From Wisconsin Assemblyman John Nygren

Wisconsin’s unemployment rate has jumped to 9.2 percent in June, just under the national average of 9.7.  Oconto and Marinette Counties’ unemployment rates were worse, 12.2 and 12.7 respectively according to the most recent data.  Because of these dire numbers you would think our current leadership would be pushing policies that create jobs.  Unfortunately, they have pushed through a budget that was described by an employer in Wisconsin like this, “They’ve sure given a lot of people the impetus to get the hell out of here.”

Included in the budget is an income tax increase that will impact 4,600 small business owners who file their taxes as personal income.  As well, capital gains (personal and employer gains on investment) taxes were doubled and corporate taxes were increased by hundreds of millions of dollars.  Taxes on your garbage and small business waste were raised to the highest levels in the nation.  These changes don’t exactly give incentives to employers to invest in Wisconsin.  These budget changes actually do the opposite.

The effect of the tax and policy changes in the budget has been immediate and damaging.  Harley Davidson cut 400 jobs earlier in the year and cited tax law changes (combined reporting passed into law by the governor and Democrats) as one of the reasons.  These changes were estimated to cost Harley $22.5 million.  Briggs and Stratton recently announced they will be cutting 430 jobs in Wisconsin and moving them to Alabama and Georgia instead of moving Alabama or Georgia jobs to Wisconsin.  This move is expected to save the company millions.

On top of these announcements, Mercury Marine of Fond du Lac has been discussing the possibility of moving 2,000 jobs to Oklahoma.  The move will depend on how aggressive either state is at attracting Mercury Marine.  Oklahoma has already stated they are doing everything possible to attract Mercury Marine.  The Oklahoma legislature voted to forgive $1.2 million in taxes owed by Mercury Marine and they’re in negotiations to offer other incentives to move the Fond du Lac plant to Oklahoma.  Considering Oklahoma is a right-to-work state and in the budget that just passed in Wisconsin Mercury Marine would be on the hook for additional taxes, I am not optimistic.

By rewarding special interests in the budget with billions in spending at the expense of private employers, the Wisconsin Democrats have given no reason for an employer to stay in Wisconsin if greener pastures are available.  Companies invest in states they feel will partner with them and grow their investment.  These investments create jobs – jobs that state residents desperately need. 

We should be doing everything possible to hold the jobs we have, to provide for the unemployed through direct benefits and job training assistance, and giving employers looking for business friendly states during this economic downturn incentives to plant their roots here.

Until we do these things we will continue to lose jobs.  At best, unemployment will begin to level off and stagnate.  If this happens, revenues from private employers and working individuals will continue to drop and the schools and social services that depend on these revenues to operate will suffer. 

Because of the actions taken in the budget passed by Democrats this year, the next budget will have a deficit that will be just as bad if not worse than the $7 billion we had earlier this year.  The odds of $2.2 billion in federal ‘stimulus’ money being available to plug budget holes in K-12, Medicaid, and local aids next budget cycle is not likely.  Wisconsin is already operating under a $2 billion structural deficit that will have to be closed in the next budget.  That number will grow if Wisconsin continues to lag behind in economic growth.

Wisconsin is in a competition with 49 other states for job creation and retention.  Based on the performance of our leadership this year we are losing that competition.  There are jobs moving and being created during this recession in the United States.  They are just in other states like Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Alabama.  Unfortunately, some of those jobs moved and were lost from right here in Wisconsin.

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FROM: The Liberty Tree Lantern

WE MUST RECALL DOYLE BEFORE ALL OUR SMALL BUSINESSES MOVE OR CLOSE UP FOR GOOD.

