This is the third in my series of posts which explain who I'm voting for, and why.  This post explains who I'm voting for for Governor and Lt. Governor of Wisconsin.  I'm combining the two, because even though they are two separate choices, if you're voting for one party for Governor, you might as well vote for the same party for Lieutenant.  The choices this year are the incumbent Democrat Jim Doyle (and Barbara Lawton), against Republican Rep. Mark Green (and Jean Hundertmark).  I'll be voting for Mark Green, though not without a couple reservations.

First, I think it's important to hold Jim Doyle accountable for his obvious track record of having no-bid contracts bought through campaign donations.  Sean has put together a very useful document which shows this clearly.  Will Mark Green do any better in Madison?  To be honest, I'm cynical enough to not be sure, but I'm willing to give him a chance.  It's hard to survive in Washington without being bought yourself to some degree.  So in four years I'll be perfectly willing to vote out Mark Green if he does no better.

Jim Doyle also has a lousy record on several issues that are important to me.  One is TABOR, which Jim Doyle not only opposed, but has fought against tooth and nail.  Along the same lines of course is his "property tax freeze" which has resulted in an increase in property taxes for many families in Wisconsin.  His direct opposition, and mocking, of the right of honest law abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms is also unacceptable.  Mark Green supports these basic rights of the people, and so he gets my support as well.

Some of the other major issues that have been at issue in this campaign have been stem cell research, and gay marriage.  The stem cell issue has been overblown significantly, since the kind of research that Mark Green "opposes" is only embryonic stem cell research, and he only opposes tax payer funding of that research.  Frankly that attitude doesn't bother me.  Mark Green does oppose gay marriage, which I support, but that doesn't bother me a lot.  Gay marriage is one of those things, at least in my opinion, that a lot of people get bent out of shape about, but doesn't really affect them.  So while I disagree with him, it's not nearly enough to sway me against him.  I suppose if I were gay it would be a different story.

I like Green's plan for restructuring the DNR, as I think that as of late they have made themselves much less accountable to the population, and its desires.  No government bureaucracy should become that way.  Jim Doyle supports the DNR as it stands.  I also really like his ideas on reforming health care, especially making HSA's tax deductible.  As someone who works in the insurance industry, I can say that HSA's are a very solid plan, and have the ability to help stem the tide of rising health care costs by making people think about their medical care.  Forcing hospitals to directly report their prices to their patients is also crucial.  Jim Doyle vetoed tax deductible HSA's last time he got the chance.

I also am fully behind Green's plans for education, including increasing school choice through whatever means necessary.  If possible, I'd want the entire school system to be structured using vouchers so that parents, any parents, could use their property tax dollars to send their child to whatever school they wanted.  Jim Doyle (and of course WEAC) opposes this idea tooth and nail.  Mark Green is the closest to this I'll get.

I do have some reservations about Mark Green besides those I've mentioned above.  First, on a basic level, I have a hard time voting for someone who has mostly legislative experience to an executive position.  Working in a legislative body, and working as an executive are two very different things.  That's why I would have much rather seen Scott Walker as Jim Doyle's opponent during this election.  I'm also weary of some of Green's plans regarding helping "farm families", especially the fact that he has touted extending the Milk Income Loss Compensation while in Congress.  The MILC program is a $2.5 Billion dollar farm subsidy that is not needed, given that milk prices are at high levels right now.  Of course, in Wisconsin it's nearly impossible to get elected without pandering to farmers.  Still, as someone who vehemently objects to pork, this is a hard pill to swallow.

Finally, while I do think that the tax burden in our state is too high and needs to be reduced, I'm skeptical about Green's approach.  He seems to be going around talking about tax breaks for this and that, like he's trying to give away prizes and buy votes.  Of course, Jim Doyle is doing similar things by talking up increased spending on different areas.  What I'd like to see from Mark Green is a more solid plan on cutting spending, not just decreasing taxes.  Green's plan includes a desire to put real caps on government spending, but to be honest this isn't enough.  Lots of people say they will cap or cut spending.  The proof is in the pudding though.  Give me some real examples of programs you'd cut.  Put your name on the line before the election, and prove to me you mean it.