Thanks to Kossack dzinger for the heads up regarding a sad bit of dickishness on the part of Republican Assemblyman John Klenke.
Last year, Brown County was promised 2 million dollars in state funds for a convention center. Perhaps it will be good for the local economy, perhaps not. Either way, it is a done deal. Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt and Brown County Supervisor worked hard to come up with local money to put this deal together. One would assume that the State Assembly Rep from this the neighboring district would be eager to see this deal succeed, or at least shut the hell up and stay out of the way, unless of course, a huge corporation with pockets deeper and richer than any gold mine whispered in Assemblyman Klenke's ear.
When there's a Republican grifter with an assembly vote for sale, count on Walmart!
In what should be a totally unrelated bit of local news, Walmart wants to build another big-boxfull o' imported plastic in Green Bay. Walmart already has four stores in the Green Bay area and wants to locate this one in an area zoned for small-business development. City officials are considering Walmart's proposal and recently held a public hearing to let the people have their say. There is probably enough local opposition to block or at least delay Walmart's proposal.
Between bouts of flatulence, Rep. Klenke is calling for the state to reconsider it's $2 million grant if Walmart doesn't get their way. I thought that Klenke would be happy to see $2,000,000.00 in no-strings cash flowing into his own district the district right next to his, but I was mistaken. Although John Klenke was elected to represent the people of Wisconsin's 88th Assembly District, he actually represents Walmart.
Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead and the 2010 elections are still a disaster for the Badger State. What does a dead Spanish Fascist dictator have to do with it?
Klenke was elected in 2010. Before that he was an executive at Schneider National. Yes, those big orange semi-trailer rigs you see out on the road, every day and every night, often pulling trailers with the Walmart logo. Fascism puts maximum political power in the hands of monopolistic corporations. It was designed that way. Money is power.
Earlier in this diary, I referred to Rep. Klenke (R-Walmart) as a grifter. Please don't misunderstand. I did not say he was cheap. He is a high-roller. He most certainly took a pay cut when he retired into the Assembly. His portfolio improves with every little "pro-growth" favor he does for a multi-national corporation. He doesn't have to break legs or burn crosses. His words and his handshakes are weapons.
The Green Bay Press-Gazette has more on this story (link).
Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 5:30 AM PT:
This from Mike Kahlow: "This isn't even his district.
Thanks to our redistricting, Klenke represents mostly the Green Bay exurbia & outlying townships.
The only parts of Green Bay in his district are the parts with the curvy windy streets.
Neither the convention center (which was granted the $2M) nor the Walmart site are in his district. They're represented by Rep. Eric Genrich (D)."
Thanks for setting me straight Mike, I stand corrected.