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Posts for March, 2008
Wineke endorses Obama
State Democratic Party chairman Joe Wineke, who had previously backed John Edwards in the presidential race, has now endorsed Barack Obama. Wineke is the latest in a series of state "super delegates" to endorse Obama in the wake of his Feb. 19 win in the state's primary.
Here is Wineke's statement:
"Today, I announce my personal endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States. When this campaign started, I was deeply impressed by the talent level of our Democratic candidates. I still am. I was an early supporter of John Edwards and continue to have great respect for Senator Hillary Clinton.
"On Tuesday, February 19, 2008, the people of Wisconsin spoke through our primary process. Over 1.1 million of the 1.5 million votes cast went to our Democratic candidates. Barack Obama won with over 58% of the vote, winning 62 of our 72 counties. As the Chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party and a delegate to the national convention, I believe that Senator Obama's convincing win in the Badger state should be rewarded. Therefore, I pledge my support to his campaign.
"No matter who wins the Democratic nomination, our Party will be united. After nearly eight long years of the Bush administration, change is in the air. Senator Barack Obama is the best candidate to make that change happen."$ (1)
Butler unveils ad, touts law enforcement support
Madison -- State Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler has launched his first TV ad to retain his seat on the court.
The upbeat ad doesn't mention his opponent, Burnett County Circuit Judge Michael Gableman, but it does try to dilute claims that Butler isn't tough on crime.
"If you rob somebody, you should be punished," Butler says in the ad. "If you're a corporate wrongdoer, you should be held accountable too."
Gableman has not yet run ads, though Wisconsin Club for Growth has been running positive TV spots about him, and business lobbyist Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce has running upbeat radio ads about him. Both groups are touting Gableman's law enforcement credentials.
In his ad, Butler responds by touting his own credentials, noting that 200 judges and district attorneys have endorsed him, as have groups representing 18,000 law enforcement officers.
The other group running TV ads in the race is the Greater Wisconsin Committee, which has a spot critical of how Gableman got his job on the bench. The ads by GWC and the other groups are archived by Wispolitics.com here.
In a response to Butler's ad, Gableman campaign consultant Darrin Schmitz said in a statement: "Judge Gableman's law enforcement support in the race for Supreme Court is without equal. A bipartisan majority of sheriffs and district attorneys have spoken load and clear that Judge Gableman is their choice for the court, not Louis Butler."
Check out the dueling endorsements in this Journal Sentinel database.
The election is April 1. The winner will serve a 10-year term on the court.$
The Rundown: Few deals as Legisalture winds down
The Rundown is a weekday synopsis of news involving politics and government from the pages of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as well as headlines of note from elsewhere.
Critics have long complained investigations of police misconduct have been inadequate, but the case of Frank Jude Jr. reveals an alternative that hasn't always been sought: Using federal resources.
The Jude case also prompted a recent legislative compromise to end the pay of fired cops charged with crimes. But as the legislative session comes to an end, no deals exist for controversial bills to protect virtual schools and expand autism coverage.
Also stymied is a plan for a statewide smoking ban, despite recent lobbying by seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, the Capital Times reports.
A state appeals court has told the Oconomowoc School Area District must pay the cost of educating an adult disabled man, prompting concerns from the district about state policies.
Last week's police report urging reforms of the state elections system is now the subject of an internal investigation because of the way the report was released.
In Rock County, a woman recently spent six days in jail for failing to return library books, the Associated Press reports.$
Walker uploads 2 new ads
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has released two new campaign ads, his second and third placed on his Internet Web site and YouTube.com. The new ones are titled "Committed to Transit" and "Fights for Lower Taxes."
Both are two minutes long -- far longer than most television ads. Walker uses the time in his "transit" ad to declare his opposition to raising the county sales tax to pay for transit and his opposition to light rail.In the "taxes" ad, Walker vows to "hold the line" on tax increases.$
Virtual schools advocates demonstrate in Milwaukee
More than 70 advocates for virtual schools demonstrated Monday outside a fund-raiser for Democratic state senators in Milwaukee to keep a focus on their issue in the waning days of the legislative session.
Students and their parents lined the street outside the Pieces of Eight restaurant on Lake Michigan as Senate leaders gathered for the event, according to the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families.
The $100-a-head event raised funds for the State Senate Democratic Committee in an effort to keep Democrats in control of that house.
In December, an appeals court ruled one virtual school does not qualify for state aid, threatening the future of all Wisconsin online schools. About 3,500 students attend them.
The Senate and Republican-controlled Assembly have passed competing bills to keep the schools intact, but virtual schools advocates prefer the Republican version because it will allow the schools to grow more.
Rose Fernandez, president of the schools group, said advocates are trying to put pressure on Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle in a non-confrontational way as the Legislature heads into its last two weeks of meetings for the year.$
Darling fumbles Favre retirement tribute
Madison -- Legislators typically use the last few minutes of their floor sessions to pay tribute to people across the state, asking the body to adjourn in honor of the person being recognized.
It was no surprise a state senator rose today to adjourn in honor of all the depressed Green Bay Packers fans and the quarterback who won't be returning next year.
What was a surprise was Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) referring to today's retirement of Bart Starr, not Brett Favre.
(Starr was a Hall of Fame quarterback for the Packers in the 1960s.)
One of her colleagues quickly corrected her. (3)
Lawmakers unlikely to force vote on smoking ban
Madison -- Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker today said today Gov. Jim Doyle was wrong when he claimed a proposed smoking ban could pass if it were immediately brought up for a vote.
"He's not counting the votes," said Decker, a Weston Democrat. "I'm counting the votes."
Earlier today, the Democratic governor said he would support rank-and-file lawmakers forcing a vote on the matter, and that he believed it could pass both the Democrat-run Senate and the Republican-run Assembly.
"It's easy to say that if you've never been in the Legislature," Decker said. Forcing votes "usually doesn't get you anywhere."
In most cases, such "pulling motions" require a two-thirds majority, an always-difficult threshold.
Decker said he supports a version of the bill that would impose a smoking ban on restaurants and other public places as early as this year, but that would not affect taverns until July 1, 2011.
The bill backed by Doyle would kick in Jan. 1, 2009 for all public places. Decker said there is not majority support for that version of the bill in the Senate.
Meanwhile, Sen. Judy Robson (D-Beloit), who supports the more stringent ban, said she would not take Doyle up on his suggestion of forcing a vote. She said she was working within her caucus to have a vote on the bill by next week.
And Rep. Steve Wieckert (R-Appleton) said such a move would actually cost him votes in his house.
"I will not have enough votes to pass this bill if it comes in a pulling motion," Wieckert said.
Wieckert said he is hoping the bill will pass before the Legislature ends its general session next week. If it doesn't, he said he hopes it could be revived as part of a budget repair bill lawmakers must consider in the coming months.
Earlier today, the Assembly Committee on Public Health voted 6-3 to advance the bill with the 2009 start date to the full Assembly. Leaders there have not said whether they will take up the bill, however.
Voting for the bill were Reps. J.A. "Doc" Hines (R-Oxford), Terry Moulton (R-Chippewa Falls), Chuck Benedict (D-Beloit), Sheldon Wasserman (D-Milwaukee), Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) and Spencer Black (D-Madison)
Voting against the bill were Reps. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa), Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) and Lee Nerison (R-Westby).$
A tale of two Walkers
A new television ad airing tonight for Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker features two Walkers -- one with fake mustache and glasses -- debating his views on parks and transit.
It's a humorous approach aimed at defusing criticisms of his record by challenger state Sen. Lena Taylor.
"I don't like parks," asserts the costumed Walker.
"What a minute, yes I do," replies the "real" Walker.
There's a similar exchange about people who ride buses. "I'm the Scott Walker your opponent's made up," says the mustachioed Walker.
Real Walker advises viewers not to be "fooled" by Taylor's comments. Taylor -- who isn't mentioned by name in the Walker ad -- has criticized Walker for cuts to parks and buses during his tenure.
Walker has failed to address worsening parks and transit problems, said John Zapfel, Taylor's campaign manager.
"If he had a record to stand on, he would be stating the facts and not try to make light of the situation," Zapfel said.
The Walker ad is running on the four local network affiliates as part of a $34,000 ad buy this week, said Walker campaign chairman Tim Russell.
The election is April 1.$
Doyle among sad Packers fans today
Madison -- Count Gov. Jim Doyle among those disappointed by Brett Favre's retirement.
In a statement, Doyle thanked Favre on behalf of "Packer fans everywhere" for his commitment to the team, Green Bay and the state of Wisconsin.
"It has been a privilege for all of us in Wisconsin to have been able to watch one of the all-time great quarterbacks, one of the greatest all-time athletes, year after year, take the field and lead the Pack," Doyle's statement said. "For 16 years, Brett Favre brought fun and excitement to Lambeau Field. His talent, energy and enthusiasm for the game will be missed."
Assembly contemplating changes to Great Lakes compact
Madison -- State Rep. Scott Gunderson (R-Waterford) said today he's exploring whether Wisconsin can alter a one-vote veto provision in the Great Lakes compact without having to change the language of the agreement.
With the compact moving forward in the state Senate, focus now turns to the Assembly, where there's been concern about whether the agreement is strong enough to protect Wisconsin's interests.
Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) and Gunderson had sent a letter to Ohio lawmakers pledging to work together to change two areas of the compact, agreed to in December 2005 by governors of eight Great Lakes states. They especially wanted to find a way to change a provision that gives the governor of any state the ability to veto a diversion from the Great Lakes; Huebsch and Gunderson argued it should require a majority vote.
»Read Full Blog Post
Van Hollen taps Myszewski to head criminal investigation division
Madison -- Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen Wednesday tapped Michael Myszewski to head the state Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation.
The division investigates crimes that are statewide in nature or importance and works closely with local and federal officials to jointly investigate certain crimes.
Myszewski, 53, has worked for the department since 1982 and has been acting administrator of the division since the sudden retirement of James Warren earlier this year. Officials have declined to address the circumstances leading up to Warren's retirement, but he told colleagues in an e-mail his year working for Van Hollen
had been "very difficult."
»Read Full Blog Post
Doyle calls special session on budget
Madison -- Gov. Jim Doyle will call the Legislature into a special session starting March 13 to deal with a budget repair bill.
Doyle called the special session in response to notification today from the state Department of Administration that state expenditures would exceed revenues by more than 0.5% this year. Doyle is expected to introduce a budget repair bill soon, but details about what it will include are not yet available.
An February assessment by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau showed a shortfall in state tax collections of $650 million in the current two-year state budget, although Doyle aides put austerity measures in place to bring the deficit down to about $416 million.
Gableman's record as judge comes under scrutiny
Madison -- Burnett County Circuit Court Judge Mike Gableman's record as a judge is coming under scrutiny in a new statewide ad from the Greater Wisconsin Committee, but Gableman's campaign is calling it a "slimy attack."
The ad charges that Gableman is slow to conduct felony trials and has his decisions overturned by higher courts one-third of the time. The ad cites statistics from the Wisconsin Law Journal showing that since he became a judge, Gableman has been overturned in six of 18 cases.
But Gableman's campaign took issue with the details in the ad, calling them false claims and saying Gableman had presided over 22,000 cases as a judge, and of 44 appealed cases, his decision had been reversed outright five times.
Assembly cuts aid to drug offenders
Madison -- The Assembly passed a bill 70-24 tonight making college students ineligible for financial aid if they are convicted of drug crimes.
But Rep. Tamara Grigsby (D-Milwaukee) protested that the bill would "take away every opportunity from people to improve their lives."
Rep. Eugene Hahn (R-Cambria), the bill's author, said it simply would put state statutes in line with fedeal law.
Students receiving state financial aid convicted of a drug crime would be ineligible for such assistance for two years after their convictions. Those convicted a second time would be cut off from assistance forever, unless they completed a drug rehabilitation program.
The bill now goes to the Senate.$
Assembly votes to lift nuclear power ban
Madison -- The state Assembly agreed 57-38 to lift the state's moratorium on building nuclear power plants.
Proponents said allowing nuclear plants would curb global warming and create jobs. But those against it said the dangers of nuclear waste were too great to make such a change.
After the 1979 accident at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, the Wisconsin Legislature passed a law saying the Public Service Commission could not approve a new nuclear power plant unless it would save ratepayers money and there was a safe way to dispose of the waste.
The plan has little future because of opposition from Democrats in the Senate.$
Walker and Taylor hurl zingers
The temperature rose during the final moments of an otherwise cordial candidate debate tonight at the Jewish Community Center in Fox Point between Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and state Sen. Lena Taylor, the challenger in the race.
Walker lashed out at Taylor in his closing remarks, bristling at her characterization of his job performance as mismanagement.
"One candidate likes to throw a lot of mud and talks a lot like a partisan lawmaker, without giving a whole lot of concrete answers," Walker said.
While Milwaukee County showed a surplus last year and enjoyed a stable bond rating under his watch, the state of Wisconsin while Taylor has served on the Joint Finance Committee faces a $650 million deficit, he said.
Taylor said her criticism was only "telling you what is real. I'm the only one who comes to the table with skills," she said. "The present county executive doesn't finish what he starts. He didn't finish college, he never ran a business," Taylor said. "And frankly, I don't think he wants to finish a second term as the county executive."
She said the county owes its 2007 surplus in part to her ability to obtain state funding.
Walker's aborted bid for governor in 2005 and early '06 has fueled speculation he may want to run again in 2010, though Walker has not publicly stated whether he's pondering that move.$
Assembly passes gun, HSA, hunting bills
Madison -- The state Assembly is cruising through bills this evening, passing measures on gun purchases, health savings accounts and lowering the state's hunting age.
The bills that passed the Republican-controlled house would:
* Require the state to submit mental health information on residents who aren't allowed to own guns to a federal database used for background checks for gun purchases. The measure passed on a voice vote.
If signed into law, Wisconsin would join 32 other states in forwarding such information to federal officials. States have stepped up efforts to provide details about mentally ill people who have been involuntarily committed in the wake of last spring's shooting at Virginia Tech, where the gunman had a history of mental illness.
Gov. Jim Doyle supports the legislation, and Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Weston) said he was leaning toward bringing it to a vote in his house.
* Allow people to claim an income tax credit for contributions to a health savings account.
Republicans said the change would help address health care access and costs. Contributions to HSAs are already exempt from federal taxes.
The bill passed 60-35, but is unlikely to advance in the Senate because Democratic leaders don't believe it will do anything to bring down health care costs.
* Lower the state's hunting age from 12 to 10 when the young person is accompanied by a qualified mentor. A mentor must be at least 18 years old and the parent or guardian of the child being mentored, or authorized by the parent or guardian to serve as the mentor, and must stay within arm's reach of the child.
It passed on a voice vote.
* Bar state and local governments from using Social Security numbers as a way to identify people enrolled in public programs. The bill passed 95-0.
The state has had three incidents in the past year in which Social Security numbers were visible on the outside of mailings that were sent to residents.
Stacy Forster contributed to this post.$
The Rundown: Hillary is back in business
The Rundown is a weekday synopsis of news involving politics and government from the pages of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as well as headlines of note from elsewhere.
In Wisconsin, yesterday was Brett Favre's day, as news of his retirement consumed air waves and attention spans.
Everywhere else, especially in Ohio and Texas, it was Democrat Hillary Clinton's day, as she racked up important wins in her presidential push. On the other side of the ledger, Republican John McCain officially sealed up his party's nomination.
Meanwhile, a vote-buying trial involving Garrett Huff, uncle to jailed Ald. Michael McGee, is under way. Huff is accused of paying undercover police officers to vote in McGee's recall election last April.
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker debates himself in a new TV ad.
And in Grafton, terms limits for the village board could be repealed if a committee vote from yesterday is upheld.$
Autism bill passes Assembly
Madison -- Republicans in the state Assembly passed a bill expanding an autism treatment program late Wednesday, but Democrats decried the bill as a sham because it differs from a bill already passed by the Senate.
The two sides fought over the best way to treat more autistic children, with Democrats calling for a mandate requiring insurers to cover treatment and Republicans pushing for more taxpayer money for a state program.
The bill passed 55-39.
Last week, the Democrat-controlled Senate passed the insurance mandate. Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle and groups representing parents with autistic children support that version of the bill.
Unless a deal is reached soon, treating more autistic children won't happen. The Legislature ends its general-business session next week.
"This bill is going nowhere fast," said Rep. Mary Hubler (D-Rice Lake).
Assembly Republicans voted to put $6 million more in state taxpayer money into the state autism program, which would draw more than $8 million in federal aid and eliminate a waiting list of more than 325 children. Democrats argued new children would soon be put on waiting lists.
The bill is "simply a Band-Aid on an epidemic," said Rep. Kim Hixson (D-Whitewater). "It's a one-time fix."
But Rep. Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) said adding more insurance mandates would drive up health-care costs and could lead to small businesses dropping the insurance plans for their employees.
Rep. Scott Newcomer (R-Hartland) said the Republican plan would cover more children and not put new costs on employers. The Democratic bill "costs more and does less," he said.$
Colon names campaign leadership team
State Rep. Pedro Colon (D-Milwaukee), who is challenging Milwaukee City Attorney Grant Langley in the April 1 election, has announced the leadership team for his campaign.
Colon's campaign manager is Rebecca Coffee, an attorney with the firm of Mastantuono Law Office.
Colon's campaign co-chairmen are attorneys David Westrup, president of the Milwaukee Bar Association, and Marc Marotta, former secretary of the Department of Administration under Gov. Jim Doyle.
Colon and Langley had their first debate of the campaign Monday. Both are scheduled to address -- separately -- the Public Puloicy Forum tomorrow at its annual meeting.$
Police pay bill gets unanimous vote
Madison -- Milwaukee taxpayers would no longer pay fired police officers charged with serious crimes under a bill passed by the Assembly.
Passage of the bill marked a breakthrough for those who wanted to end the practice to protect Milwaukee taxpayers and a setback for the police union that fought some of the changes.
Under current law, fired officers are paid until their appeals are exhausted, a process that can take months or even years. Under a deal reached last week, pay would stop for officers who are fired and charged with felonies, Class A misdemeanors or Class B misdemeanors. Officers fired for rule violations would continue to be paid until their appeals are heard, something Democrats wanted to end as well.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who has pushed for the bill for years, said it solves the problem of ending pay for officers who have been charged with crimes.
"This is a huge victory for the taxpayers of Milwaukee, this is a huge victory for the excellent police officers who work for the Milwaukee Police Department and it's a huge victory for the department overall," Barrett said.
The bill passed 95-0.
The Senate has passed a stricter version of the bill, but Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Weston) said the new version would be quickly adopted in the Senate.
Stacy Forster contributed to this post.$
Great Lakes compact moving forward in Senate
Madison -- A Senate panel this morning approved legislation to ratify and implement the Great Lakes compact, and the bill is expected to be on the Senate's full calendar Thursday.
The bill, SB 523, was cleared by the committee on a 3-2 vote, said committee chair Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona). Republican Sens. Neal Kedzie of Elkhorn and Dale Schultz of Richland Center said they were concerned that changes to the bill were made too quickly.
Assembly leaders have said Wisconsin lawmakers need to tweak the compact to alter a provision that would allow one state's governor to veto a diversion from the Great Lakes; they said a majority vote would be more fair.
Group launches pro-Kagen radio ads
The group Americans United for Change, which describes itself as backing progressive politicians, is launching a series of radio ads tomorrow in support of eight members of Congress, including first-term U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Appleton).
According to the group, the ad will be running for about 10 days.
In 2006, Kagen defeated Republican John Gard for the seat, which had been held by Republican Mark Green who ran for governor. You can listen to the ad (and ads for the other seven) here.$ (1)
Quotable: Mayoral candidate on fighting city's image of segregation
"What better way to address that than to hire the Asian guy? ... This is a huge marketing value that the city of Milwaukee does not pay for." -- Milwaukee mayoral candidate Andrew Shaw, appearing today at a meeting of the Public Policy Forum. Shaw, who is Asian-American, had noted if he is elected April 1, it would help change the city's image in the world.
Shaw is facing Mayor Tom Barrett, who did not attend the meeting.$
Low-income housing bill may be in trouble
Madison -- A legislative deal to make property tax exemptions for low-income housing more available that had bipartisan support is fraying and may not come to a vote in the Assembly.
