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Legislator sits in until budget
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Also by Jessi Polsky:
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Hours after all other state legislators had gone home for the night, Rep. Tom Nelson, D-Kaukauna, sat alone at his desk in the Assembly chambers eating dinner and preparing to inflate the air mattress he slept on Thursday night.
Committed to passing a 2007-09 Wisconsin state budget, Nelson has a sign reading "109" — the number of days which have passed since the original budget deadline — hanging on the front of his desk. Nelson has set up camp in the Capitol because of a vow he made Thursday to remain in the Assembly chambers until the budget impasse ends.
"I’m here ready to work, and I’m going to be here 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until we pass a budget," Nelson said in an interview with The Badger Herald. "As a legislator I need to be able to look my constituents in the eyes and tell them that I am doing everything I possibly can to pass a budget."
Nelson said he got the idea for his Capitol sit-in from a University of Wisconsin student. The student’s family was recently plagued with financial trouble, and, according to Nelson, the student took one semester off to help his parents regain stable financial footing. Yet, due to budget delays, the student does not have access to the financial aid he was promised by UW.
"He applied for [financial aid] and was accepted … only to find out that the financial aid package he was counting on wasn’t what it needed to be, and it’s because of the budget impasse," Nelson said. "We all know there are 6,000 students who will not be receiving new financial aid until we pass a budget."
But financial aid is only one small part of the large budget package. Nelson said senior care, property tax relief and funding for the stewardship fund are all tied up in the state budget.
"Legislators, just like the public, are well aware of the real consequences of not passing a budget and everything is wrapped up in this budget," Nelson said. "The only way we’re going to pass a budget is if Democrats and Republicans come together in a room … and decide to hash out their differences and pass a budget. That is what the people who elected me expect me to do."
Jay Heck, director of the nonpartisan citizens lobby Common Cause in Wisconsin said Nelson is doing all he can to end the budget stalemate. As a Democratic member of the Republican-controlled Assembly, however, Heck said Nelson does not have a great deal of power over budget proceedings.
"Nelson is doing all any rank-and-file member of the Legislature can do [because] he doesn’t have it within his own power to be able to move this [budget] process along," Heck said.
However, Heck added Wisconsin citizens may sympathize with Nelson’s budget frustrations and support his attempt to show the budget committee they need to get their job done.
"What Nelson is doing will certainly increase citizen irritation with this entire [budget] process," Heck said. "He’ll be accused of political grandstanding. … All he can do is something dramatic to capture the attention of the public."
Both constituents and legislators from both parties have contacted Nelson to voice support for his actions.
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Wow, we need more people who care as much as Mr. Nelson. You have my vote!
—Damien C. Bordeaux
I disagree with many of Mr. Nelson’s positions regarding the budget, but the sit-in is a good idea. Now if all Republicans and Democrats would do the same thing, maybe a reasonable compromise budget could be passed.
I pity the guy he sits next to… kinda gross.
All the same, I applaud Rep. Nelson and his dedication to his job. We need more politicians willing to make the same sacrifices in persuit of fulfilling their responsibilities to the public.
I knew I loved Democrats :) Keep up the good work Mr. Nelson!!!
What a legend!
Nelso is not a legend. He is an asshole to deal with. Anybody who has had to deal with him in the assembly knows this.
What a great story.
Well done, Jessi!
My name is Christina. I’m a freshman at UWGB and I’m absolutely terrified of what is going to happen. I’ve dreamed almost all of my life going here and now our budget is messed up. The way that Tom Nelson is dealing with things, I’d vote for him as President!