Whoever provided the transcript hosed the web address for Connecture's jobs listing.

How many jobs have you created Bren?

Steve, am I the Governor who promised to create 250,000 jobs by 2013, no wait, 2015?

Bren, you and the rest on the left have wanted him out of office since right around the time he was sworn in and have taken extreme actions to attempt to make that happen ASAP. So what's the difference as far as you're concerned?

Bob, I represent more of the "mushy middle" that is appalled by the Koch/ALEC agenda.

And to what extreme action are you referring? The recall procedures are completely legal, and in place to serve every Wisconsinite. Am I missing something?

The only extreme actions taking place in Wisconsin are coming from "our" state government. I use quotation marks because right now I believe our state government has been hijacked by ALEC.

You don't agree with me and that's fine. Back in pre-Revolutionary days, there were people who dragged their feet over bucking the status quo because they wanted to be on the "winning" side or just afraid of change. The difference for us in 2012 Wisconsin is that we are bucking the radical change that descended on us with the election of Scott Walker, and fighting for the return of balance and reason.

If balance and reason aren't your thing, vote for ALEC in the recall election.

Bren, you've never posted anything here that doesn't place you in the company of the highly partisan left. If you're "mushy middle", you must be reserving that portion of yourself for some other venue.

Yes, the unprecedented recalls are an extreme action. There's no other rational way to describe them. They're justified based on pure speculation as to the effects of actions taken by Walker and the Republicans. In supporting them, you've allowed yourself to become a tool of the Democratic Party in WI as they attempt their do-over of the 2010 election cycle. In truth,there's nothing, absolutely nothing, that Scott Walker has done or could possibly do that couldn't be reversed after the next regular election, should the public decide that's what they wish to do. That's a fact.

If you think the sky is falling, vote against Walker (since obviously it doesn't matter who you vote for, as long as it isn't Walker) in the recall election. Then you can do the same thing come next regularly scheduled election. And perhaps the one after that as well.

Until then, it's absolutely absurd for you, personally, to even ponder whether or not he'll hit his predicted jobs number during his first term in office since you have absolutely no interest in letting him last the entire term.

Bob, I'm pretty much focused on the Recall effort here on Patch, and I honestly don't see the Recall as a partisan effort. We have all suffered because of this completely avoidable recession, whether you have lost your job, home, or good credit rating; working extra hours because your company had to layoff people or can't afford to rehire positions; and/or whether your investments have taken hits to the point where they will not help you when you retire.

And I vociferously disagree with you about holding Scott Walker accountable for his actions--I'm accountable for my actions, aren't you? Scott Walker should be held up a cautionary tale to all politicians who allow themselves to be bought and paid for by seditious profiteers.

And I'll just remind you that the Democratic Party is a rather late entry into the Recall effort.

Mr. Hoffa espouses the idea of a third party and I disagree with this in practice because I believe in the two-party system. We need to work on (vote on) lessening the presence in our government (as it will never go away) of special interest lobbies, campaign "advisers" who broker candidates behind closed doors, and "strategists" who get paid regardless if their candidate wins or loses. Most importantly, Citizens United needs to go away. Legislation is being written to address CU. Wait 'til it comes up and see who rails against it.

So let me get this straight, Bren. You support the "non-partisan" recall effort of Scott Walker, who has been in office a little more than a year because of the recession which began years before he took office? And you really think the Democratic party is "late entry" into the recall process? And Scott Walker is unique (as, I suppose, opposed to his predecessor?) in that he receives support from organizations his opposition doesn't happen to agree with?

You really want to run with that, Bren? If so, I think you might have been better off just agreeing with me because, frankly, you'd seem less...how can I put this politely....ill-informed?

Bren, again how many jobs have you created?

Walker has said many times that the government does not create jobs. So unless you are in the public sector leeching off my tax revenues how many jobs have you created?

Bob, 1. Yes, in good part because the people who support Walker also helped bring about our wholly avoidable national financial crisis (think big picture). Yes, the Democratic party is a relatively late entry because their "strategists" (their word, not mine) were trying to manipulate the recall according to their own preferred timeline, which was not "as soon as possible." An "acquaintance" in that party shared this with me and I shared back that it wasn't going to work that way. No doubt other independents shared the same message. Glad they came around because they're making the work a lot easier.

We can argue about who's giving how much to whom, and I'll continue to maintain that Scott Walker will out-fundraise and out-spend the recall candidate through direct and indirect contributions from a variety of sources. Yes, the recall candidate will also fundraise, and from a variety of sources. Sorry if you think I'm ill-informed just because I don't agree with you on every point.

