Rosenworcel and Pai Finally Confirmed to the FCC

WASHINGTON, DC - FCC/Federal Communication Committee - May 14, 2012, Republican Ajit Pai and Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel were sworn in as commissioners by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.

The two have been waiting for confirmation - they received it last week.

Their confirmation was held up due to Senator Chuck Grassley probe regarding Light Squared - future wireless infrastructure. The five-member commission will be in full court later this week in front of the Senate Commerce Committee.

Full story

Schacknow - TODAYS PRIMER, May 15, 2012

Peter Schacknow, Senior Producer, CNBC Breaking News Desk

Stock index futures are pointing to a positive open on Wall Street this morning, an upbeat sign in what’s most definitely been a downbeat month of May.

The Dow has fallen in eight of nine sessions since hitting its 2012 high on May 1, and the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq are all coming off their lowest closes in more than three months.

Investors will, of course, keep an eye on the ongoing talks in Greece to form a new government, with all parties set to talk once again today.

In contrast to Monday, the economic calendar is quite busy today, with three reports out at 8:30am ET. Economists expect April retail sales to register a 0.1 percent increase, following a March rise of 0.8 percent.

The Consumer Price Index is seen coming in unchanged for April, with the core rate up 0.2 percent. In March, the CPI had increased 0.3 percent, with the core rate up 0.2 percent.

And the New York Fed’s Empire State Survey index should come in at 9.3 for May, according to consensus forecasts, after the April reading of 6.56.

At 10am ET, the National Association of Home Builders is out with its monthly sentiment index, seen edging higher by a point in May to 26.

And we’ll also get March business inventories at the same time, with forecasts calling for a 0.4 percent increase after February’s 0.6 percent rise.

Dow component Home Depot (HD) leads this morning’s list of corporate earnings reports, with retailer TJX also set to issue quarterly numbers.

Retailer JC Penney (JCP) leads the list of companies set to issue earnings after the closing bell.

Though Facebook (FB) is not yet trading, it’s on top of today’s list of stocks to watch. Sources tell
CNBC the company has increased the price range of its upcoming IPO to $34 - $38 per share from the prior $28 - $35. That means Facebook’s ultimate post-IPO valuation could exceed $100 billion.

Groupon (GRPN) reported first quarter profit of two cents per share, compared to Street estimates of $0.01. Its revenue of $559 million was also above expectations of $531 million, and an upbeat forecast helped its shares jump by about 10 percent in after-hours trading on Monday.

Yahoo (YHOO) remains in the news, as interim CEO Ross Levinsohn takes over. New chairman Fred Amoroso reportedly is calling for Levinsohn to stay on as permanent chief executive officer, according to the Wall Street Journal.

David Tepper’s Appaloosa Management has disclosed new stakes in Citigroup (C ), Bank of America (BAC), Google (GOOG), and General Motors (GM), while nearly tripling its stake in Apple (AAPL) and nearly doubling Its stake in Microsoft (MSFT).

Adobe Systems (ADBE) has named three new directors as the software maker increases the size of its board to 12 members from 9.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) holds its annual shareholders meeting today, as CEO Jamie Dimon prepares to face a barrage of questions over the recently –revealed $2 billion trading loss.

Avon Products (AVP) could be under pressure today, as Coty withdraws its $10.7 billion takeover offer. Avon had said it would respond within a week of the improved offer, but Coty stuck to its Monday deadline for Avon response.

Anadarko Petroleum (APC) has discovered a major natural gas field in Mozambique, which it says could hold more than 20 trillion cubic feet.

May 13, 2012

Around the world - HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all mothers - especially Ms. Jeanette, My Mother.

Mother's Day is a celebration that honours mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in March, April, or May.  Wikipedia
============

Larson's Weekly Report - May 10, 2012

                                                       Senator Chris Larson - 7th District

Dear Friend,

As families are approaching the end of   the school year and preparing for summer, now is the perfect time to   take a look at education in Wisconsin. From K-12 to technical colleges   and universities, education is the backbone of our state's future.

As usual, please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or   opinions you may have about our community or our state.

  Sincerely,
  Chris Larson
  State Senator, District 7
 ==============================

Schools Lose Valuable Community Members
One of the greatest concerns my   colleagues and I expressed regarding the devastating cuts to education in Governor Walker's budget, was how this might negatively affect   student-to-teacher ratios across Wisconsin. We believed the choice to   funnel $1.6 billion from our neighborhood schools to fund tax breaks for   big corporations and special interest initiatives would undoubtedly result not only in pay cuts for our highly valued teachers, but also in   massive teacher layoffs statewide.
  
Tragically, it appears that our fears   were not unfounded. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction   recently released data showing Wisconsin lost 2,312 teachers and staff from the 2010-2011 to the 2011-2012 school year, the first year since   Governor Walker’s budget went into effect. This leaves Wisconsin schools   with their highest student-to-teacher ratio since 1995, with 73% of districts having lost teachers this year.

Things are not expected to get any easier during the 2012-2013 school year. According to a recent survey done by the Wisconsin Association of   School District Administrators (WASDA), most school district in   Milwaukee County expect to make the same or deeper cuts to balance  their budgets for the next school year, with only one of the 18 school   districts in Milwaukee County reporting that they expect to make fewer cuts next year   compared to this year. The harsh reality our children and schools are   facing is a direct result of Governor Walker’s budget cuts, a loss of   one-time federal dollars, and the siphoning of funds away from our   neighborhood schools and directed towards the expansion of the Milwaukee   Voucher Program.
  
How This Affects Our Children
In   addition to narrowing our children's educational opportunities by   reducing staff, increasing class sizes, eliminating vital support   services, and decreasing course offerings, Governor Walker cuts to education have also had a strong emotional impact on Wisconsin's   students. Aside from a child's parents, their teachers are often the   biggest part of molding their lives and preparing them for the real   world. Losing their teachers due to budget cuts can often feel like they   are losing a family member.
  
One school that has experienced this   first-hand is nearby Oconomowoc High School. Late last month after 15 teachers received layoff notices, students could be seen in the halls wearing special shirts with the message "We love our teachers" and felt   compelled to organize a Facebook group called OHS Solidarity.
  
The group page, which already has   2,221 members,  reads:  "This is the official Facebook group for the   OHS Solidarity movement, in support of the 15 amazing teachers who have been cut from their positions for the coming school year. This group exists solely for the purpose of coming together as a student body to give back to the teachers who have given us all so much of themselves over the years."
  
