Rep. Garthwaite votes for millions in pork spending on every place but Southwest Wisconsin

Rep. Garthwaite was the deciding vote to keep dozens of pork projects in the budget.

During the final days before Rep. Garthwaite voted in favor of the budget, Democrat legislators met in secret behind closed doors for countless hours. In order to come up with the 50 votes necessary to pass the budget bill, Democrat leaders from Milwaukee and Madison had to shell out numerous earmarks to various Democrat legislators. The earmarks, more commonly known as pork, add up. According to the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the pork supported by Rep. Garthwaite totaled more than $37 million.

Here are some examples:

$6.6 million for a Yahara River project in Dane County; the county is represented mostly by Democrats, including the committee's co-chairmen, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) and Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona).

$5 million for the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corp. in downtown Milwaukee; represented by Sen. Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee) and Rep. Leon Young (D-Milwaukee).

$4 million for planning a joint museum for the State Historical Society and Department of Veterans Affairs; an area served by Pocan, Miller and other Dane County legislators would benefit.

Up to $1.25 million for Manitowoc Road in Bellevue; represented by Sen. Alan Lasee (R-De Pere) and Rep. Ted Zigmunt (D-Francis Creek).

$800,000 for the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin; the center has locations throughout the state.

Up to $500,000 for Washington Street in Racine; Democrats Sen. John Lehman, a committee member, and Rep. Robert Turner represent the area.

$500,000 for an environmental center in a park that borders Madison and Monona; the two cities are represented by the committee's co-chairmen.

$500,000 for the Oshkosh Opera House; Republican Sen. Randy Hopper and Rep. Gordon Hintz, a Democrat, represent Oshkosh.

$500,000 for Eco Park in La Crosse; represented by Sen. Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse) and committee member Rep. Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse).

Up to $430,000 for Highway X in Chippewa County; represented by Sen. Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls) and Rep. Kristen Dexter (D-Eau Claire).

Up to $400,000 for State St. in Racine; represented by Lehman and Turner.

$300,000 for the AIDS Network in Madison; represented by Pocan and Senate President Fred Risser (D-Madison).

$250,000 for a bridge on S. Reid Road in Rock County; Robson and Rep. Chuck Benedict (D-Beloit).

$250,000 for the Madison Children's Museum; represented by Pocan and Risser.

$125,000 to remodel an Eau Claire library; represented by Kreitlow and Dexter.

$100,000 for Huron Road in Bellevue; represented by Lasee and Zigmunt.

$100,000 for the Stone Barn historic site in Oconto County; represented by Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay), who sits on the committee, and Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette).

That is just the tip of the iceberg because that list does not include major construction projects. When one figures in the total amount of earmarks, including major construction projects, it becomes clear that there are only two real winners in this budget – Madison and Milwaukee.

According to the LFB, Dane County where Madison is located will receive more than $694 million in earmark spending. Milwaukee makes out even better with $740 million in earmark spending. This spending on Madison and Milwaukee should be particularly insulting folks from SW WI because it comes in the same budget that decimates state aids to rural local governments. The Town of Platteville for instance is taking a 15% cut in shared revenue, the state aid that goes to local governments to support police, fire, and other vital local services. Perversely, the City of Milwaukee is only going to take a 1.1% hit in shared revenue and will receive millions in earmarks that will more than make up for its meager cut.

Rep. Garthwaite’s vote to kill the amendment to remove pork from the budget can be found here. As you can see, he was the deciding vote to kill earmark reform. That is a fact that he cannot deny in good conscience.

Here is a link to another vote relating to pork. This amendment would have removed all pork projects from a large Democrat amendment to the budget. This time Rep. Garthwaite was one of two votes to keep pork in the budget.

Here is an article from the State Journal about Rep. Garthwaite’s pork filled budget:

Information about shared revenue cuts in the budget can be found in this LFB memo.