|
 |
12/30/2010
One less Prosser foe?
Interesting. Zach Wisniewski over at Blogging Blue yesterday reminded us of April’s Supreme Court election – I talked about it earlier this month in support of Justice Prosser and the work he was doing to qualify for public financing. (It’s not too late to send him a contribution – tomorrow is the deadline – just $5, $10 or $15. Send it now. Have your spouse and 10 best friends do the same.)
Writing from the left, Zach notes Prosser’s “three challengers [who] have emerged to try and wrest the seat from Justice Prosser…”
While I haven’t heard enough from each of the candidates to have made a decision on who I’ll be supporting, I’ve been encouraged by the fact that both Winnig and Kloppenburg (and possibly Prosser) are attempting to obtain public financing for their campaigns in keeping with the criteria of the Impartial Justice Act. Under that legislation, candidates for the Supreme Court who collect 1,000 contributions totaling between $5,000 and $15,000 will be able to receive $100,000 for the primary election and $300,000 for the general election. While Winnig, Kloppenburg, and Prosser all seem to be vying for public financing, Marla Stephens has indicated she will not be seeking public financing.
Hmmm. This is the first I heard about one of the candidates opting to go it outside of the public bucks. (Let me know if you’ve seen it anywhere else.) In a piece in the Green Bay Progressive just two weeks ago, the Stephens campaign asks for your $5 to qualify for public financing. Either the campaign made a major strategy decision that they can do better by raising their own millions - $400,000 won’t be enough – or they’re struggling too much to get the 1,000 small contributors before day’s end tomorrow.
Sounds to me like it might be one less candidate vying to “wrest” that seat from the esteemed Justice Prosser.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
I'm not a Prossor fan but am glad to see him in the public financing system. It's not perfect but is the best we have. I'm almost to the point that I'd support appointing judges if we could find a way to do it without politicians, who themselves are often on the take from unions or business.
But generally speaking we don't have a good system to get the public involved and educated on the judge's views. I suppose just knowing that Prossor was supported by WMC should be enough for some, but I'm not happy with my limited knowledge.
Jack Lohman (Thu Dec 30 05:18:22 2010)
Jack, I am a big Prosser fan but I agree with you that something has to be done about funding campaigns, whether partisan or non-partisan.
The problem has a very simple solution. Lower the amount any individual can donate to candidates and don't allow donations by groups. Problem solved.
Will that ever happen? Bwahahahahahahahaha! Only in your dreams!
These sums spent on obscene donations plus the absolute apathy and lethargy during off-year elections by the voters always allow a relatively small percentage of the electorate to say who will be our judges.
Bless you Justice Prosser, for going this way. I've contacted practically everyone I know (I drew the line at Gov. Doyle)to send a small amount and vote for Prosser. Also posted it on my FB page. Did it help?
I don't know.
C. R. Stevenson (Thu Dec 30 13:21:22 2010)
Will that ever happen? Not with the Supreme Court ruling protecting political bribes. But I'm glad to see Prosser opting for public funding.
Jack Lohman (Thu Dec 30 14:32:57 2010)
One of my favorite subjects! Last year,09,the State Legislative committee, Elections or something, held a public forum on the subject. They wanted to hear ideas and I shared the following basic set of ideas.
First, I would limit contributions to the specific area of candidacy, the contributor must be of voting age.
Second, in the spirit of pre-McCain-Feingold, I would not limit the amount of the contribution from each donor, but post each donation within 48 hrs., no contributions accepted 48 hrs before the election date.
Third, no PAC money or bundled money allowed, no unions( each member would have acess to their collected funds.
Fourth, the campaign shall be limited to 3 months, period.
Fifth public television shall make available three, one hour debates, hosted by an arbitrator of public decency, but in the tradition of the English, no holds barred, no pre-ordained questions presented, , simply topics. The moderator simply keeps the time civil. Let's see what each candidate is really made of. English debates are far more entertaining as well as demonstrating how each candidate can handle themselves in an unscripted setting.
Contributions are a form of speech, but identity, name and address, are paramount to open disclosure.
