State lets veterans have their therapy dogs

 UPDATE: Wow! That was fast! Rep. Cory Mason tells us that late this afternoon the rules were changed, and the vets will get their dogs back. Mason's office was called by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, and told that the Department of Administration has agreed to allow registered therapy dogs back in the veterans homes.

 Original post:

Let dogs back into vets' home, say area legislators

Three Racine  legislators called on the state today to quickly change a new policy banning dogs at two state veterans' homes.

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs  recently stopped allowing animals in the two state-run veterans homes because it is against state regulations. The WDVA has asked the state Department of Administration to grant an exemption to allow therapeutic animals inside these veterans homes.

The use of therapy dogs is common in many nursing homes. Research has shown that these visits can decrease loneliness and improve some residents’ quality of life.

Sen. John Lehman and Reps. Cory Mason and Bob Turner, who represent residents at the Veterans Home at Union Grove, sent a letter today to DOA urging quick approval of this exemption request, so dog visits can resume.

“Visits from these dogs are not only therapeutic, but also provide a comfort of home to residents who owned dogs before moving to the Veterans Home,” Lehman said.

“Our veterans have given everything to serve our country. The least we can do is afford them the comfort found by man’s best friend,” said Mason.

 “As a veteran myself, I felt it important to ask the DOA to expedite the request from WDVA and allow these visits to residents to continue,” said Turner.

Chris Wright kicks off legislative campaign

Chris Wright, a Sturtevant Village Trustee for the past three years, kicked off his campaign for the State Legislature Monday, with a meet-and-greet at Mike and Angelo's.

Chris Wright with a fervent supporter, daughter Bria, 5

Wright, 33, is director of admissions for a non-profit post-secondary school in Union Grove for adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities. He holds a bachelor's degree in Christian studies, with a minor in sociology, from Kentucky's Campbellsville University.

A Republican, he is running for the 62nd District Assembly seat held for the past four years by Democrat Cory Mason. One reason he's running, Wright says, is that "communication between state and local officials is one-way," and he cites the Regional Transit Authority issue as an example. "I don't feel KRM benefits the people of Sturtevant," he says. "Logistically, to drive to where the station will be in Racine, and then ride to Milwaukee ... well, I could drive the whole way in the time that would take."

He's also opposed to the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority -- "an appointed board with taxing authority." Would he ever favor KRM? "If it could pay for itself," he says, adding, "This is not a great time for the added burden this would create."

He's a Brewers fan, but he's not a fan of the stadium tax, either. "And that's just been extended," he notes. "It's hard to find a way that benefits Racine County." And, "Then there's the cellphone tax, that's been added to landlines..." Speaking of politicians in general, he adds, "You just can't trust what they say."

Three issues he'd champion are:

• -- Fiscal responsibility: He'd like to improve the way government budgets, "to make it more forward-looking."
• -- Integrity: "I want to be able to lower taxes, but it's not going to happen overnight." He says the Village Board "has made every effort to be fiscally responsible."
• -- Business climate: "I want to find ways to improve the business climate." He cites a recent survey of 651 company chief executives that ranked Wisconsin 42nd of all 50 states. A few years ago, the state was ranked 26th. "When it comes to taxes and regulation, there are only three states ranked lower."

He said he would like to work with Rep. Robin Vos, the new governor and local leaders to find ways to improve the business and financial climate." He concedes that accomplishing that "is not my background," but says he would "find people with the expertise."

Wright was accompanied at his campaign kickoff by his wife, Mary -- today was their 7th wedding anniversary -- and their two children, daughter Bria, 5, and son, Luke, 3.

Follow Chris Wright on Facebook.

Doyle signs Mason's 'Green to Gold' loan fund into law

 Gov. Doyle at signing today; Rep. Mason second from left

Gov. Jim Doyle today signed into law Senate Bill 651, which creates a so-called "Green to Gold" revolving loan fund. The $100 million in state and federal funds will be available at low interest to Wisconsin industries wishing to lower their energy costs, make "green" products and create and retain jobs.

“My top priority has been and will continue to be helping businesses create jobs and giving our workers the opportunities to get those jobs,” Doyle said at the UW-Milwaukee bill signing.

The bill, written by Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, and Sen. Julie Lassa, D-Stevens Point, authorizes the Department of Commerce to make loans to manufacturing businesses to adopt energy efficiency measures, retool to manufacture green products, expand or establish domestic clean energy manufacturing, and create or retain jobs in this sector.

Mason said, “This is a huge win for Wisconsin’s struggling manufacturers, for workers, and for the environment. The Green to Gold fund is a smart use of existing resources, and will leverage our state’s manufacturing base and high-skilled workforce to put people back to work, creating clean energy products.”

Mason said he'd heard from manufacturers around the state that they wanted to make their facilities more energy efficient, "but funds are scarce, and it’s hard to get financing these days. The Green to Gold fund addresses this need."