Steve, again, I'm not Scott Walker claiming I can "create" 250,000 new jobs by 2015 so the question isn't relevant. I'm not a public servant either, so you don't have the privilege of contributing to my salary.

Typical Liberal propaganda. Take ONE example of jobs Governor Walker and Lt. Governor Kleefisch are bringing to the state and try to depict it ans the ONLY jobs they have brought to the state.

You know very well that they have done far more to bring business to Wisconsin.

You should be ashamed of the way you are trying to spin this into something bad rather than something good.

Well, Bren, about all I can conclude after reading yet another example of some of the most convoluted logic I can recall coming across is that, for the sake of this nation, I honestly hope there aren't too many others like you out there. You are truly frightening.

@Bren -

I support Scott Walker and I didn't contribute at all to the "wholly avoidable national financial crisis."

The DPW co-sponsored the recall effort and funded many of the local offices that were set-up across the state to co-ordinate the recall effort, and you call that being a "relatively late entry" - you're joking, right?

In last summer's senate recall elections, the Dems outspent all of their Republican opposition with the exception of the Pasch v Darling election, remember?

How can you claim to be an 'independent' when you "believe in the two party system," as such sentiment would eliminate independent and third party candidates from your radar all together??? So let me get this straight - unless the person has an (R) or a (D) next to their name, Bren's not even going to consider you a viable candidate.

Bren, please tell me that you at least realize how hypocritical and inconsistent you are with the assertions that you've made here.

Anti, I stand by my numbers on Wisconsin job growth, they are abysmal. Not unexpected in the context of the recession, but who was throwing down the promise of 250,000 jobs by the end of 2013, wait 2015? Who created the unmeetable goal? We have every right to hold him accountable to the ridiculous metric he created.

Bob, people who react from emotion rather than logic are engaged in lower cognitive function, the fight/flight reflex. Higher cognitive function isn't possible when the base instinct is engaged. A Marketing MBA of my acquaintance also shared some interesting data recently on how the fluid and rigid mind absorbs and reacts. Conclusion, there are all kinds of people in the world and you are one of them. If you can't understand me, others here do.

Mr. Hoffa, are you a member of ALEC? And I do believe in the two-party system. I choose to vote based on independent research of the candidate and platform, rather than voting a party line. Some countries have many major political parties and I think they lose focus with all the bickering. We have enough bickering with two.

And for the record, I have voted for an independent for President-Libertarian.

Bren,

I understand you completely and I can see evidence that others here do as well.

You may want to Google "egomaniac with an inferiority complex" if you can spare a few minutes between solving the world's problems from within the sphere of your own acquaintances and personal experiences, and gracing others with the results.

Bren, I'll say it again. Outside companies see the hissy fit that you and the unions are throwing and are hesitant to move or expand here. No one wanted to increase business here under Diamond Jim Doyle. Why would they even consider doing it when it looks like your ilk is just going to do more of the same.

You gave Governor Walker less than 10 months before you threw him back into campaign mode. His reforms are working. No teacher's are starving. Few lost their jobs, and most of those were in districts that ran out and extended contracts in order to beat the deadline for Act 10.

I will say it again and again. Your ilk is what drove Wisconsin into the ground. and it is your ilk that trying to keep it there.

Bren, how many jobs have you created? Why can you not answer this simple question.

I believe all agree that when Scott Walker claims he will "create" jobs that this is shorthand for the process you shared.

That being said, I'd like to know what kind of tax break this company is getting for those 100 jobs over 3 years--will there be anything $ gained, or will it be a wash?

The Connecture website doesn't mention a move at this point--it looks more like they have two locations. If they do eventually fully relocate to Wisconsin, how many current employees will relocate to our state and will those jobs be counted in the 100 "new" jobs for Wisconsin in 3 years?

What is the Bren model for economic growth and higher employment, does it require an "investment" by state taxpayers?

The Wisconsin economy is conjoined with the national economy and to that extent indifferent to puny gubernatorial schemes. Was Wisconsin doing everything right prior to the first 12 months of the Walker administration? There seems to be a curious double standard here on several fronts.

Doug, I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments, except that the Donor Bill of Rights might stand in the way of how campaign contributions are used. The Walker campaign would have to call each donor and get written documentation accepting the change, I believe. But I don't see that happening. Instead he's planning to use some of Wisconsin's portion of the mortgage settlement to fix his shortfall problem.

