2nd Congressional District: Tammy Baldwin
1:23 PM 10/28/02

Tammy Baldwin's voting record shows that she is among the most liberal members of the U.S. House of Representatives. We'd like to endorse a candidate who better reflects the more centrist values and interests of the broader 2nd District, but her opponent, Ron Greer, isn't that candidate.

Greer, who achieved recognition as an insub- ordinate firefighter who bashes gays and lesbians, is unqualified to serve in Congress. Religious views dictates his politics, but that's not the problem: He simply lacks the background, knowledge and temperament to deal with the wide range of issues that would confront him in elected office.

Baldwin, seeking her third term in the House, has plenty of political experience and a knack for finding common ground with folks who disagree with her. She served on the Dane County Board and represented Madison in the state Assembly for six years, before winning election to Congress, where she has cultivated her reputation as a soft-spoken but tenacious advocate on social justice issues.

Baldwin will never be the conservative that many of her constituents would prefer as their representative, but she's become more attentive to the wishes of a district that grows less Madison-centered, and less liberal, with each election cycle. Baldwin keeps in touch with the folks back home with frequent "listening tours," visiting senior citizen centers, town halls and other venues where constituents can discuss issues with her.

As a member of Congress, Baldwin deserves credit for moderating her initial stand that only a single-payer, government-run system would solve the twin dilemmas of access and affordability in health care. She now believes that other states might follow the lead of Wisconsin, which has implemented BadgerCare to expand coverage to the uninsured, as a first phase of reform.

She's grown beyond the Madison Isthmus crowd that put her into local and state office, and has worked with rural interests on legislation that helps bankrupt family farmers hold onto their land while regaining financial stability.

On business issues, she's been a strong voice against anti-competitive practices that disadvantage family farms. And she stood firm against the hypocrisy of bailing out the airline industry with $15 billion while holding up a much smaller infusion of cash to keep Amtrak trains running.

She's also criticized pork barrel spending and economic boosters that favor other regions of the country over Wisconsin.

Nevertheless, Baldwin still needs to get in sync with her constituents by moderating her stance on fiscal and trade issues. She has opposed tax cuts that would help the families and working people who keep her in office, for example, and voted against fast-track authority for trade deals.

Republicans need to find a substantive, moderate candidate for the 2nd District. Until they do, Baldwin is the best choice for voters.