Rick Bailey
Retired
Democrat
Lake GenevaElected Experience
None
Q&A with the Candidate
Why should voters elect you?
I decided that I could no longer watch the chaos in D.C. and the gridlock in Madison. I am running to represent the hard working people in District 33: families, small business owners, farmers, people who need government assistance (Medicare, Medicaid, affordable access to health care, regulation of AI plus open Information and local public control of building AI plants, our precious environment.). Time to listen to the people not the wealthiest. I also hope to make our tax codes fairer, that the top tier pay their fair share. I also believe that we must fund all of our public schools equally and in a manner where they don’t have to conduct yearly or bi-yearly referendums just to maintain services for kids.
What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
Affordability is the most pressing issue for most Wisconsin families. Due to the actions of the current administration in Washington, and the almost complete rubber stamping of their policies by the Republican majorities there along with the gridlock between the Republican controlled legislature and our governor, middle class and working people are finding it harder to keep up with the cost of living: groceries, gas prices, hime cooling and heating bills. Tariffs enacted by Washington have begun to cause inflation to rise, raising the cost of everyday necessities for many, as well as the cutting of funding to states for infrastructure and relief. I would emphatically propose and support any legislative initiative that brings some much needed financial relief to the people of District 33.
How should Wisconsin government operate differently than in the past?
For far too long now politicians must pass “purity” tests not only to win elections but to maintain the needed financial support from powerful lobbies and big donors or risk defeat. Money has way too much control over not only Wisconsin but the entire country. If we are to again function with any hope of efficiency, any hope to return to the art of discussion, debate, truly listening, compromise, as our founding fathers believed we must to a great degree eliminate the clout the wealthiest have over our political system. U.S. Supreme Court decisions since the late 1970s, most notably Citizens United, are tearing us apart.
What is your favorite fun Wisconsin history fact?
As a former high school social studies teacher I would have to say is the legacy of progressivism and the career of leaders such as Fighting Bob LaFollette. During his entire career, first as a U.S. congressman from 1885 to 1891, then governor of our state from 1901 to 1906, then his 20-year career as U.S. Senator, LaFollette was always a strong advocate for the working people of Wisconsin. I have always admired his ability to grow as a politician during his long career, first as a Republican then as a leading voice of the Progressive Party that he created in 1924. We need his far sighted, human-based thinking now more than ever.