Legislative Leaders Should Step Down
By Tony Palmeri

I think it's time for Scott Jensen and Chuck Chvala to do the honorable thing and resign from their positions of leadership in the Wisconsin State Legislature. Perhaps more than anything else, the caucus scandal has revealed how these two have become literally obsessed with grabbing and holding on to power. When reading the accounts of former Democratic and Republican caucus staffers, one cannot get over how Nixonian in tone and action the legislature has become, especially at the top levels of leadership. These accounts are enough to sicken those of us who do believe that politics really can be an honorable profession.

I cannot see how honor can be returned to Wisconsin politics as long as Jensen and Chvala remain in positions of leadership. Chvala and Jensen are two of the most knowledgable members of the Legislature (Chvala has been there since 1983, Jensen since 1992), and they have much to offer. I am not suggesting that either man should resign his seat. Rather, I hope that both are able to see the obvious: the scandals plaguing the Legislature have made it impossible for them to be credible or effective as majority leaders. They should take the high road and allow others not tainted by recent events to take over.

Since there is nothing in either Scott Jensen's or Chuck Chvala's background to suggest that they would take my suggestion seriously, then I think other members of the Legislature must lead the call for resignation. Perhaps it is time for an ad hoc, bipartisan group of respected senior members of the Assembly and Senate to summon Chuck and Scott to a meeting. This ad hoc group should explain to Chuck and Scott that the interests of the people are not served when one-upsmanship, partisan posturing, and damage control are the dominant images coming out of the leadership of both houses.

--Tony Palmeri is an Associate Professor of Communication at UW Oshkosh and is co-host of an Oshkosh cable program called ``Commentary.'' He ran for the State Assembly, District 54, as a Democrat in 1996. He can be reached at Palmeri@uwosh.edu