OPINION & EDITORIAL
Rep. Tammy Baldwin
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Monday, February 25, 2002
Each week, the Badger Herald editorial board will sit down with an individual who impacts the lives of students. This week, the editorial board spoke with Rep. Tammy Baldwin. Baldwin, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, has represented the 2nd Congressional District (which includes UW) since 1998.
BH: What do you think about the recent House vote on campaign-finance reform?
TB: I think the passage of the Shays-Meehan bill is an incredibly important step forward, but it is also not the end of this path. But I think it is an incredibly powerful piece of legislation, both on the substantive and symbolic basis.
BH: Was your opinion on the banning of issue ads affected at all during the last election cycle, where issues ads were used against by you to great effect?
TB: I certainly would have had this belief prior to running for office, but I would say in 1998, that election cycle, there was a lot more involvement of soft-money issue ads than there was in this last cycle.
In my mind, the First Amendment prohibits us from stripping away someone’s right to speak, but I think all we’re saying is that something trying to fit in the category of an issue ad that is truly a campaign ad ought to play by the same rules as people involved in the campaign.
BH: Do you think your previous campaigns would have been affected dramatically had this bill been in place?
TB: I think the voter turnout would have been increased had this law been in effect. I can’t tell you how many people simply don’t vote because they are so turned off by the negativity, especially in the type of ads that are being re-categorized.
BH: Do you think there are any aspects of this bill that should be struck down by the courts?
TB: There are aspects of the bill I don’t like, but most of the ones I don’t like are policy choices, not constitutional ones. For example, the House voted to double the amount a House candidate could take as a campaign contribution from $1,000 to $2,000, and I was appalled. I hate that. But it’s not unconstitutional; it’s just a policy choice I don’t agree with.
BH: Do you expect a strong challenge for re-election this year?
TB: The obvious variable is we have no idea what district we will be running in because the redistricting process is still under way. I think a number of potential candidates are waiting for that process to be concluded before they decide whether or not to run for Congress. July 9 is the day you have to file your papers, so we have some time to see how the race is going to shape up.
BH: Do you think the redistricting plan that passed the Assembly benefits you?
TB: As I looked at the statistics that were presented with the map, I think there was only a three-tenths of a percent increase in the Democratic performance of the map.
BH: After receiving criticism from some campus supporters, do you feel vindicated for your vote authorizing military action after Sept. 11, considering the success U.S. forces have had in Afghanistan?
TB: At all stages in my mind there’s critical thinking we always keep in front of us, which is “What are we trying to do?” And what we are trying to do in my mind is protect American lives, bring the perpetrators of those attacks to justice and create the conditions requisite for a peaceful tomorrow. I think that what has happened in Afghanistan is entirely justified and appropriate.
I am much more cautious about the voices I am hearing both from the administration and in Congress for a wide extension, and I had a very different opinion when I heard the “Axis of Evil” speech than I did about that first vote authorizing military force to protect American citizens.
BH: How do you feel about Bush’s budget increase in military spending?
TB: I’m very concerned right now. Part of them are for the war on terrorism, part of them are for homeland defense, part of them—the part I support the most—are for pay increases for our servicemen and women who are not paid adequately. But then over half the increase was for activities unrelated to what I just listed. I was shocked. Essentially procurement-related activities.
BH: Do you think Bush’s budget helps students?
TB: The good-news areas are the continuing increase in funding for the National Institute of Health and the National Science Foundation. UW-Madison is second in the nation behind John Hopkins in attracting on a competitive basis NIH and NSF dollars. It helps keep us cutting edge and there is a continuing commitment to increase those budgets in the Bush budget.
BH: What about the substantial increase in Pell Grants?
TB: I do think there are some advances there. There are some cut-backs in other financial aid programs, and again we will have our shot at it too, but I was concerned with some of the policies around work-study and other opportunities. We’re just getting into this, since we didn’t get the budget until Feb. 4.
The final thing I would say is anytime we are looking at moving towards a deficit, those have trickle down effects and students will not be shielded from the impact. I think when it comes to the fiscal health of this country I have a responsibility to be a good fiscal steward and see that the deficit situation is a short as possible.
BH: What do you think about the City Council’s vote to stop the State Street process? What would happen to the $1 million you helped secure in funding if the project does not go on?
TB: I’ve been following it for that very reason. It would be very tragic to have those funds lapse because of a delay or stall in progress on the project, but after researching it, it is possible that the million dollars could remain available beyond this fiscal year—that makes me feel less anguished about the City Council’s action. If this is just a brief delay to look at the numbers again, hopefully everything will be fine.
BH: But you’re definitely in support of the project?
TB: I think State Street and the connection between the campus and the capitol is the signature of this community. It’s like the Wisconsin Idea embodied right there … that ought to be enhanced and improved and I think it’s high time to do it.
