Sunday, October 22, 2006
Press-Gazette endorses Mark Green
This is good news for now, but the Press-Gazette was wrong with their endorsemnet in 2002, picking then-Gov. Scott McCallum for re-election.
Mark Green is our choice for the next governor of Wisconsin.
His experience in state government, his knowledge of the federal government
and his proven record of serving his constituency make him the best candidate....
Doyle ran against Scott McCallum four years ago, promising to bring harmony
to a severely splintered Legislature, and to balance a state budget that was steeped in red. Within weeks of being sworn into office, however, Doyle tried to negotiate far-reaching gaming contracts with the 11 Native American tribes in the state without consulting the Legislature.It was an act of defiance that ended up in court and initiated what has been a disruptive relationship between the governor and Legislature since 2003. Then it was disclosed in August that three tribes had donated as much as $50,000 to the Democratic Party.
It was then when the state Legislature and the Republican party knew which pocket Jim Doyle was in--the casinos. Those lucrative gaming contacts were a joke comparaed to what other states have and enforce.
Doyle has claimed that he presented a balanced budget but he connected the dots by transferring funds from such accounts as transportation, and raising fees across the board. It was a temporary solution at best.
Yes, it is the reason why in-state tuition has risen nearly 50 percent in the last four years.
Hovering over the Doyle campaign are numerous instances of cloudy ethics. Georgia Thompson, who worked for the Department of Administration, was convicted earlier this year of two felonies for rigging a state contract for Adelman Travel, which has been a financial supporter of Doyle's.
Former DOA Secretary Marc Marotta, according to FBI records, held phone discussions with Adelman officials while the contract was being considered. The contract later was canceled.
The claims that Green used illegal out-of-state political action committee money in his campaign pale in comparison. While the partisan State Elections Board ruled against him, Green was doing nothing that candidates in the past haven't done. Attempts to portray Green in a shady light just don't wash.
Bingo. Even some in the mainstream media understand this.
Green, a Hobart resident, can bring a fresh approach to the statehouse, a willingness to work closely with the Republican leadership to control state spending and encourage the expansion of business.
He can do what Doyle has not done.
Yes he can, mostly keep spending low and fix the budget mess once and for all. Until the structural deficit is fixed, a large cloud will continue to hang over Wisconsin.
Labels: Election 2006
