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2/19/2010
Rep. Nygren: Partisanship
I am often asked by constituents why politics today are so partisan. Why can’t Republicans and Democrats get along to get the people’s business done? I ran for office to get things done, not play party politics. I support bills regardless of party authorship if I feel they will benefit the residents of the 89th Assembly District. Unfortunately though, this character trait in our current elected leaders is the exception and not the rule.
As an example, something happened on the floor of the Assembly that I think underscores why government is so partisan today. Early in this legislative session I began working with a local pharmacist, Bill Clement, to create a bill that would allow for the free donation of unused prescription drugs. These drugs would go to pharmacies, charities, and community clinics in order to treat patients in need. Government regulation currently stands in the way of this happening.
Knowing that the Democrats control both houses of the Legislature and the Governor’s office I sought out a Democrat coauthor in the Senate to work with me on the bill. This would give my bill a better chance of passing into law. Senator Judy Robson (D-Beloit) saw the merit in my bill and was gracious enough to be the lead author in the Senate.
I worked hard to convince members of both parties that my bill had merit and would improve access to life saving drugs for our most vulnerable citizens. As well, my bill would protect the environment by keeping prescriptions drugs from being dumped in our ground water.
I attracted a large bipartisan list of cosponsors on the bill. As well, because of my work, the bill passed the full Senate and an Assembly subcommittee unanimously. The only steps left were for the bill to be concurred with in the Assembly and be signed by the governor into law. Those actions could take place within days and seemed easy enough. I was wrong.
Partisan politics reared its ugly head. My bill sat on the desk of the Democrat leadership in the Assembly for months; since October of 2009 in fact. Eight session days came and went with no vote on my bill. Why? Because there was a Republican author (me) on the bill. I know this is the case because Democrat lawmakers admitted it to me. The leadership of their party wanted the bill for themselves.
I was not about to let this noble piece of legislation die because of party politics. So, in an effort to pass the bill, I gave the legislation to a Democrat Representative and endorsed that new bill. I again worked to pass the bill and this week my efforts paid off. The new bill was brought forward to be voted on in the full Assembly.
I thought the party politics were over, but to my dismay they came to play again. The Democrat leadership refused to pass the Assembly version of the bill that included my endorsement and instead passed the Senate bill that did not include my name as an author.
I am pleased that the bill passed because it is a good piece of legislation. I voted for it in the end because it was the right thing to do for my constituents. But the stealing of identical ideas and taking them as your own by the current leadership in the Legislature is abhorrent. This is not the first time this has happened this session and unfortunately I feel it will not be the last.
Representative Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) has been trying to make Health Savings Accounts tax exempt for years and this session Democrats stole that idea as well (of course they have no real intention of passing that bill and they know the governor has vetoed it numerous times).
I remember when Republicans controlled the Assembly. It was 2007 and my first year in office. These things rarely happened and if they did I objected. Now these types of actions seem to occur on a daily basis in Madison.
When Republicans were in charge they had their own ideas. Some people may have disagreed with those ideas, but they were ‘their’ ideas. As well, Republicans were open to any Democrat’s idea if it had merit.
I would never operate in the manner our current leadership does. Quite frankly I could not look myself in the mirror if I did. Partisanship is one of the reasons the public is turning away in disgust from their government. I don’t blame anyone for doing so.
I believe playing party politics with legislation that will benefit the folks I am proud to serve is horrible. If politicians quit these actions, maybe elected officials would be more respected by the people they are supposed to serve.
John Nygren represents the residents of the 89th Assembly District that includes Marinette and Oconto counties.
COMMENTS
Our state runs not on the basis of "partisanship," but on which party is more willing to roll over to the special interests who fund their elections. If Nye really wants to do something for his state and his family and friends, he'll get behind public funding of campaigns. I want him beholden to the taxpayers, not his funders.
Jack Lohman (Fri Feb 19 10:01:12 2010)
I have been told by other legislators that this practice is, and has been common for years. Much longer than Mr. Nygren refers to. The shoe was often on the other foot party-wise. As distasteful as the whole episode may be it only "business as usual" and Mr. Nygren should still find a way to take credit with his constituents for a good bill as he has done here. I share his dismay at the process but don't see anything new. The composition of the Assembly will surely change some day and when it does I hope Mr. Nygren remembers to turn the other cheek rather than looking for an eye for an eye. Maybe that will cause real change.
dave allen (Fri Feb 19 15:38:18 2010)
My posts are beginning to sound very familiar. This is how Madison works...The Assembly Speaker controls the agenda. He/she will decide what legislation will be brought to the floor. If the Speaker does not like the bill, the person who wrote it or the bill's author is from the wrong party (heaven help us that the minority party has a good idea) it will sit. I have even heard of cases of legislation sitting until a member of the assembly leaves office and someone else taking it, putting their name on it and having it pass a year or two later.
Yes, John Gard was guilty of using the same tactics, but not nearly as often as it is done today.
Dale McNamee (Sat Feb 20 08:52:16 2010)
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