Doyle hopes for less rancor as he prepares for second term
(Published Wednesday, January 3, 2007 10:25:42 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Scott Bauer Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. - Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle plans to focus his second inaugural address on his dreams for the state, even as he hopes his own future will include greater cooperation with the Republicans who control the state Assembly.
Doyle, in an interview last month, said he wants his second term to be known for bipartisan cooperation rather than clashes with the Legislature over what he called a "divisive social agenda."
But the new Speaker of the Assembly, Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, has said that Republican-controlled body must position itself as "the last line of defense."
The 2007 session officially begins Wednesday with the inauguration of Doyle, constitutional officers and members of the Legislature.
Doyle's inauguration address is the first of three high-profile public speeches he has scheduled in the next six weeks. He will deliver his State of the State address on Jan. 30, followed by his budget speech and the release of his two-year spending plan on Feb 13.
Each speech will outline his agenda in progressively more detail, Doyle said. The inauguration address will focus on his hopes for Wisconsin's future.
"I see us at a moment in our history," Doyle said, "where 10, 15 or 20 years from now people are going to look back and say, 'Did Wisconsin really take advantage of the opportunities that it had right now?"'
Those opportunities lie in medical research, including work with embryonic stem cells, renewable energy advancements, and modernization of the manufacturing sector, he said.
Doyle, who defeated Republican Mark Green in the November election, also said he's excited about working with a Democratic-controlled Senate - something he didn't have the past two years.
Democrats control the Senate 18-15, while the Republican majority in the Assembly has been narrowed to 52-47.
"I think the message here is pretty clear," Doyle said. "Rather than just continually fight over the same old divisive social issues where one group is on one side and one group is on the other and you just fight, let's put those differences aside and focus on things that really make a difference."
There are signs that there may be greater cooperation than there was in the past two years, when both the Assembly and the Senate were controlled by Republicans and Doyle used his veto power to block the GOP agenda.
Now Doyle says he doesn't think he will have to veto another bill.
He also said the session was off to a good start given the announcement, made with Republican and Democratic lawmakers, that the Legislature would debate an ethics reform package later this month.
Still, bipartisanship may not come easy. Doyle and members of his own party have already differed on universal health care and the best way to reduce property taxes.
And Republican Party Executive Director Rick Wiley said that until Doyle releases a budget plan showing how he intends to deal with a $1.6 billion shortfall, all his promises of bipartisanship are just talk.
But first the formalities.
In advance of Wednesday's inauguration, Doyle and Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton participated in community celebrations Tuesday in Milwaukee, Superior, La Crosse, Beloit, Green Bay, Eau Claire and Wausau.
Following the ceremony and speech, the inaugural ball was set for Monona Terrace on Wednesday night with music by Grammy-winning blues artist Taj Mahal.
Associated Press writer Ryan J. Foley contributed to this report.
Summary RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND: Gov. Jim Doyle and other constitutional officers elected in November will be sworn into office on Wednesday. Joining Doyle and Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton will be newly elected Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and Democratic Treasurer Dawn Marie Mass, along with re-elected Secretary of State Doug La Follette. Also being sworn in will be all 99 members of the Assembly and 17 Senate members.
SET YOUR WATCH: The inauguration of Doyle and the other constitutional officers is at noon. Members of the Senate and Assembly will be sworn in at 2 p.m. in their respective chambers.
LET'S PARTY: Doyle will attend a free inauguration breakfast starting at 8 a.m. at Monona Terrace. The inauguration ball, which costs $25, will be at the same location. Both events are open to the public.
