May 19, 2013

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Republicans celebrate and strategize

May 5, 2013 By
Governor Scott Walker speaks to convention goers

Governor Scott Walker speaks to convention goers

Republican activists hear from an all-star line-up Saturday at the Republican Party of Wisconsin state convention in central Wisconsin.

Governor Scott Walker promotes the party’s accomplishments over the past two years and looks to the future. “We need to continue to show the people of Wisconsin that the ‘R’ next to our name doesn’t just stand for Republican, it stands for reformer,” he says, “and we’re gonna continue to push reforms that make our state a better state to live in, to work in, to play in, to grow up in, to some day retire in because we love Wisconsin.”

Walker talks about his party’s agenda, including food stamp reform, tax cuts, and education — and that includes vouchers. “We’re the ones who care about education in this state because we care about the students in the class room, not about the education bureaucracy.” Walker also pushes entitlement reform — transitioning people from government dependence to true independence, he says.

At the Patriot Center in Rothschild, just outside of Wausau, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Reince Priebus keynotes the event. The Wisconsin native tells convention-goers that everyone needs to be on the team, that includes conservatives, libertarians, tea party, liberty movement, and people who don’t wear a label, he says, but “we need to grow,” saying, “we’ll either succeed together or we’ll just lose together. It’s our choice.”

Priebus says the party has to do things differently, but Republicans can’t and won’t change their principles. “Some would have us turn into Democrat light, but I refuse.”

Congressman, and former vice presidential candidate, Paul Ryan keeps his comments short but takes time to criticize President Barack Obama’s health care plan. “Now we can show that this was one, big, false, huge, empty promise.”

Referencing the recall elections as a result of Republicans votes on collective bargaining, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald tells the crowd the elections didn’t turn out the way Democrats expected. “But what you have today in Wisconsin is a new Senate majority that has established itself from the ashes and the ruins of chaos to become of beacon of the Republican Party, not just hear, but nationwide.”

Party faithful also heard from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and most of the congressional delegation. The Democrats meet in June for their annual convention in Oconomowoc.

Filed Under: Elections, News, Politics & Government

GOP lawmakers grill Reilly over UW surplus (AUDIO)

April 24, 2013 By
Kevin Reilly PHOTO: WRN

Kevin Reilly PHOTO: WRN

Tuesday’s hearing of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Employment relations was scheduled well ahead of the news late last week concerning the University of Wisconsin System’s $648 million budget surplus. The agenda was to include testimony from UW System President Kevin Reilly and UW Madison Chancellor David Ward, regarding a proposed personnel system. Given the furor surrounding the surplus though, that was clearly not going to happen.

Instead, Reilly found himself on the hot seat, as lawmakers grilled him on the surplus. Even the terms used to describe it pointed out the vast perceptual differences in the matter, with several Republican lawmakers referring to it as a “slush fund,” while Reilly spoke of a prudent surplus.

AUDIO: Kevin Reilly (4:50)

Senate President Mike Ellis was especially critical of the UW System Board of Regents. “They didn’t know about specifics,” said Ellis. “What did they know? Who’s running the university?”

“We do talk about the level of reserves with the Board of Regents at least annually, in a meeting of the Business, Finance and Audit Committee,” said Reilly.”But what we have not done in the past is drilled down below that level.” Reilly compared the UW System budget to a family budget, and said there are three basic categories of funds: restricted, committed and reserved.

Reilly said that in the future there will be greater scrutiny by, and accountability from, the Board of Regents. GOP lawmakers were skeptical. “This is a serious problem in terms of lake of accountability, lack of transparency, and lack of honesty, being straight up with the legislature and the taxpayers. I’m really concerned about that, and if you think if you’re going to be fooled today by this discussion, don’t count on it,” said state Senator Alberta Darling. “I hear your concern, and my intent is not to fool anybody Senator, and it never has been.”

After the hearing ended, Reilly spoke to reporters. “We need to come forward with a policy on what an appropriate reserve is,” he said. “That’s one of the basic questions. How much money should you have in these reserves and which reserves should you have it in. We’ll have a public discussion of that. We’ll also come up with what I think I heard we need, which is a more detailed financial reporting on an annual basis, on what those reserves are.”

“There’s a degree of arrogance here on the part of the university,” said Ellis. “They all think they’re PhDs, and we ought to be working at a Jiffy Lube. Well that’s not the way it works, the legislature is a heck of a lot smarter than they’re giving us credit for.”

