Click here to view the embedded video.

·In 2001 taxpayers contributed $423 million dollars to state employee health insurance premiums, while in 2011 taxpayers contributed more than $1 billion dollars. In 2011, state employees paid $64 million toward their health insurance, or about 5.6% of the total cost. (ETF Health Care Analysis)

·From 2001 to 2010 taxpayers spent more than $8 billion dollars on state employee health care coverage—over the same period of time state employees contributed about $398 million. (ETF Health Care Analysis)

·Public employers contributed almost $1.37 billion to the state’s pension fund in 2009, while employees contributed about $8 million, or about 0.6%. (LFB paper 84 Wisconsin Retirement System, Table 28) ·From 2000 to 2009 taxpayers spent about $12.6 billion on public employee pensions, during the same period public employees contributed $55.4 million. (LFB paper 84 Wisconsin Retirement System, Table 28)

·When looking at state operations, state employees account for about 60% of taxpayer cost—77% of state operations for the UW are employees, 70% for corrections, 63% for health services. (State Budget Office Memo 2-9-11)

·Wisconsin taxpayers currently make nearly a 100% payment for the employee portion of the public sector pension contribution. Illinois and Indiana taxpayers contribute the entire employee portion as well, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio pay 0% of the employee contribution. (State Budget Office Memo 2-9-11)

·Public employees in Wisconsin are vested in the retirement system immediately, while in Illinois it takes 8 years, 10 years in Indiana, 4 years in Iowa, 10 years in Michigan, 3 years in Minnesota, and 5 years in Ohio. (State Budget Office Memo 2-9-11)

·Survey data finds that private employer HMO plans in Wisconsin typically require a co-pay of $18 per office visit, $45 per specialist visit, $75 per emergency room visit, or $175 in-patient treatment. The average health insurance premium for these plans averaged $108 per month for single coverage and $261 for family. (State Budget Office Memo 2-9-11)

·Taxpayers spent $733 million of general purpose revenue on fringe benefits for state employees in fiscal year 2010. (State Budget Office Memo 2-9-11)

·Fringe benefits made up 25.6% of school district expenditures in 2008-09. (State Budget Office Memo 2-9-11)

Here is the AP news story:

“Wisconsin Republicans have endorsed Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson in the U.S. Senate race.

Sunday’s decision came shortly after a surprise move in which fellow candidate Dick Leinenkugel dropped out and threw his support behind Johnson.

Johnson won with 64 percent of the delegates’ votes. Madison-area developer Terrence Wall garnered 18 percent. Another 18 percent voted not to endorse anyone.

The vote came in the second round of voting at the state party’s convention in Milwaukee. Watertown businessman Dave Westlake had been dropped from that ballot after he finished third in the first round.

The party endorsement gives Johnson access to money, volunteers, voter and donor lists, and other party resources to bolster his campaign.

Sunday’s decision has no effect on the ballot. All three candidates will remain on the Sept. 14 primary.”

http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/94694429.html

Further, the press release says, “Johnson will compete against Terrence Wall, Dave Westlake, and former state Commerce Secretary Richard Leinenkugel in a Republican primary on September 14th.”

This makes the Republican primary race even more interesting.

The following podcast is brought to you courtesy of A World of Possibilities and The Mainstream Media Project.

Over the decades, U.S. policies towards Latin America have lurched between intervention and apparent indifference, demonstrating its dominance while leaving a residue of resentment. Now, on both sides of the border, new hope emerges for an era of warmer relations. What have been the impacts of U.S. policy, and how are they likely to change in an era of renewed hope but severe economic distress?

Guests:
Tom Barry, Director, TransBorder Project; Americas Policy Program Fellow, Center for International Policy
Oscar Chacon, Executive Director, National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities
Luis Fernando Arias Arias, Secretary General, National Indigenous Organization of Colombia
Joy Olson, Executive Director, Washington Office on Latin America

We also interviewed Gaston Chillier, Executive Director of the Center for Legal and Social Studies located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but did not include him in the program.

(Click on a guest’s name to listen to their full unedited interview.)

Credits:
Host: Mark Sommer
Senior Producer: Gregg McVicar
Associate Producers: Naihma Deady, Matt Fidler
Translator: Naihma Deady
Credits Narrator: Gabriela Castelan
Production Engineer: Michael Schwartz
Field Engineers: Jennifer Brandel, Paul Castro

Music in this program: Open – “Wave” by Alejandro Escovedo – Bloodshot Ltd.; “A United Earth I” by Alan Stivell and Youssou N’Dour – Putumayo World Music; “La Linea” by Lila Downs – Narada World; “Oye Manita” by Toto la Momposina – Putumayo World Music; “Soy Como Soy” by Fruko y sus Tesos – Putumayo World Music.

Funding: the Ford Foundation.

Duration: 55:00 minutes

Click here to listen to this podcast.

