Kathleen Vinehout

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Four candidates (including Vinehout) at recall primary debate for Governor of Wisconsin, 2012 Kathleen 2012 Democratic Primary Debate.png
Four candidates (including Vinehout) at recall primary debate for Governor of Wisconsin, 2012

During the protests in Wisconsin, Vinehout, along with the 13 other Democratic State Senators, left the state to deny the State Senate a quorum on Governor Scott Walker's controversial "Budget Repair" legislation. She returned to the State of Wisconsin on March 12, 2011. [12]

Political positions

Health care

Sen. Vinehout describes fixing health care as a passion of hers. [13] Before she was elected into the State Senate, her family was without health care for a couple years when her son required an emergency appendectomy. [6]

She believes Wisconsin should accept the federal Medicaid expansion that current Governor Walker rejected. [14] Doing so would cover 79,000 more people and give Wisconsin roughly $286 million in cash to spend. In her alternative budget, she puts this extra money towards mental health and substance abuse programs. [15]

She favors creating a Wisconsin-based market-place for health care, which would keep coverage and prices in the state relatively stable even if funding from the federal government were to lag. It would also allow Wisconsin to offer BadgerCare as a public option. [13]

Education

Vinehout believes that Wisconsin public schools need to be funded more by state money instead of property taxes [16] and that the state needs to fix its school funding formula that representatives from both parties have described as "broken." [17] [18] On her website, she says that "Despite increases in the Governor's election-year budget, schools haven't recovered from the massive cuts in state aid in 2011. In real dollars, schools will be getting less in the next two years than a decade ago. [16] " In her alternative budget, she eliminates corporate tax breaks and cash payments and uses that money to pay for public education. [15]

Her alternative budget also includes replacing the money current Governor Walker cut from the University of Wisconsin system over his eight years in office and investing an additional $100 million in needs-based financial aid. [15]

She was also a member of the Wisconsin 14 who left the state to protest Governor Walker's contentious Act 10 bill that eliminated collective bargaining for teachers. She believes that Walker's actions disrespected school teachers and had a profoundly negative effect on Wisconsin's schools. [16]

Environment

Vinehout favors having DNR run by an independent Secretary appointed by the Natural Resources Board rather than a Secretary appointed by the Governor. She has called for restoring funding of the Department of Natural Resources, rehiring scientists, seriously addressing the threat of climate change, and stronger environmental protections, especially of sand mines and CAFOs. [19]

Economy

Sen. Vinehout has criticized the slow rate of growth under Gov. Scott Walker's policies. She believes state must create an environment in which the private sector thrives. The public sector should be focused on enriching the economic soil so that all plants can start and grow. [20]

Local control

Vinehout states that the government must stop forcing local communities to accept policies and priorities that do not reflect local needs, conditions, or values. Local community decisions must be made by local residents. [21]

Veterans

Vinehout wants to fix the management problems that are present in Wisconsin's Veterans homes. She wants to restore funding to veterans' programs including for homeless veterans (the Veteran Assistance Program) and the Assistance to Needy Veterans program that was cut by Governor Walker. [22] She also believes it is necessary to restore the advisory organizations that have been disbanded, especially the Board of Veterans Affairs committees that deal with program review, legislation, long term care, and financing.

Racial equality

Vinehout insists on a $15 an hour minimum wage, changing Truth in Sentencing standards, offering treatment alternatives to prison, providing mental health services, improving inner city public schools, and expanding home ownership. She believes that President Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing holds the steps toward building trust between our citizens and law enforcement. [23]

Controversies

In 2009, Planned Parenthood revoked its endorsement of Kathleen when she authored an amendment to a reproductive rights bill that was designed to ensure access to birth control. [24] Under the original bill, pharmacists would be required to fill prescriptions for abortion medication regardless of their religious beliefs. Sen. Vinehout claimed that such language violated the Wisconsin constitution, which states that no "control of, or interference with, the rights of conscience be permitted [24] " and authored an amendment to the bill that allowed pharmacists to conscientiously object as long as they ensured that the patient would be able to receive the abortion drugs.

A bill very similar to the one Kathleen proposed passed in the Wisconsin state budget in 2010 with the backing of Planned Parenthood. [25]

Vinehout considers herself pro-choice and believes that contraception should always be accessible and that abortions should be safe, legal, and rare. [26]

In 2010 and 2014, Vinehout received an "A" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund. [27] [28] [29] However, she has disagreed with their policies on many occasions. She supports increased background checks, banning bump stocks, and a continuation of the ban on fully automatic weapons. [30]

When speaking about gun issues, she has referenced her grandfather's death because of gun violence. [31]

Electoral history

Wisconsin 2012 recall election

Vinehout was a candidate in the Democratic Primary during the 2012 Wisconsin Gubernatorial Recall Election. [32] She garnered four percent of the vote, coming in third.

