Steve Kagen and Jim Doyle Disagree on Major Issues

Steve Kagen, the Democrat candidate for the 8th Congressional in greater Green Bay, and incumbent Democrat Governor Jim Doyle, a candidate for reelection, are both thought to be pretty standard issue liberals. A close examination of the record of both candidates, however, shows some signficant differences between the two:

ACT Stem Cell Research:

Kagen: “There should be no restrictions on use of stem cells. Why? Because we can get stem cells without destroying life. That technology is new – Advanced Cell Technology developed it – and we should take that step forward.” (UWGB Debate - 14:50).

Doyle: After Mark Green unveiled a plan for the state to fund ACT’s research method at WiCell: “[I]t is irresponsible and dishonest for him to use debunked and unproven science to try and trick voters into thinking he supports stem cell research” – Anson Kaye, communications director for the Doyle campaign, in a statement.

Kagen sees ACT’s technology as new and promising, while Doyle sees it as “debunked and unproved science” we shouldn’t support.

Human Cloning:

Kagen: “I believe very strongly that there should be no human cloning. Period. If you hear anything else, it’s just wrong.” (UWGB Debate )

Doyle: WTN: “Gov. Jim Doyle announced Thursday his veto of AB 499, which would have outlawed all forms of human cloning in Wisconsin. The bill would outlaw not only cloning for reproductive purposes but also what proponents call therapeutic or research cloning, in which an embryo is created with identical DNA as an original subject for the purposes of harvesting stem cells during the first several days of development.”

So we have Kagen saying cloning is wrong, and Doyle vetoed a bill that said just that.

Non-violent Offenders:

Kagen: “If people are incarcerated for violent crimes then they belong in incarceration, they belong in jail. The nonviolent offenders probably shouldn’t be there. That’s my personal view…. So I am all in favor of incarcerating violent individuals and nonviolent individuals need help. They’re asking for help. That’s why they’ve committed a crime.” (Lawrence/LWV Debate)

Doyle: Wisc. State Journal: “Doyle, the state’s top law enforcement office for 10 years, said those in prison belong there. He said proposals by Falk to release many non-violent prisoners could result in more convicted multiple drunken drivers, burglars, drug dealers and rapists walking the streets. ‘These aren’t minor little crimes,’ Doyle said of those now classified by the prison system as ‘non-violent.’”

As we’ve noted before, Doyle was SHARPLY critical of a proposal by another Democrat to release non-violent offenders, which he said would “make our neighborhoods unsafe by letting more criminals go free.” Yet that is just what Kagen has called for.

Are Increases in Fees a Tax Hike?

Kagen: “John says I’m going to raise your taxes. But there’s only one candidate up here that’s done it. 27 times he’s raised taxes and fees for hunting and gasonline and cigarrette taxes. He’s been raising taxes.” (UWGB debate. See also press release listing fees as taxes).

Doyle: Wisc. State Journal: “Doyle repeated eight times in his budget-signing speech that he had kept his campaign promise not to raise taxes. He didn’t increase income, sales or corporate taxes – something few people thought was possible when Doyle took office in January, he said. State fees are rising, however, on such things as car registrations, nursing home beds, hunting and fishing licenses and co-payments and deductibles for state health programs for the poor.”

So Kagen seems to think that fee increases are tax hikes, while Doyle denies that assertation.

Wisconsin Workers:

Doyle: DPW address: “Wisconsin workers, and the great products they make, have led the way. We’ve seen our exports increase by 40%. That’s because our workers make products that can compete with anyone’s in the world.” BH: “Doyle said that Wisconsin’s export growth ‘is another sign that our economy is on the move, and that our workers can compete with anyone in the world.’” LCT: “‘We will compete successfully with anyone in the world,’ Doyle said at Mathews Inc. in Sparta, a manufacturer of high-end archery equipment.”

Kagen: “We have a real problem in this country, because everyone in industry understands they’re chasing the price that’s the lowest price for production. We can’t compete against slave labor in China or India or Malaysia. We can’t compete at those lower prices.” (WFRV debate)

Wisconsin workers can compete! We can compete on quality, we can compete on hard working and smart workers, and we can compete by creating a regulatory, liability, and tax environment that allows Wisconsin workers to do that.

Trade Policy:

Doyle: MJS: “With the [Mexico] trip, Doyle charges directly into the political minefield of U.S. free-trade issues. … Mexico stood out as one of the very first targets of anti-trade activists. It’s a member of the three-nation North American Free Trade Agreement along with Canada and the U.S. … But Doyle has proved himself a free-trade pragmatist. Rather than trying to block imports which in consumer-happy America, statistically speaking, is akin to standing in front of a moving train Doyle devotes his main efforts toward expanding the state’s exports.”

Kagen: “You cannot talk about saving and strengthening our middle class without talking about our trade agreements, currently called free trade. I’m in favor of fair trade. We have to take another look at CAFTA and NAFTA and the World Trade Organization and establish fair trade.” (WBAY debate). He is endorsed by Citizens Trade PAC, which seeks the repeal of NAFTA and CAFTA.

To his credit, Governor Doyle has done a good job on trade promotion trips - China, Japan, Mexico, Central Europe, and Ireland. Kagen wants to withdraw back into our shell – while many Dems opposed CAFTA, and some still oppose NAFTA, it’s only the left left wing of the Dems that supports withdrawing from the WTO. But that’s Kagen.

School Choice:

Doyle: MJS: “The fact is that choice voucher schools are going to be an important part of education in Milwaukee – that’s a fact of life,” Doyle said. MJS: “Gov. Jim Doyle said Friday that he hoped an agreement could be reached on the future of the private school voucher program in Milwaukee, and he appeared to send stronger signals that he is willing to negotiate an agreement in which enrollment in the program would be increased in exchange for agreement on accountability.”

Kagen: “I believe this about school choice… [A]t no time will I endorse the idea that we should take public moneys and invest it in anything other than public schools. … We must invest in education, but not by syphoning off our tax money into private schools.” (WFRV debate)

So Kagen thinks that allowing inner-city Milwaukee students to attend private and parochial schools is flat-out wrong, while Doyle signed a bill that allowed thousands more to join the program.

Taxes:

Doyle: “Wisconsin families can’t afford more property taxes any more than they can handle more income or sales taxes.” (2003 ). “I know taxes in Wisconsin are still too high and families need relief.” (2006)

Kagen: Milw. Journal Sentinel: “Kagen said he favored rolling back cuts President Bush had persuaded Congress to adopt that primarily benefit the wealthy.” Many other instances.

What does rolling back the Bush tax cuts mean?
• 48 million married couples will see a $2,726 tax increase
• 42 million families with children will see a $2,084 tax increase
• 12 million single moms will see a $1,062 tax increase
• 17 million seniors will see a $2,034 tax increase

Doyle may be more rhetoric than reality on this, but none the less his rhetoric acknowledges that our families really need tax relief. Kagen apparently doesn’t get that – he wants to increase taxes on seniors, families, and single moms.

Corruption in Contracting/No-bid contracting:

Doyle: RPW via Sykes: “At least seven companies who received no-bid contracts from Jim Doyle donated $32,050 to his campaign (AP 2/14/06).”

Kagen: “Restore Accountability and Openness in Federal Contracting, as we subject major contract actions to full public disclosure and aggressive competition…” (PIP)

What more can I say? Kagen calls for a ban on no-bid contracting, while Doyle has made it an art form.

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