Rep. Peter Barca says tea party still strong in Wisconsin

[hue]

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/writers/jessica_vanegeren/rep-peter-barca-says-tea-party-still-strong-in-wisconsin/article_86188118-da21-11e3-8d8f-001a4bcf887a.html

More than a dozen Wisconsin Assembly Republicans have announced in recent weeks they will not be seeking reelection this fall.

That presents an opportunity for Democrats to pick up some seats, but with the current 60-39 split in favor of Republicans and district lines drawn by the GOP, it will be a long time before Democrats can realistically hope to gain a majority in the lower house.

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca told The Cap Times editorial board Monday that while the exodus of Republicans would provide an opportunity to pick up at least three seats, it will be tough to beat the tea party candidates that Republicans are likely to nominate in those districts.

“I predict 75 percent of those 15 seats will nominate a tea party Republican,” Barca said.

In 2010, 18 of the 25 new Assembly members were affiliated with the tea party. That group has a strong hold on shaping policy and is impacting the decisions of several outgoing representatives not to run again, Barca said.

[dembotoz]

1. he stated the obvious

[Scuba]

2. I'm not sure nullifying federal law and voting to secede from the Union constitute "shaping policy".

They're going to drive all the decent people out of this State.