Just got an interesting press release from the Wisconsin Democrats and Mark Pocan re: Jeff Wood's becoming an independent.

Huebsch
Strips Rep. Jeff Wood’s Committee Chairmanships, Proving GOP Can’t
Tolerate Moderates, says Pocan

 

 

Madison--On
behalf of Assembly Democrats, State Representative Mark Pocan (D-Madison) today
reached out to Rep. Jeff Wood to offer a place for him in the big tent that the
Democrats have in the Assembly.  This occurred after Assembly Speaker Mike
Huebsch stripped Wood of his committee chairmanships because Wood declared his
intention to run as an Independent this fall.

 

“The Democratic Party
is a big tent for anyone who wants to move Wisconsin forward.  Unlike the
Republican Party in the Assembly which has purged its last moderates from their
ranks, we welcome independent thinkers to our Party,” said Pocan.

 

Pocan said he consulted with
the members of the Assembly Democratic leadership team who indicated there
could be a role for Wood in the next legislature, if the Democrats take the
majority.

 

“Unlike the
Republicans, we welcome all sorts of opinions in our Party.  If the
Democrats gain the majority in the Assembly, we would offer independent
thinkers like Rep. Jeff Wood a role as a Committee Chair.  His service to
the state is valuable, and we would welcome his insight as we lead Wisconsin
forward,” added Pocan.

 

Last week, Huebsch told The
Eau Claire Chippewa Herald, “Like many of the Assembly Republican caucus,
Jeff has always been a very independent member.  He’s just kind of
made that official today. With that in mind, if Jeff gets re-elected,
we’ll certainly work with him in the next session.”

 

Today, Huebsch caved in to
the most conservative elements in his caucus by stripping Wood of his committee
chairmanships.

 

“At the rate the
Republican Party is going, the only place for a GOP moderate will be in a
museum at the side of the Dodo bird and rotary phone,” Pocan said.