Wisconsin Democrats say Republicans have made thwarting Gov. Tony Evers their priority – Madison.com

Wisconsin's Democratic legislative leaders say the first year of Gov. Tony Evers' administration has been defined by Republicans seeking to stop him from getting wins.

The result, Rep. Gordon Hintz and Sen. Jennifer Shilling said in separate year-end interviews, has been a lack of commitment to move forward on bigger issues as the state navigates the ramifications of split control after a decade of one-party rule in the Legislature and East Wing.

Republicans were very strategic from day one of trying to minimize the governor and successes and wins for him, said Shilling, who credited Evers for being the adult in the room while slamming GOP leaders for what the La Crosse Democrat called legislative absenteeism.

Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh

Hintz, D-Oshkosh, stopped short of labeling the current arrangement gridlock, saying that to reach that point, you at least have to make an attempt to find resolution.

I feel like it's been less gridlock and more there's kind of the Mitch McConnell style intentional strategy to starve the process, to try to make the governor look unsuccessful and to really play politics from the beginning, he said. So it's a little different than gridlock, but I guess some would say that's the result.

Both seemed resigned that the remainder of the session which could include floor periods in January, February and potentially March would include much of the same.

But Hintz expressed optimism that there could be more productive work ahead, saying while the political environment is tough, there are always opportunities and there's no shortage of issues.

Shilling highlighted her desire for the Senate to act on the remainder of Evers Cabinet secretary nominees in January and February. Currently, around half have yet to be taken up by the full chamber, though they can continue serving in their capacities indefinitely without a confirmation vote.

Technically (the nominees) serve at the pleasure of the governor, but this Republican Legislature has inserted itself so that the Cabinet secretaries appear to serve at the pleasure of Senate Republicans and thats not how this place was designed to operate with respect to the role of the executive branch, she said.

Looking ahead to the 2020 legislative races, when all the Assembly seats and half the Senate ones will be up for election, the pair said they were encouraged by their candidate recruitment efforts so far.

Hintz noted that in 2018, Democrats sought quality and quantity, with the result being that many challengers appeared across the state, with some in miserable seats that the party hadnt competed in recently. This time, Hintz said he hasnt yet been discouraged because I think theres so much uncertainty at the top of the ticket.

He added that without any statewide races on the ballot next November, Democrats have an opportunity to put the Legislature up for referendum.

Weve got to hold Republicans accountable for the decisions they've made and the decisions they've refused to make, he said. I'm encouraged by the candidates that we have so far in important races (meaning those that) we either came close to or the numbers indicate will be competitive.

Asked how messages that the maps are rigged have impacted candidate recruitment efforts, Shilling said she tells would-be contenders that if theyre waiting until after redistricting to run: I cant wait that long. If youre interested in doing this, weve got to do it now.

Early next year, she said, Senate Democrats would roll out the seats theyre targeting, but throughout the cycle she said the party needs to make sure that we build on the momentum of having the DNC in Milwaukee and having a crisscrossing of Democratic candidates in Wisconsin.

I wouldn't want to be Republican running next year, she said. I think just their brand is very different than what it even was four years ago and the weight of a Trump being around your neck is a heavy one.

When Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, a congressional candidate in the Milwaukee-area 5th CD, almost assuredly leaving the chamber after the fall cycle to head to Congress in 2021, both Shilling and Hintz declined to say who'd they'd prefer to work with as his successor.

Fitzgerald is so far the only Republican contender for the seat, which is being vacated by longtime U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner.

Shilling noted Fitzgerald in his time as leader has "had the ability to thread the needle" in working with the Senate GOP caucus, which she said has "certainly moved to the hard right" in recent years.

"It's a difficult caucus to manage and we'll see who can put together a coalition to get there," she said.

Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor totctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less.

Read more:

Wisconsin Democrats say Republicans have made thwarting Gov. Tony Evers their priority - Madison.com