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District #51 - Stephen Freese (R)

Wisconsin State Representative

(Freese is one of the major reasons for this web site. Party loyalty is more important to him than constituent loyalty.)

As Speaker Pro Tempore, Representative Steve Freese was serving as the Assembly's presiding officer on May 2, 2006 when three other Republican "ethics" bills were debated and Democrat Mark Pocan attempted to attach SB1 to them. Freese ruled in each case that the amendments were not germane, which of course was ridiculous. The Republican bills passed without SB1 attached. That's what ethics is all about in the Republican party, and in Steve Freese's mind in particular.

Freese is the "non-reformer's reformer." He supports reform to a point, which the people and the press tend to like. But then he votes against it when it looks like it really is going to pass. He sponsored AB226, a bill to provide 35% public funding of elections, which in itself falls way short of a full loaf. And he reported it out of his Campaigns and Elections committee, likely knowing full well that Gard had no intentions of scheduling it for a floor vote. But he got the kudos without having to deal with the moment of truth. 

As well, it was Freese who slipped the poison pill into the bill which caused much angst amongst the assembly Republicans who killed the bill. Even Freese voted against his own bill!!!

Had the provision requiring local government officials to disclose their personal assets not been inserted into this state ethics bill, SB 1 may have passed handily. But thanks to Freese it didn't and we continue in the race to the bottom. Freese is not working on behalf of his constituents, and should be the first legislator to bite the dust.

Challenger	Challenger Web Page	Occupation	Contact
Steve Hilgenberg (D)	SteveHilgenberg.com	Dodgeville Businessman	mayohil@chorus.net (608) 935-9300 3607 Evans Quarry Road Dodgeville, WI 53533 (608) 935-3509

For a list of all candidates for state office go the State Elections Board and click on "All Candidates Registered."

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Who won the Fall 2006 Government Ethics Voter Guide Questionnaire distributed by League of Women Voters, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and Common Cause? See all survey questions at the WDC web site. (I) = Incumbent

(Many of those who did not reply simply do not want to go on record as supporting reforms they know they will vote against, and do not want to be held to their word. Others will say Yes and not mean it, or will vote as dictated by their party. It is up to constituents to hold their representatives to their word.)

Assembly, District 51	Question 1	Question 2	Question 3	Question 4	Question 5	Question 6
Steve Hilgenberg (Democrat)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Stephen J. Freese (Republican) (I)*	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

* Why would Steve Freese not get an equal rating? Because his past votes in the legislature totally discredit his answers.

Hilgenberg: Reforming state elections finance laws and the ethics issues associated is the key to restoring confidence in government. Without this reform, we will be unable to confront health care and school funding. Steve Freese had an opportunity but failed when he voted against advancing SB1.

Freese: My priorities for the next session are to continue to support and fully fund SeniorCare prescription drug program for our elderly. Also to support and fully fund BadgerCare that helps low income households get health care. I will continue to push for the elimination of income taxes on pensions and to push for two-thirds funding of our K-12 schools to lower our property tax burden and provide more adequate funding. I will help create a Government Accountability Board that will oversee and ensure compliance with Wisconsin’s election, campaign finance, Lobby and ethics laws. I would additionally like to create an Office of Inspector General that will root out corruption, waste, fraud and abuse in state government. The Inspector General would be able to initiate investigations, issue subpoenas and file criminal and civil charges in state courts.

On the issues

Note that during this same week, the majority and in some cases all, legislators voted yes on three no-brainer minor ethics bills -- and some even sent out newsletters proclaiming how great the act was. But what really mattered was SB1, the mother of all ethics reform which would have established an ethics commission independent of the state legislature it would be overseeing. Your representative voted AGAINST this more conclusive bill, which meant that even violations of the three no-brainers would not have faced tough scrutiny. Those voting against SB1 like things just as they are, requiring virtually zero accountability on the part of politicians.

In another action, the Assembly approved by a 96-0 vote identical measures to [shorten] the legislative session -- to July 12, from December. The end of the session is significant because state law bars lawmakers from accepting donations during the session. Lawmakers also cannot ask lobbyists to bundle donations from their clients during that period. Now they can do both beginning July 13.  

 

Incumbent's record on Ethics Reform: Bad

From WDC: What's most notable about the three roll call votes is that several Republican members – including two considered politically vulnerable and likely facing tough reelection fights, Brett Davis of Monroe and Mark Pettis of Hertel, who originally voted to take up SB 1 – voted three times against making SB 1 part of the GOP "ethics reform" bills. Pettis is one of the Jensen 10 who were implicated during the former Assembly speaker's trial. All of the Jensen 10 voted consistently to block approval of SB 1.

Many politicians refuse to answer the questions in the Project Vote-Smart solicitation because they don't want voters knowing where they stand on the issues! They like being able to fudge and evade when being asked about an issue, and having it on record and posted on the web is the last thing they want. Especially when it can be compared to their voting record while in session.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters Rated Incumbent at 27% acceptance

Conservation Scorecard on your state representative at: http://www.conservationvoters.org/scorecard/sc04_asm_name.shtml    See also incumbent's committee scorecard at: http://www.conservationvoters.org/votetracker/