Signup as a volunteer circulator of petitions at www.RecallDoyle.com

There are many in Wisconsin media who scoff at suggestions that our State’s survival depends on drastic measures like a recall.  But many beg to differ on this implication by such local news sources for a multitude of reasons, the least of which is a nearly $7 BILLION Dollar deficit that Jim Doyle is working feverishly to implement all sorts of fees and taxes on our citizens and our small businesses to cover.  It should be rather obvious that such massive taxation will not only drive out small business from our State but with them taxpayers who are left to foot Jim Doyle’s eminent Socialist tab and agenda which ultimately flies in the face of the intent and spirit of both OUR State and Federal Constitutions and, thereby and therefore, result  in the detriment of our prosperity producing individual liberties and freedom.

Many people have expressed great dismay with these news organizations and wonder if these outlets are trying to control political outcomes by preventing news accounts from getting out to the Wisconsin public.

Take a look at the following video and decide for yourself if any of these Wisconsin citizens, or very many of them at least, are really interested in recalling Wisconsin Governor James Doyle or whether some people are blowing such interest way out of proportion and that there are not very many but a very small fringe group that wants to be active in this recall effort.  When you see this video, perhaps you might also ask yourself whether your local newspaper is doing a good job of deciding what news to bring you and WHY they may not be letting you know about certain events that you might consider important.

• Now would you consider over 8,200 Wisconsin citizens traveling all the way to a Madison Tea Party on April 15th to scream RECALL DOYLE anything news worthy? 
• Do you know that there were MANY more Tea Parties across the State of Wisconsin, besides this one at Madison, each with thousands of people in attendance screaming RECALL DOYLE? 
• If you didn’t know that, how come? 
• Didn’t your local newspaper or local TV news let you know that there are so many THOUSANDS on top of THOUSANDS of people from MANY cities and towns across our State of Wisconsin that want Gov. Doyle recalled?
• If your local news organizations are not letting you know the news that your own fellow citizens by the THOUSANDS are MAD as Hell about Jim Doyle and his usurping, despotic, tyrannical spending policies, stealing and using our earnings in the form of fees and taxes to do it, then are these organizations not controlling and manipulating you through purposeful “lack” of news coverage?
• Are you going to keep paying for news services who don’t even let you know what is going on in your own State? 
• At the very least you should contact your local news outlet and tell them what you think for not letting you know about this.
• If you know of a local Wisconsin TV news or newspaper organization that appears intent on a blackout of RECALL DOYLE news from Wisconsin citizens, please post a comment below and we will formally publish their names after confirmation.  (Thank you!)

In the weeks to come The Liberty Tree Lantern will be naming names of local Wisconsin news organizations who are refusing to print or broadcast news on this HUMONGUS news event of gigantic importance to the people of Wisconsin – THE RECALL OF GOVENOR JAMES DOYLE. 

The first on the list of local newspapers or organizations who absolutely refuse to print anything of the Doyle Recall is:

•  THE EAGLE HERALD of Marinette, WI. 

The following local newspaper, competing in the same area however, was quick to publish an article of this importance in their editorial/opinion pages:

• The Peshtigo Times of Peshtigo, WI

It appears self-evident who, of these two local papers, is in the pocket of BIG Wisconsin tax spending Government and who is on the side of the people of Wisconsin.  Don’t let media bias keep you from the news you need and have a right to know.

In the interest of full disclosure, as posted elsewhere on this blog, the writer, Capt. Karl, is one of the original 15 Wisconsin citizens who started the www.RecallDoyle.com campaign.

 For more information that you may not be getting from your local TV news or newspaper go to: www.RecallDoyle.com

The Sons of Liberty tarring and feathering a tax collector underneath the Liberty Tree

So get your favorate Indian head dress and garb ready for one heck of a 4th of July party!  The Liberty Tree Lantern recommends not to forget to prepare your effigies in the likeness of your least favorate Congressmen like Senator Harry pork Reid or our Speaker of the House Nancy spend all the taxpayer money you can, give nothing back, Pelosi  or the head Communist in Chief himself B.O..  Of course we shouldn’t forget the creators of “The Matrix” (Our Economy that only exists as programmed into our minds, created by wealth printed out of thin air, paper and ink monopoly money), THE FEDERAL RESERVE!  We need to hang a few of them for sure! 

