2006.09.27: September 27, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Cameroon: Journalism: Speaking Out: The Capital Times: Margaret Krome writes: Green helps Republicans, but Doyle helps Wisconsin

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Cameroon: Special Reports: Cameroon RPCV and Columnist Margaret Krome: 2006.09.27: September 27, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Cameroon: Journalism: Speaking Out: The Capital Times: Margaret Krome writes: Green helps Republicans, but Doyle helps Wisconsin

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-188-148.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.188.148) on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 - 9:04 am: Edit Post

Margaret Krome writes: Green helps Republicans, but Doyle helps Wisconsin

Margaret Krome writes: Green helps Republicans, but Doyle helps Wisconsin

"Doyle came into office facing state budget deficits of more than $3 billion and has been willing to make unpopular budget decisions to correct the problems created by his predecessors' profligacy. His willingness to take tough actions to bring the state's fiscal house into line is a character issue of the highest order. It's not fun pushing against countless interests, but he has taken the heat in the interest of doing the right thing for the state's economy." Journalist Margaret Krome served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon.

Margaret Krome writes: Green helps Republicans, but Doyle helps Wisconsin

Margaret Krome: Green helps Republicans, but Doyle helps Wisconsin
By Margaret Krome

You'd think the two candidates for Wisconsin governor were running for state treasurer, based on how the contest's media coverage has been dominated by money and campaign funding issues. Perhaps this emphasis will die down with the recent court decision against Mark Green's use of congressional campaign dollars in this race, but likely not.

Some pundits think that these "character issues" work in Governor Doyle's favor. I disagree, but not because they make him look bad. Rather, they work against him because they obscure the campaign's genuine and important character issues by diverting the public's attention from the actual voting and leadership records of the two candidates.

U.S. Rep. Green has used his position as a member of Congress to follow, not lead. When the Republican leadership in Washington pushes for a bill's passage, he's reliably their man, even if it disadvantages Wisconsin. Thus, on the extremely restrictive Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006, he voted with the majority, despite objections from state farmers and other businesses, as well as immigrants.

Though only the wealthiest 1 percent of the population pays any estate tax at all, and though repeal of the estate tax would cost roughly $1 trillion over 10 years, Green voted with the majority to pass the Estate Tax and Extension of Tax Relief Act.
Margaret Krome: Green helps Republicans, but Doyle helps Wisconsin
AP Photo/ Morry Gash
Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, right, and Republican challenger Rep. Mark Green.

He voted in favor of the budget reconciliation bill last winter that undercut the interest of senior citizens, students seeking higher education, low-income children, farmers and the vast majority of Wisconsin's residents. It was, of course, a priority of the Republican leadership, and so he voted against the state's interests.

In contrast, Doyle came into office facing state budget deficits of more than $3 billion and has been willing to make unpopular budget decisions to correct the problems created by his predecessors' profligacy. His willingness to take tough actions to bring the state's fiscal house into line is a character issue of the highest order. It's not fun pushing against countless interests, but he has taken the heat in the interest of doing the right thing for the state's economy.

In the past decade of writing this column, only twice have I championed candidates. In both cases, I wrote unprompted and without their knowledge. Once again, for this column, I did not consult with the Doyle campaign. While I could be criticized for bias in writing this column, since I was appointed by the governor to the state Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, I decided to do so anyway one afternoon in August precisely while I sat at an Agriculture Board meeting.

We were listening to staff reports on the extraordinary accomplishments of programs instituted by Agriculture Secretary Rod Nilsestuen and his department. I suspected that few outside of that room could know the enormous vision and dedication that is yielding exciting results.

Did you know that for the first time in years, Wisconsin dairy farmers are producing more, not less milk? We have 8,000 more cows, more specialty cheese plants and more dairy plants. It's not an accident, but due to several initiatives, such as the dairy tax credits promoted by this administration, the department's Value-Added Dairy Initiative, and Nilsestuen's willingness to tackle tough issues. He has brokered broad-based panels to work through knotty problems like livestock siting, farmland preservation, agricultural education, and ways to support livestock production in the state.

Campaign finance issues do matter. But it's time to focus on who has created a strong vision and worked across partisan and ideological lines to advance Wisconsin's interests. Governor Doyle's impressive track record contrasts sharply with the ideological and partisan voting record of his opponent, and this should form the basis of our votes.

Margaret Krome of Madison writes a semimonthly column for The Capital Times. She was appointed by Gov. Doyle to the state's Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. E-mail: mkrome@inxpress.net
Published: September 27, 2006





When this story was posted in October 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:


Contact PCOLBulletin BoardRegisterSearch PCOLWhat's New?

Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps Date: September 23 2006 No: 996 Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps
Senator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments.

Top Stories and Breaking News PCOL Magazine Peace Corps Library RPCV Directory Sign Up

The Peace Corps Library Date: July 11 2006 No: 923 The Peace Corps Library
The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory or leave a message on our Bulletin Board. New: Sign up to receive our free Monthly Magazine by email, research the History of the Peace Corps, or sign up for a daily news summary of Peace Corps stories. FAQ: Visit our FAQ for more information about PCOL.

He served with honor Date: September 12 2006 No: 983 He served with honor
One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

September 12, 2006: This Month's Top Stories Date: September 12 2006 No: 984 September 12, 2006: This Month's Top Stories
John Coyne writes: The Lion in the Garden 12 Sep
John McCain says: We passed up an opportunity after 911 12 Sep
Jody Olsen speaks at Headquarters about 911 11 Sep
Bill Moyers Returns to Investigative Reporting 8 Sep
Boating Accident kills two PCVs in Mali 7 Sep
Director Vasquez bids Farewell to Washington 7 Sep
James Rupert writes: Pact reached with pro-Taliban forces 6 Sep
Carol Bellamy to speak at Global Risk Conference 5 Sep
New trial ordered for Jerry Mark in murder case 2 Sep
Ken Hill to step down as NPCA Chairman 1 Sep
Clintons, Gearans dine at resort 1 Sep
'Chris Matthews' Turns 5 31 Aug
Taylor Hackford thinks Chuck Berry is a pain in the ass 31 Aug
John Kefalas alleges dirty tactics in house race 30 Aug
DRI receives Charity Navigator's highest ratings 29 Aug
Kris Holloway writes "Monique and the Mango Rains'' 28 Aug
Richard Celeste writes: Watch Out For Voting Day Bugs 28 Aug
Donna Shalala boosted UM's image 27 Aug
Leonard Robinson devoted his life to the underserved 24 Aug
Phil Hardberger will run for re-election in 2007 24 Aug
Snakes on the Plain - the black mamba 23 Aug
Eunice Kennedy Shriver still going strong 20 Aug

Meet Ron Tschetter - Our Next Director Date: September 6 2006 No: 978 Meet Ron Tschetter - Our Next Director
Read our story about Ron Tschetter's confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that was carried on C-Span. It was very different from the Vasquez hearings in 2001, very cut and dried with low attendance by the public. Among the highlights, Tschetter intends to make recruitment of baby boomers a priority, there are 20 countries under consideration for future programs, Senator Dodd intends to re-introduce his third goal Peace Corps legislation this session, Tschetter is a great admirer of Senator Coleman's quest for accountability, Dodd thinks management at PC may not put volunteers first, Dodd wants Tschetter to look into problems in medical selection, and Tschetter is not a blogger and knows little about the internet or guidelines for volunteer blogs. Read our recap of the hearings as well as Senator Coleman's statement and Tschetter's statement.

Chris Shays Shifts to Favor an Iraq Timetable Date: September 2 2006 No: 971 Chris Shays Shifts to Favor an Iraq Timetable
In a policy shift, RPCV Congressman Chris Shays, long a staunch advocate of the Bush administration's position in Iraq, is now proposing a timetable for a withdrawal of American troops. How Mr. Shays came to this change of heart is, he says, a matter of a newfound substantive belief that Iraqis need to be prodded into taking greater control of their own destiny under the country’s newly formed government. As Chairman of the House Government Reform subcommittee on national security, he plans to draft a timetable for a phased withdrawal and then push for its adoption. A conscientious objector during the Vietnam War who said that if drafted he would not serve, Chris Shays has made 14 trips to Iraq and was the first Congressman to enter the country after the war - against the wishes of the Department of Defense.

Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance Date: August 19 2006 No: 964 Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance
The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again Date: July 31 2006 No: 947 The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again
The LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

Support the US-Peruvian Trade Pact Date: July 20 2006 No: 930 Support the US-Peruvian Trade Pact
Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, the Peace Corps President, has been lobbying both Democratic and Republican legislators to support the US-Peruvian trade pact before July 28, when his term ends and a US congressional recess begins. If President Bush fails to get approval before Congress goes on recess, it will be a case study proving that the United States does not reward its friends. Please call your representatives.

PCOL readership increases 100% Date: April 3 2006 No: 853 PCOL readership increases 100%
Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

History of the Peace Corps Date: March 18 2006 No: 834 History of the Peace Corps
PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.


Read the stories and leave your comments.






Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: The Capital Times

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Cameroon; Journalism; Speaking Out

PCOL34619
13


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: