Campaign Spending Record for the Dave Obey Seat - District 7 Wisconsin

Total Raised and Spent

2010 Race: Wisconsin District 07

Select a cycle: 201020082006200420022000

Sean P. Duffy (R)

Raised:	$971,094
Spent:	$307,506
Cash on Hand:	$663,587
Last Report:	June 30, 2010

	PAC contributions	$132,150	(14%)
	Individual contributions	$833,909	(86%)
	Candidate self-financing	$0	(0%)
	Other	$5,035	(1%)

Dan Mielke (R)

Raised:	$445,340
Spent:	$445,063
Cash on Hand:	$1,456
Last Report:	June 30, 2010

	PAC contributions	$0	(0%)
	Individual contributions	$50,428	(11%)
	Candidate self-financing	$394,170	(89%)
	Other	$742	(0%)

Julie Lassa (D)

Raised:	$313,011
Spent:	$8,655
Cash on Hand:	$304,355
Last Report:	June 30, 2010

	PAC contributions	$143,347	(46%)
	Individual contributions	$169,288	(54%)
	Candidate self-financing	$0	(0%)
	Other	$376	(0%)

Gary Kauther (I)

No reports on record for this candidate.

Don Raihala (D)

No reports on record for this candidate.

Joseph Vincent Reasbeck IV (D)

No reports on record for this candidate.
OPEN SECRETS.ORG

Julie Lassa for U.S. Representative to clean up Washington

Dear Reader, I decided to run for Congress because   Washington   has failed to live up to the Wisconsin   values we share—working hard, making a dollar stretch, and being honest and accountable to taxpayers. But I'm also running because I believe we can change that. That's why I introduced my plan to clean up Washington, and I want to share it with you.   Even before this next election, we need to take immediate action to reign in waste in government.  And you can help.   In Wisconsin , I created the Fraud, Waste, and Mismanagement Hotline that has and will help save taxpayers millions.    And with your help, we can use it to root out government waste right away.   Click here to report waste in government spending and share the Hotline with five of your friends. I hope you'll also take the opportunity to read my plan to clean up Washington. We must crack down on wasteful spending. We must end the practice of rewarding special interests with special favors. And we must make sure that Wisconsin elections belong to Wisconsin voters, not corporate special interests and foreign governments. And that's just what I will fight to do in Washington . We can change Washington, but I need your help. Join me in putting an end to wasteful spending. Check out the Hotline I created here, and please forward it on to five of your friends. Let's make Washington work for the families and small businesses that make Wisconsin strong.   Let's put Wisconsin values to work in Washington .   Sincerely, Julie Lassa   P.S.  To spread our message and take immediate action to root out government waste, I need your help.  Please take a look at my plan to clean up Washington and share it with five of your friends. julielassa.com   |   Contribute

Julie Lassa is the Best Choice for US (in Wisconsin for Representative to the U.S. Congress)!

Lassa is the best choice for us



We haven't seen an open Congressional seat here since 1969, when Rep. Mel Laird of Marshfield resigned to become Secretary of Defense. In that election, Republican state Sen. Walter John Chilsen faced off against Democratic state Rep. Dave Obey.

We all know how that election turned out. But while Obey's decision not to run again will guarantee that we'll have a new representative in central Wisconsin, what is not guaranteed is whether our new representation will be worthy of us.

That's why I'm so thrilled about state Sen. Julie Lassa of Stevens Point jumping into the race. She's already been a strong advocate for the middle class in central Wisconsin through her work in the state Legislature, and I know she'll take that advocacy to Washington.

Lassa grew up on a dairy farm in Portage County (right on the Marathon County border). With her husband, John, she is the mother of two children, and they live in Stevens Point. When she was growing up, her father worked in a factory during winters to support their family, but she remembers what it was like when he was laid off from that job. That is one reason that the economy and jobs have always been such a priority for her.

Before being elected to the Legislature, Lassa graduated from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and later served as the executive director of the Plover Area Business Association, where she worked with small businesses on a day-to-day basis.

Because of her interest in supporting local businesses, she is a member of the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance, the Portage County Business Council and the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

It is with this background and focus that Lassa recently authored the CORE Jobs Act. This bill, signed into law a few months ago, provides incentives to provide entrepreneurship opportunities, job training and keep good jobs here in Wisconsin. In addition, she worked in a bipartisan manner to pool state resources so that 600 jobs could be brought to central Wisconsin She has also focused on making government more accountable and efficient. Lassa volunteered to give 3 percent of her salary back during these tough times, and she created the Wisconsin Fraud, Waste, and Mismanagement Hotline so that we citizens can report wasteful spending.