How about a few hanging effigy pinnatas?  Yeah we could hang them under Liberty Trees and stick them with pitchforks!   Now that’s an Independence Day celebration!

Seeing as how the first effigy of Senator Harry Reid was strung up last Independence Day at the Menominee Memorial Park in the U.P. of Michigan, which is right by the Menominee Marina, perhaps we here in the twin cities of Marinette / Menominee ought to take advantage of our area and have a few yachts setup for a mock Boston Tea Party just offshore of the Marina.

I know we have a designated Liberty Tree nearby for those who would like to tar and feather or hang an effigy of their least favorate Congressmen and women.  Bring patriotic signs and Gadsden flags to display from our Menomoninee, MI  Liberty Tree for the event.  All taxpayers are invited.  Everybody to dress up as a patriot or an Indian.

Here is some information on other Tea Parties being planned around America: http://www.reteaparty.com/2009/03/reteaparty-podcast/

Assembly Update – January 30, 2009

STATE OF THE STATE

Governor Doyle delivered his annual State of the State address this Wednesday.  He discussed our state’s economic outlook, $5.75 billion deficit, and briefly touched on his priorities for this budget.  This address comes at a time when jobs are being lost, businesses are closing, and consumer confidence is at an all time low. 

To tackle these problems, I am pleased that the Governor mentioned this is not a time for new big government programs.  I agree and think priority one should be creating and retaining jobs by putting more money in the pockets of the people instead of the wasteful hands of government.  Unfortunately, I did not hear in the address how the Governor plans on solving our economic problems while both creating jobs and balancing the budget.

Wisconsin’s deficit is fourth largest in the nation and number one per capita.  How is it that we are in the same category as such states as California and New York?  Since Governor Doyle has taken office, government spending has increased by 25 percent.  Government credit card borrowing has increased by 60 percent.  Doyle has grown the state employee workforce by 4,900 in the last year alone after promising to cut state employees by 10,000 by 2010.  This has occurred while private sector jobs have dropped by 66,000.  

In Governor Doyle’s 2003 State of the State address, he stated, “The simple fact is this: We’re spending too much – and we have been for a long, long time.”  At the time of his address, Wisconsin had a $454 million deficit and we were staring at a $3.2 billion budget shortfall.  This sounds similar to today.  Since that time, Governor Doyle has requested increased spending and borrowing of over $7 billion.  Now we face a $594 million deficit and a $5.75 billion projected shortfall.

The Governor praised some accomplishments in his address.  He took credit for Republican initiatives such as making health insurance premiums tax deductible and eliminating the tax on social security.  He also lauded himself for bringing Wisconsin out of the top-ten taxed states.  Something that would have never happened if the Republican controlled Assembly had not eliminated 98 percent of the Governor’s tax increases in last session’s budget.

The priorities of this legislative session should be addressing our economic downturn, creating and retaining jobs, and expanding business development.  By realizing how we arrived at this point, we can hopefully not repeat the same mistakes.  We should reduce spending, lower taxes, and put more money in the pockets of Wisconsin residents.  That is how we will create jobs and pull out of this economic recession.

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MAKE STIMULUS

DOLLARS TRANSPARENT

 AND ACCOUNTABLE

Wisconsin is expecting to receive billions of dollars from the federal stimulus proposal currently making its way through Congress.  When this money arrives it should be spent on projects and services that put people to work, create new jobs, and truly do stimulate our state’s economy.  To make sure this happens I joined my Republican colleagues in proposing a bipartisan legislative panel to approve stimulus spending.

This panel would make sure the money is spent wisely and keep government accountable to the taxpayer paying the tab.  This would also make the process more transparent and easily scrutinized by Wisconsin residents.  The name of the panel would be the Joint Committee on Economic Stimulus Accountability, or JCESA and would consist of ten legislative members.

The proposal to form this oversight committee was resisted by the Democratic majority and did not pass.  However, I will continue to fight for openness and accountability.  Wisconsin is expecting billions in stimulus dollars that will be paid for by future generations.  We need to make sure this money is “timely, targeted, and temporary.”  To make sure this is the case oversight is needed.  I will keep pressing for this type of accountability.

