With the country in a national recession, a projected state budget deficit of $5 billion and Wisconsin unemployment on the rise, it seems Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, would have his hands full gearing up for the new legislative session.
Instead, proving he is never one to sweat the small stuff - especially when it comes to the UW - Nass raised a ruckus last week over a posting on the UW-Madison Law School website advertising internships with state Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson's election campaign.
In a press release, Nass stated, It appears that the chief justice's campaign is using her influence and office to solicit campaign workers through the UW-Madison Law School.""
Nass also stated that ""the description of these internships is clearly unseemly, unethical and possibly illegal.""
Nass' concerns would be legitimate if UW-Madison routinely favored certain political parties or figures in job or internship postings and denied others. However, UW-Madison regularly offers its students opportunities to get involved in politics with organizations and actors on both sides of the aisle. Students in the political science department receive e-mails about internships across the political spectrum.
Nass' concerns would also carry more weight if he was not guilty of the same misconduct of which he accused Abrahamson. On the UW-Whitewater political science department's web page, Nass' office is listed as an internship option for students.
Rep. Nass should get back to work and stop wasting his constituents' time and money with petty and hypocritical complaints.
A new era of politics is upon us, brought on by serious problems and the demand for pragmatic leadership. The members of Nass' district and the Wisconsin people deserve more from a representative than dreamt up conspiracy theories. There is real work to be done and Nass should focus on doing it.
