Date: 1/20/2009
By GRETCHEN EHLKE
Associated Press Writer
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The mayor of Racine, Wis., resigned on Tuesday, days after being accused of trying to arrange a sexual encounter with someone he thought was an underage girl.
Mayor Gary Becker resigned, effective 5 p.m. Tuesday, in a one-sentence letter that made no reference to the six felonies he faces.
His attorney, Patrick Cafferty, said Becker decided to resign because “it was in the best interest of everyone involved.” He said his client intends to plead not guilty to all charges during a Feb. 10 arraignment in Racine County Circuit Court.
The City Council had planned to meet Tuesday night to begin the process of removing Becker from office in Racine, about 20 miles south of Milwaukee. Instead, the council’s president, David Maack, said it will meet soon to decide whether to hold a special election or appoint someone to serve as mayor for the roughly two years left in Becker’s term.
“I think it will allow us to move forward as a city and a council. We won’t have this whole removal process hanging over our heads,” said Maack, who had called for Becker’s resignation.
Becker, 51, was arrested Jan. 13 at a suburban Milwaukee mall following a two-week investigation by the state Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation. After chatting online with a state agent posing as a 14-year-old girl, Becker went to the mall to meet the girl and buy lingerie for her, according to a criminal complaint.
During the chat, he offered to take her to a hotel to “have lots of fun,” the complaint said.
The investigation started last month after Becker asked city workers to help him fix a problem with his personal computer. Police said the computer technician found six pornographic images of what appeared to be underage females and alerted authorities. Police passed the case on to state investigators to avoid a conflict of interest.
Investigators who searched Becker’s computer found records of 1,800 sexually explicit chats, District Attorney Michael Nieskes said.
Becker, who is married and has two children, is charged with attempted second-degree sexual assault of a child under 16, possession of child pornography, child enticement, use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, attempt exposing a child to harmful material and misconduct in office. The charges carry a maximum penalty of more than 114 years in prison and $370,000 in fines.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
Summary
Mayor accused in sex sting to skip inauguration
Date: 1/17/2009
RACINE, Wis. (AP) — Racine Mayor Gary Becker’s plans to attend Tuesday’s inauguration have been canceled after he was charged in an Internet sex sting.
Becker had planned to attend a U.S. Conference of Mayors event in Washington over the weekend and then stay for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.
But that was before he was arrested Tuesday night at a suburban Milwaukee shopping mall. Authorities said he went there to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old girl but actually was a state agent.
A criminal complaint filed against him Thursday included sexually explicit chats he had with the other person. He faces six felony charges and has been freed on $165,000 cash bond.
Becker’s defense attorney did not return a message left Thursday seeking comment on the charges.
City Administrator Ben Hughes said canceling Becker’s airline ticket and a four-night stay in an expensive D.C. hotel will cost the city hundreds of dollars. He said city officials learned this week that Becker chose the most expensive of three options — at $550 a night — when booking hotel accommodations.
The money for three nights will be refunded, and Midwest Airlines agreed to allow the city to use Becker’s $400 ticket for another official’s travel in the next 12 months, Hughes said.
The city also has removed Becker’s picture that had greeted visitors to the Racine Web site.
“With everything going on I felt it was not appropriate for his picture and his welcome to remain on the Web site,” said City Council President David Maack on Friday. Maack is serving as acting mayor.
Top city officials are planning to discuss Tuesday removing Becker from office if he does not resign.
___
Information from: The Journal Times, http://www.journaltimes.com
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
RACINE, Wis. (AP) — Racine Mayor Gary Becker’s plans to attend Tuesday’s inauguration have been canceled after he was charged in an Internet sex sting.
Becker had planned to attend a U.S. Conference of Mayors event in Washington over the weekend and then stay for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.
But that was before he was arrested Tuesday night at a suburban Milwaukee shopping mall. Authorities said he went there to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old girl but actually was a state agent.
A criminal complaint filed against him Thursday included sexually explicit chats he had with the other person. He faces six felony charges and has been freed on $165,000 cash bond.
Becker’s defense attorney did not return a message left Thursday seeking comment on the charges.
City Administrator Ben Hughes said canceling Becker’s airline ticket and a four-night stay in an expensive D.C. hotel will cost the city hundreds of dollars. He said city officials learned this week that Becker chose the most expensive of three options — at $550 a night — when booking hotel accommodations.
The money for three nights will be refunded, and Midwest Airlines agreed to allow the city to use Becker’s $400 ticket for another official’s travel in the next 12 months, Hughes said.
The city also has removed Becker’s picture that had greeted visitors to the Racine Web site.
“With everything going on I felt it was not appropriate for his picture and his welcome to remain on the Web site,” said City Council President David Maack on Friday. Maack is serving as acting mayor.
Top city officials are planning to discuss Tuesday removing Becker from office if he does not resign.
___
Information from: The Journal Times, http://www.journaltimes.com
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
Governors pledge to fight global warming together
Date: 11/20/2008
By SAMANTHA YOUNG
Associated Press Writer
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) _ Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, his counterparts in 12 states and regional leaders from four other countries signed a declaration Wednesday pledging to work together to combat global warming, a move Schwarzenegger said will help push heads of state to curb their nations’ greenhouse gas emissions.
The document was signed on the last day of an international climate summit organized by the California governor, who hopes the two-day event will inform U.N. negotiations in Poland next month on a new global climate treaty that is to be completed by the end of next year.
“We have to draw people into the debate,” Schwarzenegger said during an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. “We have no choice. In the end, we are going to destroy the world” if greenhouse gases are not reduced.
The governors and regional leaders in Mexico, Canada, Brazil and Indonesia agreed in the document to develop policy positions on the industries that produce the most greenhouse gases — forestry, agriculture, cement, iron, aluminum, energy and transportation.
Those reports will then be forwarded to the United Nations. The chairman of a state pollution control board in India also signed the declaration.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat and one of four other governors co-hosting the summit, said it is incumbent on states to cut emissions because of the lack of action so far at the federal level.
Republican Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida and Democratic Govs. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas and Jim Doyle of Wisconsin are the other co-hosts of Schwarzenegger’s conference, titled the Governors’ Global Climate Summit.
Schwarzenegger, a Republican who has advocated strict reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, said he organized the gathering to show local governments in other countries that emissions can be cut without harming the economy.
Since taking office in 2003, he has entered into partnerships with the governors of seven Western states and four Canadian provinces in an effort to help polluting industries buy credits from other companies that have been able to reduce their emissions.
In a speech to the conference Wednesday, Schwarzenegger said national economies will be harmed if governments fail to cut emissions.
“We can do it with fairness and equity so all our economies will flourish … and no one is being held back,” Schwarzenegger said.