This is just one example of the experience many schools across the state are facing as they are forced to lose members of their community. After looking at these results, how is it possible for Governor Walker and Republican legislators to continue to try and justify their decision to place education at the   bottom of our priority list during the last legislative session?

Misinformation Regarding Act 10   "Savings"Since April, Governor Walker has been bragging that his cuts to public employees, claiming they have saved Wisconsin about $1 billion. It is important to remember that in reality, cuts to public employees do not outweigh the reductions in education funding and that these "savings" have reduced the ability of middle-income public workers to invest in   our local economies by approximately $3,000 per year on average.   However, this figure being thrown around by Governor Walker and his   administration has thus far been impossible to verify. In fact, many municipalities and school districts are starting to come forward to set   the record straight about the cuts Governor Walker has been boasting. 
  
For example, Governor Walker is  claiming that the City of Milwaukee saved a lavish $25 million because of Act 10. However, the real number is closer to a $14.9 million cut to public workers according to the city's budget and management director.   Milwaukee Public Schools shows a similar discrepancy. While Walker is claiming that MPS has an additional $21 million in their budget as a  result of the cuts, MPS has said that Act 10 cuts and lay-offs to teachers and staff in the 2011-2012 school year will only generate $2.4 million and an estimated $7.7 million in the 2012-2013 school year. 
  
Sheboygan County and its   municipalities also point out that Governor Walker grossly overestimated the savings his regressive legislation would create. Sheboygan   County reported not spending about $1.6 million in its 2012 budget as a   result of Governor Walker's Act 10, compared to the $2.1 million the governor's administration claimed it would receive. The same was true   for the City of Sheboygan where city officials said they "saved" only $420,000, less than half of Governor Walker's $1.3 million claim.   Likewise, the Sheboygan Area School District reported not spending about   $4 million as a result of the bill, compared to the $6.6 million for   which the Walker administration is taking credit.
  
Many municipalities and school   districts expressed that they do not believe many of the cost-saving  measures they had implemented before the passage of Act 10 were being taken into account.

In the case of the City of Sheboygan, the governor's  estimate incorrectly assumed that Sheboygan employees were not   previously paying any money toward their health insurance, when in fact   most were already pay 8% to 10%.
  
As a member of the Senate Committee on Education, I will continue to monitor the state of education to ensure   that we have a realistic, fact-based, and truthful understanding of how   these cuts are affecting our children and their opportunity to succeed.
====================

Office Phone: (608) 266-7505
Toll-free Phone: (800) 361-5487
Email:   Sen.Larson@legis.wi.gov

Mailing Address:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707
  
Web Site: 
SenatorChrisLarson.com

Schacknow - TODAY'S PRIMER, May 10, 2012

Peter Schacknow, Senior Producer, CNBC Breaking News Desk

Worries over political and financial turmoil continue to weigh on Wall Street, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq coming off their lowest closes in two months and the Dow riding its first six-day losing streak since August. The Dow is also just a few points from posting its biggest weekly drop of 2012.

Today marks a busy morning on the economic calendar, with three reports due out at 8:30am ET. Initial jobless claims are expected to come in at 370,000 for the week ending May 5, up 5,000 from the prior week. The March U.S. trade deficit is seen rising to $50 billion from the February reading of $46 billion. And April import prices should register a 0.2 percent rise, according to consensus forecasts, after March’s increase of 1.3 percent.

April federal budget figures are due out at 2pm ET, with the Treasury seen reporting a deficit of $30 billion following the March shortfall of $40.4 billion.

The Energy Department issues its weekly report on natural gas inventories at 10:30am ET, and the Treasury will announce the results of its $16 billion auction of 30-year bonds shortly after 1pm ET.

The Band of England is expected to keep its key interest rate unchanged at 0.5 percent when it issues its latest statement at 7am ET, but it’s also expected to announce the end of its asset buying program in order to ease inflation pressures.

Retailer Kohl’s (KSS) is one of the few companies of note set to report earnings this morning, while Express Scripts (ESRX), and software maker CA (CA) are among the companies on the after-the-bell earnings list.

Dow component Cisco Systems (CSCO) leads our list of stocks to watch, with fiscal third quarter earnings coming in at $0.48 per share, one cent above forecasts. Revenue was in line with estimates, but the company’s fourth quarter earnings and revenue forecast fall short of Street estimates.

News Corp. (NWSA) reported fiscal third quarter earnings of $0.37 per share, six cents above estimates, with revenues also above Street forecasts. The media giant also announced a $5 billion stock buyback program.  News Corp’s profits were helped by strong performances in its cable network and movie studio units.

Activision Blizzard (ATVI) earned $0.06 per share for the first quarter, two cents above estimates, and its revenue of $587 million was above consensus forecasts of $556 million. The videogame maker also raised its earnings outlook, and also reported that subscribers to its largest internet game, “World of Warcraft” remained steady from the prior quarter. Analysts had been concerned about a drop in subscriber numbers in prior quarters.

Priceline.com (PCLN) beat Street estimates by reporting first quarter profit of $4.28 per share, versus estimates of $3.95. That performance was helped by a jump in travel bookings, but the company did caution that growth will slow down in the current quarter. 

Monster Beverage (MNST) earned $0.41 per share for the first quarter, three cents above estimates, with revenue also above forecasts. The beverage maker also reported a one percentage point increase in profit margins over a year earlier to 53.1 percent, driven by higher demand for its energy drinks.

MEMC Electronic Materials (MEMC) lost $0.26 per share during the first quarter, wider than the $0.15 loss Street analysts had been expecting. The maker of semiconductor wafers is suffering the effects of both soft demand and lower pricing in its key markets.

SunTrust Banks (STI) is in talks to sell its asset management unit RidgeWorth Investments, according to Reuters. SunTrust had unsuccessfully tried to sell the unit two years ago.

Costco Wholesale (COST) is raising its quarterly dividend by 15 percent to $0.275 per share from $0.24.

Sony (SNE) says it expects to return to profitability in the current fiscal year, as its consumer electronics and components businesses recover. Sony has posted losses for four straight years.

Micron Technology (MU) says it’s in talks to acquire bankrupt Japanese chipmaker Elpida, confirming what’s been speculated for weeks. Reuters is reporting that Micron’s current offer is about $2.5 billion.

