I did it – did you?

I recently asked people to check with their local politicians, on how they feel about Governor Walkers “budget repair” bill. I sent the following letter to all elected officials in Cottage Grove(Mike Mikalsen, David Viken, Diane Wiedenbeck, Paula Severson, Duane Hubing, Micah Zielke, Jeff Weigand and David Wiganowsky along with the town of cottage grove elected officials and the Monona Grove School Board).

Governor Walker has proposed a radical undemocratic bill at the end of the day on Friday and is wanting it passed as soon as possible. As you are aware this bill would take away individual and local community rights to bargain in good faith with all public employees. It would also drastically reduce the salaries of many of our neighbors, family and friends. The domino effect it will have on our local businesses and economy will be drastic.

The Governor has instructed representatives not to meet with constituents and people of Wisconsin are having to protest to be heard. As a local official, who represents Cottage Grove can you please articulate your position on this bill? As a voter, citizen and taxpayer of Cottage Grove, can you please tell us where you stand.

I received the following responses.

Village trustee and presidential front-runner Diane Wiedenbeck: I think you know where I stand. I do not support Gov. Walker’s bill. I have family who fit into your first paragraph and it is more than just money. It is lack of participation in the process, a complete change in Wisconsin ’s government and putting the burden on the people who work hardest for their money. I am hurting for the future of Wisconsin.

Village Trustee Dave Viken: Your questions would be better answered by your local State Representative. As Trustee, I have no say in the Governors bill, and do not feel it is my place to commit on it. It is my responsibility to consider the implications of the bill, should it pass, and there is a board meeting tonight to discuss just that.

Village Trustee Micah Zielke: Thank you for your message. I believe there are many contributors to the state’s budget woes, caused both by Republicans and Democrats both acting fiscally irresponsible year after year. It is time to create a truly balanced budget that protects the financial future, stability and sustainability of Wisconsin. There are many ways to accomplish a balanced budget, and all require sacrifice. There needs to be an evaluation of needs vs. wants in what our state government provides in services. Collectively as taxpayers within the state we cannot continue to support the current overall spending levels. We need to right size our governmental financial operations in order to truly balance our budget.

I realize I have not answered your specific questions below as they are very narrow in focus. I feel the state budget is a complex priority that our state elected politicians (both Republicans and Democrats) need to tackle in an effort to truly balance the budget.

Town Chair Kris Hampton: NOT IN FAVOR of it.

Town Supervisor Mike Fonger: I am for the Governor’s Bill.

Town Supervisor Mike Duplayee(who linked my letter with another constituents): First of all, let me assume that you are both residents of the Township for which I serve. If you are not and just someone looking for a quote, well … keep looking but elsewhere, please.

This is my personal opinion, not something that was decided by the Board or even discussed amongst the members of the town Board. That being said … what did you expect after he (Mr. Walker) was elected?

I did not support Mr Walker for Governor nor will I support this type of government via ‘playground rules’. (I.e. If you don’t play nice … then I am taking my ball home!).. you suggest that this “cost” shouldn’t be born by working Wisconsinites?!? Then I might want to ask you this question … just who do you think is going to pay for all of the past foolishness and past government involvement? The people of some other state/county/area? That hardly seems fair does it?

I served this area for 6 years previously as a School Board member for Monona Grove. I know the problems all School Board are facing right now! This situation has been in the works for years and years!

Whew! I hope that I haven’t discouraged you from being involved! I think that the more we become involved, the less we’ll have to complain about! It’s really how we all decide to COMPROMISE! These situations are not going to magically disappear overnight … they have been building for years. I’d like to discuss the issues if you are available. Please contact me at 839-4216 and we can chat. I ‘m sorry if you expected something more … I’m just a small fish trying to survive in a worldwide sea of very large sharks …. I serve the people on a local level I don’t have a whole lot of say in what goes on. I’m still responsible to make sure that we plow the roads in the winter and try to fix them all summer; and all within an ever-dwindling budget, just trying to weather through a very trying time!

I hope this answer helps!

