Is Bipartisanship now considerded a political flaw for state lawmakers?
MADISON: On June 2, 2010, the Appleton Post Crescent published an editorial, “Bipartisanship becoming political flaw.”
Here is a portion of the Editorial:
The public typically likes the word "bipartisan." It doesn't like fighting between parties — especially when it takes over debate and gets in the way of Madison or Washington getting things done for us.
We say we like it when both sides work together for the public good, even if that has to include a compromise sometimes.
But what we say and how we act and vote are growing apart. Increasingly, moderates from both the Republican and the Democratic parties are losing power. Increasingly, just working with the "other party" poses political risks. -- Appleton Popst Crescent. ""Editorial: Bipartisanship becoming political flaw, June 2, 2010.
The editorial inspired me to write the following, which was submitted to the Post-Crescent but not published, so here it is, revised for this venue:
As a longtime medical marijuana advocate and frequent Capitol visitor, I personally have observed how bipartisanship has withered away in the state legislature.
As recently as 2005, moderate Republicans including former Reps. Rick Skindrud (R-Mt. Horeb) and Gregg Underheim (R-Oshkosh) held hearings and even sponsored and cosponsored bills. This session, with Democrats back in control of both Houses for the first time since 1993, Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature stood firm against the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act, with only one GOP Assembly representative willing to consider voting for something that 75-80% of state residents support. With narrow majorities in both houses, Democrats, not as unified in support as the Republicans were in opposition, were unable to muster the votes needed to get the JRMMA out of committee.
This happened despite the efforts of thousands of Wisconsinites who wrote, called, and met with their state lawmakers to request their support. These people, many seriously or chronically ill, found out the hard way that democracy does not work the way it was presented in their high school civics class. Many of these people had never before contacted their state lawmakers about any issue.
That at least 23 state lawmakers are not seeking reelection this fall is a hopeful sign. The turnover may actually inspire some bipartisanship among younger new members. .
When lawmakers fail to lead and come together and find the compassion to allow veterans, seniors, sick, disabled and dying a remedy now legal in 14 states and Washington DC, something is broken. The benefits lost go beyond pain relief. We only need to look across the border to Michigan to see all the new jobs and taxpaying businesses their medical marijuana law has created.
Had the Legislature reflected the bipartisan support of constituents it claims to represent, Wisconsin would already be reaping the benefits of legal access to medical cannabis. Instead, patients are still suffering and at risk, unemployment remains high, and states like South Dakota and Arizona are poised to become the next medical marijuana states. That is pretty sad for a state once touted as being progressive. Will we ever return to the time when parties actually reached across the aisle for the common good, not to poke the other party in the eye?
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