Jeff Wood appears to have a problem, and I don't think I'm alone in hoping that he can conquer whatever demons are plaguing him. He's making some bad decisions, but he's not a bad guy.
But that said, let's not pretend that Jeff Wood is unique. Let's take a moment to look at the Legislature's Honor Roll of OWI offenders from this decade alone:
How pathetic is it that I just stared at this list for ten minutes wondering if I got everyone? Oh, and that's just in this decade, and those are just the ones who've been caught. If we went into the 90's, I could continue - Dave Plombon, Tom Springer, Roger Breske blowing a .27 in Fitchburg in 1996 and being unable to recite the alphabet, on and on and on.
Besides that, there are a hundred other stories of leggies getting bombed after work at local watering holes and doing stupid things. Some of those stories become the stuff of legend - like the time when a certain Northwoods legislator got completely toasted at Genna's and ended up falling down the stairs and landing on a lobbyist?
Here's the reality. If legislators weren't in denial about it, they would know the culture of alcoholism that they've fostered over the years is perhaps the single largest contributory factor to their own inability to enact meaningful reform. Would AssGOP leadership seriously like me to believe that they never knew Jeff Wood liked to drink during his many years as a member of their caucus? That he might have had a problem? That Wood was totally straightedge during those six years he spent in their caucus, and his issues only surfaced after he switched parties?
But you know what legislators say? They say things like "who am I to judge?" and "we're just having a good time" and "I don't want to piss so-and-so off because I might need their vote someday." The state Legislature is a disgusting culture of looking the other way when leggies behave badly. Nobody is individually responsible for another member's behavior, but they collectively tolerate a culture of alcoholism, adultery, and generally bad behavior. It's an embarrassment to the people of Wisconsin.
The real problem is that Republican and Democratic leaders in the Legislature don't have the stones to confront the bigger issue. The Assembly shouldn't expel Jeff Wood. It doesn't deserve the opportunity to make itself look like it's taking the problem seriously when it's actually looking for nothing more than a way to distract voters. But here are three suggestions that would perhaps help clean up the body for real. All could simply be added to the Assembly and Senate Rules.
Whatever happens in the coming days and weeks shouldn't be about Jeff Wood. It should be about addressing the very serious cultural problems that exist within the state Legislature, and how the Legislature intends to address them. Making Jeff Wood the goat might feel good but it doesn't fix anything.
But that said, let's not pretend that Jeff Wood is unique. Let's take a moment to look at the Legislature's Honor Roll of OWI offenders from this decade alone:
Jeff Wood (three times since election)
Russ Decker (he got plastered at a Tavern League reception, took the car out, and his Senate colleagues responded by making him Majority Leader a few years later. Classy.)
Dave Travis
Lorraine Seratti (she ran a stop sign, berated the cop and then blew twice the legal limit)
Frank Boyle (remember how he reportedly pissed his pants at the station?)
Jason Fields
Mike Ellis (former Senate Majority Leader)
Shirley Krug (former Assembly Minority Leader)
How pathetic is it that I just stared at this list for ten minutes wondering if I got everyone? Oh, and that's just in this decade, and those are just the ones who've been caught. If we went into the 90's, I could continue - Dave Plombon, Tom Springer, Roger Breske blowing a .27 in Fitchburg in 1996 and being unable to recite the alphabet, on and on and on.
Besides that, there are a hundred other stories of leggies getting bombed after work at local watering holes and doing stupid things. Some of those stories become the stuff of legend - like the time when a certain Northwoods legislator got completely toasted at Genna's and ended up falling down the stairs and landing on a lobbyist?
Here's the reality. If legislators weren't in denial about it, they would know the culture of alcoholism that they've fostered over the years is perhaps the single largest contributory factor to their own inability to enact meaningful reform. Would AssGOP leadership seriously like me to believe that they never knew Jeff Wood liked to drink during his many years as a member of their caucus? That he might have had a problem? That Wood was totally straightedge during those six years he spent in their caucus, and his issues only surfaced after he switched parties?
But you know what legislators say? They say things like "who am I to judge?" and "we're just having a good time" and "I don't want to piss so-and-so off because I might need their vote someday." The state Legislature is a disgusting culture of looking the other way when leggies behave badly. Nobody is individually responsible for another member's behavior, but they collectively tolerate a culture of alcoholism, adultery, and generally bad behavior. It's an embarrassment to the people of Wisconsin.