The Democratic Senate passed the bill 32-0 in January, and the Republican-run Assembly agreed early today to take up the bill on Tuesday. But later today, the Assembly sponsor of the bill said representatives likely would not vote on the bill because Democratic leaders voted against it in the committee that votes on the calendar.
The bill would allow religious, benevolent and educational groups that get tax exemptions for renting property to low-income people to use their rental income for more purposes. Some would like to see that expanded to other properties owned by those groups, as well.
Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Mark Gottlieb (R-Port Washington) today said he and Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) tried to come up with a consensus bill on a controversial issue because there was broad agreement that property tax exemptions should be allowed for low-income housing. But without the support of key Assembly Democrats, he said he saw no reason to vote on the bill.
"At this point, my intention and the speaker's intention is that we will not take a vote on the bill," he said.
Just after midnight, all Democrats on a leadership committee voted against taking up the bill next week. Two of those voting against it -- Reps. Tamara Grigsby of Milwaukee and Bob Turner of Racine -- were co-sponsors of the original bill.
Assembly Democratic Leader Jim Kreuser of Kenosha said Democrats voted against bringing the bill up for a vote because of concerns raised by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. But Kreuser said he personally supports the bill and sees broad support for the measure among Democrats, including Grigsby and Turner.
"Clearly Assembly Democrats want to meet the Republicans on the fence on this and pass a bill," he said.
Now, religious, benevolent and educational groups can keep rental properties off the tax rolls if they use their rental income to pay for maintenance or to pay off debt. Under the bill, they could use rental income on low income housing for other purposes, such as utilities and administrative costs.
Some lawmakers want to allow rental income on nursing homes and other properties to be used in the same way. Critics say that would shift protect high-end housing only wealthy seniors can afford.
Gottlieb said his bill would not hurt entities that are already tax exempt, but Kreuser said passing the bill might make it easier for assessors to go after properties that haven't paid taxes in the past.$
Gableman response to Greater Wisconsin Committee ad
Click the attachment below to see the Gableman campaign's response to the most recent ad from the Greater Wisconsin Committee.
Butler target of new ad from Coalition for America's Families
Madison -- Outside interest groups continue their influence in the April 1 state Supreme Court election, with the Coalition for America's Families launching a new TV ad against Justice Louis Butler.
The ad takes aim at two Supreme Court decisions in which Butler participated and says he "sided with criminals nearly 60% of the time."
"Justice Butler should be more concerned with victims of crime rather than creating loopholes to be exploited by rapists and murderers," Barbara Sellett, the group's president said in a statement.
Coalition for America's Families did not make the ad or a copy of the script available for review, but it is airing statewide.
Butler's campaign issued a rebuke of the ad, saying the group had cherry picked two cases and distorted the facts behind them.
"This is just one more example of a shadowy, third-party group boiling down incredibly complex cases into false and inflammatory 30-second soundbites" in an attempt to smear Butler, campaign spokeswoman Erin Celello said in a statement.
Butler is facing Burnett County Circuit Court Judge Mike Gableman in the election. Gableman's campaign complained Wednesday about an ad from the Greater Wisconsin Committee that criticizes his record as a judge.
Click the attachment below to read the press release from the Coalition for America's Families.
Butler response to the Coalition for America's Families ad
Click the attachment below to read the Butler campaign's response to the ad from the Coalition for America's Families.
Podcast: Ohio and Texas in review
Some technical problems delayed posting, but here's a link to this week's national politics podcast, with Journal Sentinel political reporter Greg Borowski and Washington Bureau chief Craig Gilbert.
The topic: Looking back at the Ohio and Texas election results -- and ahead at the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The Rundown: Muddy waters for Dems, clear sailing for police pay bill
The Rundown is a weekday synopsis of news involving politics and government from the pages of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as well as headlines of note from elsewhere.
While the Republican presidential nomination is settled, with John McCain getting the endorsement of President Bush yesterday after a White House meeting, the Democratic waters this week just got muddier.
One question: Who is the most electable, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama? »Read Full Blog Post
Georgia Thompson gets support on legal bills
Madison -- The Assembly has unanimously voted to pay the legal bills of wrongly convicted state worker Georgia Thompson.
The matter now goes to Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, who supports paying her bills of $228,792.
Thompson was convicted of steering a travel contract to a company with ties to Doyle. But a federal appeals judge said the evidence against her was "beyond thin," and her conviction was vacated. Thompson got her state job back with back pay.
But paying her legal bills requires approval by the Legislature and Doyle.
The bill passed 94-0. The Senate passed the bill in January.$
The politics of policing
Election-year tensions over police staffing boiled over in a sharp exchange between two Milwaukee aldermen today.
The Common Council's Public Safety Committee was hearing an update from the city's Homicide Review Commission when Aldermen Bob Donovan and Tony Zielinski took the opportunity to comment that they wished new Police Chief Ed Flynn would sign onto their push for more police officers. Zielinski and Ald. Terry Witkowski noted that Flynn has told the panel he wants to take some time to study that issue before he takes a position.
Witkowski said aldermen should give Flynn the time he asked for, adding, "It's a little premature to be beating the drum on behalf of the police union for more officers."
Donovan, the committee chairman, retorted that he was "beating the drum on behalf of my constituents," and resented the implication that he was doing the bidding of the Milwaukee Police Association.
Witkowski, a former police safety director, has led efforts to shift some police duties to civilian employees, and as a result has been targeted for defeat by candidates with ties to the police union. The union's endorsed candidate, Chris Kuester, was eliminated in the Feb. 19 primary, but Witkowski still faces former union president Brad DeBraska in the April 1 general election.
Donovan wrapped up the committee meeting by cracking, "I can't wait to get my cue from the MPA to see what I talk about next week."$
Backers of ending sick leave benefit push for Senate vote
Madison -- Backers of a bill to end the sick leave benefit for state officials are pushing Senate leaders for a vote on the issue, which Senate leaders indicated could happen next week.
State elected officials are allowed to use accumulated sick leave to purchase health care coverage in retirement. For some, the benefit is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Lawmakers moved to end the benefit after an investigation by the Journal Sentinel revealed that only two legislators had used any sick time in the last four years. The newspaper also found that judges, district attorneys and other elected officials rarely claimed sick leave, allowing them to boost the size of their retirement benefits.
The Assembly last year passed a measure to put a stop to the benefit, but Senate leaders have not been willing to bring it up. Rep. Rich Zipperer (R-City of Pewaukee) and others said Friday that in the 12 months since the Assembly bill was approved, elected officials have racked up another $3.4 million in sick leave benefits.
They sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker asking for a vote on the issue. Decker spokeswoman Carrie Lynch said Decker was considering adding sick leave to Tuesday's calendar.
"Had they acted last year when the Assembly did, we could have ended the sick leave scheme," Zipperer said in a statement. "Instead, taxpayers are on the hook for millions, and the amount grows every day."
The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau puts the figure at $285,600 a month.
Read the letter to Decker in the attachment below.
This week in Wisconsin politics by the numbers
Madison -- Here's a look at this week in Wisconsin politics by the numbers:
26: Senators who voted for the Great Lakes compact; eight Republicans joined the body's 18 Democrats.
$4.6 million: Amount spent by Milwaukee taxpayers on salary and benefits for fired officers who appeal their terminations; the Assembly voted 95-0 to end the practice by stopping pay for officers charged with felonies and certain misdemeanors.
3: Potential days left in the legislative session, which wraps up March 13.
$6 million: Increase in autism funds approved by Assembly Republicans early Thursday. It is an alternative to a bill passed by the Senate and backed by Gov. Jim Doyle that would require insurers to cover such treatment.
0: Assembly members who voted against paying legal bills for wrongly convicted state worker Georgia Thompson; 94 voted for it.
$3.4 million: Sick leave benefits that have accumulated in the 12 months since the Assembly passed a bill to end the benefit for elected state officials. Backers of the bill are asking the Senate to act on the proposal.
The Rundown: Great Lakes compact clears first legislative hurdle
The Rundown is a weekday synopsis of news involving politics and government from the pages of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as well as headlines of note from elsewhere.
Over objections of those who wanted to slow down and more carefully consider the measure, the state Senate on Thursday passed legislation to ratify and implement the eight-state Great Lakes compact, sending it to the Assembly for action. Legislators and others are critical of Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson for supporting the bill.
As the legislative session winds down, the spring election campaigns are heating up. State Rep. Pedro Colon (D-Milwaukee), who is challenging longtime Milwaukee City Attorney Grant Langley, is launching a $100,000-plus ad campaign against the incumbent.
»Read Full Blog Post
Ad is pulled in state Supreme Court race
Madison -- Acting on advice from attorneys, WBAY, the ABC affiliate in Green Bay, has decided to stop running one of two ads from the Coalition for America's Families, which Thursday launched the ads in the state Supreme Court race.
Steve Lavin, general sales manager for WBAY, said the ad that won't be running addresses the case of Ralph Armstrong, who was convicted in 1981 of the rape and murder of a University of Wisconsin-Madison student. The ad charges that Justice Louis Butler wrote a 2005 Supreme Court opinion that overturned Armstrong's conviction.
Lavin said attorneys advised it was potentially defamatory.
Butler is running in the April 1 election against Burnett County Circuit Court Judge Mike Gableman.
Butler's campaign disputed the ad, saying that evidence used by the state in the case to tie Armstrong to the scene was shown by DNA testing not to belong to Armstrong.
"The Supreme Court decision simply remanded the case for a new trial, which gave the state an opportunity to enter new evidence," said a Butler campaign statement, noting the trial is still pending.
An ad regarding the prosecution of Mark Jensen will continue to run, Lavin said. A representative from Coalition for America's Families did not respond to a call for comment.
The ads are viewable on WisPolitics.
UPDATE: This afternoon, the Coalition for America's Families issued this statement:
"At the request of television station management, the Coalition for America's Families made a minor change to one of its television ads and all ads are currently running according to schedule."
Lavin said WBAY will run the ad again as a result of the change. (1)
Supreme Court candidates debate in Iowa County
Dodgeville -- The candidates in this year's race for a seat on the state Supreme Court sparred over differences in their judicial philosophies in a forum here today, but agreed about the negative influence of third-party ads in the campaign.
State Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler and Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman met at the Iowa County Courthouse before a crowd of about 50 people at a forum sponsored by the Iowa County Bar Association and Grassroots Citizens of Wisconsin, a southwestern Wisconsin group that calls itself progressive and encourages political participation.
In response to a question about judges who use their own beliefs in deciding cases, Gableman said the reason he entered the race is because of what he saw as a pattern of decisions influenced by personal opinion. Gableman said he would apply the plain language of the law.
"People have to be confident that as judges and justices we're not going to make the law, we're going to apply it," Gableman said. "Any substantive changes in the law ought to come from the legislative process."
»Read Full Blog Post
Armstrong ad won't run on WISC-TV in Madison
Madison -- WISC-TV in Madison won't be running an already controversial ad from the Coalition for America's Families in this spring's state Supreme Court race.
The ad, which was briefly pulled from WBAY-TV in Green Bay on Friday because attorneys thought it was potentially defamatory, depicts the 1980 murder of University of Wisconsin-Madison student Charise Kamps. It is critical of candidate Justice Louis Butler, who wrote the majority opinion in a state Supreme Court decision that ordered a new trial for the man convicted of murderer in the case, Ralph Armstrong.
Butler is running against Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman in the April 1 election.
Tom Bier, station manager for WISC, said he objected to the images in the ad, such as a dead woman's body; the ad also shows a bloody knife. Although the images are a re-enactment, he said they were too graphic, especially when it is related to a murder that happened in the community.
"It's a startling picture to see at any point, and given the fact the murder occurred in Madison, there was a likelihood family and friends would be here" and see it, Bier said. In addition, he said, the station wouldn't use images like that in a newscast.
As a result of WISC's decision, the Coalition for America's Families decided to only run an ad addressing a decision regarding Mark Jensen, who was convicted last month of murdering his wife, Julie, on the station, said coalition adviser R.J. Johnson. The Armstrong ad will run on other stations in Madison, and the mix of the two ads will be equal in Madison, he said.
Johnson said he understood the concern about how people in the community might be affected by bringing up the Armstrong case, but said there could be a bigger public safety issue if Armstrong were to be released.
"As much as it might concern folks about reliving that case, I think the idea that Armstrong could potentially be released on appeal is the same concern," Johnson said. "From our perspective, it's an extraordinarily important piece of information to have."
Taylor cancels candidate appearance
State Sen. Lena Taylor cannot attend a county executive candidate forum Tuesday with County Executive Scott Walker, her campaign said today.
Taylor won't be at the noon Milwaukee Rotary Club forum because the state Senate will be in session in Madison, Taylor aide John Zapfel said.
Walker still plans to attend, his campaign said.$
Butler's second campaign ad focuses on record, endorsements
Madison -- With third party groups touting the law enforcement credentials of Supreme Court candidate Mike Gableman, incumbent Justice Louis Butler is now pushing his own backing from law enforcement and his work on the court.
Butler's second ad of the campaign calls the court a "battleground between right and wrong" and talks about his support from judges and groups that represent more than 18,000 law enforcement officers. He also highlights major Supreme Court decisions, such as one that allowed a case to go forward against lead paint manufacturers, and which has earned him criticism from business groups who complain it expanded liability for businesses.
"I've put criminals behind bars, and I've ruled against big corporations when they harm the public," Butler says in the ad. "It all comes down to the difference between right and wrong."
Gableman, a Burnett County Circuit Judge, hasn't run any ads of his own yet, but a spokesman said last week he would do so soon. He has said he has support of more sheriffs and district attorneys than Butler.
Watch the Butler ad here.
Wisconsin court race gets fact checked
Madison -- Wisconsin's race for the state Supreme Court this spring is capturing national attention -- but not in the best way.
Factcheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania that monitors the factual accuracy of TV ads and other political claims, made the third party ads in the Supreme Court race the subject of its occasional "Court Watch." And it took all of the ads and their backers to task.
The group also noted the parallels between Wisconsin's Supreme Court campaign and the fictional one in John Grisham's latest thriller, "The Appeal," about a Supreme Court race in Mississippi in which business interests target an African-American justice.
Justice Louis Butler, Wisconsin's first and only African-American Supreme Court justice, said in a debate Sunday that he'd been given a copy of "The Appeal" for his birthday in February, but that he didn't plan to read it until after the April 1 election, in which he faces Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman.
Read the GWC response
Judicial watchdog says ads against Gableman are unfair
Madison -- Wisconsin's judicial campaign watchdog said an ad about Mike Gableman's record as a Burnett County Circuit judge from the Greater Wisconsin Committee not only unfairly demeans him, but denigrates all Wisconsin judges.
The ad from the Greater Wisconsin Committee, an issue advocacy group that supports Democrats, claims that Gableman's court is slow in taking felony cases to trial, but the Wisconsin Judicial Campaign Integrity Committee noted that he is the only judge in the county, which is understaffed.
It also alleges that Gableman ranks near the bottom of judges because of the number of rulings overturned by appeals courts. The committee deemed the claim misleading.
"Each judge faces a unique work situation that is specific to their county and their judicial district," the committee said in a statement. All judges could be unfairly painted with the same "broad brush" used here, the committee added.
The Greater Wisconsin Committee disagreed with the judicial campaign watchdog's assessment, saying it had found no factual inaccuracies. The ad will continue to run, the committee said.
"To say that we cannot compare judges based on how often they are affirmed or reversed in higher courts is like telling Bo Ryan we should turn off the scoreboard and not publish the Big Ten conference standings," GWC executive director Michelle McGrorty said in a statement.
Gableman has complained that the judicial integrity committee is biased against him, but it is the second time the committee has defended him against TV ads.
Check out the Wisconsin Judicial Integrity Campaign Committee's full statement in the attachment below. Click here for the GWC statement. (1)
County exec candidate forums slated
The candidates for Milwaukee County executive, incumbent Scott Walker and challenger Lena Taylor, continue their frequent joint appearances this week, including the following forums and debates:
Noon today, forum sponsored by the Milwaukee Bar Association, at 924 E. Wells St.
Noon Tuesday, forum sponsored by the Milwaukee Rotary Club, at 750 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr.
2 p.m. Saturday, League of Women Voters debate, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 3022 W. Wisconsin Ave.$
The Rundown: Supreme Court race heats up
The Rundown is a weekday synopsis of news involving politics and government from the pages of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as well as headlines of note from elsewhere.
The April race for state Supreme Court is heating up, with outside groups pouring money into new ads. The candidates themselves went toe to toe in a Dodgeville forum on Sunday.
And in an appeals court race, the candidates aren't talking much about their records.
Also on the April 1 ballot: Candidates for Milwaukee County Board. Here's a look at the races in the 1st, 12th, 14th, and 17th District.
And, oh yeah, after April there's another little race this year. In that contest, John McCain benefits and loses from having the battle for the Democratic nomination stretch out into the spring.
The candidates in all those races are raising as much cash as they can, but they probably won't be tapping Dennis Troha, once a frequent giver. The former trucking magnate from Kenosha avoided a prison term when he was sentenced Friday.
Meanwhile, the troubled Milwaukee Public Museum has now paid off a key loan, but funds are missing from a Milwaukee public school.$
WMC launches first TV ad in Supreme Court race
Madison -- Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce has launched its first TV ad in this year's state Supreme Court race with a spot that highlights the prosecutorial experience of Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman.
Gableman is challenging Justice Louis Butler in the April 1 election, and WMC calls him an "ally in the war on crime."
"Businesses need safe neighborhoods in order to operate and tough judges help keep Wisconsin safe," James A. Buchen, vice president of WMC, said in a statement. "As part of our public agenda, we will continue to work to advance policies that keep our state safe."
Watch the ad here.
Report shows savings under Healthy Wisconsin
Madison -- A typical Wisconsin family would save as much as $4,180 a year if the Senate Democrats' universal health care reform plan were in place, according to a report released Monday from Citizen Action of Wisconsin.
The report, issued the day a Senate committee will hold a hearing on a revised proposal, said that families would save between 40% and 62% over what they're paying now for insurance premiums and deductibles.
Republicans objected to the plan's $15 billion price tag, which would be paid for through payroll taxes, but Senate Democrats said it would save residents money. Under the original plan, an average Wisconsin income of $42,333 would mean a tax of 4% of wages on which a person pays Social Security, about $140 a month, while employers would pay 10.5% of those wages, about $370 a month.
A hearing on SB 562 started at 10 a.m. today, and Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee) said told the committee the plan was tweaked to make it more affordable for small businesses and high-earning, two-income families.
Read the report from Citizen Action, a public interest group that advocates for such issues as consumer protection and health care, in the attachment below.
The week ahead in Wisconsin politics
Madison -- Here's a look at the week ahead in Wisconsin politics, a busy one as lawmakers wrap up the session in a flurry of legislative activity.
Today: Gov. Jim Doyle will release his budget repair bill at 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, lawmakers tackle big issues in committee hearings. The Senate's Committee on Health, Human Services, Insurance, and Job Creation is holding a 10 a.m. hearing on the Healthy Wisconsin universal health care reform plan, SB 562.
The Assembly's Committee on Natural Resources will hold a 1:30 p.m. hearing on the Great Lakes compact, which passed the Senate last week.
Tuesday: The Senate and Assembly will both be in session.
Wednesday: The Assembly will be on the floor again, and the Senate is likely to also be in session.
In the state Supreme Court race, Justice Louis Butler and Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman will meet in a noon debate at the Milwaukee Bar Association.
Thursday: It's the last day for regular business in the 2007-'08 legislative session, and the Senate plans to be in session. The special session on the budget repair bill is also slated to begin.
Parks panel stalls Walker appointment
In a rebuff to Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, a County Board panel today set aside Walker's appointment of his former chief of staff and campaign adviser to the Milwaukee Public Museum Board.
The County Board's parks committee voted 4-2 to table the appointment of Jim Villa. That leaves the issue up in the air. It could be revived or killed by the committee later.
Villa formerly served as Walker's chief of staff and also worked on his first two campaigns for county executive. He's now president of the Wisconsin Commercial Realtors Association. He said he'll try to meet separately with committee members to try to alleviate any concerns they might have.
