|
 |
9/3/2009
Political courage and OWIs
Dems in Madison stuck their fingers in the wind and figured out drunk driving reform sounds great to all kinds of Wisconsinites. So earlier this week, seven members of the Assembly heard comments from an audience of about 60 in the basement of Appleton’s library.
Yup. Drunk driving in Wisconsin is a huge problem. Heck, drinking, period, is a huge problem in Wisconsin. Death, ruined lives, shattered families. The audience offered solutions, the legislators figuratively threw up their hands, with not much courage in evidence.
In a piece last week, Jim Rowen seethed about weak so-called reforms that would only guarantee more OWI highway “carnage” in Wisconsin.
Bottom line: after tragic, high-profile incidents, media spotlights and a number-one ranking nationally for drunken driving - - 100 convictions a day - - the legislature is still cowed by alcohol special interests and swayed by a misreading of state culture to seriously deal with the issue. Audience members the other night indeed were indeed looking for some seriousness - and courage.
- There’s absolutely no need for bars to be open at 7:00 in the morning
- Confiscate vehicles after the first offense
- Impoundment, not confiscation. Get the family’s attention.
- Drop the BAC from 08 to .04
- Treatment and education – we’ve locked up our problems way too long
(John, an 8-time drunk driver and recently released after 6 ½ years in prison, pleaded for more treatment. “Treatment is what saved me. I had to fight to get into treatment – it took 5 ½ years.” Higher cash penalties for early OWI arrests might make a difference to non-alcoholics, but John said an alcoholic simply doesn’t get it. No matter the penalty.) - Authorize Outagamie County to use the Winnebago Safe Streets Program (directs offenders into alcohol treatment programs and has apparently been a money-saver over incarceration – and still the County needs the state’s permission to get going on what they see as a desperately-needed program)
- Give municipalities permission to use police check points
- Require ignition interlocks
- Get tough from the start
- And of course… Raise the Beer Tax (any thoughts about that out there? I have mine…)
The legislators answered very few questions, begging off, as they were “there to listen.” At times, I sensed the audience pleading for some of that political courage. The legislators in turn responded with mini-sermons that it takes the political will of the people to make change happen.
Again, Jim Rowen:
If and when these tepid actions pass, look for two consequences:
Lots of Holy Pictures for campaign advertising.
Lots of new alcohol-related crashes, deaths and misery - - with a portion of the blame laid squarely at the steps of the State Capitol. Ok, political will. Yes. That’s up to us. Political courage – that’s up to the legislators.
[Legislators in attendance: Tom Nelson (D-Kaukauna), Penny Bernard Schaber (D-Appleton), Al Ott (R-Brillion), Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah), Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh), Jim Soletski (D-Green Bay), Tony Staskunas (D-West Allis)]
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
At one point.10 was a good number than .08 was a good number now .04 is being thrown around. Who is asking the question if these accidents happen did alcohol actually have anything to do with it. I believe they are still called accidents. Isn't that term being used for a reason. Just because a "motor vehicle accident" occurred doesn't mean that the driver wouldn't have had the accident because they were at .08,.07,.06,.05,.04 etc. The "accident may very well still have occurred.
Mike (Thu Sep 03 08:16:12 2009)
And this is why I'm a Libertarian ...
People say they don't want government running health care, yet they're willing to bring the heavy hand of Big Govenment to bear to regulate social behavior.
Having the government seize your vehicle after one mistake?
Telling tavern owners when the can open? Ever have a beer after work? Ever work the graveyard shift?
Lowering BAC to .04? Why not eliminate alcohol all together? Oh yeah, we tried that.
There are enough laws on the books to mitigate this problem, it's a matter of enforcement vs. personal liberty.
I'll stand for liberty - keep your storm troopers to yourself, please.
RealLibertarian (Thu Sep 03 13:27:55 2009)
You want the Legislature to do something. You have to be kidding. Lets raise the beer tax lets throw them in jail, How about legislator accountability? Right now you have a Wisconsin Legislator going to court on a DWI after running over a sign post causing a flat tire, Urinating by his car when the Trooper arrives and blows above 0.08. Now he has some hot shot lawyer defending him and basically saying its the Troopers fault,. Do you really believe anything will happen here? If you do I have some swamp land for sale. Until WE AS VOTERS make this legislature accountable all the hand wringing in the world isn't going to solve the problem. Oh Yea we just had another legislator run a red light and hit a biker THREE SECONDS AFTER THE LIGHT TURNED RED causing injuries' He may pay a running a red light ticket, but don't bet on it. The peons get nailed but the elite get nothing and we as voiers think its great-we elected them.