Wisconsin’s governor acknowledged that many governments are financially strapped but said his state must find creative ways to reduce emissions.
“You can’t go the other direction,” Doyle said. “I would hate to see us come out of economic doldrums two years from now and find that we have moved 25 years backwards.”
Such moves will not come without costs, however, said Sabine Miltner, a director at Deutsche Bank.
She said sufficiently reducing emissions will require capital investments of roughly $500 billion a year between 2010 and 2030. Miltner suggested the U.S. and other governments weighing economic stimulus packages invest some of the money in energy efficiency projects, transmission lines for renewable power sources and public transportation systems.
The United Nations has a December 2009 deadline to complete a treaty to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. That treaty, which expires in 2012, does not include the U.S. or China — the world’s largest emitters.
Other governors who signed the declaration were Bill Ritter of Colorado, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, Martin O’Malley of Maryland, David Paterson of New York, Ted Kulongoski of Oregon, Jon Huntsman of Utah and Christine Gregoire of Washington.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
By SAMANTHA YOUNG
Associated Press Writer
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) _ Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, his counterparts in 12 states and regional leaders from four other countries signed a declaration Wednesday pledging to work together to combat global warming, a move Schwarzenegger said will help push heads of state to curb their nations’ greenhouse gas emissions.
The document was signed on the last day of an international climate summit organized by the California governor, who hopes the two-day event will inform U.N. negotiations in Poland next month on a new global climate treaty that is to be completed by the end of next year.
“We have to draw people into the debate,” Schwarzenegger said during an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. “We have no choice. In the end, we are going to destroy the world” if greenhouse gases are not reduced.
The governors and regional leaders in Mexico, Canada, Brazil and Indonesia agreed in the document to develop policy positions on the industries that produce the most greenhouse gases — forestry, agriculture, cement, iron, aluminum, energy and transportation.
Those reports will then be forwarded to the United Nations. The chairman of a state pollution control board in India also signed the declaration.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat and one of four other governors co-hosting the summit, said it is incumbent on states to cut emissions because of the lack of action so far at the federal level.
Republican Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida and Democratic Govs. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas and Jim Doyle of Wisconsin are the other co-hosts of Schwarzenegger’s conference, titled the Governors’ Global Climate Summit.
Schwarzenegger, a Republican who has advocated strict reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, said he organized the gathering to show local governments in other countries that emissions can be cut without harming the economy.
Since taking office in 2003, he has entered into partnerships with the governors of seven Western states and four Canadian provinces in an effort to help polluting industries buy credits from other companies that have been able to reduce their emissions.
In a speech to the conference Wednesday, Schwarzenegger said national economies will be harmed if governments fail to cut emissions.
“We can do it with fairness and equity so all our economies will flourish … and no one is being held back,” Schwarzenegger said.
Wisconsin’s governor acknowledged that many governments are financially strapped but said his state must find creative ways to reduce emissions.
“You can’t go the other direction,” Doyle said. “I would hate to see us come out of economic doldrums two years from now and find that we have moved 25 years backwards.”
Such moves will not come without costs, however, said Sabine Miltner, a director at Deutsche Bank.
She said sufficiently reducing emissions will require capital investments of roughly $500 billion a year between 2010 and 2030. Miltner suggested the U.S. and other governments weighing economic stimulus packages invest some of the money in energy efficiency projects, transmission lines for renewable power sources and public transportation systems.
The United Nations has a December 2009 deadline to complete a treaty to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. That treaty, which expires in 2012, does not include the U.S. or China — the world’s largest emitters.
Other governors who signed the declaration were Bill Ritter of Colorado, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, Martin O’Malley of Maryland, David Paterson of New York, Ted Kulongoski of Oregon, Jon Huntsman of Utah and Christine Gregoire of Washington.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
Democrats reignite discussion of Wis. smoking ban
Date: 11/9/2008
By SCOTT BAUER
Associated Press Writer
MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ A statewide smoking ban that went up in smoke in the Legislature last year will likely be reignited when Democrats take control of the Assembly.
Even though opposition to the ban came mostly from the powerful Tavern League lobby, Republican leaders in the Assembly did not actively work on getting the bipartisan bill passed.
But in the past eight months, five more Wisconsin communities and Dane County have passed their own smoking bans, bolstering the argument that a comprehensive state policy is needed.
This fall, the American Cancer Society and other supporters of the ban carefully watched legislative races across the state to get a sense for where candidates stood.
“We feel comfortable saying there’s a majority of votes for this bill to get it passed,” said Eric Schutt, lobbyist for the cancer society’s Wisconsin chapter.
Maureen Busalacchi, executive director of Smoke Free Wisconsin, said she feels good about the new makeup of the Legislature: Democrats now control both chambers. Also, one of the ban’s stiffest opponents, former Tavern League President Roger Breske, left the state Senate earlier this year to become Doyle’s railroad commissioner.
Nearly every legislative candidate was asked about their position on the smoking ban during the campaign, Busalacchi said.
“I’m very comfortable with where people are at,” she said. “This is going to happen.”
The Tavern League, however, hasn’t changed its position. Chief executive Pete Madland said he didn’t think there was any momentum for the idea even though five communities and one county have passed local bans since March. He notes that other communities, including Kenosha, have rejected it.
Tavern League lobbyist Scott Stenger said all the candidates who opposed the ban won Tuesday, while some supporters, including Republican Reps. Terry Moulton of Chippewa Falls and J.A. “Doc” Hines of Oxford, lost.
Another smoking ban proponent, Rep. Steve Wieckert, R-Appleton, retired from the Assembly.
Still, Stenger agreed the Legislature is ready to act on a ban. The league is looking for concessions allowing bars to have designated indoor and outdoor smoking areas and time to build them if necessary, he said.
In all, nine Wisconsin communities and Dane County have smoking bans covering all workplaces, including bars and restaurants. Nationwide, 24 states have banned smoking in bars and restaurants, and of those, 17 include all other workplaces as well, according to the American Cancer Society. Seven more states prohibit smoking in restaurants but exempt stand-alone bars.
The Wisconsin proposal supported by Doyle, the Cancer Society and others would ban smoking in all work places, including bars and restaurants.
Last year, it ran into trouble with Breske and other state senators, including Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston, who wanted to delay its implementation and give bars an exemption of up to three years. Republican leaders in the Assembly never got on board, and the bill died.
Bill sponsor Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, said he’s working on a new version he hopes to introduce early in the session. He said the ban’s start date remains uncertain, but he would like it to take effect as soon as possible and at the same time in all workplaces, including bars.
“I just think that the public awareness and the public support keeps increasing every year,” Risser said, “and I think it’s to the point where it will gel, and we’ll be able to pass it.”
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
By SCOTT BAUER
Associated Press Writer
MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ A statewide smoking ban that went up in smoke in the Legislature last year will likely be reignited when Democrats take control of the Assembly.