Chris Wright to kick-off Assembly campaign May 17

Chris Wright will formally kick off his campaign for the 62nd Assembly District seat now held by Cory Mason on Monday, May 17. The event, free and open to the public, will be held at Mike and Angelo’s, 6214 Washington Ave., from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

“I’m excited about beginning the campaign and getting to meet the people of the 62nd district,” said Wright. “I believe that the leadership in Madison has lost touch with the people they have been elected to represent. I am committed to changing that when I am elected.”

The district consists of Sturtevant, Elmwood Park, most of Mount Pleasant and parts of southern and western Racine.

“I commit to working to improve the business climate, reducing the tax burden and bringing integrity back to Madison,” said Wright.

Wright has been a Sturtevant trustee for three years. Mason has been in the Assembly since 2006.

Mason bill re-establishes Wisconsin Conservation Corps

Reps. Cory Mason, D-Racine, and Fred Clark, D-Baraboo, introduced a bill today to revive the Wisconsin Conservation Corps. The legislation was unveiled at historic Devil’s Lake State Park, the site of a 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps and the base of one of the most active Wisconsin Conservation Corps’ crews in the 1990s.

“We have an opportunity to bring back a popular program proven to develop young leaders and create the jobs our state so desperately needs,” Clark said. “We believe it is an important component of our state’s economic recovery plan.”

The Wisconsin Conservation Corps (WCC) was created in 1983 to provide employment to the state’s young men and women ages 18-25. For twenty years, young people had the opportunity to participate in conservation and natural resources projects. At one time, as many as sixty WCC crews were working throughout Wisconsin, all with their distinctive WCC green hard hats. The WCC ceased operations in 2003.

Mason said, “During these tough economic times, reestablishing the WCC is more important than ever. Drawing upon Wisconsin’s proud tradition of stewardship of our natural resources, the WCC will offer experience, hope, and opportunity to the young people throughout the state struggling right now to find meaningful work and pay for higher education.”

The legislation would recreate the WCC primarily by leveraging newly available federal AmeriCorps funding. Participants would work on conservation and natural resource projects throughout the state, supervised by experienced crew leaders, while receiving a stipend and educational credit.

The bill was introduced with twenty-six other Assembly co-sponsors and will be referred to the Joint Committee on Finance, of which Rep. Mason is a member. Mason anticipates that the bill will be approved during the spring legislative session.

Mason proposal backs KRM without need for local tax increase

The state Legislature is continuing its mystifying debate over the so-called "regional transit authorities" that would be used to pay for buses and commuter rail in southeastern Wisconsin.

Maybe this falls on the J-S reporter, but seriously, I dare anyone to read this article and explain what's going on with the RTAs. Racine State Rep. Cory Mason is somehow involved in this, but good luck trying to decipher what he's proposing along with Rep. Tamara Grisby.

Honestly, as an outsider, it seems Democrats are doing their best to muddy the waters and avoid any sort of meaningful action on an issue that's unpopular with the public. After all, most people who vote own cars and wouldn't think of using public transportation.

I'm working on a story about the stunning mismanagement of this entire process, including inept public relations on explaining how and why public transportation is important to Racine and other communities throughout southeastern Wisconsin. More on this in the next few days ...

Update: Here's a much better story by Sean Ryan of The Daily Reporter that explains Mason's proposal. Essentially, Mason is trying to avoid tax increases by dedicating local transportation aids to transit systems in Racine and Kenosha. In exchange, Racine and Kenosha need to maintain their spending on transit systems at 2010 plus an annual inflation increase.

I just talked with Mason about his proposal, which is much simpler than the J-S story suggests. Mason and Grisby came up with the plan to try and break gridlock around a regional transit authority for southeastern Wisconsin. The RTA is important because the federal government won't release roughly $250 million for the KRM commuter rail system unless there's regional cooperation on transit.

Mason's plan allows Racine and Kenosha to join the RTA, formally called the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority, or SERTA, without passing a tax increase. That's important because proposals for wheel, sales and hotel taxes are politically difficult.

Under Mason's proposal, Racine would transfer its Belle Urban System to SERTA, which would run the buses. Kenosha would do the same with its transit system. Both cities would continue to pay for the systems, plus a cost-of-living increase, and the state would allocate $2.5 million for Racine and $2.5 million for Kenosha out of the local transportation aids typically used to rebuild local roads.

Why spend money on buses instead of roads? Because it would convince the federal government to approve the $250 million for commuter rail, Mason said.

The plan, like everything with KRM, local transit and RTAs, has obstacles. One big one is Gov. Jim Doyle opposes Mason's plan. The governor favors his own proposal, which would require Racine and Kenosha to approve some sort of tax increase.

Mason said he was "disappointed" with the governor's response because Doyle's plan doesn't have enough votes to pass the Assembly. Mason said his plan has more votes than Doyle's plan, but he stopped short of saying he had enough votes to pass the proposal.

What does all this mean for KRM? It still seems like a long shot, but at least there's a proposal out there that would allow Sen. John Lehman to support commuter rail without having to support a tax increase. That's important because Lehman, D-Racine, is up for re-election this year, and he may have a tough race against Republican challenger Van Wanggaard.

Update 2: Mayor John Dickert is backing Mason's proposal.

