High-speed rail is coming to Wisconsin, whether Republican gubernatorial candidates Scott Walker and Mark Neumann want it or not, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said today.
LaHood spoke with Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle today in Watertown, where they signed a grant agreement to implement $46.5 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Acts funds to begin the infrastructure for a high-speed rail system in the Midwest.
“This is a national program,” LaHood said. “This administration is committed to high-speed intercity rail. From the time President Eisenhower signed the interstate bill, there were a lot of changes in administration - politicians came and went, but the national program continued over a 50-year period and today, in America, we have the interstate system. So, we know elections will take place and we know that some people will get elected and others won’t, but this is a national program. We are committed to it and high-speed intercity rail is coming to America. High-speed rail is coming to Wisconsin.”
Walker again affirmed his vow today to stop the high-speed rail project in Wisconsin if he wins the Republican gubernatorial nomination, defeats Democrat Tom Barrett in the Nov. 2 general election and is inaugurated into office in January 2011.
For more about the political fallout from today’s announcement, read the full story.
- BizTimes Milwaukee

Barack Obama will make his fourth presidential trip to the state next month for an official visit and a fundraiser to support the state Democratic Party and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s gubernatorial campaign.
Obama last visited Wisconsin in June, when he was in Racine for an event on the economy.
The exact site of the Aug. 16 luncheon fundraiser for Barrett has not yet been determined. However, tickets will start at $250 per person.
- WisPolitics.com

Waukesha’s application to obtain water from the Great Lakes was re-affirmed by the Common Council Tuesday night.
The council voted 13-to-1 to proceed with sending a letter to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to affirm the city’s stance that Great Lakes water is the city’s most sustainable and the most viable option for the future.
The special meeting was called to approve sending a letter in response to a letter sent June 8 from DNR secretary Matthew Frank to Mayor Jeff Scrima, halting the review of the application.
Despite the halt of the application, city officials continued meeting with the cities of Milwaukee, Racine and Oak Creek on negotiations for a future water supply. Cost estimates and details regarding the negotiations will be sent direct to the DNR and were not discussed at the meeting. The projected capital cost for a Milwaukee supply is $164 million.
Scrima sent a letter to Frank on July 2, raising concerns about the city’s application and re-visiting the use of groundwater to solve Waukesha’s water problem and to comply with a state order by June 30, 2018.
“Since the DNR letter, they (DNR) heard from the mayor but did not hear from the Common Council. We felt it was important to pull together a letter to formally respond to the questions asked and to be able to get the application process restarted,” said Paul Ybarra, common council president.
According to Dan Duchniak, general manager at the water utility, the council’s letter is expected to go out to the DNR on Tuesday, Aug. 3, after the mayor’s veto timeframe has passed. The letter drafted by several aldermen initially excluded Scrima from future communication regarding the application. However, the council amended the letter to include Scrima.
“The Common Council of the City of Waukesha, which is comprised of publicly elected officials, along with the Water Utility Commission, continue to wholeheartedly support the submitted Application,” stated the letter.
Scrima has vocalized opposition to a potential Milwaukee water supply since his election.
“My role is to make sure that the DNR law is followed to make sure that the compact law is following and to keep the citizens informed and that is exactly what I’m going to do,” Scrima said after Tuesday’s meeting. He did not return a follow-up phone call for comment regarding a potential veto of the council’s action.
 “No one person, including the mayor, has the authority to unilaterally change the policy of the City once formally adopted by the Common Council,” stated a memorandum attached to the council’s letter from Curt Meitz, city attorney, dated July 22.
The Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce supports the Great Lakes option, as does the Waukesha County Technical College. Both the City of Waukesha and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Authority have concluded that Great Lakes water is the best option for Waukesha’s public water supply needs. 
- BizTimes Milwaukee