AUDIO: Reps. Vos, Nygren, Sen. Ellis (11:20) 

Reilly last week pledged capping tuition hikes at two percent each of the next years, while the governor and some Republican lawmakers are calling for a tuition freeze. “The president failed to answer the question about the trust relationship, not only between the legislature, but between the parents and students,” said state Representative John Nygren. “Yeah, we’re talking about a two percent cap, but if we just simply shift it to fees in the future, I don’t think that’s something that parents and families can live with either.”

 

Filed Under: Elections, Featured Story, Legislature, News

Purging inactive voter data

April 17, 2013 By
Postcard from GAB

Sample postcard from GAB

Registered voters who haven’t pulled the lever in the past four years might be finding a postcard in their mailbox from the state elections agency. Approximately 300,000 Wisconsin voters will be receiving the notices as the Government Accountability Board conducts voter record maintenance.

“This is a regular part of what we call maintenance of the voter registration list. Every two years we look back to see who hasn’t voted in the past four  years.”

Kevin Kennedy, director and general counsel of the GAB, assures residents that the postcard titled “Notice of Suspension” is not a scam or a scheme to steal one’s identity. Municipal clerks are required by state law to clean up voter lists after each general election to maintain accurate and current voter data.

What should recipients do upon receiving this postcard? “It’s very simple. If you receive the card and you want to continue to register to vote, it includes a postcard addressed to the municipal clerk, you can just send that back to them saying please keep me on the list. If you take no action, you will not be able to vote unless you fill out a new registration form before the next election.”

Voters whose postcard is returned as undeliverable by the Post Office will also be deemed inactive. Voters who have changed their names or addresses should not return the card, but instead re-register under their new name or at their new address.

The cost to taxpayers to have the GAB print and mail the postcards this year is just over $90,000, or 30 cents a postcard. Kennedy says that’s a savings of more than $100,000 than if each municipality were to take on the task.

Voters can start the registration process online at MyVote Wisconsin, as well as check their registration status and voting history. The postcards were sent late Monday.

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:48

Filed Under: Elections, News

GAB will be subject of audit

April 17, 2013 By

An audit of the state’s elections agency is in the works. Joint Audit Committee co-chair, state Senator Rob Cowles of Green Bay, says while there’s “nothing burning” at the Government Accountability Board, many people have requested an audit.

“There have been a number of complaints of the GAB, from a variety of sources,” said Cowles. “So let’s take a look at it.”

Cowles said those who’ve suggested the audit include former state Auditor Jan Mueller, who retired two years ago. He and audit committee co-chair, Representative Samantha Kerkman, said this will be a thorough audit, likely lasting several months likely lasting several months.

“Do I know for sure that there’s any problem over there? No. It will be a major audit. It’ll take four or five months. And then we’ll know,” said Cowles. The GAB oversees state elections and lobbying activities at the Capitol. The full audit committee is expected to vote on whether to authorize the audit at its April 24th meeting. Cowles said he expects it will be approved.

Filed Under: Elections, Legislature, News

Voucher groups spend big in Wisconsin

April 16, 2013 By

Supporters of plans to expand school voucher programs have spent almost $10 million on Wisconsin elections over the past decade. The figures come from a report released by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which looked at money spent by pro-voucher groups and individuals.

WDC executive director Mike McCabe says that money largely benefitted candidates for statewide and legislative offices. Some of it was given directly to campaigns and campaign committees, although he says the majority of it was spent on election-related activities like advertising sponsored by those groups.

McCabe says the money was largely directed at Republican candidates and conservatives on the state Supreme Court. The biggest recipient was Governor Scott Walker, who received more than $1.2 million. Others include key state lawmakers who McCabe says are in a position to influence the current debate over expanding school choice programs beyond Milwaukee and Racine. State Supreme Court justices also received contributions

AUDIO: Mike McCabe (:14)

McCabe says almost half of the $10 million flowed to candidates during the last election cycle, feeding speculation that it could be a major driver behind the renewed talk about expanding voucher programs. He says that comes despite voucher schools failing to live up the promises made 23 years ago that they would improve test scores and create competition that would drive improvements in public schools.

Pro-voucher groups counter that there’s still strong support statewide for expanding school choice, which is why the issue remains a focus of lawmakers.

Filed Under: Education, Elections, Featured Story, News, Politics & Government
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