Baldwin Introduces Bipartisan Health Care Proposal

One of the nation's leading voices for healthcare reform, Wisconsin's own US Rep. Tammy Baldwin, today introduced a bipartisan proposal to break through the logjam accessable and affordable healthcare.

The Health Partnership through Creative Federalism Act (HR5683) would empower states, with the federal government's help, to find ways to insure the uninsured in their respective states. Each state could find a unique fit, in hopes of finding ways to address the problem the most effectively nationwide.

Baldwin's Republican opponent, Dave Magnum, has attacked Baldwin for not advancing healthcare despite her constant efforts on behalf of the issue.

Don't forget, it was Magnum's campaign that has taken on the weighty issues of protecting our borders (with Lake Mills?) and saying Baldwin called him a pig. I'm serious. Baldwin made a joke at a fundraiser with an anecdote about farm life, where if you get in the mud with pigs you wind up getting some on yourself.

To Magnum, that was a personal attack. I guess he must have felt his nasty campaign was a bit too much like pigs rolling in the slop. But that is the campaign Magnum is running. Too bad for him this healthcare proposal once again shows his attacks are without merit. Maybe we should go back to attacking foreigners, eh Dave?

Congratulations Tammy on another fine job done on behalf of healthcare.

Mark Green's $182,545 Problem

I'm so glad I crashed Mark Green's press conference on ethics and reform a few weeks ago. My guess is that he would like a do-over.

His newest ethical problem is the fact that he took $182,545 too much PAC money, exceeding Wisconsin's legal limits, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

First, he transferred money that came in over individual state limits. Now he has more PAC money than he can legally take in Wisconsin.

How's that for ethics reform.

Then throw in the money from Washington special interests and his good pal Tom Delay, well hell that money is about as clean as a superfund site.

Now that's a guy who'll clean up the Capitol.

And how is that for Green being serious about reform at all.

Mark Green & Tom Delay: Thanks for the Loan Good Buddy

Well, today Mark Green officially gave away the dirty money he got from the defrocked Tom Delay. The over $29,000 he took from Delay was given to six different charities, after the legislature passed a law to allow Green to give his money to charity, rather than back to Delay.

You may remember, Green was firm in keeping the money from his lov...ah close pal Tom Delay. Remember the facts around Green and Delay. They are very close pals.

But the facts remain. Green took Delay's cash. Green voted Delay's way. Green intended on keeping Delay's cash (along with the other money he collected in Washington and had placed into his gubernatorial account, skirting Wisconsin's campaign finance laws for limits on contributions). After Delay got, well, busted, Green said he'd give away the cash. And today, he finally did.

But that doesn't negate the fact that Mark Green and Tom Delay are very close friends, with even closer voting records for special interests. If you still want a bumper sticker, I have some. Just let me know.

And Mark, how about returning the donations you took that violate Wisconsin law for contribution limits, when you put them in your gubernatorial account? You do that, and I'll say something nice about your "ethics". Until then, some would say you were just Delay's bit...ah close friend.

Oh God No, A New "Gard"?

If having one John Gard wasn't enough, one candidate in his assembly district (no, not the Sun Prairie one) is claiming he's the new Gard. They were born in the same county only a few months apart. Hell, he even looks like him, he says. I'm not making this up. I don't know why I didn't try that line when I ran for Tammy Baldwin's old assembly seat....

Kudos to one of the Democrats running up that way for the heads up. Randy Koehn has been active in the liberal blogging community in northeastern Wisconsin.

By the way, keep sending ideas for new slogans for John Gard mentioned in the previous blog. I'm getting some really good ones! I knew you could do it.

John Gard Needs YOUR Help

So it hasn’t been a good week for John Gard.

Xoff (and others) have exposed how he gets support in the eighth Congressional district. He just doesn’t tell people they are supporting him. But that isn’t working.

Gard really does need some fresh ideas to reach out to the people of Northeastern Wisconsin. After all, he hasn’t lived there in a very, very long time. Some of his Sun Prairie neighbors think he’s swell, but they don’t play well on Green Bay television.

So, readers, like we tried to do for Glenn Grothman, let’s put our collective thinking caps on and come up with some campaign slogans for John Gard. I’ll forward them all (that are clean) I promise.

I’ll start.

Serving northeastern Wisconsin since Spring of 2006 when I moved there.

Nobody’s carpetbagger but yours.

The lobbyist’s choice.

