He's not campaigning in the district (and Paul Ryan absolutely refuses to debate), but he's got mega bucks to run ad after ad after ad to keep his hinder in the Congressional seat he feels entitled to. Here's his latest one:
Transcript for those of you who can't stomach watching him say the words himself:
“Our solution to save Medicare makes no changes for people fifty-five or older. But Medicare is going bankrupt,” the GOP congressman from Janesville says in the ad. “To save it, our solution empowers future seniors to choose from a list of guaranteed options, including traditional Medicare. We protect and strengthen Medicare with affordable choices and additional support for those in need. We need to guarantee the promise of Medicare for you and your kids.”
Sure, it's pure 100% USDA BS. "Saving Medicare"? Nope. "Empowering future seniors". Hardly. They get a coupon and a push into the not-so-tender arms of the for profit insurance industry along with a big bill for the difference between the cost of insurance (if they can get a plan at all) and the value of the coupon. "Protect and Strengthen Medicare". Bwahahahaha!
Of course, those insurance companies won't be limited to the 20% overhead, non-denial for pre-existing conditions, or other regulations of ObamaCare because one of the first things Republicans will do is repeal it. And they'll reinsert the lifetime cap (the one I had on my insurance was $250,000 in a lifetime) which, for them, means that if someone has an expensive to treat medical problem, they'll be at their limit and off insurance fast. It's going to be the Wild West of Health Insurance again. Hang on, it's going to be a bumpy, and expensive, ride.
Yes, if Republicans have their way, Medicare is going bye-bye. Those unable to negotiate a private plan with an insurance company are going to stay on Medicare. Since those are likely to be the folks with serious health problems, Medicare costs would go sky high. Of course, that's their plan - make Medicare so enormously costly they can kill it without any problems.
Of course, just as in his first town hall meetings after his Path to Prosperity The Poorhouse budget was unrolled, he keeps on thinking that as long as he can reassure seniors that they, themselves, won't be affected, all will be well. Except for the fact that he found out (the hard way) that most seniors are actually not quite as self-centered as Republicans are. They care about their children and grandchildren and want Medicare available to them, as well.
Ryan faces his first serious oponent, Rob Zerban, in this election. You can help by supporting Rob Zerban through Act Blue.
The first of the John Doe trials starts today. Jury selection is already underway in the case of Kevin Kavahaugh, charged with 5 felony counts of stealing $42,000 from a veterans fund when he was Scott Walkers appointee to the Milwaukee County Veteran Service Commission. He faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
The veterans group had previously managed their own funds without any problems, however Scott Walker insisted they turn over funds to the county department when he was Milwaukee County Executive. The funds were intended to help families of US troops killed or wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The trial of Kelly Reindfleisch, top aide to then Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, is scheduled to begin Monday, October 15 despite numerous (and repeatedly denied) motions for delay after delay. This is the trial that will potentially yield huge amounts of information on the inner workings of Scott Walkers Milwaukee County Executives office where numerous aides have been charged with misconduct in office in the ever expanding and nearly 2 year old John Doe Probe.
Scott Walker is among those listed on the prosecution witness list meaning he may be called to testify. (Update below!)
Stay tuned.
Update: Walker WILL Testify Edition: H/T to GeoffT for finding this in the Janesville news (interestingly, it's not in either of the 2 widely circulated newspapers in Wisconsin).
A subpoena has been filed with the court requiring Gov. Scott Walker to testify in the trial of a former Milwaukee County staffer.
WKOW-TV (http://tinyurl.com/... ) reports the subpoena has been served on Walker’s attorney, Michael Steinle and has been filed with Milwaukee County Judge David Hanscher.
I'm no lawyer (just a retired nurse and activist), but it sounds to me that Walker will be considered a hostile witness because his testimony is being compelled under subpoena. Lawyers out there? Any insight?
2:50 PM Central: This story is now starting to appear statewide. It's BFD!
Others on the prosecution witness list included Brett Davis, the state Medicaid director. Davis was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for lieutenant governor in 2010, when Rindfleisch worked extensively on fundraisers for Davis while at her taxpayer-paid county job, according to a criminal complaint.
Still other Walker associates listed as possible witnesses at Rindfleisch's trial are: Michael Huebsch, state administration secretary under Walker and a former Republican state lawmaker; Cullen Werwie, spokesman for Walker at the Capitol and Davis' campaign manager for his lieutenant governor bid; Keith Gilkes, Walker's 2010 campaign manager; and James Villa, Walker's chief of staff at the county.
Werwie has been granted immunity from prosecution in the John Doe probe.
Walker also is on a witness list for another former aide, Timothy Russell, who is accused of embezzling more than $20,000 from a fund for veterans. Russell was housing director and deputy chief of staff to Walker at the county.
Another linkie here. Statewide print media has now picked up on the story. Apparantly now Governor Walker was summoned last month. The subpoena was issued today.
According to the summons, Walker is tentatively scheduled to appear Tueaday, October 16 at 8:30 AM.
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