Messaging, Views on News, public relations • March 15th, 2011

“When the going gets weird….

by Chris Lato

…the weird turn pro.” Hunter S. Thompson said it, and it feels appropriate here as tempers fray and odd angles start popping up in the ongoing collective bargaining saga.

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Leadership, Messaging, Views on News • January 3rd, 2011

Meet the new boss

by Chris Lato

As a new Rasmussen poll makes clear today, everyone wants to be on the winning team. But as the write-up also points out, what comes up will come down, and probably sooner rather than later.

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Views on News • December 20th, 2010

Closing the caucus case

by Chris Lato

The long, long Caucus Scandal saga has finally come to an end. Amazingly, this thing has dragged on for more than eight years. A deal was reached today with former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen that keeps him out of prison in exchange for a fine and a hefty legal bill.

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Branding Politix, Messaging, Views on News • December 15th, 2010

Contract battle = contact sport

by Chris Lato

So the (for the moment) Democrat-led Legislature is acting after all on the outstanding state labor contracts. Republicans have asked them to hold off for three weeks until they take control of the Governor’s office and the Legislature, saying the size of Wisconsin’s deficit necessitates further negotiation and concessions.  

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Views on News • October 22nd, 2009

No more

by Chris Lato

The news of yet another arrest for State Rep. Jeff Wood is angering, sad and, no pun intended, sobering.

First and foremost, Wood is a clear danger to the general public as he repeatedly gets behind the wheel while (allegedly) under the influence. It is unacceptable behavior from anyone, but in Wood’s case he is accused of breaking the laws he is charged with creating and overseeing as a legislator.

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Leadership, Views on News • October 21st, 2009

NO TXT 4 U

by Chris Lato

I get it. Everyone is pecking away on their iPhones, BlackBerries, and cell phones. It’s the hot, hip new thing that those crazy kids are doing. And people are doing it while driving. For shame.

OK, that’s the premise, but… Is this really needed? Don’t we already have laws on the books addressing distracted driving? With everything going on in Wisconsin, is this really what the Legislature needs to spend hours debating, revising, and focusing on right now? You know, let’s worry instead about focusing on enforcing laws that are already on the books.

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Global Concerns, Leadership, Messaging, Views on News • June 10th, 2009

Budget blues

by Chris Lato

Once again, I waited far too long between posts – keeping very busy on the business side, which is always a good thing.

But reading today’s Journal Sentinel inspired/disheartened me.

The following comes directly from the article:

Both houses agree on taxing oil company revenue, but they differ on how to structure the tax. Doyle and Senate Democrats want to bar the oil companies from passing the tax on at the pump, but the oil industry is threatening to sue over that provision on the ground that it would violate constitutional protections on commerce.

Some Assembly Democrats said they didn’t want to wind up paying interest and legal fees on a case they were likely to lose. (emphasis added)

Wait what?

So, the Legislature and governor want to enact a tax that they know will get them sued, and some legislators even admit they will likely lose in court…but they still want to go ahead and run up a taxpayer tab.  Just how big is that state deficit again?

So, what is this, other than a feel-good shell game? (Get it? ‘Shell’ game!) I guess we’re expected to take comfort from the knowledge that Wisconsin is trying to punish Big Bad Oil, no matter how fruitless and expensive.

And, if we actually did win a lawsuit, it would mean higher prices at the gas pumps. Assuming this actually survived a legal challenge, does anyone honestly believe the cost to oil companies somehow wouldn’t be passed along to us? In the meantime, I wonder which law firms will benefit from the suit…

Another bit from the article that caught my eye:

The state budget faces a record $6.6 billion shortfall over two years. To close that gap, Democrats plan to cut state agencies and aid to local governments, spend federal economic stimulus cash and raise taxes and fees by about $1 billion a year. (emphasis added)

The budget is still in flux right now and the amount of that hike may well change. Still, just a little something to keep in mind next year when politicians are out looking for your vote, and they claim to be fiscally conservative types who oppose tax and fee increases - as they have been known to claim whether it’s true or not.

Give ‘em a little truth test - ask for detail on how they voted on the budget back in ’09.

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Leadership, Messaging, Strategic Blueprints, Views on News, wispundits • November 13th, 2008

Let the turf war begin

by Chris Lato

Interesting stuff...the first real sign that as Democrats take over the Legislature, it’s still going to be a bumpy ride.

Locking Milwaukee lawmakers out of leadership roles sends a message, suggesting that it will be a Milwaukee vs. the-rest-of-Wisconsin session as the new majority grapples with a multi-billion-dollar budget hole.  

The Assembly Speaker will be Mike Sheridan, a rep from Janesville who used to be a UAW president. Other Dem Assembly leaders come from Kaukauna and Wausau.

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Branding Politix, Leadership, Messaging, Views on News • November 5th, 2008

The day after

by Chris Lato

Well, holy cow.

I have to admit I wasn’t quite prepared for the magnitude of the losses the GOP would experience on election day. After 2006, I wondered how much lower the Republicans could go. I now have my answer.

In the days before Tuesday, I heard talk from those in the know that Republicans could at least hold onto the Assembly. Um, nope. It’s really a clean sweep for the Dems, and it is apparent now that Barack Obama’s coattails were very long indeed. It helps to have an unprecedented amount of campaign cash, but I don’t want to get into sour grapes here.

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2008 Primaries, Leadership, Messaging, Views on News • November 3rd, 2008

The curtain is falling…

by Chris Lato

What else can be said about election year 2008?

It will be interesting to see what kind of last-minute shenanigans pop up when the polls are clogged with voters. If turnout is as high as expected, the system will undoubtedly have problems.  

Polls are indicating a Barack Obama win, with the only question remaining: how big a blowout, and how long will his coattails stretch? So far that Wisconsin will have a Democratic legislature to go along with its Democratic governor?

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