The real problem is that Republican and Democratic leaders in the Legislature don't have the stones to confront the bigger issue. The Assembly shouldn't expel Jeff Wood. It doesn't deserve the opportunity to make itself look like it's taking the problem seriously when it's actually looking for nothing more than a way to distract voters. But here are three suggestions that would perhaps help clean up the body for real. All could simply be added to the Assembly and Senate Rules.
But would any legislator have the nerve to crash the party and bring all the fun to an end? Of course not. Even the ones it wouldn't affect, the ones who don't get sloppy, the ones who are upstanding people, they don't have the nerve to do it either. They're too worried about how it would hurt them politically.
- Legislators are not permitted to serve alcohol at fundraisers, nor attend fundraisers or lobbying events at which alcohol is served. Think of it as a personal behavior code for people who need one. Plus, it ends these interest group drinkathons at various venues around the Capitol once and for all.
- A legislator who incurs an OWI conviction in office automatically surrenders their seniority within the body and is barred from holding a leadership position for two full terms following the conviction. That means giving up chairmanships and surrendering any additional staff that their seniority or position affords them.
- A legislator who incurs a second OWI conviction while in the Legislature is automatically expelled from the body.
Whatever happens in the coming days and weeks shouldn't be about Jeff Wood. It should be about addressing the very serious cultural problems that exist within the state Legislature, and how the Legislature intends to address them. Making Jeff Wood the goat might feel good but it doesn't fix anything.
6 comments:
Sounds like a good idea. My only caveat would be that whoever assumes the leadership role/chairmanship should also take on the staff person, at least until the end of the session, rather than finding someone new. Staff shouldn't be punished for the transgressions of their bosses.
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
Legislative leaders are NOT nannies. They have no business imposing their moral values as relates to drinking (or anything else) on any other member.
Legislators are elected by the citizens of their district, and accountable to them. I'd bet most voters would say "I don't care if you drink (screw around, whatever), just vote the way I tell you to, dammit!"
IF Jeff Wood should be disciplined for anything (and I do mean IF), it's because his 55,000 constituents are un-represented on days he's absent from the Assembly.
If he can't perform the duties of his job as defined in the state Constitution - to be there, on the Assembly floor, and to vote on behalf of his consituents - then he ought to be expelled.
That's the only reason.
But these 2 recent arrests have nothing to do with alcohol. As I understand he was under the influence of lorazepam and possibly other stuff. That and the fact that it's occurred so many times recently makes this case stand out.
You make a good point, but Jeff Wood is not a good example of it. He clearly has some issues beyond the occasional drunken mishap.
I don't know how you can't bring yourself to call for his expulsion. Clearly this criminal behavior is above what has been seen before, and a recall won't remove him from office until at least late February. He's clearly not going to resign, so there's only one way for him to be shown the door.
As for the precedents already set, how about setting a new one of a higher standard for conduct in office? Maybe some of the other drunks (and other assorted substance abusers) will get the message.
Expel him now, because one of these days the headline will be, "State Legislator Kills Person in OWI Accident."
He probably isn't resigning because he can't afford to. Legislators are paid pretty well for what is essentially a part-time job, but it isn't a fortune. He probably doesn't have very much in the way of savings and would lose his health insurance.
In that case, it is an economically sound decision to not resign his job. Resigning would certainly be the moral high ground, but, honestly, would you resign in his position?
As far as expelling him, I guess it comes down to this. He will never get a fair hearing in the legislature; it would all be politics, not justice. RS is right; if it had happened quietly, his legislative colleagues would have done nothing.
On the other hand, he chose his hand. No one forced him to run for the legislature. No one forced him to drink and drive or to drive while under the influence of drugs that clearly impaired his ability to drive. The political body that he chose to join will now judge him politically.
I don't think he should be expelled before he is convicted. No matter how guilty he seems now, it sets a dangerous precedent. What if J. B. Van Hollen sent a bunch of D.C.I. investigators to search the offices of someone in the Democratic leadership but refused to comment on an "ongoing investigation"? It would certainly raise suspicions, and might lead to calls for expulsion. That would be one way to get rid of a political opponent.
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