HIROSHIMA - The Door is OPEN - May 8, 2012

Today's Music  Treat from HIROSHIMA - The Door is Open. 
LISTEN AND ENJOY.

The band Hiroshima blends jazz, pop, and rock with traditional Japanese folk music and instruments, such as: the koto, a zither-like, 13-stringed instrument; shakuhachi, a five-holed bamboo flute, and; the powerful taiko drum. The Los Angeles-based ensemble includes Dan Kuramoto (keyboards/woodwinds/composer/producer), June Okida Kuramoto (koto), Danny Yamamoto (drums), Kimo Cornwell (piano/keyboards), Dean Cortez (bass) and newest member Shoji Kameda (taiko drum/percussion).

In the spring of 2005, the group released Obon, their first instrumental record and a tribute to the musicians, places and events that have inspired the band throughout the years. Obon also marked the band’s 25th anniversary and the 60th anniversary of the imprisonment of the Japanese during WWII.

CLICK

=================================

This selection is from MARY GLASS jazz favorites.

MILWAUKEE PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION honors "Ingenuity" - Hall of Neighborhood Leaders

MILWAUKEE, WI(MPA) - May 8, 2012, Election Tuesday, Milwaukee Professionals Association announces a pride recognition that will be held annually. 

It is the Hall of Neighborhood Leadership Recognition.

The recognition honors an individual, family, group and/or organization outstanding contribution to neighborhood enhancement through Code of Conduct, trust, stewardship, innovation, quality of life and economic development focus for SUSTAINABILITY.  An emphasis of "pipeline" development of human and hidden talent is a plus.

The seven days of Kwanzaa are used for categorical selection of achievements.
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in the United States honoring universal African American heritage and culture, observed from December 26 to January 1 each year. It features activities such as lighting a candle holder with seven candles and culminates in a feast and gift-giving. It was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966–67.  They are:

• UmojA (Unity):  To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
• Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves stand up.
• Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together.
• Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
• Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
• Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
• Imani (Faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Stay tuned for dates and how YOU can participate.
==================

Milwaukee Professionals Association ALL Hands on Deck, WE, Initiative is the sponsor.

FALK and VINEHOUT Present - Barrett and La Follette Fail to show @ WI Black Chamber of Commerce DEM Forum

Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

Only Two candidates running in the Democratic Primary race for Governor show up at "Meet the Candidates Forum"
  
     On Wednesday, May 2, 2012 only two candidates for Governor of the State of Wisconsin Kathleen Falk and Kathleen Vinehout respectfully participated in the candidate forum held at the Wisconsin African American Women's Center.
    
     Many issues important to the State of Wisconsin, the City of Milwaukee, and the Black Community were discussed such as the Incarceration rate of Black men, pardons for people who had felonies for committing nonviolent crimes, dollars to help small business start ups in the Black community, equal pay for women, and putting money in the Black community to help get out the vote.

    Both candidates did an excellent jobs presenting their platforms and answering questions from the audience. They and the audience did not always agree, but these candidates stated their positions and did not try to skirt difficult questions asked of them.
    
    This forum was hosted by several Black organizations The Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce, The Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, The Hansberry-Sands Theater, The Brotherhood of Firefighters, The Black Man's Forum and the Wisconsin African American Women's LTD.
    
     We want to thank the candidates for respecting our political forum by showing up and listening to our concerns.

10 more reasons Black People in Milwaukee Should Vote on May 8, 2012?

1) Our ancestors risked their lives and shed blood for the right to be able to vote.
2) Politicians listen to Jewish People, Hispanic People, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People because they are organized. It's time for us to get organized.  
3) It is time to gear up now for the Presidential Election in November to Re-Elect President
   Barack Obama.
4) Brothers and Sisters with felonies you can still vote if you are not on probation. If you are on probation you can still organize your family and friends to go and vote.
5) Let's make voting a family event. We must organize to get all family members from youngest eligible to vote to the eldest. We can set up a friendly competition with neighbors on other blocks to see who can get out the most votes. After the vote throw a Block Party.
6) Let candidates running for elected offices (especially Black men and Black women) as well as incumbents that there is a new political reality of accountability for those seeking the Black vote.
7) Black people need to be aware that when you call your elected official about a problem you are having, one of the first things that they are going to do is to check and see if you vote on a regular basis. This will often determine whether or not you get a call back.
8) Our tax dollars are being spent by elected officials that do not necessarily benefit our community. We must let them know where we want our money to go.
9) The Black community must no longer allow ourselves to be taken for granted. We must no longer allow ourselves to be ignored or predictable.
10) Remember that Frederick Douglass said, "Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never has and it never will."

Remember to Go and Vote on Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Schacknow - Today's Primer - May 8, 2012

TODAYS PRIMER                            
Peter Schacknow, Senior Producer, CNBC Breaking News Desk

Worries about Europe’s future continue to be an overriding theme for Wall Street, even though Monday’s mixed session was a much better outcome than futures were predicting before the open. Those futures are once again pointing to a lower open on Wall Street this morning.

This morning’s economic calendar includes the April reading on small business sentiment from the National Federation of Independent Business at 7:30am ET, and the Labor Department’s March “JOLTS” survey, which measures job openings and labor turnover.

The Treasury will sell $32 billion in 3-year notes today, with the results available shortly after 1pm ET. This week’s sales also include $24 billion in 10-year notes tomorrow, and $16 billion in 30-year bonds Thursday.

This morning’s earnings reports include Discovery Communications (DISCA), DirecTV (DTV), Fossil (FOSL), Perrigo (PRGO), Molson Coors (TAP), and Tenet Healthcare (THC), while Dow component Walt Disney (DIS) is the most prominent company scheduled to issue quarterly earnings after today’s closing bell.

Electronic Arts (EA) leads our list of stocks to watch this morning – the nation’s biggest maker of video games did beat estimates by a penny with earnings of $0.17 per share for its fourth quarter, but the stock is being hit by a softer than expected current quarter forecast.

Wynn Resorts (WYNN) fell short for the first quarter, reporting profit of $1.33 per share versus estimates of $1.41. The casino operator did see a sizable jump in revenue from Macau, but Wynn kept a smaller portion of revenue from its Las Vegas table games during the quarter.

Rackspace Hosting (RAX) earned $0.17 per share for its first quarter, a penny below estimates. The provider of data hosting services saw its bottom line impacted by a rise in expenses, as the company expanded its workforce and its data centers.

