I think America has had enough Koch. We've been taking Koch for a long time, and now we're all sore. I think it's high-time we do to the Koch exactly what it's been doing to the working American people.

This is terrifyig...it really is. These kochs are taking over!

I just read this: "Who wrote the budget bill? Why does Section 16.896 allow the sale or lease of state-owne­d utilities without a bidding process? Would Koch Industries have any interest in leasing (not buying, since they emphasis that they aren't wanting to purchase) these utilitiies­, putting their operation into private hands?"

Looks like Wisconsin needs to start paying attention. I wonder how many other states are in talks with allowing the kochs run this entire country. I'm willing to bet Floriduh (with its most famous went scott free billionaire in charge) is on that list, and probably many others in the south.. where AC is needed 24/7 8 months out of the year. Oh they must be salivating big time.... those roosters!

Working class America is a voice that has been drown out by the loud voices of angry duped tea party bigots that hate Pres.Obama for breathing. They are out to dismantle middle Class America and push back work place progress so that the Wal-mart service jobs are considered a good job. Their Republican master minds want to sell off our Government like a yard sale, letting the Rich own everything. reducing the effectiveness of Government so no over-site is in the way of cheating the public, or otherwise having their way. Wi. is the first battle ground in a on-going pushing back to remove rights and protections for working families. How the public responds will set the tone for their next move.

One of the most telling statements that the Governor of WI. said in his fake talk with Koch, was when he said of one of his law makers.."He's not one of us" they truly believe they are on a mission to break this Government into small pieces so it can't get in the way of the agenda of the very rich.

I guess Walker thought, with his fixed Senate majority, that this bill would sail through and no one could block it.....even less do anything about it.....he miscalculated the intelligence and voice of the minority who was getting screwed. Ooops....the cat is out of the bag. Goes to show what is really going on in the US right now. The great Corporate giveaway is underway. The rich get richer and the middle class all but disappears. Ah....John Birch and his crew are partying with male hookers and all kinds of runny cheese.

How many people have 15+ years of operational & maintenance in a power plant environment?

Is it just me or are employers asking for a life time of specialized work experience and specialized masters degree education to land a job interview?

I wonder if someday we go to school and work our whole lives for just one specific job title. Workers and students need flexibility in their professional careers, because the world is changing and your vocation may not always be needed.

Corporate media is just that, Corporate! Every story that they air has to go through the editor, who's job it is to please the Corporation. That is where the importance of independent media (like Current) comes in. To get out what Corporate media is not allowed to.

Media needs to do its job.
People also need to do their job by informing the uninformed, and the ones that get their news the corporate way.

I have been writing my state reps about this, I live in WI, and so far have received one answer that said the bill was amended. Further questions about when, who and how it has been amended have been unanswered.
I am going to Madison tomorrow to support the protesters. We need the government to represent the people not the oligarchy.
I have also sent emails to every TV station news department in the state and have not gotten a single response from them

these guys are not even trying to be sneaky anymore. They need to understand that this unrest is only a fraction of what it will be if they continue testing its people.

The sad thing is that Koch brothers have even duped the Governor that this is about union busting. Even if the Governor caves on collective bargaining, the bill will still pass, giving Wisconsin utilizes to Koch Industries. Sure it would be a boon in the Koch’s cap if they can bust up the unions, but if not its business as usual. They get richer, more powerful, more politicians in their pockets, and on to the next one. Once again it seems that distraction and misdirection has been used to get what they really want.

The Republican Senate, some in the Democratic Senate, and all of the republican house work directly for Big Business, Wall Street, and the Bankster Gangsters! They just don't do it over the phone! They do it behind closed doors! Walker is the new Poster Boy of the Republican/Tea Party! The whole lot them belong in jail, not in charge of our government! Organized Crime!

croonieism

I guess their toilet paper empire just wasn't enough

"No bid" is the terminology used by politicians that prefer to avoid the hassle of the free market system. They love to espouse the fairness of competitive business principles when it suits their arguments. When it comes down to the point of implementing these or favoring their cronies, all bets are off. If you don't believe it just ask Cheney how the Halliburton thing worked out for him in Iraq.

No bid state sale, very interesting? I don't know Wisconsin law but its a safe bet that its not legal. But like I say I don't know Wisconsin law. Anyone??

Greed . money IS the root of all evil .

Okay folks....the dots are getting much bigger and closer together now. This whole thing is about union busting and NOTHING else.

This is nothing buy here say and belongs in opinion. Come back with the news if they buy it. A good investment if you have the money.

This is perhaps the most important article up on this issue. This connects David Koch and Scott Walker in what they are trying to accomplish. The vested interest isn't just in the dismantling of the unions, its the selling of the state's power plants.

I cannot believe how disgusting this entire story is becoming. Gov. Walker must step down now and cease and desist.

Citizens arrest sounds about right. The unions need to get serious. The only thing these fascist understand is power. I do not believe in violence; however that being said, I will not shed a tear for any of these folks when they drive somebody into a situation where they feel there is nothing left to lose by taking it out on them by any available means! sad and unfortunate though it is; it becomes more and more real as the corporatists demand we eat cake!

These 2 crooks should be dragged forcibly from their Gulfstream Jets into the street for a public hearing. Now that's progress.

I think this clearly demonstrates that there is a planned kickback in this bill.

He should have legal charges filed against him.

WHY has this not been reported on the networks! Please someone tell me why!

The federal government already outsouces our wars. Obama hasn't done a thing to stop that. All courtesy of no bid contracts. Has anyone from Blackwater, or whatever they're called now, been held accountable? Who will answer for all the crimes and theft against US taxpayers and the Iraqi and Afgahn people, not to mention the underage sex slaves brought to the camps to "take care of" these mercenaries? This is the way American is run now. Our wars, our public utilities, what else is going to become a for profit venture run by unregulated unaccountable crooks, liars, pimps, thieves and murderers who pay off our politicians for the privilage?

Walker the Koch whore is most certainly earning his pay in a big way! Usually politicians make a veiled attempt to keep there corporate / big dollar loyalties hidden. I guess the new age politicians are just gobbling up the cash overtly now. Can't blame them - the vast majority of American voters are just too stupid and lazy to care! That condo in Costa Rica we bought 2 years ago is looking sweeter and sweeter!!!

we are the media. spread the word. get democracy now on this and other independent media sources to report it to their outlets

Yep. The legislation that just got slammed through yesterday to freeze sales tax increases included this no-bid contract giveaway to the Kochs.
You can bet WI utility costs are going to go through the ceiling as soon as they take over. This is Enron in CA all over again.

Yes, where is the media?!