Knilans, Kolste disagree on most issues at forum
To see the forum
Monday's forum featuring 44th Assembly District candidates Joe Knilans and Deb Kolste was recorded by JATV and will be aired at a future date.
For more information, visit JATV.org.
Photo
Janet LaBrie of the Janesville League of Women Voters, center, moderates a forum Monday at Hedberg Public Library between Republican incumbent Joe Knilans, left, and Democratic challenger Deb Kolste, right. Knilans and Kolste are in a battle for Knilans’ 44th Assembly District post, which will be decided Nov. 6. Monday’s event was sponsored by the Janesville League of Women Voters, Forward Janesville and JATV.
JANESVILLE — The two candidates for the 44th Assembly District agreed on very little Monday, and it was that vast disagreement that provided the one thing they both agreed upon.
The voters in the district that represents most of Janesville will have a very clear choice on Nov. 6, Deb Kolste and Rep. Joe Knilans said at a forum sponsored by the Janesville League of Women Voters, Forward Janesville and JATV.
Monday's forum had been rescheduled from Oct. 2 after Knilans said he would not be able to meet the commitment he made weeks earlier. At the time, Knilans said he would not be able to attend because he had another campaign-related event that same night.
Asked again Monday for the specifics of that event and where it took place, Knilans would go no further than to reiterate that it was a campaign-related event.
Both candidates were asked more than 20 questions Monday before a capacity crowd at Hedberg Public Library in Janesville. Most centered on jobs, education, health care and a GOP-supported state budget bill that cut public union rights.
One question asked what the state's role should be in attracting businesses and workers to Wisconsin.
Kolste, a Democrat, said the state has made the mistake of cutting education to channel funding to businesses through corporate tax breaks, a strategy she said one national conservative foundation has found to be ineffective for job creation.
Knilans, a Republican, said the vast majority of tax credits are aimed at small businesses. Evidence of their success has been seen in Rock County, which he said has experienced $600 million in new business investment, 1,600 new jobs and a five-percentage-point drop in unemployment since he was sworn in January 2010.
Kolste said she would make education and its funding a top priority. As a result of the recent budget bill, education funding was cut drastically, 2,300 teachers left the state, even more retired and classrooms are now grossly overcrowded.
Knilans said he would like to see education reforms that allow districts to clean up "toxic" classroom environments in which a few students are routinely allowed to disrupt the education of all other students.
On health care, Knilans said the national Affordable Care Act is bad legislation that the state is right not to follow. He said doctors have told him that the law, also referred to as "Obamacare," will force them to retire because their wages will be cut dramatically.
Kolste said it's reprehensible that the state is not complying with the act, which provides for health care exchanges she said are the perfect blend of capitalism and consumerism. In addition, she said the act would provide health care to people with no other options.
In closing, Knilans said he has forged relationships in Madison and has authored legislation supported by both parties that benefits the Janesville area. He said he would continue to work for local taxpayers, not special interests, and make sure the state lives within its means.
Kolste said Knilans voted along his party lines 99.48 percent of the time. She said she has a history through community service, business ownership and as president of the Janesville School Board of building consensus among differing opinions. If elected, she said she would be the collective voice of Janesville in Madison.
Oct 17, 2012 at 7:37 a.m.
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yada
Quit embarrassing yourself.
Scott Walker’s school-aid cuts were so devastating that students are without chairs and a government survey found 47 kids in a classroom.
"The statewide teachers union, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, said it couldn’t identify them either, but said it had received reports from members about increased class sizes.
We also contacted schools in Milwaukee and Janesville, two districts hit hardest by budget cuts because they had teachers’ contracts in place and could not take advantage of health insurance and pension savings that Walker’s budget provided.
Janesville told us class sizes were limited to 30 for most grades by school board policy. The board in December 2011 bumped that up to 32. A district spokesman could cite no overcrowding."
Our conclusion
In trying to show that Walker’s budget has caused school overcrowding, the Greater Wisconsin Committee misuses a survey of schools, cloaks its anecdotes in anonymity and provides no verification of its assertions.
In our view, the ad’s message is that school crowding is common and dramatic, assertions not backed up by key school officials or the research cited. Class sizes have increased, and Walker’s budget is partly responsible, but that trend began before Walker, and other factors play in.
In any case, that is not the same as "overcrowding" -- a description not even school and union officials are using.
We may revisit this item if new evidence emerges, but these claims -- as presented -- are thin and misleading.
We rate the claim False.
http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/stat...
Oct 17, 2012 at 7:12 a.m.
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http://democurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2012/...
Oct 17, 2012 at 7:11 a.m.