2014 gubernatorial election

In January 2014, Senator Vinehout announced she would not run for Governor of Wisconsin because of injuries she received in a car accident in Racine County, Wisconsin, in December 2013. [33]

2018 gubernatorial election

In June 2017 Vinehout officially registered a committee for the 2018 Wisconsin governor election. [34]

Election Results

Kathleen Vinehout
SenatorVinehout.JPG
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 31st district
In office
January 3, 2007 –January 7, 2019
Wisconsin Democratic Gubernatorial Primary Election, 2018 [35] [36]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Tony Evers 225,082 41.77%
Democratic Mahlon Mitchell 87,92616.32%
Democratic Kelda Roys 69,08612.82%
Democratic Kathleen Vinehout44,1688.20%
Democratic Mike McCabe 39,8857.40%
Democratic Matt Flynn 31,5805.86%
Democratic Paul Soglin 28,1585.23%
Democratic Andy Gronik 6,6271.23%
Democratic Dana Wachs 4,2160.78%
Democratic Josh Pade1,9080.35%
Write-ins2210.04%
Total votes'537,719''100.0%'+72.29%
Wisconsin State Senate District 31 Election 2014
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Kathleen Vinehout (incumbent) 35,508 52.32% +2.05%
Republican Mel Pittman32,31747.62%-1.99%
Write-ins380.06%-0.06%
Total votes'67,863''100.0%'+12.55%
Wisconsin Democratic Gubernatorial Recall Primary Election, 2012 [37]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Tom Barrett 390,191 58.10%
Democratic Kathleen Falk 229,23634.13%
Democratic Kathleen Vinehout26,9674.02%
Democratic Doug La Follette 19,4972.90%
Democratic Gladys Huber4,8470.72%
Write-ins8640.13%
Total votes'671,602''100.0%'
Wisconsin State Senate District 31 Election 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Kathleen Vinehout (incumbent) 30,314 50.27% -1.31%
Republican Ed Thompson 29,91149.61%+1.28%
Write-ins730.12%+0.04%
Total votes'60,298''100.0%'-2.49%
Wisconsin State Senate District 31 Election 2006
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Kathleen Vinehout31,89551.58%
Republican Ron Brown (incumbent)29,89048.33%-2.16%
Write-ins550.08%
Total votes'61,840''100.0%'+13.81%

Personal life

Vinehout owns a farm with her husband, Doug, a former member of the Illinois House of Representatives and current member of the Board of Education in Alma. Her family operates a 223-acre (0.90 km2) organic farm near Alma, Wisconsin. She owns a cat and a pair of beloved horses. Doug and Kathleen have one son, Nathan, recently graduated from Macalester College. [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Wisconsin State Legislature". Legis.state.wi.us. June 16, 1958. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Vinehout takes formal step to possible governor's run". WQOW. February 2, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  3. ↑ Rebman, Jamie (February 8, 2012). "Vinehout Campaign: Vinehout enters governor's race". Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  4. ↑ "7 Democrats who might challenge Scott Walker in 2018". July 3, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Wisconsin Sen. Kathleen Vinehout is the latest Democrat to run for governor".
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "About - Vinehout 2018". Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Kathleen Vinehout, Wisconsin State Senator: District 31". Legis.state.wi.us. Archived from the original on July 21, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  8. 1 2 "Kathleen Vinehout". Kathleen Vinehout. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  9. ↑ "The State: State of Wisconsin 2003–2004 blue book: Biographies and photos". Digicoll.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Kathleen Vinehout, Wisconsin State Senator: District 31". Legis.wi.gov. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Kathleen Vinehout declared the winner in Senate District 31". WEAU. November 3, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  12. ↑ "14 Senate Democrats return to Capitol". WLUK-TV. March 12, 2011. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  13. 1 2 "Online Casino Malaysia - FREE SPINS - BEST SLOT MACHINES - 2021". Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Scott Walker Refuses Federal Funding for Medicaid Expansion, Again". February 19, 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 "Budgets Are About Choices" (PDF). Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  16. 1 2 3 "Online Casino Malaysia - FREE SPINS - BEST SLOT MACHINES - 2021".
  17. ↑ "KATHLEEN VINEHOUT: A hard look at public school funding". December 22, 2017.
  18. ↑ "The Way Wisconsin Funds Schools Must Change".
  19. ↑ "Online Casino Malaysia - FREE SPINS - BEST SLOT MACHINES - 2021". Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Online Casino Malaysia - FREE SPINS - BEST SLOT MACHINES - 2021".
  21. ↑ "Online Casino Malaysia - FREE SPINS - BEST SLOT MACHINES - 2021".
  22. ↑ "Online Casino Malaysia - FREE SPINS - BEST SLOT MACHINES - 2021".
  23. ↑ "Online Casino Malaysia - FREE SPINS - BEST SLOT MACHINES - 2021". Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  24. 1 2 "Reproductive Rights Record Could Complicate Wisconsin Democrat's Gubernatorial Bid (Updated)". July 19, 2017. Archived from the original on March 9, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Wisconsin state budget (2010-2011)".
  26. ↑ "WOMEN'S HEALTH". Archived from the original on March 12, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Guns in Schools?!? Who Gets NRA Money in Wisconsin". Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Rating Group: National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund". Project VoteSmart. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  29. ↑ "NRA-PVF | Wisconsin". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Some optimism seen for gun reform in Wisconsin". March 3, 2018. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Firearms". Archived from the original on April 25, 2018.
  32. ↑ "The Dairy Farmer Who is Taking on Scott Walker". HuffPost . February 9, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Kathleen Vinehout announced she wouldn't run for governor," Milwaukee Sentinel Journal, January 17, 2014
  34. ↑ "Kathleen Vinehout registers committee to run for governor," Wisconsin State Journal , June 29, 2017.
  35. ↑ "Wisconsin Primary Election Results". The New York Times . August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Canvass Results for 2018 Partisan Primary - 8/14/2018" (PDF). Wisconsin Elections Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 22, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  37. ↑ "Canvass Results for 2012 MAY 8 RECALL PRIMARY/ELECTION - 5/8/2012" (PDF). Wisconsin Elections Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
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