“It takes the taxpayers of Racine out of the equation,” Dickert said in a statement from his office.

Dickert's statement added the bill requires the Department of Transportation to move from singling out roads to a more Regional Transit focus, which he feels is important because expanding highways does not necessarily help cities.

Mason: Proposal removes toxins from schools; Doesn't give any company a monopoly

Mike Sheridan, Cory Mason, Brian Torner, Robert Israel,
Jane Finkenbine and Jeff Neubauer at bill's introduction Sept. 25, 2009

Rep. Cory Mason said the "green cleaning" bill he introduced is about reducing toxicity in schools, not creating a monopoly for a Racine company.

"This bill makes it less toxic for kids in schools and the people who use public buildings," Mason said Monday afternoon. "The question we should be asking is, 'Is this a good bill? Is it a good idea?' "

Here's our story when Mason -- and legislative leaders --
introduced the bill at Walden III in September.

Instead, Mason has been fielding calls today about a Madison TV station's report that Jeff Neubauer, a former Racine legislator who is now CEO of Kranz Inc., wrote the legislation and coordinated its release. WKOW-TV reports on its website:

State records show a former lawmaker helped mold an environmental bill with potential financial benefits for his firm and industry.

[snip]

The correspondence indicates Neubauer originated and reviewed portions of the bill.

"Attached please find the final language," Neubauer wrote on Sept. 22, 2009 to Mason aide Michelle Michalak and lobbyist Jason Childress.

"Announce and release the bill in the form that is attached on Friday," Neubauer wrote.

"Nothing but good publicity will come from that. It is no lose, all upside for you."

That led Racine County Republicans to pounce on Mason. Bill Folk, president of the county party, said in a press release:

This is simply unacceptable. The people of the 62nd Assembly District elected Cory Mason, not Jeff Neubauer to represent them. Mr. Neubauer's interest in this legislation, as well as his contributions to Mason, clearly show that there was a conflict that should have been clearly outlined prior to the introduction of the legislation.

Mason said he never hid the fact that he worked with Neubauer and Kranz Inc. and JohnsonDiversey. In fact, Neubauer and a representative from JohnsonDiversey each testified at a public hearing on the legislation, and responded to questions about whether the bill unfairly favored Neubauer's company.

Mason said he exchanged notes with Neubauer on the bill, but he also consulted school officials, parents, students and environmental groups. He added that a handful of states, including Illinois, have passed similar legislation.

Kranz Inc. features a line of "Kranz Green" products that may qualify under the program. But Mason said hundreds of U.S. companies offer products that would qualify for use in schools and public buildings under the bill. The legislation was actually written to encourage companies to follow the lead of Wisconsin companies like JohnsonDiversey and Wausau Papers, which are making some of the greenest, healthiest products on the market, Mason said.

"It's not factually true to say one company gets a monopoly or special treatment under the bill," Mason said.

Changes are underway to the legislation, which Mason said he hopes appeals to a bi-partisan majority. The bill is scheduled to be taken up by the Assembly next week.

"I hope the bill stands on its merits," Mason said. "It's really designed to encourage the private sector to create greener, healthier products."

Read the bill, AB578, here.

Update: Jeff Neubauer donated $300 to Mason's campaign over the last three years.

Mason asks state-county sit-down on Wisconsin Shares

Lost in the misdirected obfuscating shots over Cory Mason's remark about the county's inadequate Wisconsin Shares oversight is this:

• Fraud in Racine County was the centerpiece of the Journal-Sentinel's first investigative article, back on Jan. 25. Refresh your memory here and re-read how county workers continually missed warning signs and kept the checks flowing for years. Part 2 of the series raised the county's fraud ante to about $1 million in just the handful of cases the newspaper investigated.
  
• And then three days later came County Executive Bill McReynold's reaction, in a Journal Times article whose headline said it all: "No county inadequacy over child care system, says McReynolds." He went on to give a more nuanced response than that -- "I don't condone fraud," for instance -- but at the same time seemed more interested in investigating how the newspaper got its facts than stopping the fraud.

Taking those two points into account, we saw nothing out of the ordinary when Mason said on the Assembly floor, that county officials "failed to take full responsibility for the child care fraud that's been going on in Racine."

But county officials -- um, mostly Republican county officials or those reporting to them -- were shocked, shocked!

So now we've had a week of potshots taken at Mason, D-Racine, for stating the obvious: dueling commentaries on the JT's editorial page, two County Board members taking sides, a JT editorial calling for everyone to make nice, accept responsibility and fix the system.

Mason today made his own effort to tone down the rhetoric and make peace. He invited county officials to sit down with him and state officials for a discussion about Wisconsin Shares. That could be more promising and less like the invitation to a hanging county officials earlier extended to Mason -- to have him come to a County Board meeting to explain his votes and defend his criticisms.

“The issues surrounding Wisconsin Shares are too important for us to discuss through the press, as has unfortunately happened in recent days,” said Mason. “Both County officials and legislators must work together to ensure the program’s success. I am interested in a productive, respectful dialogue about Shares to guarantee that we can meaningfully pair tougher state laws with effective County enforcement.”