ken (Thu Sep 03 13:44:24 2009)
More people die from radon gas poisoning every year than from drunk driving. Every 100 years the nanny society gets together to ban things that hurt us or try to save us from ourselves. And we are due for another round from the prohibitionists. You’ll note that these prohibitionists aren’t actually taking up bake sales to pay for the ignition interlocks they crave, they expect us all to pay for their pet peeve project. Well guess what? There’s millions of stupid people out there and only a tiny fraction drink and drive. Anyone who thinks they can stop drunks from driving is insane. My preference is for these prohibitionists to face the cold hard truth. We live in a dangerous society where at any given moment some idiot can kill you and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it except live defensively. You need to take at least some responsibility in protecting yourself; you can’t expect government to do everything for you. Make sense? Oh yeah, a drunk driver hit my family while I was driving, and his name was actually Bozo (no really, Bozo). That says it all; there are plenty of Bozos out there. So I guess I’m even coming at it from the nanny perspective.
wrl (Fri Sep 04 15:32:56 2009)
All law must be based on Biblical principles. I believe the less government, the better, BUT the gov't does have a duty to protect citizens.
Using a Biblical example, if an ox (large steer) gored someone, it was an accident; the ox was to be destroyed, but the owner had no penalty. HOWEVER, if the ox was known (by his owner) to be "pushy", and the owner didn't take extreme care to protect the public, then, if the ox killed someone, the owner also was put to death.
The corollary to that is, first time OWI offense, educate, sign into rehab, do nothing, etc. But the second time, make it worth remembering. And, if someone is killed--Death Penalty. "Thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from the land."
Other states that have stricter penalties, also do have lower fatalities. And, Mike, You obviously never had to work in EMS/ER, or you'd see the folly of claiming "the accident might have happened anyway." Yes, there ARE accidents not involving drunks, but the drunkards are the ones who frequently T-bone people, and a T-bone is one of the worst kind to have.
emily matthews (Tue Sep 08 09:12:41 2009)
|
|
Blog Archives
| 2010 |
  December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Solberg: Healing After an Abortion
• Basketball fans eyeing extension of Miller Park sales tax
• Nanny sex-ed bill goes to Doyle
• A first. Village limits pension contribution for employees
• Nanny State update: Toothbrushing mandated
• Obama pushes education inflation
• WI Investment Board votes to borrow to juice up returns
• So Republicans have brought nothing to the table?
• You have got to be kidding me
• Nygren: Governor Continues Terms of Failure in State of the State
• Sen. Fitzgerald: Governor down the wrong track at high speed
• Phosphorus is the new CO2. $Billions in Wisconsin
• More Obama giveaways
• A reprimand? Would you keep him on the job?
• Burri: Sarah Palin for Prez troubles me
• Quote of the Day – Obama after the pie-eating contest
• Populism, abused and trampled
• Fitzgerald: Senate Republicans Propose Real Job Creation Agenda
• Stripped down health insurance – it’s about time
• Ok GOP, scrap the Party of NO; time to lead
• No way Feingold is a Coakley. Is Wall a Brown?
• Burri: Conservatives off the chart for a RINO?
• Paltry quid pro quo?
• Doyle says ARRA has ‘created or retained’ 44,000 WI jobs
• Does most of the public fall for this stuff?
• When you get signatures, always get a couple extra
• Blame it on the outmoded computers
• Scott Brown victory does not scuttle health bill
• 8th Congressional Candidate Forum, Jan. 25
• Scott Walker Meet-and-greet, Monday, Jan. 18
• Aren’t consumers taxpayers too?
• MORE taxes on investment income - dreadful and wrong
• Join the blaze orange army and say ‘Enough is Enough’
• The future of government-run health care
• Tax on banks is a really bad idea
• Roth, Savard on the stump, grassroots style
• Savard speaking in Appleton, 8 PM, Wed., Jan. 13.
• Rahmlow: Savard, Bies frontrunners for State Senate
• Burri: Failing Political Correctness 101
• School contracts and Race to the Top
• Senator Feingold worrisome and big red flags
• Psephological?
• This is really important. Contact Rep. Kagen. Now. Please.
• This is exactly what we need from Governor Doyle
• This guy is my hero
• Why am I not surprised?
• Talk health reform with Feingold (Th), Petri (today)
• Give the Mayor power over MPS - if he can break contracts
• Burri: Yup, Dems really are going to bypass a conference
• The $2.7 billion Wisconsin deficit no one told you about
• Walker launches county accountability website
• Rahmlow: Why is Van Hollen dodging the Nebraska deal?
|
| 2009 |
December
|
November
|
October
• The Lawton-Bader files
• Yup, it’s the TAX LEVY, not the tax RATE
• Ellis: costly automobile insurance laws must be rolled back
• If not Barrett, who?