Didn't I mention I hate the DNR?

Ok, they’re not great. But I KNOW you can do better. Post your suggestions. Free Green/Delay stickers to the best ones!

Why Mike Huebsch Should Be Worried

If I was Mike Huebsch, I would be very very worried.

The GOP in the State Assembly fielded 13 challengers to Democrats in the State Assembly. Yup, one-third of Dems have challengers, and even then some of those challengers are not exactly star quality shall we say.

One candidate is in his 30's living in his mother's basement and works as a private eye. Hmmm. Another even the GOP didn't know they fielded until filing day. One has to move into the district. A few others likely finish up the seven dwarves.

On the other hand, the Democrats in the State Assembly fielded Democrats in 86 districts (unless a couple get kicked off the ballot by the Elections Board this week due to GOP dirty tricks). Three-quarters of incumbent GOP members are opposed. Wow, that's 20 year record.

Further, the Dems have one member not running. The GOP has eleven open seats.

So if I was Mike Huebsch, the likely GOP leader next session, I would be worried. Personally, I think Mike is formidible. He's smart, he's personable and he doesn't let every little thing get under his skin and fester, like John "I don't live in Sun Prairie" Gard. Don't get me wrong. He's on the far right edge of far right. But he's also smart enough to try and improve the climate between his caucus and ours, in my opinion. However if his caucus is anything like ours, poor performance could lead to his chances at the helm being greatly diminished.

I like our prospects. After a year of trials for Mickey Foti and Scooter Jensen, after the GOP in the Assembly killed ethics reform, and after a session of right wing whacko bills being passed, I think they have a lot to explain at the doors this fall. Too bad for Mike the ulimate victim might be their defacto leader, himself.

Negative Campaign Operative Rongstad to Work for Assembly Republicans

Former Assembly Republican Caucus employee Todd Rongstad is back in the news.

No, he didn't falsely accuse anyone of beating their spouse or a parent of facilitating the huffing deaths of local children (I'm not making those up really), but he is in the news on two other fronts.

First is a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision he lost for his anonymous negative campaign attacks against State Senator Julie Lassa. For that offense, he's fined $65,000.

But even more incredible is that after his numerous questionable negative campaigns, he's back in action with the Assembly Republicans. The winning decision for Republican leadership is to bring back the same person who used to work in the now-defunct legislative caucuses and viciously attacked former Reps. Sarah Waukau and Lee Meyerhofer. Bet you can guess what kind of positive, issues oriented campaign material he'll produce this time.

The only thing Marley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel doesn't get fully right is the bipartisan claims of Rongstad. Other than a couple of campaigns he worked on through connections from a previous marriage, Rongstad has been the hachet man for Republicans in the most negative campaigns in legislative history. And now, the GOP found it wise to bring him back.

I guess the Republican leadership must be feeling the sting of only challenging one third of Assembly Democrats, while the Dems are challenging three-quarters of their members. It appears the GOP answer is to bring back an oldie but a nasty, former Republican Caucus employee Todd Rongstad.

That's right, they're reassembling the campaign operation that made Scooter Jensen famous, just months after Jensen is facing prison time for his involvement with illegal campaign activities.

How do you think the public will sit knowing the GOP has learned nothing from the recent scandals? I hope by ousting some of their members this fall.

Mark Green/Tom Delay Stickers Available

So I’m sure you know that Mark Green has taken a ton of dirty cash from the disgraced Tom Delay.

And I think you know that recently a national good government group, Public Citizen, came out with some research showing those in Congress who were closest to Delay, both in terms of taking his cash and voting with him on his dirty deals. Mark Green was number eight, nationally.

Well, at a dinner on Friday night I unveiled some bumper sticker ideas for the fall campaign. One was an idea for Mark Green, or more appropriately, against Mark Green. It highlighted his, well, shall we say close relationship to Tom Delay.

Mark Green & Tom Delay
About as close as two straight men can get without being gay

OK, I think it is kind of funny. But more importantly, so did a lot of other people. So, I decided to get a run made.

If you would like your own copy of this bumper sticker, send an email to me at: greendelay@tds.net. Or just send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Mark Pocan, 309 N. Baldwin St., Madison, WI 53703.

I’ll give you instructions about how to get yours if you email. All I ask is that you consider making a donation of your choice to either Fair Wisconsin or the Dane County Democratic Party if you'd like.

