Tommy! does not stand a chance

A Rasmussen poll has Tommy! Thompson leading Russ Feingold 47-43 in a hypothetical Senate race.

The problem with the poll is that it’s by Rasmussen. Swing State Project reports;

Wherever there’s a vacillating Republican needing convincing to get into a Senate race, there’s Rasmussen. (Whaddya wanna bet they have a Patty Murray/Dave Reichert poll in the field right now?) Contrary to PPP’s view of the race, Rasmussen finds ex-Gov. Tommy Thompson leading incumbent Dem Russ Feingold, 47-43. They find Feingold with a perplexingly low 47/48 approval.

Feingold spokesman Trevor Miller elaborates;

“In order for this poll to be real you have to believe in three things that aren’t. Tommy Thompson isn’t in the Republican Party primary, he hasn’t won it, and the election isn’t today.”

Further evidence that Rasmussen skews Republican, coupled with Feingold’s $3.65 million cash on hand works against Tommy. Not only would Thompson have to raise a lot of money to catch up to Feingold, he would have to spend a lot to beat Terrence Wall in the primary. Feingold’s average donation is a mere $50. Do the math, it takes a lot of $50 to make $3.65 million, those donations came from a lot of excited voters.

Blogging Blue has more, as does One Wisconsin Now.

Remember, while Tommy is working to pull down paychecks as a lobbyist, Russ is working to put Americans back to work.

Senate Education Comm. Republicans promote ignorance in Healthy Youth Act amendments

The Healthy Youth Act is on track for passage by the state Senate, thankfully without amendments offered by Sen. Glenn Grothman and his Republican cronies. Grothman has so many bad ideas an entire blog is devoted to following them.

The most offensive of Grothman’s amendments would allow a school to use instructional methods and materials that promote bias against pupils based on sexual orientation. If being a gay teenager was not difficult enough, Grothman wants to institutionalize discrimination in the classroom. Not only against gay students, but sexually active students as well. The benefits of abstinence are required teaching under the Healthy Youth Act but Grothman appears to prefer sexually active students branded with a modern-day scarlet letter.

As passed by the Assembly the bill allows parents to view all material taught to students and to opt their children out of the classes. Not good enough for Senator Hopper, whose amendment would force parents to opt their children in to human growth and development classes. Why must Republican legislators make education more difficult?

Senator Olsen weighed in along with the rest of his Republican colleagues joining an amendment essentially making the entire bill optional.

Senators Olsen, Hopper and Grothman are the three Republican members of the Senate Education Committee. The three Republican members of the Senate Education Committee are pushing legislation that promotes ignorance. Recently I have noted the Republican Party of Wisconsin offers nothing to political discourse in the state. What these three Senators are doing is much worse than nothing.

Thankfully the Republican abominations to education never made it out of committee.  The Healthy Youth Act now must pass the full Senate and be signed into law by governor Doyle. And for the sake of our young people we need to keep Republicans in the minority this fall.

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Update: Passed!

Olsen re-offered the “optional amendment” on the Senate floor, while Grothman teamed up with Senator Mary Lazich to give the “scarlet letter amendment” another shot. Lazich and Darling joined the original Education Committee crew for another failed “opt-in amendment.” Also offered and rejected, abstinence-only classes by parental request and trimester-by-trimester “videotape recording or digital recording” of ultrasounds.

Added to the blogroll

Interesting Minnesota has been added to the blogroll.

Description is the title. Blog from my friend and roommate for a time during college. Check it out!  And learn something for if any of you decide to cross the border.

Don’t let Dan Kapanke’s zero-based budgeting stunt fool you

Following Governor Doyle’s State of the State address last night, the La Crosse Tribune reported state Senator and third district congressional candidate Dan Kapanke called for the state to adopt zero-based budgeting;

“Let’s build each department from dollar one,” Kapanke said.

Zero-based budgeting makes for great rhetoric as it requires administrators to justify each dollar spent in a department budget, instead of assuming funding levels from the last budget as a given. In the present hostile-to-government, tea party environment, voters love hearing “the government is not entitled to anything.”

Unfortunately zero-based budgeting is a bureaucratic nightmare. The hours spent re-building a budget from scratch is rarely recovered in cost-savings. Despite open hostility to government, many people have grown quite comfortable with government programs. The political backlash to cuts can be enormous.

The federal government tried a form of zero-based budgeting in the 1970′s under President Jimmy Carter, experiencing the problems described above. President Ronald Reagan ended the experiment, as did most state and local governments (Public Budgeting Systems, 7th ed, p. 122-3). Even Reagan acknowledged the flaws of ZBB, but it continues to be brought up by Wisconsin Republicans like Kapanke and Brett Davis, both while seeking higher office.

