Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany spoke at a campus event hosted by University of Wisconsin-Madison College Republicans Wednesday night, while students and community members protested him outside.
Wisconsin campaign finance reports from Sept. 30 revealed the Republican Party of Wisconsin donated over $24 million to the Tiffany campaign — money that was funded primarily by three prominent billionaires: Diane Hendricks and Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein.
Protesters carried banners reading “For Sale: Tom Tiffany,” as well as a 12-foot puppet with an “I love billionaires” sign. Tiffany spoke to students in a classroom just above the protest, where he answered questions about his legislative record and plans if elected.
Students quizzed Tiffany the most about his past congressional votes, which some believed differed with his campaign trail messaging.
Debate inside
The questioning started over Tiffany’s claims for affordable housing, where he said as governor he would make it a priority to increase young people’s home ownership.
When voting for the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, Tiffany was absent on three separate occasions. This made him the only member of the Wisconsin congressional committee who did not vote in favor.
“Oh, I don’t prioritize money, I would urge you to go back and look at my legislative record. There’s nobody who has a stronger record,” Tiffany said in response to a student questioning his absence. “I have a record of making sure that people can use [and build on] their properties, and I will continue to do that as well.”
More questions came from Tiffany's legislative record, including when Tiffany voted “Nay” five times against President Donald Trump removing U.S. forces in Iran — after he claimed in a DrydenWire podcast the U.S. should “wrap up” conflict.
“We should really wrap things up there,” Tiffany said on the podcast. “I can tell you the more important thing we need to do: I'm running for governor of the state of Wisconsin, and I want to make sure that I'm fully focused on that.”
“We need to make sure to bring down energy costs. If you’re in this country, that’s the biggest concern that has happened, right? Energy costs have went up. And the governor can do something about that in regards to utility rates,” Tiffany said.
Protest outside Grainger Hall
Students and Madison residents gathered outside of his talk in Grainger Hall at 7 p.m. where they chanted “Who’s for sale? Tom Tiffany!” The protest was part of a larger series of protests for the “Wisconsin Not for Sale!” movement, hosted by healthcare and advocacy network Wisconsin Shows Up.
Kira Zimmerman, a lifelong Madison resident, found out about the protest from her union, SEIU Wisconsin. Fifteen years after Act 10, she told The Daily Cardinal it's time for the community to take a stand and step up.
“I’ve seen what the state looks like when Republican extremists take power, and it includes destroying our unions, health care, weakening our school system and increasing poverty in our communities while putting money in the hands of billionaires,” she said.
Tiffany’s promises for Wisconsinites
Tiffany’s recurring promise of the night was to get rid of Evers’ 400-year veto that increases K-12 school funding until 2425.
“Those property taxes, in some instances, are keeping [young people] from being able to buy that home, to fix up, or build a new home,” Tiffany said. The 400-year veto is not an inherent property tax hike, but property taxes can be levied if state aid doesn’t match a $325 increase per pupil each year.
On the Nov. 3 ballot, there will be a measure to amend the constitution to limit the governor's veto power from increasing or creating any tax or fee. Tiffany’s Democratic competitor Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said he would not vote for the amendment.
Tiffany also said he wanted to see more in-state students at UW-Madison.
“We are going to put the Wisconsin back into UW, more than half the kids at UW-Madison should come from Wisconsin,” Tiffany said. “We’re all for having some kids that may come from overseas, other states, that’s wonderful… but we should make sure that a majority of the kids that the taxpayers of Wisconsin send their money to are coming from Wisconsin.”
As his speech drew to a close, Tiffany reflected on emergency responses after his plane crash on Sept. 13. He said first responders reached their plane in 16 minutes after the initial 911 call, and that he wanted everyone to see that same kind of response.
“I saw the best of Wisconsin that night,” Tiffany said. “As your governor, I’m going to make sure you see the best this time.”
Senior staff writer