Even though opposition to the ban came mostly from the powerful Tavern League lobby, Republican leaders in the Assembly did not actively work on getting the bipartisan bill passed.
But in the past eight months, five more Wisconsin communities and Dane County have passed their own smoking bans, bolstering the argument that a comprehensive state policy is needed.
This fall, the American Cancer Society and other supporters of the ban carefully watched legislative races across the state to get a sense for where candidates stood.
“We feel comfortable saying there’s a majority of votes for this bill to get it passed,” said Eric Schutt, lobbyist for the cancer society’s Wisconsin chapter.
Maureen Busalacchi, executive director of Smoke Free Wisconsin, said she feels good about the new makeup of the Legislature: Democrats now control both chambers. Also, one of the ban’s stiffest opponents, former Tavern League President Roger Breske, left the state Senate earlier this year to become Doyle’s railroad commissioner.
Nearly every legislative candidate was asked about their position on the smoking ban during the campaign, Busalacchi said.
“I’m very comfortable with where people are at,” she said. “This is going to happen.”
The Tavern League, however, hasn’t changed its position. Chief executive Pete Madland said he didn’t think there was any momentum for the idea even though five communities and one county have passed local bans since March. He notes that other communities, including Kenosha, have rejected it.
Tavern League lobbyist Scott Stenger said all the candidates who opposed the ban won Tuesday, while some supporters, including Republican Reps. Terry Moulton of Chippewa Falls and J.A. “Doc” Hines of Oxford, lost.
Another smoking ban proponent, Rep. Steve Wieckert, R-Appleton, retired from the Assembly.
Still, Stenger agreed the Legislature is ready to act on a ban. The league is looking for concessions allowing bars to have designated indoor and outdoor smoking areas and time to build them if necessary, he said.
In all, nine Wisconsin communities and Dane County have smoking bans covering all workplaces, including bars and restaurants. Nationwide, 24 states have banned smoking in bars and restaurants, and of those, 17 include all other workplaces as well, according to the American Cancer Society. Seven more states prohibit smoking in restaurants but exempt stand-alone bars.
The Wisconsin proposal supported by Doyle, the Cancer Society and others would ban smoking in all work places, including bars and restaurants.
Last year, it ran into trouble with Breske and other state senators, including Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston, who wanted to delay its implementation and give bars an exemption of up to three years. Republican leaders in the Assembly never got on board, and the bill died.
Bill sponsor Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, said he’s working on a new version he hopes to introduce early in the session. He said the ban’s start date remains uncertain, but he would like it to take effect as soon as possible and at the same time in all workplaces, including bars.
“I just think that the public awareness and the public support keeps increasing every year,” Risser said, “and I think it’s to the point where it will gel, and we’ll be able to pass it.”
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
US House candidates in Wisconsin
Date: 10/25/2008 1:55 PM
By The Associated Press
Biographical information about the candidates seeking election Nov. 4 in Wisconsin’s eight congressional districts:
1st District
NAME — Paul Ryan, incumbent
PARTY — Republican
AGE — 38
RESIDES — Janesville
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degrees in political science and economics, Miami University in Ohio, 1992.
CAREER — Worked on the staff of then-U.S. Rep. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., in 1995-96 and then on Brownback’s U.S. Senate staff in 1997. He also worked as a marketing consultant at RYAN Inc. Central, a Janesville-based construction company started by his great-grandfather and now owned by his cousins. He was first elected to the U.S. House in 1998.
PERSONAL — Married, three children.
NAME — Marge Krupp
PARTY — Democrat
AGE — 52
RESIDES — Pleasant Prairie
EDUCATION — Graduated from Racine’s Horlick High School, earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1978 and an MBA in marketing and finance from Northwestern University in 1983.
CAREER — She worked for S.C. Johnson and Son Inc. in Racine and in 1990 joined Abbott Laboratories, managing projects that included adding research and development of laboratory space at the company. She resigned from a marketing job to run for Congress, her first campaign for public office.
PERSONAL — Married, one son.
NAME — Joseph Kexel
PARTY — Libertarian
AGE — 43
RESIDES — Kenosha
EDUCATION — Graduated from Bradford High School in Kenosha in 1983; attended University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
CAREER — He is self-employed as an information technology consultant with his company called Vikkex. This is his first run for public office. He believes in personal liberty and supports a smaller role for the federal government in Americans’ lives.
PERSONAL — Married, two daughters.
___
2nd District
NAME — Tammy Baldwin, incumbent
PARTY — Democrat
AGE — 46
RESIDES — Madison
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree in mathematics and political science, Smith College in Northampton, Mass., 1984; law degree, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1989.
CAREER — Elected to the Dane County Board in 1986 and served four years. She was elected to the state Assembly in 1992 as the youngest woman in the Wisconsin Legislature. She was first elected to the U.S. House in 1998 and is the only openly gay woman in Congress.
PERSONAL — Has partner.
NAME — Peter Theron
PARTY — Republican
AGE — 52
RESIDES — Madison
EDUCATION — Raised in Connecticut and earned a bachelor of arts degree in statistics at Princeton University. In 1980, he enrolled in graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned a Ph.D. in mathematics.
CAREER — He has taught statistics, mathematics and computer science at UW-Madison, UW-Whitewater and Beloit College. He has created commercial software for the educational and entertainment industries, and consulted with companies on software and web site design. For the past eight years he has taught industrial programming courses for computer professionals. He is making his first run for public office.
PERSONAL — Married.
___
3rd District
NAME — Ron Kind, incumbent
PARTY — Democrat
AGE — 45
RESIDES — La Crosse
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree in government and economics, Harvard University, 1985; master’s degree, London School of Economics, 1986; law degree, University of Minnesota, 1990.
CAREER — La Crosse County assistant district attorney, 1992-96. He was first elected to the U.S. House in 1996.
PERSONAL — Married, two children.
NAME — Paul Stark
PARTY — Republican
AGE — 47
RESIDES — Eau Claire
EDUCATION — Graduated from high school in Tempe, Ariz., in 1979. He earned a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a masters degree in business taxation from the University of Minnesota.
CAREER — He says his first job was at age 14 as a “cleanup boy” for a Milwaukee doughnut shop. He worked as a certified public accountant before founding his own construction company in Eau Claire in 2003. He is a member of the National Association of Home Builder and the National Association of Realtors. He is making his first run for public office.
PERSONAL — Married, two children.
NAME — Kevin Barrett
PARTY — Libertarian
AGE — 49
RESIDES — Lone Rock
EDUCATION — Bachelors degree in journalism from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1981; masters degrees in English literature and French from San Francisco State University in the early 1990s; doctorate degree in African languages and literature in 2004.
