also been a James Beard Foundation award winner, is a nationally recognized and awarded chef as well, and currently runs a popular restaurant at the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas.<span> </span>Siegel was raised in the North Shore area of Chicago and graduated from the culinary school at Kendall College in Chicago.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:11;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:11;">The James Beard Foundation Awards is the nation’s pre-eminent recognition program honoring professionals in the food and beverage industries.<span> </span>The Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in a variety of categories including:<span> </span>Restaurants and Chefs, Books, Journalism, Restaurant Design and Graphics, special achievement and more.<span> </span>Industry professionals are involved in the judging process, which includes hundreds of entries.<span> </span>The Foundation itself is dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and nurturing America’s culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of culinary excellence.<span> </span>The Foundation is named for cookbook author, teacher and champion of American cuisine, James Beard, who died in 1985.<span> </span>More information can be found at <a href="http://www.jamesbeard.org/" target="_blank">www.jamesbeard.org</a>.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:11;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:11;">The Bartolotta Restaurant Group is located in Wauwatosa and includes The Bartolotta Catering Company and several well known Milwaukee area restaurants, including Ristorante Bartolotta, Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro, Mr. B’s – A Bartolotta Steakhouse, and Bacchus – A Bartolotta Restaurant.<span> </span>More information on the restaurants and catering can be found at <a href="http://www.bartolottas.com/" target="_blank">www.bartolottas.com</a>. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:11;"><span> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:11;"> </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-91997706597932983252008-06-11T13:20:00.001-05:002008-06-11T13:22:51.736-05:00Your Chance to Hear New York Times Best Seller David Sirota<span style=";font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:180%;">Here's a great way to spend an evening with some dedicated progressives.<br /><br /></span><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;font-size:180%;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1213208364_0" >David Sirota</span><span style="font-size:180%;">, author of the </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" ><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1213208364_1">New York Times</span></span><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;font-size:180%;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1213208364_2" >best selling book</span><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" >Hostile Takeover</span><span style="font-size:180%;">, is coming to Milwaukee on<a href="http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/event/detail/bookclubdiscussiongroup/w7y"> </a><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="David Sirota Book Signing">Tuesday, June 17 at Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop at 7 p.m. for a book signing of his latest progressive clarion call, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Uprising</span></a>.<br /><br />Here's what the </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" >Washington Post</span><span style="font-size:180%;"> had to say about </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" >The Uprising</span><span style="font-size:180%;">:<br /><br />"</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" >The Uprising</span><span style="font-size:180%;"> is a hard book to dislike or dismiss. Sirota reports cleverly and in pleasing detail about a complex world of political conflict that the journalistic throng obsessed with presidential candidates and their handlers seldom notices... He may not have the Establishment quaking in its Guccis, but his always energetic, often ironic reporting certainly made the quest worthwhile."<br /><br />David has been a good friend to the progressive movement in Wisconsin and his blogs, columns and books are regularly cited in work we do here at One Wisconsin Now.<br /><br />Can you join us June 17 at 7 p.m. at the Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop, </span><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;font-size:180%;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1213208364_3" >2559 N. Downer Avenue in Milwaukee</span><span style="font-size:180%;">? <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/event/detail/bookclubdiscussiongroup/w7y" title="David Sirota Book Signing"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1213208364_4">You can RSVP and get more details here</span></a><a href="http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/event/detail/bookclubdiscussiongroup/w7y">.