Kramer vs. Jones, the correction website

State Representative Bill Kramer, in response to Ruth Page Jones' last-minute campaign mailers, has put up a special page on his website correcting the falsehoods in Jones' mailed hit pieces. I think the hardest-hitting attack she has used is the $400,000 the Waukesha School District had to raise taxes last year because of the state budget battle delay. Kramer goes into a lengthy explanation in response:

Her assertion:
"For example, my opponent stood by and did nothing while the last state budget raised Waukesha school taxes by $400,000 to provide a $2 million rebate to Brookfield taxpayers."
Reality:
It's not that I did nothing; the compromise budget was a bad deal. I voted against it. It borrowed too much, spent too much, relied on transfers and gimmicks - including the theft of money from the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund - and relied on revenue projections that didn't consider the current economic downtown. By September, most of us knew that those projections were not going to hold up. The budget passed in October.

When we passed the GOP budget in July, the numbers were more reliable. We didn't rely so heavily on the levy credit, whereas the final compromise that passed included all the profligacy of the Senate Democrats necessitated that more dollars be routed into the levy credit versus the equalization aid calculations.

Again, I voted against that budget, in part, because the way Waukesha schools were treated under the compromise.

With regards to Ms. Jones' demagoguery on school funding, I find it ironic that she would point to Brookfield that receives 15% in equalization aid while Waukesha gets 49% (and that somehow Brookfield's tax relief is unfair), and Milwaukee gets 85% of its budget funded by state taxpayers (which, according to Ms. Jones must be simultaneously unfair to Milwaukee).

The funding formula that she claims is broken ostensibly works like Barack Obama's tax plan - it is redistributive in nature and is grounded in a "from each, to each" mechanism. It meets the constitutional mandate for equalized spending across school districts.

The point being, that any change to the formula will hurt Waukesha and its neighbors to the benefit of Milwaukee. Milwaukee and property-poor rural districts have enough legislators, they don't need her complicity.

I would have just said that if Jones was really concerned about how much the Waukesha School District had to spend because of the state budget delay, she should re-direct her fire to state Democrats that wanted to raise taxes, including the state senate that wanted to double taxes for "Healthy Wisconsin."

Voted most likely not to get the Chamber of Commerce endorsement

Democratic state assembly candidate Ruth Page Jones must not have thought much of the Waukesha Chamber of Commerce. Her campaign is either completely out of typing paper or they filled out the Chamber's questionnaire over a couple of lattes at Sprizzo's.


I'm surprised they didn't answer in crayon. (Click on the pictures to see full-size.)


Does this mean she really did not want their endorsement? Didn't care?

My favorite is question four:

4. Taxes and spending: The state budget historically experiences ever increasing structural deficits, and growing expenditures.
a. Being specific, how would you bring the state budget back into balance?
(Jones, handwritten) Grow the economy by investing in growth industries + rebalance taxes.

How's that for specifics?

State Representative Bill Kramer's answers are also on-line.

Virtual schools and the 97th assembly district

In a race with real clear philosophical differences, Ruth Page Jones really had no reason to drag virtual schools into the 97th Assembly campaign. I made a bold prediction in my Waukesha Freeman column this morning. I said,

So we all agree that virtual schools are important to the students enrolled, to the entire Waukesha School District and even the entire state educational system. Then how is it productive for the Democratic candidate for the state assembly to complain about the time spent by Waukesha’s representative to the Assembly defending Waukesha’s IQ Academy?

Perhaps instead of attacking Kramer for supporting virtual schools Jones could spend her time attacking her fellow Democrats for their efforts last year to destroy this important piece of the educational system. Perhaps it would have been more appropriate for her campaign literature to call upon the governor and the Democrats to lift the enrollment caps they imposed last year and allow this great educational experiment to flourish.

In a campaign with such clear philosophical differences between Jones and her opponent there really is no excuse for this type of attack when the only purpose could be to stir up animosity through misinformation and misdirection.

