Reducing the size and scope of government is never an easy task, which is the primary reason why our state’s budget deficit is $2.71 billion and our nation’s budget deficit is $1.6 trillion. The $3.8 million needed to fund the Public Defender Bill seems like a meager government expenditure.   But it has come to the point with our state’s finances that we have to draw a line.  Do we expand existing government programs and spending at a time when we should be contracting or do we continue to give in and spend a few million here and a couple million there.

Last Sunday, the La Crosse Tribune Editorial Board expressed their disappointment over my vote against Senate Bill 263, the public defender bill that would adjust income standards for public defender eligibility.

Clearly, it’s never popular to reduce government programs.  I wish the government had an extra $4 million dollars, but it doesn’t.  Wisconsin’s $2.71 billion budget deficit is not going away unless we call for drastic measures.  As your representative, I welcome your ideas on how to reduce our budget deficit.

As I mentioned to the Tribune, the reasoning behind my vote was fiscal responsibility.  I have said over and over that government needs to control spending.  My vote simply aligns with my consistent message of curbing government spending.  People are tired of politicians who say one thing and turn around and vote in contradiction as soon as they are back in the safety of their political establishment.  It’s easy to say that you are in favor of reducing government spending.  It’s a lot harder to put it into practice with a vote.   Our state deserves legislators who practice what they preach, which is why I voted to cut government spending.