Target CEO Target Corp. chief executive officer Gregg Steinhafel, a Milwaukee native, is in serious damage control mode this week.
Steinhafel authorized the Minneapolis-based retail company to donate $150,000 to MN Forward, a conservative political group that is running an ad supporting the Minnesota Republican gubernatorial campaign of Tom Emmer, who staunchly opposes gay marriage.
The campaign donation drew immediate rebukes from the Minnesota GLBT - Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender - community. The controversy prompted Steinhafel to write a letter this week to his employees. To read Steinhafel’s letter and the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign’s response to the situation, read a new Milwaukee Biz Blog by BizTimes Milwaukee executive editor Steve Jagler.
- BizTimes Milwaukee

The race for the Milwaukee-area state Senate seat held by Democrat Jim Sullivan likely will be the state's most expensive legislative race.
Both Sullivan and Republican challenger Leah Vukmir, a state representative who like Sullivan hails from Wauwatosa, each reported warchests for the first half of the election year totaling about $120,000.
The 5th District, which comprises much of the area immediately west of Milwaukee, has been targeted by Republicans as their top pickup opportunity this year. Vukmir nearly doubled incumbent Sullivan in fundraising in the first half of this year, raising $85,204 while spending $48,638. Vukmir reported $120,778 cash on hand.
Sullivan, after raising $42,759 and spending $17,185, reported $119,885 at the end of the period.
Meanwhile, another Milwaukee-region Republican target, Dem Sen. John Lehman of Racine, reported raising $35,116 and spending $6,851, leaving his campaign with a cash-on-hand balance of $96,566. Lehman will likely face Van Wanggaard, also of Racine, who banked $44,098 after raising $28,461 and spending $13,450.
- WisPolitics.com

State Democrats criticized Republican Scott Walker for campaigning around the state last weekend after devastating floods hit Milwaukee County.
The Walker campaign called the criticism "shameful.''
State Dem Party chair Mike Tate said Walker, the Milwaukee County executive and leading GOP candidate for governor, chose to put his political career first, while the Democratic candidate, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, canceled his campaign schedule and stayed home to pitch in on cleanup and relief efforts.
"Milwaukee County is suffering $20 million in damages and this guy goes off to promote his own campaign," Tate said. "He hopped on his campaign caravan and skipped town for the entire weekend."
The Democrats said, “Tom led, while Walker fled.”
Walker campaign manager Keith Gilkes said, "Scott spent all Friday touring flood damage, visiting with victims, issuing a disaster declaration, actively seeking state and federal assistance, and is receiving constant updates on flood relief efforts. It's shameful the Democrats are using a costly, deadly disaster to score a few cheap political points."
- WisPolitics.com

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, along with the County’s Emergency Management Division and Department of Health and Human Services, activated the Disaster Mental Health Task Force on Wednesday.
 “The recent flood has been devastating for thousands of people in Milwaukee County, particularly those who are the most vulnerable in our community. It is absolutely essential, in time of a disaster of this magnitude, that we recognize the need to support individuals in our community who are experiencing stress due to trauma, loss or relocation,” Walker said.
The Mental Health Disaster Task Force is chaired by the Behavioral Health Division Crisis Service Medical Director along with leaders from the public, private academic, professional and volunteer agencies, and institutions in Milwaukee County that provide mental health care.
“It is important to know that help is available. If you, or anyone you know, is experiencing these symptoms, reach out to the resources identified.”
For a list of resources for flood victims, visit http://tinyurl.com/32gyhoj.
- BizTimes Milwaukee

Former state GOP Chair RICK GRABER has left the Milwaukee office of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren as he prepares to take a job with Honeywell in Brussels. Graber rejoined the law firm last year after a stint as the U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic. GraberHe said he'll be responsible for government relations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Honeywell. Graber begins the expected three-year job with Honeywell in early August, but won't move to Brussels until October.

State Sen. LENA TAYLOR, D-Milwaukee, received the State Bar of Wisconsin's “Scales of Justice” award Wednesday morning. See details: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=204621.