Posted on 07/31/2006 1:58:50 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
SUN PRAIRIE, WI (AP) -- Republican Mark Green shifted his campaign for the governor's office into high gear on Monday, releasing an Internet-only ad and unveiling his budget plan at the first of what he promised to be a 100-stop tour across the state between now and Election Day.
In his ad, Green said if elected he would lower the tax burden or he would not run again.
Green, who is trying to stop Gov. Jim Doyle from becoming the first Democrat re-elected governor in 32 years, accused the incumbent of mismanaging the state's finances which has resulted in a projected $2.6 billion budget deficit.
"We have a dire fiscal situation in this state," Green said outside of Sir Hobo's Restaurant. "It's hard to make this state great again unless you get your books in order."
Doyle and the Democratic Party shot back, noting that the governor balanced a $3.2 billion shortfall without raising taxes. Doyle spokesman Matt Canter placed blame for the state's budget woes with the Republican-controlled Legislature.
"Previous Legislatures were spending money like drunken sailors and the state has had to deal with that," Canter said.
The current shortfall going into the 2007-09 budget doesn't account for growth in tax revenue, which the Doyle administration says will shrink the deficit. And, they note, the state has finished the past three fiscal years in the black.
That didn't stop Green from accusing Doyle of using "tricks and gimmicks" to balance the budget. In his new Internet-only ad, Green also promised tax relief saying, "If I don't lower the tax burden, I won't run again."
When pressed on how he would measure the tax burden, Green said it would only pertain to state and local taxes measured against a person's ability to pay. Green didn't go into other details as to which measure would be used.
Highlights of Green's budget plan include:
- Capping state revenues at the previous year's level and using any surplus for deficit reduction or tax relief.
- Stop raiding special funds to balance the budget.
- Never use the veto power in order to increase spending or raise taxes.
- Limit the issuance of bonds.
- Support a state law prohibiting a deficit any greater than $2 billion, as calculated when using generally accepted accounting principals.
When asked to comment on Green's specific plan, Doyle campaign spokeswoman Melanie Fonder said, "Talk is cheap from a guy who has never balanced a budget in his life."
The Wisconsin Democratic Party said it was ridiculous for Green, who has been a member of Congress since 1998, to be talking about fiscal responsibility given the national budget deficit.
Green pulled into the Sun Prairie restaurant where he announced his proposals in a recreational vehicle that he said he will use to make 99 other stops between now and Election Day, which was 99 days away from Monday.
Green has yet to hit the air with a TV spot sponsored by his campaign, but a three-minute, 30-second Internet-only commercial was unveiled on Green's Web site Monday. Titled "Hey Mark," it attempts to strike a folksy tone at a variety of parades and community events posing questions to Green, along with feeding him brats and sweet corn.
With whimsical-sounding music playing in the background, Green takes questions that range from his position on whether he thinks Brett Favre should continue playing for the Packers - Answer: "As long as he wants." Viewers also find out that Green listens to the Beatles and U2 on his own iPod.
He even makes a joke about the ads from Doyle supporters attacking Green's positions.
When asked what he thinks of those ads, Green takes a look at the rear end of a horse statue on a parade float, then turns to the camera and smiles but says nothing.
But in a release announcing the Web spot, Green is more pointed, accusing Doyle of hiding behind "nasty TV ads paid for by his special interest friends."
Doyle's campaign called Green's Internet ad "touchy-feely rhetoric" that belies Green's true record.
Doyle has released two ads, while other groups backing one or the other candidates have had ads airing for months. Green said he will have ads on TV "relatively soon."
Wisconsin 'Rats are scared. Don't you doubt it for one minute. Hardly anyone in the state knows Mark Green yet, and all internal polling shows a very tight race! :)
"99 Days To Go" Ping!
http://www.votemarkgreen.com
That's great !!!!