In addition, she authored the Truth in State Contracting Act to make contracts more efficient and save money for all of us.

As a parent who comes from a strong family, Lassa has prioritized protecting our kids. She helped ban BPA, a toxic chemical, from our kids' baby bottles and sippy cups.

And finally, we all know how important agriculture is to our area's economy. Having grown up on a family farm, this issue is close to Lassa's core. She worked hard to get the "Farm to School" and "Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin" programs started to support our local farms.

As I said above, we need to make especially sure that the representation we choose this year is worthy of us -- for our families and our local economy. I hope you'll agree that Julie Lassa will make us proud, and I encourage you to find out more about her at www.julielassa.com if you have more questions.

Mike Moran is the chairman of the Marathon County Democratic Party.

Big chunk of economic stimulus yet to be spent by state, local governments
By “Honored-&-Humbled” Peace & Love w/o Borders - Aug 14, 2010 7:47:47 PM ET


As Americans puzzle over why the economic stimulus package enacted more than a year ago has failed to restore vigorous job growth, one explanation has emerged from new reports: A lot of the money is not yet out the door.

Detroit is struggling with 14 percent unemployment, but as of June 30 the city had spent less than 1 percent of the $8.8 million in stimulus funds it received for energy-efficiency initiatives. In budget-strapped Arizona, Phoenix has spent even less of its $15.2 million, and in hard-hit South Florida, Fort Lauderdale has spent $66,000 of its $2 million.

The $862 billion package was divided roughly in thirds among tax cuts, aid to states and the unemployed, and investments in infrastructure, health care and other areas. The first two have delivered most of their boost, but much of the investment spending is moving far more slowly. At the end of July, nearly 18 months after the stimulus passed, more than half of the $275 billion in investments had yet to be spent.

Underlying the slow pace is a defining tension: Officials want to get money out the door to jolt the economy but want to spend it carefully enough to meet long-term policy aims -- and avoid headlines about waste or fraud.

"This is federal money we are stewards of, and we have to make sure we're spending it well," said Eric Coffman, senior energy planner for Montgomery County. By the end of June, the county had spent none of its $7.6 million in energy-efficiency funds. "Spending fast is not the only thing in the world. We want to make sure we get results."

Administration officials say the stimulus remains on schedule, with 70 percent expected to be spent by Sept. 30. And some economists note that the sluggish economy will still need a boost until 2012, the deadline for spending most stimulus cash.

"Some stuff is taking a longer time to have an impact, but we still have over 9 percent unemployment," said John Irons of the Economic Policy Institute. "The fact that we still have dollars coming on line now should not be seen as a negative."

Many of the unspent funds lie in programs portrayed from the outset as true long-term investments, such as $8 billion for high-speed rail, $17 billion for health information technology and $10 billion for the National Institutes of Health. But other programs that had been viewed as quicker job-generators are also taking a while to get rolling.

(snip)

After waiting for Energy Department guidelines last year, state and local officials spent months deciding how to use their funding. They opted for a mix of retrofits of public buildings; installation of low-energy streetlights and traffic lights; rebates for solar installations or insulation upgrades by residents and businesses; and workforce development....

Now that the Energy Department has approved most plans, cities and states must still put projects out to bid and draft agreements with local partners. Matt Rogers, who is overseeing the Energy Department's stimulus spending, said he hoped monthly spending by both the state and city programs would soon reach $100 million, up from $60 million in July. Local officials also promised a surge.

"The good news is that there will be a lot of spending in September. You'll see money being spent in big chunks," said Matt Groff, who is managing Prince William's grant. "Although it's taken a little while to get off the ground, there'll be less mistakes than there could've been if they were quick to approve early on."

Washington Post article

From Organizing for America Erica Sagrans's Blog: More Than 140,000 Teachers’ Jobs Saved

More Than 140,000 Teachers’ Jobs Saved
By Erica Sagrans - Aug 11, 2010 3:27:12 PM ET


Teachers, firefighters, police officers, and the communities they serve can breathe a little easier today, thanks to President Obama signing into law emergency aid for states and preventing layoffs scheduled for this fall.

