By Matt Pommer Republican gubernatorial hopeful Mark Neumann contends his GOP opponent Scott Walker is “promising the world to get elected” to avoid a focus on his years as Milwaukee County executive. Truth rings in Neumann’s assessment that Walker is ...

Tagged with: election GOP governor Mark Neumann Pommer property tax referendum Republican Scott Walker

By Matt Pommer Gov. Jim Doyle wants a constitutional amendment to give the Legislature more freedom on taxes, especially the property tax. The idea has the potential to refocus the tax debate during the 2010 election campaign and open the ...

Tagged with: amendment democrat Gov. Jim Doyle property tax Republican Scott Walker tax

By Matt Pommer The media love a contest whether it involves the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers or politicians. But while spring training or coach chatter gets some attention in the media, midsummer speeches in lightly contested political races ...

Tagged with: democrat Green Bay Packers Jim Doyle Mark Neumann Republican Scott Walker Tea Party Tommy Thompson

By Matt Pommer Republican gubernatorial front-runner Scott Walker promises to eliminate the income-tax bite on retirement income. Wisconsin already exempts Social Security from its income tax. The La Crosse Tribune reported that Walker made the promise to eliminate the state ...

Tagged with: governor Harley-Davidson income tax property tax recession Republican Scott Walker Social Security stimulus

Matt Pommer Maintaining open government and reducing special interest politics requires enforcement of a system of checks and balances. The restoration of the independence of the state’s Department of Natural Resources is one way to achieve this balance. The agency ...

Tagged with: Department of Natural Resources DNR Jim Doyle Scott Walker Tommy Thompson

Dustin Block [email protected] Wheaton-Franciscan Healthcare is holding off on demolishing the former St. Michael Hospital even though plans to move the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex to the site are dead and the county is looking to remodel its existing ...

Tagged with: Lee Holloway Scott Walker Theodore Lipscomb Wheaton-Franciscan Healthcare

Dustin Block [email protected] Green construction projects in Milwaukee County may get a boost from the County Board’s decision Tuesday to pursue stimulus money despite County Executive Scott Walker’s objection. The county is eligible to apply for $733,000 to make energy-efficiency ...

Tagged with: Gerry Broderick Scott Walker stimulus Theodore Lipscomb

Dustin Block [email protected] There are three vacancies on the committee that will distribute $38.7 million in stimulus money in the Milwaukee area. Milwaukee County has two vacancies and the city of Milwaukee has one on the advisory committee to the ...

Tagged with: Kenneth Yunker Michael Lewis Scott Walker Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Tom Barrett