Stevens Point will host the first Wisconsin Democratic Convention in the 21st Century.
Reynolds Honold, Milwaukee, first vice chairman of the state Democratic Party, announced the selection Sunday at the Portage County Democratic Party Annual Picnic at Bukolt Park.
"Stevens Point has become a destination point," Honold said, listing other events coming to the city, including an Executive Committee meeting on Sept. 11 and 12, the Ad Committee meeting on Sept. 19 and a leadership institute and training program on Oct. 22-24.
Honold said strengthening county parties remains a priority for the state party, and fund-raising is continuing to improve in the state.
Two area representatives used the occasion to lambaste Republican Party efforts in Madison and Washington.
State Sen. Kevin Shibilski, D-town of Dewey, said a handful of Assembly Republicans are holding up passage of a state budget by refusing to work out differences between Senate and Assembly versions of the budget bill.
"How can you walk away from tax relief?" he asked.
"We're here because we care about our families, our communities and the state of Wisconsin," Shibilski said, but in Madison, a 2,000-page document is sitting on desks. "That document is the most important thing the Legislature does and it's collecting dust."
The budget is 95 percent complete, he said, "We need to provide a remedy to kick them in their behind," he added, urging the public to send e-mail and mail to State Rep. Scott Jensen, R-Waukesha, the Assembly Speaker.
State Rep. Julie Lassa, D-Plover, agreed with Shibilski. The state budget has been done since July 1 and there's no movement, she said. "We do need to get to Speaker Jensen."
U.S. Rep. David Obey, D-Wausau, said cooperation is also lacking in Washington, so he doesn't know what's going to happen on the federal budget. "It looks like we will have a confrontation," he said.
During his visits with constituents, Obey said he's been told to fix Social Security, Medicare, education and holes in the health care system. "But the Republican leadership wants to provide huge tax cuts," he said, adding that 70 percent of the tax cuts will go to those earning more than $100,000 a year. "You shouldn't give tax cuts to the top 10 percent," he said, "you should give them to working middle-income people."
He said he won't vote for cuts in education, health care, science or Medicare. "The question is do Republicans want to cooperate or play fun and games," he said. "This is going to be a long, hot September and October."