Dendreon (DNDN) shares took a hit in after-hours trading, as sales of its Provenge prostate cancer vaccine rose 6.5% in the first quarter over the prior quarter, and the company predicted low single-digit growth for the second quarter.  Analysts are concerned that profit margins for the company’s only approved product aren’t high enough.

Churchill Downs (CHDN) earned $0.08 per share for the first quarter, versus analyst forecasts for a loss of $0.11. The race track operator says 20 percent revenue growth in its online business segment was responsible for much of its growth over the prior year.

Pitney Bowes (PBI) reported first quarter profit of $0.52 per share, excluding certain items, two cents above estiamtes. It’s also raising its 2012 forecast to $2.22 - $2.42 per share from its prior guidance of $2.05 - $2.25 per share. The document services company continues to report falling revenue, but tax benefits are helping its bottom line.

Yahoo (YHOO) – CEO Scott Thompson has apologized to employees for controversy surrounding his resume, while Yahoo’s board met late Monday afternoon to discuss the growing controversy.

Sprint (S) – The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan plans to vote against the re-election of Chief Executive Officer Dan Hesse to the Sprint board, saying it’s doing so because of poor linkages between performance and pay. The pension plan holds an approximately four percent stake in Sprint.

BACKSTORY - CINCO de Mayo - 138th Kentucky Derby

View Video

Louisville, Kentucky - Saturday, May 5, 2012, 138th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Winners: 
Chestnut Horse - I'll Have Another
Jockey  - Mario Gutierrez
Owner  - Paul Reddam
Trainer - Doug O'Neill

Triple Crown has two more stakes. 

They are:   137th Preakness -  Saturday, May 19, 2012 1 pm EDT,  
Pimlico Raceway Baltimore, Md.
144th Belmont Stakes - Saturday, June 9, 2012 9:30 am EDT, Elmont, NY
===========================

Mary J. Blige - National Athem

IMMELT selected to help create a BOTTOM-UP economy with Milwaukee creating the fingerprint/BLUEprint

MILWAUKEE(MPA) - Milwaukee Professionals Association launched the A-HOD/ALL HANDS on Deck, WE, Not Me Initiative in January, 2010, to address the "by-design" status quo of Enduring Concentrated Poverty (ECP) that has for decades "trapped" hidden talent, "trapped" ingenuity, "trapped willingness to work", "trapped" per capital income and enslaved high pockets of Milwaukeeans of Color.

"My hands-on efforts back in the 1980's and 1990's kept me seeking empowerment and change from those who should provide change - residential, commercial, light industrial, social services groups and the government (local and state).  However, there was a disconnect of the groups for creating quality-of-life and economic development sustainability.  'Divisiveness', argumentative conversations  and code of conduct that was questionable was a constant.  There were individuals who said one thing, wrote another and spoke another but not held accountable.  There was the residential population left in fractions due to the CULTURE of divisiveness.  Then there were the elected/hired/appointed representatives that took pride in deception, arbitrary and capricious behavior that promoted arrogance and bullying of the people - the people that paid their salary; and, according to Wisconsin statute, were working for/as "public servants".  Well, I took off my cloak of naivety and launched a 5-Year Signature Plan for Smart Growth (2005-2010).  A-HOD is Milwaukee Professionals Association Infrastructure change for:  "re-defining", "re-branding" and "un-trapping" African American, other People of Color and the Work-Challenged in Milwaukee - over 3/4 of the half-million population.  A population with so much to offer in economic engines, development of employment and ingenuity.  Thus, Jeffrey Immelt", said Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association.

President Obama asked and Immelt accepted, to assist in growing employment in America.

We see potential in the following areas: 

•          BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) opportunities.
•          Emphasis on "making/building things" by the People.
•          Global anchoring.
•          Promote Technology.
•          R&D - Research and Development - a partner.
•          Willing to promote "Innovation".

He can LEARN a lot about the NEW markets, competitiveness and huge opportunities that we will bring to the table.
He WANTS the people to "root" for GE.  We will help him find a reason or two.

Stay tuned.

Schacknow - Today's Primer, May 3, 2012

 Peter Schacknow, Senior Producer, CNBC Breaking News Desk

Wall Street’s focus on the U.S. labor market intensifies today, with the Labor Department set to issue its weekly report on initial jobless claims this morning and the April employment report tomorrow. U.S. stocks come off a narrowly mixed session that saw the major averages finish well off session lows.


That initial jobless claims report is out at 8:30am ET, with economists forecasting 378,000 for the week ending April 28, down from 388,000 the prior week.  At the same time, the government is expected to report a 0.8 percent annual rate drop in productivity for the first quarter, compared to a 0.9 percent increase during the fourth quarter.


At 10am ET, the Institute For Supply Management’s non-manufacturing index is seen coming in at 55.5 for April, down slightly from the March reading of 56.0.


At 10:30am ET, the Energy Department will issue its weekly look at natural gas inventories.


Though earnings season is winding down, we’ll get a handful of notable companies reporting this morning, including Beam (BEAM), Cardinal Health (CAH), Cigna (CI), Cablevision (CVC), Sara Lee (SLE) and Viacom (VIA).  Dow component Kraft Foods (KFT) leads the list of after-the-bell reports, with First Solar (FSLR), Fluor (FLR), and AIG (AIG) also scheduled to report.


Whole Foods (WFM) is among our stocks to watch this morning, as the grocery chain reports fiscal second quarter earnings of $0.64 per share, five cents above estimates.  The company’s same store sales rose 9.5%, above analyst estimates of an 8.8% increase.


Visa (V) earned $1.60 per share for its first quarter, nine cents above estimates, as customers spent more with their cards.  That trend had also been seen in the better-than-expected earnings report for rival MasterCard (MA) Wednesday morning.  However, sentiment surrounding Visa is being hurt as the company reveals the Justice Department asked it for information on its debit card pricing strategies.


Green Mountain Coffee (GMCR) took a 30 percent after-hours hit, after its fiscal second quarter revenues came in well below expectations, and the company issued weaker than expected full year revenue and earnings guidance.


Zillow (Z) reported first quarter profit of $0.06 per share, above analyst estimates of $0.03.  The real estate website operator has been able to raise the prices it charges realtors, thanks to a jump in new visitors to the site.