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TWO BILLS PASS

 ASSEMBLY

The legislature held its first day of session this week.  Two bills were passed.  I supported Assembly Bill 1 which was titled the “Wisconsin First Act.”  The bill sets a ‘goal’ for state and local units of government to buy a minimum of 20 percent of their goods and services from local businesses.  Republicans improved the bill by increasing the original 2 percent ‘goal’ to 20.

Even though local and state governments already purchase a large portion of goods from local businesses, setting a ‘goal’ of 20 percent is laudable.  We should attempt to purchase goods from in-state when possible and fiscally prudent.  However, this bill will not create jobs or spur business development in a way that will turn our economy around; more must be done.

The second bill brought forward by the new Democratic majority was the “American Jobs Act.”  The title sounds great, but what does it do?  The bill would require state contracts be performed by businesses operating in the U.S.  That means that Wisconsin would no longer award contracts to the lowest bidder.  This would increase costs to state taxpayers.  Additionally, our state doesn’t currently track this information which would add even more costs to taxpayers if we wanted to form a system and track this information accurately. 

The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau suggests that the “American Jobs Act” proposal may put Wisconsin in violation of the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement which we are a signer of.  The passage of this bill also raises the question; why is the governor and commerce secretary traveling overseas on trade missions spending taxpayer money if we as a state have no intention of trading our goods with the goods of other nation’s?

Marinette Marine has been shedding jobs due to our recent economic downturn.  They are a subsidiary of an Italian enterprise, Saputo Cheese in Lena is a Canadian company, Carver of Pulaski and Cruisers in Oconto sell yachts throughout the world.  My point in mentioning these local businesses is that we live in a global marketplace.  This proposal may adversely affect these businesses and others at a time when we should be fostering their growth, not burdening them further.  

Our state exports totaled over $20.3 billion in 2008 according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  That is a number we should be trying to increase, not decrease which would kill more Wisconsin jobs and businesses.  If we put up walls around the state, cutting off our businesses from foreign markets, we can only expect them to do the same.  Losing over $20.3 billion is something our state businesses can not afford. 

Wisconsin needs bold and educated action to address our recession and create jobs.  These bills are neither and I hope the new Democratic majority takes a more realistic and expansive approach moving forward.  Our families deserve it.

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Please know that I am always happy, and in fact look forward to hearing from constituents. Therefore, if you know of someone who might find this E-newsletter of interest, please feel free to forward it to them. Also, please have them contact me at Rep.Nygren@legis.wisconsin.gov and state “add to E-Mail Updates” in the subject line.

If at any time you want to be removed from this list, simply send me an e-mail asking to unsubscribe.

State Representative John Nygren
State Capitol – Room 127 West – Post Office Box 8953 – Madison, Wisconsin 53708
Telephone: (608) 266-2343
Email: Rep.Nygren@legis.wisconsin.gov
On the Internet: Representative Nygren’s Web Page

He also seems like the type of rugged patriot I would like to trust our liberty and prosperity with.  I would be honored to meet him at the Green Dragon for a beer or three, to discuss matters of FREEDOM (from Government) and the lower taxes, jobs and prosperity it will bring to our State.  In these uncertain times, where Government is our enemy at every turn, we need a man like him in the 30th district to represent our interests and save us from massive spending and tax increases promised by State of Wisconsin Democrats and the current Senator Dave Hansen.  Socialism and State deficits caused by such ideology is something we can no longer afford nor tolerate here in the 30th district!

What I like is that he seems like a man that might even join us “Sons of Liberty” under the Liberty Tree to discuss our next plan of action!  This is the kind of guy we need to protect us from the ravages of Government.

Chad Fradette sounds like a great person to sit down and have a beer with

From Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers/AP:

Green Bay council president provokes atheists with nativity scene
The Green Bay City Council president paid for a nativity scene to be put up at City Hall after learning of an anti-religion group’s protest of one in Peshtigo.