Supervisor Richard Nyklewicz Jr. asked for Villa's appointment to be tabled, citing "significant concerns, given his political background." He declined further comment.
Supervisor Lynne De Bruin, the parks committee chairwoman, said she voted for tabling Villa's appointment to avoid a divisive public debate that might cause the public to question the management at the museum.
"I didn't want any worries on the public's mind of who is on the musuem board and who is not," she said. The museum working through a financial recovery plan begun last year.$
Assembly rejects proposed vote on Great Lakes compact
Madison -- The Republican majority in the state Assembly tonight blocked an effort by Democrats to hold a vote on the Great Lakes compact.
Although both sides agreed it was a possibly the most important measure the Legislature would consider, lawmakers voted on party lines not to take up the bill. Rep. Scott Gunderson (R-Waterford), chairman of the Assembly's Committee on Natural Resources, said he wanted to continue to work on the bill, but added it wasn't ready for a final vote.
"There are a lot of powerful forces that would like to see it
not done...I have no certainty we will have a special session or
extra session," said Rep. Spencer Black (D-Madison). "I can see the possibility of nothing happening on this and
that would be a shame for our state."
Wisconsin, from right to left
Tammy Baldwin and Gwen Moore had the most liberal voting record in the House last year, sharing that distinction with five Democrats from other states, according to the National Journal's latest scorecard on congressional votes.
Other highlights from the non-partisan magazine's ratings, which come out every year: »Read Full Blog Post(6)
The Rundown: Governor puts down budget marker
The Rundown is a weekday synopsis of news involving politics and government from the pages of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as well as headlines of note from elsewhere.
Gov. Jim Doyle has offered up his plan to solve the state's budget deficit in the face of the slumping economy. Now begins the budget fight among lawmakers, which could take weeks or months.
The squabble will give Doyle plenty of headaches, but at least he doesn't have the worries of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
As Wisconsin lawmakers head into the last days of the legislative session, they are making deals in some areas -- such as on saving online schools -- while nearing impasse in others, such as on the Great Lakes compact.
And when the session wraps up Thursday, there will be plenty of other bills that don't get through both houses, the Wisconsin State Journal reports.
Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold's ad man is making an impression in a hot race in Oregon. The hook in his latest ad is, well, the hook on the U.S. Senate candidate's arm.$
Effort to force vote on hearing aid bill fails
Madison -- With the end of the session looming on Thursday, Assembly Democrats have attempted to force votes on a number of issues they say leaders haven't been willing to take up, including a bill requiring insurance companies to cover hearing aids and cochlear implants for children with hearing problems.
The Assembly rejected the effort to bring up the hearing aid bill, SB 88, on a 50-47 vote.
Democrats spoke passionately about the need to pass the measure, citing stories told by families whose children are affected by hearing loss. »Read Full Blog Post
Assembly drops bill for official state language
Madison -- The state Assembly today abandoned a bill to name English the official language of Wisconsin after the bill's author said there was no point in pursuing the measure now.
Rep. Marlin Schneider of Wisconsin Rapids, who has long pushed for the idea despite objections from his fellow Democrats, asked to table the bill today because it does not have the votes to get through the Democratic-run Senate and become law.
Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) blasted Schneider for his reversal, telling him the only reason he wanted to drop the bill was because Democrats "got to you." Schneider denied that.
Huebsch said Schneider should have told him earlier he wanted to table the bill because Rep. Roger Roth (R-Appleton) had a similar bill that lawmakers could have taken up. But Huebsch said he would defer to Schneider out of courtesy, and the representatives voted to table Schneider's bill.$
Podcast: From Mississippi to Pennsylvania
In this week's national politics podcast, political reporter Greg Borowski and Washington bureau chief Craig Gilbert look at the state of the presidential race, including yesterday's contest in Mississippi, as well as other developments on the campaign trail.
Walker and county supervisors brag up surplus
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker is touting the latest figure for the county's 2007year-end balance: $7 million. He's issued two versions on the topic, one from his courthouse office and one from his campaign.
He doesn't explicitly lay claim to full credit for the surplus, noting that earnings on the county's investments and savings in health care costs account for the figure.
Darn right, said three county supervisors, Richard Nyklewicz Jr., Roger Quindel and John Weishan Jr. All pointed out that Walker vetoed the entire 2007 county budget, which was overridden by the County Board. That should deny him any bragging rights for the surplus, the supervisors said separately.
Furthermore, it was a board-led move to recraft the county's health insurance that provided such a windfall in savings that it offset other departmental deficits for '07, said Nyklewicz, the County Board's finance commitee chairman.
Walker aides did help gain union contract concessions on health insurance that also figured prominently in the savings, Walker has said.$ (2)
Walker ad hits Taylor on taxes
A new TV ad from Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker faults challenger Lena Taylor as a proponent of "big tax increases."
Speaking directly to the camera, Walker says he'll hold the line on taxes while Taylor, a state senator from Milwaukee, "wants to go back to the days of big tax increases.
"In fact, she's pushing the biggest tax increase in state history," Walker says. That's a reference to Taylor's support for "Healthy Wisconsin," a universal health care plan that senators included in the 2007-'09 state budget bill. It was later dropped.
Democrats argued that the plan, to be funded by a payroll tax, would trim overall state health care costs. Republicans rejected it as too costly.$
The Rundown: Virtual school measure passes Assembly, Great Lakes compact doesn't
The Rundown is a weekday synopsis of news involving politics and government from the pages of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as well as headlines of note from elsewhere.
The state Assembly passed a compromise bill to protect the state's virtual schools, sending the measure to the Senate, where it is likely to breeze through to Gov. Jim Doyle's desk. Assembly Democrats also tried to force a vote on the Great Lakes compact, but weren't successful. If the Legislature doesn't act by the end of the session on Thursday, Doyle said he would call a special session. The Associated Press reports lawmakers may be more focused on the campaign season ahead than legislative business.
Meanwhile, the city of Waukesha is considering plans for a new well.
»Read Full Blog Post(1)
Roth returns from Iraq, to vote on budget fix
Madison -- The state Assembly kicked off its work tonight by welcoming back Rep. Roger Roth (R-Grand Chute), who just returned from a two-month stint in Iraq with the Wisconsin Air National Guard.
Roth was greeted with applause and whistles -- and a hug from Rep. Carol Owens (R-Oshkosh) -- as he came onto the floor.
"Thank you very much for your service to our country," Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) told him.
Roth returns at a crucial time. The Assembly will vote tonight or sometime after midnight on a plan to patch the state budget.
Republicans control the house 52-47, but their majority was narrowed to 50 in recent months because Roth and Rep. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin) were serving overseas.$ (1)
Doyle touts Obama, slams Clinton campaign
Gov. Jim Doyle slammed the
'Public Enemies' may come to Capitol
Madison -- After its recent multimillion dollar restoration, the state Capitol is ready for its close up.
And with this spring's filming of "Public Enemies" in Wisconsin, it just might get its big break. Producers from Universal Studios are working on an application to the State Police to film at the Capitol, according to state Department of Administration spokeswoman Linda Barth.
The megawatt movie, starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard, will chronicle the 1930s exploits of John Dillinger (Depp) and his gang, and the government's efforts to nab them. The movie's crew has rolled into town in Columbus, where shooting starts on Monday.
Earlier this year, Democratic Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton said she took film location scouts around the Capitol, showing them her office and Gov. Jim Doyle's office, as well as other Capitol chambers and meeting rooms that could function as the office of former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director J. Edgar Hoover.
It won't be the Capitol's first time in the Hollywood spotlight; the building was featured in the 1994 movie "I Love Trouble" with Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts.
Sleepy-eyed reps pass bills headed nowhere
Madison -- As the Assembly session stretched into the early-morning hours, Republicans pushed through a bill making English the state's official language today.
Lawmakers from both sides made several speeches on a bill they knew had no chance of becoming law. The state Senate -- which will hold its last general-business session of the year some time after the sun comes up -- has no plans to consider the matter.
The measure passed the Assembly 57-40.
Proponents said the bill would help people who are already here as well as future immigrants. "They cannot compete at IBM is Spanish," Rep. Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) said. "They just can't."
But opponents decried the measure. "This bill is about nothing but hatred and bigotry," said Rep. Dave Travis (D-Waunakee).
Earlier, the Assembly passed 52-45 a measure to change the constitution giving people the right to purchase private health insurance. The proposed change -- which would permanently block a Senate Democratic plan for universal health care -- also has no chance of passing in the waning moments of the session.
The Assembly also approved a bill requiring any budget pork projects to include the names of the authors of who proposed them. Schneider ridiculed the bill because Republicans have not said who included pet projects in budget bills considered last year.
You're probably tired. There's no need to stay up to see if the Senate will pass that bill.$
Sherman calls late-night session 'stupid'
Madison -- Rep. Gary Sherman (D-Port Wing) wants to know why lawmakers are taking up bills at nearly 4 a.m.
"This is stupid," Sherman yelled at his colleagues this morning.
He suggested it wasn't healthy for lawmakers to be up through the night, noting some had cancer, some had heart disease and "one third has high blood pressure."
"What the hell are we doing?" he asked.$
Parade passes by transit needs, Hines says
Giving lions and tigers a ride on a circus wagon apparently isn't Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines Jr.'s idea of public transit.
Hines says that if Mayor Tom Barrett and County Executive Scott Walker can work together to bring the Great Circus Parade back to Milwaukee next year, they should be able to settle their differences on transit.
In a statement issued today, Hines said the Milwaukee County Transit System has been cutting routes while "more than $91 million of potential transportation funding has been squandered, largely because the mayor and the county executive have stubbornly refused to work together.
"If Mayor Barrett and County Executive Walker think that the Circus Parade is important enough to team up to find a solution, then I know they can do the same thing for transportation. All over the region, employers are looking for people to hire, and too many individuals are searching for employment. We must work to connect our residents to those job opportunities that exist. Improving our public transportation is the answer. But we need leadership and a sense of urgency."
In an interview, Hines added, "The lions will roar for one day, and for the next year or so, on critical issues surrounding transit, the silence will be deafening."
Barrett responded that he supported both the parade and transit, and that was why he put forward a plan to use the federal money on streetcars and express buses. A council-backed plan to use the federal money as part of a $300 million guided electric bus system was not fully funded, and the council upheld his veto of that plan, the mayor noted.
Hines said aldermen also had called for a local sales tax to fund transit, while "the mayor has continued to put ornaments on the table and other elements that have nothing to do with transit." That was an apparent reference to Barrett's insistence that any new local sales tax should fund public safety services as well as transit.
Barrett replied, "I don't consider public safety on the buses as 'ornaments.' Public safety is the No. 1 issue facing the city ... How he can consider public safety as an 'ornament' is bizarre," considering the crime problem in Hines' own central-city district.
Hines also criticized Barrett for not mentioning the bureaucratic mix-up that has frozen study of how to use the $91.5 million when Barrett outlined his transportation vision in his "state of the city" address last month. Other aldermen have complained that the administration didn't tell them about the glitch.
Barrett said he was just focused on solving the problem. Both Barrett and Walker said they are continuing to contact federal officials and others in an attempt to restore or replace the study funding.
(Hines' statement is attached below.)$
Nyklewicz: Walker doesn't deserve surplus credit
Milwaukee County Supervisor Richard Nyklewicz Jr., who is retiring from the board next month, used his last stint as finance committee chairman today to launch a blistering criticism of Walker, saying Walker had unfairly claimed credit for a 2007 year-end surplus of $7 million.
The surplus was due primarily to huge savings in health insurance costs for county employees that offset some deficits in several county departments, Nyklewicz said. Those changes were included in the 2007 county budget, which Walker vetoed in its entirety.
"He abdicated his responsibility for the budget" at the time, but now takes credit for it, Nyklewicz said.
County Auditor Jerome Heer agreed that health care changes led to the surplus. A task force that included some top Walker aides called for the health care changes, which have resulted in savings of about $75 million over three years, Heer said$ (3)
The Rundown: No agreement on budget fix
The Rundown is a weekday synopsis of news involving politics and government from the pages of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as well as headlines of note from elsewhere.
Hopes for an agreement on a plan to repair the state budget came off the rails Wednesday, as Assembly Republicans passed a fix that differed sharply from one proposed by Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle.
The normal legislative session will end today when the state Senate meets for the last time on ordinary business. That means the all-but-certain death of a proposed smoking ban, the Associated Press reports.
If relations are testy in the Legislature, they're no better between the candidates in the race for state Supreme Court. Meanwhile, a man named in an ad regarding that race may sue over the spot, WKOW-TV in Madison reports.
And in Waukesha County, the Elmbrook School District has complained to prosecutors that someone has run an ad against an April 1 referendum without registering as required by law.
Here's a preview of the race for St. Francis mayor.$
State must send schools $1.11 billion on March 24
Madison -- State government tax collections slowed by at least $652 million between last July and Feb. 1 because of the shaky economy but -- just like in every Wisconsin household -- the bills must still be paid.
And the next huge bill comes due on March 24, when Wisconsin school districts are scheduled to get $1.11 billion, according to the state Department of Administration. Of that, $138.5 million will go to Milwaukee Public Schools.
The amounts to be paid each district vary widely, depending on its property value. State aid payments are adjusted -- the technical term is "equalized" -- for the relative wealth of each district.
That's why, for example, the Madison school district will only get $13.96 million, even though it is the second largest city in the state. Put another way, Milwaukee will get $9 for every $1 sent to Madison on March 24.
Amounts of state aid that will go to other large school districts on March 24 are: Beloit, $13.16 million; Eau Claire, $14.66 million; Green Bay, $29.67 million; Janesville, $16.35 million; Kenosha, $33.69 million; Oshkosh, $14.65 million; Racine, $30.38 million, and Waukesha, $12.16 million.
State government's next huge bill -- $134.15 million -- comes due on July 28, with that amount of shared-revenue cash must be sent to local governments.
Gov. Jim Doyle has said if lawmakers don't figure out how to repair the state budget by June, the state will face a cash flow crisis that will force deep cuts.$
Mayoral hopeful says he'd tap Pratt
Could a vote for Andrew Shaw bring Marvin Pratt back to Milwaukee City Hall?
Shaw, the attorney mounting a long-shot campaign to unseat Mayor Tom Barrett, mentioned Pratt's name in an interview with AllPolitics today. Asked where he would find the talent to fill top posts in his administration, Shaw said he would ask the former acting mayor and Common Council president to serve as his "right-hand man," or chief of staff.
Pratt was elected an alderman in 1987, rising to the council presidency in 2000. That put him in position to become acting mayor in January 2004, when Mayor John O. Norquist left office for another job more than three months before his term ended. Pratt ran for a full term but lost to Barrett, a former congressman, 54% to 46%.
Shaw said he wasn't sure whether Pratt would accept the job. Pratt, now a lobbyist, did not return telephone calls seeking comment.$
WMC flips, supports hospital tax to attract more U.S. cash
Madison - Reversing a position it took early last year, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce said today it now supports Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle's plan to levy a new tax on hospital revenues that would attract $400 million more in federal Medicaid payments.
In a statement, WMC Vice President James Buchen said the business group's board had approved the reversal, which offers new hope that it could be part of a budget-repair package the Legislature will work on in coming months.
"Current underfunding of Medicaid is driving up health care costs for employers," Buchen said. "Hospitals have not seen Medicaid reimbursement increases in 13 years and that has led to a hidden health care tax on employers as costs get shifted to private health care payers."
To help cover a $652-million shortfall in tax collections, Doyle again called for a 0.7% tax on hospital gross receipts, which would then qualify for higher federal Medicaid reimbursements.
Republicans who control the state Assembly this week again refused to approve the hospital tax, recommending instead deeper cuts in state spending and delaying payment of state aids to schools.$ (1)
UPDATE: Pratt wouldn't join Shaw staff
Former Acting Mayor Marvin Pratt says "thanks, but no thanks," to an overture from mayoral candidate Andrew Shaw.
Shaw, who's running against Mayor Tom Barrett in the April 1 election, said today he would ask Pratt to become his chief of staff if he was elected.
"That's flattering," Pratt said of Shaw's comments. "Having run for mayor and having served in the mayor's office, you have some experience on what to do and what not to do."
But that doesn't mean Pratt would take the post.
"That's not the job that I seek right now in my life," the longtime alderman and former Common Council president told AllPolitics.
Pratt, now a lobbyist, said he would not rule out a return to the public sector, but he's more interested in private-sector opportunities right now.
Shaw and Pratt met when Shaw audited a class that Pratt taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Pratt said.$
Crime roils Walker-Taylor race
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker is calling challenger Lena Taylor "soft on crime," while Taylor charges Walker with talking tough but weakening local criminal justice programs.
The issue has produced some of the most strident exchanges in their so-far mostly low-key campaign.
Walker and his campaign today blasted Taylor on multiple fronts.
Walker released an ad on his campaign Web site claiming Taylor "wants to let 17-year-old criminals stay out of prison" because she co-authored legislation allowing 17-year-olds to be tried in juvenile court.
Taylor says that's a distortion; her bill would permit 17-year-olds accused of non-violent offenses to be tried as juveniles. She says that's needed to give errant teens a chance to reform.
Walker says the legislation could lead to millions in additional costs to the county for juvenile detention. She says that's an issue because he's failed to successfully lobby the state for more local aid for delinquency treatment programs.
Walker also is faulting her for voting against a bill to strip the governor of authority to seize weapons in a state of emergency. He also says she won't give an airing to a bill allowing use of deadly force against a home intruder.
Taylor, a Democratic state senator from Milwaukee, accused him of underfunding courts, prosecutors and the Sheriff's Department as county executive.
She also said Walker's "mismanagement" of the House of Correction in Franklin and work-release center downtown led to safety concerns, based on a recent federal report. Walker has said he's ordered the recommended improvements.
Walker says Taylor is "upset I authored the law that ends parole and early release in Wisconsin." She says Walker's support for a "truth in sentencing" law as as Republican state lawmaker has led to overflowing jails and prisons because sentencing guidelines for judges and an extended supervision program for released inmates were never adopted.
Each brandishes law enforcement endorsements as support for their anti-crime credentials. Walker has been endorsed by the Milwaukee Police Association; Taylor is supported by the Milwaukee County Deputy Sheriff's Association.
The election is April 1.$ (13)
Another "super delegate" for Obama
Melissa Schroeder, one of 16 "super delegates" from the state, has endorsed Democrat Barack Obama in the tight race for the party's presidential nomination.
Of the state's "super delegates," who function as free-agents in the nomination process, Schroeder is the ninth to back Obama. Two have endorsed Hillary Clinton. The remaining five have not stated a preference.
Here's Schroeder's statement, as released by the Obama campaign:
"After much consideration, I have decided to endorse Senator Barack Obama. My decision came down to electability and who I felt would do a better job of unifying this country for a common purpose. Obama's message of hope and change has touched millions of voters in a way that I haven't seen since the late 1960's. People from every walk of life, young and the not so young, Democrats, Independents and some Republicans, are all rallying around a belief that change can happen if we want it bad enough. With Obama as our nominee, I am confident that this November we will increase our majority in the House and Senate and elect a Democrat to the White House."$ (2)
The Rundown: Budget fight intensifies
The Rundown is a weekday synopsis of news involving politics and government from the pages of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as well as headlines of note from elsewhere.
Gov. Jim Doyle isn't a fan of the Assembly Republican plan to fix the state budget. (That's not a suprise, given that they're not terribly impressed with his proposal.)
The budget fight and split control of the Legislature meant that much work went undone after the legislative session ended this week. The Associated Press has the story.
It's not just the state facing budget woes. The City of Milwaukee has its own share of fiscal pain to deal with. And Milwaukee Public Schools is contending with a lawsuit over special education that could cost millions.
Meanwhile, state Supreme Court Justice David Prosser has recused himself from two sex abuse cases involving the Catholic Church, the Capital Times reports.
The April 1 election is fast approaching. Here's a look at the race for Franklin mayor.$
Taylor TV ad debuts
Milwaukee County Executive candidate Lena Taylor, in her first television ad in the race, cites negative news about the county without mentioning her opponent, incumbent County Executive Scott Walker. The ad began airing today.
