Stimulus Pays For Artistic Space

[Oshkosh, WI] In 2009, Russ Feingold voted for a stimulus bill he said would create jobs and pontificated that the funds should be spent wisely. But since that time Wisconsin has lost more than 78,000 jobs, Feingold is defending his vote, and a new report details 100 egregious examples of unwise stimulus spending.

After Senator Feingold voted for this trillion dollar stimulus bill, the National Park Service teamed up with the City of Philadelphia to spend nearly $200,000 in order to provide artistic work-space.  The money will transform an old garage, at the Weir Farm in Wilton, into an art studio for personal or professional artists participating in the “Artist-in-Residence” program.  No word yet on whether the public may access the space funded by taxpayer dollars.

These stimulus funds were promised by Senator Feingold to help spur job creation.  Instead, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been used to create “art spaces,” not jobs.

“The artists in Pennsylvania must be very pleased that they have so much additional art space, but Wisconsinites are still left without jobs,” said Juston Johnson, Campaign Manager for Ron Johnson for Senate.   “When is Senator Feingold going to stop voting for wasteful Washington spending projects and finally focus on logical solutions to create jobs in Wisconsin?”

The Johnson Campaign will be highlighting wasteful stimulus spending projects Russ Feingold believes are getting the job done for Wisconsin families until Election Day.

Stimulus Facts:

Feingold Said “Stimulus” Must Be Spent Wisely. “Now that the economic recovery package has been signed into law, our focus must be on the challenges ahead, including getting our fiscal house in order and making sure that there is strong oversight of these taxpayer dollars. These funds must be spent wisely if they are to truly work for Wisconsin’s families.”  (Editorial, “Russ Feingold: Stimulus Package Makes Sense,” La Crosse Tribune, 2/25/2009.)

Three days prior to the signing of the stimulus, Senator Feingold issued a press release saying the stimulus would create 2.4 million jobs in the first year, and about nine million jobs in the first three years. (Senator Russ Feingold, ”Statement of U.S. Russ Feingold On The Economic Recovery Package,” Feingold Press Office, February 10, 2009.)

Feingold Provided the 60th Vote for the Stimulus Package. (H.R. 1, 2009 Roll Call #64: Adopted 60-38, 2/13/09, Feingold Voted Yea)

The National Economy has lost over 2.5 Million jobs since the stimulus was signed. (Source, Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov,, Accessed August 6, 2010)

Since the Stimulus was signed, the State of Wisconsin has lost more than 78,000 jobs. (Source, Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed August 20, 2010)

Feingold Defends Stimulus Vote. “I don’t apologize for those votes. Those were the right votes.” (“Feingold defends voting record, Hudson Star Observer, 7/28/2010)

New Report Details Misdirected Stimulus Spending. “Stimulus money is going toward iPods for high school students in Utah, cell phones for smokers trying to quit in Washington, D.C., and advertising devoted to the promotion of … the stimulus. The findings are part of a 74-page report put out by a pair of Republican senators who contend the $862 billion program is fraught with needless spending.” (“New GOP Report Details Misdirected Stimulus Spending, Associated Press, 8/3/2010)

Feingold Does Not Have A Clue About Creating Jobs

[Oshkosh, WI] Senator Feingold is on the attack against small business, again.  For 31 years, Ron Johnson’s company, Pacur, has grown as a business and created jobs in Oshkosh. Senator Feingold’s negative political attack demonstrates his total ignorance of real job creation while disparaging a Wisconsin success story.

Senator Feingold’s voting record and recent campaign statements prove that he trusts Washington more than the Wisconsin small business to create jobs and foster prosperity.

Johnson’s company, Pacur, made use of Industrial Revenue Bonds over two decades ago. Industrial Revenue Bonds are not tax-payer money, but a loan from private investors.  As a sitting U.S. Senator, Feingold should know as much.  The type of Industrial Revenue Bonds Pacur utilized are a financing option available to and utilized by thousands of small businesses across America.  Because Pacur utilized this financing option offered by the city, Oshkosh’s tax base grew, increasing city revenues to benefit taxpayers, and creating real jobs.

As a manufacturer, Johnson witnessed first-hand the ways that government can encourage economic growth without spending us into debt and at no cost to the American taxpayers.  These are the types of common-sense solutions that Johnson will bring to the United States Senate in order to move Wisconsin in a positive direction once again.