Boston Beer (SAM) earned $0.56 per share for the first quarter, 14 cents above estimates, with revenue also beating consensus.  However, its reaffirmed EPS guidance of $3.80 -$4.20 for the year falls below analyst estimates of $4.21.  


Hot Topic (HOTT) has raised its earnings guidance for the current quarter, with the teen retailer now seeing profit of $0.07 - $0.08 per share compared to its prior range of $0.02 - $0.05.  The improved projection comes amid strong same-store sales numbers.


Zumiez (ZUMZ) says same-store sales for April were up 10.1 percent, better than analysts had anticipated.  Zumiez sells apparel and gear aimed at skaters and surfers.


Prudential Financial (PRU) reported first quarter profit of $1.56 per share, excluding certain items, 16 cents below estimates.  The insurer reported an overall first quarter loss on currency fluctuations and an increase in disability claims.


Weight Watchers (WTW) earned $0.74 per share for its first quarter, four cents below estimates. The company did raise its profit guidance for the year to $4.60 - $4.80 per share from $4.20 - $4.60, but investor sentiment is turning negative on a substantial profit drop from a year earlier, and weaker participant volume at its weight-loss meetings.


Carlyle Group (CG) priced its IPO at $22 per share, the low end of an already lowered range.  The private equity firm raised a total of $671 million in the offering.

FALSE PROPHETS giving FALSE PROFITS

 May 2, 2012


MILWAUKEE (MPA) - As we turn the corner and enter the stretch for May 8th Election - Wisconsin Recall and Run-off, watch for the false POLLS and hypes from pundits trying to favor the candidates.  Since both Barrett and Walker have such dismal records, they will and are claiming everything but the kitchen sink - there is no shame and the game is on.  There is NO trust so the sky is the limit.

Do not be fooled.
You will hear the JOBS-JOBS-JOBS scam.
 Those of us in Milwaukee know that the promise of JOBS have gotten only a few jobs - if any; and, the opportunities of  entrepreneurship have gone to Caucasians - many outside of the city and/or county.
 
Stay the course.
Who is the candidate for you.
Who has the most POTENTIAL to give YOU substance - track record - Plan - ACCOUNTABILITY.


It is mid-week, watch for the shoppers with "wild" promises and "coupons" for your vote.
Watch for the wolves in sheep clothing.

WE KNOW WHAT WALKER and BARRETT have done and promised to do.
Take a look at whose standing around these two men.
Have they done anything but "hustled" their livelihood - cronies games and their position for Invitation to an event to be seen?

Have they done anything but stroked the fires and ran back for personal favors (appointment, trips, and deals) from Mayor Tom and Gov. Walker?

CLICK titles below for info about the candidates.

• Governor recall candidate profile: Kathleen Vinehout

   

  •  POLITICS

DRYHOOTCH.ORG EVENT REMINDER - Today, 1-2 PM

Creative Writing Workshop...

When:  Every Wednesday

Time:  1:00-2:00 P.M.

Where:  DryHootch,org on Brady in Milwaukee

Why:  Connect with other veterans, release your inner spirit through writing, and have fun!

CLICK for more

MAY 2, 2012 - Democratic Candidates FORUM

L-R:
Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce, The Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin,
The Hansberry-Sands Theatre Company, Wisconsin African American Women's Center,
The Milwaukee Brotherhood of FireFighters, The Black Business Alliance Milwaukee, Inc, The Black People's Public Forum, and the Black Men's Forum presents:

• Doug LaFollette (D) - Secretary of State, Environmental Activist & Ex-College Professor

• Kathleen Falk (D) - Ex-Dane County Executive, '06 Attorney General Nominee & '02 Candidate

• Tom Barrett (D) - Milwaukee Mayor, Ex-Congressman, Ex-State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & '02/'10 Candidate

• Kathleen Vinehout (D) - State Sen., Farmer & Ex-College Professor

=====================

When: Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Where: Wisconsin African American Women's Center
3020 W. Vliet St.

Time: 6:30PM - 8:00PM
(doors open at 6pm)
For more info call 551-6649 or 933-1652

Schacknow - Today's Primer, May 2, 2012

           

Peter Schacknow, Senior Producer, CNBC Breaking News Desk

The old Wall Street adage “sell in May and go away” may yet hold true, but the new month has certainly not started off that way. The Dow and the S&P 500 have both risen in five of the past six sessions, and the Dow is coming off its highest close since December 2007.

Whether that positive outlook continues may well depend on a key piece of data out this morning: the ADP report on private sector employment, due at 8:15am ET.  Economists expect the U.S. economy to have added 175,000 private sector jobs in April, compared to 209,000 in March.  We’ll also get March factory orders at 10am ET, expected to show a 1.5 percent drop after a 1.3 percent increase in February.


Weekly reports out today include mortgage applications from the Mortgage Bankers Association at 7am ET, and the Energy Department’s weekly reading on oil and gasoline inventories at 10:30am ET.


Time Warner (TWX) leads our list of companies set to report quarterly earnings this morning. (Tuesday’s brief erroneously stated that Time Warner would report after yesterday’s closing bell – we apologize for the error.)  We’ll also get quarterly numbers from Allergan (AGN), Clorox (CLX), Comcast (CMCSA), CVS Caremark (CVS), Devon Energy (DVN), Garmin (GRMN), and MasterCard (MA).


Today’s after-the-bell reports include Allstate (ALL), Green Mountain Coffee (GMCR), JDS Uniphase (JDSU), Symantec (SYMC), Visa (V), and Whole Foods (WFM).


Herbalife (HLF) remains on our watch list this morning, after it lost about 20 percent during Tuesday’s trading. Herbalife says the questions asked by hedge fund manager David Einhorn during an earnings conference call raised no new subjects or concerns, and that the most recent quarter was the best for Herbalife in 32 years.
Dow component Pfizer (PFE) will get some attention today, after the FDA approved its drug Elelyso to treat a form of Gaucher’s disease. We’ll also watch shares of Protalix Bio Therapeutics (PLX), Pfizer’s partner in development of that drug.


Chesapeake Energy (CHK) could come under some pressure, after reporting first quarter profit of $0.18 per share, 11 cents below estimates. Revenue for the energy producer was also short of Wall Street consensus. Investors are particularly concerned about Chesapeake’s exposure to low-priced natural gas.


Chipmaker Broadcom (BRCM) reported first quarter profit of $0.65 per share, ten cents above estimates, with revenues also registering a beat. But Broadcom did say that acquisition related costs would cut into profit margins for the current quarter.


