It’s been a long campaign season in Wisconsin, as the race for governor heated up long before the September primary. With the election only days away, The Chronicle interviewed the major gubernatorial candidates on issues specifically relating to the Jewish community to help voters make informed choices when they go to the polls this coming Tuesday.
The candidates are Jim Doyle, Democratic Party; Alan D. Eisenberg, Reform Party; Scott McCallum, Republican Party; and Ed Thompson, Libertarian Party. We asked them questions relating to their positions on:
• Public funding for private religious education.
• Minority rights in the Wisconsin prison system, where recently enacted administrative rules have interfered with Jewish prisoners’ religious observances.
• Charitable choice, the idea of providing government funds to religious social service organizations.
• The Family Care program, which, as reported in the Oct. 11 Chronicle, is a state pilot program currently operating in five counties seeking to aid the elderly to live “with dignity” for as long as possible and in a way that is more cost-efficient than in the current system. As reported, some advocates of the program are concerned that its funding may be at risk.
At press time, the Ed Thompson Campaign for Governor had not returned our requests for an interview.
Jim Doyle
Jim Doyle grew up with politics in his blood. His father, James Doyle Sr., was one of the founders of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, a candidate for governor and federal judge. His mother, Ruth, served in the state assembly and was dean of the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Doyle, 56, said he mostly aligns himself with the party — he’s in favor of abortion rights, against the death penalty and pro-environment.
A strong supporter of public education, Doyle said, “The quality of education, in general, and school funding have emerged as important campaign issues. Since public money is provided to private religious schools, we must make sure that these institutions are held to the same accountability standards as public schools.
“However, I don’t think the voucher school system is the way to improve the schools in Wisconsin. But since there are many children in them at this time and I wouldn’t want them to get caught in the crossfire, I will maintain the program as it presently exists with no plans for expansion,” he said.
As the state’s top law enforcement officer, Doyle said, “I think all prisoners should have the right to exercise their religion within our prison system. However, we need to keep those rights within our institutional requirements. For example, giving wine to Jewish inmates on Friday night goes beyond those requirements. But experiencing spirituality within the prison system is a good thing for our inmates.”
A national leader in fighting to improve public health, Doyle said it is his goal to expand, not cut, funding for senior care. He supports funding for the Meals on Wheels program and Family Care.
Doyle recognized the effort nationally and locally to implement charitable choice, the public funding of social services programs operated by sectarian organizations such as churches and synagogues.
“I am opposed to permitting religious institutions to receive funds for faith-based initiatives,” he said.
“I do, however, support providing public funds for religiously affiliated organizations such as Jewish Family Services or Catholic Charities, which do not promote religious practice. However, if churches and synagogues raised their own money, they should be able to use it as they choose.”
Alan D. Eisenberg
The only Jewish candidate ever to run for governor of Wisconsin, Alan Eisenberg, a Reform Party candidate, is facing an uphill battle.
An attorney in Milwaukee for more than 30 years, Eisenberg admits his has been a legacy of controversy. He has been called the most controversial lawyer in Wisconsin, “King of the Hired Guns” and a “mean, tough, flamboyant gun for hire.”
But Eisenberg was also named by Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz to his list of best lawyers in America, which was published by Town and Country Magazine.
Eisenberg, 61, was born in Milwaukee and comes from a family of attorneys. He has never held public office, although he ran unsuccessfully for Milwaukee County Clerk in 1988.
Owing to his Jewish roots, Eisenberg said he strongly supports the school choice program and, if elected, would expand it statewide.
“As a Jew, I think the standards for Jewish education are the baseline for the country. We set the standards for education because we have been educating our people for 6,000 years.”
Also, he thinks voucher school programs should be as accountable to the taxpayers as public schools. “Even more so,” he said.
A teacher of criminology at Milwaukee Area Technical College, Eisenberg believes the state should determine appropriate religious practices for Wisconsin prisoners.
“There is an aggressive chaplaincy program in the state that administers to Jews. We must accommodate their needs, for example, to provide kosher food.”
As the immediate past vice president of Friends for Seniors, Eisenberg believes Family Care should be universal, “but subject to local, not state, control. The local communities know better what’s going on with their citizens.
“We need bigger and better senior centers all over the state. Also, I’ve attempted to begin support groups for widows and widowers, etc., which I would move forward, if elected. And where will the money come from for such programming? By keeping our shared revenue right here where it belongs. We shouldn’t pay for someone else’s program with our money.”
Eisenberg said, “I support expansion of the Family Care program any way I can. I’m sick and tired of health care professionals being underpaid and therefore our facilities being understaffed. We need to provide for long-term health care throughout the state.”
Scott McCallum
Scott McCallum, 52, wasn’t always a Republican. His father, George, was a Democrat and union representative for the letter carriers in Fond du Lac; and one of McCallum’s professors at Macalester College was former vice president Hubert Humphrey, a liberal Democrat.
At Macalester, McCallum tried to organize a union in the cafeteria. But after a stint as an intern in Washington for Rep. William Steiger, a Republican, he changed his affiliation. At one time he was labeled a liberal, but by the early 1990s, he was declaring himself a conservative — he is pro-life and supports the death penalty.
A past opponent of tax credits for parents of children in private schools, he now is a strong proponent of school choice.
“The choice program is always challenging, but I do want to hold it to the same accountability and standards as public schools. Theoretically, I’d like to see our public schools improve so we don’t need a Choice program. I want excellence in education at all levels so parents will have no incentive to go elsewhere.
“However, at this time, I would veto any attempt to eliminate the program because it is helping both the students and the parents. Further, I think it helps encourage reform in public education. As the parents have alternatives, public education needs to respond. I think parents know what’s best for their children.”
McCallum thinks all religious rights should be adhered to for inmates in Wisconsin prisons.
“In the pursuit of religious freedom, if the standards are not met, I think the prisoners have the right to sue,” he said.
Known for his mission to lower Wisconsin’s tax burden, McCallum said, “As governor, I am proud that I was able to initiate a most generous bill regarding Family Care. It calls for an increase of $32 million to help the needy, older adults and people with disabilities. Tax-wise, though, I strongly believe people have to live within their means; this is one of my priorities. Also, I am committed to Badger Care, which helps 177,000 seniors obtain prescription drugs at a lower cost.”
Regarding charitable choice, McCallum supports a partnership between the private sector and non-profit organizations.
“Social services are very important to each community. However, I think such programs should be administered on a voluntary basis, community by community, because each community knows the most about their own needs.”
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