Mason proposes a meeting with McReynolds, Board Chair Peter Hansen, and Human Services Board Chair Mike Miklasevich, Rep. Peter Barca who co-chairs the Legislature’s Joint Audit Committee, and Rep. Tamara Grigsby, who chairs the Assembly Committee on Children and Families. "Rep. Barca will bring the details and experience of the Legislative Audit Bureau’s recent and ongoing audit of the Shares program. Rep. Grigsby can bring her insight as the lead author of the bill passed last week by the Legislature cracking down on Shares fraud," Mason said.

“I hope we can convene as soon as possible," Mason said, "and meet for as long as necessary to ensure that we get to the bottom of current state-county tensions related to the Wisconsin Shares program. I am looking forward to this important and hopefully productive conversation. I hope that Racine County’s officials share my desire to work together to ensure the integrity of Shares and preserve this vital program which serves so many of the Racine-area’s working families.”

It'll be interesting to see whether this meeting takes place, and whether anything comes of it. For now, it appears that Republicans are having too much fun trying to make Mason the scapegoat and planting seeds for the next election.
_______________
Full disclosure: As most readers of this site already know, my daughter works for Cory Mason; she had nothing to do with this article. -- Pete Selkowe

Spanish train manufacturer execs tour of Racine

A Talgo high-speed train

State Rep. Cory Mason and local economic development officials wooed the Spanish train manufacturer Talgo Tuesday in hopes of convincing the company to locate a new assembly facility in the city.

Racine is a longshot for new plant. Talgo has already scouted locations in Milwaukee and Janesville, and Gov. Jim Doyle said he supported the Janesville site. But the final decision is yet to be made, and Racine is at least in the conversation. (Interestingly, Talgo has worked with Bombardier, which has a plant in Sturtevant, on making trains.)

Talgo President and CEO Antonio Perez was part of the company's delegation to Racine, and the planned plant is already contracted to build two trains to run on the Amtrak Hiawatha line that runs between Milwaukee and Chicago with a stop in Sturtevant. (Here's a discussion that suggests the Talgo trains built in Wisconsin will come a steep price.)

RacinePost inquired about tagging along with Talgo's visit to Racine, but was told no media was allowed on the tour. Here's the official release from Mason's office:

State Representative Cory Mason (D-Racine) hosted a delegation from Spanish train manufacturer Talgo today on a Racine-area tour of potential sites for the company’s new Wisconsin’s rail car assembly facility. The delegation included Talgo’s President & CEO Antonio Perez.

Governor Doyle announced in July that the State of Wisconsin had entered into a partnership with Talgo to build and put into service two train sets. The agreement calls for the establishment of maintenance and assembly facilities in Wisconsin. Representative Mason, in partnership with Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC) experts, has worked since the Governor’s July announcement to convince Talgo to consider Racine as the site for its assembly facility, a move that would bring high-quality jobs to Racine.

Today’s events were facilitated by RCEDC and began with a reception that included local elected officials, local businesses and representatives from area institutions of higher education, all of whom worked collaboratively to encourage Talgo to choose Racine.

Representative Mason commented, "I was proud and excited to be able to show Talgo all that Racine has to offer." Representative Mason, also a commissioner on the Racine Redevelopment Authority, also stated, "I was so impressed by how different representatives from across the community came together to make the best case for Racine."

Representative Mason and RCEDC officials led the Talgo delegation on a tour of possible sites for the company’s new train car assembly facility.

Representative Mason noted, "We all recognize that numerous southeastern Wisconsin communities are competing to be the site of Talgo’s new facility. Whether or not we are ultimately successful in luring Talgo to Racine, I am pleased and encouraged by the partnership and diligence demonstrated by our local officials, businesses, and community leaders in planning this tour. This cooperation and hard work will be an important component in enabling Racine to recover from our current economic challenges and to thrive in the future."

Silence on KRM

Short of our story on the Senate budget endangering KRM, no one's covered this angle of the budget. Why is that?

The Senate passed the budget 17-16 with Sen. John Lehman voting for a budget that likely will kill the prospect of commuter rail through Racine. State Rep. Cory Mason and Kerry Thomas, of Transit NOW, are both concerned about the Senate budget's impact on KRM, yet the JT, The Journal-Sentinel and the Kenosha News have ignored this issue.

Maybe they're waiting for the outcome of the conference committee between the Senate and the Assembly, where a budget will emerge for Gov. Jim Doyle to sign. But now is the time to examine why one Racine legislator seems to be working to save KRM and another seems OK with killing it, albeit subtly.

State bill would extend Racine tax district 10 years

A proposed state law would keep a good thing going for the city.

The special tax district the city created in 1983 to build its marina is set to retire next year. The district worked, creating $84.5 million in new development and $1.1 million a year in additional property tax value.

But so far, all that new money has gone toward paying off the loan needed to build the marina (and other tax incremental districts in the city). None of it has gone to pay for schools or government services.