Left, Right and Center is a weekly half-hour radio broadcast and podcast produced by KCRW in Santa Monica.

The three panelists begin the show by talking about the Democratic National Convention.  They talk about former President Clinton’s impassioned speech, the Clintons’ endoresement of Senator Obama, and Senator Obama’s economic policies as outlined in his acceptance speech in front of 75,000 people in Denver.

Then the panelists talk about the surprising pick of Governor Sarah Palin as Senator McCain’s running mate.  They talk about her lack of national experience and about her accomplishments as Alaska’s governor.

The three participants on the show are Robert Scheer who represents the left, Tony Blankley who represents the right, and Matt Miller who represents the center.  Arianna Huffington who represents the progressive blogosphere is away on assignment.

At the end of this entertaining show the participants each have a 30 second rant to summarize the issue that each sees as most significant.

Click here to be taken to the Left, Right and Center home page where you can download or listen to the podcast.

Click here to read the ABC News article about Governor Sarah Palin.

This week on American Radio Journal: Lowman Henry talks with Steven Baldwin about his new book: From Crayons to Condoms, The Truth about America’s Public Schools. Ryan Shafik gets the “Real Story” from Pat Toomey of the Club for Growth about the politics of energy; Colin Hanna has an American Radio Journal commentary on how Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan have one thing in common….and that is about it.

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American Radio Journal is produced and distributed by the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc. The Lincoln Institute is a 501c3 non-profit educational foundation based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1993, the mission of the Lincoln Institute is: “To promote the ideals of free market economics, individual liberty, and limited government through the conduct of public opinion research and related educational programs.”

The Lincoln Institute accepts no government money and is completely funded by philanthropic grant making foundations, corporations, and individuals.

To listen to the broadcast click here.

Left, Right and Center is a weekly half-hour radio broadcast and podcast produced by KCRW in Santa Monica.

The panel spends the main part of today’s red, white, and blue show discussing patriotism.  They remind listeners of George Washington’s famous and powerful Farewell Adress when he warns us to “guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”

After a short break the panel discusses Senator Obama’s recent move to the center and Senator McCain’s recent campaign shakeup.

The four participants on the show are Robert Scheer who represents the left, Tony Blandley who represents the right, Matt Miller who represents the center, and Arianna Huffington who represents the progressive blogosphere.

At the end of this entertaining show the participants each have a 30 second rant to summarize the issue that each sees as most significant.

Click here to be taken to the Left, Right and Center home page where you can download or listen to the podcast.

Click here to read George Washington’s Farewell Address.

Click here to read the recent Time Magazine article, “The War Over Patriotism.”

The following podcast is brought to you courtesy of A World of Possibilities and The Mainstream Media Project.

Foundations don’t always make back their bets, but at their best they are readers and seeders of promise. In this five-part series on foundation philanthropy, we’ll trace the impact of such catalytic grant making on American society. We’ll see why foundations play an indispensable role in addressing needs met in no other way: challenging society to live up to its highest aspirations.

Guests:
Muhammed Yunus, Managing Director, Grameen Bank, Bangladesh
William Fuller, Vice Chair China VEST
Susan Berresford, Past President of the Ford Foundation
Maxwell King, Former President, Heinz Endowments; former chair, Council on Foundations
Joel Fleishman, Foundation Historian
(Click on a guest’s name to listen to their full unedited interview.)

Credits:
Host: Mark Sommer
Senior Producer: Gregg McVicar
Associate Producers: Naihma Deady, Matt Fidler
Production Engineer: Michael Schwartz
Field Engineer: John Kalish
Music in this program: Open – “Talk About Suffering Here Below,” Darol Anger and Edgar Meyer – Six Degrees Records; “A United Earth I,”Alan Stivell and Yousou N’Dour – Putamayo World Music; “This Little Light of Mine,” Mavis Staples – Anti Records; “Give It Up or Turn It Loose,” James Brown – Polydor Records; “Amazing Grace,” Swil Kanim – swilkanim.net.

Funding: Packard Foundation

Duration: 55:00 minutes

To listen to this podcast click here.

This week on American Radio Journal: Lowman Henry talks with Dr. Jay P. Greene of the Manhattan Institute on the politics of special education vouchers; Ryan Shafik gets the “Real Story” from Pat Toomey of the Club for Growth on the proposed farm subsidy bill; and Col. Frank Ryan, USMC (Ret.) has an American Radio Journal commentary on the shortcomings of the American justice system.

________________________________________

American Radio Journal is produced and distributed by the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc. The Lincoln Institute is a 501c3 non-profit educational foundation based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1993, the mission of the Lincoln Institute is: “To promote the ideals of free market economics, individual liberty, and limited government through the conduct of public opinion research and related educational programs.”

The Lincoln Institute accepts no government money and is completely funded by philanthropic grant making foundations, corporations, and individuals.

To listen to the broadcast click here.