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Dems’ promise already broken

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Also by Bassey Etim:

Religion: Does it benefit society? (November 29, 2007)
Do Democrats take minority votes for granted? (November 15, 2007)
It's the media, stupid: Political coverage misleads (November 8, 2007)

by Bassey Etim

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

My mom used to tell me, "Anyone can make a promise, but most people forget them on purpose." Thus far, state Democrats have fallen into the latter category, and Wisconsin voters are coming to the painful realization that their government is incapable of holding itself to the high standards it promises every four years.

In an election season dominated by allegations of unproductive partisanship and special-interest pandering by Republican majorities, state Democrats prevailed by emphasizing the intrinsic value of civility. Now, just a few short weeks into this legislative session, Democrats have added to the crisis in decorum that plagued the Republican state Senate majority.

First is the inexplicable support for the "Frankenstein veto" from the left. The provision allows the governor to combine unrelated sentences in a bill and give life to dead proposals. Because this power is part of the state Constitution, it must pass through the Legislature twice before being put before voters in a referendum. It passed last time, but with a newfound majority, Senate Democrats decided not to schedule a vote on the measure.

For those of you wondering about the difference in Democratic philosophy between opposition to President Bush's abuse of "signing statements" — in which he redefines the intent of federal legislation — and support for executive overreach in Wisconsin, the answer is simple. In this case, a Democrat, Gov. Jim Doyle, is the executive officer. This brand of shortsighted partisan maneuvering continues to dominate government at every level, despite all the sunny talk about bipartisanship in November.

Democrats, who promised the voters tangible change in a political discourse tainted with obsessive partisan rancor, ought to be embarrassed with their efforts thus far. Bipartisanship is more than a speech, smile and a handshake. Sometimes it takes real sacrifice, and the ability to perceive political gains in the public interest that go beyond the next election cycle.

The same goes for the broken state sick-leave policy that allows legislators — who almost never officially declare illness — to cash in benefits that roll over from year to year. In some cases, legislative veterans cash in millions for health-care accounts upon retirement. Meanwhile, too many hard-working Wisconsin families are trapped in a stagnant health-care system that makes it nearly impossible to buy any sort of insurance.

Many against revising the sick-leave system argue that it will make it harder for qualified yet cash-strapped residents to run for office. This is a valid dilemma that campaign-finance reform legislation has yet to solve. In a capitalist society, how do we get the best and brightest to enter the realm of public service before they are picked off by business interests — Nevertheless, a backhanded money-laundering scheme masquerading as sick leave is not a principled way to solve this problem, nor will it instill public trust in our politicians.

Of course, state Republicans are at fault for this breakdown, as well. After debate on a sick-leave policy change, committee chair Rep. Mark Honadel, R-South Milwaukee, called for an immediate vote that was in violation of his own rules. In response, Rep. Terry Van Akkeren, D-Sheboygan, objected and voted against the proposal in committee to protest the change. "At the meeting's conclusion, Akkeren tore up Honadel's procedural rules and walked out of the room," according to a Badger Herald news report. Mr. Honadel's attempt to score political points by calling an immediate vote on a "no-brainer" and his subsequent refusal to respect the wishes of a legitimate objector are festering examples of state Republicans' inability to maintain the basic civility voters demand.

Despite all of this legislative buffoonery, there are bright spots in Wisconsin's political dialogue. For example, the myriad groups promoting new state health-care systems hold open meetings to establish contacts while promoting their own plans. Former state budget director David Reimer has sought bipartisan support for his pending Wisconsin Health Plan, and stresses that it can change to become more agreeable to state Republicans, despite Reimer's own Democratic stripes. Further, when I gave Ann Fleischli — an attorney advocating for Wisconsin Health Care for All's "Provide or Pay" plan — the chance to criticize opposing plans, this is all she offered:

"Until the political climate statewide changes, our proposal is probably the only approach that would work," Fleischli said before adding a note for camaraderie. "We of course wish everyone good luck."

The state Legislature could learn a lesson in civility from these local policy wonks.

Bassey Etim (betim@badgerherald.com) is a junior majoring in political science and journalism.

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Anonymous (February 27, 2007 @ 7:24am):

I'm a Democrat who is seriously considering some sort of protest vote for 2008. Doyle has already let me down, and the congressional Democrats have yet to take off the kid gloves with President Bush.

Local and national Democratic leaders, beware: 2008 could be a very bad year if you "stay this course."

Anonymous (February 27, 2007 @ 10:15am):

If you expect anything from your legislature ever, be very disappointed. This is from someone who worked in lobbying for a brief period after undergrad.

Honestly, as much as people complain about "activist judges", our best changes over the past half a century have at least started in the judiciary.

Anonymous (February 27, 2007 @ 11:36am):

Excellent editorial.

When will all these partisan hacks see that, at the end of the day, there's no difference between democrats and republicans when it comes to corruption and self-interest?

Anonymous (February 27, 2007 @ 1:23pm):

Bassey, some factual considerations:

The horrible, horrible, Frankenstein veto was used by Governor Doyle to restore a $400 million cut to the states public schools. had he not used that tactic, schools across the state would have seen massive and painful cuts AND property taxes would have risen dramatically.

That said, the ends don't justify the means, right? So Dems offered a compromise that would have ended that veto authority in the year 2010, so depolitize it. The GOP of course, refused, because they only care about the issue in the context of embarassing this Governor. Had they really cared about the policy of it, they would passed the Dem compromise, or they would have changed it during the 16 years when a GOP Governor (Tommy and McCallum) had the power.

As for sick leave, no one is cashing out for "millions". That is a blatently false.

And no one is getting into this business to get rich. At $46,000 a year, our state legislators are the absolute lowest paid full time legislators in the country. You don't like their performance? You pay for what you get.

Anonymous (February 27, 2007 @ 3:38pm):

Bassey, do you really think that it's their fault, do you really think that the Democrats want to be bogged down? Do you think the Republicans don't want to make change? Everybody is cemented in a cyle that cannot be broken! It scares me, it scares me, it scares me ...NO single person is responsible for it, its life. If we are going to fix anything, it has to be life. How we see ourselves, how we see others, and how we see what is important.

Anonymous (February 27, 2007 @ 3:51pm):

"...absolute lowest paid full time legislators in the country."

OTOH, I would prefer part-time legislators instead of full-time hacks, so let's cut the pay down further and see if that helps.

Anonymous (February 27, 2007 @ 5:55pm):

"Do you think the Republicans don't want to make change?"

Someone needs to look up the words "conservative" and "status quo."

Anonymous (February 27, 2007 @ 7:32pm):

Excellent editorial! You clearly showed the down sides of both parties since the election. If only people would take your words to heart and remember them in another year.
- Germain E. Stemme

Anonymous (February 28, 2007 @ 12:45am):

@1:23 thanks for the talking points, next time how about an original thought?

Here's a thought for you, how did Robson vote when limiting the veto power during Tommy's term as governor. She fully supported limiting his veto power, but now that it's Doyle in office, her and Risser won't let it happen. This isn't depoliticizing it, it's doing just the opposite.

Even after the Black amendment was tabled, the AJR passed with a cler bipartisan majority.

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