States across the country are hurting as a result of severe budget shortfalls, but the bill signed yesterday eases some of that pain. The New York Times reported on Sunday that states are cutting back on basic services—from closing schools one day a week in Hawaii to trimming the police force and turning off streetlights to save money in Colorado Springs.

OFA supporters stood with Democrats in Congress as they worked to pass this bill amidst Republican obstruction, with members of the House returning to Washington for a special session to send the bill to President Obama’s desk. Thanks to their efforts more than 140,000 teachers’ jobs were protected, and layoffs for police officers, firefighters, and first responders were prevented.

See how many teachers’ jobs were saved in your state:

GO TO: STATE MAP ON BARACK OBAMA.COM SITE

On the 75th Anniversary of Social Security: Still Fighting for America's Seniors By Christopher Hass

On the 75th Anniversary of Social Security: Still Fighting for America's Seniors
By Christopher Hass - Aug 14, 2010 4:01:12 PM ET

On today's 75th anniversary of Social Security, President Obama promised to protect it from Republican leaders in Congress who have made privatization a key part of their agenda:



"Seventy-five years ago today, in the midst of the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt signed Social Security into law, laying a cornerstone in the foundation of America’s middle class, and assuring generations of America’s seniors that after a lifetime of hard work, they’d have a chance to retire with dignity. We have an obligation to keep that promise; to safeguard Social Security for our seniors, people with disabilities, and all Americans – today, tomorrow, and forever.

...One thing we can’t afford to do though is privatize Social Security – an ill-conceived idea that would add trillions of dollars to our budget deficit while tying your benefits to the whims of Wall Street traders and the ups and downs of the stock market.

...Some Republican leaders in Congress don’t seem to have learned any lessons from the past few years. They’re pushing to make privatizing Social Security a key part of their legislative agenda if they win a majority in Congress this fall. It’s right up there on their to-do list with repealing some of the Medicare benefits and reforms that are adding at least a dozen years to the fiscal health of Medicare – the single longest extension in history.

That agenda is wrong for seniors, it’s wrong for America, and I won’t let it happen. Not while I’m President.

...Seventy-five years ago today, Franklin Roosevelt made a promise. He promised that from that day forward, we’d offer – quote – 'some measure of protection to the average citizen and to his family against poverty-stricken old age.' That’s a promise each generation of Americans has kept. And it’s a promise America will continue to keep so long as I have the honor of serving as President."

Please Commit to Vote this Fall - A Request for Democrats by President Barack Obama

Eighteen years ago, shortly after graduating from law school, I helped lead a voter registration campaign in Chicago that generated record turnout on Election Day.

That experience taught me one of the most important lessons I ever learned as a community organizer: When people promise that they'll do something -- like voting -- they are far more likely to do it.

That's why one key part of our Vote 2010 plan this year is to get folks like you from across the country to commit to vote, to make sure we get as many people as we can to cast their ballots this fall.

But getting the commitments we need starts with your own promise to make it to the polls and cast your ballot.

Will you please commit to vote in the 2010 elections?

Over the next 82 days, volunteers across the country will spend countless hours calling voters and knocking on their doors, asking them the same question.

And you can bet that I am counting on you to join them in talking to voters in your community.

This election offers a stark choice. We Democrats are hard at work trying to move America forward, repairing a decade of damage and growing an economy based on the Main Street values of hard work and responsibility.

We've fought for and won historic reforms to our health care system, a victory 100 years in the making, and to Wall Street, the most sweeping overhaul of the financial system since the Great Depression.

But after years of policies that landed us in the worst recession since the 1930's, the Republicans who got us there have not come up with anything different from the policies of George W. Bush.

We simply cannot afford to go backwards or let them repeal our reforms. And making sure we can continue moving forward starts with your own promise to cast your ballot in these elections.

Please commit to vote this fall:

http://my.barackobama.com/Commitment

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

Portage County Democrats of Wisconsin host Grand Opening of New Democratic Office

Julie Lassa of Wisconsin For Congress Biography

Julie Lassa is running for Congress to be a fresh new independent voice for Wisconsin families to change the way Washington does business.  Julie grew up on a dairy farm in Northern Portage County, where her parents still farm today.  As the oldest of three children Julie learned the importance of hard work, the value of the dollar, and that honesty and integrity are a necessity.  Those are the same values that Julie and her husband John are teaching their two daughters growing up in Stevens Point.