CAREER — UW-Madison lecturer; works as radio journalist with Genesis Communications Network, No Lies Radio, Republic Broadcasting Network and We the People Radio Network; believes the U.S. government, not al-Qaida, orchestrated the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
PERSONAL — Married, two children.
___
4th District
NAME — Gwen Moore, incumbent
PARTY — Democrat
AGE — 57
RESIDES — Milwaukee
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree in political science, Marquette University, 1978; certified in credit union management at Milwaukee Area Technical College, 1983.
CAREER — She worked a series of government jobs and spearheaded an effort to establish a credit union in her neighborhood. She was elected to the state Assembly in 1988 and was the first black woman elected to the state Senate in 1992.
PERSONAL — Single, three children.
NAME — Michael LaForest
PARTY — Independent
AGE — 52
RESIDES — Milwaukee
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, Ferris State University, 1986; master’s degree, UW-Superior, 1991.
CAREER — Job counselor, Lac Courte Oreilles Community College, 1992-1996; job training counselor, Oneida Nation 1997, 1998-1999; state Department of Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, 1997-1998, 1999-2005; part-time organic fruit, vegetable and poultry farmer and substitute teacher. He is a foster parent. This is his third run for public office. He was an unsuccessful candidate for state secretary of state in 2006 and for the Milwaukee City Council in 2008.
PERSONAL — Single, with partner.
___
5th District
NAME — James Sensenbrenner, incumbent
PARTY — Republican
AGE — 65
RESIDES — Menomonee Falls
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, Stanford University, 1965; law degree, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1968.
CAREER — He was a staff assistant to then-Rep. J. Arthur Younger of California in 1965. He practiced law, then served in the Wisconsin Assembly, 1969-75, and the state Senate, 1975-79. He was first elected to the U.S. House in 1978.
PERSONAL — Married, two children.
NAME — Robert Raymond
PARTY — Independent
AGE — 54
RESIDES — Shorewood
EDUCATION — Attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for two years, 1974-75.
CAREER — He owns Raymond Contractors, a roofing company in business for more than 25 years. He ran unsuccessfully against Republican incumbent Jim Sensenbrenner in 2002. He was executive director of the Coalition for Independent Americans, an inactive organiz ation that focused on reducing government regulations and abolishing the income tax.
PERSONAL — Divorced, two children.
___
6th District
NAME — Tom Petri, incumbent
PARTY — Republican
AGE — 68
RESIDES — Fond du Lac
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, Harvard University, 1962; law degree, Harvard University, 1965.
CAREER — He served in the Peace Corps in Somalia, 1966-67, and was an aide in the White House in 1969. He began practicing law in Fond du Lac in 1970 and served in the state Senate, 1973-79. He was first elected the U.S. House in a 1979 special election.
PERSONAL — Married, one child.
NAME — Roger Kittelson
PARTY — Democrat
AGE — 52
RESIDES — Lomira
EDUCATION — Graduated from Goodhue, Minn., High School in 1975. He earned a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics and political science in 1980 and a masters of science degree in 1988 from the University of Minnesota.
CAREER — He unsuccessfully ran for the Minnesota House of Representatives as the Democratic Farmer Labor candidate in 1982. He has spent 26 years in agricultural business, including nine years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a dairy marketing specialist. For seven years, beginning in 1985, he served on the school board for Our Lady of Peace Catholic Elementary School in Minneapolis. He got 62 percent of the vote in the Sept. 9 Democratic primary to defeat Mark Wollum, a physical therapist from Beaver Dam.
PERSONAL — Divorced, four children.
___
7th District
NAME — David Obey, incumbent
PARTY — Democrat
AGE — 70
RESIDES — Wausau
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1960; master’s degree, UW-Madison, 1962.
CAREER — He worked as a real estate broker and served in the Wisconsin Legislature, 1962-69. He was first elected to the U.S. House in April 1969 in a special election.
PERSONAL — Married, two children.
NAME — Dan Mielke
PARTY — Republican
AGE — 53
RESIDES — Rudolph
EDUCATION — Graduated from DeForest High School in 1972. He attended Bear Valley School of Preaching in Denver, Colo., in biblical studies for two years. The school, now called the Bear Valley School of Biblical Studies, was associated with Bear Valley Church of Christ.
CAREER — Mielke says he has been a self-supporting minister since 1975. He worked in factories for five years and has been self-employed since 1979. He operates an organic vegetable and berry farm, owns a woodworking business, sells goods at summer farmers markets and is a state-certified property assessor. This is his fourth run for public office. He lost a 2004 race for the Wisconsin Assembly in District 70, a 2006 race for Portage County executive and a 2007 race for the Town of Linwood Board.
PERSONAL — Married, three children.
___
8th District
NAME — Steve Kagen, incumbent
PARTY — Democrat
AGE — 58
RESIDES — Appleton
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1972; medical degree, UW-Madison, 1976.
CAREER — He founded Kagen Allergy Clinics in Appleton, Green Bay, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac. He was first elected to the U.S. House in 2006, winning 51 percent of the vote, giving the seat to a Democrat for the first time in eight years. Republicans have held the seat for most of three decades.
PERSONAL — Married, four children.
NAME — John Gard
PARTY — Republican
AGE — 45
RESIDES — Suamico.
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree in public administration and political science, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 1986.
CAREER — He worked as a legislative aide from 1986 to 1987 before being elected to the state Assembly representing a northern Wisconsin district in 1987. He became Assembly speaker in 2003. Narrowly lost 2006 8th District race after President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney campaigned for him. He runs Gard Business Group, a consulting firm that works with businesses to grow their company and create jobs.
PERSONAL — Married, two children.
Source: Candidates
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
By The Associated Press
Biographical information about the candidates seeking election Nov. 4 in Wisconsin’s eight congressional districts:
1st District
NAME — Paul Ryan, incumbent
PARTY — Republican
AGE — 38
RESIDES — Janesville
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degrees in political science and economics, Miami University in Ohio, 1992.
CAREER — Worked on the staff of then-U.S. Rep. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., in 1995-96 and then on Brownback’s U.S. Senate staff in 1997. He also worked as a marketing consultant at RYAN Inc. Central, a Janesville-based construction company started by his great-grandfather and now owned by his cousins. He was first elected to the U.S. House in 1998.
PERSONAL — Married, three children.
NAME — Marge Krupp
PARTY — Democrat
AGE — 52
RESIDES — Pleasant Prairie
EDUCATION — Graduated from Racine’s Horlick High School, earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1978 and an MBA in marketing and finance from Northwestern University in 1983.
CAREER — She worked for S.C. Johnson and Son Inc. in Racine and in 1990 joined Abbott Laboratories, managing projects that included adding research and development of laboratory space at the company. She resigned from a marketing job to run for Congress, her first campaign for public office.