OpenTable (OPEN) shares will be under pressure today, after issuing current quarter guidance below analyst estimates.  The restaurant reservation service did beat consensus by six cents with first quarter profit of 40 cents per share.


Genworth (GNW) is absorbing a double-dose of news this morning: its quarterly profit of $0.06 per share, excluding certain items, was five cents below estimates, and the insurer’s chief executive officer Michael Frazier has resigned.  He’ll be replaced on an acting basis by chief financial officer Martin Klein.


TripAdvisor (TRIP) reported first quarter profit of $0.38 per share, excluding certain items, five cents above estimates.  The travel services company saw travel reviews and opinions hit the 60 million mark during the quarter.


Charming Shoppes (CHRS) will reportedly be bought by women’s apparel retailer Ascena Retail (ASNA) for $890 million or $7.35 per share, according to the Wall Street Journal. The price represents a nearly 25 percent premium over yesterday’s close for Charming Shoppes shareholders.

CNBC - TODAY'S PRIMER, May 1, 2012

*CNBC.com

US stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wall Street on Tuesday in what was likely to be a light trading day with many European and Asian markets closed.
Earnings out on Tuesday come from Pfizer ahead of the open. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect Pfizer to have earned 56 cents per share excluding items in the first quarter on revenue of $15.5 billion. Time Warner reports after the closing bell.


Economic data released on Tuesday is relatively light with only construction spending for March due to be released at 10:00am New York time. The consensus forecast on the website briefing.com was for a 0.8 percent increase in construction spending compared to a decline of 1.1 percent in the prior month. The Institute for Supply Management manufacturing index for April is due to be released at the same time and seen dropping slightly to 53.0 from a prior reading of 53.4 by economists polled by briefing.com.


Most markets in Europe and several major Asian markets were closed on Tuesday to mark the May Day holiday and activity could remain limited ahead of Thursday's monthly policy meeting of the European Central Bank and Friday's release on U.S. non-farm payrolls data. Of the major markets only the London Stock Exchange remained open for business in Europe.


World shares eased and the safe-haven Japanese yen hit fresh highs on Tuesday after a rebound in China's factory sector and a big rate cut in Australia failed to offset concerns about the U.S. economy and the euro zone in thin holiday trading.


The stronger yen helped send Japan's stock market to a 2-1/2 month closing low while the MSCI's world equity index was down just 0.15 percent to 328.26, adding to losses of about 1.5 percent in April.


The Reserve Bank of Australia cut interest rates by a surprisingly aggressive half a point to 3.75 percent, a level not seen since late 2009, and left the door open for further easing if needed.


In corporate news Delta Air Lines announced that it would buy a Pennsylvania oil refinery from ConocoPhillips for $150 million.


The leaders of New York City’s pension funds said on Monday they would vote their 4.7 million company shares against five directors standing for re-election to Wal-Mart’s board at its annual shareholder meeting next month over concerns about the retailer’s reported cover-up of bribery in its Mexico operations, the New York Times reported.


And oil producer BP reported a bigger-than-expected drop in profits on Tuesday morning despite an increase in crude prices, as production fell after it was forced to sell fields to pay for the oil spill. London-based BP said replacement cost net profit was $4.93 billion in the quarter, compared to $5.61 billion in the same period last year.

To CLOSE, Yet so far - the Gap for to Win the Democratic seat for Governor

Parents and Husband/Wife

MILWAUKEE (MPA) - The upcoming DEMOCRATIC run-off election will go to the woman or man that GO GET-IT.

Get What?
Go get the voters on the fence.
Go get the voters that are disenfranchised.
Go get the voters that are angry and dissatisfied with the election process.
Go get the voters that feel that their vote will not COUNT.



Spring forward.
The Governor's race is without a clear favorite.

Bring TRUST out and dust it off.
Bring TRUTH out and lay it out with reasoning.
Bring vetted neighborhood businesses to the table
Bring fathers and mothers to the table with opportunity of realism.
Bring real HOPE seasoned with alternatives that link TO GOVERNMENT departments being accountable.
Bring a plan that allows the People to be the infrastructure.

So, do you have a message?
A real believable and INNOVATIVE message?
Bring your POSSE to the Urban environment and give them something to go to the polls for.

So far, the field is wide open.

Did Mayor Tom Barrett say, "Civil War" in the Ad?

MILWAUKEE (MPA) - Monday Afternoon, April 30, 2012

There is an advertisement out by Mayor Tom Barrett  - Campaign for Governor of the state of Wisconsin.  It refers to a "Civil War".

He says it is as a result of the removal of Collective Bargaining by Governor Scott Walker.
He called it a "Bomb" while appearing on the MSNBC Ed Schulz Show.

Pot n Kettle

Well, Barrett has forgotten the REAL civil war he has led as the co-chair of the Milwaukee 7 against Milwaukeeans, especially African American, other People Color and the Work-Challenged for 8 years.
He FAILED miserably his entire time as mayor because he would not honor his words - We the People.

According to research, it appears that Mayor Tom said one thing in his 2004 Inaugural pledge and implemented the opposite.  He promised:

• I also salute all the city employees here today. The Barrett Administration will respect your commitment, seek your counsel and actively engage you in efforts to change Milwaukee for the better. I am proud to join your ranks and I can't wait to roll up our sleeves and get to work together.

• I welcome the residents of this community who have chosen to be a part of this ceremony today. I'm pleased that the members of the Common Council worked in partnership to bring these proceedings outside these walls and directly to you, our bosses.

• When our founders wrote the constitution, they wrote about "We the people" – not "they the people" or "you the people." "We the people." Democracy is the ultimate participatory sport, and it works only as well as "we" make it work. Together, we can make it work. 

• While we have many challenges before us, we have Milwaukee ingenuity and Milwaukee pride to guide us. And even as we face challenges, we'll shrug off some of our Milwaukee humility, raise our voices and let the world know that this is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. 

• We must work to ensure that our entertainment districts, like the one downtown, work together, and we must promote new, thriving centers of culture like a 21st Century Bronzeville or an even stronger Mitchell Street, so that more talented young people will come here and stay here.

• Jobs and Economic Development 
• Milwaukee, once the "Machine Shop to the World," must retool to compete in the world economy. City government and the private sector must create new partnerships. And we must reach out to businesses to let them know Milwaukee is open for business.