</a></span><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-7235130099568627722008-06-10T21:22:00.001-05:002008-06-10T21:26:12.570-05:00Demand more from your radio dial<p><span style="font-size:130%;">Dear Reader,</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:130%;">Did you know that America's top 5 commercial radio station owners broadcast more than 2,570 hours of conservative news and talk <strong>every weekday?</strong> In our age of Shameful Shock Jocks* spewing hate talk, we need to support the progressive radio alternative, where facts are a crucial part of the story.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> Our friends at Air America Radio are breaking new ground and hot news stories. They have some of AlterNet's most popular writers and media figures on their team -- Rachel Maddow, Tom Hartman, Laura Flanders, and others. And now, you can listen to them any time you'd like to, on the web, for free.<a href="http://airamerica.com/ondemand" target="_blank"> Give them a try.</a></span> <p><br /> <br /> Don Hazen<br /> Executive Editor, AlterNet.org</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-81459058729216200952008-06-03T21:39:00.001-05:002008-06-03T21:43:56.625-05:00HISTORY IS MADE in St. Paul! - Barack Obama, June 3, 2008<embed id="w47fdfaaff6fbee074846004cf7110b8c" width="320" height="260" flashvars="autoplay=false&brand=embed" src="http://www.ustream.tv/flash/live/203240" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="opaque" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-3282328492286980952008-06-03T19:58:00.001-05:002008-06-03T20:02:57.238-05:00Commuter Bus Ridership Up in Milwaukee, But After Years of Service Cuts It Won’t Be Able to Handle IncreasePublished by Daniel Cody <a href="http://dancody.org/">“Left on the Lake”</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Data from the first three months of the year shows that Milwaukee commuter buses are seeing an increase in ridership that matches the national trend, which is something I’ve been predicting would happen for months now.<br /><br />But there’s a problem with the increase in ridership here in Southeastern Wisconsin: after years of service cuts (and fare increases), transit officials now say they cannot handle a big increase in the number of riders.<br /><br />Why? Because of poor long term planning and service cuts which have crippled the system and made it into a shell of it’s former self. When you completely drop nearly 20 routes, raise fares, and cut back on other routes throughout the system with a purposeful and deliberate goal of drowning what was at one time the best transit operation in the Country, this is what happens.<br /><br />You have more demand for a service, but a deliberate willingness to not increase supply, and commuters in and around Milwaukee now are paying the price.<br /><br />The kicker is that even at this late hour, with gas prices over $4.00/gallon, Southeastern Wisconsin still has no action plan in any regard to handle the desire of it’s residents to utilize more mass transit options:<br /><br /> As more drivers in the Milwaukee area convert to riding commuter buses from designated lots in Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee counties, those buses are becoming more crowded. But after years of slashing service, beleaguered public transit systems can’t gear up quickly to handle a major influx of new riders, transit officials say.JSonline.com<br /><br />Those opposed to mass transit in Wisconsin, led by County Exec. Walker, have successfully blocked any real progress on mass transit for the better part of a decade now. As residents actually start to feel the repercussions of that policy, more and more will start to ask the very valid question of, “Why are we the only metro area in the Country moving backwards on transit?”.<br /><br />That’s something Walker and his supporters should have to answer for.<br /><br /><a href="http://dancody.org/archives/commuter-bus-ridership-up-in-milwaukee-but-after-years-of-service-cuts-wont-be-able-to-handle-increase.html">http://dancody.org/archives/commuter-bus-ridership-up-in-milwaukee-but-after-years-of-service-cuts-wont-be-able-to-handle-increase.html</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-59067764364060188832008-06-03T19:48:00.000-05:002008-12-10T11:10:57.887-06:00Congratulations!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SEXmku-LnuI/AAAAAAAAAFM/LZub_mZ6lnA/s1600-h/obama2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SEXmku-LnuI/AAAAAAAAAFM/LZub_mZ6lnA/s400/obama2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207822062882365154" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-76106518741635086412008-05-20T21:48:00.002-05:002008-12-10T11:10:58.295-06:00GOP Fails To Recruit Minority Candidates<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SDOOLb12pII/AAAAAAAAAFE/G8faEgruU34/s1600-h/POLITICOhomelogo.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SDOOLb12pII/AAAAAAAAAFE/G8faEgruU34/s400/POLITICOhomelogo.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202658321646396546" /></a> This story was written by Jim VandeHei and Josh Kraushaar.<br />At a time when Democrats are poised to knock down a historic racial barrier with their presidential nominee, the GOP is fielding only a handful of minority candidates for Congress or statehouses - none of whom seem to have a prayer of victory.