You can expect the negative campaign ads in the race for US Senate to only get worse after the primary. UW Political Scientist Charles Franklin says incumbent Democratic Senator Russ Feingold has already been targeting the GOP front-runner hard, and he’s not likely to let up with several recent polls showing a close race between him and Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson. Franklin says that means voters are probably in for a number of negative ads from both candidates, assuming Johnson wins the Republican nomination. [Read more…]
Feingold wants troops out of Afghanistan
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) says he’s pleased with the drawdown of US troops in Iraq.
The Wisconsin Democrat voted against the invasion, and five years ago also called for a timetable for withdrawing US troops. He says it appears to be working. [Read more…]
Feingold says ads state the facts (VIDEO)
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) responds to criticisms of his campaign ads.
Feingold’s campaign has come under fire for ads targeting one of his Republican opponents, Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson. The Wisconsin Democrat says the ads are based on comments Johnson has made on the campaign trail.
Johnson’s campaign says Feingold is twisting his words. The candidate has also said some of the ads are based on mistatements he’s made while adjusting to being on the campaign trail for the first time.
Feingold says everything in the ads is about the issues and Johnson’s objections come from trying change his positions after the fact. Feingold says Johnson is simply going back on unpopular opinions he’s made in public and the ads don’t distort anything.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRy37nX_Ao0
Johnson is running in the Republican primary against Watertown businessman David Westlake.
Feingold says Johnson wants to become stealth Senator
Senator Russ Feingold charges his likely GOP opponent with trying to buy the election. Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson hasn’t had a lot of media interaction since announcing his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. Feingold claims there’s a reason for that. “He is trying to become a stealth Senator, just like he became a stealth nominee of the Republican party.” Feingold says that when Johnson’s views are explained, they’re “very extreme.”
“He’s a big supporter of the oil industry. Social Security, he’s called it a ponzi scheme and wants to privatize it. So he’s trying to hide from his views and just buy the seat.” Johnson disclosed his financial holdings last week, including a six figure investment in oil giant BP. “Mr. Johnson says that BP shouldn’t have even have had to be forced into the victims compensation fund, he said that was unfair. He’s said that he’s in favor of even drilling for oil in the Great Lakes, if necessary.” Johnson faces Watertown businessman Dave Westlake in the September GOP primary.
Feingold also reiterated his opposition to the financial reform legislation being considered by Congress. “I was only gong to vote for a bill that prevents this disaster from happening again,” says Feingold. “This bill doesn’t do it. It doesn’t stop institutions or businesses that are too big to fail. And it doesn’t bring us back to the rules that kept investment houses and banks separate. You can pretend that this bill does the job, but it doesn’t. There were amendments that would have solved this problem. Wall Street got its way, and you notice, Wall Street’s not to upset about this bill.”
AUDIO: Bob Hague interview with Senator Russ Feingold (5:30)
Feingold and Kohl help open Kagan hearings
Wisconsin’s two U.S. Senators help open confirmation hearings for a new Supreme Court nominee. Democratic Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold both sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which began considering the nomination of Elena Kagan Monday on Capitol Hill.
Kohl (D-WI) says the hearings will help determine whether Kagan is right for the high court. He told the Solicitor General of the U.S. that, while she may not be able to talk about how she will decide cases before the high court, members of the committee have the right to hear about her judicial philosophy on issues that could come up in the future. [Read more…]
Feingold calls for reigning in big oil
Senator Russ Feingold says it’s time to get tough with oil companies – and federal regulators. The Wisconsin Democrat made the comments during his opening statements, as the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on The Risky Business of Big Oil. “One way to deter wrongdoing and encourage the kind of responsible, careful drilling we need is to increase the unrealistically low liability caps for damages caused by oil spills,” said Feingold, who is cosponsoring legislation from New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez which would to that. [Read more…]
Feingold pushes for earmark disclosure
In his State of the Union address, President Obama called for a public database of earmarks that are often inserted into federal legislation. U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) is among a group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill who are now working to make that a reality.
Feingold is co-sponsoring legislation that would require information about earmarks to be posted in an online public database before they are voted on. It would include information about who proposed the project, how much it will cost, and what areas will benefit. [Read more…]
Feingold joins effort to restore corporate spending limits
Senator Russ Feingold says a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in January rolled back a large number of laws controlling campaign spending by large groups and corporations, which need to be restored. The decision in the Citizens United case effectively removed limits on political expenditures from corporations and other special interest groups. [Read more…]
Leinenkugel enters U.S. Senate race
Another Republican has officially entered Wisconsin’s US Senate race. Businessman Dick Leinenkugel announced in Janesville this morning that he will run in the Republican primary for US Senate. The seat is currently held by Democrat Russ Feingold.
Leinenkugel says this is “Feingold’s last summer as Senator” and Wisconsin needs a conservative leader who is fiscally conservative and cost conscious. [Read more…]
Going after unused transportation money
Millions of unspent transportation dollars could be returned to the federal government, under a proposal from U.S. Senator Russ Feingold.
The Wisconsin Democrat is offering an amendment to an aviation bill in the Senate that would reclaim money that was set aside for transportation projects that haven’t moved in years. Feingold says the plan could help return at least $626 million to help pay off the national debt. [Read more…]