The Republican Party of Wisconsin is good at offering mere talking points without any proposals that could actually improve government or people’s lives. In the same article Kapanke touts stunts for his Congressional campaign, state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout discusses the Wisconsin CORE Jobs Act saying;

“It’s not easy to put into a sound bite…it’s a way to make capital available to new businesses.”

Vinehout’s honesty is refreshing. Not only is she neglecting talking points for her re-election this fall, she is actively working to put Wisconsinites back to work.

Republicans often say “health care is flawed but we don’t need to dismantle the entire system to reform it.” Government budgets contain waste but compiling each budget from scratch is not the best method to eliminate that waste. More legislators should follow Sen. Vinehout’s example and put people over political stunts.

Ron Kind tries, Republicans insult and obstruct

When Ron Kind announced a press conference to addresses deficit issues, the Republican Party of Wisconsin immediately trashed it while offering nothing but this comment;

“Congressman Kind holding a press conference on fiscal responsibility is like Mark McGwire holding a seminar with kids telling them to drink milk to get strong.”

Ignore the false premise the above statement is based on, but in the spirit of witty rhetoric if I needed a simile to describe an implausible scenario it would end “…is like the Republican Party of Wisconsin making a positive contribution to governing.”

Looking back on RPW press releases, the record of inaction is clear. Gripes about unemployment and taxes, inevidenced claims of early voting fraud, and the dripping-with-irony statement Tom Barrett is all talk and no action.

A lecture on fiscal responsibility from the Republican party is simply not credible. Pay-as-you-go budgeting allowed the government to operate with a surplus under President Clinton (and yes, a GOP Congress). In 2002 under President Bush, the practice  expired. President Obama inherited a government once again operating with a deficit, along with the Great Recession, necessitating large-scale, temporary government spending to correct.

Even the WPRI acknowledged a Democrat with a plan for deficit reduction. With the constant obstructionism is the RPW behaving worse than the WPRI? I always thought the two groups were one in the same so I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it…

The Republican Party is focused solely on regaining power at both the state and national level. The gameplan is to insult and obstruct. Republican desire to retake committee chairs outweighs the well-being of American citizens. Republican cries for bipartisanship are a sham, another act in the playbook for a majority. Republicans are not interested in making a contribution, only doing whatever it takes to return to power in the government they so passionately hate.

Actually Mark Jefferson, I would love to talk about Russ Feingold’s record

After news broke that Terrence Wall, Republican candidate for Senate, did not pay state income taxes four of the last five years (now nine of last ten), taxpaying Democrats (and taxpayers, period) made their anger known. RPW Executive Director Mark Jefferson claims the uproar was just a misdirection tactic;

“The Democrats will do anything to avoid talking about Feingold’s record.”

In one little sentence Jefferson made two huge mistakes.

He proved himself oblivious to justified public anger over a man with millions in annual income avoiding income taxes.

Russ Feingold’s record as a United States Senator is a source of pride not only to Democrats, but all citizens of Wisconsin.

Sen. Feingold has worked aggressively to address federal debt issues, with the Control Spending Now Act and health care reform that would reduce deficit spending.

National security is a prime focus of Sen. Feingold, despite outright lies to the contrary. He is addressing Yemen now, and was years before the attempted bombing on Christmas Day. Meanwhile the Republican opposition is intent on pumping more resources into wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which at this point accomplishes  nothing more than putting American (and Wisconsin) soldiers in harm’s way.

Before the Supreme Court decided big business had a compelling right to free expensive speech, Sen. Feingold authored a law to reduce corporate clout in elections. That legislation ensured your ballot had more influence than any company’s bank account.

All Terrence Wall offers is the anything-you-can-get-away-with mentality that nearly destroyed America’s economy.

Still think we don’t want to talk about Feingold’s record, Mark?

Planned Parenthood ramps up educational campaign in support of Healthy Youth Act

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin is ramping up an educational campaign in support of AB 458, The Healthy Youth Act. For the sake of Wisconsin’s youth this bill, which has already passed the Assembly, must now pass the Senate and be signed into law by Governor Doyle. The bill;

“Updates Wisconsin’s sex education statute so that if a school district decides to teach sex ed, the instruction will include key elements that are proven to change risky teen behavior and reduce pregnancy and STD rates, including information about abstinence and birth control.”

Opponents of the Healthy Youth Act have launched a misinformation campaign. Unfortunately some people value ideology over facts, at grave expense to the young people of Wisconsin. Planned Parenthood has worked diligently to counter the lies. A highlight from today’s press release;

“This bill supports parental rights by requiring that parents be notified if sexuality education instruction will not be taught. Parents additionally have the right to inspect all curriculum and instructional materials before they are used in the classroom and to remove their child from the instruction if they so choose.”

I couldn’t sum it up any better;

“To most Wisconsinites, this bill is about common sense, a much-needed first step in ensuring more students in our state have access to life saving health information.”