<br /><br />At the start of the Bush years, the Republican National Committee - in tandem with the White House - vowed to usher in a new era of GOP minority outreach. As George W. Bush winds down his presidency, Republicans are now on the verge of going six - and probably more - years without an African-American governor, senator or House member.<br /><br />That’s the longest such streak since the 1980s.<br /><br />Republicans will have only one minority governor, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, an Indian-American, when the dust settles on the ’08 elections. Democrats have three minority governors and 43 African-American members of Congress, including one - Illinois Sen. Barack Obama - who is their likely presidential nominee. Democrats also have several challengers in winnable House races who are either black or Hispanic.<br /><br />Despite having a Spanish-speaking “compassionate conservative” in the White House, Republicans’ diversity deficit seems to have only widened.<br /><br />“In 1994, when I first ran, we had 14 African-American Republicans running for Congress. ... I was the only one that won that year, but we had 14, and we had some good candidates,” said former Oklahoma Rep. J.C. Watts, one of the party’s most recognized African-American voices. “I am grateful for what Ken Mehlman did when he was RNC chairman, but I knew that wouldn’t last - that was one person. I’ve never gotten the impression that it was institutionalized.”<br /><br />So who’s to blame for this diversity deficit?<br /><br />Jack Kemp, the former Republican congressman and vice presidential nominee, says the culprit is clear: a “pitiful” recruitment effort by his party. “I don’t see much of an outreach,” he said. “I don’t see much of a reason to run.”<br /><br />A former black GOP candidate who declined to be identified by name offered a slightly more charitable explanation. He said the party is so broke and distracted that wooing strong minority candidates is a luxury it simply cannot afford right now.<br /><br />Congressional staffers contacted for reaction on this issue did not want to comment but were clearly uneasy with the party’s all-white slate of viable candidates.<br /><br />In all fairness, Republicans have never been very good at attracting strong minority candidates, especially African-Americans. Only four black Republicans - Watts, former Massachusetts Sen. Edward Brooke, former Connecticut Rep. Gary Franks and the late Illinois Rep. Oscar Stanton De Priest - have been elected to Congress since Reconstruction.<br /><br />The party has done slightly better with Cuban-Americans and Hispanics in recent years - Cuban-American Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida recently served as RNC chairman. But the GOP remains a white-dominated party elected overwhelmingly by white voters.<br /><br />Another mitigating factor for the party is that this has been a terrible year overall for GOP recruitment, as exemplified in the 0-for-3 Republican streak in special elections in recent weeks. The dilemma is simple: Who wants to run when the Republican brand is so unpopular and money is so scarce?<br /><br />Still, the recruitment failure is striking when you consider the recent history of the GOP on this issue. It was not long ago - 2005, to be precise - that Mehlman, then the RNC chairman, grabbed headlines with a major speech on diversity before the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.<br /><br />“Republicans are committed to inclusion,” he told the group’s national convention. “I’m here four years before the next presidential election asking for your help. Inclusion means you work together to recruit candidates, not surrogates to speak on their behalf.”<br /><br />Mehlman was far from alone. President Bush dedicated significant time in the early years of his presidency to reaching out to African-Americans with countless speeches on education and faith-based initiatives directed at minority communities. He aggressively appointed prominent blacks to his Cabinet, including two secretaries of state: Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice.<br /><br />Bush sometimes broke into Spanish as he called for immigration laws providing illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship, a hot topic in Hispanic communities.<br /><br />The efforts, of course, were designed to attract voters - not just candidates - into the GOP fold. And the moral of the story is that the party clearly failed.<br /><br />Some party insiders point to 2006 as the specific proof that diversity efforts may sound great but are still impractical and electorally unrewarding for the GOP.<br /><br />During that cycle, Mehlman and GOP leaders talked a number of attractive black candidates into running for important seats: Michael Steele of Maryland, for the Senate; and Lynn Swann of Pennsylvania and Ken Blackwell of Ohio, for governor.<br /><br />Scores of stories were written about the Republicans’ new plan to win tough seats with well-funded minority candidates.<br /><br />Then they all lost badly. The election results in their respective states showed that they hardly made any inroads - even in the heavily African-American parts of the states they were running in. Swann was later asked to run for the House, and he declined.<br /><br />Suddenly, the argument for minority outreach seemed to lack the underpinning of any successful political strategy: the ability to produce more votes.