This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
Week-ends
A look back at the people and events that made news the past week.
Week-ends is a regular weekly feature of This Just In...
HEROES OF THE WEEK
David Harmon and 11-month old Kyson Stowell
ADVOCATING MOM, who comments frequently on my blog, for saying this about the snow plow efforts in Franklin:
“The crew that plows my end of town did a great job! They were past my house 2 or 3 times on Wed. and then again this morning. Either they're doing a great job or they just love the warm chocolate chip cookies I take out to them everytime they come by.”
VILLAINS OF THE WEEK
Mother Nature
The UW Board of Regents
Karen Burton
Kurt William Havelock
Hillary’s staff
Italian court in Vicenza
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“At a time when taxpayers are losing their jobs and homes, the action of the Board of Regents is absolutely immoral and insulting. The taxpayers and students can’t afford the financial decisions of the current Board of Regents. As long as Governor Doyle and legislative leaders support these ridiculous pay increases behind closed doors, the people of Wisconsin will continue to get robbed.”
State Representative Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), Chairman of the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee blasted the UW System Board of Regents for massive increases in salary ranges for Chancellors and top level executives. The new salary ranges for the administrators take effect on July 1, 2008.
“It would be irresponsible for regents to approve the salary range increases, particularly as lawmakers begin to address a projected state revenue shortfall of $300 million to $400 million in the current budget cycle. If the board goes ahead with the changes, it would be hard to blame the Legislature for looking less favorably at UW System funding in the future”
The Monroe Times editorial, on the big pay raises for UW Administrators approved by the UW Board of Regents.
"The first place you look is the things that, in this last budget especially, are brand new. I mean there were a number of things that in a negotiated budget... that were, for lack of a better way of putting it, $10 million here, $15 million there, that will either have to be delayed or simply stopped.”
Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R- West Salem) on how the state could handle a $300-$400-million revenue shortfall.
“The village (of Waterford) has received a $57,781 grant from the state to finance a Safe Routes to School plan, and a task force has been formed to draw up a plan to address the issue in what is being called the first federally approved funding for this type of program. The state Department of Transportation started the program to help get more children in kindergarten through eighth grade walking or biking to school, rather than riding in buses or cars.”
From the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel’s story, “Grant to help encourage students to walk.” And you wonder why our taxes are so high?
"I am surprised how she underperformed and how well Senator Obama is doing. I think Senator Obama is slowly and steadily pulling away. The difference in fundraising capability is getting wider. They had 16,000 people in Boise turn out for Senator Obama Saturday. That's an unheard-of kind of turnout. I think he's becoming an unusual phenomena in American politics, almost harkening back to John F. Kennedy. I think he's going to be very formidable for Clinton to stop."
Newt Gingrich on Barack Obama.
"Do you have any regrets about the way you have conducted yourself on the campaign trail in the past months...about anything you've said or done?"
WCSH-TV interviewer posing a question to Bill Clinton.
"Well, everything I have said has been factually accurate. But I think the mistake that I made is to think that I was a spouse like any other spouse who could defend his candidate. I think I can promote Hillary but not defend her because I was president. I have to let her defend herself or have someone else defend her. But, lot of things that were said were factually inaccurate. I did not ever criticize Senator Obama personally in South Carolina. I never criticized him personally...and it was just this myth grew up. And I had two African-American members of Congress who were supporting Hillary who were with me the whole time I was there. And they were bewildered, they went on every cable show that would take them to tell they didn't know what the people were talking about. But I think whenever I defend her I (a) risk being misquoted and (b) risk being the story....I learned a very valuable lesson from all that dust-up."
Bill Clinton’s response to WCSH-TV in Portland, Maine.
“He claims the mantle of Ronald Reagan. He even claims the mantle of Barry Goldwater, conservatism's crack version of Reagan. But as McCain clinches the GOP nomination, he will begin his usual leftward lurch. He will return to his lifelong positions as soft on illegal immigration, skeptical of tax cuts and favoring strong federal control over things like campaign financing.”
Charles Hurt of the NY Post on John McCain.
“President Bush tossed out an idea to open up choice for poor kids but, as usual, it was rejected out of hand by Democrats and teacher unions. Basically, the Bush plan would turn over tax dollars to parents to send their children to private schools. In other words, vouchers.Bush’s proposal was shouted down by Democratic lawmakers and unions with the usual complaint that vouchers pull resources away from urban schools.
This argument has been rebutted by studies, many of them compiled online by the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice. No school district that has adopted choice has had its budget reduced, the foundation says. For example, it reports that in Milwaukee, per-pupil spending jumped from $6,316 in 1990-91, when its program began, to $10,375 by the 2003-04 school year. Other studies show vouchers improve student performance.”
Marquette Warrior blogger.
"I understand that people are upset, but that is part of our Dominican culture and is legal in the Dominican Republic. I was invited by my idol, Juan Marichal, to attend the event as a spectator, not as a participant."
New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez emphasizing that he did nothing illegal by attending a cockfight with Hall of Famer Juan Marichal in the Dominican Republic.
OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK
Two this week:
State admits it was slow helping stranded motorists
Aid for living expenses given to sex offenders
MOST UNDER-REPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK
Hillary Clinton’s ties to Wal-Mart.
Where, oh where are the tree-hugging, Wal-Mart haters?
MOST OVER-HYPED STORY OF THE WEEK
John McCain is not a conservative.
The story was over-hyped, and rightfully so.
STRANGEST, MOST UNUSUAL STORY OF THE WEEK
Body lay in UK apartment…..for 8 years.
REMEMBER: Your suggestions/nominations for any of these categories every week are welcome, especially for HEROES OF THE WEEK. If you know of anyone in the community deserving of recognition, please e-mail me.
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