Hintz & Roessler in Forum

According to TalktoTony.Blog, the following event is scheduled for 2/11/08 at 6:30pm at UW Oshkosh:

What Ever Happened to Good Government in Wisconsin? How Can We FIX it?

Monday, February 11, 2008 6:30–8:00PM

Room 227C – Reeve Memorial Union – UW Oshkosh

1748 Algoma Blvd - Oshkosh, WI

Panelists:
State Senator Carol Roessler – (R-Oshkosh)
State Representative Gordon Hintz – (D-Oshkosh)
Professor James Simmons – UW Oshkosh Political Science Dept
Professor Tony Palmeri – UW Oshkosh Communication Dept / Oshkosh Common Council
Kathy Propp – League of Women Voters of Wisconsin
Jay Heck – Executive Director of Common Cause in Wisconsin

Moderator: Alex Hummel – Editorial Page Editor of The Oshkosh Northwestern

SPONSORS: COMMON CAUSE IN WISCONSIN, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF OSHKOSH AREA, UW-OSHKOSH POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT, AARP, WISCONSIN ALLIANCE OF RETIRED AMERICANS, AND THE UW-OSHKOSH POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION

For more information: http://www.commoncause.org/wi or call Scott Colson (608) 256-2686

Hintz on Budget

From Hintz's website:on October 23, 2007:

Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) issued the following statement following tonight’s passage of the 2007-2009 State Biennial Budget by the Wisconsin State Assembly:

“The Republican Leadership decided that the best way to compromise was to borrow, use one-time funding, and accounting gimmicks to fund ongoing programs. There are important programs in this budget that deserve state support, but these programs require reliable revenue sources.”

“The current Legislature has dug a hole for the next budget by returning to Thompson-era style budgeting I campaigned against. It is no longer acceptable to vote for irresponsible budgets that fund expanding programs with one-time and potentially declining revenue.”

“I worked hard to make sure this budget includes funding for the UW-System and the first phase of the Growth Agenda, a six-year plan that will be meaningless if we can’t sustain our state’s commitment in future budgets. Starting the next budget with an estimated $892 million structural deficit in an uncertain economy makes the challenge that much harder.”

“I am hopeful state government can identify savings in this biennium that can be used to reduce our future debt.”

The 2007-2009 budget includes a $25,000 aquatic invasive species grant to treat weeds in Miller’s Bay as well as a $25,000 grant for neighborhood improvement, both which utilized existing state program funding.

“While the state continues to turn its back on cities like Oshkosh with no increase in shared revenue and unreasonable attacks on local control, I felt it was important to find other ways to secure funding for these important projects for Oshkosh.” ###


Gordon, the criticism of the Republican leadership speaks in generalities. Although you may be right, it would be more interesting to know what specific proposals you opposed and why. After all, you were only 1 of a few Dems who opposed the final budget, despite it including these things you state you fought for. Unfortunately, if you did provide this type of in-depth look into your positions and reasoning, you'd probably be the only state rep doing it.

Kaufert and School Start Dates

According to an AP story on 11/30/07, freshman Republican Jim Ott of Mequon wants to remove the 2000 law that prevents schools from beginning before September 1.

The move to eliminate this law is supported by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards as well as, according to Ott, many school superintendents.

According to the article:

If Ott wants a hearing on the bill, he will get one, said Tourism Committee Chairman Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah. But Kaufert said he didn't expect the idea to get much support.

"I don't hear an outcry from people," he said. "I
thought this was pretty much behind us."

The original bill in 2000 strikes me as a "Big Gov in Madison excessively sticking its control hand into local communities" law. What makes one think that a rep in Madison from, say, Neenah, knows what is best for a local community education system in Milwaukee or Bayfield when it comes to a start date for the school year.

I would hope that communities would be able to work together to determine what works best to facilitate a healthy economy while serving the educational needs of the children. It seems that the current law does not allow this to happen. If so, then the proposal to allow communities and school districts to determine what serves them best would seem to make the most sense.