Doyle Tackles Insanely High Rate of African American Incarceration In Wisconsin

In today's Capital Times, David Callender writes about a new commission Governor Jim Doyle is appointing to study the insanely high rate of incarceration for African Americans in Wisconsin.

Gov. Jim Doyle today announced today that he will create a panel to study the high rates of incarceration among blacks in Wisconsin.

"Far too many of our citizens, particularly African-American males, are serving time in our prisons rather than learning in our schools or succeeding in the workplace," Doyle said in a draft of a speech he was set to deliver at today's Capitol celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Kudo's to Governor Doyle for tackling such a high need issue that has been neglected for decades in Wisconsin. As Callender points out, Wisconsin has the highest rate of African-American incarceration in the nation and is also among the highest in the nation for contacts between black youths and the criminal justice system.

Kudos also to Callender, who has been willing to tackle issues of incarceration throughout his career, including some pieces on the prison formerly known as Supermax. Callender has done a superb job of raising the profile of an issue most people would just as soon ignore.

I recently got appointed to the Assembly's Correction's Committee, a committee I have served on since I was elected to the legislature minus last session. Since I now serve on the legislature's Joint Committee on Finance, many members choose not to serve on other committees.

However, I have a strong interest in corrections issues and think they are among the most non-partisan problems demanding attention in our state. And for that I am glad to be serving on the committee again.

I look forward to helping solve the problems facing public safety and the appropriate responses, with strong attention to the root problems of crime as well as finding alternatives to non-violent offenders. Simply housing inmates at a cost of over $28,000 per year simply doesn't make sense for many, many offenders.

Thank you Governor for your attention to this issue. I look forward to working with you.

Ethics Bill Brings Bipartisan 'Kum Ba Ya'

Believe it or not, bipartisan ethics reform legislation has been introduced in the Wisconsin legislature.

Today, the awaited ethics bill was introduced, merging the Ethics and Elections Board with a more powerful and autonomous Government Accountability Board. The leadership of Governor Doyle and legislative leaders in both parties and in both houses announced the introduction, with a special session called to get the bill passed this month.

The bill reflects some of the previous proposals, with important adjustments and augmentations. Kudos go to Governor Doyle, Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, Assembly Democratic Leader Jim Kreuser, Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson, Representatives Mark Gundrum and Jeff Fitzgerald, and others for working hard on seeing that this bill advances.

I believe this bill is a strong start to cleaning up both real and perceived problems at the State Capitol. If we can move this forward in a bipartisan fashion, we can hopefully move forward on other substantive issues of ethics and government.

On top of my list would include real campaign finance reform, efforts to get rid of fake "issue" ads, banning fundraising during the state budget deliberations and more.

There is no question that the voters schooled elected officials on this issue this past fall. Seats changed hands, long time incumbents lost their elections and editorial boards keep the issue of ethics reform alive. Perhaps more uniquely, legislators from both parties listened and DELIVERED.

This bill's model of all parties working together has been a great process, which if replicated, could mean a lot of wins for the people of Wisconsin.

I'm proud of my part in helping this bill advance. I hope we can move swiftly to get this passed by the end of January.

(I have to admit a lot of people may not like the bipartisan praise for my first post of the year, but it is deserved. A kinder, gentler Pocan? Hmmmmmmm.......)