Let’s let the state know just how proud Mark Green is of his good buddy Tom Delay.

Let's Help Glenn Grothman with a Campaign Slogan

So Glenn Grothman may be running for the U.S. Senate against Herb Kohl. Ho hum.

OK, not to be left out in the hype Glenn Grothman seems to be trying to create by getting in yet another race on the final day (yawn), I thought I 'd bring a different take.

Those of us who know Glenn know this about him. He's bright. He's so far right he's sometimes left. He is not a natural politician or even moderately charismatic. He is a character. He truly believes in what he believes. He is wrong virtually all of the time on major issues. He is usually a principled conservative. He would probably better fit on the Constitution Party ballot line than the Republican Party line. I didn't think it could happen, but he will be running to the right of Mark Green, and trust me there is not a lot of room on that ledge.

So here's my pitch. IF he gets into the race (I'm on pins and needles, really), he's getting in quite late. So he needs some help with a campaign slogan. Let's help Glenn out.

Give me your ideas. Let's come up with the slogan that beats, "Nobody's Senator But Yours." I'll pass them on to Glenn. C'mon readers, I know you've got it in you!

I'll get us started...."Nobody's Senator But Pro-Life Wisconsin's" or "Because Joe McCarthy's Legacy Must Continue..." or "Even Rick Santorum Needs to Be To the Left of Someone".

Alright, it is your turn. What do you got?

Wisconsin Poised to Be First State To Defeat Anti-Civil Union/Marriage Amendment

Wispolitics recently did a poll on Wisconsin's proposed constitutional amendment to ban civil unions, domestic partnerships and gay marriage. The advocates for the amendment can't be too happy. 48.5 percent support the amendment, 47.8 percent oppose the amendment.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports on the poll.

If you want to make sure Wisconsin is the line in the sand that makes sure NO more discriminatory amendments are proposed nationwide, give to Fair Wisconsin.

Thompson Says Vote NO on the Amendment

Well, not Tommy Thompson.

But the one who fights to defend personal liberties in Wisconsin says to vote NO on the Amendment.

Former Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Ed Thompson, brother of Tommy Thompson, received more votes for a third party candidate than anyone else has since 1942, over 180,000 votes.

Last night he spoke in Madison, refering to the proposed constitutional amendment as part of the "incredible hatred and bias that is ruining our country." Check out the Capital Times Story.

Well spoken, Ed.


(Now if I can just get you to relook at that endorsement of Dave Magnum. You say you support him for "fiscal" reasons. I don't think your libertarian perspective includes all the corporate and special interest tax breaks and subsidies Magnum supports, which ADD to the tax burden for people like you and me, rather than making a system more fair and with less overall burden. Besides that he's a borderline bigot, taking full advantage of the hype around gay marriage and immigrants. And will Magnum support your (and my) efforts for legalized medical marijuana? I'm guessing not. Are his values really your values? Thanks again for your speech though last night.)

Run for the State Assembly

2006 has the potential to being the perfect storm for electing new faces to the state legislature.

First, several polls have shown the lowest polling for state legislative incumbents ever (well, within my adult memory anyway). People don’t necessarily like incumbent legislators this year. The GOP gets that. Their defacto-leader, Rep. Mike Huebsch, has told his members to run like it is their first time. It is NOT a good year for incumbents, especially GOP ones.

Second, every Republican member of the Assembly voted to kill ethics reform. Some just did it more than others. Following a period of unprecedented scandal, simply ignoring that people want to clean up the State Capitol is equal to political suicide. The GOP members are going to have to justify their votes in order to get the publics’ votes. I don’t think they can spin that hard or fast.

Finally, the issues that were voted on this past legislative session favor the Democrats. It was the Democrats who brought down the state deficit, fought for health care and fully funded K-12 education. It was the GOP that wanted to ban stem cell research and birth control, allow pharmacists to refuse to fill your prescription and in general, please only the most extreme right wing of the state. Soccer moms and Nascar dads are not right wing ideologues. That just want what’s best for their families, and so do Democrats.

So take the powerful mix of those three plus key votes on more, and suddenly it is a terrible year to be a GOP incumbent.

Democrats are running aggressively for the legislature across the state. However, a few holes do need to be filled to ensure the largest number of Democrats running EVER. All it takes is collecting 200 signatures on nomination papers, due next Tuesday (7/11). Wanna run?

