Congress resolved the shutdown and debt ceiling crisis (for now) by agreeing to hash out a budget agreement by mid-December. Already, hopes are dim. Budget experts say that if any deal at all is worked out to replace the deep budget cuts that went into effect in March, the most likely outcome will be a short-term plan involving slightly less severe spending cuts—but with no new revenue, a big Democratic priority. Now, several prominent economists, along with a coalition of labor, health, and community groups are pushing progressive lawmakers to aim higher, calling for what they term a "Robin Hood tax" on the rich.

On Wednesday, economist Jeffrey Sachs briefed members of Congress on the Robin Hood tax, also known as a financial transaction tax, which would charge Wall Street investors a fraction of a penny on the dollar value of each trade they make. Given the mind-boggling number of trades that occur each day, the tax could rake in as much as $700 billion a year. That would increase federal revenues by about 24 percent.

"We are calling on Congress and the White House to refocus on a human needs budget, not just an endless cycle of more austerity and more cuts," says Karen Higgins, RN, co-president of National Nurses United, one of the groups backing the tax. "We need the Robin Hood tax." Also joining the campaign are Robert Pollin, a leading expert on the financial transaction tax; Wally Turbeville, a fellow at the think tank Demos and a former Goldman Sachs investment banker; and Anni Podimata, the vice president of the European Parliament. (Eleven EU nations are already implementing the tax.) The Robin Hood tax campaign is backed by over 160 local and national organizations, including the National Nurses United, Friends of the Earth, and National People's Action.

It seems unlikely that the gridlocked Congress will impose the tax anytime soon, but the groundwork is already in place: Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) has authored a bill seeking to establish it.

Bill would legalize rubber duck races in Wisconsin

Madison — A bill legalizing rubber duck races in Wisconsin has been scheduled for a public hearing Thursday before the state Senate's Workforce Development Committee.

Non-profit organizations commonly race the little plastic ducks, with numbers on the bottom, to raise money. Participants usually buy a raffle ticket corresponding with a duck's number. The first to float across the finish line wins.

The bill comes after the village of Mishicot was warned by the Wisconsin Department of Justice that its annual rubber duck race amounts to illegal gambling. The bill creates an exemption for duck races, similar to laws in Minnesota and Michigan.

Legal costs for GOP redistricting plan top $2 million

Madison — Wisconsin's long legal battle over redrawing congressional and legislative districts to favor Republicans cost taxpayers $2.1 million — $200,000 more than previously reported, newly released legal bills show.

The bills also show a criminal defense attorney was hired for Capitol aide Adam Foltz in the late stages of the litigation as the plaintiffs raised concerns about the failure of the Republicans to turn over records in the case. Others lawyers involved in the case were focused on civil law. Foltz's legal bills alone came to more than $26,000 — $14,420 for the Milwaukee law office of criminal defense attorney Michael J. Fitzgerald and $11,874 for Foltz's civil attorneys at Peterson, Johnson & Murray of Milwaukee.

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The legal fight also proved a financial challenge to Michael Best & Friedrich, the law firm that helped Republicans draw the political maps. Taxpayers paid the firm $431,000 for that work, but it later had to turn over more than $377,000 to the plaintiffs. Michael Best retained a separate law firm in the midst of the redistricting litigation, raising the possibility that the work on the maps cost the firm more than it made. Officials at Michael Best could not be reached late Friday.

The $2.1 million cost to taxpayers covers the legal costs for just one legislative fight. There are others as well. For instance, taxpayers paid nearly $1 million to Michael Best for its work helping defend Gov. Scott Walker's limits on collective bargaining for public workers.