Headlines flash on screen in the ad, telling of budget cuts, parks and transit system woes and problems at the county's House of Correction. Taylor, addressing the camera, mentions those and concludes: "Some think this is the best we can do. I disagree... as a mother, businesswoman and legislator, I can do better."
Taylor, a state senator from Milwaukee, has purchased a little over $100,000 in TV ad time on Milwaukee's four network affiliates, said John Zapfel, Taylor's campaign manager.$ (11)
Walker defends surplus role
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker today defended his role in achieving a $6 million 2007 year-end county surplus, in rebuttal of county supervisors this week who said Walker had little to do with it.
Walker acknowledged he vetoed the entire budget passed by the County Board for '07, but he said he "used good management to cover their errors and create a surplus."
His tactic of issuing mass layoff notices to county workers led to union concessions that contributed to the surplus, Walker said.
He also faulted the board for restoring positions that were not fully funded.
Supervisors said they, not Walker, deserved primary credit for health care cost savings.
Both Walker and his critics on the board have agreed that the health care savings were the major factor behind the '07 surplus. Health benefit changes were included in the County Board's version of the budget and implemented through negotiations with the unions.$
Taylor amps up criticism of Walker
State Sen. Lena Taylor went on the offensive today, accusing Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker of distorting his record on transit and the county budget surplus, even misstating her years of service at the Capitol.
Taylor, who is challenging Walker for his job in the April 1 election, amped up the criticism at a League of Women Voters Debate, held at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 3022 W. Wisconsin Ave.
"The county executive has a give and take relationship," she said, in the forum's final moments. "He gives the crap and he takes the credit."
She called Walker's explanation of a reduction in use of local buses "falsehoods." He had said the biggest reason for a drop in ridership was due to Milwaukee Public Schools stopping its practice of purchasing weekly bus passes for students in favor of individual tickets.
She blamed the ridership downturn on route cuts and fare hikes during Walker's nearly six-year tenure as county executive. But Taylor acknowledged that up to 50% of the ridership decline was due to the MPS move.
Taylor charged Walker with "flat-out lies," for claiming credit for the county's $6 million 2007 surplus. Though she didn't give details at the debate, she has credited the surplus to the County Board because Walker vetoed the entire '07 budget that included health care savings.
Walker said his strategy of threatening layoffs of county employees resulted in union concessions that delivered the savings.
Taylor also called out Walker when he mistakenly said she'd been the state Senate five years; she actually has served there three years. Walker later said he meant to say she'd been in the Legislature five years, the tally of her time in the Assembly and the Senate combined.
Walker stuck mostly to detailed recitations of his record, but at one point chided Taylor for failing to finish her first terms in the Assembly and then the Senate before running for another office.
She said he harbored ambitions to run for governor again in 2010 and wouldn't complete the four-year term he's now asking voters for as county executive. Walker ran for the GOP nomination for governor in 2005, but dropped out citing fund raising problems.
Neither Walker nor Taylor directly answered a question about whether they would, if elected, complete the four-year county executive term they're seeking.
On other issues:
Walker repeated his opposition to increasing sales taxes for parks and transit. Taylor said she'd try to find budget savings and lure more state and federal aid. But she said it was not realistic to rule out a tax increase.
Taylor blamed Walker for security and staffing problems at the House of Correction and downtown work-release center. Walker said judges needed to be more careful about who they sentence to work release.
Taylor chided Walker for halting an in-house investigation of lucrative county pension "buybacks." He didn't address the point at the debate, but has denied a role in the county Pension Board's decision to stop the probe.
Walker said he had improved the Pension Board through reforms aimed at excluding those with conflicts of interest from serving.$ (3)
Doyle calls Gableman campaign ad a new low
Madison -- Gov. Jim Doyle said the state Supreme Court campaign ad from Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman was the lowest he's ever seen a judicial candidate go.
Meanwhile, a judicial campaign watchdog called the ad unbecoming of a sitting judge and candidate for the state Supreme Court.
The ad says Justice Louis Butler "worked to put criminals on the street," finding a loophole in the case of child molester Reuben Lee Mitchell, then goes on to say Mitchell went on to molest another child. But the ad doesn't say that the Supreme Court reinstated the conviction Butler had gotten overturned, and that Mitchell went on to serve his entire sentence before committing the later crime.
Doyle, who appointed Butler to the Supreme Court in 2004, said today the ad showed what Gableman's view of the judiciary must be.
"There's been a lot of talk about the independent expenditures, but this is a guy who's trying to run for Supreme Court of the state of Wisconsin who is going after somebody because they at some point defended somebody in a criminal case," Doyle said. "Would he just not have lawyers defend unpopular people?"
Doyle, a former Dane County district attorney and state attorney general, said as a prosecutor himself he always liked to go up against a good defense attorney "because that means how justice is done."
Gableman's campaign adviser Darrin Schmitz said the ad is factual and points to contrasts in the candidates' backgrounds.
"Judge Gableman is a former prosecutor, while Louis Butler is a former criminal defense lawyer," Schmitz said in a statement. "Butler himself has said the voters should know the candidates records and his defense of Reuben Lee Mitchell is part of his record."
The Wisconsin Judicial Campaign Integrity Committee later issued a statement calling the ad highly offensive and deliberately misleading and said Gableman should take it off the air. The committee, which Gableman has said is biased against him, said the ad violates the self-drawn clean campaign pledge Gableman signed last month.
"We believe Judge Gableman is deliberately misrepresenting the facts regarding this case and Justice Butler's role in it, and it appears Judge Gableman is doing so either knowingly or with reckless disregard for the truth or falsity of his campaign statements," the committee's statement said.
The Wisconsin Judicial Campaign Integrity Committee has also criticized ads from the Greater Wisconsin Committee that portray him as soft on crime and allege he got his judgeship as a result of donations to then-Gov. Scott McCallum.
(See the committee's statement in the attachment below.)
UPDATE: The Greater Wisconsin Committee defended its ads against Gableman, which have been criticized by the Wisconsin Judicial Campaign Integrity Committee, saying that the committee hasn't disputed any of the facts in the ads. In a statement, executive director Michelle McGrorty said if they had asked for documentation, they would have found answers to questions about methodology and statistics used in the ads.
Also, Kirk Obear, an Elkhart Lake attorney and president of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers said in a statement that Gableman's ad about Butler's work as a public defender is an unwarranted attack on the function of criminal defense in our society. The group doesn't endorse candidates and refrains from taking positions on political issues not directly related to the criminal justice system.
"A supreme court justice's role should be to view a criminal case objectively, and such a person should have the ability to make a difficult and potentially unpopular decision if it is the legally correct one," Obear said in a statement. "This recent ad is evidence that Judge Gableman will not be able to fulfill this role and it is our position that he is unqualified."
Walker ad hits Taylor on taxes, crime
County Executive Scott Walker today released a new television ad that criticizes challenger Lena Taylor on taxes and crime. Walker also released two new radio ads.$
State budget shortfall did not worsen in February
Madison -- February tax collections did not worsen state government's $652-million shortfall, according to figures released by the state Department of Revenue.
Last month, Fiscal Bureau Director Robert Lang cited lagging July-through-January tax collections to put the estimated shortfall in the current two-year budget cycle at $652 million.
That gap could have worsened in February, however, but new Revenue Department figures requested by the Journal Sentinel show that tax collections held up last month. »Read Full Blog Post
Kagen to shake the Milwaukee money tree
First-term U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Appleton), who is expected to face a stiff re-election bid this fall, has scheduled a fund-raiser tomorrow night in Milwaukee.
An electronic invite to the event, to be held at the Pfister Hotel downtown, indicates a $100 ticket price. (It even offers this bargain: $200 per couple). "Host," "sponsor," "Event chair" and "PAC event chair" sponsorship/contribution levels are also offered.
Kagen is to be joined by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, plus Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee), according to the invitation.
In 2006, Kagen defeated Republican John Gard for the seat, which became vacant whern Republican Mark Green ran against Doyle. Gard is weighing another run this year.$ (1)
ON THE ISSUES: Milwaukee County exec race/taxes
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and challenger Lena Taylor offer some key differences on tax issues.
Here's where they stand, based on their responses to written questions submitted by the Journal Sentinel and their comments at candidate forums:
Walker flatly opposes any increase in the county sales tax to support parks and transit. He says the initial 0.5% county sales tax imposed in 1991 was supposed to provide propety tax relief but didn't.
Taylor said she would consider a small sales tax increase only after thorough analysis and consultation with the public and only if it would cut property taxes.
Taylor says she would "make it a priority to avoid a tax levy" increase. Walker says he wants to continue to propose budgets that hold the county levy to the same level as the previous year.
Walker says he flatly opposes extending the 0.1% stadium tax when it expires to support parks and transit. Taylor said she would favor extending the stadium tax for parks and transit, in response to a question at a Feb. 26 debate. In her written remarks, she says she would only consider it after study and consultation and only if it resulted in lower property taxes.
Walker, a former Republican state lawmaker, is seeking his second full term. Taylor is a Democratic state senator from Milwaukee.$ (1)
The Rundown: March Madness edition
The Rundown is a weekday synopsis of news involving politics and government from the pages of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as well as headlines of note from elsewhere.
The matchups are set, with some draws better than others. All that's left is to see who wins.
Well, that's almost all that's left, as we're talking about the madness of the final weeks before the April 1 election -- not the March Madness of the basketball variety. Thus, a series of election stories were headline grabbers over the weekend and today.
In the state Supreme Court race, public safety has been a dominant theme, even though the court does not handle the prosecutions that have drawn fire in the campaign. And challenger Michael Gableman came out swinging over the weekend in his first TV ad against incumbent Justice Louis Butler.
In the Milwaukee County executive race, challenger Lena Taylor and incumbent Scott Walker have clashed about bus ridership. In a race for an open Milwaukee County Circuit Court seat, the issue is experience. While in a state Appeals Court contest, it's political ties.
(Ties as in connections, not neckwear).
Meanwhile, that presidential election is still going on. Here's the latest on the Democratic "super delegates" from the state.
And the Legislature ended its session without finishing a bill that aimed to improve the care of those with autism -- even though both parties had plans to do something about it.$
Walker will trim salary give-back
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker said today he'll greatly scale back the amount of his paycheck he returns to the county, if he's re-elected to another term April 1.
The job pays $129,611 a year, a sum that won't change in the next term.
He has also said returning a portion of his paycheck gives him some moral authority in attempting county budget cuts.
He joked today that his decision to continue giving back nearly 47% of his salary every year has not been a popular one with his wife. He said he felt it was important to still give back something significant annually and had settled on the $10,000 figure.
Whether he actually serves out all of the next term, assuming he wins re-election, remains an open question,
"My only focus is on running for county executive right now," he said in an interview. "That's it."
State Sen. Lena Taylor has charged that
Neither candidate answered a question about whether they would commit to serving the full term, when asked at a candidate debate Saturday.
Roessler surprise: She won't run again
Madison -- A 25-year veteran of the Legislature, Republican Sen. Carol Roessler of Oshkosh stunned Capitol veterans by announcing today that she will not seek re-election in November.
Roessler, 60, issued a statement saying she has decided "it is time for me to focus on time with my husband, Paul, and our family."
In an interview, Roessler said, "I want to focus my time and my life in other directions. Twenty-five years is a long time."
Roessler's latest campaign-finance report suggested that she had not actively been raising money -- a sign that she was contemplating retirement. On Jan. 1, there was only $18,894 in her campaign account, according to state Elections Division reports.
Democrat Jessica King, a member of the Oshkosh City Council, had taken out papers to challenge Roessler, who had been telling those who asked that she planned to run again.
Roessler is the first senator to announce their retirement. Four Assembly veterans -- two Democrats and two Republicans -- are not seeking re-election.
Democrats control the Senate, 18-15. Roessler's announcement will spread the election-year resources of Senate Republicans even thinner, as they try to hold that seat and re-elect Sens. Dan Kapanke of La Crosse and Alberta Darling of River Hills.$
Butler has new ad defending against attacks
Madison -- Justice Louis Butler is hitting back against allegations that he's soft on crime, launching an ad that features law enforcement officials praising Butler and criticizing what they call false attacks from Butler's opponent, Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman.
The ad, which can be viewed here, accuses Gableman of "making despicable attacks," and is followed by statements from such law enforcement officers as Madison police officer Scott Favour, who calls it "absolute malarkey." It also points to media reports that say Gableman is trying to dupe and mislead voters. The ad ends with Wood County Sheriff Tom Reichert saying, "Justice Butler has been a great justice for law enforcement."
The ad doesn't directly refer to a controversial ad from Gableman's campaign that many say misrepresents the facts in a case handled by Justice Louis Butler when he was a public defender in the 1970s and '80s. Gableman's campaign has stood behind that ad, saying it's factual.
"The majority of Wisconsin sheriffs and district attorneys have endorsed Judge Gableman due in part to Louis Butler's record of tying the hands of law enforcement and siding with criminals," Gableman campaign adviser Darrin Schmitz said of Butler's ad. "The voters will see this ad for what it is...a fraud."
Butler campaign adviser Sachin Chheda said the campaign plans to have ads up statewide by the end of this week, but said it wasn't clear yet where this ad would be running.
ON THE ISSUES: Milwaukee County exec race/parks
Privatizing the Milwaukee County parks work force as much as possible would help lower costs for taxpayers, according to County Executive Scott Walker.
Challenger Lena Taylor, however, is skeptical and questions how well seasonal workers could handle some parks jobs.
They amplified their views in response to written questions from the Journal Sentinel and in comments at candidate forums.
Walker says he will reintroduce his plan to lay off dozens of full-time parks maintenance workers and replace them with seasonal help. The County Board defeated the plan for 2008.
"I want to contract out mowing, painting, garbage pick up, as well as parts of golf course management," Walker says. Effective monitoring by county managers is the key to success of hiring outside help for parks, he says.
Taylor says she doesn't disagree in principal with labor savings ideas. But she says any plan to replace full-time help with seasonal contract workers should take into account the reduction in family supporting jobs and the impact on the county's tax base.
"I don't want to hear this nonsense about seasonal workers," she says.
She says Walker's idea would jeopardize parks and park equipment.
Walker favors more private businesses in the parks, citing the Starbucks coffee shop in Red Arrow Park and Lake Park Bistro in Lake Park as good models. Taylor wants more study of the idea.
Walker is seeking his second full term as county executive. Taylor is a Democratic state senator from Milwaukee.$ (7)
Hospital Association says poll finds support for gov's tax proposal
Madison -- A statewide poll suggests that Wisconsin residents support a controversial plan to levy a 0.7% tax on hospital revenues to attract more federal Medicaid cash and give hospitals a rate increase, the Wisconsin Hospital Association said today.
The WHA supports the hospital tax plan, which Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle first pushed last year but which was blocked by Republicans who control the state Assembly.
Doyle asked for the tax again last week as one way to help offset a $652-million drop in tax collections in the current two-year budget. The leading Assembly Republican, Speaker Mike Huebsch, said he still opposes the plan, however. »Read Full Blog Post(1)
Colon to Langley: Where's the plan on foreclosures?
Saying city residents have waited long enough, Milwaukee city attorney candidate Pedro Colon today challenged incumbent Grant Langley to identify what he would do to address homes in the city that have been foreclosed by banks and lending institutions.
Colon, a Democratic member of the state Assembly, cited an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel from two months ago, in which Langley said his office was weighing whether to file a lawsuit against some of the lenders to recover some of the costs the city has incurred due to the foreclosures, such as boarding up the properties and additional crime.
Baltimore and Cleveland have both filed foreclosure-related lawsuits.
In an interview, Colon said: "The very least I would do at this point is offer some guidance to the mayor and Common Council on potential causes of action."
He indicated the legal recourse for the city would likely come in addressing problem properties that have already been foreclosed, not intervening to prevent foreclosures on owners. However, in their lawsuits Baltimore and Cleveland have argued minorities and the poor have been disproportionately affected by foreclosures.
"There are various ways to deal with it legally," Colon said. "He's still studying it. Others have already acted. ... My point is simple: Where is he?"
Langley could not immediately be reached.
"We're actively involved in addressing this issue," said Bill Zaferos, Langley's campaign spokesman. "It's on the radar screen. But, unlike Pedro, we're not going to engage in election-day politicking on an important issue like this."
The issue is the latest in which Colon has argued that Langley, in office since 1984, has not been aggressive enough in dealing with issues facing the city, such as crime, jobs and education. Langley has said the role of his office is to function as the city's internal law firm, and warns that Colon's approach would bring politics to a job he has worked to assure is free of political calculations.
The election is April 1.
The two are scheduled to meet tonight at a 7 p.m. forum sponsored by the Riverwest Neighborhood Association at the Gordon Park pavillion. The park is located at the corner of N. Humboldt Ave. and E. Locust Street.$ (2)
The Rundown: Guns at the high court
The Rundown is a weekday synopsis of news involving politics and government from the pages of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as well as headlines of note from elsewhere.
For the first time since 1939, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a major gun case, with oral arguments today in a case that involves the handgun ban in Washington, D.C.
Closer to home, the Milwaukee Common Council is debating rules on digital billboards, the Grafton Village Board has repealed its term limits, and the Milwaukee Area Technical College Board has some new members.
In: an Oak Creek alderman. Out: State Rep. Pedro Colon, who is running for Milwaukee city attorney.
Meanwhile, a new television ad from state Supreme Court candidate Michael Gableman has drawn criticism from Gov. Jim Doyle and the Milwaukee branch of the NAACP, among others. Gableman is challenging Justice Louis Butler in the April 1 election.
And, in Brookfield, a man who bought two newspaper ads related to an Elmbrook school referendum has agreed to register the spending, after a chit-chat with the district attorney's office.
Bablitch: Time to study appointment of Supreme Court justices
Madison -- In an interview with a Journal Sentinel reporter on the WisconsinEye public affairs channel, former Supreme Court Justice Bill Bablitch said the growing campaign-finance "crisis" surrounding campaigns for the Court justifies a study of whether the state Constitution should be changed to provide for the appointment of justices.
Bablitch, 67, who served two 10-year terms on the Supreme Court (from 1983 until he retired in 2003) said even suggesting that Supreme Court justices should be appointed is a major change for him personally.
If the appointment system was in place in 1983, Bablitch added, he wouldn't have had a chance of being named to the Court because he was then a Democratic state senator -- an office not held in high esteem by the state's most powerful lawyers.
But Bablitch said appointing justices should now be considered because campaigns for the court have now become dominated by third-party groups -- backing both candidates -- that spend millions of dollars running negative ads trying to elect the candidate they feel will back them in future court decisions.
Three of the seven current Supreme Court justices first reached the court by governor's appointment: Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson in 1976, Justice David T. Prosser Jr. in 1998, and Justice Louis Butler in 2004. Butler is being challenged in the April 1 election by Burnett County Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Gableman.
Most states appoint Supreme Court justices, with only about 20 filling the seats with partisan or non-partisan elections.
As an alternative to appointing Supreme Court justices, Bablitch said a public financing system for Supreme Court candidates should be tried first. But that system should also involve giving a candidate attacked by ads from third-party groups more cash to answer those ads, Bablitch added.
In a rare display of unity, all seven Supreme Court justices sent legislators a letter asking them to enact a public financing system for future campaigns for that office. The state Senate passed such a bill, but it died in the Republican-controlled Assembly when the legislative session officially ended last week.
Before he was elected to the Senate in 1972, where he served as majority leader, Bablitch served as Portage County district attorney.$
Sykes 'throws a flag' on Gableman ad
Madison - Those who were upset and angered by an ad launched by the campaign of state Supreme Court candidate Mike Gableman have been eagerly awaiting reaction to the ad from those on the right side of the political aisle.
The ad says Justice Louis Butler "worked to put criminals on the street" when he was a public defender, finding a loophole in the case of child molester Reuben Lee Mitchell, then goes on to say Mitchell went on to molest another child. But the ad doesn't say that the Supreme Court reinstated the conviction Butler had gotten overturned, and that Mitchell went on to serve his entire sentence before committing the later crime.
Today, WTMJ radio host Charlie Sykes weighed in and called the ad misleading and said he thought it would backfire on the campaign of Gableman, Burnett County circuit judge. Although Sykes has been critical of Butler, Sykes said he had to "throw a flag on our own team."
