The Company You Keep
Power Progress
Nominating 3 New Members to the He-Man Woman Haters Club
Back in September Brett Davis was nominated to the He-Man Woman Haters Club.
Today we have 3 new nominations in WI AD 51 Steve Freese, WI AD 28 Mark Pettis, and WI AD 1 Gary Bies.
All three men voted against 2001 AB 294, which was pay equity legislation that requires Wisconsin businesses to pay women the same as men for the same work.
The Business and Professional Women's Foundation laid out some disturbing statistics:
According to the 2005 Census Bureau, full-time working women, on average, earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterpart. For minority women the wage gap worsens as African American women make 66 cents, Latinas make 55 cents and Asian American women make 80 cents.
Freese, Pettis, and Bies... join Brett Davis in the club.
It’s a good thing we have Ame Grail running against Gary Bies, Steve Hilgenberg against Steve Freese, Ann Hraychuck running against Mark Pettis, and of course Janis Ringhand running against Brett Davis. Support their campaigns here and do something about pay equity for women.
A McTwist: Campaign Cash & County Phone Calls
We've already told you about the roughly 300 calls Bill "Mac" McReynolds made from his county executive office to his private businesses on taxpayer time. 
Well the State Senate Democratic Committee did a little more research into Big Mac's county phone records and found:
Racine County phone records show on November 30, 2005, McReynolds placed a phone call to a business owned by Robert Basil. Campaign finance reports show McReynolds received a $100.00 political contribution from Basil that same day.
McReynolds has taken $1,000 from Basil throughout the course of the campaign.
Hmmm...Mac's taxpayer funded office used for campaign fundraising as well?
Flip the State Senate - Start a Progress Account
The Capital Times had a story this weekend about the State Senate hanging in the balance 3 weeks out from election day.
The rundown on the races was right on (with the exception of Milwaukee's 7th District which is not seriously contested).
Four key seats, all of which are take backs for the Democrats, will determine the majority. All four of them have Progressive Majority candidates running in them.
From the Cap Times:
Key races: The Senate districts that political commentators such as Heim and others consider possible takeovers by Democrats are:
• The 5th District: Sen. Tom Reynolds, R-West Allis, is being challenged by Democrat Jim Sullivan of Wauwatosa.
...
• The 21st District: Sen. Cathy Stepp, R-Sturtevant, is not running for re-election, so the seat is up for grabs. The contenders are Rep. John Lehman, D-Racine, and Racine County Executive Bill McReynolds of Racine.
• The 23rd District: Sen. Dave Zien, R-Eau Claire, is being challenged by Democrat Pat Kreitlow of Chippewa Falls.
• The 31st District: Sen. Ron Brown, R-Eau Claire, is opposed by Democrat Kathleen Vinehout of Alma.
Progressives can be decisive in flipping the State Senate this year. Start a Progress Account, Progressive Majority’s online contribution management system NOW, and make a contribution to Kathleen Vinehout or Jim Sullivan.
Brett Davis - Please Define "Work"
From the campaign website of State Representative Brett Davis (R-Oregon):
"As I continue my work on your behalf to lower health care costs, create jobs, strengthen our schools and control government spending, I want your thoughts and feedback."
Um...continue your work? 
Here are my "thoughts and feedback..."
"lower health care costs"
Davis voted TWICE against a health care reform plan that would, by 2008, cut costs by 15% and cover 98% of Wisconsin citizens.
Davis authored the bill and voted for Health Savings Accounts, which are supposed to make it easier for individuals to buy the health care they want, but in reality, they end up providing tax breaks to the wealthy and little help to those who need it most.
"create jobs"
Davis voted against increasing the minimum wage, which had not gone up in seven years.
Davis voted against funding the Governor's Grow Wisconsin initiatives, a plan to make Wisconsin more business friendly and create new, good-paying jobs.
"strengthen our schools"
Davis voted against accountability standards for private schools receiving tax dollars through the Milwaukee Choice Program and he voted to expand the program. "Our schools" certainly doesn't mean schools in the 80th Assembly District.
"and control goverment spending"
Davis voted for over $40 million in pork projects outside his district.
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