Make Wisconsin work for the people

Joe believes that our economy must work for everyone and will put that belief into practice in the Assembly. Joe knows that counties are underfunded resulting in not enough public safety and resources to fight the meth epidemic. He will fight for adequate funding for school districts so that they will not have to resort to referendums for budget shortfalls. The current Legislature congratulates itself on a multi-billion dollar budget surplus while counties cut health programs, cities reduce spending on parks and streets, and school districts turn to stressed property taxpayers to fund basic education. Economic justice means fairness in taxation. Arguably, there is no fairer tax than a graduated income tax and no more repressive tax than a property tax. 

Keep our environment safe and clean

Joe supports measures to clean up, protect, and preserve our land and waters. It is basic to economic development, a healthy citizenry, and has impacts for the sustainability of our very way of life. Research shows that Western Wisconsin needs to increase our skilled workforce, and young workers are attracted to a quality physical and social environment. Our healthcare system is already stressed and environmentally related health conditions must be reduced and their effects mitigated.

Personal Freedom

There are sacrifices we all make for the good of society and many of them are mandated by law and others we do as if “no one is watching.” We obey speed limits and pay our bills.  But there are ares of personal freedom that are guided by one’s own religious, moral, and social conscience where government has no need or right to intervene. Same-sex marriage, abortion rights, trans-gender medical care; these are not within the appropriate role of government and Joe will work to keep them personal, as they are and should be.

Freedom from the threat of gun violence

“Not everyone should have a gun.” The statement is so obviously true and such common sense as to be inarguable.  But it is a statement no member of the majority party dares say. Joe believes that there are common sense actions that we can take that will make us safer from random gun violence without infringing on the basic 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. It will take someone with the ability to work across the aisle to accomplish any safety legislation but it can be done, and Joe is the one to do it.

Experience Integrity Independence