A Different Tommy

Wisconsin voters might have fond memories of a popular Governor who wasn't afraid to break from strict conservative ideology, but sadly, after leaving Wisconsin Tommy Thompson admitted that Washington changed him. Now, career politician and professional lobbyist Tommy Thompson has made it clear he is willing to abandon all principles and change his positions to get the Republican nomination for US Senate. Thompson himself even said he is A Different Tommy.

A Different Tommy On Health Care Reform

Then: Washington Post: Thompson Has Long Been A Rare Republican Advocate For The Intent Of The Health Care Reform Law. Reported the Washington Post, Tommy Thompson is a popular former governor with near-universal name recognition in his home state two traits that might lead you to believe that he will be the odds-on Republican nominee to replace retiring Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl (D). But Thompson has one big problem health care. President Obamas health care law has become a touchstone for conservatives who see it as the most egregious example of the government can solve our problems mentality of the current Administration. And, Thompson has long been a rare Republican advocate for the intent if not the particulars of the law. [Washington Post, 5/19/11]
Video: In 2006 Thompson Supported A Nationwide Individual Mandate Following Romneys Model In Massachusetts. During a panel discussion at American University in 2006, former Democrat Senator John Breaux asked Tommy Thompson: Wouldnt it be better than, if you have, say, an individual mandate, wouldnt it be better to have it on a nationwide basis so that you could form the pools of various states coming together, than each state doing it separately by themselves? Thompson replied: Well, I think that would be better, but the truth of the matter is I dont think thats going to happen, John. The practicality of politics in Washington right now is that nothing like that is gonna pass. Thompson later said I was able to give Governor Romney the waiver this year to allow for the plan that is in Massachusetts. But I think Massachusetts is sort of the tipping point, I think other states are going to follow through, but I think unless the federal government is going to be able to come together, which I dont think they are, states are gonna do this. [C-Span, 4/17/06] VIDEO: In 2007 Thompson Said I For One Believe The Mandates For Health Insurance Is Alright. During a speech about health care at the University of Texas, Tommy Thompson said, I for one believe the mandates for health insurance is alright. We mandate insurance for automobiles. You know you cant drive in Texas without automobile insurance. You cant drive in any state you know without automobile insurance. Its a mandate, but its certainly something that we should discuss in this country, and I think thats positive. [Medicaid Makeover Speech at the University of Texas, 2/8/2007 (video from YouTube)]

Thompson Bucked Conservative Criticisms Of Health Insurance Exchanges In An Op-Ed Urging Governors To Take Advantage Of A Provision In The Affordable Care Act. In an op-ed urging Governors to support the state-based exchanges created in the Affordable Care Act, Tommy Thompson wrote: An exchange does not need to create a new bureaucracy. Many of the opponents to the Affordable Care Act are concerned about creating yet another state bureaucracy. They are right about this concern -- but this concern can be addressed if states plan wisely. Many states across the country today operate health insurance programs of "last resort" for at-risk citizens, and such programs are essentially out-sourced. I believe that this is the right model for exchanges -- states can simply organize the private market, and specify how an exchange ought to operate to create transparency and audit them, but do not actually need to run them. [Huffington Post Thompson OpEd, 6/27/2011]

Now: Thompson Called For Repeal And Replacement Of Health Care Reform Law After Facing Claims That He Supported The Law. Reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Pushing back against claims that he supported ObamaCare, Tommy Thompson told a group of GOP donors in Washington, D.C., Wednesday that the new health care law has got to be repealed and replaced and re-written. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/16/11]

A Different Tommy On Stem Cell Research

Then: 2001: Thompson Argued Bush Should Allow Some Research on Embryonic Stem Cells. In 2008, Thompson told the World Stem Cell Summit Tuesday a meeting he had in the summer of 2001 with President George W. Bush and Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove to lunch. [Bush] says, Gentlemen, I want you to debate embryonic stem cells for me, Thompson said. He says. Karl, I know youre opposed to it, and Tommy, youre for it. I want to learn about it. Thompson said he told the president every American has a relative or friend who has suffered from diseases like cancer, Parkinsons disease and dementia. And every one of those individuals that is suffering from that disease has got some inner hope, some inner hope that embryonic stem cells or stem cell research is going to find a cure for them, Thompson said. [Badger Herald, 9/24/08] Now: 2011: Thompson Distanced Himself From Previous Support For Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Reported UPI, Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, who once supported embryonic stem cell research, has backed off that position in a speech at the Vatican. The presumptive U.S. Senate candidate, who is Roman Catholic, spoke in favor of adult stem cells -- cells that aren't taken from embryos -- while appearing to distance himself from the embryonic stem cell research he once defended, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Wednesday. [UPI, 11/10/11]