Julie has stated:


"I am running for COngress because I believe that our district deserves a strong and independent voice to stand up for the hard working men and women of central and northern Wisconsin.  I have a strong record of fighting for the middle class - whether it is standing up to the big corporate interests or fighting for transparency and efficiency in government spending - I'll always work for Wisconsin families."


Julie was elected to the State Assembly and subsequently she won a special election to the State Senate.  At 39 years old, Julie has built an impressive record working for the middle class families and standing up to special interests.  In the legislature she has focused on making government more accountable to taxpayers, enhancing private-sector job creation, promoting small business and protecting children.  Julie has a well-earned reputation for staying in close touch with the people of her district and working accross party lines to find common sense solutions.

Even before her service in the state legislature, Julie understood the important role that small businesses play in Wisconsin's economy.  After graduating from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point she worked as Executive Director of the Plover Business Association.  In that role she worked closely with local and small business owners to promote business growth in the region.

That's why Julie has been a champion fro the Wisconsin small business in the legislature.  She is also a member of the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance, Portage COunty Business COuncil, and Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

As a chair of the Senate Economic Development committee Julie recently wrote the Wisconsin C.O.R.E. Jobs Act - an omnibus job creation package that was signed into law to help put Wisconsin back on the road to economic recovery.  C.O.R.E., which stands for Connecting Opportunity, Research and Entrepreneurship, contains nearly twenty provisions that will help retain and grow existing businesses and assist entrepreneurs to build new small businesses to create good paying jobs right here in Wisconsin.  She has also wrote a new law to pool the state's allotment of unused federal Recovery Zone Facility Bonds which  has the potential of creating 600 new green energy jobs in central Wisconsin as well as spurring new job growth around the state.  Recognizing the importance of agriculture to Wisconsin and the need to provide consumers and school children with healthy fresh foods, Julie authored the laws that created the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin and Farm to School programs.

Julie has been an advocate for fiscal reform in government having written the law to create the Fraud, Waste and Mismanagement Hotline to identify and eliminate wasteful spending.  She has authored legislation to require greater transparency and accountability in government through regular performance and management audits of government agencies and reform of the state's contracting practices through the Truth in State Contracting Act.  She also wrote the proposal to close the revolving door between former government officials and special interests.

Julie has been recognized for her work on promoting the safety and health of children having written new laws to help identify and correct hearing impairments in children.  She also wrote the BPA-Free Kids Act that bans this toxic chemical from baby bottles and sippy cups sold in Wisconsin.  She has also worked to protect children from abuse and neglect by including strengthening penalties for child sex predators.

Julie and her family live in Stevens Point.  She attended Stevens Point Area High School and graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point.  She is married to John Moe and together they have two daughters.

Julie Lassa of Wisconsin hosts Barbeque Fundraiser and at Parents Farm.

Julie Lassa hosts Barbeque Fundraiser and at Parents Farm.


On Thursday, July 29th, a Cam-paign Barbeque was held at the Lassa family farm in Mosinee, WI as a fundraiser for State Senator Julie Lassa, Candidate for Congress in the 7th Congressional District.
Julie’s mom, Jo Lassa, prepared all the fixin’s for the guests.

The event was well attended by Dems from Portage County as well as neighboring counties and included other elected officials and candidates for office in the 7th CD.


Julie spoke to the attendees, thanking them for their ongoing support. She outlined her values and strong support for job creation and issues of concern, and reminded all that the election is really “less than 100 days away.”

Top 5 Social Security Myths

Top 5 Social Security Myths


Myth #1: Social Security is going broke.
Reality: There is no Social Security crisis. By 2023, Social Security will have a $4.6 trillion surplus (yes, trillion with a 'T'). It can pay out all scheduled benefits for the next quarter-century with no changes whatsoever.1 After 2037, it'll still be able to pay out 75% of scheduled benefits—and again, that's without any changes. The program started preparing for the Baby Boomers' retirement decades ago.2 Anyone who insists Social Security is broke probably wants to break it themselves.

