Mark Pocan Takes "Fighting Bob" La Follette’s Seat in the U.S. Congress

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/11/11850/mark-pocan-takes-fighting-bob-la-follette%E2%80%99s-seat-us-congress

by Mary Bottari — November 9, 2012 - 9:42am
Topics: Democracy, Economy
Projects: ALEC Exposed
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One of the most significant developments for American progressives this election season was the election of Mark Pocan, who won Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional District seat with 68 percent of the vote. The popular and populist Pocan is likely to hold the seat, which was once held by Progressive Party champion Robert M. La Follette, for many years to come. Pocan represented the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) in the state legislature and CMD worked with him on our ALEC Exposed project.


Mark Pocan

Mark PocanMark PocanPocan was born and raised in the blue-collar town of Kenosha and has continued to represent the interests of working people his entire political career. He is a small businessman, running a union print shop called “Budget Signs and Specialties,” that makes signs and other print material for local firms and does a brisk business in yard signs every election season.

Pocan got his start in politics on the Dane County Board with the support of the Democratic Party and Progressive Dane, the local third party group. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1998. He rapidly built a reputation for championing workers rights and civil rights, fighting against privatization and outsourcing, and eventually dealing with hundreds of critical issues as the chair of the powerful Joint Finance Committee, which determines the state’s budget priorities. During the Wisconsin Uprising of 2011, Pocan was a behind-the-scenes leader mapping out the democratic response and building bridges with national allies.

He dubbed Wisconsin “Fitzwalkerstan” for the leaders of the legislature and Scott Walker and once hung a giant pink banner out of his Capitol office window, emblazoned with “Walker Your Pink Slip is Coming!”

FULL story at link.

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[Scuba]

1. Mark's the real deal and I'm proud to have him representing my State.