"The viewer has no way of knowing that even as a lawyer Butler was NOT responsible for Mitchell being out on the street again," Sykes wrote on his blog. "The prosecution WON on appeal. So the claim that Butler was somehow responsible for the subsequent rape is completely unfounded."
Instead of Gableman campaign should instead have focused on other decisions by incumbent Justice Louis Butler.
Read the entire Sykes blog here.
Gableman's campaign has defended the ad, saying it's factual and points to contrasts in the candidates' backgrounds.
Butler and Gableman will face off in the April 1 election.
Citizen Action files judicial commission complaint over Gableman ad
Madison -- A grassroots public interest group has filed a complaint with the state's Judicial Commission over a controversial ad from Judge Mike Gableman in this year's state Supreme Court race.
Gableman, a Burnett County circuit judge, started running an ad last week that some say misrepresents the facts in a case handled by Justice Louis Butler when he was a public defender, and Citizen Action of Wisconsin has asked the commission to investigate whether the ad violates the judicial code of ethics.
Gableman's campaign continued to defend the ad.
»Read Full Blog Post(1)
Third-party groups spending millions to 'buy' court, Butler says
Madison - Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler said today that "outside, shadow groups with hidden agendas" are spending millions to try and "buy" his seat on the seven-member court in the April 1 election.
And, if those groups succeed, Butler told members of Madison's Downtown Rotary Club, "We've lost justice as we know it in this state."
Butler said at least three independent groups, who he said do not have to disclose the sources of their donations, are on track to spend about $20 for every $1 his own campaign plans to spend by the time voters go the polls. He refused to name those groups, however. »Read Full Blog Post
Butler, Gableman to chat with JSOnline readers
Madison -- You may be getting to know this year's candidates for state Supreme Court through the ads that are running nonstop. Some of you may have even stopped by a forum to check them out.
But if you have a question for Justice Louis Butler or Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman, here's your chance to ask it.
Butler and Gableman will both be chatting with JSOnline readers before the April 1 election. Butler will be taking questions Friday at noon, while Gableman will chat with readers on March 26 at 4 p.m.
To submit a question for Butler, click here, and to submit a question for Gableman, click here.
Podcast: Looking at Obama's speech, other presidential topics
In this week's national politics podcast, political reporter Greg Borowski and Washington Bureau chief Craig Gilbert talk about presidential developments, including Democrat Barack Obama's speech yesterday on race and politics.
Walker cancels forum
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker canceled his appearance at tonight's candidate forum at the YMCA Holton Youth Center due to an illness, his campaign said. The event is sponsored by RiverWesters for Progressive Growth.
State Sen. Lena Taylor, who is challenging Walker's re-election bid, will participate in tonight's forum, said John Zapfel, her campaign manager.
The next scheduled joint appearance for Taylor and Walker is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Hilton Milwaukee River Hotel, 4700 N. Port Washington Road.$ (3)
Work not done on police reform, Hines says
A new law that ends pay for fired Milwaukee police officers also points up the need to change the way the city's police chiefs are appointed, Common Council President Willie Hines Jr. said today.
After Gov. Jim Doyle signed the police pay measure into law, Hines issued a statement recalling the reason why dismissed officers originally were kept on the payroll while appealing their firings: "an autonomous, powerful police chief who wielded immense power over his officers."
That was a reference to the late Chief Harold Breier, at a time when Milwaukee police chiefs had virtual lifetime tenure. After Breier's retirement, police chiefs started serving seven-year terms, later cut to four years.
But they are still appointed by the Fire and Police Commission. The council has called twice, in 2003 and 2007, for changing state law to let the mayor directly appoint the chief, with council approval. Hines renewed that call today.
While praising new Chief Ed Flynn, Hines said: "We cannot merely watch ultimate power vacillate back and forth between police personnel and chiefs every few years. There must be a greater level of accountability for how MPD operates. I continue to believe that the mayor should appoint the chief of police, so that average citizens can have a say in evaluating police performance when they go to the polls."
Otherwise, Hines added in an interview, "We're chasing our tail on this particular issue," and could be clamoring for yet another change in the police pay law in 15 or 20 years if the pendulum swings too far toward the chief's power over officers.
(Hines' statement is attached below)$
WMC launches ad on Jensen case
Madison -- Justice Louis Butler is taking more heat for his dissent in a case involving Mark Jensen and the murder of his wife, Julie.
A new ad from Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce charges that Butler "almost jeopardized the prosecution of a murderer because he saw a technicality." They said he argued a letter from Julie Jensen implicating her husband shouldn't be admissible in court.
"Thankfully, he didn't get his way," the ad says, before advising viewers to call Butler to "tell him needless technicalities are dangerous for Wisconsin." WMC, the state's largest business lobby, has said criminal cases are important to maintaining a healthy business climate.
Butler's campaign said the ad is misleading. For one, Butler's dissent was on a "minute point in the case" about whether to apply a broad or narrow interpretation of the law, said Butler campaign spokeswoman Erin Celello; Butler argued for the narrow view, she said.
"When you're looking at legal cases, 'coincidence,' 'chance' and 'almost' don't count," Celello said. "It's pretty black and white."
She also pointed out that the prosecutor in the case, former Kenosha County District Attorney Robert Jambois, has argued Butler's position was correct and has endorsed him.
The case was already the subject of an ad from the Coalition for America's Families.
Read the WMC ad script in the attachment below.
The Rundown: Obama speech tackles race and politics
In Philadelphia yesterday, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama delivered a speech that addressed the nation's racial divide -- and, of course, sought to tamp down controversy about statements his pastor had made. The JS's Craig Gilbert covers the speech here.
You can also click here for the transcript and video. And here to listen to this week's national politics podcast, which includes a discussion of the speech.
Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve Board cut interest rates yesterday. Not as much as some expected, but the stock market got a boost.
In Milwaukee, the Common Council approved changes to the city's billboard regulations, allowing images on digital billboards to change every eight seconds. And a federal judge advanced a lawsuit against the city over a police shooting, saying there is evidence police practices may have endorsed the improper use of deadly force.
Expect that issue to pop up in the city attorney's contest, where challenger Pedro Colon has been increasingly critical of incumbent Grant Langley, including on training procedures for officers.
In other election news, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has said he'll give back less of his salary, if re-elected April 1. And in the state Supreme Court race, the battle over TV ads continues.$
It's b-a-c-k! Estimate of structural deficits soar to $1.4-$1.6 billion
Madison -- To cope with an expected shortfall in tax collections of $652 million in the current two-year budget, Capitol leaders want to push more current debts into the next budget cycle -- a move that widens the gap between future tax collections and spending commitments.
And, that's true of both Democrats and Republicans.
In a new memo, Fiscal Bureau Director Robert Lang advised lawmakers that the budget-repair bill that Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle recommended last week would push the long-term budget imbalance -- the so-called "structural deficit" -- to $1.41 billion in the 2009-'11 budget. »Read Full Blog Post(1)
ON THE ISSUES: County exec race/mental health
The candidates for Milwaukee County executive differ on whether the county should proceed with a proposed move of the mental health complex to the vacant St. Michael's Hospital property.
County Executive Scott Walker enthusiastically supports the move, saying "it is clear that a move to the former hospital site is not only the most cost effective strategy; it will also provide a dramatic improvement in patient care."
State Sen. Lena Taylor, who is challenging Walker's bid for re-election, says she wants an independent study first to determine whether it makes financial sense to purchase or lease St. Michael's. A county review of the proposal found that costs of moving the complex could be as great as upgrading its current space.
"How to best care for our mental health services clients seems to have taken a back seat to two business deals," Taylor said. She cited Walker's interest in a possible sale of the County Grounds property where the mental health complex now stands, as well as a proposed lease or purchase of St. Michael's.
Walker and Taylor agreed that spending needs to be increased on special housing for persons with mental illness.
Walker says his efforts with Mayor Tom Barrett and a community group have helped jump start new housing options. Those moves that came in response to a Journal Sentinel investigation that found substandard housing and care for persons with mental illness, including the deaths of several persons under the county's care.
Taylor says she would make housing and support services for persons with mental illness a priority.
Taylor says county funding for alcohol and drug treatment has been inadequate and has led to costly use of jail for persons whose treatment needs weren't met. Walker touts his record in obtaining federal drug treatment money.$ (6)
Gableman says voters need to know about candidates' backgrounds
Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman today said he's highlighting his experience as a prosecutor next to Justice Louis Butler's earlier work as a public defender to show the "stark" differences in their backgrounds.
But he declined to explain why voters should view that as a reason not to vote for Butler in the April 1 election.
"It's fair to say that our backgrounds inform us and they give us perspectives on our present-day occupations," Gableman said in an interview with the Journal Sentinel's editorial board, and pointed out that in his 2000 race for the court, Butler said candidates' past records are "fair game."
Gableman has a new ad that puts his years as a prosecutor next to the work he says Butler did to "set criminals free." Butler's campaign has said the Gableman ads raise questions about whether he views criminal defense as an important tenet of the judiciary and would treat all parties fairly in court.
Gableman said a controversial ad that criticized Butler's handling of a case involving a child molester when he was a public defender will be rotated out of circulation in favor of the new ad. Criticism of the ad didn't prompt the change in ad, he said.$
Don't forget: Butler chat Friday
Madison -- Just a reminder: Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler will be chatting with JS Online readers Friday at noon.
To submit questions for Butler, click here.
Butler's opponent, Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman, will chat with readers Wednesday at 4 p.m. To submit questions for Gableman, click here.
ON THE ISSUES:County exec race/House of Correction
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker wants to close the county work-release center and put some of those inmates on global positioning monitoring devices to track their movements 24 hours a day.
His challenger, state Sen. Lena Taylor, is skeptical of the plan, saying it wasn't well thought-out.
Walker says the county should stop sinking money into the 1930s converted hospital building that's used as a work-release center, which is under supervision of the House of Correction. Audits have found severe shortcomings with the building, including serious fire safety issues. Putting inmates on GPS monitors would enhance security, he says.
Taylor says Walker failed to consult in advance with judges and others on the change and that Walker didn't account for additional costs for catching absconders. His $2.4 million savings estimate is unrealistic, she says.
Taylor also criticizes Walker over escapes and walk-aways from the work-release center. Walker puts the blame on judges, saying greater care was needed in who is sentenced there.
Taylor says Walker has mismanaged the House of Correction, citing a federal audit that found major security and staffing problems. Walker says his administration sought the audit and will implement recommended changes.$ (14)
The Rundown: A spring grab bag
The Rundown is a weekday synopsis of news involving politics and government from the pages of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as well as headlines of note from elsewhere.
Happy Spring, everyone. Now where did we put those shovels?
Spring may have sprung, but so far efforts to spring jailed Milwaukee Ald. Michael McGee have failed. A new effort to get McGee released on bail is underway, arguing a key witness against him -- Adel "Jack" Kheirieh -- isn't credible.
Why? because Kheirieh ran against McGee, though he failed to advance in the Feb. 19 primary.
Speaking of the election, challenger Pedro Colon targeted City Attorney Grant Langley yesterday on a federal lawsuit over a police shooting, one that could -- based on an initial ruling -- put the city's system for reviewing such incidents on trial.
Speaking of trials, state Rep. Jason Fields (D-Milwaukee) plans to avoid one, saying he'll plead guilty to drunk driving.
Speaking of driving, those potholes in the road are creating an even bumpier ride for municipalities who have to figure out how to pay to fill them.
Speaking of filling things up, there's a little less room in Milwaukee County, with U.S. Census Bureau estimates today showing a population increase of about 30,000 people.
Speaking of people, there's a dispute brewing over who should be the top person at the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. Waukesha County officials are concerned the group is moving too fast in trying to select its new executive director.
Speaking of moving fast ... or, really not-so-fast ... Gov. Jim Doyle yesterday signed the long-debated bill that will cut of pay for Milwaukee police officers charged with serious crimes.
Finally, speaking of Milwaukee police officers, they were involved in the investigation of Michael McGee ... so that should wrap things up nicely.$ (2)
Gableman launches second ad
Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman has a second ad in this year's state Supreme Court race, saying he wanted to "cut through slimy attacks and set the record straight."
He again reiterated his support from law enforcement officials, including a majority of the state's sheriffs and district attorneys. (For a closer look at endorsements, check out a database here.)
"As a district attorney and judge, Michael Gableman has spent his life fighting crime, and holding offenders accountable. It's why the people who fight crime every day are supporting him," the ad says. Later, "Louis Butler was a longtime criminal defense lawyer, working to set criminals free."
Butler, a Supreme Court justice, was a public defender before becoming a municipal and circuit court judge in Milwaukee.
Butler campaign spokeswoman Erin Celello said criminal defense is a basic, fundamental part of the judicial system, and that Gableman seems to be advocating for "a system where people are guilty until proven innocent...and public defenders aren't qualified to be judges."
"It's just shocking that he wants a seat on the state's highest court, but to get there he's making a mockery of the judicial system," Celello said.
Butler and Gableman meet in the April 1 election.$
Wieckert tells Post-Crescent he's retiring
Madison - Six-term Rep. Steve Wieckert (R-Appleton) has told his local newspaper that he won't seek re-election in November.
In a statement that Wieckert insisted not be released until late Friday afternoon, he said the recent death of his father means he must resolve details of family businesses and real estate holdings.
In the statement, Wieckert said one of his biggest achievements was sponsoring a bill that encourages organ donations -- a law that has since been copied by 13 other states. In the legislative session that ended last week, he was the chief Assembly sponsor of a proposed statewide smoking ban championed by Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle. The smoking ban did not get a vote in either house of the Legislature, however.
Wieckert, 53, is the third Republican so far to announce they will retire from the Assembly. Two Democrats have made the same announcement.$
Check out transcript of Butler chat
Madison -- Justice Louis Butler chatted with readers in an online chat today, taking questions on this year's state Supreme Court race.
If you missed it, check it out here.
DA objects to Gableman ad
Madison -- One district attorney has rescinded his support of Burnett County Judge Mike Gableman in this year's Supreme Court race as a result of a recent ad from Gableman's campaign.
In a letter to the Watertown Daily Times, Dodge County District Attorney Steven G. Bauer said Gableman's ad about Butler's handling of a child molester's case when he was public defender doesn't provide all the facts. Bauer said he believes in punishing criminals, but also knows he has a duty to be sure a defendant is truly guilty.
"I am troubled that a candidate for our highest court would belittle our constitutional right to counsel, which enhances the accuracy of the criminal justice system," Bauer wrote. "I am equally troubled by Gableman's cavalier disregard for accuracy in his representations to the public through this ad. The integrity of the criminal justice system should not be allowed to be tarnished by one man's ambitious desire for higher office."
Gableman campaign adviser Darrin Schmitz said Gableman still has support of over half the state's district attorneys, as well as more than half the state's sheriffs and police chiefs from around Wisconsin.
"The real story here is why is a sitting Supreme Court Justice opposed by such an overwhelming number of sheriffs and district attorneys," Schmitz said in a statement. "Butler's decisions have tied the hands of law enforcement and made their jobs more difficult."
Butler campaign spokeswoman Erin Celello said Bauer is a respected member of the legal community who understands the law.
"If he believes that Gableman is unfit to sit on the Supreme Court because of his continued misleading claims and mistruths, then that is significant," Celello said in a statement. "That is something that should speak volumes to voters."
Three more Walker-Taylor debates
Milwaukee County Executive candidates Scott Walker and Lena Taylor will face each other in debates three times next week:
11:30 a.m., Monday: North Shore Rotary Forum, Pandl's in Bayside, 8825 N. Lake Dr.
7 p.m., Tuesday: Marquette Unversity Law School, 1103 W. Wisconsin Ave.
12 p.m., Wednesday: 4th Street Forum, 1034 N. 4th St.
Walker has been county executive since 2002. Taylor is a Democratic state Senator from Milwaukee.$ (3)
The Rundown: The Spring-Winter Storm edition
Today might not seem like a day to pull out that bike that's been gathering dust in your garage, but there's good news on the horizon for bike riders: some of Milwaukee County's buses could be equipped with bike racks by next spring, following a veto override vote Thursday by the Milwaukee County board.
Now entering the debate over how to fix the state's budget hole are the Senate Democrats, who have different ideas from Gov. Jim Doyle and the Assembly Republican leadership. Thursday, the Senate leaders proposed a budget repair bill that would raise taxes on businesses and hospitals, push $125 million in aid to schools into the future and grab $65 million in cash reserves.
Milwaukee residents are expected to breathe subpar air for years to come, despite claims from Doyle that the entire state will meet new air-quality standards. »Read Full Blog Post
ON THE ISSUES: County exec race/pension
Both Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and challenger Lena Taylor favor use of long-term borrowing to finance the county's pension debt. Walker sought and Taylor co-sponsored state legislation authorizing the move. Gov. Jim Doyle signed the measure into law this week.
Walker says he wants to spread the estimated $90 million in savings from use of pension bonds over the 25- to 30-year life of the bonds. That's a change from an earlier version he suggested, which would have concentrated savings in the first few years of the bond issue.
Taylor says the pension bond strategy "is not a total solution to the ongoing pension-related fiscal challenges within the county."
Taylor supports continuation of a stalled in-house investigation into controversial pension "buyback" benefits ordered by the county Pension Board and claims Walker stopped it. Walker denies a role in the halt. Pension Board members have said aides to Walker have raised fears that the probe could hurt the county's chances of winning a separate, civil lawsuit over other pension concerns.
Walker says he backs continuation of the stalled probe after the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office, the state Department of Justice and the IRS finish their investigations. Taylor supports continuation of those probes as well.
Walker says the Pension Board should eventually "continue to review and investigate what took place during the past 17 years." The in-house investigation was stopped last November, three months after it was launched.
A Journal Sentinel investigation last year found hundreds of county employees were allowed to convert decades-old seasonal and part-time work into pension credits. Those "buybacks" are worth an estimated $50 million, the newspaper found.
Taylor does not support having the county relinquish control of the Pension Board, but says the board may need to have its own independent legal counsel. Currently, a county lawyer advises the Pension Board. Walker says he's already made the Pension Board more independent by adding stiffer requirements for serving.
Walker says the county has a good chance of prevailing in a federal lawsuit seeking more than $100 million from the county's former actuarial adviser. The county accuses the firm of failing to warn the county of the large potential costs of the "backdrop" lump sum benefit given to county employees in 2000 and 2001.
Taylor is skeptical about the county's chances of winning that case and says it might result with only big legal bills.$
Langley launches first TV spot
Milwaukee City Attorney Grant Langley has joined opponent Pedro Colon on the TV airwaves, launching today the first TV ad of his seventh election bid.
Langley's new TV ad, which aides say is part of a TV buy of about $60,000, focuses on Langley's "proven record of effectiveness and clean government." It highlights his efforts to close drug houses, but in response to Colon's crime-centric message, says the job is about "much more." From there, it touches on saving "millions" for taxpayers and helping create jobs.
Meanwhile, Langley has launched a 30-second radio spot that takes a sharper tone with Colon, saying Colon has exhibited "questionable judgment" in the Legislature and "doesn't quite understand" what the job of city attorney entails.
Here is the text of the radio ad:
"He doesn't quite understand what the job entails, but Pedro Colon is running for Milwaukee city attorney anyway. It's not the first time Pedro Colon has shown questionable judgment. As state representative, Pedro Colon voted against a bill that would allow schools to refuse to hire or terminate sexual offenders and violent criminals. Fortunately, we already have a city attorney who shows good judgment. On April 1, re-elect Grant Langley."
Update: Click here for a post on Colon's response to Langley's criticism.$
Candidate's law license has been suspended
Milwaukee aldermanic candidate Milele Coggs, who is running against first-term Ald. Michael McGee, has had her law license suspended, according to the State Bar of Wisconsin. The bar's website does not provide a date for when the suspension took effect, but says it is due to Coggs not keeping up with continuing education requirements.
On her web site biography, Coggs does not highlight her legal background, but does note she is a member of the state bar.
