By Joe Vandel, Shawano Leader Reporter
May 16, 2001
Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (D-Milwaukee) says he has no problem in being an underdog in the 2002 race for governor.
Barrett, in a visit to Shawano Monday, noted that's because the last several men to win the office for the first time have also been underdogs.
Barrett, who's an undeclared candidate for the state's highest office, told members of the Shawano County Democratic Party at a luncheon, that "there's a thirst out there for a new generation of leadership in Wisconsin." Barrett expressed the belief that he is the man to fill that role as the state's next new governor.
A fellow Democrat, state Attorney General James Doyle, is also expected to announce he is a formal candidate for governor. Gov. Scott McCallum will also run for his first elected term as governor after taking over when Tommy Thompson left to take a cabinet post for the Bush administration in Washington D.C.
Barrett, who served in state government by first being elected to the Assembly in 1984 for the Milwaukee area , then elected to the U.S House of Representatives in 1992, feels he's ready to lead the state.
"I would love to be the next governor of the state of Wisconsin," said Barrett. "I began in 2000 by talking to people statewide and as a member of congress I've been exposed to people not only from other states but from other countries that have ideas we can look at."
While traveling around the state, Barrett said he has heard Wisconsin residents are concerned about a number of issues.
"They're concerned about their families and their children and I also hear about health care concerns," said Barrett.
Barrett said people have also expressed their concerns about the state's education system.
"The state has a real strong structure, but there are concerns (by the public) partly because of politicians," he said. "We need to put the power back into the hands of the classroom teacher. You don't educate a child by testing them everyday. Some farmers express the same kind of sentiment when they say you can't fatten a chicken by weighing it every day. It's the same way with education. Testing is not the answer, teaching is the answer."
Barrett added that decisions on education are better made by putting them in the hands of the people who have local control, rather than politicians in the state capital.
Barrett also said adjustments need to be made in how the state's education system is funded. He agreed that some of the state's more wealthy school districts are getting more than their share.
Barrett also agreed that other issues of concern are the farm economy, the environment and healthcare which includes the need for help in paying for prescription drugs.
"The hot button when you talk about agriculture is the dairy pricing system," said Barrett. "The real fight is to stop these cartels or dairy compacts which work to the detriment of Wisconsin's farmers."
Barrett said when the environment is discussed, you can reduce all of the related issues down to one word - water.
"You can talk about the proposed Crandon Mine, the cleanup of the Fox River, the fight over Perrier coming into Wisconsin, cryptosporidium and the floods in Western Wisconsin," Barrett explained. "They all come down to the issue of water."
Barrett also said he is not supportive of a current proposal to split the DNR into two separate agencies. He said the office has gotten too political and needs to be returned to the day when the DNR Board appointed the secretary, not the governor.
Prescription drugs are also a big concern of Barrett's.
"We need to do something," he said. "You know there is something wrong with the system when people have to travel to Canada to get their prescription drugs. There is a pricing mechanism in place that discriminates against Americans. I have no problem with the drug companies being profitable, but not at the expense of the people of the state."
"One of the highest priorities for the next governor is a prescription drug program," Barrett said.
Barrett also urged more people to become involved in the Democratic Party, because the party needs to have its leaders come from areas other than from within just three miles of the state capital.