• I have already met with the MMAC, and we will proceed together in the first 100 days to listen and respond quickly to the needs of the business community. We'll work with the Greater Milwaukee Committee to develop and nurture new partnerships – outside of government – that have a single purpose of identifying potential job creators and showing them that Milwaukee is a place to go and a place to grow.

•  And we will act on critical development projects like the Park East Corridor and the Harley-Davidson Museum. We can get to work and get results on these and other critical issues in the next 100 days if we work together.

• I will be the lead ambassador for this city. I'll sell the product because I love it and I believe in it. And I will ask residents throughout the community to join me as ambassadors for this great city. Promoting this city must be a community-wide effort, and it will result in more commerce, more convention business and more residents in a vibrant city.  For entire speech, CLICK.

What has he done?
During the 100 days, he dropped the "Discriminatory BOMB" with the assistance of his cronies - Greater Milwaukee Committee and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce.

They in turn dropped the "Take-Over by Proxy Bomb" - Creation of Milwaukee 7.
 
Instead of "We the People" re-tooling, working together with Milwaukeeans, it has been "We the People" - oligopoly - Caucasian-based, corporate-based, lobbyists-based, real estate baron-based, outside of Milwaukee based, which OUTSOURCED assets and resources massively.  Since the election of Tom Barrett mayor came about after widespread divisiveness and questionable actions against African American mayoral candidate Marvin Pratt, he buried TRUST and INTEGRITY.

Therefore, the Barrett Administration:

• Lack of focus has failed to remove the long and injurious segregation and racial disharmony.

• Lack of focus on "hidden talent" at the neighborhood level of Milwaukee promoted enduring concentrated poverty, increased under-employment, un-employment and decreased personal worth of Milwaukeeans. 

• Lack of focus on "businesses empowerment" at the neighborhood level of Milwaukee promoted enduring concentrated poverty and increased unemployment of Milwaukeeans, especially African Americans (largest population).

• Lack of use of assets and resources that are regularly earmarked for the improvement of quality of life and economic development that have been pipe-lined for resourcing to Caucasians and outline burbs created the 2010 Disparity Study by DWilson.

It is Mayor Barrett failure to honor his April 24, 2004 Inaugural Pledge.
===========================

CLICK and PLAY

According to Mike Lowe, WITI TV Fox 6 Reporter, April 1, 2011, Milwaukee now has a new way to start tough conversations about race.  According to the latest census data Milwaukee beat New York City, Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland for the dubious honor of being America's most segregated city.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says the reason for this is rooted in the region's economic and political history. "We've got housing policies, zoning policies, steering that occurs in real estate industry. Historically that offers, and I think there are still some people who don't want to live with people who have different skin colors than theirs."
===========================

This is a statement seven years into his eight-year administration.  What can he point to that HE and his administration as well as his cronies have done with the resources and lobbying changes?

It is three (3) years after the Federal Reserve and Brookings Institution named Milwaukee as an American Concentrated Poverty City.  Jerermiah Boyle, Federal Reserve invited Mayor Tom as the Keynote Speaker.   Listen to what he said - How does his comments in Washington, DC square with Mike Lowe's comments above?

This is seven (7) years after his co-creation of the "regional" Milwaukee 7 where he and Gale Klappa - We Energies ($1 million dollar member investor) have been the consistent co-chairs.  African American and other People of Color were left out of the Region - How?  Why?  What happen to "We the People"?

How does the report square with the Code of Ethics of the Milwaukee 7. Where are We the People, especially African American, other People of Color and the Work Challenged - true population/stakeholders of Milwaukee?
===========================

When Mayor Tom and his cronies outsourced the resources of economic development, it froze quality of life empowerment.  It created an endless cycle of ENDURING CONCENTRATED POVERTY and predictable outcomes that lead to behaviors in critical  mass that stifles growth, ingenuity, excitement,  increased per capital income and wellness for sustainability.  It is like pouring "acid" on a rose.

Below are preventable outcomes that Mayor Tom could of impacted in the positive if he had honored his words in 2004.

• Working to make Milwaukee wireless

• Wifi is a NO-go for now

• Milwaukee Wisc. is Most Segregated U.S. City, and Other Quirky Census Facts

• Milwaukee earns dubious distinction of the most segregated city in America.

 ===========================

This is but a dab of why We the People will have a HARD time supporting Mayor Tom OR Governor Scott Walker - pot n kettle politicians.

They are NOT for We, the People - ALL PEOPLE.

Ask Mayor Tom why he chose to implement a Civil War the last 8 years?

Why he has chosen to not honor Public Information Request AND make necessary changes? 

It's DERBY time - Saturday, May 5, 2012 - 138th @ Churchill Downs

AP) LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Hansen was there, edging out a hard charging Union Rags. Dullahan ran, too, as did Daddy Long Legs, Creative Cause, Take Charge Indy, Alpha, Optimizer and Prospective.

The same horses are expected to line up again on Saturday in the Kentucky Derby, just six months after the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on the same Churchill Downs track set the stage for the Run for the Roses.

While no horse has distinguished itself as a clear-cut favorite ahead of the post-position draw on Wednesday, as many as nine horses who'll start Saturday also participated in the premier race for 2-year-olds.

"When you look back at the race, it was a key," Union Rags trainer Michael Matz said. "And, a lot of those horses have done well. I think this is a pretty competitive crop."  For more, CLICK
==============
In the United States, the three races that compose the Triple Crown are:

1. Kentucky Derby, run over 1-1/4 miles (2.01 km) dirt track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky;
2. Preakness Stakes, run over 1-3/16 miles (1.91 km) dirt track at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland;
3. Belmont Stakes, run over 1-1/2 miles (2.41 km), the longest dirt track in thoroughbred racing, at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

It has been 34 years since a horse won the U.S Triple Crown (Affirmed in 1978)
===============

Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association looks forward to viewing the thoroughbred triple crown  races each year.

Dryhootch.org Creative Writing Workshop - WEDNESDAYS

Creative Writing Workshop...

When:  Every Wednesday

Time:  1:00-2:00 P.M.

Where:  DryHootch, Milwaukee

Why:  Connect with other veterans, release your inner spirit through writing, and have fun!

