Let's put some faces with the names.  Miller, Hansen, Taylor, Lehman, Robson, Lassa, Pocan, Colon, Mason, Shilling, Sherman and Grigsby.

     There they are.  Jim Doyle and his twelve apostles.  The twelve Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee who have come up with what is probably the most staggeringly anti-business, anti-taxpayer budget in the history of the State of Wisconsin.

     Even worse, if possible, it is a "budget" that includes policy provisions which endanger the safety of every man, woman and child in Wisconsin.  Specifically, this "budget" effectively does away with "truth-in-sentencing" and will result in the early release of thousands of prisoners.

     When these prisoners commit crimes (as they inevitably will), remember these names and faces.  The blood of the victims will be on their hands.

     In an effort to both allegedly save money and appease certain politically corrrect supporters, Doyle hatched a hare-brained scheme to release convicts from Wisconsin prisons early.  As a result, large numbers of felons (and multiple felons) will be turned loose into the community after serving only two-thirds of their sentence. 

      The changes approved by the Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee apply to anyone who has committed crimes on or after December 31, 1999.  In other words, think of this as the largest "get out of jail free" card ever played in the State.

     First, let's get one thing straight.  The people who are in State prison are in there for a reason. 

      Contrary to myth, it's tough to get sent to prison.  Most criminal offenders get put on probation or receive deferred sentences that includes some time in a County Jail.  If you're in State prison, it's almost always because you've committed a crime of violence, engaged in large scale criminal activity or have a lengthy criminal history.  In any event, these aren't people you would typically want moving in next door to you.

     Second, the notion that the only non-dangerous convicts will be released early is preposterous.  Look at the types of crimes that qualify for some form of early release: homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, most narcotics offenses, robbery, arson, drunk driving, several types of sexual assault - the list goes on and on. 

     As Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke has pointed out " ... this proposal plays Russian roulette with the safety and security of our seniors, women and children who are disproportionately the ones most affected by fear, violence and disorder."

     Third, Doyle claims we will save about $27 million over two years by releasing prisoners early.  $27 million!

     This is the same budget that appropriates $44 million in bonding for a new building at UW-Eau Claire, $28 million in bonds for a new building at UW,  $13 million for the Wisconsin Rapids armory, $5 million for the Bradley Center, $900,000 for two streets in Racine, $500,000 for an opera house in Oshkosh - you get the idea. Our streets will be a lot more dangerous - but that opera house in Oshkosh sure will be nice!

     Here's the bottom line.  When a multiple repeat drunk driver is released early, gets drunk again and kills someone - you should remember who turned him loose.  When a large scale drug dealer gets out early and sells heroin that kills a 13 year old girl - you should remember who turned him loose.  When a robber gets out early and breaks into the house of an elderly woman - you should remember who turned him loose.

     Doyle, Miller, Hansen, Taylor, Lehman, Robson, Lassa, Pocan, Colon, Mason, Shilling, Sherman, Grigsby and anyone else who ultimately votes for this horrendous proposal.

      If these politicians want to play politics with public safety - I guess we can't stop them.  We can however remind them that politicians who put criminals in a position to further victimize society will never be able to clean the blood off their hands! 

     Doyle, Miller, Hansen, Taylor, Lehman, Robson, Lassa, Pocan, Colon, Mason, Shilling, Sherman and Grigsby.