Baldwin Stresses Health Care In State Convention Speech

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin urged activists Friday at the state Democratic Party Convention in Oshkosh to bring the same intensity to her race that they did in blocking the Republican health care bill.

“You own the defeat of that cynical bill,” Baldwin said. “Know your power. That was you.”

Baldwin repeatedly returned to the issue in her remarks, telling delegates they didn’t send her to Washington to take peoples’ health care away.

“Together we stood up, we spoke out, and we shared our stories to stop the health care repeal vote in its tracks,” she said.

Baldwin will face either Republican state Sen. Leah Vukmir or former Marine Kevin Nicholson in the November election.

Outside groups have spent heavily in the race, especially against Baldwin and on Nicholson’s behalf.

“Powerful special interests are pouring millions and millions of dollars into Wisconsin because they want a bought and paid for senator,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin said if Republicans retain control of the federal government, that could mean privatizing veteran health care, “gutting” Social Security, and possibly another attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

“We won this fight before and we cannot let up,” Baldwin said.

‘Blue Wave’

Several Democrats talked about the prospect of a “blue wave” in Wisconsin that could put Democrats back in charge of government, though some were more cautious than others.

Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, said Democrats won’t win in November just by criticizing Gov. Scott Walker.

“But if we changes the faces, we can change the policies,” Hintz said.

Hintz said the next chance to do that is in special elections on June 12 in the 42nd state Assembly District and the 1st state Senate District.

The race for the 42nd pits Democrat Ann Groves Lloyd against Republican Jon Plumer, while the race for the 1st state Senate District pits Democrat Caleb Frostman against Republican state Rep. Andre Jacque, R-De Pere.

“Wherever you live, whatever your schedule, you can help elect Ann Groves Lloyd,” Hintz said. “The entire country is watching.”

Josh Kaul, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, attacked Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel for spending money on gold challenge coins while the state faced a backlog of untested rape kits.

“To me, that is the definition of misplaced priorities.”

The 10 Democratic candidates for governor also addressed the crowd, though the Democratic Party does not endorse candidates until after the primary.