Greg Gasper, Republican candidate for the open seat in the 37th District has an interesting record, criminal record that is.
Turns out Mr. Gasper was busted for drug possession. Fort Atkinson radio station WFAW 940-AM broke the story this morning.
Wonder if he'll be touting a "grass"roots campaign.
What does Mark Pettis have against our troops? You'd think someone who served in the Navy would be an outspoken advocate for soldiers and veterans at the Capitol.
Not the case.
Pettis voted in 2005 to cut the Wisconsin National Guard's budget by $150,000 per year. He voted against exempting veterans' pensions from state income taxes. And Pettis voted to reduce the education fee reimbursements for many veterans and disabled veterans.
To his credit - Pettis did introduce a couple bills protecting the flag. Apparently he just doesn't care to honor those who serve(d) under it.
State Rep. Jeff Wood (R-Chippewa Falls) received $1200 from the Walton family in Arkansas (of the Walmart dynasty). A couple Waltons in Wyoming threw in $650 as well.
Why would folks in Arkansas consistently contribute to a guy in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin? Maybe they were confused and meant to donate to the Arkansas State Rep. Jeff Wood (D-Sherwood)?
Alas no - Carrie Lynch of What's Left fills us in on the real story behind the Arkansas money. Turns out those Waltons are big fans of school vouchers and so is their buddy Jeff Wood.
Wood voted against accountability standards for private schools receiving tax dollars through the Milwaukee Choice Program and he voted to expand the program.
There isn't a voucher program in Wood's district. Chippewa Falls is "just a bit outside" Milwaukee. But Wood did manage to vote to cut state aid to schools in HIS district by over $4 million.
Jeff Wood has made it clear where his loyalties lie and it's not with his constituents - it's with his donors.
In 2004 John Kerry garnered 55% of the vote in the district currently held by Republican Steve Freese and Russ Feingold received a whopping 59%. This district is ready and willing to vote for Democratic candidates.
Which is why Republican Steve Freese should be uneasy about running this year on the Republican ticket. Maybe that's why I've heard he is using the word "independent" on all of his campaign lit.
Last week Texas Hold 'Em Blogger tried to paint a picture of Freese as a RINO (Republican In Name Only). Freese should pay him for the positive PR.
But a Republican he is and his voting record is plum full of evidence. And he's not just any Republican. He is in Republican "leadership." He has been the Speaker Pro Temp since 1995.
The following votes demonstrate that Steve Freese isn't a moderate or an "independent" - he's a walk the party line Republican:
Exhibit A: Freese voted against life-saving stem cell research which provides hope to families of loved ones suffering from diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and juvenile diabetes and paves the way for economic security with Wisconsin at the forefront of the biotech industry.
Exhibit B: Freese voted to deny access to 10,000 family farmers and self-employed workers to Wisconsin's affordable health care program Badgercare.
Exhibit C: Freese voted to deny emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy for victims of rape or incest.
Exhibit D: Freese voted to allow corporate polluters to violate clean air and water laws without penalty.
The list goes on but the argument is made. We'll see what the verdict is on November 7th.
Sometimes a few words can speak volumes. An example is this brief report from WEAU News in Eau Claire last week.
Vinehout says Republicans in the legislature have done nothing for health care but Brown says he has.
“I respectfully disagree with her,” said Brown. “There's been a considerable amount done over the past 4 years ...”
"A considerable amount done", huh? Well there was one key health care reform initiative that saw the light of day since Brown's been in office - but Brown had nothing to do with it.
Gov. Doyle’s BadgerRx Gold is an innovative program that gives over 7,300 people access to the state’s buying power to negotiate discounts of 25%-30% on prescription drugs. The state employee version of the program saved the state $30 million in its first year alone.
But when Ron Brown voted for the budget including this program, he voted for a restrictive version that only the pharmaceutical companies could love, as the Governor pointed out in his veto message striking the restrictions:
“…the language still denies thousands of Wisconsinites, including the unemployed and employed persons whose employers choose not to participate, from joining the pool and benefiting from its capacity to lower drug costs. In many cases, these individuals face high prescription drug costs. There is no reason for excluding them. My partial veto allows every Wisconsin resident to join this cost–saving pool.”
The real story on Ron Brown's health care record: he voted to deny people the right to purchase discounted prescription drugs from the statewide purchasing pool that uses the state's buying power to negotiate a lower cost.
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