PERSONAL — Married, one son.
NAME — Joseph Kexel
PARTY — Libertarian
AGE — 43
RESIDES — Kenosha
EDUCATION — Graduated from Bradford High School in Kenosha in 1983; attended University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
CAREER — He is self-employed as an information technology consultant with his company called Vikkex. This is his first run for public office. He believes in personal liberty and supports a smaller role for the federal government in Americans’ lives.
PERSONAL — Married, two daughters.
___
2nd District
NAME — Tammy Baldwin, incumbent
PARTY — Democrat
AGE — 46
RESIDES — Madison
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree in mathematics and political science, Smith College in Northampton, Mass., 1984; law degree, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1989.
CAREER — Elected to the Dane County Board in 1986 and served four years. She was elected to the state Assembly in 1992 as the youngest woman in the Wisconsin Legislature. She was first elected to the U.S. House in 1998 and is the only openly gay woman in Congress.
PERSONAL — Has partner.
NAME — Peter Theron
PARTY — Republican
AGE — 52
RESIDES — Madison
EDUCATION — Raised in Connecticut and earned a bachelor of arts degree in statistics at Princeton University. In 1980, he enrolled in graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned a Ph.D. in mathematics.
CAREER — He has taught statistics, mathematics and computer science at UW-Madison, UW-Whitewater and Beloit College. He has created commercial software for the educational and entertainment industries, and consulted with companies on software and web site design. For the past eight years he has taught industrial programming courses for computer professionals. He is making his first run for public office.
PERSONAL — Married.
___
3rd District
NAME — Ron Kind, incumbent
PARTY — Democrat
AGE — 45
RESIDES — La Crosse
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree in government and economics, Harvard University, 1985; master’s degree, London School of Economics, 1986; law degree, University of Minnesota, 1990.
CAREER — La Crosse County assistant district attorney, 1992-96. He was first elected to the U.S. House in 1996.
PERSONAL — Married, two children.
NAME — Paul Stark
PARTY — Republican
AGE — 47
RESIDES — Eau Claire
EDUCATION — Graduated from high school in Tempe, Ariz., in 1979. He earned a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a masters degree in business taxation from the University of Minnesota.
CAREER — He says his first job was at age 14 as a “cleanup boy” for a Milwaukee doughnut shop. He worked as a certified public accountant before founding his own construction company in Eau Claire in 2003. He is a member of the National Association of Home Builder and the National Association of Realtors. He is making his first run for public office.
PERSONAL — Married, two children.
NAME — Kevin Barrett
PARTY — Libertarian
AGE — 49
RESIDES — Lone Rock
EDUCATION — Bachelors degree in journalism from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1981; masters degrees in English literature and French from San Francisco State University in the early 1990s; doctorate degree in African languages and literature in 2004.
CAREER — UW-Madison lecturer; works as radio journalist with Genesis Communications Network, No Lies Radio, Republic Broadcasting Network and We the People Radio Network; believes the U.S. government, not al-Qaida, orchestrated the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
PERSONAL — Married, two children.
___
4th District
NAME — Gwen Moore, incumbent
PARTY — Democrat
AGE — 57
RESIDES — Milwaukee
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree in political science, Marquette University, 1978; certified in credit union management at Milwaukee Area Technical College, 1983.
CAREER — She worked a series of government jobs and spearheaded an effort to establish a credit union in her neighborhood. She was elected to the state Assembly in 1988 and was the first black woman elected to the state Senate in 1992.
PERSONAL — Single, three children.
NAME — Michael LaForest
PARTY — Independent
AGE — 52
RESIDES — Milwaukee
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, Ferris State University, 1986; master’s degree, UW-Superior, 1991.
CAREER — Job counselor, Lac Courte Oreilles Community College, 1992-1996; job training counselor, Oneida Nation 1997, 1998-1999; state Department of Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, 1997-1998, 1999-2005; part-time organic fruit, vegetable and poultry farmer and substitute teacher. He is a foster parent. This is his third run for public office. He was an unsuccessful candidate for state secretary of state in 2006 and for the Milwaukee City Council in 2008.
PERSONAL — Single, with partner.
___
5th District
NAME — James Sensenbrenner, incumbent
PARTY — Republican
AGE — 65
RESIDES — Menomonee Falls
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, Stanford University, 1965; law degree, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1968.
CAREER — He was a staff assistant to then-Rep. J. Arthur Younger of California in 1965. He practiced law, then served in the Wisconsin Assembly, 1969-75, and the state Senate, 1975-79. He was first elected to the U.S. House in 1978.
PERSONAL — Married, two children.
NAME — Robert Raymond
PARTY — Independent
AGE — 54
RESIDES — Shorewood
EDUCATION — Attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for two years, 1974-75.
CAREER — He owns Raymond Contractors, a roofing company in business for more than 25 years. He ran unsuccessfully against Republican incumbent Jim Sensenbrenner in 2002. He was executive director of the Coalition for Independent Americans, an inactive organiz ation that focused on reducing government regulations and abolishing the income tax.
PERSONAL — Divorced, two children.
___
6th District
NAME — Tom Petri, incumbent
PARTY — Republican
AGE — 68
RESIDES — Fond du Lac
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, Harvard University, 1962; law degree, Harvard University, 1965.
CAREER — He served in the Peace Corps in Somalia, 1966-67, and was an aide in the White House in 1969. He began practicing law in Fond du Lac in 1970 and served in the state Senate, 1973-79. He was first elected the U.S. House in a 1979 special election.
PERSONAL — Married, one child.
NAME — Roger Kittelson
PARTY — Democrat
AGE — 52
RESIDES — Lomira
EDUCATION — Graduated from Goodhue, Minn., High School in 1975. He earned a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics and political science in 1980 and a masters of science degree in 1988 from the University of Minnesota.
CAREER — He unsuccessfully ran for the Minnesota House of Representatives as the Democratic Farmer Labor candidate in 1982. He has spent 26 years in agricultural business, including nine years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a dairy marketing specialist. For seven years, beginning in 1985, he served on the school board for Our Lady of Peace Catholic Elementary School in Minneapolis. He got 62 percent of the vote in the Sept. 9 Democratic primary to defeat Mark Wollum, a physical therapist from Beaver Dam.
PERSONAL — Divorced, four children.
___
7th District
NAME — David Obey, incumbent
PARTY — Democrat
AGE — 70
RESIDES — Wausau
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1960; master’s degree, UW-Madison, 1962.
CAREER — He worked as a real estate broker and served in the Wisconsin Legislature, 1962-69. He was first elected to the U.S. House in April 1969 in a special election.
PERSONAL — Married, two children.
