State Democrats are questioning Republican commitment to the people of Wisconsin after members of the GOP chose not to attend a special legislative session Tuesday.
The session was called by Gov. Jim Doyle to address the soaring heating costs for Wisconsin residents. Doyle's initiative, 'The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program,' would provide up to $6 million for families.
In a statement Tuesday, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair Joe Wineke, said the unwillingness of Republican lawmakers to attend the session reflects their slow reaction to imminent state issues.
However, Tom Jackson, a research assistant for state Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, said it was premature to act on legislation that had not gone through the standard legislative process.
State Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said he was very disappointed with Republican's lack of responsibility.
'Fuel prices are very high, heating bills are up even though it's been a fairly mild winter'this weekend is going to be below zero in much of Wisconsin'and many families at median income levels are struggling to pay their heating bills,' Black said. Mike Prentiss, spokesperson for state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said the Republican legislators are in fact working closely with the governor's office to establish a plan that can be signed into law.
'The Republican majority in both houses has been working on the home heating issue since Gov. Doyle first expressed an interest in it,' Prentiss said.
Seth Boffeli, spokesperson for state Rep. James Kreuser, D-Kenosha, said Democrats will hold Republicans to their word about passing a heating bill next week.
'Democrats are hopeful something will happen next Tuesday'Thursday at the latest,' Boffeli said.
Since both parties said they are hopeful about passing a heating bill next week, Prentiss said Democratic disapproval was unfounded.
'Democrats complaining about a lack of action today is really nothing more than a political stunt,' he said.
UW-Madison professor of political science, Charles Franklin, commented on the ambiguity of the politics involved.
'It's unclear who's the political winner or loser from this right now. It certainly gives Democrats something they can talk about and use to accuse Republicans of being out of touch,' he said.
