Gov. Doyle's time has come
Republican candidates in gubernatorial race offer viable alternatives
Baldovin, Jeff
Issue date: 3/6/06 Section: Editorial/Opinion
It is an election year, and the gubernatorial race is already heating up. In the polls, Gov. Jim Doyle is trying to hang on to his political life. Scandals, financial mismanagement and imprudent policy decisions are plaguing his administration.
For those of you who do not know, the governor of Wisconsin wields one of the most powerful veto pens in the country. Not only can he veto bills sent to his desk by the legislature, he has the unique ability to line-item veto sentences and words from the state biennial budget. This means that the governor has a wide range of flexibility, and can transfer monies from one fund to another with the stroke of his pen.
Gov. Doyle has used his veto pen quite creatively, and in turn, has cast Wisconsin into a fiscal mess, with a real state deficit of $1.7 billion (GAAP).
Simultaneously, while claiming to be a friend of the UW System, Gov. Doyle has cut the System in the last two budgets, forcing students to pay a 55-percent increase in tuition during the last four years.
It is most unfortunate that he has supported massive tuition increases under his reign, and is putting college education out of reach for many Wisconsin families. He has the ability to shift money into the System - instead he has chosen to cut it. Most people know enough about Jim Doyle, so let me introduce you to two fine candidates who will run against each other in a primary this fall, before facing off with Gov. Doyle in the general election.
Congressman Mark Green is a current U.S. Representative from the 8th district of Wisconsin in Green Bay and is a former UW-Eau Claire Blugold.
He graduated in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in political science and English, and was an All-American swimmer.
He then attended UW-Madison and earned his law degree. After graduating from law school, Green moved to Kenya to work as a teacher with the World Teach Program.
In 1997, he was inducted into the Blugold Hall of Fame. In 2003 he was nominated and received the Distinguished Alumni Award. Before becoming a member of Congress, Green was elected and served as a Wisconsin assemblyman in the state Legislature.
For those of you who do not know, the governor of Wisconsin wields one of the most powerful veto pens in the country. Not only can he veto bills sent to his desk by the legislature, he has the unique ability to line-item veto sentences and words from the state biennial budget. This means that the governor has a wide range of flexibility, and can transfer monies from one fund to another with the stroke of his pen.
Gov. Doyle has used his veto pen quite creatively, and in turn, has cast Wisconsin into a fiscal mess, with a real state deficit of $1.7 billion (GAAP).
Simultaneously, while claiming to be a friend of the UW System, Gov. Doyle has cut the System in the last two budgets, forcing students to pay a 55-percent increase in tuition during the last four years.
It is most unfortunate that he has supported massive tuition increases under his reign, and is putting college education out of reach for many Wisconsin families. He has the ability to shift money into the System - instead he has chosen to cut it. Most people know enough about Jim Doyle, so let me introduce you to two fine candidates who will run against each other in a primary this fall, before facing off with Gov. Doyle in the general election.
Congressman Mark Green is a current U.S. Representative from the 8th district of Wisconsin in Green Bay and is a former UW-Eau Claire Blugold.
He graduated in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in political science and English, and was an All-American swimmer.
He then attended UW-Madison and earned his law degree. After graduating from law school, Green moved to Kenya to work as a teacher with the World Teach Program.
In 1997, he was inducted into the Blugold Hall of Fame. In 2003 he was nominated and received the Distinguished Alumni Award. Before becoming a member of Congress, Green was elected and served as a Wisconsin assemblyman in the state Legislature.