(Madison) – Lieutenant Governor candidate and State Representative  Brett Davis has learned that the Wisconsin Department of Corrections is now using state dollars to pay for driver’s licenses and state-issued identification cards for prison inmates.  Davis learned the policy change went into effect on July 1 of this year.  Previously, inmates were charged for the licenses and ID Cards. 

“As families across Wisconsin struggle to make ends meet, it makes no sense for the taxpayers to pick up the tab for driver’s licenses for inmates,” said Davis.  “Governor Doyle should immediately end this ill-advised program.  We shouldn’t be giving special privileges to prisoners.”

Obtaining a new driver’s license cost $43 including costs associated with the driving skills test, which, under the new policy, the state will also pay.

“Rather than giving an inmate a $43 break, why not help out a law abiding taxpayer, or use the money to balance the budget,” asked Davis.  “These absurd spending programs continue to show Governor Doyle to be hopelessly tone deaf to the will of the people of Wisconsin.”

Davis also expressed concerns about the immigration implications of issuing State ID cards to prisoners. 

“As the Doyle Administration not only issues but pays for ID cards for prisoners, I hope they are at least ensuring they are not giving a state ID card to a criminal immigrant who should not be allowed to stay in our state once they’ve shown they are unwilling to follow our laws,” said Davis.

(Madison) – State Representative Brett Davis’s campaign for lieutenant governor has won the backing of 23 state legislators.  Davis announced an endorsement list today that included a broad list of legislative backers from all parts of the state. 

"Brett Davis’s plan to transform the lieutenant governor’s office into a taxpayer watchdog is exactly what our state needs right now," said State Representative Mark Honadel.  “Brett has the experience and the vision to actually make the lieutenant governor relevant to the people of Wisconsin.”

“Brett is the only candidate in this race who has direct experience working on state issues,” said State Senator Ted Kanavas.  “Given the current state budget disaster, taxpayers need a hard-working conservative in the Lt. Governor’s office who will hit the ground running.  Wisconsin needs Brett Davis.”

Davis has based his campaign for lieutenant governor on a pledge to transform the position into the leading taxpayer watchdog in the state with the chief mission of rooting out waste, fraud and abuse.  Each year Davis serves as lieutenant governor he will propose an amount equal to at least 100 times the lieutenant governor’s office budget in wasteful government spending to eliminate. 

The 2011 operations budget for the office of lieutenant governor was $390,800.  Under Davis’ formula he would then propose nearly $40 million in government spending cuts in his first year in office. 

 “I am honored to be recognized for my efforts and receive the endorsement of these key legislative leaders,” said Davis.  “I look forward to working with the Legislature to eliminate wasteful government spending.”

Davis was elected to his south central Wisconsin Assembly District as one of the youngest members of the Legislature in 2004. Despite liberal special interest groups spending over a million dollars attacking him, Davis managed to win reelection twice in a district where President Barack Obama took 64% of the vote.

In addition to his legislative service, Davis is a small businessman working as a Realtor for Hedeman Real Estate Company and serving as the immediate past president of the Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce.

Davis has also been endorsed by Wisconsin Right to Life, Governor Tommy Thompson, the majority of Waukesha County GOP executive board members (as individuals), Congressman Mark Green and former State Representative and 2006 candidate for lt. governor Jean Hundertmark.  In addition to these endorsements, Davis was leading vote getter on each of the three ballots cast in the lieutenant governor’s race at the 2010 Republican Party of Wisconsin state convention with a margin of at least 12 percent over his next closest rival.

The following state legislators have endorsed Brett Davis for Lieutenant Governor:

Sen. Ted Kanavas

Rep. Mark Honadel

Rep. Robin Vos

Rep. Samantha Kerkman

Sen. Randy Hopper

Sen. Joe Leibham

Rep. Mike Huebsch

Rep. Kitty Rhoades

Rep. Scott Suder

Rep. Jeff Mursau

Rep. Gary Bies

Rep. Joan Ballweg

Rep. Mary Williams

Sen. Mike Ellis

Rep. John Nygren

Rep. Gary Tauchen

Rep. Tom Lothian

Rep. Steve Kestell

Rep. Dean Kaufert

Rep. Dick Spanbauer

Rep. John Townsend

Rep. Dan Knodl

Rep. Keith Ripp

In response to Tom Barrett’s plan to “Eliminate Pension Bonus for Political Insiders, save Wisconsin Taxpayers $1.7 million” Brett Davis released the following statement:

This press release shows exactly why if elected, Tom Barrett would be 4 more years of Jim Doyle.  On one hand Barrett wants to build an $800 million not so high-speed rail, increase overall state spending and oppose meaningful reforms that will control the cost of public education, and on the other hand he claims to “save taxpayers money” by cutting certain public employee pension contributions to 11.6% of payroll.

Earlier this year the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute released a report that compared public and private sector pension contributions in Wisconsin¹.  The report states “the average employer contribution for private sector plans is 5.3% of payroll.”  Barrett’s proposal would be more appropriately titled “State Employee Pension Plan: Doubling Down on the Private Sector.” 

It’s time to bring state spending in-line with the private sector on employee pension contributions.

The State of Wisconsin has a $2.5 billion budget deficit.  Taking the numbers Barrett provides in his own press release, this proposal would account for 0.068% of our current deficit.  If Barrett thinks that reductions in employee pension contributions will account for less than one tenth of one percent of our current structural deficit, I can only imagine the tax increases he plans to enact to make up the rest. 

It’s time to put an end to legacy train projects, wasteful spending, and Cadillac pension deals for state employees.  I have pledged to transform the office of Lieutenant Governor into a top taxpayer watchdog constantly focused on rooting out fraud, waste and abuse.  I plan to work hand-in-hand with our next Republican Governor candidate to stand up and speak loudly about some of the practical implications of Barrett’s tax and spend policies and expose truth about his plans to “save taxpayers money.” 

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¹ http://www.wpri.org/Reports/Volume23/Vol23No2/Vol23No2.html

Paid for by Brett Davis for Lieutenant Governor Jason Thompson, Treasurer

At a time when the Milwaukee Public School (MPS) District is broke, nearly 60% of 10th graders in the district can't read, and 70% can't perform math at proficient levels, the teachers union negotiated an agreement where some teachers will receive taxpayer reimbursement for spring break hotel expenses.

In response to this development State Representative and candidate for lieutenant governor Brett Davis released the following statement:

At a time when many Wisconsin families can’t afford a vacation, it is outrageous to think that taxpayers could be on the hook for MPS teachers’ spring break expenses.  MPS is in desperate need of reform and Wisconsin citizens simply cannot afford more irresponsible spending by the Milwaukee Public School District.

By standing in the way of meaningful education reform, the teachers union, Governor Jim Doyle, and legislative democrats made this type of wasteful spending possible.  Republican efforts to reform our public school education system and enable school districts to control costs were squashed by complete Democrat control of government in Wisconsin. 

When I kicked off my campaign I pledged to transform the lieutenant governor's office into the leading taxpayer watchdog in the state with the chief mission of routing out waste, fraud and abuse.  The experience I have serving as the ranking Republican member on the Assembly Education Committee and working on education reform issues for 5 years while in the legislature will enable me to partner with the next Republican Governor stop this type of wasteful spending in our educational system.

I will not let this outrageous example of taxpayer waste go unchecked.  I will be asking the Attorney General to review the legality of using education funds for this type of expenditure. 

You can learn more about Brett Davis by visiting his webpage at www.votebrettdavis.com.