Its interesting the libs would describe a 140 illio or so short fall . Doyles was 3.6 billion and that was with higher taxes, luting funds, raising fees and barrowing money from Minnesotta. Budgets are not perfect equations but the current situation is so much of an improvement that it cant even be debated. The dems business as usual left a 3.6 billion dollar short fall and in comparison it is peanuts .Keep up the GREAT work Gov. Walker!

Worse? I don't think so. My property taxes remained about the same. My employer is adding jobs. We paid our debt to Minnesota, all of the money removed from the various state trust funds, will be paid back, and the companies already in Wisconsin, feel better about being here. We did this without raise taxes or laying off workers.

Question: Why is raising taxes ALWAYS the answer to shortfalls in tax revenue?

How about we do things that put money in people's pockets, so they have money to spend?

Every time a taxpayer spends a dollar the state and locals get something. That business then spends money and generates profits. More taxes collected.

IF state and the feds are first in line to collect tax revenue, NOBODY has anything to spend.

I voted for Walker and I will do it again!

Skinny, it's been pointed out elsewhere that Wisconsin still has a $3 billion dollar GAAP shortfall, despite the attacks on public unions and the ALEC-scripted rhetoric. We also have a $143 million projected cash shortfall.

This is significant because Scott Walker has been trumpeting that he has balanced the budget. He promised he would balance the budget using GAAP. So he has not balanced the budget using GAAP, and he also has a projected cash shortfall. The guy made promises he had to have known he couldn't keep.

A reasonable candidate wouldn't have used this language or wasted time following the Koch/ALEC agenda and attacking public unions and that's the big problem. Reason and balance, not out-of-state inspired extremism, will get Wisconsin through the recession.

@Bren -

"That's impacting your wallet if you're a homeowner."

How so exactly? Was the money supposed to have gone to property tax reductions? I'm very confused about what you've asserted here, as yesterday you told me that the money was supposed to go to prevent police officers from being laid off.

Would you prefer that he raid special funds or cut more to address the budget adjustments? What would your solution be to address the projected budget shortfall? Oh, that's right - get rid of the corp tax credits for creating jobs in the state. But if you did that, you wouldn't have Connecture, Inc. moving here, nor would you have Ruud expanding here as they are, etc. So how would you explain that to the people that would otherwise have those jobs under Walker's policies?

Do we need the police officers more than we need those private sector jobs? Right now, those working in the private sector can't support the amount of public sector workers that you'd like to see on the government's payroll. And the public sector workers can't support themselves without a vibrant private sector, can they?

So the only way you would be able to make everyone happy is to cut taxes for the businesses so they create jobs here, while raising taxes on the working folk to support the increased public sector employment that you'd like to have.

The majority specifically voted against that platform in 2010 Bren, remember? Sorry, but we feel that we're taxed enough already!

Mr. Hoffa, please track back to the links and the post you are referencing, the mortgage settlement provides relief in multiple areas, including providing additional relief for homeowners. Our AG and Governor took advantage of this flexibility to make the choice to distribute Wisconsin's share as they did.

We've gained what, 1,200 jobs since Walker took office? And who knows how much was given away in tax breaks to get those few jobs, how much will those jobs add to the tax roll--enough to justify the cuts? We'll have to see won't we. And some of this growth may have occurred because the recession is slooowly easing, not because tax breaks were dangled. Again, we'll have to see.

And as I recall, and from people I've been in contact with who voted for Scott Walker, his 2010 platform was Jobs Jobs Jobs. So I'm not sure what you're referencing about raising taxes on working folk, unless you mean the cuts to the EIC and Homestead credits.

A couple of things:
1. $143 million is a lot better than $3.6 billion.
2. You still insist on tax increases, as your first plan to attack any shortfall in revenue.
There is borrowing, laying off people, closing offices, 1-2 days per month, reducing hours, looking for waste & fraud, and probably some other things, ALL BEFORE raising taxes.
3. Raising corporate taxes to previous levels, reduces the number of jobs that could be created and rescinds Walker's statement. "Wisconsin is open for business."
Jobs create tax revenue and more jobs, etc.
4. I have no real opinion on the mortgage settlement. I do know that regardless of which plan is adopted, lot of people will be pissed off...
5. As for Voter ID, I want to be IDed as I vote and I want to know my vote counts. I want to know everybody is voting ONLY one time. This is NOT Chicago, where the dead vote early and often.

Skinny, Wisconsin's new corporate tax cuts were unfunded until additional financial concessions were wrested from public union employees. We are still losing jobs in Wisconsin, despite the promised tax breaks, and we gained about 1,100 jobs through December 2011. The tax breaks are unaffordable and not effective during a worldwide recession.

