This is What's Wrong with Politics

All a vast majority of Americans want, is for our lawmakers to work together on behalf of us to improve our Country.  That is it.  Is it really that difficult?

Well yes it is.  Especially if you are a Democrat or Republican.  You have to do what the party bosses tell you and you can't think for yourself or work with the other guys.

In Madison a Democratic Lawmaker was working with a Republican on a bill for free speech.  They were working together to make the bill a bipartisan bill.   Kewaskum Republican Jesse Kremer was asking for help with the bill from Milwaukee Democrat Evan Goyke.  The Milwaukee Democrat suggested they work with Democrat Rep Reimer.  They were working on a Bipartisan effort.  Below is the report from MaciverInstitute.

MaciverInstitute:

Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) spoke with MacIver News to explain what happened. Kremer says he first asked Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) to work with him on the Campus Free Speech Act. Goyke suggested that free speech may be more up Riemer's alley since he graduated from the University of Chicago - the matriarch of free speech principles.

Some of Kremer's caucus members were hesitant at first, questioning Riemer's motives and wondering "what's he trying to pull?" Kremer insisted that his goal was to try to get the bill "to the point where both sides of the aisle could...agree on some things...and at the same time we're not compromising our bill, but that we think our entire caucus would vote for."

The morning of June 21st, the day of the bill's assembly vote, Riemer pulled Kremer out of caucus to bounce ideas around on how to improve the bill. Kremer commented that "some of his ideas weren't that bad, they actually made the bill better, stronger even." As they worked in the back of the parlor, Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) and Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison) were "hovering around, watching us, kind of like vultures...but [Riemer] kept working."

These Representatives were doing exactly what the Wisconsin and American Citizens want.  Working together.  However it didn't go over to well with the Demcorat Leaders.  When the amendment to the bill was presented Democratic Leader Peter Barca went ballistic.  The Democratic leader refused to hear the amendment and said it wouldn't be considered.

Quickly things escalated and the Democratic Leadership was going to make Rep. Evan Goyke pay for working with the Democrats.

 MaciverInstitute:

When Barca called for informal session to review the new amendment, Kremer "heard Chris Taylor was just screaming at Rep. Riemer. [Democrats] were cursing him out on the floor when we had taken that break. They were all over hovering around his desk. After this all happened I looked over at him and he was sitting there with his head down for the next hour and I thought he had just given up and he was just beat back, but no. He came over to my side of the room...and he brings the amendment over to me, says I've been reviewing this...and it looks good to go."

Public humiliation on the floor wasn't the only retaliation from his fellow Democrats. The Assembly Chief Clerk's office confirmed that Riemer was removed from the Ways and Means committee on June 28th and replaced by Rep. Melissa Sargent (D-Madison). Legislators with sophomore standing or above, like Riemer, are allowed one and a half staffers, but after the free speech blowback Riemer lost his half staffer. His staff is now equivalent to that of a freshman legislator's. According to Kremer, Riemer expressed concerns earlier that day that this might be the end of his political career.

 Politicians often pay the price from their own Political Party if they try to work with the other side. 

Unfortunately for these life long Politicians, it is all about the next election and getting elected, re-elected and the power.  What is ultimately right for us really isn't important.