McGee, of course, has his own more daunting legal issues, including the fact he remains in jail and faces state and federal trials, scheduled for shortly after the April 1 election.$
Decker expects conference committee on budget-repair bill
Madison - After the state Senate passes its version of a budget-repair bill Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Weston) said today he expects a conference committee to be named to try and resolve differences between the two houses of the Legislature on the bill.
And, Decker said, he hoped the conference committee acts "as fast as we could" to finish its work on a bill rebalancing the current two-year budget. A budget fix-up bill is needed because of a projected $652-million shortfall in tax collections by mid-2009.
"If its a reasonable proposal," both the Assembly and Senate could promptly approve the report of a conference committee, Decker added. A conference committee report cannot be amended and must get yes-or-no votes in both Assembly and Senate. If adopted, the conference committee report would then go Gov. Jim Doyle for his signature.
Decker also said Administration Secretary Michael Morgan, Doyle's top deputy, has asked to meet with Decker after Tuesday's Senate vote.
Because Democrats control the Senate, 18-15, their version of budget-repair bill is expected to pass the Senate on Tuesday. It would close what Democrats say are tax-code loopholes that allow large, multi-state busineses to pay little or no corporate income taxes and go along with Doyle's plan for a 0.7% tax on hospital revenues that would attract more than $400 million in additional federal Medicaid cash.
Instead, Republicans who control the Assembly have voted to require $361 million in spending cuts in current programs by mid-2009.$
Kessler vows constitutional change to appoint Supreme Court justices
Madison - State Rep. Fred Kessler (D-Milwaukee), the only legislator to have served as a Circuit Court judge, said today he will introduce an amendment to the state Constitution that would end the current system of electing Supreme Court justices.
Instead, under Kessler's proposal to rewrite the Constitution, which could not become until law until 2010 at the earliest:
*Supreme Court justices would be appointed by governors and have to be confirmed by a majority of the 33-member Senate. »Read Full Blog Post
What's new is old, in a manner of speaking
In the wake of the new TV ad from Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, with a mantra of "I believe in Milwaukee," a longtime political observer notes the ad picks up a theme used in past local political campaigns, including the 2000 re-election campaign of then-Mayor John O. Norquist.
That race, in which Norquist won a fourth term over downtown businessman George Watts, included a "We believe in Milwaukee" theme in TV ads and campaign literature.
Meanwhile, in response to a query about the people used in the Walker ad, Tim Russell of the Walker campaign says all are actual voters. Not actors.
"They're all real people," Russell said.$ (2)
Gableman has $120,740 cash on hand
Madison -- Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman said he raised nearly $150,000 in the last month, leaving him with $120,740 cash on hand heading into the final sprint before the April 1state Supreme Court election.
In a campaign finance report filed today with the state Government Accountability Board, Gableman said he pulled in about $149,790 in the period between Feb. 5 and March 17 and spent $114,606. Gableman's campaign said his fund raising total for the campaign is $276,294.
A report from the same period from Justice Louis Butler is expected shortly.
Click the attachment below to see the cover sheet for Gableman's report.
Butler has $228,328 cash on hand
Madison -- Incumbent Justice Louis Butler continued to outpace his rival in the fund raising race, with $228,328 cash on hand in the final two weeks before the April 1 state Supreme Court election.
In a campaign finance report filed with the state Government Accountability Board today, Butler said he'd raked in $221,209 in the reporting period from Feb. 5 to March 17, and had spent $244,710. Butler has raised a total of more than $651,000 to retain his seat on the high court.
Butler will face off against Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman in the spring election.
Click the attachment below to see Butler's cover sheet.
Submit questions for Judge Mike Gableman
Madison -- It's not too late to submit questions for Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman, who will be chatting with JS Online readers this week.
In fact, you have two days to send questions for Gableman, who is facing off against Justice Louis Butler in the April 1 state Supreme Court election. Click here to submit a question.
If you missed Butler's chat on Friday, here's a link to the transcript.
Colon responds to Langley criticism
Milwaukee City Attorney Grant Langley has launched a new TV and radio ad, with the radio ad directly targeting challenger Pedro Colon.
Here is the response from Colon campaign spokesman Andrew Sharp.
"In the last two months alone, Grant Langley has lost several high profile court decisions, costing City taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. In losing these cases, respected jurists from the Court of Appeals and the Circuit Court called Grant Langley's work 'unprofessional, uncivil, abrasive, abusive, and hostile.'
"Given his own recent failures, it's ironic Grant Langley would accuse anyone else of not being a qualified attorney, especially someone with the outstanding legal credentials of State Representative Pedro Colon. The leaders of Milwaukee's legal community, including the President of the Bar Association and the incoming President of the Wisconsin Trial Lawyer's Association, all support Pedro Colon for City Attorney, because they know he will do a better job for Milwaukee than Grant Langley."
Colon himself has raised similar issues in candidate forums.
The money-losing cases Colon has cited include a federal lawsuit over promotions under then-Police Chief Arthur Jones (Langley has said the city did the best it could with the case, including getting the jury's judgment reduced).
Colon has also faulted Langley for not taking a direct role in the city's lawsuit against paint companies, which is on appeal. Langley has noted he told aldermen from the beginning the paint lawsuit -- seeking money for remediating properties where children face a lead poisoining risk -- would be a difficult challenge, which was why he recommended an outside firm handle it on a contingent fee basis.
Langley has also said the judicial criticism amounts to isolated cases and is not a reflection on the overall quality of his office's work. He has questioned Colon's experience level, specifically as it relates to the practice of municipal law.$
ON THE ISSUES: County exec race/transit
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and his challenger, state Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee), have clashed sharply on issues related to public transit. Here's what they said in response to written questions and in interviews.
One issue is the fate of the Milwaukee County Transit System, where bus ridership has plunged to its lowest level since the county took over the system in 1975. County officials have cut service, raised fares or both every year from 2001 on, and regional planners have warned a 35% service cut will be needed by 2010 without new state or local funding.
Taylor blames Walker for the current state of the transit system, accusing him of lack of commitment to transit and acting irresponsibly in service cuts and fare hikes. She supports restoring service, increasing marketing efforts and holding the line on fares to win back riders. She says she would lobby for increased state and federal funding for the bus system.
Walker says it would be possible to freeze fares, restore slashed service and add new routes if the system can stabilize state funding and control costs through regional consolidation. He is pushing a plan to use part of the state sales tax on vehicle-related purchases for transit. State Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale) added a similar provision to the state budget several years ago, but Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed it, saying it would widen the state's structural deficit. The idea hasn't resurfaced in Madison, but Walker says he will lobby for it if re-elected.
Another issue is how to use $91.5 million in long-idle federal transit aid, reserved for the results of the Milwaukee Connector study of how to link downtown and nearby neighborhoods with public transit. That study ruled out light rail and backed a guided electric bus system, but the electric bus plan was vetoed by Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Now discussion is focusing on streetcars and express buses, although a bureaucratic mixup has frozen the federally required study of those projects.
Walker wants to use all of the money on express buses. He is firmly opposed to light rail or streetcars, saying they would take money away from upgrading the bus system. Taylor says she would be open to light rail or express buses, although she agrees that stabilizing the rubber-tired bus system must be the foundation for transit improvements.
As for the role of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority, Walker says he would back a merger of the Milwaukee County, Waukesha, Racine and Kenosha transit systems into a single agency, adding, "It should not, however, be an excuse to raise a new sales tax or gas tax." Taylor says she supports regional cooperation, but the details should be negotiated among local officials. She says she doesn't want the unelected RTA to have taxing authority, although it is already levying a $2-a-car rental car tax.
The RTA's main job to date has been planning the KRM Commuter Link, a $200 million regional rail line that would link Milwaukee to the southern suburbs, Racine and Kenosha. Attempts to fund the local share of the line's construction and operating costs through a $13 hike in the rental car tax have failed to date -- although Senate Democrats are still pushing the idea -- after Walker and Racine County Executive William McReynolds refused to back a local sales tax.
Taylor says she supports KRM and will continue trying to fund it. Walker had previously backed KRM but now says improving and upgrading the bus system must come first. Federal officials have told the RTA that it will be difficult for the KRM to win crucial federal funding until the Milwaukee County bus system's future is more secure.
The Milwaukee Transit Riders Union has criticized both candidates as lacking vision for transit. The riders' group assails Walker's fare increases and service cuts and says his plan for state funding is unrealistic. But the organization also faults Taylor for not being specific about what she would do to save the bus system and bring the KRM and Milwaukee Connector plans to fruition.$
When real people aren't so, well, real
Earlier today, a blog post referenced the newest Scott Walker TV ad. In it, Walker aide Tim Russell said the folks attesting to their belief in Milwaukee -- and in Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker -- were all "real people."
Now comes this clarification, via email, from Russell:
"I did not intend to say that none of the people in the ad were talent. Our
agency had talent on hand for the taping in case our volunteers didn't
work out. We had a couple that got stage fright and were replaced
with people the agency had on hand. I apologize if I was unclear in
my answer."
The Rundown: Thirsty states look to Wisconsin water
One of the biggest issues of the just-ended legislative session was whether to pass the Great Lakes compact to protect and conserve the lakes' water. Increasingly thirsty areas to the south are looking to the Great Lakes as a way to solve their water problems. But the debate over the compact has been hung up on the question of who has access to the water and who doesn't -- a line that cuts through Wisconsin's most densely populated area. But passage in Wisconsin isn't the compact's last hurdle.
The April 1 election is little more than a week away. Read profiles of state Supreme Court candidates Louis Butler and Michael Gableman to get a better sense of who the two candidates are, or for voters in Milwaukee County, a preview of the county executive race between incumbent Scott Walker and challenger Lena Taylor, a state senator from Milwaukee. State voters will be asked whether to approve a consitutional amendment that affects the governor's veto authority to stitch together words to craft new sentences.
A Green Bay gun dealer has teamed up with Students for Concealed Carry on Campus to advocate for students to carry guns to prevent further campus shootings. »Read Full Blog Post
Walker hits the airwaves again
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has unveiled a new, upbeat TV ad, one that features a montage of (we presume) voters, all expressing their belief in Milwaukee and in, well Scott Walker.
The ad highlights, albeit briefly, public safety, economic development and -- with Walker himself delivering this line -- "protecting services through innovation."
Walker, a former Republican member of the Assembly, is facing state Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) in the April 1 election. You can read more about the race here.$ (2)
Submit questions for Scott Walker online chat
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker will partisipate in a JSOnline chat tomorrow, March 25, starting at 12:30 p.m. You can submit your questions for Walker in advance.
A chat with Walker's opponent in the April 1 election, state Sen. Lena Taylor, could not be arranged.
The week ahead in Wisconsin politics
Madison -- Here's a look at what's ahead for this week in Wisconsin politics.
Today: The Senate's Organization Committee will meet at 2 p.m. to set the calendar for Tuesday's session on the budget repair bill.
Campaign finance reports are due for candidates in the April 1 spring election.
Tuesday: There's just one week left until the spring election, and Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler and his opponent, Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman, will meet in a 7 p.m. debate at the State Bar of Wisconsin.
The Senate will be in session to vote on its version of the budget repair bill. »Read Full Blog Post
More fallout from new Scott Walker TV ad
Yesterday, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker unveiled what appeared to be a straightforward, upbeat TV ad focused on people (including Walker, of course) who "believe" in Milwaukee.
With the election now a week away, of course it would bring controversy.
First, it turned out some of those in the ad are actors.
Today there was this statement from John Zapfel, campaign manager for challenger Lena Taylor: "Given the problems Milwaukee County has seen under Scott Walker's leadership, it's no surprise he has such a hard time finding non-paid residents to praise his record. We deserve better. Lena Taylor will work hard for the real people of Milwaukee County, rather than mislead them."
Meanwhile, the state Democratic Party slammed Walker, saying he has refused to commit to serving a full term. (We should note, Taylor is a Democratic member of the state Senate. And Walker, a former Republican Assembly member, is seen as a potential gubernatorial candidate in 2010. He ran, but dropped out, of that race in 2006).
In a statement, state Democratic Party chairman Joe Wineke said: "Scott Walker says he calls
Will there be more fallout? Stay tuned.$ (6)
Submit questions now for Taylor chat
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker participated today in an online chat with JSOnline readers. You can read the transcript here.
His opponent in the April 1 election, state Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) will participate in a similar chat at 10 a.m. Thursday. If you want to submit questions in advance, you can do so here.$
Kreuser to run for county executive
Madison -- Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser said today he would run for Kenosha County executive in a special election to replace outgoing, indicted Executive Allan Kehl.
Kreuser is now notifying his Democratic colleagues in the Assembly in a conference call.
No one else has announced whether they will seek the executive's post. »Read Full Blog Post
Barrett launches Web ads
In the final week before the election, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is unveiling a series of Internet campaign videos, offering testimonials from different people talking about city issues.
The first video features Jeff Joerres, chief executive officer of Manpower Inc., discussing why his company moved from Glendale to downtown Milwaukee.
Although Barrett is considered an overwhelming favorite for re-election April 1, the mayor said he is taking the campaign seriously. In addition to the Web ads, Barrett said he is advertising in community newspapers and on the radio.
By contrast, challenger Andrew Shaw is waging a low-budget -- and almost entirely self-funded -- campaign, passing out brochures and putting up yard signs.
Shaw, an attorney, said at the start of the campaign that he hoped to raise $250,000. As of two weeks before the election, the latest campaign finance reports showed he was still more than $242,000 short of that goal.$
Kreuser's run could spark race for Dem leader
Madison -- Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser said today he won't run for re-election if he wins the job as Kenosha County executive, which could set off a fight for the top Democratic job in the Assembly.
Democrats are hoping that top post is speaker, as they try to take the majority in November elections. The Assembly is now controlled 52-47 by Republicans.
Kreuser said he was "pulled both ways" as he tried to decide whether to run for executive or focus on remaining in the Assembly and getting the coveted speaker's job.
"Now we're at the edge of getting the majority," Kreuser said.
Kreuser said if he wins the executive's job he would like to remain Democratic leader through the end of his 15-year tenure in the Assembly, and that his fellow Democrats seemed receptive to that idea in a conference call today.
Kreuser also said he would have no role in running Assembly campaigns this fall. That work will fall to Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison), whom Kreuser said was ideal for the job because he does not want to be minority leader or speaker next year. Instead, Pocan wants to remain on the powerful Joint Finance Committee, Kreuser said.
"If someone wants to be speaker, they're going to have to do it the old-fashioned way -- earn it," Kreuser said.
But, he added, Assembly Democrats should not worry too much now about who will be their leader next year. "First they ought to worry about the majority," he said. "Then they ought to worry about who's leader."
Kreuser said he is well suited for the executive's job because he worked as the top aide to then-County Executive John Collins from 1986 to 1993 and because his work in the Assembly means he can ensure the county captures all the state and federal money it deserves.
"I think people want somebody who can get in and get the job done," he said.
Kreuser said he planned to run for county executive in 2010 no matter what, but County Executive Allan Kehl's departure moved up his timeline. Kreuser -- who has two sons, 14 and 16 -- said he made the decision with his family.$
"Don't tase the American people!"
Madison -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean riffed on a theme evoked by a protestor this evening and ended his speech by telling supporters, "Don't tase the American people!"
As Dean neared the end of his speech at a DNC fund-raiser at the Majestic Theater, a frequent Madison protestor held up a hand-drawn sign that said, "911 was an inside job."
Dean responded, "Well, I don't go along with that," and a theater staffer then escorted the protestor out.
At this, the protestor cried, "He's attacking me. He's hurting me. Don't tase me, bro!"
This elicited laughter from Dean, who repeated the line and then told those gathered: "Don't tase the American people -- vote for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama!"
As Dean left, the protestor was waiting outside. He peppered Dean with questions, asking him if he would support a new investigation of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Dean was noncommittal.
The protestor, who has appeared at other recent Madison events to promote the idea that the attacks were an inside job, told a reporter his name was Miles. He said he'd walked into the DNC fund-raiser without paying the $25 party officials were seeking.
"I wouldn't give them my money," he said.$ (2)
The Rundown: Candidates heading into the final stretch
The state Supreme Court election is little more than a week away, and while the candidates have raised $1 million between them, they are expected to be outspent by third party groups who have been spending heavily on TV ads. Heading into the final two weeks, Justice Louis Butler had $228,328 cash on hand, while his rival, Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman, had $120,738 to spend.
In the race for county executive, incumbent Scott Walker has spent twice as much as his challenger, Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee), and campaign finance reports showed Milwaukee City Attorney Grant Langley and challenger, Rep. Pedro Colón (D-Milwaukee) both have spent more than $100,000 each this year, though Langley had about twice as much cash on hand.
In other election news, check here for a preview of the race for the 13th Aldermanic District seat on the Milwaukee Common Council.
An income tax checkoff to protect endangered species has raised $13 million in the 25 years in which it's been an option for Wisconsin taxpayers, the AP reports.
And beware: Senior citizens in Milwaukee report they're receiving possibly illegal unsolicited telephone calls from companies asking them to buy insurance as an alternative to Medicare benefits.$
Voters have seen 4,789 campaign ads in Supreme Court race
Madison - 4,789.
That's now many state Supreme Court campaign ads Wisconsin voters saw between Feb. 20 and March 16, according to a report from the Brennan Center for Justice. Those ads cost an estimated $1.6 million, the report said.
When it comes to TV ads in this spring's state Supreme Court race, third-party interest groups are spending more than nine times as much as the candidates, the report found. Justice Louis Butler and Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman spent just $86,938 between them, accounting for 5% of the overall spending.
"Massive spending by special interest groups puts judicial candidates in an impossible position: either candidates are defined by moneyed outsiders, or they are forced to dial for dollars in order to compete," Laura MacCleery, deputy director of the Democracy Program at the center, said in a statement. "Neither scenario promotes confidence in the courts."
Here are the top spenders so far:
WMC ad takes on "Loophole Louie," campaign watchdog raps it
Madison -- Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce has launched another ad against Justice Louis Butler in this year's state Supreme Court race, saying that "Loophole Louie" has jeopardized the safety of Wisconsin families.
"We've heard it before," the ad says. "Judge cites loophole, sides with criminal that threatens our safety. Take Justice Louis Butler. His colleagues called him 'Loophole Louie.'"
Butler earned the nickname while working as a public defender. His campaign said in a press release it was an affectionate term from colleagues who "admired his staunch and unwavering devotion to the law, and the fact that, by applying the law to the facts, he was able to help free innocent defendants who had been wrongly-convicted." »Read Full Blog Post(1)
Podcast: Of Bosnia snipers and Democratic sniping
In this week's national politics podcast, political reporter Greg Borowski and Washington bureau chief Craig Gilbert look at the presidential race, including the fallout from Hillary Clinton's reference to have been under sniper fire in a visit to Bosnia while First Lady and the continued sniping between Clinton and opponent Barack Obama.
Judicial campaign watchdog also critical of WEAC ad
Madison -- The Wisconsin Judicial Integrity Committee was busy today, coming down hard on the ad from WEAC against Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman, saying the ad fails to provide all the facts
about the two cases.
"This ad by WEAC continues an unfortunate trend on both sides of this campaign of politicizing court cases, in particular complex criminal cases, about which there is always more relevant information to know than can be conveyed in 30-second political ad - or a press release," the committee said in a statement.
Click the attachment below to read the statement from the committee.
CFAF ad takes on Butler contributions
Madison - Contributions received by Justice Louis Butler from attorneys with ties to cases before the Supreme Court are the target of a new radio ad from the Coalition for America's Families.
The group, which generally advocates for conservative causes, has run a series of TV ads about Butler's handling of criminal cases while on the Supreme Court. Now, it says Butler has taken nearly $30,000 in donations from attorneys with cases before the court in the current term.
Last year, Butler said he had adopted a policy of disclosing whenever a lawyer with a case before the court had donated to his campaign, a standard he said went above what is required by the Judicial Code of Ethics. He said he has followed the code, which allows campaigns - not candidates - to seek donations for their candidacy, and that he has not recused himself from any cases as a result of campaign contributions. »Read Full Blog Post
New Colon ad targets Langley on gangs
Building on the anti-crime theme he has focused on from the start, Milwaukee city attorney challenger Pedro Colon today launched a new TV ad that asserts incumbent Grant Langley has not done enough to combat gangs.