On the national stage discussing tax breaks is effective because it speaks directly to multinational corporations who have sent hundreds of thousands of jobs overseas. Once these are in place it might be worth a look at offering tax breaks in Wisconsin, but as I've stated before, it would have been more sensible to hold off on offering corporate tax breaks for now. Then we could give public union employees back their money for 2011-13 or actually put the funds toward the projected cash deficit.

Sorry if you don't understand/like what I write because I don't agree with you.

@Bren -

skinnyDUDE raises a very valid point - after his SOTU address, you praised Obama for wanting to offer businesses tax credits to create jobs in the country. But when Walker essentially does the EXACT same thing on the state level, you oppose it!

How do you explain your apparent double standard hypocrisy on this issue?

Mr. Hoffa, Skinny is comparing planets to peas. Until the larger issue is addressed, the results won't trickle down to the states.

Sorry if you think I'm a hypocrite because I don't agree with your position.

@Bren -

You claim that Wisconsin's tax breaks are "unaffordable and not effective," while asserting that Washington's tax breaks are practical, despite ignoring the fact that the federal government is currently approaching $16T in "unfunded" debt. Not to mention that if we are currently in a "worldwide recession," as you suggest, then why would it be practical for the federal government to think that its tax breaks would be any more effective than Walker's, as what multinational corporation would risk the capital expenditure that would be necessary to move here during such 'difficult times' just to take advantage of a comparatively miniscule tax break?

I don't think you're a hypocrite because we disagree, but rather because you take radically opposing views on the SAME policy initiative just because of the person and their political/ideological affiliations that are implementing such SAME initiatives.

I would say that that makes you the definition of a hypocrite as far as consensus reality has defined and applied that term. Even you must realize this if you're at all being honest with yourself.

Clearly, as your hypocrisy and admissions have recently displayed, your primary issues with Walker hinge on the public sector union issue.

Not to mention that you've previously asserted on the Patch boards that "trickle down economics don't work," and yet now you're attempting to assert that they will just because Obama is recommending such policy position instead of a Republican.

Give it up Bren. The more you try to defend your hypocrisy, the worse it becomes!

Bren, last time you brought the tax breaks up didn't we decide that it wasn't a bad thing to give tax breaks to companies that move here because we are not collecting taxes from them now since they are not here?

@Mark -

Connecture, Inc. is a software company, not a fast food franchise. And as I understand it, they offer a very competitive pay package for quality qualified employees. If you're only qualified to work in fast food, how is that Walker's fault?

Maybe you should start 'doing,' instead of merely 'expecting.'

Mr. Hoffa, I think Mark J Geldon is referring to the bigger picture here...

How many private sector union workers are there in the state of WI?
How many public sector union workers are there in the state of WI?
How many non-union workers are there in the state of WI?

I think you will find the number of non-union workers contributing in the form of taxes is greater than union workers

I am non-union, working in a factory, supplying goods and services to union shops, although that is changing, as some of those union shops, have been closed and moved to 'right-to-work' state(s)...

Unions are losing membership and influence in the work place...

As for Walker NOT being in Madison as often as you would like, what doe sit really matter? Isn't the goal of being governor to improve the state you 'inherited' ?

Did you know the former governor of Illinois, Baggo, did most of his work in an office in Chicago? Baggo would go to Springfield ONLY as needed? IN fact when he was arrested, it was in Chicago....

Well Bucky, If you jokers would stop driving by at 5:00am honking your horns, marching every other weekend around his house and other stupid annoying things that are designed to bother him, but disturb the entire neighborhood, maybe those two State Troopers could be on the highway pulling you over for going 80 in a 55.

@Anti -Sky ... Public sidewalks , public streets, One citation that I know of was given for horn honking that was published and the man paid the fine. No disobedience noted or published that I have seen or any sign carriers there since Nov. 2011 during the rally at which no citations were issued. But thanks for your ignorant accusations and misleading information. Again another uninformed barker.

It's a shame the liberal terrorists have forced the state patrol to stand guard of our fine Governor's personal residence. It is also a shame you would rather see them unemployed.

Back in the 1960's, when Maier was Mayor of Milwaukee, he had an officer sitting in a car outside in home, near 35th & Silver Spring... I'd guess Mayor Barrett has the same 'service'... I know he lives in the Bayview area...( perhaps I should go visit the area and find out for sure... )

That said, there are NO protests out Mayor Barrett's home, on a daily basis...

Adam,
This is going to sound more arrogant that I wish but...
As someone who taught business ethics for years I would disagree on two points--
1) Different economic systems have specific values which underlie them and logical consequences both of which may be judged moral/immoral based on certain moral standards.
2) People are not moral or immoral; their actions are.

