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6/20/2008
Mark Rahmlow: 3 MUSTS for GOP candidates
A recent UW-Madison/Wispolitics.com poll provides a roadmap to help Republicans keep and strengthen their majority in the State Assembly. (Extenisve info on poll here.)
This writer is on record saying Republicans will hold the Assembly and may well pick up seats. No doubt; Republicans are the underdogs this fall. But the UW poll did reveal Republicans have a real chance at winning over independent voters this fall.
Independent voters respond to candidates that appeal directly to their concerns. “The trick is going to be in the competitive Republican districts how to make the race about the individual candidates,” UW professor Charles Franklin told reporters last weekend.
Aside from visiting the doorsteps of every registered voter, bread and butter issues are the best way to rebuild a bridge with this important block of voters. So, candidates… get crackin’ and reach out to independent voters in three very specific ways.
First, Assembly Republicans must be seen encouraging homeownership in a lukewarm housing environment. The property tax freeze is an important element of the Republican agenda to accomplishing that goal. Republicans must also begin to embrace new ideas offering homeowners tangible relief in the near term. With the mortgage crisis affecting so many families, Republicans must support creating a new $300 property tax rebate to help every Wisconsin homeowner.
Second, Racine County Executive Bill McReynolds paved the way for a Republican solution to the increasing cost of prescription drugs. McReynolds, mimicking a proposal supported by the National Counties Association, implemented a drug savings discount card. The savings for families has been undeniable and Republicans ought to take this idea statewide. Consumers have received a 20% discount on their medicines since the program began.
“Using the NACo prescription discount card is easy,” said McReynolds. “Simply present it at a participating pharmacy. There is no enrollment form, no membership fee and no restrictions or limits on frequency of use. Cardholders and their family members may use the card any time their prescriptions are not covered by insurance,” Reynolds said in a January press release.
Finally, while there is no immediate solution to higher gas prices Republican candidates need to present voters with ideas on how to lower gas prices. The time to pass the gas tax suspension is now. The suspension would pass with overwhelming bipartisan support if legislative leaders had the guts to vote on it.
“The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau reports a gas tax holiday would amount to huge savings for consumers. Suspending the gas tax for 30 days and phasing it back in at five cents every three days amounts to a $101.8 million savings. If the Governor makes the smart move and extends the holiday to 60 days, the Fiscal Bureau estimates the savings would be $185.9 million,” State Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) said in 2005 when the legislation was first introduced.
Of course, Republicans should have set this agenda before election season to show voters that state government was working to tackle big problems with equally big ideas. Now, the best Republicans can hope for is that independent voters over the course of this election season will embrace the above-mentioned three points.
As long as Republicans control the Assembly, they have the ability to influence the policy debate in Wisconsin. The Assembly leadership has made the coming elections more difficult than they needed to be. Support from independents will be critical come Election Day. At the end of the day, independents want specific proposals they can rally behind.
For Republicans, the importance of seizing this opportunity early cannot be overstated.
Mark Rahmlow is a former field director for Tim Michels 2004 US Senate campaign.
COMMENTS
Mark, nobody gets 20% discounts on prescriptions, our total margin on Rx's is about 18% and the net after salaries and everything is about 3%. You might get 20% on some generic prescriptions of under $25 in costs.
You can get that right now by signing up for the Walgreen's W card or go to Wal-Mart for their specials. there are not any more savings available beyond that.
I used to design those programs.
Dohnal (Tue Jun 24 21:04:44 2008)
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