Government and Political Roundup: Santorum, Romney plan more stops today through state

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Rick Santorum will visit the birthplace of the Republican Party today. It’s the “Little White School House” in Ripon – and it’s one of several Wisconsin campaign stops planned by Santorum before tomorrow’s presidential primary. The former Pennsylvania senator also plans to visit Shawano, Appleton, Oshkosh, and Menasha – where another round of bowling is on his agenda. Meanwhile, G-O-P front-runner Mitt Romney has an appearance planned in Green Bay close to the lunch hour, and a late afternoon town hall meeting in Milwaukee. Yesterday in Middleton, Romney promised a strong military if elected – and he vowed to help Americans get out of poverty, and give small businesses a better chance to achieve success. The former Massachusetts governor said President Obama did not cause the Great Recession – but he didn’t cure it, either. Romney said he would push for a simpler tax code, and no taxes on interest or capital gains for those making less than 200-thousand dollars a year. In West Bend, Santorum said a lot of people must think he’ll do well tomorrow – otherwise, Romney wouldn’t get so many big endorsements. U-S Senator Ron Johnson endorsed Romney yesterday, and House Republicans Paul Ryan and Jim Sensenbrenner have done the same.

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Rick Santorum says he’ll continue his presidential campaign if he loses the Wisconsin primary tomorrow. The former Pennsylvania senator has made an all-out push to win the Badger State, as he trails Mitt Romney by 2-to-1 in the national delegate count. Santorum would need about three-fourths of the remaining delegates to win the nomination. But on “Fox News Sunday,” Santorum said quitting now would be like Kansas giving up when they were 10 points down on Saturday night, before coming back to beat Ohio State to advance to tonight’s N-C-A-A national basketball title game. On N-B-C’s “Meet the Press,” Santorum said the Wisconsin vote will send a “strong signal” about the direction of the Republican contest. But he rejected the idea that long primary battle would hurt the G-O-P’s chances to remove President Obama in November. Santorum said the Republican establishment is trying to convince voters that quote, “they need Mitt Romney shoved down their throats.” Santorum claims he’s only the real conservative in the G-O-P field. But it’s Romney that’s getting the big endorsements. Wisconsin U-S Senator Ron Johnson was the latest to endorse Romney yesterday, after House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan of Janesville did the same on Friday. On A-B-C’s “This Week,” Ryan said he hoped a big win tomorrow would get conservatives to quote, “coalesce around the Romney campaign and move on to the general election.”

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State lawmakers are starting to react to calls to repeal Wisconsin’s “Castle Doctrine” law – and it does not look like it will happen any time soon. Lawmakers from both parties are supporting the measure – which assumes that homeowners are justified in using deadly force on intruders. It’s been the subject of two protest rallies since 20-year-old Bo Morrison was killed in Slinger last month. He ran into a man’s house to hide from police officers who were breaking up an underage party he attended – and he was shot by the homeowner. Milwaukee Assembly Democrat Tamara Grigsby said the homeowner made a “grave error in killing a young man.” But Washington County prosecutors said the killing would have been justified, even if the Castle Doctrine law had not been in place. Assembly Republican Dean Kaufert of Neenah was the chief sponsor the law – and he said homeowners in frightening situations should not have to worry about being prosecuted for protecting themselves. Opponents of the law note that Morrison was black. And they’ve linked his killing to that of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, a black teen killed in Florida under that state’s “Stand Your Ground” law. But the Democratic leader of the Wisconsin Assembly is not pushing for a repeal. Peter Barca of Kenosha said he supports people’s rights to defend themselves and their families from intruders. A number of Democrats voted for the Castle Doctrine law last year. It passed the Assembly 71-to-24, and the Senate 26-to-7.

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Governor Scott Walker is expected to sign bills today to reform Wisconsin’s public education system, and protect young athletes who get concussions. State School Superintendent Tony Evers is scheduled to join the Republican Walker in signing the education package this morning at an elementary school in Wausau. Among other things, teachers-and-principals will start being evaluated in part on their students’ test scores. And kindergarteners must get screening exams before starting school. Two bi-partisan task forces suggested the changes. At one point, Evers said the changes didn’t go far enough – because they exempt charter schools and low-income students who get state vouchers to attend private schools. Also today, the Republican Walker plans to sign five other bills at a plant in Woodruff. And he’ll go to Lambeau Field in Green Bay this afternoon to sign the bill on youth concussions. It requires participants in all youth sports to leave their competitions upon getting concussions or head injuries – and they cannot return until health care providers give them written clearance. The W-I-A-A and the state Department of Public Instruction will come up with guidelines and educational materials for coaches, parents, and athletes. And adult coaches and referees will be exempt from liability until gross negligence or misconduct can be proven.

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Tom Barrett promised yesterday not to throw mud at his Democratic opponents in the governor’s recall race – but only if they make the same promise. Barrett signed a “clean campaign pledge” that includes fines for charity if his primary opponents violate it. But the pledge is going nowhere, because Kathleen Falk’s people say they won’t sign it. In a letter, Barrett told fellow Democratic candidates Falk, Kathleen Vinehout, and Doug La Follette they must be united in quote, “the only mission that matters – recalling Scott Walker and moving our state forward.” The four Democrats will square off in the May eighth primary – and that winner goes against Walker on June fifth. Among other things, Barrett’s agreement tries to temper the state’s biggest labor unions, which are endorsing Falk and tried to keep Barrett out of the governor’s race. Barrett’s pledge calls for fines to charity for candidates who attack each other by name in their advertising – and if outside groups attack a Democrat by name, the target would also pay a fine. U-S Senate Republican Scott Brown of Massachusetts had a similar pledge in effect during his campaign against Democrat Elizabeth Warren – and Brown made two payments to charity. Falk spokesman Scot Ross says his boss won’t sign a similar agreement. But he agrees the focus during the primary should be to defeat the Republican Walker. La Follette said he’s not sure how such a deal could be policed.

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Janesville House Republican Paul Ryan has apologized, after he accused a military leader of not giving Congress its “true advice” on President Obama’s proposed budget. Ryan – the House Budget Chairman – questioned General Martin Dempsey’s claim that Obama’s 614-billion-dollar defense spending plan was adequate for the next fiscal year. But on two national T-V talk shows yesterday, Ryan said he “really misspoke” when he questioned Dempsey’s comments. And he said he apologized in a call to the head of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff. Generals are required under oath to give Congress their personal views on national security matters, even if they conflict with what the president proposes as the commander-in-chief. Ryan discussed the matter when he appeared on A-B-C’s “This Week” and C-N-N’s “State of the Union” program.

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