A few weeks into Scott Walker's tenure as governor, one thing is becoming clear. He has no ideas. None of his own, anyway.
Walker is pushing to dilute legislative oversight and give himself new power to veto rules developed by state agencies (whose heads are mostly appointed by the governor). This tampering with time-honored checks and balances is not Walker's idea. He lifted it straight from the agenda Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce came out with last November.
He also plagiarized WMC's proposal for so-called "tort reform." No, we're not talking state intervention in the baking of those cakes made of eggs and sugar and not much else. A tort is an injury, damage or wrongful act done willfully and negligently and settled with monetary damages in civil court. Walker and the Legislature's Fitzgerald brothers did WMC's bidding in ramming through changes that make it harder for consumers to seek compensation for being injured or poisoned by harmful products and limit damages that can be awarded even if a consumer does manage to sue despite the new obstacles. The new law even protects nursing homes from lawsuits when they abuse or neglect their elderly patients.
Two new corporate tax breaks are in the works, another gift to WMC. Never mind that these favors add to a state budget deficit already expected to be $3 billion. And never mind that it's estimated that close to two-thirds of big businesses in Wisconsin already pay no taxes, as Wisconsin newspaper hall of famer Dave Zweifel recently reported.
Then there's the special session bill pushed by Walker and legislative leaders providing an exemption from statewide wetlands protections for one developer – a Green Bay area businessman who happens to be a major campaign contributor to Governor Walker. This one has such a rank stench that today it's being reported that even though the skids appear to be greased and the bill is sailing toward passage, some involved with the development project are having second thoughts.
Walker is copying from the Wisconsin Realtors Association's script on wind power. And, of course, on transportation issues he is taking his cues from the powerful road building industry. Wisconsin lost $810 million in federal funds for high-speed rail because Walker – the top recipient of road builder donations – did what was good for the road builders, namely insist that the rail money be used for highway projects instead. What was good for the road builders wasn't good for Wisconsin. We ended up with nothing. California, Illinois and a bunch of other states got our rail money.
Day after day more favors are done for the rich and powerful. Regular people have a choice. We can sit idly by and watch this disgraceful pandering to those who make the biggest campaign donations and have the most lobbyists prowling the halls of the Capitol on their behalf. Or we can go to the Capitol and stand against special interest ownership of our government.
The Democracy Campaign is organizing a citizen vigil at the Capitol because we'd rather stand and fight than sit on our backsides and twiddle our thumbs for the next two years. If they are going to do favors for the rich and powerful day after day, we're going to call them on it day in and day out.
That's why we're starting this vigil. And that's why we're calling on all 99ers to join us. Let me explain who I'm talking about. 99er is a term originally coined to describe jobless and financially vulnerable Americans. It refers to those who have exhausted all of their unemployment benefits, as 99 weeks is the maximum allowed under the law in any state. But we apply the term more broadly to the unrepresented and politically homeless. Here in Wisconsin, less than 1% of the population pays for all the election campaigning by state politicians. If the other 99% of us are to have a voice, it's up to us to demand it and fight for it.
Our success will depend on how many of us are willing to stand together in the interest of bringing back the idea that government should work for the greater good.
4 comments:
Another way to have a bigger voice, of course, would be if that other 99% began to participate and contribute to candidates.
Very helpful comment! So if I donate $50 to the governor and all my state reps, that will buy me an exemption from state law or maybe a tax break? If only I'd known!
Don't be silly. If you contribute 50 bucks to a campaign or a party, the most you'll ever get in return is "thanks" and an attaboy - as it should be. But if you are a wealthy corporation or super-rich individual and you contribute either directly or through money laundering organizations to campaigns or political parties, the price of admission is far higher, and so is the astonishing rate of return on investment.
That's why you and I only contribute our chump change to the campaign or party that we really want to win. The big money comes from deep corporate pockets that is smart enough to contribute to both sides simultaneously. They do that not only to hedge their bets. They primarily do it in order to have and maintain control of both parties, and hence the government, no matter which side temporarily surges ahead of the other.
http://clydewinter.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/governing-people-for-profits/
I was being sarcastic, if it wasn't obvious enough. I found Xoff's comment obnoxious. Basically telling us hey if you don't like that people with deep pockets are buying the kind of government they desire, then start shelling out the cash and buy a little consideration from your friendly neighborhood politician.
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