Myth #2: We have to raise the retirement age because people are living longer.
Reality: This is a red-herring to trick you into agree-ing to benefit cuts. Retirees are living about the same amount of time as they were in the 1930s. The reason average life expectancy is higher is mostly because many fewer people die as children than they did 70 years ago.3 What's more, what gains there have been are dis-tributed very unevenly—since 1972, life expectancy in-creased by 6.5 years for workers in the top half of the income brackets, but by less than 2 years for those in the bottom half.4 But those intent on cutting Social Security love this argument because raising the retirement age is the same as an across-the-board benefit cut.

Myth #3: Benefit cuts are the only way to fix Social Security.
Reality: Social Security doesn't need to be fixed. But if we want to strengthen it, here's a better way: Make the rich pay their fair share. If the very rich paid taxes on all of their income, Social Security would be sustainable for decades to come.5 Right now, high earners only pay Social Security taxes on the first $106,000 of their income.6 But conservatives insist benefit cuts are the only way because they want to protect the super-rich from paying their fair share.

Myth #4: The Social Security Trust Fund has been raided and is full of IOUs.
Reality: Not even close to true. The Social Security Trust Fund isn't full of IOUs, it's full of U.S. Treasury Bonds. And those bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.7 The reason Social Security holds only treasury bonds is the same reason many Americans do: The federal government has never missed a single interest payment on its debts. President Bush wanted to put Social Security funds in the stock market—which would have been disastrous—but luckily, he failed. So the trillions of dollars in the Social Security Trust Fund, which are separate from the regular budget, are as safe as can be.

Myth #5: Social Security adds to the deficit.
Reality: It's not just wrong—it's impossible! By law, Social Security's funds are separate from the budget, and it must pay its own way. That means that Social Security can't add one penny to the deficit.8
Defeating these myths is the first step to stopping Social Security cuts.

Sources:

1."To Deficit Hawks: We the People Know Best on Social Security," New Deal 2.0, June 14, 2010 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89703&id=22140-1756352-XGboskx&t=4

2. "The Straight Facts on Social Security," Economic Opportunity Institute, September 2009 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89704&id=22140-1756352-XGboskx&t=5

3. "Social Security and the Age of Retirement," Center for Economic and Policy Research, June 2010 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89705&id=22140-1756352-XGboskx&t=6

4. "More on raising the retirement age," Washington Post, July 8, 2010 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89706&id=22140-1756352-XGboskx&t=7

5. "Social Security is sustainable," Economic and Policy Institute, May 27, 2010 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89707&id=22140-1756352-XGboskx&t=8

6. "Maximum wage contribution and the amount for a cred-it in 2010," Social Security Administration, April 23, 2010 http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/240

7. "Trust Fund FAQs," Social Security Administration, February 18, 2010 http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/ProgData/fundFAQ.html

8."To Deficit Hawks: We the People Know Best on Social Security," New Deal 2.0, June 14, 2010 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89703&id=22140-1756352-XGboskx&t=9

Social Security turns 75 on August 14th. Medicare turned 45 on July 30th.
Happy Birthday to both programs—both are results of work of Democrats!


(THIS ARTICLE WAS OBTAINED FROM THE PORTAGE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC NEWSLETTER.)

Julie Lassa of Wisconsin attacks Sean Duffy's stance on privatization

find article at:  Julie Lassa attacks Sean Duffy's stance on privatization


Julie Lassa attacks Sean Duffy's stance on privatization

BY KATHLEEN FOODY • WAUSAU DAILY HERALD • JULY 16, 2010

Democrat Julie Lassa went on the offensive Thursday morning as her likely Republican opponent in the 7th Congressional District prepared for a major campaign event featuring former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Lassa met with local seniors to discuss her opposition to privatizing Social Security, a concept Gingrich touted during his time as a House representative and speaker. Gingrich is scheduled to appear with Lassa opponent and Republican congressional candidate Sean Duffy at 10 a.m. Friday at The Rose Garden in Wausau.

Duffy's appearance with Gingrich sends a "strong message" about his policies for Social Security and Medicare, Lassa told the group Thursday.

But Duffy's campaign said the appearance doesn't mean he agrees with every opinion of Gingrich's.

"They're going to pull a muscle stretching that far," spokesman Matt Seaholm said. "Just because somebody supports your campaign doesn't mean you agree with everything they say or have said. If Sen. Lassa's campaign believes that, they have just adopted a lot of positions of a lot of people."

Lassa's campaign said Duffy's general support of Rep. Paul Ryan's, R-Janesville, budgeting plan indicates he favors privatization of Social Security and creating a voucher system for Medicare.