<br /><br />The exit polling data for House races in 2006 showed the depth of the GOP’s outreach crisis. Republican candidates won 11 percent of the black vote and 30 percent of the Hispanic vote.<br /><br />However, Watts, for one, rejects the argument that Republicans can’t compete for minority votes or successfully recruit minority candidates. He argues that the party simply hasn’t tried hard enough.<br /><br />“Unless you have an infrastructure to build off of, it’s all throwing mud at the wall and hoping that some of it sticks,” said Watts. “There’s an entire infrastructure that needs to be thought through, and it seems to me no one is interested in building that.”<br /><br /><br />By Jim VandeHei and Josh Kraushaar<br />Copyright 2008 POLITICOUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-36266445234640105572008-05-19T02:45:00.002-05:002008-05-19T02:47:09.175-05:00What if God Were One of Us?<object width="425" height="373"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UYZKZfdr3ac&hl=en&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UYZKZfdr3ac&hl=en&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="373"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-63031569780891723532008-05-14T20:15:00.000-05:002008-05-14T20:17:06.758-05:00LENA TAYLOR GIVES OBAMA HER SUPERDELEGATE VOTEState Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, today endorsed Barack Obama for president, becoming the latest Wisconsin superdelegate to back the Illinois senator.<br /><br />Taylor, a superdelegate because of her position as first vice chair of the state Dem Party, said in a statement released by the Obama campaign that her recent unsuccessful campaign for Milwaukee County executive made her “more aware then ever of the need to galvanize, motivate and inspire political participation by every member of society.”<br /><br />“He’s awakened a sleeping giant -- the people.“ she said in the statement.<br /><br />Earlier this week, UW-Madison student Awais Khaleel, a superdelegate because of his position with College Democrats, announced his support for Obama.<br /><br />With Khaleel and Taylor now supporting him, Obama has the backing of 11 Wisconsin superdelegates.<br /><br />Two support Hillary Clinton, while three remain undecided. Those who have not backed anyone included U.S. Sens. Herb Kohl of Milwaukee and Russ Feingold of Middleton, along with Feingold staffer Paula Zellner.<br /><br />Feingold has said he was inclined to support Obama and voted for him in Wisconsin’s Feb. 19 primary but has not official pledged his super delegate vote to Obama.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-24353587562434392092008-05-14T20:09:00.000-05:002008-12-10T11:10:58.470-06:00Legislature to Close Wal-Mart Loophole<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SCuNab12pHI/AAAAAAAAAE8/82Qbl2WFxFY/s1600-h/wispolitics.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SCuNab12pHI/AAAAAAAAAE8/82Qbl2WFxFY/s400/wispolitics.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200405680019121266" /></a><br />The State Senate took the lead today to end the loophole that lets Wal-Mart and other big corporations evade $15 million annually by exploiting the state tax law (and the taxpayers).<br /><br />Under the tax evasion scheme, tells the Institute for Wisconsin's Future, Wal-Mart would have one part of its business pay another part of the biz for rent allowing it to "reduce" its Wisconsin profits and consequently, reduce the amount of money it's required to provide the taxpayers of Wisconsin.<br /><br /><br />As part of the budget repair bill, Senate Dems voted to close loophole and save the people of Wisconsin the $15 million it costs to give Wal-Mart et al this ridiculous tax giveaway.<br /><br />Wal-Mart is already bilking the taxpayers of Wisconsin by having over 1,200 employees and their dependants get health care through BadgerCare at a cost of $2.7 million.<br /><br />Hopefully, closing this loophole will be part of a long-term effort to restore sane and progressive tax policy to the state of Wisconsin.<br /><br />OWN has previously called for restoration of the estate tax, which ended this year. If you haven't signed our petition on that yet, click here to take action today.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-7021413839312488092008-05-05T22:25:00.001-05:002008-05-05T22:32:05.053-05:00Downtown a Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient Alternative for UWM ExpansionA recent analysis by UWM Downtown shows that a downtown location for the University of<br />Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s expansion would be between $23-28 million less to construct and<br />could be finished in a more timely manner than the currently contemplated County Grounds<br />site in Wauwatosa.