That's set to change next year when all of the $1.1 million of development in "TID 2," as it's known, is scheduled to go onto the general tax rolls. That would mean $343,200 to Racine Unified, $147,400 to the county, $58,300 to Gateway and $542,300 to the city itself.

The state law proposed by Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, would extend the life of TID 2 by 10 years - and prevent all that tax revenue from going to other local governments. That may seem crazy, especially after the city has waited 27 years to benefit from this development. But there's method to this urban planning madness.

Mason said the city is looking at redeveloping the former Walker Manufacturing site along Lake Michigan and an area along the Root River, which all falls into the existing TID 2. But to get the property ready for a developer, the city needs money to clean up the land. That's where Mason's law comes in.

Extending TID 2 would give the city money to clean up the land and it get it ready for development, Mason said. The alternative is to retire TID 2 and create a new tax district for the Walker site and north of the Root River. But that district would be in effect for another 27 years.

In other words, the city is looking to extend TID 2 for 10 years to avoid creating a district for nearly three times as long, Mason said.

The proposal is targeted specifically at Racine. It's supported by State Reps. Bob Turner, D-Racine, Josh Zepnick, D-Milwaukee, and Peter Barca, D-Kenosha. Sens. John Lehman, D-Racine, Jeff Plale, D-Milwaukee, Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee, and Bob Wirch, D-Kenosha.

The bill has a good chance at passing, Mason said. Four or five similar bills pass the Legislature every year, he said.

The problem with TIDs is the delayed payoff. While the city benefits by corraling all of the tax dollars, other local governments are cut out of the tax picture. Racine Unified will lose a minimum of $3.4 million over the life of Mason's bill.

Cory Mason: Sunshine in Capitol is still a good idea—especially in the majority

Guest column by Cory Mason

Open Government. Everyone says they are for it. To illustrate the importance of openness and transparency in government, in 1933 Supreme Court Justice Brandeis observed, “Sunlight is said to be the best disinfectant.”

This week is Sunshine Week, where we acknowledge the virtue of open government in our democracy. It’s part of a national initiative to open dialogue about the importance of open and transparent government. This session, I am once again introducing a bill (AB 143) that would apply the open meetings law—a foundation of democratic government—to closed door meetings in the Legislature.

On days the Legislature is in session, both parties in both houses of the Legislature split into groups to discuss the day’s calendar. It is in these meetings that most of the real legislative debate occurs. Members suss out their positions, cajole people to a certain view, and reach a general consensus. We employ shuttle diplomacy, devise strategy, and argue passionately for our respective positions. In other words, it’s where the action happens.

In and of itself, this is a useful exercise. It lets members pose questions to each other, discuss possible amendments, and ensures that Legislators are better informed before they create new public policy.

The objectionable part, in my view, is that we close these meetings to public view.

Under Wisconsin’s Open Meeting Law, citizens have the right to watch the deliberations of Government at any level; however, the Legislature exempts itself from this law when we go into our closed door session meetings. The public, the press, Legislative staff, and anyone who is not a state Legislator has to leave the room.

Because I introduced a similar bill as a freshman in the minority last session, I have been asked if I still feel the same way about opening these meetings to the public now that Democrats are in the majority. I continue to believe that transparency is the best policy. If a democracy is to have the trust and confidence of its citizens, the deliberations of its elected representatives must be open to the public.

Now that Democrats are in the majority we have the opportunity to lead in a different and better way—I hope we rise to the challenge. We face the toughest economic climate since the Great Depression, the largest deficit in state history, and the task of sorting out billions of dollars in federal stimulus support. The very least we can do is open all of our debate to public view.

Cory Mason (D—Racine) represents the 62nd Assembly District. He serves on the Joint Committee on Finance & the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources.

Mason: Infant mortality program is moving forward

After his name popped up in a report raising questions about the city's Infant Mortality Prevention program, Rep. Cory Mason said Friday he was happy with how the program was progressing.

"It's moving forward," said Mason, D-Racine, who helped secure a two-year, $500,000 grant to reduce the number baby deaths in the city.

He said a meeting was held at Wingspread in the last month to plan the program, and organizers have been steadily working on implementing efforts to help at-risk pregnant moms.

But in the city's response to a Family Medical Leave complaint filed by Janelle Grammer, questions were raised about the status of the Infant Mortality program, including at least one by Mason.

In the complaint, written by a private attorney hired by the city, it says City Administrator Ben Hughes asked Grammer in April 2008 to hire a nurse or nurses to make home visits to begin field work and make home visits to pregnant women. Seven months later the nurses were not hired, according to the city's response.

This, apparently, caught Mason's attention. The city's response says Mason called Hughes to inquire on the program.

"Subsequent to the Nov. 5 meeting, Mr Hughes received a telephone call from Assemblyman Cory Mason expressing his concerns that this State-funded has not been implemented as timely and efficiently as he expected."

Mason said Friday he wouldn't comment on Grammer's situation, and that he was "happy" with how the Infant Mortality grant is being used. Money is the only problem organizers are facing, he said.

"We don't have enough funding for a comprehensive program," Mason said.