Finally from our Monona Grove School Board President Susan Fox, actually took a leadership role and responded this way: In order to issue a statement, in accordance with Wisconsin’s Open Meetings law, our Board would need to hold a posted, public meeting to discuss and come to some consensus on the issue. We have not done that, and I am currently in Arizona until Friday (flew in last Sunday, for a visit planned long before all of this broke). I sent a message to more than two dozen legislators yesterday and sent the same message to staff members today. It is printed here:

Speaking personally as a school board president in a district which does not have a settled contract with our teachers, I urge you to defeat the bill proposed by Governor Walker. The extreme nature of these proposals will damage the working relationships among teachers, administrators, and board members, and thus harm students. Speaking specifically of my own school district, they will undermine current efforts to pursue innovation in which many of our teachers have been engaged. These proposals show no respect for teachers or any other public servants in stripping away long-held rights to bargain. Other than the hearings held on Tuesday, there has been no public, thoughtful communication with stakeholders–no meaningful attempt to gather input– on these proposals. There has apparently been no thought given to unintended negative consequences for schools or the economy, many of which will be far reaching.

The fast track movement of this bill shows disdain for the democratic process. Please vote to defeat this bill.

Everyone else felt that they did not owe me, as a taxpayer and constituent an answer. Luckily for transparency in government, someone else asked also and they shared their answers with me.

Appointed Village President Mike Mikalsen(whose “boss” gladly voted for the “budget repair” bill): Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. According to various media accounts, our two state officials (Rep. Hebl and Sen. Miller) have announced their opposition to the proposed Budget Repair Bill.

As a local official, my job is to prepare for the changes that must be made in operations and our local budget in the event that Governor Walker’s proposal becomes law.

Paula Severson (fails to mention she is a registered lobbyist): With all due respect, what does it matter what I think? I don’t have a vote on this issue. The people who will decide this are in the State Senate and State Assembly. If you need the contact information for them, I’m happy to send that to you.

To be honest with you, I’m focusing my time and attention on the things that I do have control over at the local level like keeping our streets safe. I spend 10-20 hours a week on village board related matters – mostly emergency service related issues. That’s time away from my family that is virtually unpaid. I care about making my community a better place to live and work and that’s where I stand.

If the citizens of Cottage Grove want us to focus on issues like this one (that we have no vote on) rather than focus our time and attention on the issues in our own neighborhoods, I think that would be a huge disservice to everyone. Personally, I’d rather focus my time making sure that when you dial 911 in your greatest time of need, a police officer, firefighter, or EMT shows up at your door.

There are some people that wish to use this as a political tool to hurt those at the local level that they don’t like or may not agree with and that’s unfortunate because someone like me, I just ran the board to make Cottage Grove a better place for my 4 year old daughter to live. I want a clean, healthy, beautiful, safe community for her and all of the other kids to grow up in. That’s what I’ve focused on and what I will continue to focus on during my time on the board.

Village Trustee Duane Hubing: If you still live at —————– as public records suggest, you are a resident of the Town of Cottage Grove not the Village. Can you please verify your current address?

I and others did it, now it is your turn,  ask your own candidates how they feel. Are they willing to put their views on record? If not, why not? If you want to share your responses, send them to me and I will post them! Let us not be surprised by the Scott Walker’s of the world anymore and make sure we know EXACTLY who we are electing.
Over 200 elected officials have taken the lead and spoken out against this bill, why not yours?

PS: The next questions might be, how do you feel about the Governor’s budget and his intrusion on local control? If you think giving up local control is ok, why are you running? If you get an answer (good, bad or indifferent) and want to share it send it to me and I will. Election day is April 5th, 2011!

UPDATE:  Was given this response from Paula Severson, regarding the Glenn Grothman Video(emphasis mine):

A Democratic State Rep. (Brett Hulsey) had to come out and put his body in between him and Senator Grothman to protect him.   This is a constant and common occurence going on up there right now.

 

Not only will she not give her opinion as to her support or not of the “budget – repair” bill, she feels the need to blatantly mislead her constituents on the events at the capitol.     I truly believe that if there were more honesty coming from the right, we could sit down and come up with agreeable, common sense solutions to solve all of our crisis.  Unfortunately the dishonesty has started at the top and has now worked its way down to local government.