“After nearly 30 years as a career politician, Senator Feingold knows how to put Wisconsin and the nation into trillions of dollar of debt, but has absolutely no idea how to create jobs here in Wisconsin,” U.S. Senate Candidate Ron Johnson said.  “It is disappointing, but not surprising, that Senator Feingold and his allies are now choosing to attack and demonize the efforts of hundreds of individuals that helped to make Pacur a real success story.  It is also not surprising that Senator Feingold has no clue how or where real jobs are created.  Why would he?  While I’ve been working hard for 31 years building Pacur, he’s spent that time grooming his image to make sure he gets re-elected.  He certainly knows how to create the rules, regulations, and taxes that hamper our economy.  But I understand spending us into debt and having the government pick winners and losers will not create sustainable jobs.  We need to create an attractive environment that encourages job growth and investment.  That is the perspective that is needed in Washington, and that is the experience I will bring to help solve the very serious issues facing our nation.”

Feingold Defends New Visitor Center for Few Visitors

[Oshkosh, WI] In 2009, Russ Feingold voted for a stimulus bill he said would create jobs and pontificated that the funds should be spent wisely. But since that time Wisconsin has lost more than 78,000 jobs, Feingold is defending his vote, and a new report details 100 egregious examples of unwise stimulus spending.

The Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, located just north of Bismarck, North Dakota, boasts 15,000 beautiful acres. Unfortunately it hosts, on average, fewer than 80 visitors per day. The low attendance, however, didn’t put a halt on over $6 million in stimulus funding for a new administration and visitor center.

After both saying stimulus dollars should be spent wisely and subsequently defending his vote, it looks like Russ Feingold approves of projects that are a total waste of taxpayer resources while failing to provide real solutions to Wisconsin’s economic crisis.

“It’s unfortunate to see this kind of money being spent on a seldom used visitor center,” said Juston Johnson, Campaign Manager for Ron Johnson for Senate.  “A new visitor center for a handful of visitors in North Dakota is not what it takes to get the job done for Wisconsin workers.”

The Johnson Campaign will be highlighting wasteful stimulus spending projects Russ Feingold believes are getting the job done for Wisconsin families until Election Day.

Stimulus Facts:

Feingold Said “Stimulus” Must Be Spent Wisely. “Now that the economic recovery package has been signed into law, our focus must be on the challenges ahead, including getting our fiscal house in order and making sure that there is strong oversight of these taxpayer dollars. These funds must be spent wisely if they are to truly work for Wisconsin’s families.”  (Editorial, “Russ Feingold: Stimulus Package Makes Sense,” La Crosse Tribune, 2/25/2009.)

Three days prior to the signing of the stimulus, Senator Feingold issued a press release saying the stimulus would create 2.4 million jobs in the first year, and about nine million jobs in the first three years. (Senator Russ Feingold, ”Statement of U.S. Russ Feingold On The Economic Recovery Package,” Feingold Press Office, February 10, 2009.)

Feingold Provided the 60th Vote for the Stimulus Package. (H.R. 1, 2009 Roll Call #64: Adopted 60-38, 2/13/09, Feingold Voted Yea)

The National Economy has lost over 2.5 Million jobs since the stimulus was signed. (Source, Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov,, Accessed August 6, 2010)

Since the Stimulus was signed, the State of Wisconsin has lost more than 78,000 jobs. (Source, Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed August 20, 2010)

Feingold Defends Stimulus Vote. “I don’t apologize for those votes. Those were the right votes.” (“Feingold defends voting record, Hudson Star Observer, 7/28/2010)

New Report Details Misdirected Stimulus Spending. “Stimulus money is going toward iPods for high school students in Utah, cell phones for smokers trying to quit in Washington, D.C., and advertising devoted to the promotion of … the stimulus. The findings are part of a 74-page report put out by a pair of Republican senators who contend the $862 billion program is fraught with needless spending.” (“New GOP Report Details Misdirected Stimulus Spending, Associated Press, 8/3/2010)

Johnson Kids Sending T-Shirts to Donors August 26 & 27

Oshkosh, WI…The children of Oshkosh manufacturer and U.S. Senate candidate Ron Johnson are sending supporters who contribute $25 to Johnson’s campaign on August 26 & 27, 2010 a limited edition T-Shirt. Carey, Jenna, and Ben Johnson said in a web video released by the campaign that they wanted to do something to help their Dad in his race to unseat Sen. Russ Feingold.