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http://thegreatamericandisconnect.blogsp...
Oct 17, 2012 at 7:09 a.m.
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NVgrf - Funny you should say that about WISLADY & being an expert, etc. because MANY would agree with you. Her latest comment--> saying that KOLSTE would "LIE" about the overcrowding in classrooms is pretty low. FEDUPTAXPAYER said to you - "what are you an expert in" - I would say you are an expert in recognizing an out of control comment from her saying it was a "lie" - - Thank you NVgrf for you good judgement and opinion.
Oct 17, 2012 at 6:55 a.m.
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I wonder if eYeSterCaps is happy now that a debate has been held. He was wringing his (Socialist?) hands, gnashing his teeth and had himself all worked up in quite a dither worrying about Knilans. Was he in such a state when Cullen was hiding out at the Clocktower?
Oct 16, 2012 at 11:41 p.m.
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So Act 10 did not cause the end of the world for education? Good. Glad everybody can finally put that one to bed.
Oct 16, 2012 at 10:08 p.m.
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My classes are at 27-29 students, which is the norm in my school. I have a friend at Craig who has 30-32 in most of his classes. While not all classes in my school are this full, the majority are operating at 25+. I still have up to three open seats in my class any one hour, so technically wislady is correct when she says classrooms are not overcrowded. They're just crowded and not an ideal learning environment.
Oct 16, 2012 at 7:31 p.m.
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Did Deb Kolste explain why she was hanging with the 1%ers outside her district on Oct 11th seeking donations ? Obama mega donor Uihlein included Kolste in her Brico Fund soiree - not likely to help Janesville. What favors were asked ? http://mediatrackers.org/2012/10/12/asse...
Oct 16, 2012 at 7:25 p.m.
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wislady is now an expert in education. Is there anything this woman does not know? Incredible!
Oct 16, 2012 at 6:48 p.m.
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The odd thing is sherm is that it didn't have to be this way. If there are 35 plus students per class only one group is to blame for this and that is the teachers union. They refused to reopen their contract and make concessions that would have saved fellow union members their jobs. Instead they threw their fellow union members and the children under the bus and tried to blame it on Walker. He was elected TWICE by the tax payers to get the public employee unions under control. So, the unions and the education establishment was offered a solution, they stomped their feet, crossed their arms, and refused. The result is what our schools are today. Any overcrowding rests squarely with the union, especially in Janesville. Deb Kolste believes we should go backwards and the taxpayers should see their property taxes continue increase to record levels. Why on god's green earth would anybody vote for a failed approach? More funding is not the answer.
Oct 16, 2012 at 6:20 p.m.
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shermd71
"but I hear"
How about some FACTS to back up the statement? The state requirements limiting class size is different depending on which grade the students are in. If there are 35 kids in classrooms that are supposed to be limited to 25, I am SURE we would have heard about it.
Oct 16, 2012 at 6:06 p.m.
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Maybe wislady should come to a classroom in the Janesville School District to see if classrooms are or are not grossly overcrowded. I know that's a point that leaves a lot to disagree on, but I hear class sizes are 35 at some schools in some classrooms. This isn't college. These are 5-19 year old trying to get the best education they can. If 35 students are in a class, that's 100% unacceptable!! The school board needs to think about that versus cutting your taxes by $20-$100 per year. If you righties have a better way to fund education (I know, don't fund it at all and make 'em fend for themselves!), please let's hear your ideas. If not, you are part of the problem, not the solution!!
Oct 16, 2012 at 5:25 p.m.
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Classrooms are NOT "grossly overcrowded", as Kolste states. LIE.
Oct 16, 2012 at 5:03 p.m.
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Knilans is worried that DOCTORS might have to retire rather than take a pay cut? He wasn't and isn't worried at all about TEACHERS leaving because of pay cuts, and teachers make a heck of a lot less than doctors to even be taking from them...
Oct 16, 2012 at 4:58 p.m.
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Kolste is a union lackey. She wants to give control of the state budget back to the public employee unions. Seriously? We've been through that before and know how it goes.
Oct 16, 2012 at 4:35 p.m.
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No-show Joe has been missing on many levels during the past 2 years.
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When he was running for office, he was hiding in his brother's basement. When we needed leadership during the plant closing, he was off being a tool for the Rock County Red State 5.0 Committee. When our union town needed his support, he was off with the governor bashing unions. When our local school district needed collaboration on all levels, he was off manipulating anti-public education legislation with the Tea Party. When he was scheduled for a debate, no-show Joe was off with ????????.
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No-show Joe is a no-go for the 44th District.
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