Wisconsin State Representatives

Benedict has voted well on the issues that concern his constituents, such as ethics, campaign and health care reform.

See the State Elections Board and new candidates HERE

On the issues - 2008 (See the legislator's 2006-2007 position on health care, ethics and campaign reform below)

On the issues - 2007 (See the legislator's 2006 position on health care, ethics and campaign reform below)

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.

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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.)

Benedict: My educational background and training is in physics and medicine; my life has been one of service: as a teacher, a physician, and now as representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly. I am focused on affordable and accessible healthcare, excellent schools for our children, a healthy economy that provides good-paying jobs, and a clean environment in which to work and live. Among my first term accomplishments, I co-authored the Wisconsin Health Security Act, supported the Governor’s plan to make Wisconsin a leader toward energy independence, and sponsored the “Clara Health Bill” extending Medicaid benefits to those living in assisted living facilities.

On the issues

Incumbent's record on Ethics Reform: Good

Bill - SB1 (5/2/06 Sequence 662) aD+

The Issue

How Assembly Voted

Your Representative

Senate Bill 1 - Establish a Government Accountability Board

Introduced by Mike Ellis (R) in the Senate and
Terri McCormick (R) in the Assembly

It was killed by the Assembly Republicans.

This was a vote on whether to bring the ethics bill to the floor and allow a complete up-or-down vote. By voting against an open floor vote the legislators effectively killed the bill and did not have to go on record as officially opposing ethics reform.

Media coverage at MSP, Milwaukee, Madison, Madison

Caveat: Some Republicans were allowed to vote in favor of this reform bill because their vote was not needed to kill it and they were in unsafe seats with a challenger.

Proponents claim: This bill would establish an independent ethics commission to oversee the state legislature and governor.

See www.wisdc.org

Defeated by a vote of 51 to 45
(2 not voting).

Voting for reform:

R = 7

D = 38*

Voting to block reform:

R = 51

D = 1

See entire assembly roll call vote here and the senate roll call here.

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* Incumbent voted FOR bringing SB1 to the floor for a vote (this was the vote preferred by reform advocates)

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Opponents claim: It is too intrusive, requiring the disclosure of personal finances.

(Isn't that what ethics is all about? How can they legitimately vote on an issue without disclosing any conflicts of interest?)

Republicans voting to pass to the floor for a vote: Almers, Davis, Hines, Lasee, McCormick (sponsor), Ott, and Pettis

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.

Incumbent	Incumbent Web Page	Personal Web Page	Who funds the incumbent?
Chuck Benedict (D)	Chuck Benedict		Follow the Money

2008 Challenger	Challenger Website		Contact
Mike Hahn (R)			430 Harrison Avenue, #305 Beloit, WI 53511

Assembly, District 45	Question 1	Question 2	Question 3	Question 4	Question 5	Question 6
Chuck Benedict (Democrat) (I)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Profile Page

District #45 - Chuck Benedict (D)