• The subsidy game
• Burri: Bailouts, Banks, Health Care, and the Mob
• Attend Appleton Schools budget meeting tonight
• A public option WON’T increase costs? That’s delusional!
• Appleton Schools budget meeting Monday
• Wisconsin should be screaming for accountability
• Burri: If anything, we need more obstructionism around here
• WI on the leading edge - in the wrong direction
• Rep. Montgomery: Utility Customers Join State’s Crime-Fighting Efforts
• Public Conservation and Recreation Lands Total 16.5% of State
• In the crow's nest of the Titanic, shouting 'Iceberg!'
• Is Rep. Nelson a political hack?
• Health care: The road ahead will be brutal
• Kagen's pandering again
• Birthers - good stuff for you
• How much do we bend over backward for seniors?
• The trouble with health care is paying for it
• Two-parent families: The Gold Standard
• Burri: Kids... the joys and blessings
• Very, very worried about health care
• Rep. Huebsch: Wisconsin is proof government health care isn’t the answer
• School district contracts push up tax levy
• What? Obama, the Peace Prize?
• TODAY - hearing on Campaign Finance Reform
• Appleton School District tax levy up way too much
• CBO report is out - and the bill isn't even written yet?
• So, how much do YOU budget for health care?
• Burri: Copenhagen trip was amateurish
• “Sotomayor, you have blood on your hands...”
• Cap and Trade. Always follow the money
• Rep. Kagen gets (almost) free health services
• I actually agree with Rep. Kagen
• Future Wisconsin Conference for Conservatives, October 10, Wauwatosa
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
|
| 2008 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
• Important votes Tuesday, including Appleton Common Council
• Democrats are becoming supply siders??
• Further debunking Hillary myths
• WEAC has created an unsustainable monopoly
• From Mark Gundrum: One of the greatest honors an American can experience
• 'Operation Chaos' working?
• Joe Martin the best candidate in Appleton's 8th
• State programs to cut? - Volume II
• Oh the naivete of youth
• Not just disingenuous - flat wrong
• Steve - you will be missed
• Make cuts only AFTER you're elected....
• Getting serious: What programs can we cut?
• Rep. Steve Kagen joining me on Jerry Bader Show today
• Rep. Van Roy: Dental Care Pilot Program
• Has Dave Obey turned the corner on earmarks?
• Speaker Huebsch: Governor turns down Federal Aid?
• Mark Rahmlow: "We're Broke."
• As taxpayers, how do we know if it's a Chevy or a Lexus?
• This is trash talk - about a veteran
• Frank Lasee: Take time to get the Compact right
• 'The Gableman Ad' - is it racist?
• Roth thankful, Kagen shaking money tree
• Gov. Doyle's office not enamored with Freedom of Information
• Governor Doyle will never do it
• Leadership on smoking ban? Not Hanna
• Rep. Van Roy speaks out about smear ads
• You're threatening me about potholes?
• Losing the Hastert seat is NOT a trend and NOT curtians for the GOP
• First suggestion for 'slashing' programs
• Big money-saver for municipalities
• More one time fixes. Nuts.
• Any chances???
• I'm doing the Jerry Bader Show, today, the 11th
• Representative Frank Lasee: Final Waltz of the Season
• Guest Blog: It's not the county's business to be in the nursing home business
• Yup, Hillary won Texas and Ohio
• Gableman/Butler race featured - and it isn't pretty
• Lies from Planned Parenthood and NARAL
• He who sacrifices liberty.....
• Duh.
• The Troha sentencing, Doyle and that $200K
• Guns, passion and "originality"
• How hard is it anyway, to shut down a government program?
• Voting is a PRIVILEGE. And so are property taxes....
• Guest Blog: Governor Doyle, cancel your Ireland trip
|
February
|
January
|
| 2007 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Lots of ideas. No money.
• The Cigarette Tax - "Poor Policy Instrument?"
• School budget Lite?
• Frankenstein - not in the library, but in the legislature
• A librarian, a legislator, a president
• $1.25/pack - NO, NO, NO, and NO
• Kagen and Reagan in the same breath?
• Menasha: behind the 8-ball, but not biting the dust
• Any way you slice it, Wisconsin government wants (further) in on health care
• The World is Flat...what about health care?
• The PAC - too precious to fail. Day 3
• News follow-ups: Appleton West, Kagen at the White House
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail - Day 2
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail
• New Transit Tax coming your way
• Rep. Petri has his finger in the dike - I guess
• AASD Retirement Costs Burdensome
• Health care, health care, health care, health care
• Water rate increase was no slam dunk
• Education for all is just a bad dream
• New Year's resolutions from a parade snob
|
| 2006 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
| 2000 |
May
|
|