Don, it is somewhat circular to argue an economic system has certain values that can be judged moral or immoral depending on the moral standards being used. Your Christian values do not offend me so hopefully my deism will not offend you.

Man is not perfect, I believe he is both man and animal, you may prefer man and God but it is men who are capable of greed and corruption, not markets; capitalism simply matches mankind. The capitalist system does the best job of encouraging our better angels and harnessing our animal spirits if that's what you mean by logical consequences. Surely you don't believe wealth is wicked?

To judge economic systems by their "actions" in the 20th century one would conclude that socialistic systems from the Nationalsozialistisch brown shirts of Hitler's Germany through Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot the socialist siren song to forget God and put your hope in mankind inevitably ends in mass murder and societal collapse.

Capitalism, on the other hand, has delivered unimaginable advances in living standards everywhere it has been tried. Social progress measured by infant mortality and life expectancy, access to health care and education has expanded most rapidly in the countries most open to trade and foreign investment.

Thanks, Dan. Bingo.

Finally...someone with a hint of common sense...

Tom, The people are real the stories are real. You have this year to re coop and that's it. I am sure that Walker will have no choice but to raise state taxes next year. Do the math. Get an education and know the facts. This state can not continue to run on Walkers lies.

Political systems can be designed to either control the economy in service of imaginary utopian ends or to allow free markets. What you refuse to understand is fascist movements were and are left wing.

The National Socialism of 1930's Germany favored state control of wages, prices, private property education and employment. They demanded the confiscation of inherited wealth and excessive profits.

Embrace your roots MrsPeel, except for the murder, bigotry and genocide there is very little in the Nazi agenda a contemporary progressive would object to.

lol you voted for Walker, good one

Don, we're not talking about the neo-Nazis or Aryan Brotherhood in the US who have cherry picked the racism and bigotry of Nazi Germany because it fits their agenda. Nazism was a popular movement indistinguishable from the leftism of its day. Adolph Hitler was more of a leftist than a nationalist or a bigot who hated the rich, the Jews and capitalists. Let's read what the head Nazi said in May, 1927:

"We are socialists, we are enemies of today's capitalistic economic system for the exploitation of the economically weak, with its unfair salaries, with its unseemly evaluation of a human being according to wealth and property instead of responsibility and performance, and we are all determined to destroy this system under all conditions."

Both socialism and Nazism are corrosive to personal liberty. First they came for our economic liberty and good Germans said nothing, or as Goebbels described it:

"The bourgeois is about to leave the historical stage. In its place will come the class of productive workers, the working class, that has been up until today oppressed. It is beginning to fulfill its political mission. It is involved in a hard and bitter struggle for political power as it seeks to become part of the national organism. The battle began in the economic realm; it will finish in the political."

P.S. Poor Thursty, often wrong but never in doubt.

Adam,
"What you refuse to understand is fascist movements were and are left wing.

The National Socialism of 1930's Germany favored state control of wages, prices, private property education and employment. They demanded the confiscation of inherited wealth and excessive profits. "

I wouldn't disagree with this. I'd add that the same could be said of monarchies and any form of governance that has great control over a nation's economy.

And I would concede that socialism puts more control of the resources and means of production into the hands of the government than laissez faire capitalism. And I would concede that socialism is "leftist" and capitalism is "rightist."

What I would not agree on is that all fascist systems are Leftist and that socialism is a movement toward fascism. From Wiki--
There is a running dispute among scholars about where along the left/right spectrum that fascism resides.[22][23][24][25] Fascism was founded during World War I by Italian national syndicalists who combined left-wing and right-wing political views, but Italian Fascism gravitated to the right in the early 1920s.[26][27] Benito Mussolini in 1919 described fascism as a syncretic movement that would strike "against the backwardness of the right and the destructiveness of the left".[28][29] Italian Fascists described fascism as a right-wing ideology in the political program The Doctrine of Fascism: "We are free to believe that this is the century of authority, a century tending to the 'right,' a fascist century."

If you haven't noticed, we do not have a purely capitalist economic system. We have a mixed system with the gov't using/providing resources for the entire population. The fear mongering that we are sliding toward either Soviet Russia or Nazi Germany is just that--fear mongering. The mythos of this culture is so steeped with Individualism that we freak at the thought of being coerced to care for the needy amongst us less it infringe on our "liberty", which I would point out as a Christian pastor has somehow trumped "compassion" as the supreme moral standard of the day.

We might be on our way to Canada or--horrors!--Sweden, but that's about it. Neither the extreme Left or extreme Right are going to push us into a fascism of any order.