NAME — Dan Mielke
PARTY — Republican
AGE — 53
RESIDES — Rudolph
EDUCATION — Graduated from DeForest High School in 1972. He attended Bear Valley School of Preaching in Denver, Colo., in biblical studies for two years. The school, now called the Bear Valley School of Biblical Studies, was associated with Bear Valley Church of Christ.
CAREER — Mielke says he has been a self-supporting minister since 1975. He worked in factories for five years and has been self-employed since 1979. He operates an organic vegetable and berry farm, owns a woodworking business, sells goods at summer farmers markets and is a state-certified property assessor. This is his fourth run for public office. He lost a 2004 race for the Wisconsin Assembly in District 70, a 2006 race for Portage County executive and a 2007 race for the Town of Linwood Board.
PERSONAL — Married, three children.
___
8th District
NAME — Steve Kagen, incumbent
PARTY — Democrat
AGE — 58
RESIDES — Appleton
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1972; medical degree, UW-Madison, 1976.
CAREER — He founded Kagen Allergy Clinics in Appleton, Green Bay, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac. He was first elected to the U.S. House in 2006, winning 51 percent of the vote, giving the seat to a Democrat for the first time in eight years. Republicans have held the seat for most of three decades.
PERSONAL — Married, four children.
NAME — John Gard
PARTY — Republican
AGE — 45
RESIDES — Suamico.
EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree in public administration and political science, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 1986.
CAREER — He worked as a legislative aide from 1986 to 1987 before being elected to the state Assembly representing a northern Wisconsin district in 1987. He became Assembly speaker in 2003. Narrowly lost 2006 8th District race after President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney campaigned for him. He runs Gard Business Group, a consulting firm that works with businesses to grow their company and create jobs.
PERSONAL — Married, two children.
Source: Candidates
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
Battle for state legislatures carries high stakes
Date: 10/28/2008
By ROBERT TANNER
AP National Writer
Political control of several key state legislatures could change hands on Election Day, raising the chance for one-party domination of swing states Michigan and Pennsylvania, booming Nevada and Northeast giant New York.
Democrats are cautiously optimistic that enthusiasm and turnout for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign will help their candidates far down the ticket. Republicans hope to steer clear of the national mood that has turned against the GOP and focus instead on local issues.
Though state legislative races draw far less attention than contests for the White House, Congress and governor, the party that controls the legislatures has an outsized role nationally — crafting domestic policy, drawing congressional districts and laying the foundation for political stars in the future.
Obama himself is only four years removed from a stint in the Illinois Legislature. Democratic control there first gave him the spotlight and the chance to pass legislation that he often cites on the campaign trail.
Nationally, Democrats already hold their strongest majority in more than a decade, controlling the legislatures in 23 states. Republicans dominate in 14 states. Twelve states are split, and Nebraska is nonpartisan.
In some ways, Democrats are suffering from too much of a good thing: The party’s victories since 2004 eroded GOP gains from the 1990s but made it that much harder to find opportunities for growth now.
“We’re doing a little more defense than we have, and a little less offense,” said Iowa Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, chairman of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, a national group that has raised more than $6 million to spend on legislative races in the past two years.
Republicans see cause for hope, though they make a point to avoid national issues because polls show widespread dissatisfaction with President Bush and Republicans in Congress.
“You certainly can’t omit or be unaware of the national environment. But if you run your race on local issues, you can separate yourself very easily,” said Carrie Cantrell with the Republican State Leadership Committee, which provides cash and other resources to help win legislative seats.
Forty-four states will hold legislative elections next month, with 5,824 seats — or 79 percent of all legislative seats — before the voters.
“In an environment that seems to favor Democrats across the board in 2008, legislatures could deliver a bright spot for Republicans,” said Tim Storey, an elections expert at the National Conference of State Legislatures. “If Democrats do gain seats, it will truly reflect a landslide by the party and would really be an indicator of this turnout machine.”
Among the most closely watched states:
— New York, where Democrats are only two seats away from a majority in the state Senate. If they win, it would be the first time Democrats have held all three decision-making parts of government — governor, Assembly and Senate — since 1935.
— Pennsylvania, where Republicans need only to pick up one seat to take back control of the House and dominate the entire Legislature.
— Montana, where control could flip either way or remain split. Democrats lead the Senate with a two-seat margin, while Republicans hold the House by just one seat.
Other states where one party could take control include Delaware, Indiana, Michigan and Oklahoma. Democrats also see opportunities to gain power in the Ohio House and Wisconsin Assembly.
In New York, Senate Democratic leader Malcolm Smith said Obama is having a “tremendous impact” on the effort to gain two seats and take power, citing voter registration and Democratic enthusiasm in four critical districts. “This is our best chance,” he said.
The interest spreads beyond state lines. For instance, national groups that advocate for gay rights and their supporters have contributed money to the state Senate effort. Both the Assembly and Democratic Gov. David Paterson have expressed support for same-sex marriage.
In conservative Texas, Republicans hold the Legislature and all statewide offices, and polls show strong support for John McCain. But Democrats say their candidates are doing well, and there is a chance to win the House.
These contests also attract national attention and cash because of the power state legislatures have to redraw the maps of Congress. Though redistricting won’t begin in earnest until after the 2010 Census, when population changes require new congressional lines, maneuvering has already begun.
Gronstal said he has already been in “very serious discussions” with Democratic leaders in Congress about which states should be targeted now and in the 2010 election for redistricting purposes. “I describe it as who gets to get the crayons to draw the lines.”
In New England, every state legislature is now in Democratic hands. But in Maine, Republicans see a chance to pick up one seat and take power in the Senate.
Among other issues, GOP candidates in Maine are running on frustration with the state’s health care reform, championed by the Democratic governor. Shortfalls in the program spurred new taxes on beer, wine and soft drinks. The tax increase passed 18-17, with majority Democrats and minority Republicans voting in blocs.
“We have a formula that works, which is local race, local issues. Stay completely away from this nationalization of the races,” said Roy Lenardson, a political consultant for Republican candidates. That seems wise, considering that recent Maine polls put the Democratic presidential ticket ahead by an average 16 percentage points, according to realclearpolitics.com.
“This notion of the Obama rain washing in all the Democrats, I think that’s a secret fear,” he said. “On the other hand … this notion that Maine is a down-ticket place, where once you pick Obama you go down the ballot — no.”
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
By ROBERT TANNER
AP National Writer
Political control of several key state legislatures could change hands on Election Day, raising the chance for one-party domination of swing states Michigan and Pennsylvania, booming Nevada and Northeast giant New York.
Democrats are cautiously optimistic that enthusiasm and turnout for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign will help their candidates far down the ticket. Republicans hope to steer clear of the national mood that has turned against the GOP and focus instead on local issues.
