Green, Walker start to throw some jabs

Voter, voter in the hall -- who's the most right-wing of all?

It's far from real political combat, but the Republican primary for governor is beginning to hear up just a tad as Scott Walker and Mark Green sharpen their appeals to the GOP base.

Green and Walker have run a pretty polite contest so far, with the primary still 11 months away.

When they appear together they are cordial, and the media make it sound as though Green and Walker agree on everything.

But campaigns are about drawing distinctions, and the two Rs are going to have to start to separate themselves and give Republicans a reason to support them.

In a mild way, that process is beginning.

Walker, on his blog:

Next, we have a candidate from Washington. The Congressman [Green]is a friend of mine and a good person, but he doesn't have a track record putting together a budget without a property tax levy increase or serving in an executive position.

The Congressman and I often speak together at functions across the state and I hear him point to his experience in Washington – not just his voting record, but his experience as a part of the House leadership - as a basis for his election. Still, I think a number of fiscal conservatives like me are frustrated that the Congress has not done more to control spending.

Green will have his chance now to show his conservative credentials by protecting tax cuts for the wealthy in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and $5 billion a month spending on the war in Iraq. The Washington Post reports the House GOP wants to cut $50 billion from the budget for health care for the poor, food stamps and farm supports, as well as considering across-the-board cuts in other programs.

House Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas has not ruled out cuts to Medicare and his committee will also look at cuts to welfare and other programs that help low-income families. The House Education and the Workforce Committee is looking at $18 billion in cuts and the Agriculture Committee's $3 billion in cuts. The cuts are expected to largely come from student loan programs and food stamps.

Green serves on the Republican Study Committee, which has proposed to cut spending by $102.1 billion in this year's budget.

Maybe Walker's complaint is that Green doesn't support the cuts of his own Republican Study Committee. Or does he?

Meanwhile, Green's campaign newsletter takes some jabs at Walker:

Say What?

A recent press release from Scott Walker's campaign touted the Milwaukee County executive as "the Only Candidate, Republican or Democrat, that Pledges to Sign a Tax Freeze and Support a Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR)."

Not true.

Mark has said in a number of forums and press releases he supports both a tax freeze and constitutional limits on spending at the state and local level (TABOR). Here's one of several statements Mark made in support of the tax freeze.

And here's an example from an interview with blogger-extraordinaire Owen from Boots and Sabers:

O (Owen): What's your position on the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, and do you have a position on specifically, the Lassee/Wood version?

MG (Mark Green): I do support TABOR. I've long believed we need to put into our constitution, our law, spending and taxing controls.

Truth is, Mark is the only candidate who's pledged not to run for re-election if he does not lower the tax burden on Wisconsin families. Check out Mark's record on taxes and his taxpayer pledge.

Poll Round-Up

Mark Green is significantly outperforming Scott Walker. In the first two independent tests of the GOP candidates against Doyle, Green handily outpaced Walker.

It's still mild feinting and jabbing as the contenders feel each other out in the early rounds. Here's hoping it turns into a real slugfest. I'll hold their coats.