I predict Jones will learn on Nov. 4 the voters of Waukesha have higher standards than this.

Democrats worry about healthy electoral chances instead

Remember "Healthy Wisconsin?" Even Democrat Ruth Page Jones in the 97th Assembly district is not campaigning on it. In their latest newsletter, Wisconsin Club for Growth tries to explain what happened to Healthy Wisconsin.

Jumping Ship

Healthy Wisconsin was supposed to be the centerpiece of the 2008 election. That’s why Democrats, public employee unions and other liberal special interests banded together last year to advocate for the $15 billion government run health care plan. They promoted the plan at public forums statewide and organized a campaign to get advisory referenda in support of government guaranteed healthcare on the ballot in 20 Wisconsin communities.

Healthy Wisconsin passed the Democratic State Senate on a strict party line vote last year, but as details of the plan came to light, State Senators in swing districts started backing away from the plan which was ultimately stripped from the budget by the Republican Assembly.

Both the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau and The Wisconsin Legislative Council issued memoranda stating that the plan would cover illegal immigrants. People who do not work or live in Wisconsin would also qualify for coverage in many cases.

In recent weeks, candidates who previously expressed support for Healthy Wisconsin are now jumping off the bandwagon like rats from a sinking ship. As their opponents and independent issue groups educate the public about their support for the plan, these candidates have engaged in an all out effort to deny facts, destroy evidence, and discredit their critics. To that end, candidates have gone as far as to remove or alter information posted on their campaign websites, complained bitterly to the mainstream media about untrue attack ads, and tried to intimidate television and radio stations into pulling advertising from the airwaves.

See some recent examples of Assembly Democrats distancing themselves from the plan here.

It’s quite obvious Assembly candidates are jumping off the Healthy Wisconsin bandwagon in the final weeks of the election. The real question is why Assembly leaders ever allowed them to get on board in the first place. Perhaps this is why the Democrats’ buddies on the Government Accountability Board are looking to silence political speech – telling the truth about candidates’ positions on Healthy Wisconsin hurts the cause of a Democratic majority in the Assembly. Maybe issue advocacy really does affect, um, issues.

Last night's debate trivia

The Waukesha Freeman covers most of it. Between traffic and parking I was a half-hour late. Pretty good since I only found out about 1 1/2 hours before. Press releases must be a thing of the past.

Things of note:
1) If you had no idea who was the Republican and who was the Democrat in the room, it would not have taken you long to find out. There was a clear difference in philosophy.

2) Ruth Page Jones is not a comfortable public speaker.

3) Sixty seconds is really too short for an answer.

4) The cookies and lemonade in the back of the room were pretty good. Booze and hot sandwiches would have increased turnout.

5) Look Bill! An event away from the Country Springs hotel!

6) Waukesha Freeman editor Bill Yorth is still tall, handsome and extremely smart. (suck up - check)

7) Mayor Larry Nelson fashion report: orange Crocs with orange shirt. Halloween is coming.

8) Republican Bill Kramer's table was handing out Democrat Ruth Page Jones' education mail piece. No, really.

9) Ruth Page Jones had more supporters there. The college kids liked Bill Kramer.

A note from the Kramer camp

I received the following update yesterday from the Kramer campaign:

Just to update you... Kramer finished knocking doors in all wards - about 16k, excepting a few apartments/condos/businesses. He has started over, but obviously he won't be able to do them all again. Probably another ward or two before he'll sit down and start personally calling supporters and undecideds. By the end of the day tomorrow, we'll have about 500 signs out (plus 37 3x5s) with another 200 that need to go out when the next order is in (I know, yard signs don't vote...).

So if you're waiting on your yardsign, it's on order.

I really don't want to hear about who-stole-whose signs.

Candidates out for a walk

Beautiful day outside to get some yard work done. Also probably the last really nice weekend for candidates and their volunteers.