Carey, Jenna, and Ben Johnson are calling the effort “Team Freedom Tees,” and the campaign will run through the end of the day on August 27, 2010. Johnson’s daughter Jenna designed the T-Shirts.

View the web video and photos of supporters across the state at http://www.teamfreedomtees.com.

Johnson is in a close race with Sen. Russ Feingold. A Rasmussen Results Survey released yesterday showed Johnson maintaining a one-point lead over the 18-year incumbent. Johnson also released a new television ad earlier this week which is airing statewide to introduce his family to Wisconsin voters. View the ad by clicking here.

Stimulus Costs Both Money and Jobs

[Oshkosh, WI] In 2009, Russ Feingold voted for a stimulus bill he said would create jobs and pontificated that the funds should be spent wisely. But since that time Wisconsin has lost more than 78,000 jobs, Feingold is defending his vote, and a new report details 100 egregious examples of unwise stimulus spending.

The Normandy Park Towne Center in Normandy Park, WA is already a victim to a tough economic time. Unfortunately for them, Senator Feingold’s trillion dollar stimulus legislation funded a project that has left businesses in Normandy Park worse off. $3.8 million was given to fix up eight blocks in front of the business center, but this massive construction project has decreased its amount of customers, lowered profits of individual businesses, and have cost some employees their jobs.

These stimulus funds were promised by Senator Feingold to help spur job creation.  Unfortunately for the owners and employees of the Normandy Park Towne Center, jobs have actually been lost.

“This project has had an adverse effect on the business owners at the Normandy Park Towne Center,” said Juston Johnson, Campaign Manager for Ron Johnson for Senate.  “What good can be said about a project when it’s caused more problems than solutions? Let’s not forget that this project does nothing to benefit those in need here in Wisconsin.”

The Johnson Campaign will be highlighting wasteful stimulus spending projects Russ Feingold believes are getting the job done for Wisconsin families until Election Day.

Stimulus Facts:

Feingold Said “Stimulus” Must Be Spent Wisely. “Now that the economic recovery package has been signed into law, our focus must be on the challenges ahead, including getting our fiscal house in order and making sure that there is strong oversight of these taxpayer dollars. These funds must be spent wisely if they are to truly work for Wisconsin’s families.”  (Editorial, “Russ Feingold: Stimulus Package Makes Sense,” La Crosse Tribune, 2/25/2009.)

Three days prior to the signing of the stimulus, Senator Feingold issued a press release saying the stimulus would create 2.4 million jobs in the first year, and about nine million jobs in the first three years. (Senator Russ Feingold, ”Statement of U.S. Russ Feingold On The Economic Recovery Package,” Feingold Press Office, February 10, 2009.)

Feingold Provided the 60th Vote for the Stimulus Package. (H.R. 1, 2009 Roll Call #64: Adopted 60-38, 2/13/09, Feingold Voted Yea)

The National Economy has lost over 2.5 Million jobs since the stimulus was signed. (Source, Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov,, Accessed August 6, 2010)

Since the Stimulus was signed, the State of Wisconsin has lost more than 78,000 jobs. (Source, Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed August 20, 2010)

Feingold Defends Stimulus Vote. “I don’t apologize for those votes. Those were the right votes.” (“Feingold defends voting record, Hudson Star Observer, 7/28/2010)

New Report Details Misdirected Stimulus Spending. “Stimulus money is going toward iPods for high school students in Utah, cell phones for smokers trying to quit in Washington, D.C., and advertising devoted to the promotion of … the stimulus. The findings are part of a 74-page report put out by a pair of Republican senators who contend the $862 billion program is fraught with needless spending.” (“New GOP Report Details Misdirected Stimulus Spending, Associated Press, 8/3/2010)

Latest Rasmussen Poll finds the race continues to be a dead heat

Today, Rasmussen Report released a new poll showing Ron Johnson holding the lead against incumbent Senator Russ Feingold in the 2010 race for United States Senate.

Click here to see the Rasmussen poll