This bill is terribly important to the future of Wisconsin youth. Contact your state Senator and ask them to support the Healthy Youth Act.

Terrence Wall wants to talk about the issues, not the taxes he doesn’t pay

Kicking off his campaign today Terrence Wall said (presumably with a straight face);

“I want to talk about the issues. People are tired of the politics of personal destruction.”

The “politics of personal destruction” are the state income taxes Wall didn’t have to pay four of the last five years.

The issues? I don’t know what the issues are because Wall is too busy insulting Sen. Feingold’s distinguished eighteen year Senate record to bring up the “issues.” Wall said “[Feingold] holds listening sessions around the state but he doesn’t listen.” Sounds more like the politics of personal destruction to me.

Terrence Wall didn’t break any laws when he didn’t pay state income taxes. A full four days after the story broke, Wall finally responded;

“If you are willing to put capital to work to grow businesses and to create jobs, state government gives you a tax credit for doing that, for taking that risk, because you are going to incur losses at some point, undoubtedly.”

With an income between $3,000,000 and $15,000,000 I fail to recognize the loss that would justify letting the rest of working Wisconsin pay taxes, but allow Wall to skip out. If the losses are coming “at some point, undoubtedly” perhaps he should pay taxes until then.

When Wall wants to talk about legitimate policy issues, I’ll listen. Saying one thing and doing another is no way to campaign, but a clear indication of how Terrence Wall would govern.

Wisconsin Right to Life is anti-democracy

Wisconsin Right to Life is taking on the state Senate for considering (now, passing) a bill to regulate paid communications with the purpose of influencing an election because an impending Supreme Court ruling might declare such legislation unconstitutional. Oh, and it would limit WRTL anonymously funded, unregulated attack ads;

“The State Senate is poised to vote tomorrow on a bill that would force citizen organizations (ones that are not political action committees) to reveal the personal information of their donors to the State if a citizen organization issued a communication mentioning the name of a candidate within 60 days of an election.”

While the groups referred to are not technically political action committees, they are definitely groups that take political action. Using technicalities in the tax code they are able to advocate to limited degrees without disclosing a source of funding.

Legislative and PAC director Susan Armacost’s own words work against the group (emphasis mine);

“Senate Bill 43 is an affront to the First Amendment rights of citizens and citizen organizations who should be able to freely engage in political discourse.”

Television commercials are not free. They are expensive and their purchase is limited to wealthy individuals and groups. Allowing unfettered spending on commercials attempting to influence elections is an affront to democracy, not the First Amendment.

Armacost claims the state Senate is “oblivious” to the coming Supreme Court ruling on Citizens United v. FEC;

“To hold a vote on the bill prior to the Court’s ruling is both foolhardy and a waste of state resources.”

If a subsequent ruling (however wrongheaded) deems the bill unconstitutional so be it. However the 26-7 passage should send a message to the bills detractors that Wisconsinites are not interested in elections determined by those with the deepest pockets.

Terrence Wall launches campaign with tired rhetoric, no policy ideas

Terrence Wall is launching his Senate campaign today. Expect ten months of the same tired GOP rhetoric. In an AP article Wall says of Feingold;

“He’s in favor of bigger government. I’m in favor of less government, lower taxes, more jobs and stronger national defense.”

With all those words, Wall actually said nothing. Republicans use rhetoric like this because it’s easy. Bigger government is an allegation constantly lobbed at liberals, and the right is rarely challenged to prove their statements.

Wall ignores the facts about Feingold’s deficit reducing (and thus, government cutting) Control Spending Now Act, though to the AP’s credit it is mentioned in the story.

But don’t look for anything policy related from Wall. The entire article features nothing from Wall explaining what he would do if elected to the Senate. Instead of substance Wall uses insults;

“He’s [Feingold] had 18 years. He should be a leader in the Senate by now. He’s chosen not to lead.”

Does Wall mean Feingold should be a member of the Democratic party’s Senate leadership? I highly doubt it, the Republican Party of Wisconsin loves insulting Feingold for voting with his party, even though he votes with his party the least of any member of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation.

Is Wall saying Sen. Feingold should be out fighting for his constituents, the citizens of Wisconsin? By advocating transparent health care reform (he called the backroom dealings “stupid” at the Jackson County listening session Jan. 16), holding listening sessions in all 72 counties each year, keeping Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes and being on the forefront of anti-terrorism efforts while defending civil liberties…I think he is.

Meanwhile Terrence Wall doesn’t pay state income taxes, offers attacks instead of policy and lies four times in one minute and eleven seconds. Those are not the qualities Wisconsinites look for in a Senator.

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UPDATE: Press release after first campaign event accuses Feingold of “cutting secret deals” on health care. As stated above Sen. Feingold is not involved in backroom negotiations involving health care. When I lack facts, I keep my mouth shut. When Terrence Wall lacks facts, he tells lies.