Paul Soglin: Waxing America

Madison Teachers' Union Endorses Soglin For Mayor

Madison Teachers Endorse Paul Soglin for Mayor of Madison

Madison Teachers, Inc. (MTI)  has endorsed Paul Soglin for Mayor, citing his long and dynamic record of thoughtful and progressive action on behalf of Madison residents.

“Paul Soglin has a deep and longstanding commitment to Madison public schools, the children who learn in those schools and the teachers who teach those children ,” said Mike Lipp, athletic director and science teacher at Madison West High School, and president of Madison Teachers Inc. “Paul’s understanding of the challenges our schools face and his fluency with how best to bring the City and the schools together  distinguishes him on these issues.  His involvement with the Madison Schools began in the mid 1970’s, and has continued since that time.”

“It is an honor to earn the endorsement of Madison Teachers,” Soglin said. “I believe strongly that quality public schools are the single greatest asset a City can have. People and businesses want to locate in a City with strong public schools. Over half of the kids in our schools live in homes below the poverty level. We have to focus on fixing that.”

MTI represents about 4700 employees of the Madison Metropolitan School District,  including teachers, social workers, psychologists, educational assistants, librarians, school nurses, clerical staff and other caring, hardworking professionals.

 

Editor's Note: Campaign contributions can be made out to Soglin for Mayor and mailed to PO Box 1228, Madison WI 53701. Please include contact information and whether we can use your name as a supporter.  Let us know if you can volunteer or sponsor a fundraiser. State law requires you to supply employer information (name and address) if your contribution is over $100 in a calendar year. The campaign website at http://www.soglinformayor.com is able to take online contributions, but please feel free to go old school via the US Postal Service.

Wisconsin State Journal "Sets It Straight' On Boycott

Sunday, the Wisconsin State Journal printed a retraction or correction, whichever you prefer, on what I said regarding boycotts. This appears on page two of section C2. I could not find it online:

Soglin did not call for boycott

A story on page 1 of the front section March 10 about public reaction to the Legislature’s rush to pass collective bargaining bill mischaracterized remarks by former Mayor Paul Soglin. Soglin urged protestors to express their displeasure to Gov. Walker’s supporters, including business executives who gave to the governor’s campaign, but he did not call for a boycott of those businesses.

Thank you. And to once again make sure everyone has it straight:

We need to ask all of Walker's moderate supporters, business leaders or not,  to contact him and say "Not in my name -do not destroy collective bargaining." 

 

Soglin On Judge Sumi's Order Halting Walker's Budget "Repair" Bill

Statement by Paul Soglin on Judge Sumi’s Decision Granting a Temporary Restraining Order to Stop Implementation of the Walker Budget Repair Bill:

Dane County District Attorney Ish Ozanne did terrific legal work on behalf of all Wisconsin residents in winning a temporary restraining order that will block publication or other actions to implement the Budget Repair Bill. There is, of course, the possibility that the legislature will convene again, this time lawfully, and pass this bill. We must continue to do all we can to fix this legislation. As it stands, it would have terrible, negative consequences for Madison and the State of Wisconsin.

 

A boycott is not an informational picket; an informational picket is not a boycott

Yesterday, I posted No General Strike in Wisconsin arguing that such an idea was a bad idea but that we had to expand the arena of conflict. While our demonstrations are formidable, we are not going to move Governor Walker head-to-head. But we can influence moderate Republicans who helped elect Walker - especially those who understand the disastrous consequences to our schools, counties, and cities of his policies.

This is the point I have made for two weeks, going back to the Downtown Rotary luncheon March 3, 2011 Moderate Wisconsin Republicans Should Step Forward:

I’ve been calling on moderate Republicans to step up and make their voices heard in an effort to help us solve the budget impasse that has now entered its third week...What we have to do right now is reach out, change the equation, expand the arena in which this fight is being waged and find people to whom Governor Walker will respond.  They must be Wisconsin residents who voted for him, who publicly supported him.  People who contributed to his campaign. People who have done all that, and yet disagree with what he is trying to do and how he has done it. People like former Governor Tommy Thompson, for example.

Nowhere in yesterday's post did I suggest a general strike or a boycott and yet some are reporting that. I have called for sunlight, for transparency, for explanations, and support.

As a shopper who pays money to businesses, I have a right to know how the profits from my purchases are used; especially if they destroying my community.

It is possible that I will continue to use a particular vendor, even if I do not like the way they spread money politically. An example of that is Home Depot (though that may change). On the other hand I do not shop at Wal-Mart. That is my personal decision. It is also yours.

 

 

 

 

 

No General Strike in Wisconsin

The chanting of 'general strike' filled the Capitol last night and evoked romantic notions of the Paris Commune, Egypt or nineteenth century United States.