Though state legislative races draw far less attention than contests for the White House, Congress and governor, the party that controls the legislatures has an outsized role nationally — crafting domestic policy, drawing congressional districts and laying the foundation for political stars in the future.
Obama himself is only four years removed from a stint in the Illinois Legislature. Democratic control there first gave him the spotlight and the chance to pass legislation that he often cites on the campaign trail.
Nationally, Democrats already hold their strongest majority in more than a decade, controlling the legislatures in 23 states. Republicans dominate in 14 states. Twelve states are split, and Nebraska is nonpartisan.
In some ways, Democrats are suffering from too much of a good thing: The party’s victories since 2004 eroded GOP gains from the 1990s but made it that much harder to find opportunities for growth now.
“We’re doing a little more defense than we have, and a little less offense,” said Iowa Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, chairman of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, a national group that has raised more than $6 million to spend on legislative races in the past two years.
Republicans see cause for hope, though they make a point to avoid national issues because polls show widespread dissatisfaction with President Bush and Republicans in Congress.
“You certainly can’t omit or be unaware of the national environment. But if you run your race on local issues, you can separate yourself very easily,” said Carrie Cantrell with the Republican State Leadership Committee, which provides cash and other resources to help win legislative seats.
Forty-four states will hold legislative elections next month, with 5,824 seats — or 79 percent of all legislative seats — before the voters.
“In an environment that seems to favor Democrats across the board in 2008, legislatures could deliver a bright spot for Republicans,” said Tim Storey, an elections expert at the National Conference of State Legislatures. “If Democrats do gain seats, it will truly reflect a landslide by the party and would really be an indicator of this turnout machine.”
Among the most closely watched states:
— New York, where Democrats are only two seats away from a majority in the state Senate. If they win, it would be the first time Democrats have held all three decision-making parts of government — governor, Assembly and Senate — since 1935.
— Pennsylvania, where Republicans need only to pick up one seat to take back control of the House and dominate the entire Legislature.
— Montana, where control could flip either way or remain split. Democrats lead the Senate with a two-seat margin, while Republicans hold the House by just one seat.
Other states where one party could take control include Delaware, Indiana, Michigan and Oklahoma. Democrats also see opportunities to gain power in the Ohio House and Wisconsin Assembly.
In New York, Senate Democratic leader Malcolm Smith said Obama is having a “tremendous impact” on the effort to gain two seats and take power, citing voter registration and Democratic enthusiasm in four critical districts. “This is our best chance,” he said.
The interest spreads beyond state lines. For instance, national groups that advocate for gay rights and their supporters have contributed money to the state Senate effort. Both the Assembly and Democratic Gov. David Paterson have expressed support for same-sex marriage.
In conservative Texas, Republicans hold the Legislature and all statewide offices, and polls show strong support for John McCain. But Democrats say their candidates are doing well, and there is a chance to win the House.
These contests also attract national attention and cash because of the power state legislatures have to redraw the maps of Congress. Though redistricting won’t begin in earnest until after the 2010 Census, when population changes require new congressional lines, maneuvering has already begun.
Gronstal said he has already been in “very serious discussions” with Democratic leaders in Congress about which states should be targeted now and in the 2010 election for redistricting purposes. “I describe it as who gets to get the crayons to draw the lines.”
In New England, every state legislature is now in Democratic hands. But in Maine, Republicans see a chance to pick up one seat and take power in the Senate.
Among other issues, GOP candidates in Maine are running on frustration with the state’s health care reform, championed by the Democratic governor. Shortfalls in the program spurred new taxes on beer, wine and soft drinks. The tax increase passed 18-17, with majority Democrats and minority Republicans voting in blocs.
“We have a formula that works, which is local race, local issues. Stay completely away from this nationalization of the races,” said Roy Lenardson, a political consultant for Republican candidates. That seems wise, considering that recent Maine polls put the Democratic presidential ticket ahead by an average 16 percentage points, according to realclearpolitics.com.
“This notion of the Obama rain washing in all the Democrats, I think that’s a secret fear,” he said. “On the other hand … this notion that Maine is a down-ticket place, where once you pick Obama you go down the ballot — no.”
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
The Milwaukee Journal Set to Endorse Obama
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel endorsed Obama in an editorial set for publication on Oct. 26:
Obama’s vision and potential to be that change agent trump his relative lack of experience, though the experience he possesses is valuable. The maturity and calm demeanor he has exhibited these past two years in the public spotlight and earlier, speak to able, careful, inclusive leadership. And he is simply the better of the two on the issues. …
McCain, an early supporter of the invasion, was later a critic of how the war was being waged, supporting a surge that Obama opposed. But McCain now fails to recognize that Americans want something different than his open-ended approach. …
And he also has squandered his claim to one of his supposed assets — his experience, as a military man and member of Congress for 26 years. Simply, he has displayed deplorable judgment in key instances that call into question the value of his overall judgment.
In Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the 72-year-old candidate with a history of melanoma picked a woefully unqualified running mate — as she continues to prove day after day. And both he and she have conducted a campaign that has careened from inept to offensive.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
Obama’s vision and potential to be that change agent trump his relative lack of experience, though the experience he possesses is valuable. The maturity and calm demeanor he has exhibited these past two years in the public spotlight and earlier, speak to able, careful, inclusive leadership. And he is simply the better of the two on the issues. …
McCain, an early supporter of the invasion, was later a critic of how the war was being waged, supporting a surge that Obama opposed. But McCain now fails to recognize that Americans want something different than his open-ended approach. …
And he also has squandered his claim to one of his supposed assets — his experience, as a military man and member of Congress for 26 years. Simply, he has displayed deplorable judgment in key instances that call into question the value of his overall judgment.
In Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the 72-year-old candidate with a history of melanoma picked a woefully unqualified running mate — as she continues to prove day after day. And both he and she have conducted a campaign that has careened from inept to offensive.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
The Stevens Point Journal Endorses Obama
Date: 10/24/2008
The Stevens Point (Wis.) Journal endorsed Obama on Friday:
“This is a unique time in the history of United States of America, one that presents tough challenges, and that’s why Barack Obama is our choice for president.
Obama, the Democratic senator from Illinois, is the candidate who will allow us to present a new face to the world, one that will regain a respect we have lost in recent history. Seeing this man of mixed race who spent part of his youth in Hawaii and Indonesia as our leader could go a long way toward healing some of those wounds.”
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
The Stevens Point (Wis.) Journal endorsed Obama on Friday:
“This is a unique time in the history of United States of America, one that presents tough challenges, and that’s why Barack Obama is our choice for president.
Obama, the Democratic senator from Illinois, is the candidate who will allow us to present a new face to the world, one that will regain a respect we have lost in recent history. Seeing this man of mixed race who spent part of his youth in Hawaii and Indonesia as our leader could go a long way toward healing some of those wounds.”
