Mary Bottari's News Articles

News

Bain Capital and the Race to the Bottom in Manufacturing and Wages

by Mary Bottari — October 24, 2012 - 9:44am
  • Topics: Labor

    • On the campaign trail, Mitt Romney wants to have his cake and eat it too. "Governments do not create jobs," a stern Romney told CNN's Candy Crowley twice during the second debate. Here in Wisconsin, however, he is running ads promising to "crack down on China" and create 12 million new jobs.

    News

    Walkergate Trials Heating Up, Plea Deal Has State Buzzing

    by Mary Bottari — October 10, 2012 - 8:42am
  • Topics: Democracy

    • Since May 2010, the Milwaukee County District Attorney has been conducting a secret "John Doe" criminal investigation involving Scott Walker's former staff and associates during the time that Walker served as the Milwaukee County Executive and was running for governor. The wide-ranging investigation has included allegations of illegal campaign work on the public payroll, embezzlement of funds from a veterans' charity, and even child enticement. So far, it has netted 15 felony indictments and, at this moment, three people are awaiting trial.

    News

    Walker-Related "John Doe" Trials Get Underway This Fall

    by Mary Bottari — October 8, 2012 - 7:40am
  • Topics: Democracy, Politics

    • The secret "John Doe" criminal investigation of Governor Scott Walker's former staff and associates during the time he served as Milwaukee County Executive has resulted in 15 felony indictments so far.

    News

    Battle for Worker Rights Moves from WI to CA, Prop. 32 Spun as Campaign Finance Reform

    by Mary Bottari — October 4, 2012 - 7:45am

    One spring day in Wisconsin last year, as a bustling crowd of Madison teachers got ready to march on the Capitol to protest Governor Scott Walker's bill to dismantle public sector unions, the march was led by an unusual team -- a group of African Americans wearing dark shades, snazzy berets, blue uniforms, and taps on their shoes. They were the International Longshore and Warehouse Union's drill team, all the way from California showing their support for Wisconsin's working families. The tradition dates back to the union's founding in the 1930s.

    News

    "Won't Back Down" Film Pushes ALEC Parent Trigger Proposal

    by Mary Bottari — September 19, 2012 - 9:00am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Front Groups, Issue Management, Public Diplomacy, Third Party Technique, Children, Corporations, Democracy, Education

    • -- by Mary Bottari and Sara Jerving

    Well-funded advocates of privatizing the nation's education system are employing a new strategy this fall to enlist support for the cause. The emotionally engaging Hollywood film "Won't Back Down" -- set for release September 28 -- portrays so-called "Parent Trigger" laws as an effective mechanism for transforming underperforming public schools. But the film's distortion of the facts prompts a closer examination of its funders and backers and a closer look at those promoting Parent Trigger as a cure for what ails the American education system.

    News

    Paul Ryan: Bankrolled by the Banksters, the Privatizers, and the Kochs

    by Mary Bottari — August 13, 2012 - 7:46am
  • Topics: BanksterUSA, Corporations, Democracy, Economy

    • In the 14 years that Paul Ryan has been a Congressman from Southeastern Wisconsin, he has never had a challenger of any stature or a race of any significance. Janesville, his hometown and the heart of the district, has no TV stations and only a handful of small, scrappy newspapers. What an opportunity for a man of the people to take the highroad!

    News

    Now You See It, Now you Don't: Dems Lose Control of WI Senate

    by Mary Bottari — July 25, 2012 - 9:52am
  • Topics: Democracy, Politics, Wisconsin Protests

    • No sooner was Democratic Senator John Lehman from Racine sworn in -- tipping the hotly contested Wisconsin Senate in favor of the Democrats 17-16 -- than a new spanner is thrown into the works. Democratic Senator Tim Cullen announced he was leaving the Democratic caucus to serve as an Independent.

    News

    Alexander Cockburn 1941-2012

    by Mary Bottari — July 21, 2012 - 9:00am
  • Topics: Media

    • I was reading Alexander Cockburn early this morning when I heard he had died.

    As a kid growing up in the suburban wasteland of New Jersey, Cockburn's columns in the Nation introduced me to issues, wars, and corrupt politicians around the world I had never heard of.

    Op-Ed

    China Trade Set to Be Major Issue in Wisconsin’s 2012 Senate Race

    by Mary Bottari — June 29, 2012 - 9:31am
  • Topics: Corporations, Democracy, Economy, Politics

    • As the race for Wisconsin's open U.S. Senate seat heats up, China has taken the spotlight. Republican candidate Eric Hovde has launched an ad blaming the outsourcing of U.S. jobs on the corporate tax rate.

    The ad appears to be in response to Democratic candidate Tammy Baldwin's recent ad on China. Baldwin slams China, for violating trade rules by dumping paper on the U.S. market and harming the Wisconsin paper industry, which employs some 50,000 workers.

    Op-Ed

    Suspicious Minds: Will There Be a Special Session in Wisconsin?

    by Mary Bottari — June 20, 2012 - 9:49am
  • Topics: Democracy, Wisconsin Protests

    • Two things will happen today in steamy Wisconsin, where temperatures are set to break 95. One election will be certified, while another will be recounted. The confluence of events have some wondering if a window of opportunity has been created to allow the Wisconsin GOP to pull a fast one.

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