Rep. Cory Mason will NOT join race for Mayor

State Representative Cory Mason, D-Racine, announced today that he will not run for Mayor of Racine in the special election this Spring.

"While I am honored to have so many wonderful people ask me to consider running for mayor, I know I will be able to better serve the Racine community where I am now," he said.

Mason was first elected to the state Assembly in 2006. Earlier this month Speaker Mike Sheridan appointed him to the Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance.

"I believe I can do more for Racine, Mt. Pleasant, Sturtevant, and Elmwood Park as a member of Joint Finance than I can as mayor of Racine. As a legislator, there are things I would like to be part of accomplishing for our community: establishing KRM, increasing job training to get people back to work, holding down property taxes, investing in our schools and expanding access to affordable health care, just to name a few," Mason said. "Committing my full attention to the budget and legislative process will help ensure my vision for Racine is achieved."

When I spoke to Cory this weekend, he was clearly debating: "Am I a bigger asset to Racine staying where I am on the Joint Finance Committee, affecting some regional issues like taxes, KRM ... or being the mayor. I don't have the answer yet."

"Keeping the city moving forward is a really important job," he said. "It's an unfortunate set of circumstances we're in. You've got to have a captain."

Speaking of disgraced Mayor Gary Becker, he said, "Gary did some positive things for the city; you did have to acknowledge that he had a direction for the city. That's what made his personal conduct so doubly painful... setting the city back."

Mason is a lifelong resident, "born and raised here, went to Case High School, had family here for five generations. The Racine story was always that every generation got to do a little bit better than the generation before." As the father of a month-old daughter, he said, "that's what motivates me."

Racine area well represented on state's budget-writing committee

Eastern Racine County will have a triumvirate of voices on the state's budget-writing committee next year.

The Democrats appointed Rep. Cory Mason and Sen. John Lehman, both of Racine, to the Joint Finance Committee, and the Republicans appointed Rep. Robin Vos, of Caledonia, to the 16-member Joint Finance Committee.

That's an extraordinary amount of power for one county, Lehman noted.

"I’m especially looking forward to working on a bipartisan basis with
Representatives Mason and Vos to represent our interests here in Racine County," he said.

Last budget, the city of Racine received $500,000 to work toward reducing its childhoood obesity rate. This budget, Democrats are aiming at building KRM from Kenosha to Milwaukee with stops in Racine and Caledonia. The trick is funding the train, which could be tough in a state budget with a $5 billion deficit.

But Democrats control 12 of the 16 seats on the Joint Finance Committee, which gives them free reign over the state budget. In recent budgets, Democrats and Republicans were evenly split on the committee 8-8 and were forced to compromise on nearly every contentious issue.

KRM was stripped from the budget by the Joint Finance Committee in the last budget. Vos and his Republican colleagues opposed the proposal as it was presented. They want local referendums on the commuter rail train.

Democrats took over the Joint Finance Committee after winning control of the Assembly on Nov. 4. They now control both the Assembly and the Senate, and the governor's office, giving state Democrats firm control over the budget process for the first time in over 20 years.

Cory Mason appointed to state's budget-writing committee

Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, is making a name for himself in Madison. Now, he has a powerful committee appointment to match his growing reputation.

The Democratic leadership in the Assembly appointed Mason to the powerful Joint-Finance Committee. The appointment places Mason in the middle of a budget process that sets the state's priorities for the next two years.

He'll likely be the second local legislator to serve on the committee. Rep. Robin Vos, R-Caledonia, served on the last Joint Finance Committee and is a good bet to be reappointed.

Here's the announcement on Mason's appointment:

Speaker designate Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) announced today that he has appointed Representative Cory Mason to the Joint Committee on Finance. The Joint Committee is responsible for setting the state’s biennial budget.

"Cory Mason has proven to be a tremendously hard worker, has a good policy head on his shoulders, and always advocates for the concerns of working families. That's why I am so pleased to appoint Rep. Mason to the Joint Committee on Finance," said Rep. Mike Sheridan. Sheridan was elected to be the Speaker of the state Assembly yesterday by his Democratic colleagues.

"I am deeply honored to be appointed to Finance," said Mason. "I hope to be a strong advocate for the middle class in Racine and across the state. I am also humbled by the appointment, because the work ahead of us—addressing the deficit—will be a challenge." The state is facing an estimated $5 billion deficit for the next biennium.

Speaker designate Sheridan has six appointments to make to the Joint Committee on Finance. The other appointees are Rep. Pocan (chair), Rep. Colon (vice chair), Rep. Shilling, Rep. Sherman, and Rep. Grigsby.

Vos gets 95% WMC rating for pro-business votes

Wisconsin's business lobby -- the WMC, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce -- honored 32 lawmakers Wednesday for voting "time and again, 100 percent of the time" for job growth and economic development.

No, none of ours made that august winners' circle -- although Rep. Robin Vos, R-Racine, came within a hair's breadth of inclusion, but for a single "wrong" vote cast, according to the WMC's scorecard. Vos' 95% rating far exceeded anything else achieved by other Racine lawmakers. Rep. Scott Gunderson, R- Waterford, also scored 95%.