A Different Tommy On The Stimulus Act

While Speaking At A Tea Party Rally, Thompson Criticized Feingolds Stimulus Vote. While speaking at a tea party rally in 2010, Tommy Thompson criticized Russ Feingolds support of the stimulus act. "Does that sound like a conservative?" Thompson shouted at a Capitol rally last year in which he was criticizing then-Sen. Russ Feingold. "Then he said, 'Oh, but I vote against earmarks.' Well, he voted, ladies and gentlemen, for the stimulus package that had 8,000 earmarks in it!" [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/1/2011; YouTube Video Of Tea Party Rally, 4/15/2010] While Speaking At A Facility That Added Jobs With Stimulus Money, Thompson Said Stimulus Was A Good Thing. When Tommy Thompson held his campaign announcement event at a manufacturing facility that had received stimulus money, the Journal Sentinel reported: Thompson said he was unaware that Weldall, the Waukesha metal fabrication plant where he made his announcement, was a recipient of federal stimulus money. Thompson's response? He said it was a good thing if it created jobs, adding that stimulus money created 100 jobs at Weldall. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/2/2011]
Thompsons Company Also Took Hundreds Of Thousands In Stimulus Money. In 2010, the Journal Sentinels Daniel Bice pointed out: Thompson is tied to several businesses that have benefited directly from the stimulus plan. For example, he is the president of Logistics Health Inc., a medical services firm based in La Crosse. Records show the company has won three stimulus contracts from Thompson's former federal agency, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for $277,000. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4/11/2010]

A Different Tommy On High Speed Rail

Then: Thompson: High Speed Rail Important to the Economic Growth of Our Cities. In 2001, Thompson praised the plan for rail between Madison and Milwaukee: But America's railway system is not just a matter of history. America still needs a strong passenger rail system. Without it, we discourage economic growth in urban areas. Passenger rail - and specifically, high- speed rail - is important to the economic growth of our cities and our overall transportation system in a nation of nearly 300 million people. In Wisconsin and in eight other states, work continues on the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative. In Wisconsin, the goal is to have high-speed service from Madison to Milwaukee by the end of 2003. [The Dedication of the "Governor Tommy G. Thompson" Amtrak Acela Locomotive, 11/01/01 (emphasis added)]

Now: Thompson Reversed Support, Said State Shouldnt Extend High Speed Rail Line. In 2010, Thompson said Wisconsin should rebuild its roads rather than construct a high-speed train from Madison to Milwaukee. Thompson said the state cant afford a high-speed rail line and should use the $810 million in federal dollars earmarked for the project to repair state roadways. The money cant be reallocated, but Thompson said that could change if Republicans take control of Congress in November. [AP, 9/13/10]

A Different Tommy On Tax Pledges

Then: In 14 years as governor, while doubling state spending, Tommy never signed a tax pledge. Reported Wisconsin Public Radio, Americans for Tax Reform say Republicans Tommy Thompson, Mark Neumann, and Frank Lasee have all agreed to oppose any increases in marginal income tax rates on both individuals and businesses. They also promised to oppose efforts to scale back tax deductions, unless theyre off-set by tax cuts elsewhere. UW La Crosse professor Joe Heim says the tax-fighting pledge is out of character for Thompson, who was known for expanding state government in a robust economy during his 14 years as Wisconsins governor. Heim says the pledge shows that Thompson feels a need to shore up his support among conservatives. [Wisconsin Public Radio, 10/7/11] Now: Thompson Signed Americans For Tax Reform Pledge. According to an October 2011 ATR press release, Three candidates have signed the the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in their bid for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Herb Kohl: Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, State Sen. Frank Lasee, and former Congressman Mark Neumann. [Americans for Tax Reform press release, 10/4/11]

A Different Tommy On BadgerCare

Then: Thompson Praised Creation of BadgerCare Program as Linchpin of States Social Contract. In his 2001 state of the state address, Thompson said, Nowhere is our states social contract more evident than in health care, where we consistently have one of the highest percentages of people with health coverage. But when our workers cant get or afford health insurance, the state provides a helping hand in the form of BadgerCare During my Senate confirmation process, there was no program senators in both parties were more interested in than BadgerCare. They wanted to know how we did it and if it could be replicated nationally. I dont know the answer but something tells me Im going to find out. Once again the nation is looking to Wisconsin to solve a problem once deemed unsolvable. [Thompson 2001 State of the State Address]

Now: Thompson Credited Ryan For Introducing Plan On Medicare, Argued For Increased Block Grants, Flexibility For States. In a June 2011 interview with the Denver Business Journal, Thompson said, Weve got to start working together. Medicares going broke and [Wisconsin U.S. Rep.] Paul Ryan comes out with a plan and Democrats call it demagoguery, but they dont put anything forward. Youve got to give block grants to the states for Medicaid. Youve got to let states become laboratories of innovation again. [Denver Business Journal, 6/16/11]

A Different Tommy On Concealed Carry

Then: I just dont think we need it. In a February 2000 interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, then-Gov. Thompson reaffirmed his continued opposition to legislation that would allow permits to carry concealed weapons saying, I just dont think we need it. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/17/00] Now: NRA President: Thompson Told Me He Backed Concealed Carry Passage in 2011. David Keene, president of the NRA, said Thompsons position has changed. He said, I have discussed concealed carry with Tommy. He was wrong in 1999, but changed his position as more and more states passed it without the negative results then being predicted by many in the law enforcement community. He was glad when Wisconsin passed it this year and is applying for his permit. Tommy is a lifelong friend and in spite of this received the NRA endorsement in all his races for Governor. Hes a hunter, gun owner and sportsman as well as an NRA member. My endorsement of him at this stage of the campaign, however, was a personal endorsement. NRA institutional endorsements come later. [Daily Caller,9/30/11]