The members of the committee did not like all of my ideas nor will others, however, I want to see more ideas come forth and debate any merit to those I put forth. I want our elections staying at home, not contributions for County Executive coming from New Jersey.
What say ye?
Richard Parins (Thu Dec 30 17:01:48 2010)
All make sense, Richard, but some violate the 1st Amendment. That's what is so beautiful about public funding of campaigns: they are optional thus pass constitutional muster.
Jack Lohman (Thu Dec 30 18:02:50 2010)
Yup, you wouldn't want to prohibit PACs or unions from being involved, Richard. Well, I would like to prevent some of them, for sure, but... the courts wouldn't let me. That's the challenge. The Supreme Court Justice race will be filled with $millions of special interest dollars; $400,000 spent by each candidate will be nothing.
Jo (Thu Dec 30 19:58:54 2010)
|
|
Blog Archives
| 2010 |
  December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Solberg: Healing After an Abortion
• Basketball fans eyeing extension of Miller Park sales tax
• Nanny sex-ed bill goes to Doyle
• A first. Village limits pension contribution for employees
• Nanny State update: Toothbrushing mandated
• Obama pushes education inflation
• WI Investment Board votes to borrow to juice up returns
• So Republicans have brought nothing to the table?
• You have got to be kidding me
• Nygren: Governor Continues Terms of Failure in State of the State
• Sen. Fitzgerald: Governor down the wrong track at high speed
• Phosphorus is the new CO2. $Billions in Wisconsin
• More Obama giveaways
• A reprimand? Would you keep him on the job?
• Burri: Sarah Palin for Prez troubles me
• Quote of the Day – Obama after the pie-eating contest
• Populism, abused and trampled
• Fitzgerald: Senate Republicans Propose Real Job Creation Agenda
• Stripped down health insurance – it’s about time
• Ok GOP, scrap the Party of NO; time to lead
• No way Feingold is a Coakley. Is Wall a Brown?
• Burri: Conservatives off the chart for a RINO?
• Paltry quid pro quo?
• Doyle says ARRA has ‘created or retained’ 44,000 WI jobs
• Does most of the public fall for this stuff?
• When you get signatures, always get a couple extra
• Blame it on the outmoded computers
• Scott Brown victory does not scuttle health bill
• 8th Congressional Candidate Forum, Jan. 25
• Scott Walker Meet-and-greet, Monday, Jan. 18
• Aren’t consumers taxpayers too?
• MORE taxes on investment income - dreadful and wrong
• Join the blaze orange army and say ‘Enough is Enough’
• The future of government-run health care
• Tax on banks is a really bad idea
• Roth, Savard on the stump, grassroots style
• Savard speaking in Appleton, 8 PM, Wed., Jan. 13.
• Rahmlow: Savard, Bies frontrunners for State Senate
• Burri: Failing Political Correctness 101
• School contracts and Race to the Top
• Senator Feingold worrisome and big red flags
• Psephological?
• This is really important. Contact Rep. Kagen. Now. Please.
• This is exactly what we need from Governor Doyle
• This guy is my hero
• Why am I not surprised?
• Talk health reform with Feingold (Th), Petri (today)
• Give the Mayor power over MPS - if he can break contracts
• Burri: Yup, Dems really are going to bypass a conference
• The $2.7 billion Wisconsin deficit no one told you about
• Walker launches county accountability website
• Rahmlow: Why is Van Hollen dodging the Nebraska deal?
|
| 2009 |
December
|
November
|
October
• The Lawton-Bader files
• Yup, it’s the TAX LEVY, not the tax RATE
• Ellis: costly automobile insurance laws must be rolled back
• If not Barrett, who?
• The subsidy game
• Burri: Bailouts, Banks, Health Care, and the Mob
• Attend Appleton Schools budget meeting tonight
• A public option WON’T increase costs? That’s delusional!
• Appleton Schools budget meeting Monday
• Wisconsin should be screaming for accountability
• Burri: If anything, we need more obstructionism around here
• WI on the leading edge - in the wrong direction
• Rep. Montgomery: Utility Customers Join State’s Crime-Fighting Efforts
• Public Conservation and Recreation Lands Total 16.5% of State
• In the crow's nest of the Titanic, shouting 'Iceberg!'