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
Drug industry spends $13 million on thank-you ads
Date: 10/23/2008 6:24 PM
By KEVIN FREKING
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) _ The pharmaceutical industry is underwriting one of the biggest issue ad campaigns of the election season — a $13 million televised thank-you to 28 lawmakers, most of them Democrats, who supported legislation last year to expand a children’s health insurance program.
Insured children are more likely to have access to treatment and preventive care, the ads note.
Only three Republicans, all locked in tight races for re-election, are singled out by the flattering ads: Sens. Gordon Smith of Oregon and Susan Collins of Maine, and Rep. Phil English of Pennsylvania.
Some of the Democrats are not up for re-election this year, such as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and many of them are expected to win handily, such as Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
But others benefiting from the ads are in tough races, including Reps. Gerald McNerney in California, Carol Shea-Porter in New Hampshire, Paul Kanjorski in Pennsylvania and Steve Kagen in Wisconsin.
The group responsible for the ads is “America’s Agenda: Health Care for Kids Inc.” It’s comprised of business and labor interests, said the organization’s spokeswoman Nicole Korkolis.
However, it’s the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America that bankrolled the campaign, according to Federal Election Commission records cited by The Center for Public Integrity, an organization that keeps close tabs on the drug industry’s spending.
Korkolis said the three-member board of America’s Agenda, which includes one representative from PhRMA, decided where the ads should be aired. The primary factor was how lawmakers voted on a bill to more than doubled spending on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to $12 billion a year. President Bush vetoed the bill twice and supporters couldn’t get a two-thirds vote in the House to override him.
“They considered who supported it in the past and who might be under pressure to change their vote,” Korkoris said. “The ads are designed to shore up that continued support.”
Korkolis said the campaign was not designed to support individual candidates. “It’s strictly an issues campaign.”
The ads say the lawmakers got it right by voting for the legislation. The ads also tell viewers to call the lawmaker cited and tell them to keep fighting “to insure our kids.”
Massie Ritsch, a spokesman for The Center for Responsive Politics, said the ads put supporters of the legislation in a positive light during the campaign season, but also serve the interests of the drug industry.
“Obviously, the drug industry has an interest in anything that will provide a steady stream of government money to pay for their products,” said Ritsch, whose organization tracks campaign donations and spending.
Ken Johnson, a PhRMA vice president, said the bill’s emphasis on prevention could do away with the need for prescription drugs for many children. “The bottom line is we don’t want kids to be our customers because they don’t get the care that they need,” he said.
The legislation would have gradually increased enrollment in the children’s health program from 6 million to 10 million. The revenue needed for that enrollment increase would have come from a 61-cent increase in the federal excise tax on a pack of cigarettes, as well as comparable tax increases on other tobacco products.
Critics said the bill would encourage too many families to replace private insurance with government-subsidized health coverage. Some said the bill did not go far enough to prevent adults from participating in the program, and some also criticized higher tobacco taxes as a means to pay for the expansion.
___
On the Net: http://www.americasagenda-kidshealth.org/our-media.html
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
By KEVIN FREKING
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) _ The pharmaceutical industry is underwriting one of the biggest issue ad campaigns of the election season — a $13 million televised thank-you to 28 lawmakers, most of them Democrats, who supported legislation last year to expand a children’s health insurance program.
Insured children are more likely to have access to treatment and preventive care, the ads note.
Only three Republicans, all locked in tight races for re-election, are singled out by the flattering ads: Sens. Gordon Smith of Oregon and Susan Collins of Maine, and Rep. Phil English of Pennsylvania.
Some of the Democrats are not up for re-election this year, such as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and many of them are expected to win handily, such as Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
But others benefiting from the ads are in tough races, including Reps. Gerald McNerney in California, Carol Shea-Porter in New Hampshire, Paul Kanjorski in Pennsylvania and Steve Kagen in Wisconsin.
The group responsible for the ads is “America’s Agenda: Health Care for Kids Inc.” It’s comprised of business and labor interests, said the organization’s spokeswoman Nicole Korkolis.
However, it’s the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America that bankrolled the campaign, according to Federal Election Commission records cited by The Center for Public Integrity, an organization that keeps close tabs on the drug industry’s spending.
Korkolis said the three-member board of America’s Agenda, which includes one representative from PhRMA, decided where the ads should be aired. The primary factor was how lawmakers voted on a bill to more than doubled spending on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to $12 billion a year. President Bush vetoed the bill twice and supporters couldn’t get a two-thirds vote in the House to override him.
“They considered who supported it in the past and who might be under pressure to change their vote,” Korkoris said. “The ads are designed to shore up that continued support.”
Korkolis said the campaign was not designed to support individual candidates. “It’s strictly an issues campaign.”
The ads say the lawmakers got it right by voting for the legislation. The ads also tell viewers to call the lawmaker cited and tell them to keep fighting “to insure our kids.”
Massie Ritsch, a spokesman for The Center for Responsive Politics, said the ads put supporters of the legislation in a positive light during the campaign season, but also serve the interests of the drug industry.
“Obviously, the drug industry has an interest in anything that will provide a steady stream of government money to pay for their products,” said Ritsch, whose organization tracks campaign donations and spending.
Ken Johnson, a PhRMA vice president, said the bill’s emphasis on prevention could do away with the need for prescription drugs for many children. “The bottom line is we don’t want kids to be our customers because they don’t get the care that they need,” he said.
The legislation would have gradually increased enrollment in the children’s health program from 6 million to 10 million. The revenue needed for that enrollment increase would have come from a 61-cent increase in the federal excise tax on a pack of cigarettes, as well as comparable tax increases on other tobacco products.
Critics said the bill would encourage too many families to replace private insurance with government-subsidized health coverage. Some said the bill did not go far enough to prevent adults from participating in the program, and some also criticized higher tobacco taxes as a means to pay for the expansion.
___
On the Net: http://www.americasagenda-kidshealth.org/our-media.html
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
Wisconsin State Journal endorses Obama
The Wisconsin State Journal endorsed Barack Obama on Sunday:
“Obama is best-equipped this election to make America feel good about itself again. That’s a powerful feeling — one that could go a long way toward invigorating our economy and national sense of purpose.
Obama is convincing in his call for a new kind of politics in Washington. His life story and history-making bid for the White House also have forced the rest of the world to view America in a new and more positive way.”
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
“Obama is best-equipped this election to make America feel good about itself again. That’s a powerful feeling — one that could go a long way toward invigorating our economy and national sense of purpose.
Obama is convincing in his call for a new kind of politics in Washington. His life story and history-making bid for the White House also have forced the rest of the world to view America in a new and more positive way.”
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.