In the 97th Assembly District, Ruth Page Jones was out again with clipboard in hand, this time in my neighborhood. She stopped by minutes after the Kramer campaign dropped off a yard sign for my wife.

Jones told me she's only had about three difficult doors since she started the campaign. She had volunteers out last week, and she has mailings coming out in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, Kramer's volunteers are out with the list of yard signs and checking it twice. We'll check on Kramer's progress a little later.

In a recount, it's Ruth Page Jones by a nose

Town of Waukesha attorney Steve Schmuki conceded the race in the 97th Assembly District after a partial recount did not reveal any counting errors. The primary election winner, Ruth Page Jones, sent out the following press release:

September 18, 2008

Waukesha, WI, “I want to thank the Waukesha County Clerk’s office, the Board of Canvassers for their professional assistance in the primary recount. I would also like to thank my primary opponent Steve Schmuki, who fought a good, clean campaign.

I’m ready and excited to move forward into the general campaign.

I am eager to prove to the voters, that I am best choice to bring needed change to Madison and work on the issues that matter most to the people of the 97th Assembly District; the economy, heath care and education.”

My own analysis of the remainder of the race, including the delay caused by the recount, appeared today in the Waukesha Freeman. Still just two quarters!

Everybody lawyer up

The Waukesha Freeman reports on Ruth Page Jones' hiring of election law attorney Mike Maistelman and notes at the end, "Schmuki said he will soon also hire a lawyer."

I spoke with someone close to incumbent Bill Kramer's campaign, and was assured that Kramer is not seeking a recount on the Republican side. However, Kramer's campaign continues with him knocking on doors this weekend (I think he starts on the id'ed Democrats this weekend) and some volunteer activities.

As soon as we have a schedule of the fun activities to take place in Kathy Nickolaus' office, we'll post them right here.

So here's a question. If the voter started to draw a line on an arrow but did not complete the line, is it a vote? What if it's only half way?

Ruth Page Jones hires Mike Maistelman

Ruth Page Jones is taking no chances in the recount in the 97th Assembly District Primary. This morning the Wigderson Library & Pub has learned her campaign has hired Mike Maistelman of Maistelman and Associates for the recount.

Maistelman is probably most known for his role in getting the state elections board to rule against Congressman Mark Green during Green's race against Governor Jim Doyle in 2006.

Hiring Maistelman is a serious commitment of resources by Page Jones to ensuring her nine-vote victory margin in Tuesday's Democratic Primary election stands.

Schmuki to seek recount

The Associated Press is reporting Steve Schmuki is seeking a recount after initial returns showed him losing by nine votes. (Ht: commenter J. Gravelle).

Ellen Morris-Gutierrez, Schmuki's campaign manager, says she's heard from some voters that they were given absentee ballots from the wrong wards.

She says the campaign has many questions and a recount is the way to find the answers.

I think at nine votes a candidate is pretty much obligated to ask for a recount on behalf of his supporters, and I suspect there will be no bad feelings among the Democrats as a result.

I think a recount is in order

Assembly Dist. 97 (Dem) REPORTING 100%
Ruth Page Jones 645 50%
Steve Schmuki 636 50%

With only nine votes separating them, I think there's going to be a recount.

97th Assembly Update

Ruth Page Jones is sending out a last minute mailer with an endorsement from Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson. I haven't seen it yet, so I don't know what color Crocs he's wearing.

Maybe if WEAL (Schmuki's organization) hadn't been such a thorn in the mayor's hide, the mayor might have stayed out of the race.

Meanwhile, back in the 9-7

The things I do for my readers. I even attend Democratic Primary candidate forums.

Fox Head analyzes my analysis in the Waukesha Freeman (well worth his fifty cents) and summarizes,

Understanding that they are in a Republican district, one would expect more pop and sizzle. Instead we are getting more of the Democratic rhetoric - Tax, Spend, and stupid domestic policy.

