Edgewater and Library projects in Madison

Here is a cartoon from today's Wisconsin State Journal.

I usually agree with Ald. Schumacher. I've found him to be pragmatic and he has a healthier dose of common sense than most council members. But he's wrong to delay the Edgewater and Library proposals. Both proposals hinge on cheap construction and material cost because of the recession, and both will cost significantly more money and become less viable as the economy improves.

Michael Schumacher is pretty smart and knows this. He wants to kill these projects.

He should have to guts to say so.

More updates

Here are some recent Cartoons.

Favre Toon

Here is yesterday's cartoon about Brett Favre's return to Green Bay. It was a tough game.

Lawton bows out.

Lt. Governor Barb Lawton unexpected dropped out to the race for Governor last week. Rumors have been flying like beads at Mardi Gras as to what exactly were the "very personal" reason that forced her to quit. Some said she couldn't raise funds, others questions her health and a shock jock even spewed nasty rumor about her marriage. Most likely she was forced out by the Obama administration who wants Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett to run.

But he hasn't made a decision yet, and if he chooses not to run, the Democrats will be up a frozen creek without a paddle.

Last Week cartoons

I was so busy drawing last week that I forgot to post cartoons here on the blog. Here are the cartoons I did last week.

Beer Tax Cartoon

This is my most recent cartoon calling for an increase in the beer tax in Wisconsin. I originally had the Tavern League bartender saying both of the gag lines, but my editor thought it was a little too extreme to attribute a line encouraging drunken driving to the Tavern League. I'm not entirely sure I agree with him, but the cartoon is still good and makes a strong point.

State Lawmakers are old and Making fewer laws.

This story in the Wisconsin State Journal caught my eye this morning. The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, a conservative think tank, published a report finding that lawmakers are getting older, staying elected longer, and authoring fewer bills.

I'm not crazy about lawmakers getting old and comfortable in their cushy government jobs, but there isn't anything inherently wrong with them writing fewer bills, and I'm surprised that the conservative think tank didn't point that out.

When it comes to legislation, quality is more important that quantity, and often the best policy is the legislation that doesn't get written.

As for how this translates into an editorial cartoon, damned if I know.