[media-credit name=’MEGHAN CONLIN/Herald Photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Addressing issues crucial to Wisconsin residents, the Wisconsin Counties Association discussed a multitude of issues Wednesday morning.

The WCA Executive Director Mark D. O'Connell moderated the casual discussions of a variety of current issues including campaign finance, health care, talk radio and education.

Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center; Senate Minority Leader Judith Robson, D-Beloit; Assembly Republican Caucus Chair Mark Gundrum, R-New Berlin; and Assembly Assistant Minority Leader Jon Richards, D-Milwaukee, participated in the discussion.

In talking about campaign finance, Richards expressed his faith in the improvements in the system, which has been a hot topic in the state. All of this comes in the wake of the legislative caucus scandals and allegations of questionable campaign practices by several top state officials.

"In a bipartisan way, we [as legislators] have been able to take small steps and large steps," Richards said.

Echoing Richards' assertion, Schultz also acknowledged the necessity of partisan collaboration in the refinement of the system.

"[Legislators] are going to sacrifice together and have the same opportunities together. All of us represent the government," he said. "The people are tired of the finger-pointing. They are losing faith in the government."

Robson noted, too, that the campaign finance controversy in the state has directed the public's attention away from more pertinent issues.

"We talk about who took from who, but how are we going to provide affordable health care?" she said. "We ought to be getting our arms around that, an issue that people really care about."

Legislators also discussed their hopes and goals for Wisconsin, and education was addressed as a focal point of their plans for the state's future.

"I'd like to see a world class educational system with choices for parents. Certain things work better for certain children," Gundrum said.

In addition to education, the legislators addressed Wisconsin's success thus far.

"[Wisconsin] is growing like crazy. I am incredibly optimistic about this state," Richards said.

The influence of talk radio in the media was also a topic of discussion for the panel, as Schultz advocated the public's ability to voice their concerns in the media.

"[Y]ou should question everything. You live in a democracy. You have that right," Schultz said.

Plans for the future also circulated during the forum.

"[Wisconsin's] ability to survive will depend on our ability to problem-solve and our ability to problem-solve together. That's what I hope for, for Wisconsin," Schultz said.