Wisconsin Protests

The Labor & Working Class Studies Project

Presents a Teach-in on:

THE ECONOMICS OF THE WISCONSIN LABOR STRUGGLE

WHEN: Friday, March 11, 7PM

WHERE: First United Methodist Church, 203 Wisconsin Avenue

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2011, AFTERNOON NEWS ROUNDUP

E-MAILS REVEAL POSSIBLE WALKER CONCESSIONS ON UNION BILL

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Gov. Scott Walker's office released documents Tuesday showing he's willing to give on some points of his union bargaining bill to break the Capitol standoff and bring Senate Democrats back from Illinois.

Madison, Wisconsin -- A new lobbying firm, the Badger Advocates, has opened on Capitol Square.

According to its newly-minted website, the Advocates "are dedicated to supporting the University of Wisconsin-Madison ... [and] will promote greater accountability through enhanced autonomy for this unique institution." This lobbying effort is similar to efforts afoot in other states to use state budget issues to privatize public higher education institutions and put more assets and power at the disposal of powerful corporate interests.

The lobby shop's PR description closely mirrors the title of the Wisconsin Public Research Institute's December 2010 report titled, "Making the University of Wisconsin More Accountable Through Greater Autonomy." WPRI is heavily funded by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, a right-wing neo-conservative think tank.

(Updated 3/6/11)  MADISON--Responding to claims by the Walker Department of Administration that the cost to clean up the tape from citizens' signs in the Capitol would be $7.5 million, the Center for Media and Democracy today announced that it was willing to clean up the tape on the capitol's walls for a much lower bid, $75,000, although the actual cost for acetone and cotton balls and a little bit of elbow grease could be much closer to $7,500 or less.