FightingBob.com’s editor and publisher asks the candidates for chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin where they stand on 14 issues.
Party questions
By
Ed Garvey
(FightingBob.com's editors invite Joe Wineke and Jeff Rammelt to respond to this letter and will post their responses as articles if they do.)
Dear Joe Wineke and Jeff Rammelt,
Friends. I have run for statewide office as the nominee of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin (DPW) so I think I know something about the party and what it is like to run for office. The questions I am posing to you are not intended to embarrass you but rather to find out where you stand on issues and policies. I hope you will honor the FightingBob.com audience with thoughtful responses.
1. Are you committed to the re-election of our current Democratic officeholders including governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general?
*If any of the above Democratic office holders are challenged in the primaries, what would your response be?
*Would you offer assistance to challengers?
2. Should Wisconsin adopt term limits for constitutional offices? If so, should eight years be the limit or should there be some other limit?
3. Do you believe in full public financing of state elections? And, if so, will you demand that Governor Doyle, Lieutenant Governor Lawton and Attorney General Lautenschlager call for this fundamental reform?
4. Do you believe in an independent Public Service Commission and would you support legislation to bar the revolving door policies between the utilities and the PSC?
5. Do you support having the non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau following the Iowa example of drawing district lines to promote competition instead of incumbent protection?
6. Did you support the so-called “Job Creation” bills? If so, why?
7. Do you support the re-establishment of the Public Intervener? Why do you think the governor has not acted on this proposal?
8. Do you support an independent DNR?
9. Wisconsin taxes are regressive. Are you in favor of repeal of some tax breaks for the wealthy, the banks, and the corporations? If yes, which ones?
10. Recently, Congressman Ron Kind and Senator Herb Kohl deserted working families by supporting and voting for the new bankruptcy bill supported by banks and credit card companies. Should they be asked to explain their position at the Democratic Convention or do we just grin and bear it?
11. Is there a role for a party platform, and, if so, should office holders be expected to live with it or explain why they must deviate from it?
12. What plans do you have to bring Greens, progressives, and young people into the Democratic Party?
13. Governor Doyle is committed to eliminating 10,000 state jobs. Do you support his view?
14. Should work now performed by public employees in such areas as the lottery, engineering, and others be outsourced?
April 24, 2005
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Ed Garvey is editor and publisher of FightingBob.com.