That is not what Wisconsin needs. We need to expand the arena of conflict with Governor Walker and his Senate Republicans. We need to send a more subtle, contained message to his key supporters, the ones that are concerned about Wisconsin and their own businesses. 

Selective informational picketing of a few Wisconsin companies that do business with the working people of our great state is what is required. It is a simple message, an eloquent message:

"You elected Scott Walker, you put him in office, you are responsible for the union busting. It is incumbent upon you to tell Walker to cease this destructive behavior and not to continue in your name."

They can claim that their support of Walker was on other issues. That is not important. They must take responsibly for the great power Walker has and they must firmly and publicly tell him:

"Not now, not ever. We support collective bargaining; we support hard working public employees. Do not destroy the high quality schools. public services, and local governments in our state."

Moderate Wisconsin Republicans Should Step Forward

 

Both in my blog posts and last week in front of the Madison Downtown Rotary,  I’ve been calling on moderate Republicans to step up and make their voices heard in an effort to help us solve the budget impasse that has now entered its third week.

I marched with the teaching assistants on the first day after the Governor introduced his budget "repair" bill. I’ve been at the Capitol every day since.  I’ve made my position clear: this bill has horrendous consequences for public employees, for seniors, for people with disabilities, for the environment, for cities and counties.

But the crisis in Wisconsin today is not simply about the budget and its terrible effects: it is a crisis created, exacerbated and perpetuated by the way in which the Walker administration handled the legislative process to date.

This bill, preceded by his decision to kill high speed rail, offers all the evidence we need that Governor Walker genuinely believes in what he is doing. He is not going to back down. The brave voices of the hundreds of thousands of citizens who have marched, sung, protested and slept at the Capitol won’t change his mind.  He is going to need motivation coming from his own supporters.

What we have to do right now is reach out, change the equation, expand the arena in which this fight is being waged and find people to whom Governor Walker will respond.  They must be Wisconsin residents who voted for him, who publicly supported him.  People who contributed to his campaign. People who have done all that, and yet disagree with what he is trying to do and how he has done it. People like former Governor Tommy Thompson, for example.

The time has come for people of good will from all political outlooks to make it clear to Governor Walker that more discussion is needed as well as a serious discussion of alternative plans. It is particularly important that this message is delivered by Wisconsin’s moderate Republican leaders in both the private and public sectors who know the importance of education, workforce development, and a trained workforce.  Those Republicans who believe that leadership and political power is best exercised through reasoned, respectful, principled compromise and discussion need to step "Forward." 

Slob, Overpaid, Fat Pension, Free Health Care, Public Employees: Debunk This

The Economic Policy Institute besides being one of my favorite sources for information is a pro-labor, union funded organization that gets it right. Can anyone debunk this:

Debunking the Myth of the Over compensated Public Employee

  ...The data analysis in this paper, however, indicate that

 public employees, both state and local government, are

not overpaid. Comparisons controlling for education,

experience, hours of work, organizational size, gender, race,

ethnicity and disability, reveal no significant overpayment

but a slight undercompensation of public employees

when compared to private employee compensation costs

on a per hour basis. On average, full-time state and

local employees are undercompensated by 3.7%, in comparison

to otherwise similar private-sector workers. The

public employee compensation penalty is smaller for

local government employees (1.8%) than state government

workers (7.6%)....

.

Soglin Speaks To Madison Labor Rally at the Capitol

Paul's theme yesterday: "We are held together by two shared values: fairness and trust."

"We will win."

 

 Editor's Note: Campaign contributions can be made out to Soglin for Mayor and mailed to PO Box 1228, Madison WI 53701. Please include contact information and whether we can use your name as a supporter.  Let us know if you can volunteer or sponsor a fundraiser. State law requires you to supply employer information (name and address) if your contribution is over $100 in a calendar year. The campaign website at http://www.soglinformayor.com is able to take online contributions, but please feel free to go old school via the US Postal Service.

 

 

Response to Governor Walker's Budget Proposal

The crisis in Wisconsin today is not simply financial: it is a crisis created, exacerbated and perpetuated by the way in which the Walker administration handled the budget process to date.

Governor Walker has not been forthright with the people of Wisconsin. By releasing his plan piecemeal, he makes it impossible for residents and the legislature to properly evaluate, weigh the consequences and consider the options. While a candidate, Walker failed to disclose the full scope of his agenda. That failure diminishes his electoral victory. Finally, he has left no room for public discussion of other options.

We can do better in this state.

The time has come for people of good will from all political outlooks to make it clear to Governor Walker that more discussion is needed as is a serious discussion of alternative plans. It is particularly important that this message is delivered by Wisconsin leaders in both the private and public sectors who know the importance of education, workforce development, and a trained workforce.

Walker Defies Wisconsin Constitution