1.   US Senator (Wisconsin)

Comprised of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the U.S. Congress is responsible for making laws for the country. It has legislative power to spend and tax in order to provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare of the citizenry. Members of both the House and Senate attend to constituents’ requests and problems with the government. Each state elects two senators who represent the whole state for 6-year terms; one Senate seat is up for election this year. The House of Representatives has 435 members who are elected to 2-year terms from districts within the states. Members of the House serve 2-year terms.

1. Russ Feingold
2. Stephen M. Finn
3. Ron Johnson
4. Robert (Rob) Taylor
5. David Westlake

2.   Wisconsin Congressional District 7

Comprised of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the U.S. Congress is responsible for making laws for the country. It has legislative power to spend and tax in order to provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare of the citizenry. Members of both the House and Senate attend to constituents’ requests and problems with the government. Each state elects two senators who represent the whole state for 6-year terms; one Senate seat is up for election this year. The House of Representatives has 435 members who are elected to 2-year terms from districts within the states. Members of the House serve 2-year terms.

1. Sean P. Duffy 
2.  Gary Kauther
3. Julie Lassa
4. Daniel E. Mielke
5. Don Raihala

3.   Wisconsin Governor

The Governor is the state’s chief executive, representing all the people and responsible for safeguarding the public interest. The governor has the authority to veto legislation and to direct state policy. Through the biennial budget, the Governor reviews and directs the activities of all administrative agencies. The Governor also appoints over 1,000 persons to various councils and boards, which advise and serve state government. The Governor serves as commander in chief of the Wisconsin National Guard when it is called into state service during emergencies. The Governor earns an annual salary of $137,092.

1. Tom Barrett
2. James James
3. Timothy S. John
4. James Dean Langer
5. Mark W. Neumann
6. Scott S. Paterick
7. Scott Walker

4.   Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor

The Lieutenant Governor is the state’s second-ranking executive officer. If the incumbent Governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor for the rest of the term. The Lieutenant Governor may be designated to represent the Governor’s office on any statutory board, commission, or committee on which the Governor is entitled to membership. The Lieutenant Governor earns an annual salary of $72,394.

1. G. Spencer Coggs
2. Brett Davis
3. Rebecca Kleefisch
4. Robert Gerald Lorge
5. Thomas Nelson
6. Dave Ross
7. Henry Sanders
8. James L. Schneider
9. Terry Virgil

10. Nicholas J. Voegeli

5.   Wisconsin Attorney General

The Attorney General protects the public interest in various legal actions at the Governor’s request. The Attorney General directs the Department of Justice, which provides legal advice and representation, criminal investigation, and various law enforcement services for the state. The Attorney General earns an annual salary of $133,033.

1. P. Scott Hassett
2. J B Van Hollen

6.   Wisconsin Secretary of State

The Secretary of State oversees a variety of services for state government and Wisconsin municipalities, maintains the official acts of the legislature and Governor, and keeps the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin and affixes it to all official acts of the Governor. The Secretary of State earns an annual salary of $65,079 per year.

1. David D. King
2. Doug La Follette

7.   Wisconsin State Treasurer

The State Treasurer serves citizens and local government by providing for receipt, custody, oversight, and disbursement of state money, as well as unclaimed property reported to the state. The office also administers the state’s college savings program. The State Treasurer earns an annual salary of $65,079.

1. Daniel R. Bohrod
2. Scott Feldt
3. James Sanfilippo
4. Dawn Marie Sass
5. Kurt Schuller

8.   Wisconsin Senate District 25

The Wisconsin Legislature is made up of a 33 member senate and the 99 member assembly, together with the service agencies created by the legislature and the staff employed by each house. Senators serve staggered four year terms and assembly members serve two year terms. The legislature’s main responsibility is to make policy by enacting state laws. The legislature can also override a governor’s veto of any legislation by a two-thirds vote in both houses of the legislature. Members earn a salary of $49,943 per year.

1. Dane A. Deutsch
2. Robert Jauch

9.   Wisconsin Assembly District 75

The Wisconsin Legislature is made up of a 33 member senate and the 99 member assembly, together with the service agencies created by the legislature and the staff employed by each house. Senators serve staggered four year terms and assembly members serve two year terms. The legislature’s main responsibility is to make policy by enacting state laws. The legislature can also override a governor’s veto of any legislation by a two-thirds vote in both houses of the legislature. Members earn a salary of $49,943 per year.

