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11/11/2010
So the economy and jobs are GOP priorities?
I agree with this guy even though he often (no exception today) comes across as an antagonistic twerp.
Gosh, the GOP goofballs are back with opposing abortion and gay rights, making it legal to carry concealed weapons and requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls.
These issues only appear on the myopic radar screens of Scott Gunderson, Glenn Grothman and the Fitzgerald clan.
Well, I don’t agree with the “goofball” characterization, but do agree that voters didn’t elect these guys because they were incensed about Voter ID. Yes, many folks are appalled when they needn’t present a drivers license to vote. But is that the origin of the GOP tsunami in Wisconsin?
Uh… no.
Jesse Russell over at Dane101 takes on the same stuff.
While Walker has declared an "economic emergency," Scott Fitzgerald has decided the most important priority for the state is pushing through a voter photo i.d. bill. In a recent interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he said he plans to make the voter photo i.d. the first order of business in the new state Senate.
At least the future Senate majority leader's younger brother, Jeff, seems to have his priorities in line with the Governor-elect and the Wisconsin electorate. Jeff, who will be Assembly Speaker in the next session, plans to make a jobs package the first order of business. Kudos to Walker and "Little Fitz" for seeming to have the right priorities. "Big Fitz" needs to get with the program.
The other night, I shared excitement about the election with a few newbie legislators (congratulatious to you all!). We talked about the bold and ambitious plans a GOP legislature can undertake and accomplish. But I was perplexed that talk of the immediate agenda was all about Voter ID and concealed carry.
No, this is not why these guys and gals were elected. Yes, these are popular issues that may not (?) take much political capital. But the time is now to talk business creation, jobs, and a critical and courageous fix for the budget, as well as to counter huge health care cost challenges in Wisconsin.
Mike Hahn has it right. Governing is about priorities: For the next year there are only two. Anything else and the legislature will fail. 1. Jobs. 2. The Budget.
MacIver has it right too. A great guide to getting our collective (and legislative) arms around the budget. This is the stuff the legislature must get started talking about. Now.
- Immediately freeze state spending and hiring
- Prioritize wants over needs
- Stop being a social services magnet
- Pursue privatization when cost-effective
- Scale back the taxing authorities
- Eliminate unfunded mandates
- Conduct a bureaucratic purge
- Embrace transparency
Good stuff. Stay tuned.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
Yea, nice. But nothing is going to change until the get the corporate bribes out of the political system. How do you spell "more of the same?"
Jack Lohman (Thu Nov 11 08:33:44 2010)
There is no question whatsoever that jobs and the budget are CRITICAL items to be tackled immediately. However, having said that, plentiful employment and a balanced budget won't fix the fact that we are living in a society which legally sanctions trampling on the most basic rights of the most helpless and defenseless among us. A society which selectively determines that a certain class of people has no rights is a society doomed to fail, regardless of its economic health. We cannot move this state, or this nation, forward if we continue to allow a person's inherent human dignity to be arbitrarily 'decided' by a parent, a court, a legislature, or a doctor.
Abortion MUST cease if we are any of us to look in the mirror and honestly tell ourselves we've done right by our fellow man.
Andrew Ellis (Thu Nov 11 08:44:00 2010)
I take your point Andrew; it's a good one.
Jo (Thu Nov 11 09:33:54 2010)
The Republicans have been itching to dampen the minority vote and voter ID is the easiest way to do it. There has not been a single case of someone voting under someone else's name, ever, in Wisconsin, the only thing voter ID is intended to prevent. But it will trip up those without driver's licenses.
As to jobs creation, Walker will more likely eliminate jobs. Let's start with the 4,000 gone because of the high-speed rail cancellation and an unknown number of teachers and cops as state aids are slashed.
Madhatter (Thu Nov 11 10:51:16 2010)
Jobs and the budget are 1 and 1A priorities but those fixes will take some work. Voter ID and Conceal Carry are policies that are long overdue and should take no time at all. They are no brainier bills.
Dale McNamee (Thu Nov 11 17:35:21 2010)
Highest cost in any budget is salaries an benefits. Highest cost to the State of WI in this category are public employee unions, therefore the next round of public employee union negotiations may produce the highest long term savings, but only if "Binding arbitration rules" can be brought in to some format where the taxpayer has parity with the union member. My vote is to change Binding Arbitration rules, voila, ergo, to sum it up!
Richard Parins (Thu Nov 11 21:45:02 2010)
"Yes, many folks are appalled when they needn’t present a drivers license to vote."
Not everyone owns a car. Is it your belief that only people who operate automobiles should enjoy the right to vote?
It would certainly make for a more Republican demographic.
Northern Pike (Sun Nov 14 08:40:29 2010)
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