Editor's note: The editorial board spoke with Tammy Baldwin and Chad Lee, candidates to represent the 2nd Congressional District. The following is the majority view of the editorial board, which consists of General Manager Carl Hearing, Editor Mary Jane Grenzow and News Editor Gary Mays.
A decade ago, some thought the first woman from Wisconsin elected to Congress would become Madison's Congresswoman: A liberal Democrat, there to serve only Madison liberals and their interests.
Yet Baldwin - we've discovered over the five terms she's represented us - is no ideologue, and knows her away around the back roads of southern Wisconsin. Serving an urban and rural Congressional District covering Columbia, Dane, Green, Jefferson, Rock, Sauk, and Walworth counties, she has been visible, in touch with her constituents, and highly effective on their behalf.
She handily wins the endorsement of The Monroe Times, over opponent Republican Chad Lee, 27, whose only concerns, it seems, are the deficit and spending. And even on those issues, he was less than articulate with us on how he would enact such policies, and even how those policies would provide jobs for Wisconsin.
"In many ways, I think he's riding the wave of 'I'm just not an incumbent,' Baldwin said of her young opponent.
We agree. And we keep hearing this again and again this campaign season.
By contrast, when it comes to the defining issues of the day - jobs and the deficit - Baldwin doesn't offer throwaway lines or simplistic solutions. She has an impressive knowledge of and speaks eloquently on all the issues facing the Second Congressional District. She advocates smarter government that's less about special interests and more about our nation's interests. She boasts of being an enemy to Washington lobbyists at a time when it seems nearly impossible to keep your seat and turn a blind eye to the campaign cash rushing in to the place.
Baldwin points out that she voted for two balanced budgets during her first term in Congress. We have no doubt she would relish the chance to cast another vote for a balanced budget. But she's right that the recession has been longer and "far deeper" than any since the 1930s. It will take time to climb back out. In the meantime, Baldwin touts innovative measures to get banks lending again, such as tax incentives and "micro loans" for new entrepreneurs whose old jobs, unfortunately, may never come back again.
She also has been a very strong advocate for seniors, women - and any American without health care. Indeed, health care is a defining issue for Baldwin, and she has been a tireless advocate for reform in Washington.
Baldwin serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Judiciary Committee. Still, her decade-long tenure in Washington hasn't made her numb to the realities of government action back home. She acknowledges, accurately, that "public policy is a blunt instrument" with unintended consequences and costs. That's just the kind of principled but pragmatic lawmaker Baldwin has revealed herself to be.
Finally, we ought to mention that during The Monroe Times round of candidate endorsement interviews, Baldwin was the only candidate to look us in the eye and ask us for our endorsement. On the campaign trail, she seeks votes the same way, and can be seen listening to Republicans and fellow Democrats alike.
A decade ago, some thought the first woman from Wisconsin elected to Congress would become Madison's Congresswoman: A liberal Democrat, there to serve only Madison liberals and their interests.
Yet Baldwin - we've discovered over the five terms she's represented us - is no ideologue, and knows her away around the back roads of southern Wisconsin. Serving an urban and rural Congressional District covering Columbia, Dane, Green, Jefferson, Rock, Sauk, and Walworth counties, she has been visible, in touch with her constituents, and highly effective on their behalf.
She handily wins the endorsement of The Monroe Times, over opponent Republican Chad Lee, 27, whose only concerns, it seems, are the deficit and spending. And even on those issues, he was less than articulate with us on how he would enact such policies, and even how those policies would provide jobs for Wisconsin.
"In many ways, I think he's riding the wave of 'I'm just not an incumbent,' Baldwin said of her young opponent.
We agree. And we keep hearing this again and again this campaign season.
By contrast, when it comes to the defining issues of the day - jobs and the deficit - Baldwin doesn't offer throwaway lines or simplistic solutions. She has an impressive knowledge of and speaks eloquently on all the issues facing the Second Congressional District. She advocates smarter government that's less about special interests and more about our nation's interests. She boasts of being an enemy to Washington lobbyists at a time when it seems nearly impossible to keep your seat and turn a blind eye to the campaign cash rushing in to the place.
Baldwin points out that she voted for two balanced budgets during her first term in Congress. We have no doubt she would relish the chance to cast another vote for a balanced budget. But she's right that the recession has been longer and "far deeper" than any since the 1930s. It will take time to climb back out. In the meantime, Baldwin touts innovative measures to get banks lending again, such as tax incentives and "micro loans" for new entrepreneurs whose old jobs, unfortunately, may never come back again.
She also has been a very strong advocate for seniors, women - and any American without health care. Indeed, health care is a defining issue for Baldwin, and she has been a tireless advocate for reform in Washington.
Baldwin serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Judiciary Committee. Still, her decade-long tenure in Washington hasn't made her numb to the realities of government action back home. She acknowledges, accurately, that "public policy is a blunt instrument" with unintended consequences and costs. That's just the kind of principled but pragmatic lawmaker Baldwin has revealed herself to be.
Finally, we ought to mention that during The Monroe Times round of candidate endorsement interviews, Baldwin was the only candidate to look us in the eye and ask us for our endorsement. On the campaign trail, she seeks votes the same way, and can be seen listening to Republicans and fellow Democrats alike.