<br />First, downtown Milwaukee has all of the infrastructure in place needed for development, such<br />as roads, sewer, water, stormwater management and telecommunications. Constructing that<br />infrastructure on undeveloped land in Wauwatosa would cost between $15-20 million. In<br />addition, excess land would have to be purchased in Wauwatosa for freeway buffers and<br />stormwater management. In downtown, less land would need to be purchased, saving<br />additional financial resources. As a result, UWM would be able to spend their limited funds on<br />actual school buildings, research facilities and chair endowments instead of land purchases and<br />infrastructure. Downtown would also allow shared parking opportunities, whereas in<br />Wauwatosa, all parking would be used solely for UWM and left underutilized in off-peak<br />times. A chart explaining these costs in more detail can be found online at:<br /><a href="http://www.uwmdowntown.org/?p=19">http://www.uwmdowntown.org/?p=19</a><br />Second, not only will UWM have to spend less time raising money to begin construction, with<br />all of the infrastructure in place, they can begin construction of school buildings immediately.<br />There would be little public opposition to students moving into the downtown area and there<br />are little environmental concerns with a downtown location. As a result, the public hearing<br />process would be smooth.<br />Dave Reid of UWM Downtown says, “It is important to the Milwaukee region’s economy that UWM increase its research capacity as soon as possible and it is important to the taxpayers of<br />Wisconsin that UWM chooses a cost-effective location.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.uwmdowntown.org/">http://www.uwmdowntown.org/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-1318844557886912762008-05-01T20:02:00.002-05:002008-12-10T11:10:58.588-06:00Miller Park second in SI fan survey<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SBppC7S5FGI/AAAAAAAAAE0/mZpyA4p4tfQ/s1600-h/millerpark2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SBppC7S5FGI/AAAAAAAAAE0/mZpyA4p4tfQ/s400/millerpark2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195580619122873442" /></a><br />The Business Journal of Milwaukee<br /><br /> When it comes to enjoying a day at the ballpark, Miller Park in Milwaukee is almost the best place to be, according to a new fan survey from SI.com.<br /><br />The Milwaukee Brewers' home field ranked second only to Cleveland Indians' Progressive Field in the survey of thousands of Major League fans conducted by Sports Illustrated's Web site.<br /><br />The online survey was conducted in March and asked fans to rate their ballparks in 10 categories, including affordability, food quality, team quality, atmosphere, hospitality, traffic and neighborhood. Miller Park ranked first in food quality and in the quality of the promotions.<br /><br />The home fields for the Brewers' division, the National League Central, fared well in the survey, with three making the top five. PNC Park, home to Brewers' rival Pittsburgh Pirates, ranked third. Comerica Park, home of the American League's Detroit Tigers, ranked fourth, followed by the NL Central's St. Louis Cardinals' Busch Stadium III.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-6469627826611538842008-05-01T09:49:00.003-05:002008-12-10T11:10:58.724-06:00Barbara Walters to visit Milwaukee Press Club<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SBnYo7S5FEI/AAAAAAAAAEk/oZg0RpHmTl8/s1600-h/BarbaraWalters.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SBnYo7S5FEI/AAAAAAAAAEk/oZg0RpHmTl8/s400/BarbaraWalters.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195421842771874882" /></a><br /><br />MILWAUKEE, WI – Barbara Walters, one of the most important woman in the history of broadcast journalism, will visit the Milwaukee Press Club on Thursday, May 29th as part of her nation-wide book tour for her new memoir, Audition. Ms. Walters will be signing copies of her book for readers beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the Newsroom Pub, 137 E. Wells Street.<br /><br />This MPC members-only event will begin with registration and a buffet lunch at Noon. Each current member is allowed to bring one non-member guest. The cost for the event is $20 per person, and includes lunch.<br /><br />In Audition (published by Alfred A. Knopf), Ms. Walters writes with candor about her private life and professional career, reflecting on the choices she has made, the work she has done, the people she has met, the heartbreak she has faced, and the challenges she has coped with and overcome.<br /><br />“Young people starting out in television sometimes say to me: ‘I want to be you,’” Walters writes in Audition. “My stock reply is always: ‘Then you have to take the whole package.’” Walters also talks about the extraordinary range of interviews she has conducted during her forty years on the air, and speaks with candor about the television industry and how it has changed.<br /><br />“Barbara Walters is a totemic figure in the world of broadcast news,” said Sonny Mehta, Chairman of Alfred A. Knopf, “and her long-awaited memoir is striking for its honesty and élan. Her story is fascinating, inspiring and altogether riveting, and I am certain her candor about both her good fortune and travails will prove especially resonant with readers.”<br /><br />The first printing for Audition has been set at 550,000 copies, and an exclusive excerpt from the book will appear in Vanity Fair magazine. Oprah Winfrey will conduct the first broadcast interview with Barbara Walters in concert with the release of the book: the interview is scheduled to air on Oprah Tuesday, May 6.