Capitol Commentary
2006 Election Season Wrap-Up
James L. Palmer, II
WPPA Assistant Executive Director
& Director of Governmental Affairs
Like many of you, we at the WPPA were glad to see an end to the 2006 election season, if for no other reason than the fact that we can now watch television and listen to the radio without having to see and hear those nasty and contentious campaign ads. The WPPA was extraordinarily active during this most-recent election cycle working to support those candidates deemed to best support the interests of our membership. In making those endorsements, the WPPA Political Action Committee (PAC) evaluated the input of local members, the candidates’ responses to a questionnaire, and where applicable, the candidates’ legislative report cards results. This transparent process enabled the WPPA to make informed endorsements in a bipartisan and objective manner.
Becoming the first Democratic governor to be reelected in more than 30 years, Jim Doyle defeated Republican Congressman Mark Green with nearly 53 percent of the total votes cast. The WPPA endorsed Governor Doyle to recognize his support for public safety and the labor rights afforded the dedicated men and women who serve to provide it. In particular, the PAC concluded that Governor Doyle’s commitments to maintain shared revenue funding and oppose legislative efforts to diminish collective bargaining in Wisconsin best served the interests of the membership.
Republican J.B. Van Hollen defeated Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk by less than one-half of 1 percent to become Wisconsin’s next attorney general. The WPPA endorsed Van Hollen on the basis that his prosecutorial experience as a district attorney and U.S. attorney was better-suited to the duties required to head the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Van Hollen was the only statewide Republican winner amid a sweep of significant Democratic gains, and his victory marked the first time a Republican has been elected to the attorney general’s post since 1986.
In the state legislature, the Senate Democrats won four seats previously held by Republicans, giving them an 18-15 majority in that house. WPPA-endorsed candidates John Lehman and Jim Sullivan were among them. In the State Assembly, the Democrats won two open seats and defeated several incumbent Republicans. The Republicans will continue to control that house, albeit with a narrower 52-47 majority.
Legislative Preview
With the election season thankfully behind us, the WPPA governmental affairs staff has focused its attention on the 2007 session of the legislature, and how we can build on the successes of the last session. We are busy informing lawmakers of the WPPA’s priorities, and how this organization evaluates legislative activity. The WPPA’s governmental affairs platform and report card are outstanding tools in this regard, as they let people know what we’re about from a legislative perspective, as well as how we monitor those bills that impact our members. If you would like additional information regarding the platform and report card, check us out on the web at www.wppa.com.
While we are also spending considerable time analyzing new legislative proposals, we are more immediately concerned with what will transpire during the state budget process and how it will impact you. As many of you know, the last state budget included levy limitations on many local units of government. Designed to control the amount of property taxes that local governments can collect, these limits have impacted WPPA members all across Wisconsin, whether in the form of smaller wage increases or demands by employers for you to pay more towards your health insurance benefits.
Governor Doyle and the legislature will spend much of this year developing the state’s two-year budget, requiring them to confront some major challenges and make some difficult decisions. A Department of Administration report released last November revealed that, even though state tax revenues are projected to increase over the next two years, the state will still fall $1.63 billion short of what state agencies plan to spend. As the budget process unfolds, be sure to check the WPPA website for frequent updates, so that you know how a particular proposal will affect you and your family. The WPPA’s ability to protect and promote your interests in Madison are only enhanced with your participation and input, so don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or comments.
Established in 1932 as a fraternal organization, the WPPA now provides a wide variety of services to the membership, whether it’s at the bargaining table, in the workplace, or at the State Capitol. This growth has come largely as the result of members who were willing to speak up and leaders who were willing to listen. With that in mind, we at the WPPA continue to urge you to stay safe, stay informed, and stay in touch.