Thanks! It is a pretty state, with lots of fun, out-doorsy things to do. I've lived all over the place and always come back "home" to Wisconsin. :)
We are seriously working on defeating the 'Rats this time around. There is soooo much voter fraud in Dane and Milwaukee counties, and a few counties 'Up Nort' that border on BLUE Minnesota that it's become a real problem. We always lose elections by a suspiciously FEW number of votes.
Wisconsin is probably one of the most evenly split Red/Blue states in the nation, so the 'Rats have to cheat to keep even a modicome of power in this state.
How many lies to we have in just this one sentence? First, Jim "Craps" Doyle (WEAC/Potawatomi-For Sale) didn't balance jack; we have a $2.5 billion structural deficit facing whoever puts together the FY2007-08 budget. Second, the shortfall to be bridged in Craps' first budget was only $1.2 billion (which added to the $2 billion shortfall Craps induced in that budget does add up to $3.2 billion). Third, the only things that didn't go up were state income and sales taxes; absolutely everything else, from registration renewal fees to gasoline taxes to local property taxes and everything in between, went up astronomically.
Yep. You can't swing a dead cat in these parts without hitting a great microbrew, LOL! People take their beer and homemade wine VERY seriously in this state. It's a "pride" thing.
I visited my Uncle yesterday. He served us his homemade Wild Cherry Wine which was scrumptuous, and he showed us his set-up which is currently fermenting a batch of Rhubarb Wine. :)
My BIL makes the most wonderful Raspberry Beer. It runs in the family. ;)
I love how you call him, "Craps." LOL!
Hey.......don't pick on Milwaukee.....how many other cities do you know of where the dead get to vote?.........Aside from Madison, but those are usually only brain-dead.
Green... accused the incumbent of mismanaging the state's finances which has resulted in a projected $2.6 billion budget deficit...
Doyle and the Democratic Party shot back, noting that the governor balanced a $3.2 billion shortfall without raising taxes. Doyle spokesman Matt Canter placed blame for the state's budget woes with the Republican-controlled Legislature.
So which is it? Did he balance the budget, or did he run a deficit?
Well, Diana, nice to have an observer on the ground there...any gut feelings about this race and the Senate race there?
Let's see; there's Chicago and Philadelphia.
There is no Senate race to speak of; just a 4-ring circus between übermoney Nobody's Senator Herb Kohl, an accused child molester in Robert Lorge (never mind there's more holes in the accuser's story than a horse-trader's mule) running as a Pubbie because the "R"PW refused to put up any candidate (and they were refusing to back Lorge even before the allegations were made public), a pot-smoking hippie trying to challenge Nobody's Senator in the 'RAT primary, and a full-fledged moonbat Red Party candidate.
"Well, Diana, nice to have an observer on the ground there...any gut feelings about this race and the Senate race there?"
'Nobody's Senator' Herb Kohl - Wins. The only one running against him is a dope-smoking, lawsuit filing Hippy who no one will vote for anyway. I predict Herb gets 2 votes, Ben gets none.
CongressLesbian Tammy Baldwin - Wins. Her challenger Dave Magnum is throwing in with the Libertarians these days. No better way to lose conservative votes in this state. Dave? You're being a total dork! Knock it off and have FAITH in your base.
Russ Feingold - Wins, but is "Arkancided" by The Beast prior to the '08 run for the White House. If he thought The Beast has it in for those of the Jewish faith NOW, just wait until one DARES to run against her in her quest for World Domination!
Republican Mark Green defeats "Craps" Doyle...but it will be razor-thin and there will be recount after recount after recount, ad nauseum...followed by four (and then eight) solid years of "the election was STOLEN" from the 'Rats in this state.
The Wisconsin GOP is a sack of spineless weenies. I think the only thing my "gut" will need on election night is a bottle of Pepto Bismol, LOL! ;)
Your insight is appreciated!
Yes, sadly, the GOP is becoming gutless all over...a damned shame...
Jeez, I was on the fence but now Im definitely voting Doyle...
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