Posted on 08/10/2003 9:12:35 PM PDT by jpconservative
Fate of tax limits falls on 6 senators Tough vote looms Tuesday for undecided or undeclared Democrats
By STEVEN WALTERS swalters@journalsentinel.com
Last Updated: Aug. 10, 2003
Madison - Being a Wisconsin state senator is usually a pretty good gig.
Staff members and other state officials rush to call you "senator," feeding your ego. Messengers run your errands. You can work as hard or as little as you want. The job pays only $45,569, but a tax-free daily expense allowance helps out. The powers of incumbency mean you rarely get tossed out of office. You have the job for four years, it looks great on a resume and it can lead to decent pension.
But, every now and then, a political firestorm lands in your path that you can't duck, explain away or run from.
On those occasions, lawmakers have to squirm, suck it up and cast a vote likely to anger just as many folks back home as it pleases. Sometimes, more folks back home are watching than usual.
On Tuesday, six Democratic senators - all of whom are up for re-election next year - will have to cast such a vote. They must decide to listen to the pleas of their party's first-term governor, Jim Doyle, or to some angry taxpayers back home.
All 33 senators - 18 Republicans and 15 Democrats - will have to vote on whether to override Doyle's veto of the Republican plan to control property taxes with tight spending limits on local governments.
It would take 22 senators - all Republicans and at least four Democrats - to override the governor's veto. And, if the Senate voted to do so, the full Assembly would have to do likewise.
So far, two Democratic senators - Jeff Plale of South Milwaukee and Tim Carpenter of Milwaukee - have said they will vote to override or are leaning that way. Seven Democrats say they'll vote to uphold the veto or are leaning toward doing so.
That means the fate of the GOP plan to "freeze" property taxes rests with the six Democratic senators who either say they are undecided or won't comment on the issue: Gwen Moore and Gary George of Milwaukee; Roger Breske of Eland; Chuck Chvala of Madison; Dave Hansen of Green Bay; and Julie Lassa of Stevens Point.
Since the six won't say how they plan to vote and what political pressures they face, here's a look at why they could go either way.
4th District: Gwen Moore Why she would back Doyle's veto: As a political favor, since Doyle just vetoed the bill she opposes the most that would have required voters to show a photo ID before casting a ballot. As thanks for all the time Doyle has spent in Milwaukee during his first seven months in office. To protect Milwaukee Public Schools, whose leaders have said the GOP limits would take the state's largest district closer to bankruptcy. Because of fears that limiting local tax levies would cut vital police, fire and emergency services in her urban district.
Why she would vote to override: Because her district includes some of the poorest homeowners in the state, who would be helped by spending limits on local governments. Because Milwaukee homeowners are starting to pay more attention to the property tax issue.
6th District: Gary George Why he would back Doyle's veto: As a peace offering to Doyle, who will be governor for 31/2 more years. To protect MPS, its students and teachers, who could be a force in any recall election held to oust George. Because of concerns that limiting local government tax levies would force cuts in police, fire and emergency services vital to his constituents.
Why he would vote to override: Because of a growing political chasm between him and Doyle, who criticized and vetoed Milwaukee pork-barrel projects added to the state budget in exchange for George's vote for it. To continue anti-Doyle stances that include voting to limit the governor's right to negotiate new gambling deals on tribal casinos. Because high property taxes, and any vote he casts to not keep them in check, could become one more damaging issue in a recall election.
12th District: Roger Breske Why he would back Doyle's veto: Because of a precedent set earlier this year, when Breske could have voted to override Doyle on the governor's authority to negotiate new casino deals but was talked out of doing so by the governor. Because anger of homeowners in his rural northeastern Wisconsin district is not as organized as it is in southeastern Wisconsin, so his personal political risk is not as great. Because of his loyalty to the majority of his fellow Senate Democrats, who will back the governor.
Why he would vote to override: Because his district elected Republicans from the 1950s until 1990, which means widespread homeowner anger could threaten his re-election in 2004. May want to show he won't be co-opted by Madison-based governor on every tough vote. Represents one of the poorest districts, so his low- and middle-income homeowners will be pinched harder by rising property taxes than in suburban areas.
16th District: Chuck Chvala Why he would back Doyle's veto: Because he dislikes Republicans slightly more than Doyle, who called on him to be dumped as Senate Democratic leader after Chvala was charged with extortion and shaking down lobbyists last year. His political future is dim, so Chvala needs to keep Dane County Democrats happy if he has to find a new career. Because of fears that the GOP plan would unfairly limit booming Dane County communities and school districts.
Why he would vote to override veto: Because he can't get over his dislike of Doyle for calling for him to be removed as Senate Democratic leader last year.
24th District: Julie Lassa Why she would back Doyle's veto: Just elected to Senate, Lassa may not want one of her first major votes to pick a fight with a new governor. May want to go along with majority of her fellow Senate Democrats. Like Breske, homeowner anger in her central Wisconsin district over property taxes may not be as widespread as it is in southeastern Wisconsin.
Why she would vote to override veto: As political payback, since Doyle did all he could to elect her opponent in spring Democratic primary election. She may want to signal that she can be independent, not co-opted by the governor - even one of her own party. Because a special election to fill her old Assembly seat was almost won by a Republican who backed controls on local government spending, so political winds back home may be shifting on that issue.
30th District: Dave Hansen Why he would back Doyle's veto: As assistant Senate Democratic leader, he has an obligation to support his party's governor. A popular Doyle at Hansen's side could be an asset in a 2004 re-election bid. Goes along with labor leaders, who support Doyle on this issue and whose union members could be helpful in 2004. As a former elected local official, Hansen understands how the GOP plan would handcuff local officials.
Why he would vote to override: Represents one of the most competitive Senate districts, which was represented by a Republican from 1993 to 2000, and widespread homeowner anger over property taxes could be a fatal blow to his re-election in 2004.
From the Aug. 11, 2003 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Just as a reminder, the fun start in the state Senate chamber at 10 am tomorrow, and if the Senate overrides, the Assembly is expected to immediately vote as well. I'll be there and hope that both houses override Tuesday (in no small part because I'm leaving on vacation on Wednesday).
So do I. We can't recall most of the tax-increasers until January 6, 2004; but if they don't override, it will be the Winter of Recall Tour starring Jim (Grey Craps) Doyle and a heap of state legislators.
I'd bet Gary George votes with the GOP.
I hope so, but AFAIK nobody's asked that yet.
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