Good Op-Ed, Dutch
But as you know, good theater is good politics...
Steve Baas
...According to Doyle, the purpose is to demand that these executives "justify making enormous profits in the wake of a national tragedy." Yet these five companies' current average profit margin is 8.15 percent, ranging from 6.28 percent for BP America to 10.41 percent for Exxon Mobil, according to Standard & Poor's.
...Wisconsin's gas tax adds 32 cents to every gallon of gas sold. At the current statewide average price of about $2.25 a gallon, that's a state Transportation Fund profit of 14 percent on every dollar you paid for gas. Subpoena the Department of Transportation!
...The Public Service Commission has consistently approved rate increases necessary to maintain Wisconsin utilities' profit margins between 12 percent and 13 percent.
...In the ultimate example of the through-the-looking- glass absurdity of these subpoenas, the state's Minimum Markup Law requires gas retailers to add up to a 9.18 percent profit to the cost of their product. Any scofflaw service station trying to give motorists a bargain by selling below this minimum markup is subject to prosecution and fines from the state Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection.
2 Comments:
indeed ...
JENSEN AIDE PLEADS GUILTY IN SCUFFLE HE WAS ACCUSED OF GRABBING A TELEVISION CAMERAMAN BY THE NECKTIE AT THE CAPITOL.; [ALL Edition]
State Journal staff. Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wis.: Apr 26, 2001. pg. B.3
Author(s): State Journal staff
Section: LOCAL/WISCONSIN
Publication title: Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wis.: Apr 26, 2001. pg. B.3
Steve Baas, the spokesman for Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, pleaded guilty Wednesday to disorderly conduct, but the charge could be dismissed if Baas completes a first offender program.
Baas, 36, appeared in a Dane County courtroom with his attorney, Tom Coaty. Baas was accused of grabbing a Green Bay television cameraman by his necktie at the state Capitol on Jan. 30. He could face up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine if he fails to complete a program for first-time offenders.
The WBAY-TV cameraman, Steve Cady, and a reporter were investigating whether Jensen's office was tied to a smear campaign against state Rep. Lee Meyerhofer, D-Kaukauna. Baas told police he "restrained" Cady because Cady was blocking Jensen staffer R. J. Pirlot from moving. Pirlot later acknowledged he had purchased a court transcript that later showed up in ads against Meyerhofer, but he denied supplying it to Project Vote Informed, an independent- expenditure group.
During Wednesday's hearing, Coaty asked that cameras not be allowed in the courtroom to avoid feeding media hype about the case. Judge Daniel Moeser denied the motion, allowing a photographer from the Wisconsin State Journal to remain.
In an interview after the hearing, Cady said he pressed charges against Baas because Jensen's spokesman was trying to keep WBAY-TV from reporting the news.
He said Baas' approach was, "We don't like what you report, so we're going to physically stop you."
Added Cady: "That's wrong and it's especially wrong under the (Capitol) dome. I'm glad I was in a position to call them on it."
Dutch did right. Heck, I'd have grabbed the reporter by his nose and tweezered his face into the rotunda for all of Wisconsin to watch later on their evening news.
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