Hamilton News Clips - Oct. 20, 2010

Wisconsin Politics

Tax pledge divides Assembly, Senate hopefuls: Manitowoc Herald Times, Oct. 20, 2010. Candidates for 25th Assembly, 9th Senate districts draw overflow crowd at City Hall for LWV forum.

Governor candidate Tom Barrett vows to make budget cuts: Wausau Daily Herald, Oct. 20, 2010. Said further cuts to state programs will be needed.

Latest Wis. US Senate poll shows race is toss-up: Wisconsin State Journal, Oct. 19, 2010. A poll released Tuesday found that Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race is too close to call, with Democratic incumbent Russ Feingold and Republican challenger Ron Johnson about even.

As Doyle's polls plunge, state Democrats try to stand clear: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 18, 2010. Democrats in tough contests are trying to distance themselves from the head of their party.

LaBarre seeks to be a voice for the north in Madison: Ashland Daily Press, Oct. 18, 2010. Will third time be the charm?

Senate candidates spar on role of campaign outsiders: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 17, 2010. But Feingold, Johnson both say they favor free speech.

House race for 8th District heats up: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 17, 2010. Ribble slams incumbent for health care, stimulus votes; Kagen says measures necessary.

The men who would be governor: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 16, 2010. Scott Walker, Tom Barrett and their paths to politics.

Economic Development

New survey will track activity in New North UW-Oshkosh will gather information on businesses: The Oshkosh Northwestern, Oct. 20, 2010. The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is partnering with a regional development agency to establish a series of benchmarks to better gauge and track economic growth and activity in northeast Wisconsin.

Home sales fall 31%; prices slip 1.8% statewide: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 19, 2010. For the year, sales are off 4% from the pace in 2009.

'Wisconsin Way' aims to solve state's fiscal problems: Sheboygan Press, Oct. 19, 2010. Lobbying group touring state with economic plan

Managing water seen as crucial: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 18, 2010. Economy at risk, foundation says.

Tourism Federation asks state for budget increase: Wisconsin State Journal, Oct. 18, 2010. The Tourism Federation of Wisconsin on Monday asked the state Department of Tourism to increase its advertising budget by about $2 million a year.

Pro: Regulations devastate economic growth: Janesville Gazette, Oct. 16, 2010. While many regulations have a positive impact, many others are outdated, ineffective, overly complicated and counterproductive.

Arts funding should be a state priority (opinion): Wausau daily Herald, Oct. 14, 2010. The arts aren't a secondary or a minor part of Wisconsin's economy -- they should be considered a central part, and a sector that will broadly influence the state's future direction.

Expanded broadband creates opportunity in Wisconsin: Wisconsin Technology Network, Oct. 15, 2010. Wisconsin needs this expanded broadband to advance and remain competitive economically in a global environment.

Change needed to increase Wisconsin's competitiveness: Business North, Oct. 6, 2010. Better branding, more coordination between state and regional business development, and more shovel-ready projects -- these are some of the recommendations of a study released this summer that looks at Wisconsin's climate.

Wisconsin Economic Summit produces plan to rev up state economy: Wisconsin State Journal, Oct. 5, 2010. A consortium of private and public-sector leaders finalized an economic plan to jolt Wisconsin’s economy and guide state government out of financial crisis.

Energy

E15 not worth its weight in corn (opinion): Racine Journal Times, Oct. 19, 2010. Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency gave lie to the old maxim, "Half a loaf is better than none." Not when it comes to ethanol.

Canada-US pipeline on hold amid oil's recent woes: Superior Telegram, Oct. 19, 2010. The steel is staged, and crews are waiting to lay the last and most expensive leg of TransCanada Corp.'s multibillion-dollar pipeline network that would carry Canadian oil to refineries along the Gulf Coast.

A reasonable decision (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 18, 2010. The EPA's decision allowing expanded ethanol-blended gasoline is reasonable, but the agency should move slowly. There are concerns with corn-based ethanol.

Heating costs likely to be mild this winter: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 18, 2010. If trend of mild temps hold, price to warm home would drop.

Environment

Stimulus funds spruce up state's national forest: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 17, 2010. Projects will include restoring 1930s buildings.

Up in the AIR: Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Oct. 17, 2010. Dubuque's air quality level teeters on the EPA's threshold of acceptability. Any increase would bring sanctions, putting a choke hold on the local economy.

Suit filed over Fox River pollution cleanup: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 17, 2010. Cleanup costs estimated to exceed $1 billion.

Fox Valley lesson (opinion): Ashland Daily Press, Oct. 16, 2010. As the details are worked out as to which party will pay how much for the cleanup of Ashland's Superfund site, we only have to look to the Fox Valley for a lesson in how not to handle a complex cleanup involving multiple parties.

Education

MPS: Younger teachers needed in classrooms: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 18, 2010. When Teach for America committed to work with MPS, the goal was to help challenged urban youth. Unfortunately, seniority is squeezing out the young teachers.

Ideas for Wisconsin worth a look (opinion): Wausau Daily Herald, Oct. 6, 2010. WPRI is a conservative think tank, but the policies discussed are not especially partisan.

Health

Thorny issue of health insurance exchange awaits next governor: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 19, 2010. The idea has an appealing simplicity: Set up online marketplaces where individuals and small businesses can make apples-to-apples comparisons when shopping for health insurance.

Future of stem cell research depends on next governor: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 15, 2010. The two candidates stand on opposite sides of the issue.

Transportation

$1.36 billion in state road projects backed: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 19, 2010. Walker, Barrett promise not to raid state transportation fund.

Commission OKs southern Wis. interstate expansion: Janesville Gazette, Oct. 19, 2010. The plan calls for expanding a 45-mile stretch of I-39/90 between Madison and Beloit from four lanes to six. State transportation officials estimate the project will cost about $715 million.

Safe Ride program a bright spot in our drinking culture (opinion): La Crosse Tribune, Oct. 18, 2010. We should be ashamed that Wisconsin has the highest rate of drunken driving in the nation, with more than 26 percent of adults admitting to having driven under the influence, according to a federal report.

We don't need help from D.C. with our street signs (opinion): Racine Journal Times, Oct. 13, 2010. The ultimate decision should be left to the people who drive those roads every day.

Other

The Supremes punt (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 19, 2010. The state Court of Appeals will decide whether a circuit judge got it right when he struck down Milwaukee's sick pay ordinance. We think the ordinance is flawed.