How can the entire rest of the nation be ‘wrong’ when it comes to making a first drunken driving offense a misdemeanor? Because if we are ‘right’ with not having such a law on the books then every other state must be marching to a tune that is not correct over such a policy.
Over and over it has been reported not only in this state, but also in tones of disbelief around the nation that Wisconsin slaps only a citation on the first act of getting caught while operating a vehicle while drunk. One does not need to have a degree from a fancy college, or be immersed in data and statistics to know full well that leniency when it comes to drunk driving is simply a recipe for disaster.
One also does not need to be a political reporter to know that the Wisconsin Tavern League is a most powerful and well-financed machine that makes sure sensible laws are never allowed to pass the legislature when it comes to drunk driving.
There are three Democrats seeking the nomination for attorney general next week. But one of them is out of step with those of us who know some steel in the spine is required when an attorney general deals with the issue of drunk driving.
State Rep. Jon Richards of Milwaukee and Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne have correctly stated a first drunken driving offense should be a misdemeanor. Meanwhile the third candidate in the primary, Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ, likes the way citations are now handed out to those who drunkenly weave about on our roads. Instead of hitting hard on those who are first pulled over by police when driving while drunk Happ wants repeat drunken drivers to face hasher penalties.
It should be noted that Happ has been given $1,500 from the tavern industry’s political action committee. Richards and Ozanne have not received any such funding from this political operation.
The main problem I have with Happ’s position is that she seems to think that tarring someone with a misdemeanor is such an awful outcome. They might be termed a ‘criminal’.
I come from the school of thinking where drinking and driving should be so culturally unacceptable that it would be far worse to be labeled as someone who injures or kills another as a result of being drunk. And since there is a continual public campaign to alert everyone not to drive while drinking it should then come as no surprise if one is then caught by police for doing that very thing.
Happ seems unable to say or do the correct thing when it comes to the issue of handling first-time drunk drivers. The problem is that almost every newspaper carries a story on the latest drunk driver who has been arrested on our roads. I think that if we were more harsh and demanding accountability with the first DUI we would have fewer repeat offenders.
I am trusting Wisconsin Democrats send the proper message when we cast a ballot next Tuesday by nominating a tough fighter for sober drivers who only want to make it to our destination alive.
CAFFEINATED POLITICS 
Hopefully, your readers remember the Deke Rivers’ endorsements of Attorney General Kathleen Falk (yeah, that worked out well) and State Rep. Brett Hulsey (D-Wackadoodleville). I appreciate some of Ozanne’s actions on Act 10 and not prosecuting people for bogus DOA and Capitol Pohlees denial of 1st Amendment rights. But apparently he’s not too hip on campaign finance accounting. And Jon Richards learned nothing from the caucus scandal about staff campaigning on state time. Happy times are here again with Susan.
Would not have needed a primary had Peg been responsible.