Council president Chad Fradette told a city committee he believed the U.S. Constitution upholds citizens’ right to display symbols of their religious beliefs on publicly owned property as long as they are not paid for with tax money and other faiths aren’t excluded.

The committee approved the nativity scene 4-1 Tuesday night.

“So now the Freedom From Religion Foundation can pick on somebody a little larger than Peshtigo,” Fradette told the committee.

And a bit more:

Fradette had wanted to extend an invitation to all religions to put up displays, but committee members agreed a policy was needed to prevent people from testing the boundaries of taste. Fradette asked Schmitt for permission to put up his display while the council worked out those details.

Finally:

Peshtigo Mayor Thomas Strouf offered to pay the lighting bill for his city’s display after the foundation objected to it. The local Chamber of Commerce owns and erected up the display, he said, although it is in a public park.

What’s not to love — having a bit of fun, exercising your freedom of speech and pissing off a bunch of nanny control-freaks.

Posted by DaveH at December 12, 2007 09:24 PM | TrackBack

Photograph of Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada) found on

plaque hanging around neck of effigy in Menominee, MI.

Speak of Independence Day fireworks!  Wow.  Three piece Senator Harry Reid “stuffed suit” (pun intended) complete with polished dress shoes, tie and even eye glasses with a plaque hanging from around his neck that had a picture of him giving the finger to the American public as he spoke on the Senate floor.  Under the picture it had his quote when he said; “We will allow additional leases for you to drill for oil, to lower your gasoline prices, in The Gulf of Mexico, over my dead body!” – as apparently, according to the plaque, reported in The Washington Times.  It would appear that we have the freedom to drill for oil, to lower our gasoline and food prices, in the Gulf now.

 There were all sorts of other patriotic signs, hanging from branches and planted ground stands like: “United We Stand” with a U.S. Flag but with the yellow Gadsden Flag stickers (first flag of American Freedom) with coiled snake and “Don’t Tread On Me” on it, “God Bless America” and a bunch of other printed constitutional fact signs posted around the Liberty Tree.  I have to say; after you got over the shock of the “hanging” it was patriotic and very educational.

One of the signs indicated concerns about rising payroll taxes to cover Social Security and Medicare libilities (as Barack Obama has promised in his recent speeches regarding the need for additional taxation in his tax plan) provided detailed facts with supporting sources and talked about the resulting eroding of take home pay to support our families.  The near professionally printed sign asked how can we afford a much smaller paycheck when gasoline, energy and food prices are so high already and still climbing.

 According to accounts the Menominee, MI police came and removed the entire display about mid-morning.  Some people were distressed to see the display, while others said they could certainly understand how people could be so upset with the actions of Congress that have lead us to the point where we have lost much of our freedom, homes and prosperity by the results of Congressional intervention in the affairs of free people and business.

 The Bartenders from the Pirates Cove across 1^st Street from the Menominee Memorial Park in Menominee were really shocked when they woke up and looked out the window, above the bar, to see the Senator Harry Reid effigy hanging there twisting in the gentle morning breeze.  I guess it was pretty scary.  Apparently there must be a few people in these parts that are not happy with what Congress has done to our gasoline and food prices and what they intend to do to our take home pay.

Do you feel alone in your concerns and wish to meet others of like mind in our Peshtigo, Marinette and Menominee areas and other areas around the United States?  If so, go to http://www.samadamsalliance.org/about/ and sign up as a member.  They have all sorts of freedom valuable and American history/heritage information that you need to know.  Also from there we will be able to find each other and get together to discuss these urgent matters for the financial security of our house, home and, most importantly, our FREEDOM! 

Times are getting harder and harder in terms of jobs, inflation, and energy and there are some very strange things happening in Congress.  If you are a patriot who has a great belief in FREEDOM, it is vital that we hang together, or we will certainly hang separately.  Sign up soon, patriots, there is no time left to waste!