Too Little, Too Late

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle altered his usual Friday schedule.

Instead of issuing his normal slew of Friday vetoes, he went to Milwaukee to appear with Mayor Tom Barrett and Police Chief Nan Hegerty.

His visit was no doubt the result of noting that Republican candidate for governor Mark Green was seizing on Doyle's inattentiveness to the problem of violence in the state's largest city.

Republican attorney general candidate Paul Bucher also pointed out that Doyle and AG Peg Lautenschlager failed to swiftly respond to the violent weekend in Milwaukee with concrete measures. On Wednesday, he called on them "to release funding for an immediate increased police presence in Milwaukee County."

Doyle spokesman Matt Canter said Doyle had been "in serious conversation with the city" constantly since the weekend shootings and would lead an effort to address the issue. Doyle's physical presence in the city wasn't necessary, Canter said.

Apparently, after days of dawdling, Doyle's physical presence in the city was determined to be necessary.

Of course, it certainly wasn't necessary for Doyle to be in Milwaukee for him to offer Barrett funds to deal with the violence problem.

So why was he in Milwaukee?

Self-interest. Pure self-interest.

Doyle's slow-witted handlers finally realized that it was a mistake politically to ignore the explosion of violence in Milwaukee.

As the week went on, it became clear that it was becoming increasingly damaging for Doyle to be seen as disinterested in controlling crime in the state.

The result: a high profile news conference.

With Tom "I'm outraged" Barrett at his side, Doyle played Santa Claus.

From The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Appearing at City Hall with several officials, Gov. Jim Doyle announced the state would give Milwaukee $500,000 to expand a teen work program, and provide another $200,000 for police overtime. In addition, he said he would seek up to $1 million from the Legislature, all of which would go to Milwaukee police.

"Today we are taking decisive action to put more police on the street and kids to work, so that we all can enjoy a safe summer in Milwaukee," Doyle said, standing with the mayor, police chief and others.

Although Memorial Day weekend was particularly violent in Milwaukee, shootings and homicides are not all that unusual in certain areas of the city. Last year was one of Milwaukee's bloodiest, yet suddenly, violence is an issue.

It's unfortunate that it took a re-election campaign for Doyle to address the problem. "Unfortunate" isn't the right word. "Disgusting" might be more fitting.

Yes, it's disgusting that Doyle chooses to act now after years of negligence.

...At City Hall, Barrett said the half-million dollars from the state will put more than 1,000 teens to work this year.

"I agree with the governor that the best crime fighting program, many times, is a job," Barrett said.

What kind of jobs will these be?

Will they offer the same perks as being a gang member?

I suspect that they won't.

While teens will benefit from these employment opportunities, I'd be surprised if the gun-toting teens will seek them out.

In other words, I doubt that this additional funding will make a difference.

Rep. Mark Green of Green Bay, the Republican Party nominee for governor, said Friday he supports Doyle's call for more federal and state dollars to fight violence in Milwaukee.

...Green also said Doyle waited too long to tackle Milwaukee's violence problems.

"It's unfortunate that the governor has waited three a half years to take this up," Green added. "I wouldn't have needed to be prodded by the tragic violence over the Memorial Day weekend."

To be fair, after over three years in office, how can Doyle be expected to have taken up the problem of violence in the city?

His veto obsession leaves him little time to do much else.

Give him a break. Property tax freeze bills, concealed carry bills, voter photo ID bills -- so many vetoes, so little time.

Assembly Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo) said he had not seen details of the governor's request for $1 million for a new Milwaukee anti-violence effort. And, Gard said, it could be a "tough sell" in the full Legislature if the governor's proposal would give $1 million only to Milwaukee in the months before his November re-election, while offering no additional help to other parts of the state.

Politically speaking, it doesn't matter if the Legislature refuses to buy into Doyle's plan. All that matters is that Doyle can point out that he wanted to fund anti-crime efforts for Milwaukee.

This proposed money drop on Milwaukee is about Doyle's campaign for governor, not a campaign to alleviate crime in the city.

A competent governor would have addressed the matter long ago.
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Joint Press Release by Doyle and Barrett