Journal Sentinel endorses Ruth Page Jones

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel endorsed Ruth Page Jones over Steve Schmuki in the 97th Assembly District primary. They say it was a tough choice.

Schmuki also gained from the editorial:

We were impressed with Schmuki, 54, when he ran against Kramer two years ago, and we remain so today. An attorney, he has been active on environmental issues and has served as president of the Waukesha County Environmental Action League. He and Jones are very close on most issues, and Schmuki would bring a moderate and articulate voice to the Legislature.

That ought to fit nicely on the campaign lit.

Both candidates were at a candidate forum sponsored by Sophia last night, the only meeting so far in the campaign. I'm surprised the local Democratic Party hasn't sponsored a forum in an effort to crank up the enthusiasm for the two candidates. My thoughts on the two candidates and the forum last night will appear in tomorrow's Waukesha Freeman, well worth the fifty cents.Technorati Tags: Ruth Page Jones, Schmuki, Waukesha Freeman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 97th Assembly District

Nomination Paper challenge updates

I received the following note from Mike Leon**, a leftwing blogger supporting (but not a paid employee of) the assembly campaign of Pedro Colon. On Sunday, I mentioned the challenge to Colon's nomination signatures as part of our "Idiot Politician of the Week" feature.

Jim,

Colon submitted almost 300 signatures.

The challenge is coming from Robert Miranda's people (though the candidate, Laura Manriquez, is the candidate).

I think the only idiot when this is all said and done is going to Robert Miranda (huge surprise there) and Manriquez.

Miranda is a freaking nut.

Mike (Leon)

We'll continue to watch the challenge.

Meanwhile, another attorney* Mike Maistelman, the election law expert on the Democratic side, has been retained by State Senator Spencer Coggs in his fight against an "anonymous" complaint challenging Coggs' nomination papers. Maistelman's response to the complaint is that it cannot be filed anonymously, and that the complaint cannot be corrected for that defect because we are past the deadline for filing a sworn complaint.

The complaint is reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to have been dropped off by former State Senator Tom Reynolds and Coggs' Democratic primary opponent.

Maistelman also has hired a handwriting expert, Bonnie Schwid, supposedly hired by the complainant. This complaint gets its first test (and likely last) on Wednesday.

Reynold's candidate Nicholas Cosey is also facing being bumped off the ballot.

The State Senate Democratic Committee has filed a similar challenge against Cosey, alleging that 36 of his 404 signatures came from people who don't live in the Senate district, and that one is from an invalid address. The SSDC complaint includes an affidavit from City of Milwaukee Election Commission Deputy Director Neil Albrecht confirming the charges.

Finally, an update on Ruth Page Jones, a candidate in the Democratic primary in the 97th Assembly district. Wait a second, I have to cue the intro.

An Exclusive Wigderson Library & Pub 97th Assembly District Update: That's better. There was a question on Ruth Page Jones' organizational strength after she turned in only 237 nomination signatures. It was then pointed out that she turned in supplemental signatures the day they were due. I have since learned she submitted 24 additional signatures, probably just enough to keep her off the challenge block. Looks like she collected many of them herself.

Her opponent in the primary, attorney Steve Schmuki, turned in the maximum 400 signatures, as did the Republican incumbent Bill Kramer.

*All these Democratic attorneys, you'd think the trial lawyers are part of the Democratic Party's main constituencies.

** Mike Leon is not an attorney. I regret the error.

Keeps you running

A Wigderson Library & Pub 97th Assembly District Update:



Perhaps Ruth Page Jones is not as organizationally ready as previously thought. Only 237 signatures, one of them Mayor Larry Nelson's. Her nomination signatures were almost low enough to get her petitions challenged. She better hope her teacher supporters are not all on extended summer vacations.

Incumbent Bill Kramer turned in the maximum number needed. Not surprising since he is already knocking on doors at a faster pace than two years ago.