Here is where we still need Democrats: (Link to maps of districts)

District 2 - Incumbent Frank Lasee: Lasee is one of the most conservative members of the legislature, the true intellectual father of TABOR. Allowing Lasee a free ride ensures he works actively in the greater Green Bay/Fox Valley area for other Republicans. There is an easy contrast to his politics (close to those of Rush Limbaugh) and everyone else in the district. RUN.

District 21 - Incumbent Mark Honadel: This southern Milwaukee area district was previously represented by Democrat Jeff Plale before he was elected to the state senate. It is truly a swing district where someone who supports Democratic values can and will get elected. Honadel was recently elected to a GOP leadership post, ensuring his assistance to other Republicans statewide.

District 24 - Incumbent Sue Jeskowitz: I like Sue personally. But the GOP has backed her into a bad corner. As a more moderate Republican, they threaten her with primaries to make here drink the GOP conservative kool-aid. And she drinks it. Let’s remind Sue that her more moderate belief system is better for the district by showing her people really do support our values.

District 27 - Incumbent Steve Kestell: Kestell is part of the conservative cookie-cutter mold of most members of their caucus. Strongly anti-choice, he was the author of the bill to ban scientific cloning. He recently lost to Honadel for that leadership post, meaning he will work harder to elect GOPpers to win a leadership post in the future. He needs to be kept busy.

District 35 - Incumbent Don Friske: Friske represents part of northern Wisconsin that has had Democratic representation in the past. While Friske is not a fire-breathing right winger, he does vote with the conservative element too often. A competitive district like this should not go unchallenged.

District 39 - Incumbent Jeff Fitzgerald: Fitzgerald is the brother of Senator Scott Fitzgerald. He is a conservative who plans on running the GOP campaign operation along with Mike Huebsch. Keeping him busy and at home is priority one. Unchallenged, he will be one of the most active members of the GOP caucus, helping reelect their members. IMPORTANT to challenge him.

District 52 - Incumbent John Townsend: Townsend is a nice guy who votes wrong too often. The district was once held by Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager. We can certainly find a Democrat to run and voice support for progressive values, right?

District 53 - Incumbent Carol Owens: Anyone from the Fox Valley probably knows the legislative history of Owens. She is homophobic, refers to “coloreds” in Milwaukee and much more. Owens need s to get out and campaign to hold her seat, but that will only happen if a Democrat runs. Run please.

District 58 - Incumbent Pat Strachota: As a freshman legislator, this is one of the best times to take out an incumbent. Add that to her voting record and this Wend Bend area representative will have to work hard to get reelected. Any challengers?

District 59 - Incumbent Dan Lemahieu: Lemahieu is one of the most anti-choice incumbents the legislature has. He led the fight to ban birth control access. Surely, there has to be a better alternative for this eastern Wisconsin district.

District 60 - Incumbent Mark Gottlieb: Gottlieb is an up-and-comer with potential to be a GOP Speaker of the Assembly someday. That is unless we challenge him today. The Port Washington area should be able to field a candidate who can challenge Gottlieb on the issues…and win.

District 66 - Incumbent Samantha Kerkman: Kerkman is a cookie-cutter GOP member, representing part of my home county (Kenosha) that is far more mainstream than she. We need to find a real challenger to make her vote in a more moderate manor, or lose clinging to her conservative views. This area was once represented by Democrat Mary Wagner (Malloy). Let’s find a candidate.

District 82 - Incumbent Jeff Stone: Stone is hardly the most in-your-face conservative, but he is ambitious and would likely run for Milwaukee County Executive someday. In a district that is far more Democratic than he represents, a solid candidate could give Stone a run for his money. Surely Milwaukee Dems can recruit someone.

District 99 - Incumbent Don Pridemore: I don’t mean this to be rude, but I know nothing of this freshman legislator who beat a more moderate Republican incumbent. Well, other than that this year could mean a hard run for Pridemore. Let him know he does not represent the values of the 99th.

There you go. Every other district has a Democratic challenger. Can we make this the best year ever for Dems? With your help yes.

To my lefty blogging friends, please circulate this message in your area. We have one week to find candidates in these areas. We need YOUR help in not only getting the word out, but showing the blog-o-sphere is a force to be reckoned with.


If you want to contact me about this, please do. My email is markpocan@tds.net. I’d love to discuss more. Better yet, contact the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee directly at 608-258-9225. Ask for Jim Smith.

Let’s have a GREAT Democratic year!!!!!