Three local lawmakers received dismal ratings from the WMC: Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, got a 40% rating, having voted "wrong" according to the WMC on 12 out of 20 votes tallied; Rep. Bob Turner, D-Racine, best not even show his face near the WMC: he got only four votes "right" out of the 20 tallied. In the Senate, things weren't going any better for Sen. John Lehman. Only 14 votes were tallied, and he voted "right" on just three of them, for a 21% ranking.

Complete scorecard results, vote by vote, legislator by legislator.

The one issue that tripped up Vos was Senate Bill 431, Unemployment Insurance Benefits, the last of the 20 issues WMC tallied. "This bill adjusts the taxable wage base for all Wisconsin employers and shifts revenues to the systems’ solvency fund. The bill increases the amount of time that Unemployment Insurance claimants must have worked in order to qualify for unemployment insurance benefits, and also freezes UI benefit levels at current levels until 2009."

The WMC wanted a "yes" vote but Vos voted "no," ruining his perfect record. Gunderson also lost his perfect record on this issue.

“Legislators who stand up for jobs time and again – especially with a slowing economy – are the true friends of working families,” said James A. Buchen, WMC vice president of government relations. “These legislators are stalwart defenders of jobs for our families.”

In total, 65 lawmakers will receive WMC’s “Working for Wisconsin Award” for earning a 65 percent or higher WMC voting record.

Since 2000, Wisconsin has lost nearly 100,000 manufacturing jobs, which pay high wages and provide the best benefits, Buchen said.

Last month, the Sierra Club rated lawmakers on their environmental records. The winners and losers on their scorecard tended to be the opposite from those on the WMC's.

Vos odd man out at forum with Flashinski, Mason

Republican Robin Vos was odd man out Tuesday at a candidate forum, sandwiched between his 63rd Assembly District opponent in November, Linda Flashinski, and Cory Mason, another Democrat, whose 62nd District opponent, Keith Deschler, did not attend.

Flashinski and Mason pretty much double-teamed Vos while answering the mostly fiscal questions posed by the Racine Taxpayers Association. "Yes" and "yes" said Flashinski and Mason, to Vos' "no." Or Vos said "yes," while Flashinski and Mason said "no." Topics ranged from Healthy Wisconsin, to school funding, from concealed carry to vouchers, from activist churches to Economics 101. The vote was two to one.

The consolation for Vos, however, is that his positions were undoubtedly more in line with the Taxpayers Association, which rarely has met a tax it likes, although the two dozen at the forum, held at the YMCA, were respectful of all the candidates.

Here's some of the Q&A:

Q: Why do you feel affordable health care is so important? (Answers quickly devolved to a discussion of Healthy Wisconsin, Gov. Doyle's failed effort to provide universal health care in the state.)

Vos: "This would have been the largest tax increase in the U.S.... run by nameless, faceless bureaucrats."
Mason: "Healthy Wisconsin was flawed and problematic for large employers. But I feel I deal with the nameless, faceless bureaucrats at my HMO."
Flashinski: "Other industrialized nations provide health care for all citizens at half the cost of the U.S....We need just three seats in the Assembly for health care reform to be addressed."

Q: Would you eliminate non-profit status for churches that engage in political activities?

Mason: "I'm not a lawyer, but there are certain guidelines. Non-profits should follow the law.
Flashinski" "It's important that churches not tell their members how to vote."
Vos: "They should get more involved, but not tell congregations how to vote."

Q: Do you believe Economics 101, which states that lower taxes improve the economy and higher taxes damage it? Would you reduce taxes?

Flashinski: "I believe what helps people is prosperity. Between 1948 and 1999, tax rates for the rich were cut 57% while yours has quadrupled. It's important to tax fairly and spend wisely. Other things are important, like creating jobs and transit."
Vos: "Yes, I believe in Eco 101. Raising taxes usually stifles economic growth. I pledge I will not vote to raise taxes. States with a low tax climate are growing."
Mason: "I would disagree with the premise that is Economics 101. There are two theories: Milton Friedman believes less government is better. John Maynard Keynes believed investing in job training and infrastructure like roads will lead to a better return on those tax dollars."

Q: Concealed carry.

Vos: "We're one of only two states without it. I was one of the co-sponsors. It died by a single vote in the Assembly, a Democrat. I am not afraid of people who have gone through the background check."
Flashinski: "I opposed it. People don't want to go to a restaurant thinking the person in the next booth might be armed. Robin Vos even opposed a bill to ban weapons on school playgrounds."
Mason: "If you live in a community with gun violence, your view is different than if you live in a rural area. I've yet to see the public policy benefit. I opposed it; my survey of 600 came up two-to-one opposed to it."

Q: School choice, vouchers.

Flashinski: "I'm very, very in favor of choice for people. The problem is that today "choice" is used for vouchers."
Vos: "Yes, I do support giving parents "scholarships" for send their children to the school they want. Imagine if there was just one restaurant, or one garage to take your car to. I believe in competition."
Mason: I do not support the voucher program nor its expansion. The program is a distraction and a disastrous one. The voucher program in Milwaukee has not closed the achievement gap."

Q. Do you support the Taxpayer Bill of Rights?

Vos: "Yes."
Mason: "No."
Flashinski: "No."

Q. Do you support the expansion of the QEO for all public employees?

Mason: "I'm in favor of repealing the QEO for teachers. I believe in collective bargaining. We need to move schools away from property taxes."
Flashinski: "The QEO is a very unfair thing, applied to just one group of workers. The QEO is not right."
Vos: "I do not support repealing the QEO."

Sierra Club flunks Vos, Gunderson and Kerkman

The John Muir Chapter of the Sierra Club today released its Environmental Scorecard for the 2007-08 Wisconsin Legislature.

Racine and Kenosha legislators were among the best, and worst, according to the Sierra Club's tracking of legislative votes on ten environmental issues.

Among the best are Reps. Cory Mason and Bob Turner, both D-Racine, and Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, all with scores of 100%, and Rep. Jim Kreuser, D-Kenosha, with 90%.


Among the worst are Reps. Scott Gunderson, R-Waterford, Samantha Kerkman, R-Burlington, and Rep. Robin Vos, R-Racine, all of whom had 10% ratings.

And, yes, we did notice that the Sierra Club's tree-hugging favorites here are all Democrats, and the environmental dunces it would send to the corner are all Republicans. Those three 10-per-centers, by the way, were spared the ignominy of 0% environmental ratings only by their vote in favor of the Great Lakes Compact.

Complete Scorecard results, vote by vote, legislator by legislator.

“The Sierra Club Scorecard illustrates which lawmakers are committed to protecting Wisconsin’s environment,” said Shahla M. Werner, PhD., John Muir Chapter Director. “The Scorecard also shows us which lawmakers consistently protect the interests of polluters.”

Thirty-nine state lawmakers scored 100% on the Scorecard. On the opposite end of the scale were Representatives Mark Gundrum, Mark Gottlieb, and Sheryl Albers, all of whom earned the score of zero. An additional forty-five members of the Assembly garnered a 10% score, meaning they voted against the environment nine times out of ten.

“Our Assembly has a core of legislators who consistently vote for more pollution,” said Dave Blouin, John Muir Chapter Political Committee Chair. “There is a very stark and partisan difference between legislators who consistently strive to protect and conserve Wisconsin’s air, drinking water, lakes and streams and legislators who do not.”

Forty-six Representatives received a passing grade for their votes in the last session by voting at least 80% pro-environment including twenty-one who scored a perfect 100%. Eighteen State Senators compiled 100% positive scores. Failing grades were given to fifty Representatives and two Senators who consistently vote pro-polluter and anti-environment (scores of 20% or less in
the Assembly, 29% or less in the Senate where few environmental votes were taken).

“The agenda of this Legislature was to roll back basic services and environmental protection while shifting costs to taxpayers,” said Legislative Coordinator Caryl Terrell. By voting to pass AB 163, Wetlands, Assembly proponents gave a developer a special favor to allow a road through a specific wetland, ignoring the science-based permit process and degrading Nature’s flood mitigation systems. Votes to repeal the Nuclear Moratorium, AB 346, erased the commonsense requirement that the Public Service Commission ensure that secure nuclear waste facilities are identified and all financial costs of life cycle operation are considered against all other alternatives before new nuclear power plants are constructed in Wisconsin Votes to pass three bills, AB 543 Ordinary High Water Mark, AB 718 Delay Implementation Date of Smart Growth Law and AB 805 Takings, undermined land use regulations designed to protect the value of private property and instead allow for irresponsible, unsafe development.

“Efforts to remove politics from the DNR, AB 504, and to deal pro-actively with greenhouse gases, AB 157, and hazardous electronic waste, SB 397, were turned down,” said Terrell. “The major bright spot was the adoption of the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact, SB1, in the April Special Session.”

Senate and Assembly scores were based on different measures, so comparisons between the two houses are not valid.

Local Obama campaign plans counter-event to McCain visit

The local Obama campaign will be hosting a counter event to Sen. John McCain's visit Thursday afternoon. Here's the details:

Racine Leaders, Residents to Discuss Devastating Effects of McCain-Bush Policies on Economy

RACINE – State Senator John Lehman, Representative Bob Turner, and Representative Cory Mason will join local residents at a news conference in Racine tomorrow, Thursday to discuss the need for a President who understands the struggles of working families and will turn around our economy.
With gas prices skyrocketing while oil companies are set to report huge profits once again tomorrow, Racine residents are looking for a President who will stand up for hard working men and women and reverse the disastrous Bush Administration policies of the past eight years. Unlike John McCain who will continue implementing many of the failed economic policies of the Bush Administration, Barack Obama will work to put money back in the pockets of middle class families and turn our economy around.

WHO: Sen. John Lehman
Rep. Bob Turner
Rep. Cory Mason
Racine Residents

WHAT: News conference to discuss devastating effects of McCain-Bush
policies on economy

WHEN: Thursday, 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Racine Campaign for Change Office
522 6th St.
Racine, WI