With Scott Walker as Governor of Wisconsin and the recall election coming fast, it's sometimes useful to look back into the history of Wisconsin to be reminded of what a great Governor can do.
Case in point: Robert M. La Follette.
Enclosed are some quick (wikipedia)facts regarding an amazing Wisconsin Governor:
As a private practice lawyer (after three terms as a Republican in the US House) in 1891, LaFollette was approached by a powerful Republican Senator who offered a bribe to fix a case. Afterwards La Follette pushed for GOP reform.
As Governor of Wisconsin from 1901 to 1906 La Follette pushed for:
1) the first workers' compensation system 2) direct legislation 3) municipal home rule 4) open government 5) the minimum wage 6) non-partisan elections 7) the open primary system 8) direct election of U.S. Senators 9) women's suffrage 10) progressive taxation.
He created an atmosphere of close cooperation between the state government and the University of Wisconsin in the development of progressive policy, which became known as the Wisconsin Idea.
The goals of his policy included the recall, referendum, direct primary, and initiative. All of these were aimed at giving citizens a more direct role in government. The Wisconsin Idea promoted the idea of grounding legislation on thorough research and expert involvement.
Flash forward a century and we see his reform in action: Wisconsin's Recall process.