Craig Takes Office, Urges Progess on Mascot Naming Bill

Representative Dave Craig participated in his first session day as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly (83rd district) on May 17, which featured a number of  bills repealing two programs in Governor Doyle's 2009-2011 State Budget: the early release program for criminals and a traffic stop data collection program opposed by law enforcement leaders statewide.

In a statement released by Craig,  he said, “Governor Doyle’s early release program allowed dangerous criminals to get out of jail before they had completed their court ordered sentences, which placed our families in danger. Quite honestly, allowing drug dealers, violent criminals, and recidivist drunk drivers out of jail early makes absolutely no sense.”

Craig continued, “the traffic stop data collection program, which was opposed by law enforcement leaders statewide, was an unfunded mandate the state forced upon local municipalities. Repealing this program will allow our law enforcement officers to spend more time apprehending criminals, and less time doing statistical analysis.”

In addition, Craig took measures to address the "mascot bill," which rescinds the state's Department of Public Instruction (DPI) ability to force schools to change native American mascots if claims of racism and discrimination are deemed legitimate.

Formally known as Assembly Bill 26, which was introduced on February 22, 2011, and referred to the Assembly Committee on Homeland Security and State Affairs it has remained for nearly three months without a public hearing. 

“This is such an important issue in the 83^rd Assembly District that I felt it was necessary to send letters to the Speaker and the Committee Chairman on my first day as a member of the State Assembly urging them to allow this bill to move forward,” said Craig. 

“In my district, despite intense public opposition, the Department of Public Instruction has ordered the Mukwonago School District to stop the use of the Indian mascot, name and logo by Oct. 8, 2011.  Adhering to the order from DPI will cost the property taxpayers of the Mukwonago School District a minimum of $50,000, according to the most conservative estimates.”  

Locally, the Muskego High School teams are still referred to as the Warriors, however the mascot of a Native American had been removed many years ago.  The school does use the symbol of a spear and arrowhead, however and under current law may also be subject to change if one resident of the district files a complaint.