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SHAME ON OUR WI STATE LEGISLATURE!

SHAME ON OUR WI STATE LEGISLATURE!

I agree wholeheartedly with today’s Janesville Gazette Editorial, “Legislature should be ashamed”! Apology to readers - Gazettextra.com requested that the link to this editorial be deleted. I urge YOU to be sure you read it and consider and comment.

As a WI voter & taxpayer, I think WE THE PEOPLE need to tell CANDIDATES that we will NOT re-elect any INCUMBENT to our WI state legislature UNLESS the legislature moves NOW with all deliberate speed to deal with the K-12 public education funding crisis. WHY NOT? They have MORE than enough time to take care of this critical situation throughtout WI. Just consider the conclusion of the Gazette's editorial quoted below.

Consider the poignant and, for me, telling statement concluding the Gazette’s editorial today, “For shame. Real leaders would craft and pass a bill to eliminate that exemption. But never mind. The late-night rush to judgment on a mountain of legislation was the result of a self-imposed calendar that—barring any special session the governor might call—essentially has the Legislature’s shop closed until January. Lawmakers will meet a few days in May for limited matters, such as overriding vetoes or approving labor contracts. Meanwhile, we’ll provide them full pay while they campaign. That’s right. Incumbents have less than five months until September’s primaries to raise a pile of re-election cash and glad-hand and tell constituents how much good they’ve done. For shame.”

Yes, our WI State Legislators NEED to go back to WORK IN SESSION to serve WE THE PEOPLE of WISCONSIN.

Specifically, I am OUTraged that they did NOT deal with the CRISIS in K-12 public education funding in this session! WHY NOT? Lack of courage? To be honest, I know the EXCUSE is the “lack of money,” but I do NOT buy that excuse! Yes, it would be easier to resolve the K-12 public education funding crisis IF the state had more $$. Let it be known that when the state did have more $$, the state made commitments to K-12 public education which it has NOT been able to sustain now. Furthermore, with the CONTROL of our legislature and governor by WEAC, numerous actions have been taken which have UNDERmined the K-12 public education funding.

I have VOWED that I will NOT vote to re-elect any member of our WI state legislature UNLESS s/he has worked conscientiously with commitment to take care of the K-12 public education funding crisis.

I am a voting and taxpaying citizen of the 43rd State Assembly and 15th State Senate districts. So, Rep. Kim Hixson, HOW do YOU answer for YOUR lack of leadership on the K-12 public education funding crisis? YOU are one of the MAJORITY members of our Assembly’s Education Committee! Have YOU been PROactive on K-12 public education funding REFORM? Tell us about it, please. For now, forewarned is forewarned – UNLESS you get to work on K-12 public education funding reform, I shall NOT vote for your re-election and I shall campaign against your re-election.

At the same time, I am OUTraged to see that you (KIM HIXSON) are CHAIR of the Committee on Colleges & Universities! Why is that NOT a significant CONFLICT OF INTEREST, KIM? You are, after all, a tenured faculty member at UW-Whitewater – correct? Are YOU not an insider who advocates for the UW system paid for by WE THE PEOPLE – taxpayers & voters? Readers ought to consider, “TAUWP Member Kim Hixson to Chair State Assembly Higher Ed Committee (January ’09).” (TAUWP = The Association of University of Wisconsin Professionals.) NOTE: Readers will have to scroll down that webpage to the item. What do you readers think?

Ask ANY candidate for our WI state legislature – Assembly and/or Senate – about key issues facing WE THE PEOPLE of WI, including K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING CRISIS. And, be sure to consider the Gazette’s take on payday lending bill the Legislature passed coming in tomorrow’s Editorial. I know I am not going to miss it.

I myself HOPE the Gazette criticizes our legislature for its failure to include an INTEREST CAP in the bill. Remember: Federal law has a CAP of 36% to protect MILITARY personnel on pay day loans! Yes, I would agree that it is significant that the VERY FIRST STEP ever was taken to REGULATE this exploitative industry in WI. I just hope it was the FIRST STEP in regulation.

That’s another issue I’ll be asking candidate for our legislature as they seek my vote. What will YOU be asking candidates about? Comments?

Now we have 4 days, including today, left in April 2010… here we go…

Mr. E.

John Eyster lives in the Edgerton area. He is an adjunct professor of political science at UW-Waukesha and an advocate for democracy/civics education in Wisconsin high schools. John is a community blogger and is not a part of The Gazette staff. His opinion is not necessarily that of the The Gazette staff or management.