Also interesting is attorney Steve Schmuki's intention to seek public financing for his campaign.

Campaign finance reports are due 7/21. Should be interesting.

Meanwhile, independent Thomas Russ will not be on the ballot, as predicted.

see Update: 7/10/08

And then there were two

A Wigderson Library & Pub 97th Assembly Update exclusive:

Just got word from the Waukesha Democratic Party that Roger Danielsen, the disgraced... etc., etc., will not be running for state assembly. The two candidates in the 97th Assembly District Democratic Primary will be attorney and environmental activist Steve Schmuki, and Democratic activist and educational tax-hike activist Ruth Page Jones.

No official reason was given to me, but clearly Danielsen would have been at a severe disadvantage facing the other two. His only hope was Republicans crossing over to vote for him to cause mischief*. Danielsen's efforts looked more like an effort to redeem his tattered reputation than to mount an effective campaign.

I'll have an updated analysis of the race between Schmuki and Jones on Monday.

(*Must tell the lovely Doreen from Waukesha to put away the Danielsen yard sign.)

Republican Bill Kramer announces for re-election

Another 97th Assembly District update. Here is Kramer's press release:

Representative Bill Kramer to seek re-election
to 97th Assembly District seat

Pledges to continue fighting for
tax relief, government reform, safe communities

Waukesha – Representative Bill Kramer has submitted 400 signatures to the Government Accountability Board to have his name placed on the November ballot as he seeks re-election for the 97th Assembly District.

Kramer, first elected in 2006, is a 1994 graduate of Duke Law School and lifelong resident of Waukesha. He is also founder and owner of Kramer Financial Management and a registered Certified Public Accountant. He provides investment advice to help clients plan for retirement and college expenses and offers tax preparation services.

“With the anxiety Waukesha’s families have over the current economic downturn, I am committed to ensuring that government growth is held in check. Just as families throughout Wisconsin are tightening their belt, so should state government. We should control spending and seek broad-based tax relief to help grow our economy,” remarked Kramer.

As the co-author of the Competitive Marketplace Act, legislation that would repeal the state’s law that requires a minimum price markup on gasoline, and prohibits $4 prescription drugs from being sold at large retail outlets, Representative Kramer understands that government regulations can only add to the challenges facing Waukesha residents every day. This outmoded law hurts seniors and places Waukesha’s businesses at a competitive disadvantage with other states.

“We need to reform how government operates. We need to bring transparency so that everyday people can see how government spends their money and feel confident it is being spent effectively. People work too hard to have their tax dollars squandered on pork projects and costly, uncompetitive employee benefits,” said Kramer.

Kramer authored legislation that would have created a first-of-its-kind website that would allow Wisconsin residents to track state spending on all expenditures over $100. Additionally, he co-sponsored legislation that would have brought transparency to legislative earmarks – specific projects inserted into spending bills that benefit a sole legislative district and are often wasteful.

“I believe that the cost of government employee healthcare is putting a real strain on local government, especially our schools. We need to continue fighting to bring the cost of these benefits in line with the taxpayers ability to pay,” continued Kramer.

Kramer has been an outspoken advocate for AB 110, a bill that would have allowed local government and school boards to change healthcare plans and free them from the burdens of these traditionally and chronically expensive plans for their employees. Legislation like AB 110 would have an immediate and appreciable effect on school budgets, freeing up dollars that can go to expanding educational opportunities for Waukesha students. AB 110 was recently endorsed by the Waukesha School Board.

Between now and November, Representative Kramer will be knocking on doors and meeting voters to listen to their concerns about their jobs and the economy, excessive and unaccountable government spending, and safe communities.

Bill Kramer explains his vote on the state budget fix

Another 97th Assmbly update. Steve Eggleston at No Runny Eggs has an interview with Waukesha's Bill Kramer explaining his vote against the budget fix compromise. The interview took place at the Republican state convention this past weekend in Stevens Point.