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7/13/2009
Rep. Tom Nelson - political greaseball?
If you’ve worked with Rep. Tom Nelson (D-Kaukauna), you may know what Mark Belling was talking about on Friday when he got pretty worked up about Nelson and “an incredible giveaway” to the Oneida Tribe.
WFRV-TV has been following the story of a provision in the just-approved 2009 – 2011 state budget that allows the Oneida Indian Tribe to seek liquor licenses directly form the state, bypassing local municipalities.
Budget writers singled out the Oneida Tribe for this benefit by saying it must be a reservation “no less than 60,000 acres not more than 70,000 acres.” The Oneida is the only tribe in Wisconsin to meet that criteria.
Hobart Administrator Elaine Willman says she’s worried the new provision could cost the village thousands of dollars.
“The liquor license is the only mechanism we have for holding the tribe accountable for monies owed each year to the village,” said Willman.
In January, Hobart withheld the liquor license for the Thornberry Golf Course, owned by the Oneida Tribe, until more than $500,000 in back fees and taxes were paid. Oneida paid in the spring, and Thornberry now has its liquor license. Apparently the Oneidas weren’t too happy about that little Thornberry situation.
(The new statute applies solely to the Oneida Tribe – as mentioned above – “or any business entity that is wholly owned and operated by such a tribe.” The statutory detail is here on p. 482.)
The Oneida Casino in Green Bay is actually in the Village of Hobart, in Tom Nelson’s Assembly District. Rob Cowles (R–Green Bay) represents the area in the State Senate.
WFRV has had trouble getting Rep. Nelson to comment on the budget detail. And Belling doesn’t like it. Here’s Belling’s Friday rant. The Tom Nelson piece starts at 9:35 and lasts 6 minutes.
Belling is ticked off about the sneaky budget provision, saying the tribes “bankroll Democrats” so “screw the local community and give the grubby special interest something it wants and nobody else needs.” But he’s also ticked off that Nelson won’t answer questions about it. Check out the video included with the WFRV news article; it’s classic Nelson, evading a question from the media.
In Belling’s inimitable straightforward (a little too straightforward for some?) style, he talks about “clean cut baby-faced Nelson” who is "a little weasel.”
Hopefully his constituents up in the Fox Valley will know what the people in Madison know – that this guy is an inside player, he’s cutting all the dirty deals with the special interests, he’s out there shaking down special interests for money and then he goes back to his district up in the Fox Valley and acts like he’s this naïve clean cut little kid. He is a political greaseball, and for one moment in time at least, he’s been exposed. Indeed. I'm for that. It’s time more folks in the 5th Assembly District know more about the man they think represents them in Madison.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
Whether right or wrong---Belling loses a portion of his audience very quickly with his childish name calling. I wish he would stand behind his facts (which seem very accurate) and not rely on name calling.
David (Mon Jul 13 07:49:37 2009)
Jo,
As you know, I live in Tom Nelson's district. It doesn't surprise me that Nelson is avoiding questions about this deal with Oneida. He usually avoids tough questions from his constituents. So how does he keep getting elected? Well, the day after the budget vote he was working "targeted" doors in Freedom handing out fliers and telling voters he "protected" them from tax increases. Whoever challenges Nelson in the next cycle needs to contrast Tom's votes against his own claims. They also need to put as much effort into reaching voters at their doors as Tom does. The number one reason he keeps winning by large margins is that he takes the time to visit voters (which is good. Now only if he would listen).
Mark Rahmlow (Mon Jul 13 08:06:39 2009)
Yup David, you're right on. The name-calling doesn't help. Well, it gets the point across, but indeed, is a turn-off for constructive conversation. That said, do you think Rep. Nelson is ready for constructive conversation?
Jo (Mon Jul 13 08:36:39 2009)
Jo:
I would agree that Tom Nelson has always been evasive on tough questions. When I asked the representatives that were at the Heart of the Valley "Meet your legislators" breakfast meeting about their stand on GAAP(Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), Tom was the only one that did not make a comment. He also did not respond to my e-mail before the budget process was finished.
At least Penny Bernard Schaber called me back and in fact we have met since she wanted more information about this and other issues. While I may disagree with some of her voting record, she at least has the courtesy to call back and respond.
Tom on the other hand does not and relies on his door to door campaign to secure votes. I would hope that Jim Steinike would run against him again since he did gain name recoginition and was striking a cord with the voters. The only problem is that Jim works for a living and is not a career politician. We need more like him.
Mike
Mike Thomas (Mon Jul 13 09:45:04 2009)
I am with Emily.
Recall Doyle. That will send a shiver down their spines. Gonna hit the pavement soon on this.
Ken Van Doren (Mon Jul 13 11:52:47 2009)
The sad but more realistic truth about Nelson and his Democratic friends won't come to light until taxes come due which won't be that long. Until the sharp pain of Nelson's deceitful ways is felt in the dwindling bank accounts of not only the working class but the media themselves, will a couple of lights come on.
When we write the Editors, call the News desks, a dim glimmer will begin to shine bright enough to chase the vermin from their lair.
Richard Parins (Mon Jul 13 16:08:11 2009)
What's wrong with calling a greaseball a greaseball? It's no different from calling the father of his country the father of his country -- or, for the matter of that, a Republican a Republican or a Democrat a Democrat. One just happens to be negative and the other positive. Name-calling may get in the way of civil discourse, but it hardly detracts from the truth. Here's to more truth! D.M., Neenah
d.m. (Wed Jul 15 12:07:51 2009)
Jo,
I have a copy of a June 16, 2009 memorandum from Jennifer Hill-Kelly, Interim Economic Resources Coordinator for Oneida Tribe that reports to their governing body, the 2009 stimulus funding awards to the Oneida tribe in the amount of $6.8 million thus far, with another $13 million in federal stimulus funds anticipated soon. No county or local government in Wisconsin is getting THIS kind of money from the feds.
THIS, in addition to $2 million dollars ALSO hidden in the State Budget (at page 655 of Act 28) - $2 million that Doyle, Senator Hansen and Rep. Nelson have secretly given to the Oneida's "Seven Generations" (business conglomerate). This tribe's annual operating budget (2007) was $527 MILLION. Why, with excessive federal funding and a 6.6 BILLION state budget deficit, is a single Wisconsin taxpayer dime going to this small private government?
"(16i) GRANT TO ONEIDA SEVEN GENERATIONS CORPORATION. In each fiscal year of the 200911 fiscal biennium,the department of commerce shall award a grant to Oneida Seven Generations Corporation from funds that were encumbered in the appropriation under section 20.143 (1) (kj) of the statutes, as affected by this act,under section 560.138 of the statutes, as affected by this act, but were not disbursed for grants to Oneida Small Business, Inc., and Project 2000. The amount of each grant shall equal $1,000,000 or onehalf of the total amount of funds that were encumbered but not disbursed, whichever is less. The department of commerce shall require Oneida Seven Generations Corporation to do all of the following: (a) Submit projectspecific plans to the department of commerce detailing the proposed use of the grants for approval by the secretary of commerce. (b) Submit a statement to the department of commerce indicating that Oneida Seven enerations Corporation will obtain matching funds in an amount not less than 25 percent of the amount of each grant from sources other than the state for the proposed use indicated in the plans under paragraph (a)." [Pg. 655 of Act 28].
Elaine Willman (Fri Jul 17 07:33:48 2009)
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