<br /><br />Copies of Audition will be available to purchase at this event. Ms. Walters will be available to sign copies of her book Audition only, but due to time limitations, she will not be able to personalize. If you bring a camera, please be aware that photos may only be taken by a designated press club photographer; and no video cameras are allowed.<br /><br />Registration and lunch will begin at Noon. Ms. Walters will speak briefly beginning promptly at 12:30 p.m. The book signing will begin immediately following her comments and end at 1:30 p.m.<br /><br />Advance registration is required and space is limited. Members may register on-line at <a href="http://www.milwaukeepressclub.org/home/">www.milwaukeepressclub.org</a> or by calling Joette Richards at 262-894-2224. Payment must be made in advance to reserve your space. Checks may be mailed to the MPC at PO Box 223, Hales Corners, WI 53130-0223; or credit cards will be accepted when registering on line or by calling Joette.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-73957161034971430192008-04-24T11:51:00.004-05:002008-12-10T11:10:58.837-06:00John McCain: "NAFTA Has Created Millions Of Jobs"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SBC6r7S5FDI/AAAAAAAAAEc/Tu4cYJUEAn0/s1600-h/mccain-youngstown.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SBC6r7S5FDI/AAAAAAAAAEc/Tu4cYJUEAn0/s400/mccain-youngstown.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192855634172253234" /></a><br /><br /><br />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)<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="373"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/86QwI-6TWic&rel=0&border=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/86QwI-6TWic&rel=0&border=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="373"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.progressohio.org/">http://www.progressohio.org/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-65832876906486038712008-04-22T17:22:00.001-05:002008-04-22T17:36:04.328-05:00Is John McCain the Right Choice for America's Future?<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TFDc4M_PMNk&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TFDc4M_PMNk&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-16725374399764036262008-04-17T00:22:00.001-05:002008-04-17T00:25:48.920-05:00Mayor Tom Barrett Supports UWM Expansion in the City of MilwaukeeOn April 15, 2008, on the day of the inauguration for Mayor Tom Barrett’s second term, the<br />Mayor signed a resolution promoting the expansion of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee<br />(“UWM”) within the City of Milwaukee, specifically in the downtown area.<br />A week earlier, this resolution was unanimously approved by Milwaukee’s Common Council.<br />The entire resolution can be found here: http://legistar.milwaukee.gov/detailreport/?key=27178<br />UWM Downtown applauds this effort and believes that downtown Milwaukee offers the best<br />location for a UWM expansion in the entire Milwaukee region.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-19629080048291556392008-04-16T22:54:00.005-05:002008-12-10T11:10:58.971-06:00BOTH SIDES SIZE UP IMMIGRATION DEBATE AS ANOTHER ‘DAY WITHOUT LATINOS’ APPROACHES<a href="http://wispolitics.com/"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SAbKo5AIYUI/AAAAAAAAAEU/SZ2xFG1EVpQ/s1600-h/wispolitics.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SAbKo5AIYUI/AAAAAAAAAEU/SZ2xFG1EVpQ/s400/wispolitics.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190058424436023618" /></a><br /><br /></a><br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />"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.<br /><br />"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."<br /><br />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.<br /><br />"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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />"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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Illegal immigration was a topic at the recent Future Wisconsin Conservative Leadership Coalition conference in Wauwatosa.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />“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."<br /><a href="http://wispolitics.com/"><br /><br />www.wispolitics.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481062067081636317.post-75222856568512245532008-04-16T14:10:00.002-05:002008-12-10T11:10:59.132-06:00Midwest Airlines to lay off 109, cut back schedule<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SAZPepAIYTI/AAAAAAAAAEM/yWW0EOlOvrg/s1600-h/midwestAirlinesMastheadLogo.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_79UxoGBWKZ4/SAZPepAIYTI/AAAAAAAAAEM/yWW0EOlOvrg/s400/midwestAirlinesMastheadLogo.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189923008412148018" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/">The Business Journal of Milwaukee<br /></a><br />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.<br /><br />"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.<br /><br />"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."<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />On Wednesday, Midwest confirmed the pilot layoffs, and released additional information.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0