The ad features Betty Grinker, a south side resident and community activist, who says "I get angry when Grant Langley says he's been tough on gangs." Grinker goes on to say "gangs have been the downfall of my neighborhood" and that friends and neighbors have moved away "because they can't stand it anymore."
Finally, she notes Langley's 24 years in office and says residents "can't afford to wait any longer."
The first ad from Colon, a Democratic member of the state Assembly from Milwaukee, touted his anti-crime plan. Langley, in office since 1984, launched his TV effort with an upbeat ad that says he has closed hundreds of drug houses, but stresses the job is more than fighting crime.
The election is Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Colon has begun running a radio ad on stations aimed at African-American listeners that features U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee), who backs Colon. The ad stresses Colon's Democratic roots -- even though the job is non-partisan -- and even urges listeners who "made history" by voting last month for Barack Obama in the presidential race to "show your power" by voting for Colon.
How much does the ad stress Colon's Democratic roots?
The boilerplate line at the end says the ad is authorized and paid for by "Pedro Colon, Democratic candidate for city attorney."$
Butler blasts 'ugly ads' from both sides
State Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler called again today for an end to attack ads from supporters of both candidates in the nasty campaign for his high court seat.
"The ugly ads just keep coming," Butler said, citing a new Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce commercial attacking him and a new Wisconsin Education Association Council commercial attacking his opponent, Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman. He stressed that both ads were "ugly" and called on both groups to take them down.
"Those people who think they're trying to help me should stand aside," Butler said at a news conference outside Milwaukee's Italian Community Center, where he was holding a campaign fundraiser.
The WMC ad calls Butler "Loophole Louie" -- a nickname from his days as a public defender -- and claims he endangered public safety with rulings against the prosecution in criminal cases. Butler said the ad was "trying to demean the integrity of the court and a sitting justice," by wrongly suggesting the U.S. Constitution was merely "a technicality."
As for the WEAC ad, which calls Gableman soft on sex offenders, Butler said, "I don't know if the WEAC ad is true or false, but it is negative in tone" and that turns off voters.
Butler said he had not run any negative ads himself, in contrast to Gableman, who has run an ad highlighting Butler's representation of a child molester who later molested another child -- without saying that the criminal went to prison and served his entire sentence on the first crime before the second crime occurred.
Appearing with Butler, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said, "His opponent's commercial is the most intentionally misleading commercial I have ever seen in Wisconsin politics." U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.), a former prosecutor, echoed those sentiments and decried "the dishonesty that is being perpetuated through these ads."
Gableman's campaign has defended its commercial, arguing that it's legitimate to contrast Butler's background as a public defender with Gableman's background as a prosecutor.
Most of the ads in the race are coming from third-party groups that are far outspending both official campaigns combined. Many of those ads have focused on crime -- even though the sponsoring organizations traditionally have been more interested in electing candidates friendly to their positions on business, education and social issues -- or on allegations of ethical lapses.$
Introducing the mayor of ... which city?
Everyone knows Tom Barrett is running for his second term as mayor of Milwaukee.
And almost all candidates for Milwaukee city office -- including Barrett's opponent, attorney Andrew Shaw -- list a Milwaukee address for their campaign committees. But Barrett, a lifelong Milwaukee resident, lists a Wauwatosa address on his campaign finance report.
Barrett campaign spokesman Eric Couto said the address is the home of Barrett's longtime campaign treasurer, Catherine Shaw. Couto said Shaw has held the post since Barrett was first elected to the Assembly in 1984 -- from a district that included Wauwatosa -- and stayed on through subsequent campaigns for the state Senate, the U.S. House, the governor's office and the mayor's office.
"She works in Milwaukee, but she lives in Wauwatosa," Couto said.
The only other Milwaukee candidate with a suburban address for his campaign committee is Henry Hamilton, who is running for 9th District alderman against incumbent Ald. Robert Puente. But that's because Hamilton actually lives in Brown Deer. He has said he will move into the city, as required by law, if he wins the April 1 election.$
The Rundown: Court says pharmacist reprimand was appropriate
The state's Pharmacy Examining Board acted properly by reprimanding and limiting the license of a pharmacist who refused to fill a young woman's prescription for birth control pills, a court of appeals panel said Tuesday. The case of Neil Noesen had been invoked by lawmakers who wanted to enact a conscience clause for pharmacists.
The spring election is now less than a week away, and the candidates for state Supreme Court met in a debate at the State Bar Center Tuesday night, sparring over the range of ads that have been run in the race. In the campaign for Milwaukee County executive, incumbent Scott Walker embraces the idea of privatizing certain county functions, but his opponent, Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee), has a more mixed approach to the concept.
Also Tuesday, the state Senate passed its plan for fixing the state's budget gap, but Republicans disagreed with Democractic leaders about the way to do it. Senate Democrats included a provision to raise taxes on large, multistate businesses that pay little or no corporate income taxes in Wisconsin. That's headed nowhere in the state Assembly, so lawmakers will have to figure out how to bridge the gap between the competing plans.
One person who will be stepping back from the budget negotiations: Assembly Democratic Leader Jim Kreuser of Kenosha, who said he will run for Kenosha County Executive in a special election to replace outgoing, indicted County Executive Allan Kehl.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean was in Madison to rally Democrats, calling for unity and asking them to come together behind whoever wins the protracted fight for the party's nomination.$ (1)
WEAC enters Supreme Court race with ad against Gableman
Madison - In Tuesday night's debate, Justice Louis Butler and Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman had strong words to say about the third-party ads in the Supreme Court race.
Butler said voters should say "enough is enough" and reject the trend of negative ads from outside interest groups; he has denounced even those that are ostensibly in support of his candidacy. Gableman urged voters to turn off the TV and instead read up about the candidates.
With less than a week to go before the election, there is a whole new round of ads hitting both candidates.
A new player in the race is the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teacher's union, which is aiming to neutralize the issue of law enforcement, something Gableman has been playing up as a strengths over Butler. Gableman was a district attorney in Ashland County, while Butler was a public defender before becoming a municipal and circuit court judge in Milwaukee.
"Imagine, a sexual predator attacks a young girl, then forces her to watch the attack on video," the ad says, over pictures of actors re-enacting the scenario. "Judge Michael Gableman said this criminal only had to spend one year in jail."
The ad goes on to say Gableman went easy on another child sexual predator, giving him "a fraction of the jail time" to which he was eligible. Online court records show he was given a sentence of 11 years in prison and 14 years of extended supervision.
"Judge Michael Gableman, protecting criminals, not Wisconsin families," the ad concludes.
The court records show that both offenders were convicted of class B felonies, which carry a penalty of up to 60 years in prison.
"The teachers' union bosses have sunk to a new low," Gableman campaign spokesman Darrin Schmitz said in a statement.
It's not to late -- submit questions for Gableman
Madison -- Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman, a candidate for state Supreme Court, will be online today at 4 p.m. to answer questions from readers.
Click here to submit a question for Gableman; a transcript of Justice Louis Butler's chat last week can be found here.
If you want to know more about the candidates and who's backing them, check out our endorsement database. (1)
DA seeks special prosecutor on open records complaint
Madison -- The Burnett County district attorney is seeking a special prosecutor to investigate a open records complaint against Burnett County Judge Mike Gableman, a candidate in Tuesday's state Supreme Court election, according to the group that filed the complaint.
UPDATE: Kutz said this afternoon he has not investigated the case and sought to farm it out to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
One Wisconsin Now, which advocates for what it calls progressive causes, last week filed an open records complaint against Gableman for what it said was his refusal to fully comply with an open records request for e-mails from his state-funded account.
"The Burnett County district attorney's actions in seeking a special prosecutor demonstrate the seriousness of ignoring open records laws in the state, as we contend sitting judge Mike Gableman has," Scot Ross, One Wisconsin Now executive director, said in a statement.
Gableman said in an interview last week he believes he has fully complied with the request.
One Wisconsin Now said District Attorney Kenneth Kutz said he has asked district attorneys from Barron, Sawyer, Bayfield, St. Croix, Eau Claire and Douglas Counties, to be a "special prosecutor" in the case.
All of the district attorneys have taken sides in the race. Angela Holmstrom of Barron County, Thomas Van Roy of Sawyer County, H. Craig Haukass of Bayfield County and Eric Johnson of St. Croix County have endorsed Gableman. Eau Claire County District Attorney Richard White and Douglas County District Attorney Daniel Blank have endorsed Gableman's opponent, incumbent Justice Louis Butler.
Kutz is neutral in the race.
Gableman and Butler face off in Tuesday's election.
Click here to read the complaint.
UPDATE: He said about two-thirds of the district attorneys he has contacted have declined to do so. Barron County District Attorney Angela Holmstrom declined to do so because of her endorsement of Gableman, he said. Others gave no reason.
Kutz said if he gets no takers from area district attorneys, he will ask Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to review the matter.
Update by Patrick Marley$
Gableman says open records complaint is 'last-ditch effort'
Madison -- The campaign of Burnett County Judge Mike Gableman said One Wisconsin Now is falsely claiming that the Supreme Court candidate hasn't complied with state open records laws.
Gableman's campaign said he provided 45 documents to the group, which supports what it calls progressive causes, in October, and that the Wisconsin Department of Justice has verified that he has complied with the law.
"Judge Gableman has complied with Wisconsin's open records laws," Gableman campaign adviser Darrin Schmitz said in a statement. "This is a last-ditch effort by OWN to save Louis Butler's activist seat on the court by attempting to smear Judge Gableman."
Burnett County District Attorney Kenneth Kutz said he has not investigated the case and is looking for another district attorney to handle it to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
DA says Gableman gave tougher sentence than he recommended
Madison -- One of the sex offender cases highlighted in a new ad against state Supreme Court candidate Michael Gableman would have been very difficult to prove at trial, the prosecutor in charge of the case said.
Because of that, Burnett County District Attorney Kenneth Kutz said he negotiated a plea deal with the defendant, Mark Eugene Johnson, and presented it to Gableman, a Burnett County Circuit Court judge. Gableman's sentence -- criticized in an ad this week by the Wisconsin Education Association Council -- was stiffer than the one Kutz and the defendant jointly recommended, Kutz said today.
The ad by WEAC, the state's largest teacher's union, alleges that the sentence he imposed was too light. It started running as Gableman tries to unseat Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler in Tuesday's election.
Kutz also poked a hole in another claim made in the ad, which begins: "Imagine: A sexual predator attacks a young girl, then forces her to watch the attack on video. Judge Michael Gableman said this criminal only had to spend one year in jail."
But Kutz dismissed charges that Johnson videotaped the attack and showed it to the 10-year-old victim because investigators didn't turn up such evidence when they executed a search warrant.
Kutz, who is neutral in the Supreme Court election, said he worked out a plea deal because Johnson was willing to plead guilty and that such cases are notoriously hard to prove at trial. He said he can usually get juries to convict in sex assault cases just 25% of the time.
Kutz said he and the defense attorney recommended Gableman impose and stay a 10-year sentence and give Johnson eight years of probation, with one year of that to be served in jail with work release privileges. Gableman instead imposed and stayed a 15-year sentence and handed down 10 years of probation, with one year to be served in jail without work release privileges.$
Phillips says she OK'd use of photo
Not every picture is worth a thousand words. But some pictures can generate way more words than that.
A case in point is the flap over a photo of former Wisconsin Secretary of State Vel Phillips, which appeared on the cover of a campaign brochure from Milwaukee aldermanic candidate Nik Kovac. A union Web site is claiming the brochure misleads voters into believing Phillips has endorsed Kovac in the April 1 election, but that she neither endorsed him nor agreed to the use of her picture.
Phillips, however, is saying that she did approve use of her photo, even though she did not endorse Kovac.
The controversy follows a larger dispute in the south side's 12th Aldermanic District, where Spanish-language billboards showed a popular priest urging residents to vote for incumbent Ald. Jim Witkowiak. The priest, Father Eleazar Perez, has denied taking sides in the race, which pits Witkowiak against former Ald. Angel Sanchez. Witkowiak's campaign has insisted it had Perez's endorsement.
Kovac, a freelance journalist, is running against community activist Patrick Flaherty in the 3rd Aldermanic District, representing the east side and Riverwest.
Pictures of the late Mayor Frank Zeidler, the late Sen. Robert "Fighting Bob" La Follette Sr. and the late civil rights activist Father James Groppi also appeared on the Kovac brochure, under the headline, "What defines a true progressive?" Inside, Kovac describes Phillips and Zeidler as his "civic heroes," but does not claim to have the endorsement of Phillips, the only living member of the quartet.
An article posted on the Milwaukee Area Labor Council's Web site says Phillips "confirmed that she was not asked to clear use of her image and unaware that any conversation with Kovac would lead to such use, in a manner that suggested endorsement." That item was then summarized in the Expresso column in the current issue of the Shepherd Express. Both the Labor Council and the Shepherd have endorsed Flaherty.
The Kovac campaign responded by posting a letter from Phillips on its Web site, in which she says she authorized use of her picture.
In an interview with AllPolitics, Phillips said the Labor Press editor awakened her from a midday nap on Easter Sunday, and "I didn't know what I was saying, really. ... I just was not wide awake."
Phillips said she didn't endorse either candidate because she feels the need to remain neutral, as chair of the political action arm of the Community Brainstorming Conference. She also said she respects both candidates, although she can't vote for either of them because she doesn't live in the district.
But later, after she snapped out of her grogginess, she realized she had given Kovac permission to use her image as long as he didn't claim she endorsed him.
Phillips was both the first African-American and the first woman to serve on the Milwaukee Common Council and as Wisconsin secretary of state, and the first African-American judge in Milwaukee County.$ (4)
Interest group spending in Supreme Court race nearing record
Madison -- Spending on TV ads by third-party interest groups in this year's state Supreme Court race is nearing an all-time record, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a campaign watchdog, estimates that spending by outside groups is nearing $2.9 million. In the state's largest media markets, 93% of the ads are from interest groups, drowning out the candidates. According to a report yesterday from the Brennan Center for Justice, Wisconsin voters saw 6,528 ads on the race by Sunday.
Figures compiled by Rindy Miller Media, consultants to the campaign of Justice Louis Butler, put the spending even higher -- more than $4.1 million by the start of this week. According to those figures, $1.6 million has been by Butler and groups ostensibly supporting him, compared with $2.6 million for Gableman and groups backing him.
The record for spending by interest groups was set in 2007, when it topped $3.1 million. In Milwaukee late Wednesday, Butler said the judicial system was under attack and he condemned the latest ads in the race, even one that was intended to benefit him.
"Never before have we seen what we've seen happen in this race. Ever. And enough is enough," Butler said in a statement, calling for all negative ads to be taken down, including those from his opponent, Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman.
"One candidate is actually running a positive campaign and the other candidate is waging the most negative campaign in Wisconsin judicial history," said Butler campaign adviser Sachin Chheda.
Gableman campaign spokesman Darrin Schmitz pointed out in a statement that the first ad run in this race attacked Gableman's record and integrity.
Gableman has joined Butler in calling for third-party groups to step aside, but has also pointed to a comment from Butler in 2000 that candidates' records are "fair game."
"His decisions and actions as both a justice and criminal defense attorney are public record, and something the voters should be aware of," Schmitz said.
Taylor trashes Walker on pension problems
In the wake of a Journal Sentinel article today highlighting continuing problems for Milwaukee County and its pension system, challenger Lena Taylor placed the blame at the feet of Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker.
The two face off in Tuesday's election.
In an interview, Taylor faulted Walker for "mismanagement" of the pension system and for not revealing that the various problems had been reported to the Internal Revenue Service. Taylor held a news conference this afternoon on the same topic.
After citing a host of areas within county government, Taylor declared: "The county executive does not have the ability to manage county government." Taylor, a Democratic state Senator, said Walker's lack of management ability is "costing us milions of dollars."
Walker, a former Republican member of the state Assembly, won the job in 2002, in the aftermath of the pension scandal that drove F. Thomas Ament from office. Walker's campaign issued a statement late today that stressed it was the county that identified the matters and referred them to the IRS.
The statement, from Walker campaign manager Georgia Maxwell, said Taylor's news conference was "an attempt to distrct voters from her vote this week to increase state taxes by more than $562 million."$ (5)
Colon takes more swipes at Langley
In a late afternoon forum in the City Hall rotunda, Milwaukee City Attorney Grant Langley and challenger Pedro Colon squared off for the final time today before Tuesday's election, with Colon arguing repeatedly it is time for change in the office.
He cited Langley's 24 years on the job as a reason to make a change, while Langley pointed to his tenure -- and the extensive experience it represents -- as a reason to re-elect him for a seventh term. Before being elected city attorney, Langley served for 13 years as an assistant city attorney in the office.
Colon, a Democratic member of the state Assembly, said Langley's definition of experience, "immediately disqualifies anybody else who has a clear and different vision for the office. I think voters want to know there is a choice."
Langley, meanwhile ticked off a variety of accomplishments, declaring: "We're doing it every single day. He's never done it."
Colon worked a new issue into the debate: Open records requests made to the city.
Answering a question that related to protecting private information of residents and city workers, Colon cited a recent report by WTMJ-TV (Channel 4), in which the station sought records of what web sites elected officials had visited while on the job, using taxpayer-owned computers. While the station received a complete list of such sites from Waukesha, it did not from the city.
Colon stopped short of saying Langley was protecting aldermen, but said Langley's office had not responded in a clear manner.
"My view is right now we're just avoiding the situation," Colon said.
Generally speaking, elected officials are considered the custodians of their own records, such as emails and correspondence. In other cases, such as cell phone records, other city departments maintain the records.
Said Langley: "I disclosed everything. ... I can assure you, everybody disclosed everything required by law."
Langley also said the city's computer administrators had told him that controls on city computers prevent workers from viewing the sort of sites the TV station was interested in.
The forum was sponsored by the League of Women Voters.$
The Rundown: Ads take Supreme Court race up another notch
Just five more days until the polls open in the spring election.
The already contentious race for the state Supreme Court has gone up another notch this week with a new round of TV ads. Meanwhile, the new Government Accountability Board is considering whether to regulate issue ads, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. Outside interest groups have spent more than $2 million on ads in this year's race, according to a report yesterday.
Scrutiny of a Court of Appeals candidate heats up, in the Journal Sentinel's No Quarter column. And the candidates for Milwaukee County executive -- incumbent Scott Walker and state Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) -- met in their final debate appearance.
The Supreme Court Wednesday declined to revoke the law license of former state Sen. Gary George, meaning the convicted felon may try to get it back in June.
Milwaukee County pension officials have discovered 115 new pension payout errors, including an overpayment to former House of Correction superintendent Richard Cox.$
WEAC defends its Supreme Court ad
Madison -- The state's largest teacher's union is defending its ad in the state Supreme Court race and dismissing claims that it distorts facts.
The Wisconsin Education Association Council waded into the race Monday with a tough ad that accused Burnett County Circuit Court Judge Michael Gableman of being soft on child sex offenders. Gableman is trying to unseat Justice Louis Butler in Tuesday's election.
Burnett County District Attorney Kenneth Kutz has said the ad misrepresents the cases highlighted in the ad.
The ad says Mark Eugene Johnson attacked a child, videotaped it and forced her to watch it. Kutz noted he dropped the charges that the attack was taped and the girl watched it because the tape wasn't found when investigators executed a search warrant.
In response, WEAC today released documents from the case that show the search warrant did turn up a tape of Johnson alone that the victim had earlier said she was forced to watch. The union also noted Kutz had the dismissed charges read into the record, allowing Gableman to consider them when he sentenced Johnson.$
Gableman ad criticized by 34 current, former judges
Madison - Thirty-four current and former judges issued a statement today condemning an ad run by the campaign of Burnett County Circuit Court Judge Michael Gableman.
All but two of the judges had already endorsed Gableman's opponent, Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler, however.
In a statement, the 34 said an ad the Gableman ad that includes Butler's picture next to the picture of a convicted child sex offender, Reuben Lee Mitchell, "marks a new low in judicial campaigns in this state." »Read Full Blog Post(2)
Text of new Colon radio ad
Earlier today, Milwaukee City Attorney Grant Langley issued a statement (attached below) that criticizes challenger state Rep. Pedro Colon (D-Milwaukee) as "no friend to Milwaukee taxpayers."
