TWO STATE LEGISLATORS DISCUSS TPA CHANCES BEING PASSED

FROM WisPOILITCS.COM


Two JFC members look toward election 20064/17/2006
Senate Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairman Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, and Democratic JFC member Rep. Mark Pocan of Madison had their doubts the ``Taxpayer Protection Amendment'' will pass both houses of the Legislature this spring, said the budget is in better shape going into 2007 than it has been in years and disagreed over the fate of the proposed anti-gay marriage amendment to the Constitution.

Those were some of the summary points from the latest TalkAboutLive @ WisPolitics.com, an interview series co-sponsored by WHD Government Affairs and Sonic Foundry. The interview took place on April 17.

Leading the discussion was the TPA.

Pocan said the coalition against the amendment is ``very broad and diverse'' and that TPA ``could ultimately be a swing issue'' in the fall. He said he expected a contentious discussion in the Assembly and noted that business interest groups and certain conservative legislators are backing away from the TPA.

Fitzgerald said the issue still had not been boiled down simply enough. ``If there was a vote in the state Senate today, I would predict it would not pass. Most people know that. ....With the Wisconsin Realtors Association and the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce being on opposite sides ...there's still some work that needs to be done.''

Fitzgerald said the proposal's fate was ``still up in the air very much.''

The two legislative veterans also had different takes on the partisan splits of both houses after this fall’s election.

Fitzgerald said Republicans have an outside shot of maintaining the 60 seats they have in the Assembly and was optimistic they will keep the majority in the Senate. Pocan admits the Dems have no shot to take back the majority in the Assembly but could gain up to half a dozen seats there and said Republicans will have trouble holding onto all 19 seats in the Senate this fall.

A WELCOME (to Jef Hall) AND A THANK YOU (Bryan Bain)

First a welcome to Jef Hall to the County Board. And I see that he has started a blogs called Winnebago 17 http://winnebago17.blogspot.com/ the district he represents on the Winnebago County Board, and I want to thank city councilman Bryan Bain for starting a blog/web site dedicated to getting feedback from his constituents.

The reason I started this blog site is to share with others some articles /information I have seen talking about issues the Winneabgo County Board will be dealing or concerned about, and to hear feed back from you on these issues and concerns as well. I have links to most of the things I am involved with as a Winnebago County Board Supervisor, for you to check out.

I also want to hear from you and get a feedback from you. I do wish you would id yourself so I have a better understanding of who sent me the posting.

I also hold Town Hall Meetings from time to time- let me know before hand what issues are important to you so that I research them to talk about them at the meeting. Also I send a newsletter out around my district to keep my constituents-if like one sent to you by email let me know.

So welcome Jef, and yo the public feel free to share your views to 2 supervisors at the same time.

WHY OPPOSE LaFOLLETTE- CAN DEMS AND GREENS WORK TOGETHER IN FALL AND IN THE FUTURE ?

WHY La FOLLETTE? by Mike Norton


I know that a political party tries have a person run for each and every political office as possible but there is one that I just do not understand.

I do not understand the reasons behind the Green Party in Wisconsin is having a candidate to oppose Wisconsin Sec. of State Douglas LaFollette. I do not understand it for he, Doug LaFollette, thinks very much like most members of the Green Party.

Why divide the vote in that race, rather use your resources and work with others to help defeat those officeholders who should not be re-elected in the fall because they do reflect the values and views of the people of Wisconsin.

This is a time when Greens and Democrats should meet and see where they have common ground and help elect those candidate they can mutually agree should be elected.

This is an attempt to wonder, of all possible incumbent officeholders, why oppose Doug LaFollette ? And why not have the local members of the Green and Dem's party meet to find common ground to help elect progressive candidates.

I am open to meet and talk to any and all Green members and I know others would also. What do say email me and lets meet.