Power Progress

Why State Senate Democrats will Win the Majority

Wisconsin Senate Democrats need to pick up 3 seats in November to regain the majority. Here is why it will happen:

 1. Senate Democrats are all offense this year. No real resources need to be spent defending vulnerable incumbents. The only incumbent in a district with less than 58% average Democratic performance is Russ Decker in the 29th. And he has a man named "Jimmy Boy" running against him... again. Jimmy Boy garnered 32% of the vote last time.

2. Democrats everywhere are experiencing a tailwind this year. In key swing districts we've seen polling that has generic Democrats running 2 to 4 points higher than previous years.

3. The district electoral numbers are simply in the Dems' favor. Seven contested seats currently held by Republicans have average Democratic performance of over 46%. Five of the districts have numbers over 50%.

4. The Democratic candidates are solid. Recent polling had former news anchor Pat Kreitlow in a tie with Dave Zien in the 23rd district. Farmer Kathleen Vinehout in the 31st has an absolutely amazing grassroots ground operation in place.  

5. The Republican candidates are imploding. Tom Reynolds in the 5th district with his fear of cameras and Bill McReynolds and the Bumpergate scandal in the 21st district are the icing on the cake. 

6. Progressives all across Wisconsin are starting Progress Accounts, a safe and secure online contribution management tool. Join Progressive Majority today in the fight for the progressive future.

Mark Pettis, A Real Life McGruff

Since Mark Pettis is being challenged by former Polk County Sheriff Ann Hraychuck I thought we should take a glimpse at his criminal record – I mean his voting record on crime. He has a record, but technically it’s not criminal.

It turns out Pettis voted in 2003 to cut $2.7 million from the State Crime Lab and even voted against an amendment to increase the penalty assessment on people convicted of law violations to restore the cut.

That’s kind of a BIG DEAL since the lab is responsible for processing DNA evidence used to prosecute sexual predators and murderers. At the end of 2002 the backlog in the DNA labs was 504 cases.

And here is a less grievous but pretty interesting find: Pettis introduced a bill to restrict police sting operations aimed at liquor sales to minors. He insisted it had nothing to do with the fact that he himself was convicted of selling beer to a minor at the store he owned. Some excerpts from the Spivak & Bice column on the subject:

…Pettis was busted for selling beer to a minor at the Hertel General Store, which he then owned and ran. He was one of 35 people charged in the Burnett County sting operation.

He then makes some strange reference to Nazi Germany and then follows up with some stellar questions:

"Is there any law on the books that says that it's illegal to try to purchase drugs?" Pettis earnestly wondered…."OK, I'm not familiar with those laws at all," he deftly countered, "so I really can't comment on that."

So there you have it. Mark Pettis … taking a bite out of crime. 

Ron Brown vs. Merriam-Webster

When Ron Brown ran for State Senate in 2002 he told the Eau Claire Leader Telegram he would bring “honesty, integrity and accountability” to Madison.

So over the past four years Senator Brown has been a champion of open government, led the fight for reform and brought forth a new model of accountability to the State Senate, right? 

Not quite. 

Ron Brown voted against requiring Senators (meaning him) to vote publicly on their own pay raises AND he voted to continue taxpayer funded out of state junkets for State Senators (him again).

Webster defines "accountable" as answerable, explainable.

How does Ron Brown define it?

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

Northern Wisconsin is renowned for its abundance of hunting, fishing, and supper club dining opportunities. Mary Williams represents the 87th Assembly District, in the heart of outdoor recreational heaven. Specifically, most of her district spans Rusk, Taylor and Price counties.

I visited these county websites and found the mention of “lakes” or “water” within the first six sentences of each one. Clearly the quality of the lakes in this district is vital to the local economy.  

So it’s puzzling to me why Mary Williams would vote against measures to reduce mercury in Wisconsin’s lakes, even though many of the lakes in her district are under mercury warnings for fish.

Perhaps it’s because she’s accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from energy companies, many that lobby on mercury pollution legislation.

Or maybe it’s because Republican leadership in Madison told her to do it. She did vote with Speaker John Gard 95% of the time this last session.

Either way it sounds “fishy” to me.

Check out Carrie Lynch's post at What's Left for more info on the Mercury problem in Wisconsin.