MONROE - What would two Democratic gubernatorial candidates do to change Wisconsin, after more than a year under Republican Gov. Scott Walker?
State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) and Peter Bock, representing Kathleen Falk, addressed about 40 citizens Tuesday at a forum sponsored by the Democratic Party of Green County at the Monroe Public Library. Monroe attorney Bob Duxstad served as moderator.
Vinehout and Falk are seeking the Democratic nod in the primary May 8 for a place on the ballot against Gov. Scott Walker in the June 5 recall election. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Secretary of State Doug Follette, who are also running in the Democratic primary, were invited to the forum but did not attend.
Vinehout said she would change the signs coming into the state from "open for business" to "open for everyone," a symbolic gesture "to heal the division among us" and seek common ground, she said.
Falk would start by putting money back into education and then proceed in incremental steps to undo the damage Bock said Walker has caused in many areas with his state budget. "Go after what you can get and then another and another," said Bock, who is Falk's husband.
Vinehout, one of the Democratic senators who left the state in February 2011 in protest over Walker's budget, said there was no financial crisis when Walker took office.
"The debt has actually increased since the governor has been in office," she said, countering Walker's recent statement that the state debt and deficit were gone.
"Inside the budget," she added, "was the largest single debt payment postponement in the history of Wisconsin."
Vinehout advocates for a "fresh start." If elected governor, Vinehout said she would be a leader who follows Wisconsin's laws, adhering to its open meeting and open government laws, and one who listens to and does the will of the people.
Bock said Falk's experience both as Dane County executive for the past 14 years and previously as a public intervener in the Department of Justice point to her ability to bring together different segments of society.
Wisconsinites want a decent job, good education for their children, health care when they need it and natural resources to use when they need to relax, Bock explained.
"Walker does not share these values," he added, pointing to Walker cutting educational funding, eliminating people from Medicaid, pulling back laws that protect air and water, as well as to the state's loss of jobs.
The state "lost jobs every single month of last year," Bock said.
"His (Walker's) way is the wrong way," Bock continued, indicating the court orders that overturned some of the Republican's bills, including the voter ID law and legislative redistricting.
Vinehout's fresh start platform involves four additional planks. She said the state needs a "fairly funded" educational system and "respect for our educators." The health care system needs to be fixed so that farmers, small business owners and private insurance buyers have the same advantages as big companies, she added.
Vinehout wants to "bring the state into the 21st Century, with broadband access, high-speed rail, and alternative energy, and to incorporate a respect for the environment "unto the seventh generation."
Falk would invest in education, health care and restore collective bargaining. Falk was a union member during her years working as an attorney, and then saw the other side of union bargaining as Dane County executive, Bock said. He highlighted the labor unions that have endorsed Falk.
"Do not end 50 years of labor peace," Bock said.
"The unions were ready to give up wages and benefits," he said, "but that wasn't good enough; Walker wanted to destroy the (collective bargaining) mechanism."
Democrats are looking at a chance to "make history," Bock concluded, "by throwing Walker out."
If they succeed, Walker would be only the third governor in the United States to be recalled.
"There is a Renaissance of democracy, which I don't think the state has seen in a hundred years," Vinehout said.
According to Duxstad, a recent poll has Walker's approval rating at 47 percent, with a disapproval rating at 47 percent and undecided at 6 percent. While Democratic candidates may be vying for the undecided 6 percent, Duxstad said, the final vote for governor in June may depend more on what the polls don't show.
"Who's passionate enough to get to the polls and who goes to the polls June 5?" he said.
State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) and Peter Bock, representing Kathleen Falk, addressed about 40 citizens Tuesday at a forum sponsored by the Democratic Party of Green County at the Monroe Public Library. Monroe attorney Bob Duxstad served as moderator.
Vinehout and Falk are seeking the Democratic nod in the primary May 8 for a place on the ballot against Gov. Scott Walker in the June 5 recall election. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Secretary of State Doug Follette, who are also running in the Democratic primary, were invited to the forum but did not attend.
Vinehout said she would change the signs coming into the state from "open for business" to "open for everyone," a symbolic gesture "to heal the division among us" and seek common ground, she said.
Falk would start by putting money back into education and then proceed in incremental steps to undo the damage Bock said Walker has caused in many areas with his state budget. "Go after what you can get and then another and another," said Bock, who is Falk's husband.
Vinehout, one of the Democratic senators who left the state in February 2011 in protest over Walker's budget, said there was no financial crisis when Walker took office.
"The debt has actually increased since the governor has been in office," she said, countering Walker's recent statement that the state debt and deficit were gone.
"Inside the budget," she added, "was the largest single debt payment postponement in the history of Wisconsin."
Vinehout advocates for a "fresh start." If elected governor, Vinehout said she would be a leader who follows Wisconsin's laws, adhering to its open meeting and open government laws, and one who listens to and does the will of the people.
Bock said Falk's experience both as Dane County executive for the past 14 years and previously as a public intervener in the Department of Justice point to her ability to bring together different segments of society.
Wisconsinites want a decent job, good education for their children, health care when they need it and natural resources to use when they need to relax, Bock explained.
"Walker does not share these values," he added, pointing to Walker cutting educational funding, eliminating people from Medicaid, pulling back laws that protect air and water, as well as to the state's loss of jobs.
The state "lost jobs every single month of last year," Bock said.
"His (Walker's) way is the wrong way," Bock continued, indicating the court orders that overturned some of the Republican's bills, including the voter ID law and legislative redistricting.
Vinehout's fresh start platform involves four additional planks. She said the state needs a "fairly funded" educational system and "respect for our educators." The health care system needs to be fixed so that farmers, small business owners and private insurance buyers have the same advantages as big companies, she added.
Vinehout wants to "bring the state into the 21st Century, with broadband access, high-speed rail, and alternative energy, and to incorporate a respect for the environment "unto the seventh generation."
Falk would invest in education, health care and restore collective bargaining. Falk was a union member during her years working as an attorney, and then saw the other side of union bargaining as Dane County executive, Bock said. He highlighted the labor unions that have endorsed Falk.
"Do not end 50 years of labor peace," Bock said.
"The unions were ready to give up wages and benefits," he said, "but that wasn't good enough; Walker wanted to destroy the (collective bargaining) mechanism."
Democrats are looking at a chance to "make history," Bock concluded, "by throwing Walker out."
If they succeed, Walker would be only the third governor in the United States to be recalled.
"There is a Renaissance of democracy, which I don't think the state has seen in a hundred years," Vinehout said.
According to Duxstad, a recent poll has Walker's approval rating at 47 percent, with a disapproval rating at 47 percent and undecided at 6 percent. While Democratic candidates may be vying for the undecided 6 percent, Duxstad said, the final vote for governor in June may depend more on what the polls don't show.
"Who's passionate enough to get to the polls and who goes to the polls June 5?" he said.