LEGISTAFFERS PARTY POLITICALLY IN SEATTLE

STATE LEGISLATURES' PARLEY GETS POLITICAL;
WISCONSIN LEGGIE STAFFERS HEAVILY INVOLVED, PROUD OF ROLE

When Will They Get it?

Just weeks before former State Senator Brian Burke goes to trial for allegedly using his capitol office for campaign purposes, the Wisconsin Legislative Council [the lawyers for the Assembly and Senate] has issued a "Legislator Update" commending the election of Legislative Reference Bureau Chief Steve Miller to the position of Staff Vice Chair of the National Council of State Legislators, leading to him serving as Staff Chief of the national organization next year.

"Congratulations, Steve!" the report reads.

Miller was chosen at the Annual Meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) which was held in Seattle, August 16-20.

Miller wasn't the only busy Wisconsinite at the convention. The NCSL Legislative Effectiveness and State Government Committee was chaired this year by Laura Rose of the Wisconsin Legislative Council. She arranged two full days of sessions at the meeting, with such topics discussed as "staffing options for Legislatures," "communications skills," "stress reduction in the legislative workplace," "improving the image of the Legislature as an institution" and "Internet fundraising."

"Internet Fundraising" for what?

Well, for elections, of course. Or, for those already members of a legislature, reelection. This is just another example of how incumbents are using staff resources to campaign on taxpayer time, isn't it? It is exactly the type of thing that Burke and other defendants are accused of doing, and they are facing big time for their actions.

Yet it is still taking place openly at a meeting of state legislatures that should be about governance, and not electoral politics. The state political parties can hold all of the Internet fundraising seminars they want, and it would be fine.

But taxpayer dollars financed this event and the travel expenses of those legislators and staffers like Miller and Dan Schmidt, also a Wisconsin legislature employee. I haven't seen Dane County D. A. Blanchard charging them with any crimes.

If you think this is simply a Wisconsin issue, think again.

According to an article in the Seattle Times on August 20, 2005, "Washington state House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler said it would be fine for one of the political parties to sponsor such seminars.

"'But I think it's inappropriate for this venue,' said Kessler. … "'It is the opposite of where we should be going with the public.'"

Other election-based seminars at the event, according to www.ncsl.org included "Power Public Speaking," debate tips and those all-important internet fundraising tips from Max Fose, formerly associated with the McCain presidential campaign, where he ran the candidate's internet site.

According to the Seattle Times article, Fose told how John Kerry raised $44 million in three months online. GeorgeBush.com got more than 21 million hits and Howard Dean raised $500,000 on the Internet in one 24-hour period.

"If I could do that for every legislator in the room, I would be very rich, and we would all be very happy. … Always ask for money.'"

Among publications distributed at the event was a pamphlet entitled, "Reality Check: Key Messages for Winning the Battle Without Burning the Battlefield."

According to the Wisconsin Legislative Council Legislator Update, "This booklet provides information to legislators on how to counter public cynicism about the Legislature and how to present positive messages about representative democracy and how Legislatures work."

I'd file that one under fiction.

PFISTER PFOOD PFINER PFARE

Mark Weber, formerly of the Watermark Restaurant has been appointed the new Food and Beverage Manager of the Pfister Hotel in welcome news. The F&B director is usually the number two position in your better hotels, and Weber's responsibilities will include every restaurant, bar and banquet event in the famed downtown hostelry.

"It will take me some time to make all of the changes I would like to, partly because banquets are booked so far in advance," Weber said. But the rubber chicken is sure to go and Weber promises a tremendous increase in the quality of the food at the Pfister where several memorable banquets were held to the accompaniment of forgettable food.

He is thinking of adding his signature veal hash to the Pfister's breakfast menu, and is planning a number of other changes, as employees will find out soon enough.

One Sunday evening, shortly after he had taken the job, Weber was called on his cell phone by an employee-in-charge for the evening. I heard one end of the conversation, and that was plenty. "He did what?" Weber inquired. "Well, that's because he can't cook."

"Don't tell me that!"

"He did what? It's Sunday evening for crying out loud."

"I'll be down there in five minutes."

One does get the feeling that there will be some changes in the food and beverage service at the Pfister Hotel.

LOAD OF BRICKS COLLAPSES ON SCHEDULE

While walking home Sunday evening after dining with a friend, I passed the construction site at the southwest intersection of E. Brady and N. Marshall Streets where Inland Companies is constructing a condominium unit. I noted that several pallets of bricks stored on the site seemed to be tilted at a greater-than-Pisa angle. Worst yet, they were in close propinquity to the sidewalk. Like a good citizen, I called the number on the sign on the property and have received no response to this day. The next morning, sure enough, one or more of the pallets of bricks had buried the sidewalk knee-deep, with some bricks tumbling onto the street, as well.

Those bricks have been picked up, and others shrink-wrapped, but this is certainly the poster child for a sloppy and hazardous workplace.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH COLON

We mentioned last week that Pedro Colon was rather upset about a political move during a vote that led him to a six minute outburst on the Assembly floor. This all could have been avoided, including recalling the Senate into session for what will not succeed as a veto override, if Tom Nelson, Colon's seatmate had "Ghost Voted" for him while Colon took a break. When the voting time came, Nelson forgot he was supposed to push the button to record Colon's vote. As soon as the presiding officer saw that Colon hadn't voted, he shut off the voting and the matter was over, to the embarrassment of Colon.

Lesson to frosh legislators: when you promise to cast a vote for your seatmate, don't forget to do so. Second lesson: Do your own voting.