by Tony Palmeri
October 27, 2001
I co-host a cable access television program in Oshkosh called "Commentary." Several months ago, I was on the phone with a prominent Wisconsin Republican State Senator, urging him to be a guest (and also lobbying him to support a bill to give UW System faculty the right to choose collective bargaining). As we spoke, a variety of issues came up and I finally asked the Senator to comment on the quality of Wisconsin's legislative leadership. Without missing a beat, the Senator said "Jensen and Chvala are total dickheads."
What would have led the Senator to such an unflattering conclusion about two of our state's most powerful public servants? Perhaps because Scooter the Republican Speaker of the Assembly and Chuck the Democratic Majority Leader in the Senate have spent years blocking meaningful campaign finance reform? Because they are the poster children for personality driven politics? Because the loss of democracy in Wisconsin -- exposed dramatically in Lincoln Steffens fashion by Rob Zaleski in the Madison Capital Times -- has been accelerated on Jensen's and Chvala's watch? Because budget negotiations under Chvala and Jensen have become exercises in special interest feasting at the expense of hard working taxpayers? Because one of them could never beat while the other could never be Tommy Thompson? Because the caucus scandal , for which Scott and Chuck must bear the most responsibility when all is said and done, represents the final nail in the coffin that holds Wisconsin's tradition of clean and open government? Because Wisconsin's "progressive tradition" has become nothing more than a keynote speech topic at political fundraisers for Republicans and Democrats?
I think it's time for Scott Jensen and Chuck Chvala to do the honorable thing and resign from their positions of leadership in the Wisconsin State Legislature. Perhaps more than anything else, the caucus scandal has revealed how these two have become literally obsessed with grabbing and holding on to power. When reading the accounts of former Democratic and Republican caucus staffers, one cannot get over how Nixonian in tone and action the legislature has become, especially at the top levels of leadership. Lyndee Wall's accounts of the Republican smear machine, along with Dan Kroll's tales of his "year with Chuck," are enough to sicken those of us who do believe that politics really can be an honorable profession.
I cannot see how honor can be returned to Wisconsin politics as long as Jensen and Chvala remain in positions of leadership. Chvala and Jensen are two of the most knowledgable members of the legislature (Chvala has been there since 1982, Jensen since 1992), and they have much to offer. I am not suggesting that either man should resign his seat. Rather, I hope that both are able to see the obvious: the scandals plaguing the legislature have made it impossible for them to be credible or effective as majority leaders. They should take the high road and allow others not tainted by recent events to take over. Perhaps Scott and Chuck could even hold a joint press conference announcing their intentions to step down from their leadership positions.
Since there is nothing in either Scott Jensen's or Chuck Chvala's background to suggest that they would take my suggestion seriously, then I think other members of the legislature must lead the call for resignation. Perhaps it is time for an ad hoc, bipartisan group of respected senior members of the assembly and senate to summon Chuck and Scott to a meeting. This ad hoc group should explain to Chuck and Scott that the interests of the people are not served when one-upsmanship, partisan posturing, and damage control are the dominant images coming out of the leadership of both houses.
Scott Jensen and Chuck Chvala need to consider seriously stepping down from their leadership positions. If they won't, then their peers need to stop calling them "dickheads" behind the scenes and instead lead a public call for new leadership.
Tony Palmeri is an Associate Professor of Communication at UW Oshkosh. He ran for the State Assembly (District 54) as a Democrat in 1996. He can be reached at Palmeri@uwosh.edu