1. Judith Wells Espeseth
2. Dari McDonald
3. Steve Perala
4. Michael D. Quinton
5. Roger Rivard

Get your localized ballot & list to take to the polls from http://vote411.org

Current Mood: Hey there! & On my soapbox

• Verse 4 – No camels
• Verse 5 – No coneys (a translation of the Hebrew Bible word shaphan, in modern English “rock hyrax”)
• Verse 6 – No hares
• Verse 7 – No swine
• Verse 8 - ”Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.”
• Verse 10 – “all that have not fins and scales… they shall be an abomination unto you” – so basically No shellfish (shrimp, crab, lobster, etc)
• Verse 13 – No eagles, ossifrage (a kind of vulture) or ospray
• Verse 14 – No vultures or kites (raptors)
• Verse 15 – No ravens
• Verse 16 – No owls, nighthawks, cuckoos, or hawks
• Verse 17 – No little owls, or great owls or cormorants
• Verse 18 – No swans, pelicans, or gier-eagles
• Verse 19 – No storks, herons, lapwings, or bats
• Verse 20 – “All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.”
• Verse 29 – No weasels, mice or tortoises (I’m guessing turtles would be a no-no as well)
• Verse 30 – No ferrets, chameleons, lizards, snails or moles
• Verse 41 – “And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earthshall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.”
• Verse 42 – “Whatsoever goeth upon the belly. and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat, for they are an abomination.” – So basically no snakes, centipedes, millipedes – pretty much no bugs (except locusts which are deemed okay in verse 22).

It goes into detail in verses 30-40ish about how these “unclean” animals are not only to be avoided as food but that if they come in contact with or if their carcasses come in contact with anything then those things are basically contaminated and we are forbidden from them as well.

So you’re probably wondering… why do I care?  Well doesn’t this seem just a little bit over the top?  I know that I’m not going to give up bacon or shrimp to name a few favorites.  I mean, truthfully, I probably wouldn’t have eaten many of these animals anyway but I fail to see the reasoning for them being banned.  Further…. I point this out because of the hypocrisy.  This is the same book of the Bible that homophobic right-wingers like to quote from when they try to defend their anti-gay propaganda. (See Lev 18:22 or 20:13)

So, here is my question for the masses… why should we vehemently follow the “anti-gay” verses but not the ones about naughty tasty animals?  Or how about the versus dictating that “they shall not make baldness upon their head” (Lev 21:05) boy that would put a dent in some fundamentalist hair-dos (or lack therof).  How about Lev  19:28 which says “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you” – No tattoos!

I could go on – the entire book of Leviticus is a plethora of hypocrisy and unreasonable rules.  So why oh why??? Why would anyone trying to prove a point use this as ammunition?  I’m bewildered, befuddled… mystified!  (Guess I’m not a)dumb b)gullible c)fundamentalist enough to get it.)

Help celebrate a year of Domestic Partnership Protections in Wisconsin!

Remember folks… it’s not about gay rights — it’s about CIVIL EQUALITY!!

I think I’m gonna go have some bacon-wrapped shrimp while I think about a design for my 6th tattoo…

Current Mood: Aaarrggghhh!!!!! & Doh! & Naughty & On my soapbox

This week, May 17-21, is the EMERGENCY ENDA National Week of Action. Fair Wisconsin and other pro-fairness groups from across the country are taking action and urging supporters to contact their members of Congress to ask them to support an inclusive ENDA.

To contact your representative, call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202.224.3121, give the operator your zip code and asked to be connected to your Representative. When you are connected, give your name and address so they know you are a constituent. Then, express your support for ENDA, like in this statement:

“Discrimination is a real problem that affects real people and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people need basic job discrimination protections. I support the inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act and urge you to support fairness and the protection of all American citizens, despite sexual orientation or gender identity. Please vote for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act”

For more information, check out endanow.com.

Current Mood: Hey there! & On my soapbox

There are at least 19,000 homeless people in Detroit, by some estimates.

So here’s my question…

Why is this huge building sitting empty since the 1940′s growing moss?

Current Mood: On my soapbox