"(Proponents of privatization) are not looking out for the best interests of the people that have paid into that system," said Lassa, a state senator from Stevens Point.

Duffy has supported Ryan's "Roadmap for America" on several occasions -- and that plan does include the Social Security and Medicare changes Lassa campaigned against on Thursday morning. Duffy doesn't seem to have addressed Social Security reforms directly and has addressed Medicare largely in the context of the national health care legislation passed this year.

Duffy never supported Ryan's approach to Social Security and Medicare expenses explicitly and pushing his general statements of approval for the plan as proof is "grasping at straws," Seaholm said.

Lassa's campaign said stepping back from any portion of the Ryan budget now is a major shift.

"He was asked, 'Do you support the Ryan budget proposal?' and he said 'Yes,' not 'Yes, but,'" Lassa's campaign manager Rick Fromberg said.

The Wausau residents invited to attend Lassa's town hall meeting on Thursday morning at the Labor Temple uniformly opposed privatization. Lanore Rusch of Wausau said lawmakers are responsive when she has questions about Social Security changes or proposals, but she doubts private companies would feel obligated to keep seniors informed.

"If I have a question now, I can call (Sen. Russ) Feingold or (Rep. Dave) Obey. What CEO is going to take my call?" said Lanore Rusch of Wausau.

Russ Feingold's Ad against Big Oil Interests attacks Ron Johnson

The U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin is getting more national attention.

This morning the Wall Street Journal takes a look at what's happening in Wisconsin.

Democrats for the first time are acknowledging that Republicans could retake the Senate this November if everything falls into place for the GOP, less than two years after Democrats held a daunting 60-seat majority.

Leaders of both parties have believed for months that Republicans could win the House, where every lawmaker faces re-election. But a change of party control in the Senate, where only a third of the members are running and Republicans must capture 10 seats, seemed out of the question.

That's no longer the case. The emergence of competitive Republican candidates in Wisconsin, Washington and California—Democratic-leaning states where polls now show tight races—bring the number of seats that Republicans could seize from the Democrats to 11.

...Democrats say that GOP primary voters boosted Democratic chances by selecting several tea party-inspired candidates who are proving to be too conservative or anti-government for the general electorate.

Wisconsin has emerged as a test of that claim. In the weeks before the Republican convention in late May, Ron Johnson, who hasn't held political office, began appearing at tea party rallies. Tall and silver-haired, he proved a commanding speaker.

Mr. Johnson provided copies of his speeches to local talk radio hosts, and conservative host Charlie Sykes read excerpts over the air. Mr. Johnson jumped into the race six days before the convention, pledging to spend millions on the campaign. "He literally came out of nowhere," said Brian Westrate, chairman of the Eau Claire County GOP.

Mr. Johnson built his successful company, which makes a specialty plastic for packaging, from the ground up, and it exports to various countries including China. But he also has made comments Democrats have seized on, such as asking in a March speech, "How is Social Security different from a giant Ponzi scheme?" Democrats are using that quote to suggest Mr. Johnson is radically anti-government. Mr. Johnson rejects the idea. "The problem is that Social Security funds have been spent," he said in an interview. "They're gone. I'm just describing the problem."

Wisconsin's Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold, meanwhile, says he's not taking the threat lightly. His campaign held 132 events the week of July 4 alone, and he has hosted town hall meetings in each of Wisconsin's 72 counties.

"I'm sure it will be close, but I'm used to that," Mr. Feingold said. "I will personally fight for every vote."

On many on high-profile, issues, Mr. Feingold has been able to separate himself from the Washington establishment that is now so unpopular. Last week, he was the sole Democratic senator to oppose the new bank regulation law, saying it was too weak.

Democrats remind Republicans of the Importance of Unemployment Benefits just like Democracts had to create Medicare

Democrats remind the republicans of the importance of Unemployment benefits like the Democrats had to create Medicare.  Who will you vote for when you look at the record.  perhaps you should listen to a lot of this very long video of ther COngressional Hearings.  Remember this when you vote or Republicans will vote down Healthcare and Medicare and Unemployment again!

SOON I WILL TRY TO LOCATE AND POST THE VOTE RECORD ON THESE BILLS

P.S.
Hey voters and students and all part-time workers - don't forget Republicans in no way wanted to help President Obama for giving Unemployment Benefits for part-time workers too!