• Is Rep. Nelson a political hack?
• Health care: The road ahead will be brutal
• Kagen's pandering again
• Birthers - good stuff for you
• How much do we bend over backward for seniors?
• The trouble with health care is paying for it
• Two-parent families: The Gold Standard
• Burri: Kids... the joys and blessings
• Very, very worried about health care
• Rep. Huebsch: Wisconsin is proof government health care isn’t the answer
• School district contracts push up tax levy
• What? Obama, the Peace Prize?
• TODAY - hearing on Campaign Finance Reform
• Appleton School District tax levy up way too much
• CBO report is out - and the bill isn't even written yet?
• So, how much do YOU budget for health care?
• Burri: Copenhagen trip was amateurish
• “Sotomayor, you have blood on your hands...”
• Cap and Trade. Always follow the money
• Rep. Kagen gets (almost) free health services
• I actually agree with Rep. Kagen
• Future Wisconsin Conference for Conservatives, October 10, Wauwatosa
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
|
| 2008 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
• Important votes Tuesday, including Appleton Common Council
• Democrats are becoming supply siders??
• Further debunking Hillary myths
• WEAC has created an unsustainable monopoly
• From Mark Gundrum: One of the greatest honors an American can experience
• 'Operation Chaos' working?
• Joe Martin the best candidate in Appleton's 8th
• State programs to cut? - Volume II
• Oh the naivete of youth
• Not just disingenuous - flat wrong
• Steve - you will be missed
• Make cuts only AFTER you're elected....
• Getting serious: What programs can we cut?
• Rep. Steve Kagen joining me on Jerry Bader Show today
• Rep. Van Roy: Dental Care Pilot Program
• Has Dave Obey turned the corner on earmarks?
• Speaker Huebsch: Governor turns down Federal Aid?
• Mark Rahmlow: "We're Broke."
• As taxpayers, how do we know if it's a Chevy or a Lexus?
• This is trash talk - about a veteran
• Frank Lasee: Take time to get the Compact right
• 'The Gableman Ad' - is it racist?
• Roth thankful, Kagen shaking money tree
• Gov. Doyle's office not enamored with Freedom of Information
• Governor Doyle will never do it
• Leadership on smoking ban? Not Hanna
• Rep. Van Roy speaks out about smear ads
• You're threatening me about potholes?
• Losing the Hastert seat is NOT a trend and NOT curtians for the GOP
• First suggestion for 'slashing' programs
• Big money-saver for municipalities
• More one time fixes. Nuts.
• Any chances???
• I'm doing the Jerry Bader Show, today, the 11th
• Representative Frank Lasee: Final Waltz of the Season
• Guest Blog: It's not the county's business to be in the nursing home business
• Yup, Hillary won Texas and Ohio
• Gableman/Butler race featured - and it isn't pretty
• Lies from Planned Parenthood and NARAL
• He who sacrifices liberty.....
• Duh.
• The Troha sentencing, Doyle and that $200K
• Guns, passion and "originality"
• How hard is it anyway, to shut down a government program?
• Voting is a PRIVILEGE. And so are property taxes....
• Guest Blog: Governor Doyle, cancel your Ireland trip
|
February
|
January
|
| 2007 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Lots of ideas. No money.
• The Cigarette Tax - "Poor Policy Instrument?"
• School budget Lite?
• Frankenstein - not in the library, but in the legislature
• A librarian, a legislator, a president
• $1.25/pack - NO, NO, NO, and NO
• Kagen and Reagan in the same breath?
• Menasha: behind the 8-ball, but not biting the dust
• Any way you slice it, Wisconsin government wants (further) in on health care
• The World is Flat...what about health care?
• The PAC - too precious to fail. Day 3
• News follow-ups: Appleton West, Kagen at the White House
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail - Day 2
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail
• New Transit Tax coming your way
• Rep. Petri has his finger in the dike - I guess
• AASD Retirement Costs Burdensome
• Health care, health care, health care, health care
• Water rate increase was no slam dunk
• Education for all is just a bad dream
• New Year's resolutions from a parade snob
|
| 2006 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
| 2000 |
May
|
|
