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Today's blog is from correspondence I received, and was given permission from State Representative Jeff Mursau to reprint

Thanks
Dennis.

eUpdate – August 1, 2011

Wisconsin Gained Back Over a Quarter of the Jobs Lost During Recession After over six months of Republican control, the state has recovered a quarter of the jobs lost during the economic recession, and is on pace to exceed the Governor’s goal of creating 250,000 private-sector jobs.  To date this year, Wisconsin has added 39,300 private sector jobs. Between December 2007 and December 2010, Wisconsin lost over 153,600 private sector jobs.  The state has netted over 39,000 new private sector jobs since the Governor called a special session to open Wisconsin for business.  The state has seen 14,100 manufacturing jobs created since January. Wisconsin’s job creation record is one of the strongest in the nation over the last six months.  During this time period Wisconsin’s nonfarm job growth is more than twice the national average, 1.4 percent for the state versus .6 percent for the nation.  The state’s private sector job growth is almost twice the national average: 1.7 percent for the state versus .9 percent for the nation.  Wisconsin’s manufacturing job growth is more than twice the nation’s.  Wisconsin’s manufacturing growth is 3.2 percent; the nation’s is 1.2 percent. Racine Journal Times: State seeing signs of jobs                        Green Bay Press Gazette: Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. told how to create jobs                        Associated Press: Unemployment rose in Wis. cities in June

ASSEMBLY GOP PREPS FOR FEDERAL DEFAULT In response to the debate in Washington to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and the possible risk of defaulting on our debt, a member of the Assembly GOP introduced legislation that will make sure Wisconsin would be prepared for any potential fallout. Rep. Severson’s bill would require state agencies to devise contingency plans if the federal government can’t meet its funding obligations to the state. State agencies would be required to include contingency plans in their budget requests. Last week, DOA Secretary Huebsch announced that Wisconsin has enough cash to survive for at least three months had the Feds failed to meet their obligations to our state. Janesville Press Gazette: Wis. GOP introduces federal debt bill Sheboygan Press: Wisconsin braces for potential federal government default Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: State could continue U.S. programs for 3 months Wisconsin Radio Network: State impacts of federal default assessed

Redistricting Lawsuit Rejected This week, the Eastern District federal court dismissed a lawsuit brought by former Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson against the state’s legislative district maps.  The lawsuit is one of two Robson has been affiliated with. The court set an important precedent with this decision.  The court rejected Robson’s motion by saying that "The occurrence of a constitutionally mandated, decennial event is hardly a 'special circumstance' warranting reopening the court’s earlier judgment.” The maps passed by Republicans follow constitutionally required standards, are compact, contiguous, have equal populations, and are sensitive to communities of interest. Court Ruling Appleton Post-Crescent: Judges won't take over redistricting process Racine Journal Times: Judges dismiss Wisconsin redistricting challenge

Senate Passes Bill to Extend UI Benefits Highlights: ·         The Senate voted earlier today to pass the 13-week extension of unemployment insurance benefits. ·         The bill itself is an $89 million extension for unemployment compensation, raising the maximum length from 73 weeks to 86 weeks.  It affects between 23,000 to 40,000 workers. ·         The extension is a concurrence with the Assembly version of the bill passed last month.  Sen. Wanggaard authored Senate Bill 147 to deal with a federally funded extension of unemployment benefits, which has already been passed into law by a large majority of eligible states. The Senate Democrats offered an amendment (SA2) that was accepted on a bipartisan voice vote.  That amendment would delete a provision in the budget that instituted a one-week waiting period for new recipients of unemployment compensation, as is currently the policy in nearly 40 other states.  The Assembly refused to concur with that amendment, sending the bill back to the Senate in its original, Republican-proposed form.  The senate approved the Assembly version of the bill and it will now go to the governor for his signature.

TEACHERS UNION CHOOSES SELF INTEREST OVER JOBS Last week, the Milwaukee teacher’s union (META) voted against giving concessions to Milwaukee Public Schools on pension contributions, costing almost 200 of their now former colleagues their jobs.  The layoffs come as districts statewide are retaining or hiring more teachers, decreasing class sizes, and balancing their budgets as a direct result of the budget repair bill (ACT 10) Assembly Republicans passed earlier this year. Last week, the Fond du Lac School District announced that as a result of Act 10, they will be able to offset their $4.4 million shortfall and balance their budget while ensuring that class sizes and programs remain intact. META’s decision not to contribute a little bit more of their salary towards their pensions is proof that for the unions, it is about the money and nothing else—including jobs for their own members. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee teachers won't give up any more FOX 6 Milwaukee: Milwaukee teachers say "no" to opening contract to consider new concessions  NBC 26 Green Bay: Walker's Plan Working Out in Fond du Lac FDL Reporter: FdL School District expects balanced budget WEAC SPURNS CHILDREN OVER WALKER VENDETTA Certainly if it we’re about the kids, the state’s biggest teacher’s union—WEAC—would stop at nothing to provide our children with the best possible education. Instead, they have chosen politics over children by opting out of Scott Walker’s School Accountability Design Group simply to spite the governor. The group is being chaired by State Superintendent Tony Evers, and it includes a number of educational groups such as the American Federation of Teachers, the School Boards Association, and District Administrators. Just like META in Milwaukee, WEAC has decided that money, power and partisan politics reign supreme—not the children they’ve pledged to educate to the best of their ability. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Walker, Evers new evaluation system effort gets underway in Madison Beloit Daily News: Teachers say no to Walker

Around the Country Stateline: Motorcycle helmet laws may save lives, but bikers would love to repeal them Washington Post: Rick Perry's passion for states' rights Governing magazine: Rhode Island's voter ID law: Oddity or game changer?

In Case You Missed It USA Today: Congress quick to adopt social media tools Oshkosh Northwestern: Nearly $760 million in state taxes owed

Great Read of the Week Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Community Columnist

Natural Resources Committee Update The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board August 2011 agenda has been modified and is posted

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