Artful Army - SpeakPeace project

Veterans Only - join the Artful Army at Dryhootch every Tuesday through May and participate in the multi-national SpeakPeace art project promoting peace and reconciliation. We will be doing art (visual or written) on 6x6 canvas to the prompt "Peace Is ..." Canvas and most materials will be provided. Donations of images from magazines, etc. greatly appreciated. Please, one canvas per veteran.
Close your eyes. What does your PEACE look like?

Visit Dryhootch.org at: CLICK
=====================

Milwaukee Professionals Association supports Dryhootch.org - A neighborhood level organization.

LARSON Weekly Report - April 26, 2012

Dear Friend,

In honor of May being National Bike Month, we will focus on discussing important issues and opportunities related to transit by land, water, and air in our community.

As usual, please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or opinions you may have about our community or our state.

Sincerely, 

Senator Chris Larson
7th District
==================

A number of factors are shaping the transportation patterns and preferences in our community, including: higher gas prices, increasing costs associated with driving, common-sense regulations banning texting while driving, improvements in technology making transportation alternatives more attractive, and changes in our travel priorities.

Emerging data suggests that these trends are not confined to just a small group of neighbors. A new WISPIRG report recently released finds that Wisconsinites, like most Americans, are driving less, and young people are leading the charge.

From World War II until just a few years ago, the number of miles driven annually on America’s roads steadily increased. In fact, 2004 was the year in which vehicle miles traveled, overall and per capita, peaked in Wisconsin. Shortly after the turn of the century, something changed--Americans began driving less. In 2010, the average Wisconsinite drove nearly 500 miles less than just six years earlier in 2004.

This trend away from driving is even more pronounced among young people. The average young person, age 16 to 34, drove 23 percent fewer miles in 2009 than the average young person in 2001. Meanwhile, travel by young people on public transportation increased exponentially. From 2001 to 2009, the number of passenger-miles on public transit by people ages 16 to 34 increased by 40 percent nationwide. Additionally, in 2009, young Americans also walked up to 16 percent more and biked up to 24 percent than they did in 2001, when driving was still at its peak.

Federal, state, and local governments have historically made massive investments in new highway capacity on the assumption that driving demand would continue to increase. The changing transportation preferences of Americans, throw those assumptions into doubt. Trends showing a shift away from driving support the idea that we should be investing our valuable tax dollars in other modes of transportation, rather than simply expanding our grandparents' highway transportation system.

Continue reading for more information about bus and bike transit alternatives our community has to offer. If you live outside of the Milwaukee area, please contact your local municipality for information about public transit programs in your neighborhood.

 ==================

Exploring Milwaukee County by Bike

Whether you are interested in saving money, reducing your carbon footprint, getting more exercise, or simply want to better explore our community, biking is a great transit alternative. The Milwaukee area has a lot to offer cycling novices and enthusiasts alike, with its 65 miles of bike lanes and 75 miles of bike routes. Biking also plays a key role in driving our local economy. Therefore, it is important that we continue supporting and building our biking infrastructure. Doing so will not only ensure that Wisconsin's tourism industry remains competitive  with neighboring states, but also maintain a quality infrastructure for future generations.

Below are just a few options for those looking at becoming more avid bikers:

• Jump on Our Nearby Trails--Our community connects to both the Hank Aaron State Trail and the Oak Leaf Trail. The former offers 10 miles of continuous paths between the lakefront and Milwaukee's West End. It even runs by Discovery World, the Milwaukee Art Museum, Summerfest, and the Historic Third Ward. The latter boasts over 100 miles of trails from Milwaukee into Wauwatosa and connects to all of the major parks in the Milwaukee County Park System.
• Participate in Bike to Work Week (May 14 to 18)--Take the Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail to work, and stop by the Breakfast Station, which will be offering free coffee and baked goods throughout the week.
• Bring the Whole Family (June 2 to September 11)--The Park People, advocates of the Milwaukee County Parks system, is hosting the Oak Leaf Discovery Tour during the summer. Purchase an Oak Leaf Discovery Tour Passport, and collect stamps from various parks along the trail. After collecting eight stamps, register the passport for the opportunity to win valuable prizes at the end of summer. Passports are available for purchase at many park locations, bike shops, or online. They are $3 each, or 5 for $10. Proceeds go to towards the enhancement of the Oak Leaf Trail.

Click here for more information about Milwaukee County bike trails and to view maps

 =================

Navigating Milwaukee County by Bus

Public transportation, that includes a well-run bus operation, is vital to our neighbors who have a disability, are elderly, or are commuting to and from work or school. According to the Milwaukee County Transit systems, on average 140,000 bus rides are provided daily. Of these, 39% are commuters traveling to and from work, another 5% are heading to job interviews, and 11% are students making their way to classes to learn valuable skills for their future careers.

Unfortunately, public transit, including our local buses, was not made a priority in the most recent legislative session. In his budget, Governor Walker chose to decrease funding for public transit by 10% and eliminated $77 million from shared revenue to local governments in order to fund $2.3 billion in tax breaks for large corporations. As a result, local governments have been forced to shift funding, raise fares, change or eliminate routes, and reduce vital services.

While many of these changes have been seen by riders in our own community, Milwaukee County has been doing what it can to try and decrease the impact of these cuts on our neighbors. A method they have used to try and improve bus services for riders is applying for federal funding and grants. One project that was a result of such efforts was the creation of three new MetroEXpress Routes in our community earlier this year. These routes were created after Milwaukee County was awarded a Congestion Mitigation Air Quality grant by the federal government. The new routes--the BlueLine, RedLine and GreenLine--operate every day of the week in high ridership corridors.

This session I fought to provide Wisconsin workers, students, the elderly, and neighbors with disabilities with reliable, accessible transportation by authoring and supporting a number of legislative initiatives. One such bill was the Workforce Mobility Act. This legislation sought to prevent further cuts by reinvesting in our state’s public transit infrastructure. According to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, a recent re-estimate of the transportation fund indicated that an additional $32.9 million remains available for use. This bill would have used $9.6 million of this funding to restore the cuts to our mass transit systems ensuring that our workforce can get to their jobs each day.

Unfortunately, this and many other bills aimed at supporting our public transit infrastructure were discarded by Governor Walker and Republican legislators with little to no consideration given to the proposals. However, I will continue working hard on your behalf to have adequate funding put towards our public transit infrastructure.

Click here for more information about Milwaukee County's bus services.
===================

Milwaukee Professionals Association commends Senator Chris Larson for his "INFORMATIONAL" approach to sharing constituents' news.