At issue is Colon's role on a deal that was aimed at correcting a "funding flaw" that is part of the school choice program and means an extra hit to city taxpayers. You can read more about it here.
With the election approaching Tuesday, Langley's campaign is also planning to launch a TV ad that repeats the script of a recent radio ad (see second item).
Meanwhile, Colon is launching a radio ad to respond to the various Langley claims.
For those keeping track of the retorts, here is the text of Colon's upcoming radio ad:
Woman speaking: "I don't mind hard work, but I think everyone should have to live by the same rules.
"The City Attorney, Grant Langley, gets more than $7 million a year and a staff of 60 for a job he's failed to do. He's lost high profile court cases and caused judges to say Grant Langley's work is unprofessional, uncivil, abrasive, abusive, and hostile.
"Last year, Grant Langley promised to stand up to big banks. He didn't. Now, more Milwaukee families are losing their homes to foreclosure.
"Grant Langley promised to protect our schools. He hasn't. So, year after year, our kids get less state education money than they deserve.
"Grant Langley promised to stand up for taxpayers, and he still isn't getting the job done.
"The Journal-Sentinel reported this winter that Grant Langley has failed to collect enough money to buy the city 48 new police cruisers or 10 new snow plows.
"God knows we could've used those this year!
"You know, waiting for results might work for Grant Langley, but it doesn't work for me. Grant Langley has had 24 years to get the job done for Milwaukee. We can't afford to wait any longer."$
Calls lead to confusion
Madison -- The Coalition for America's Families is dialing households in southeastern Wisconsin with a message about the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and an old nickname of Justice Louis Butler's.
Butler, who is running against Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman in Tuesday's election, was given the nickname "Loophole Louie," by colleagues who admired his work as a public defender.
Some recipients have mistakenly thought the calls had originated from the Journal Sentinel; they did not. The coalition pointed to a handful of Journal Sentinel stories from as far back as 1999 that referenced Butler's nickname.
The call says:
"Hello. I wanted to share with you that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Louis Butler earned the nickname 'Loophole Louie' as a public defender. For over a decade, Butler tried to exploit legal technicalities to free some of Milwaukee's most violent criminals. And since Butler was appointed to Wisconsin Supreme Court, he's used loopholes to suppress crucial evidence and overturn the convictions of repeat offenders, siding with violent criminals who threaten our safety. Louis Butler says he doesn't mind being called 'Loophole Louie.' He actually thinks it's affectionate. What do you think? Call Louis Butler at (608) 266-1884 and ask him to deliver justice, not loopholes. Paid for by the Coalition for America's Families."
Gableman lands $10,000 donors
Madison -- Last-minute contributions have been flowing to the state Supreme Court candidates this week, with most of them going to Burnett County Circuit Court Judge Michael Gableman, records show.
Gableman faces Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler in Tuesday's election for a 10-year term on the court.
Gableman received two $10,000 donations, the maximum allowed. They came Monday from Paul Singer and Bonnie Loeb of New York City. Both work for Elliot Management, reports at the Government Accountability Board show.
He also received three $5,000 donations in recent days -- one from Richard Uihlein of Uline Shipping Supplies in Illinois; one from John Bryan, a Lake Oswego, Ore., retiree; and one from David C. Humphreys, president of TAMKO Roofing Products in Joplin, Mo.
Butler's biggest donations in recent days were $2,500 each. They came from former Acting Gov. Marty Schreiber, a Democrat; Renee Herzig of Shorewood, vice president of Herzig College; and Suzanne Herzig of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Herzig College communication director.
Butler also received several $500 and $1,000 donations in recent days.$
The Rundown: The Sweet Sixteen edition
Tonight is Wisconsin's big game against Davidson, but there will be some at-the-buzzer action down the dial: Justice Louis Butler and Burnett County Judge Mike Gableman will meet in their final debate before Tuesday's state Supreme Court election. It will be televised on Wisconsin Public Television.
With the election closing in, questions about campaign finance reports for Jefferson Davis, the former Menomonee Falls village president who is running for the Village Board, have prompted the new Government Accountability Board to voluntarily review his reports before filing them.
In the Capitol, Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) said he hopes an agreement on a budget repair bill can be reached within weeks, the AP reports. A state law passed in the recently ended legislative session will help victims leave their abusers by allowing them to break rental agreements, the Appleton Post-Crescent reports. Meanwhile, Gov. Jim Doyle announced two new appointments to the University of Wisconsin System's Board of Regents.
While the nation's economy is "probably" in a recession, Wisconsin Republican U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan said the Federal Reserve Board shouldn't make additional interest rate cuts.$
Coming soon to a door handle near you
From a purely technical standpoint, Tuesday's election is nonpartisan.
Nevertheless, given the background of the candidates in three local races, the affair has taken on a decidedly partisan flavor: Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is a former Democratic member of Congress; Democratic state Rep. Pedro Colon is challenging Milwaukee City Attorney Grant Langley and Democratic Sen. Lena Taylor is facing Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker (a former Republican member of the state Assembly, no less).
Thus, perhaps little surprise the Milwaukee County Democratic Party is mobilizing its supporters for a weekend literature drop. The main piece -- linked below -- is a door-hanger that urges voters to "Make a difference. Vote Democrat!"
Barrett, facing little-known attorney Andrew Shaw, is expected to be a clear winner.
Colon and Taylor, both challenging incumbents, have a tough challenge -- and both could benefit if still-undecided voters see the nonpartisan race defined as a partisan battle. Milwaukee County, especially the city, is considered a Democratic stronghold.$
Huebsch would have voted for smoking ban with phase-in for taverns
Madison -- In an interview with a Journal Sentinel reporter on the WisconsinEye public affairs channel, Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) said he could have voted for a statewide smoking ban that exempted taverns and restaurants for two or three years.
"We've had smoking in bars and restaurants for, what, 400 years -- you can't wait two or three more?" Huebsch said he told legislators pushing for a statewide smoking ban.
He called the phase-in period for taverns and restaurants "the main sticking point" that prevented a vote in either the Assembly or the Senate on the statewide ban, which is a top priority of Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle. The governor has repeatedly said taverns and restaurants should not be exempt from a smoking ban.
But the failure to compromise on a phase-in period for bars or taverns kept the issue from moving forward, Huebsch added. "Whenever you want all or nothing in politics, you're going to get nothing every time."
On other issues, the Assembly speaker said:
*He is encouraged by private negotiations with Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Weston) on the plan the Legislature must pass to solve a $652-million shortfall in tax collections. Huebsch is hopeful that a compromise acceptable to both Assembly Republicans and Senate Democrats can be negotiated within days.
*He has had his differences in the past with the Republican Party's presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, but has no problem supporting him in the November election. Huebsch also predicted that the Democratic presidential nominee will be U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
*If there is a national anti-Iraq war backlash that elects a Democrat president in November, Huebsch is confident that Republicans will keep control of the Assembly. Huebsch-led Republicans have a 52-47 margin of control in the Assembly, so Democrats need to win only three seats to take control.$ (1)
Help for undecided voters in Supreme Court race
Madison -- Still undecided about which candidate to support in Tuesday's state Supreme Court campaign?
Back away from the barrage of TV ads and check out some online resources.
"The best advice we can give voters is to ignore political ads on TV and radio that level sensational or unsubstantiated charges against one candidate or the other," said Tom Basting, non-voting chair of the Wisconsin Judicial Integrity Campaign Committee, a self-appointed watchdog group set up by the State Bar of Wisconsin.
Take a look at transcripts of online chats by Justice Louis Butler and Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman or video of interviews they did (Butler here and Gableman here) with the Journal Sentinel's editorial board. Butler and Gableman also filled out questionnaires provided by the editorial board.
To know more about who's supporting each candidate, here's a database of endorsements. And to know who's been giving to the candidates, here's a database of contributions they've received.
If you get bored with tonight's Badgers game (yeah, right), the two candidates will be debating on Wisconsin Public Television at 7 p.m. You can also watch a debate from Tuesday at the State Bar Center.
The League of Women Voters has put together a voter guide available here, the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance questioned the candidates here and the Milwaukee Bar Association surveyed its members about the candidates' qualifications.
Were trial lawyers warned in Appeals Court race?
No Quarter columnist Dan Bice sends this item:
The winner of Tuesday's state Appeals Court race will likely be on the bench issuing decisions for years to come.
But for now, you get to play judge and jury on one aspect of the contest between recently appointed Judge Lisa Neubauer and challenger William Gleisner III:
Specifically, were the trial lawyers told that Gov. Jim Doyle would stonewall their future legislative program if they endorsed Gleisner in the contest?
By all accounts, Neubauer's husband, Jeff, a prominent Democrat and friend of the governor, talked with Joe Strohl, the lobbyist for the trial lawyers, about the heated race a little while back.
With great reluctance, Strohl summarized Jeff Neubauer's remarks: "There was a suggestion that Lisa's an appointee of the governor, and the governor may not be fond of (the trial lawyers) supporting Gleisner." A prominent trial lawyer said an e-mail written by Strohl makes it clear that Jeff Neubauer's comments were even more forceful.
The group took the words seriously. Officials there went so far as to take up the matter with Doyle, a second-term Democrat.
"Subsequent meetings with the governor have made it pretty clear that he doesn't much care what we do (in the race)," Strohl said.
Jeff Neubauer disputed Strohl's account.
He said he didn't have a "clear and specific" recollection of all the details of the conversation, but he is sure of one thing: He never issued any threats, implicit or explicit, from the governor or himself.
"It would be stupid," Jeff Neubauer said.
Doyle's office couldn't be reached for comment. Gleisner's spokesman Brian Nemoir said, "It sounds and feels like a threat was levied."
But the fact is, whatever was said in the conversation, it didn't seem to affect the plaintiffs' bar.
The trial lawyers had already endorsed Gleisner when Jeff Neubauer made his call. And they have not since rescinded the endorsement.$
Transit aid mix-up resolved, Walker says
The federal government has cleared a key obstacle to using $91.5 million in long-idle federal transit aid, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker announced today.
Walker has proposed spending all of the money on express buses, while Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has proposed spending it for a mixture of express buses and streetcars. But it can't be spent on anything until a detailed study is completed, and a bureaucratic mix-up drained a separate federal account of most of the $3.5 million that local authorities were hoping to use to complete the study.
The Federal Transit Administration has now restored all of the study money, Walker announced. He credited his contacts with the agency chief, Jim Simpson, and the work of the state's congressional delegation. Barrett, aldermen and business leaders also had been lobbying for the restoration of the study money.
Today's action from the Republican-controlled federal administration comes just before Tuesday's election, in which Walker, a Republican who worked on President Bush's campaigns, faces state Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) for re-election to the officially non-partisan executive's office.
Walker noted that he also served with Simpson as a Bush appointee on the St. Lawrence Seaway Commission. Barrett, a former Democratic congressman, has been lobbying the state's delegation in the Democratic-controlled Congress.
But Walker said he believed the FTA officials "weren't going to do this just as a favor" to him but saw the Milwaukee area "had a legitimate case to be made." He said he "would have been just as happy" if the ruling came down after the election.
Most council incumbents lead in fundraising
A majority of incumbent Milwaukee aldermen are leading their opponents in fundraising, spending or both as they head into Tuesday's election, campaign finance reports show.
One notable exception is Ald. Michael McGee, who is fighting to retain his 6th District seat from jail. McGee filed a statement saying he wasn't raising or spending any money. His challenger, political consultant Milele Coggs, has raised $8,732 this year and spent $5,280, with $3,453 on hand as of March 17.
The only other incumbent who was both outraised and outspent by his opponent was Ald. Ashanti Hamilton, who is facing corrections consultant C. Orlando Owens in the 1st District. The largest campaign treasuries belong to Common Council President Willie Hines Jr. and Ald. Michael Murphy, chairman of the council's Finance & Personnel Committee.
In the 3rd District race for the council's only open seat, community activist Patrick Flaherty has the financial edge over freelance journalist Nik Kovac. Flaherty raised $53,445, spent $26,241 and had $27,204 left, while Kovac raised $17,035, spent $16,975 and had $9,818 left, with $13,886 in debts and $1,962 in loans from himself.
Here's the rundown on other candidates' treasuries in contested council races. Some, such as that of former Ald. Angel Sanchez, show a negative balance. But Neil Albrecht, assistant director of the city Election Commission, said that was likely an error in how candidates counted loans to their own campaigns, and the reports could be corrected upon review. Some candidates also were able to spend more than they raised this year, with the aid of money raised before Jan. 1.
1st District: Hamilton: $1,210 raised, $3,156 spent, $338 on hand. Owens: $8,932 raised, $7,165 spent, $80 on hand, $8,237 in loans from himself.
4th District: Ald. Bob Bauman: $1,029 raised, $14,691 spent, $41,545 on hand, $35,125 in loans from himself. Challenger Sharon Polk said she didn't raise or spend any money.
5th District: Ald. Jim Bohl: $1,755 raised, $7,531 spent, $59,747 on hand, $15,107 in loans from himself. Challenger Brenda Pullen-O'Donnell: $1,200 raised, $551 spent, $650 on hand, $1,200 in loans from herself.
7th District: Ald. Willie Wade: $2,830 raised, $6,483 spent, $7,531 on hand. Challenger Anntoinette McKee, $2,006 raised, $883 spent, $457 on hand, $2,119 in loans from herself.
9th District: Ald. Robert Puente: $450 raised, $8,307 spent, $15,256 on hand. Challenger Henry Hamilton III: $8,058 raised, $6,985 spent, $1,073 on hand.
10th District: Murphy: $1,155 raised, $4,583 spent, $101,850 on hand. Challenger Richard Geldon said he didn't raise or spend any money.
11th District: Ald. Joe Dudzik: $1,142 raised, $3,588 spent, $36,914 on hand, $31,000 in loans from himself. Challenger Dennis Bach: $1,315 raised, $840 spent, $475 on hand.
12th District: Ald. Jim Witkowiak: $41,276 raised, $25,981 spent, $13,030 on hand. Sanchez: $6,100 raised, $6,235 spent, $4,196 in the red, $14,270 in loans from himself.
13th District: Ald. Terry Witkowski: $4,460 raised, $10,444 spent, $3,161 on hand, $16,022 in loans from himself. Challenger Brad DeBraska: $9,287 raised, $8,248 spent, $859 on hand.
14th District: Ald. Tony Zielinski: $6,999 raised, $16,203 spent, $43,365 on hand. Challenger Andy Reid: $942 raised, $887 spent, $55 on hand.
15th District: Hines: $5,718 raised, $8,540 spent, $87,752 on hand. Challenger Dante Banks: $1,655 raised, $1,920 spent, $265 in the red.$
Update: Democratic Judicial Campaign dials, dials, dials for Butler
Madison - The state Republican Party chairman isn't the only one making autocalls on behalf of a candidate in Tuesday's Supreme Court election.
David Browne, founder and spokesman of the Democratic Judicial Campaign Committee, which has its headquarters in Arlington, Va., says his group has targeted up to 200,000 Wisconsin households, each of whom will receive several calls urging them to vote for incumbent Justice Louis Butler.
Browne contacted the Journal Sentinel after reading an earlier blog that said state Republican Party Chairman Reince Preibus will make 100,000 autocalls on behalf of Butler's opponent, Burnett County Circuit Court Judge Mike Gableman. »Read Full Blog Post(1)
Lakefront voters going back to church
The Milwaukee Election Commission has dropped a polling place that was blasted for poor accessibility to disabled voters, the agency's chief said today.
Voters in Ward 42, on the city's east side, will cast their ballots in Tuesday's election at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, not the Lake Park Pavilion, said Sue Edman, executive director of the election commission.
The city had previously used St. Mark's, but switched to the park pavilion for the Feb. 19 primary after a Jewish group complained about voting in a church. However, the pavilion site drew a different set of complaints, as the steep stairs and icy ramp to the polling place proved difficult for voters who use wheelchairs or canes.
Edman said her office had notified Ward 42 voters of the change back to St. Mark's. She said about a dozen churches across the city serve as polling places without leading to complaints.$
Big last-minute donations flow to Gableman
Madison -- Last-minute campaign contributions continued to flow to the state Supreme Court candidates, with Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman raking in most of them.
In addition to what he raised last week, Gableman reported receiving three more $10,000 contributions in recent days. One donation came from Jay Newman of New York, who reported working in finance, according to a form filed with the state Government Accountability Board.
Two others came from Gordon and Jenny Singer. The forms did not have information about where they lived or worked, but a Paul Singer of Elliott Management in New York , NY gave $10,000 to Gableman last week.
Butler's also had some late donations. The biggest was $2,500 from Patrick Dunphy, identified as a Milwaukee attorney; another $2,000 came from D. James Weis, an attorney in Rhinelander.
Gableman and Butler face off tomorrow for a 10-year term on the state Supreme Court.
Gableman says his judicial philosophy in line with voters
Milwaukee -- Burnett County Circuit Judge Michael Gableman touted a message of judicial restraint in his last public stop before the polls open Tuesday in the election for state Supreme Court.
"As a judicial conservative, I believe it is the role of the judge to apply the law and not make it," Gableman said in a press conference at the Best Western Airport Hotel and Conference Center. "My judicial philosophy and background are far more in line with what the public is looking for in their next elected Supreme Court justice."
Gableman faces Justice Louis Butler in the race for a 10-year term on the court.
In an interview after the event, Gableman conceded he had not stopped at any Democratic Party functions. Gableman said when he announced he was running that he would try to stop at a Democratic Party event for each Republican event he attended.
He said no Democratic groups had asked him to come.
"I haven't turned down one Democratic invitation," he said. Gableman said he did not know how many GOP events he went to.
He also had stops in Wausau and Green Bay today.
Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel staff reported this blog from Milwaukee. (2)
The Rundown: Last-minute election news
The Rundown is a weekday synopsis of news involving politics and government from the pages of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as well as headlines of note from elsewhere.
Tomorrow is election day, which means one thing -- an end to the endless ads in the state Supreme Court race. Here's a look at who's behind the ads and what they're saying. The candidates -- Justice Louis Butler and challenger Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman -- met in their final debate Friday.
The ads are flying in Milwaukee-area races, too -- Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker slammed challenger state Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) as a tax-hiker in a weekend salvo, Milwaukee City Attorney Grant Langley - took a shot at his challenger,
labeling state Rep. Pedro Colón (D-Milwaukee) "no friend to Milwaukee
taxpayers" based on an Assembly vote.
Seven school systems also have proposals on the ballot.
Turnout Tuesday expected to be 20%, according to state election officials.
Butler said voters will stand up against negativity
Madison -- Incumbent Justice Louis Butler said today he believes voters are "disgusted" by the negativity in this year's state Supreme Court race and will stand up against it.
"I feel pretty good about the fact that because of the way we've run our race, because of the integrity with which I've run the campaign, because of my experience and my impartial approach to justice, that voters will feel comfortable in returning me for a 10-year term," Butler said.
Butler kicked off his final day of campaigning before the election with a breakfast with judges and other supporters in Madison; he is expected to travel to Eau Claire, Green Bay, Oshkosh and Racine before ending with an event in Milwaukee tonight.
He said his opponent, Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman, and Gableman's supporters have been working to suppress voter turnout with a barrage of negative ads.
"I'm trying to give people a reason to support and vote for me tomorrow," Butler said. "I think this is an important election on a number of different fronts, but I'm not going to compromise my integrity, nor the integrity of the Wisconsin Supreme Court simply to win an election."
In a statement, Gableman campaign adviser Darrin Schmitz said voters would reject Butler's record at the polls Tuesday.
"People are sick and tired of the courts and Louis Butler ignoring the rights of victims and the hard work of law enforcement," Schmitz said.
GOP state chairman makes 100,000 pro-Gableman autocalls
Madison - Tuesday's Supreme Court election is supposedly non-partisan, but the chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin made 100,000 autocalls statewide asking that voters elect Burnett County Circuit Judge Michael Gableman instead of incumbent Justice Louis Butler.
A party spokeswoman said most of the calls were made to southeast Wisconsin homes.
According to a text of the message provided by the Republican Party, state GOP Chairman Reince Preibus says: »Read Full Blog Post(1)