This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
If you can't beat Scott Walker, strip him of his power
DISCLAIMER: I know state Senator Tim Carpenter very well. I like and respect Tim, and he’s a friend.
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker drives the lefties crazy. Walker is one of the few sane voices in a sea of local governments perpetuated by big tax and spenders. He’s mega-popular, and at a time when Democrats are winning more often than not, they haven’t figured out how to deal with the Republican Walker, who wins big even in a Democrat county.
If you can’t beat him in an election, you can try to cut his legs off through legislation.
State Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) is drafting legislation to limit the power of county executives in Wisconsin to use creative vetoes to create entirely new budget appropriations. Carpenter points to the Legislature voting to get rid of the governor’s Frankenstein veto authority and the voters’ overwhelming support of changing Wisconsin’s constitution to ensure new spending appropriations never approved by the Legislature could not be adopted through the creative use of a veto pen. If the governor can’t do it, why should a county executive be able to, maintains Carpenter.
On the surface, Carpenter’s plan might have merit. But keep in mind Governor Doyle was using his pen to create new spending, increased appropriations never even considered by the Legislature. Tommy Thompson used the veto pen in a “creative” way as well, but he cut spending, he didn’t jack it up for special interests that bankrolled his campaign.
Likewise, Scott Walker used his veto pen to chop spending, and his vetoes have been ruled to be legal.
Carpenter is wrapping himself in the cloak of good government. But let’s be honest. The timing of his proposal smacks of partisan politics. It comes the same week Walker’s tax and spending opponents on the Milwaukee County Board were whining and moaning about how Walker used his pen.
And with all due respect to my friend, Tim, who are you trying to kid? In his press release Carpenter says, “This is not a partisan issue – it is a question of good government.”
Sorry, but that’s just too funny. Of course this is partisan! Carpenter only points to Walker and no other county executive in the state.
Carpenter argues that 66% voted in Milwaukee County to get rid of the governor’s Frankenstein veto. Ergo, Carpenter thinks, they would want to support his legislation. There’s a distinct difference here. The Frankenstein veto vote was an indictment of the incredible misuse of the power by Jim Doyle. Those same Milwaukee County voters swept Scott Walker into office and have kept doing it on the issue of fiscal responsibility. They WANT Walker to do whatever he can to thwart the never-ending taxing and spending from the irresponsible Milwaukee County Board.
Call me inconsistent, but I see this as a blatant partisan ploy to hurt Scott Walker and if it ever came to a vote and Walker was still the county executive, I’m voting no.
Read Carpenter’s release.
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