The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute

In this heated political climate, calls for limiting spending and lowering taxes are gaining more and more traction. This is something conservatives should obviously be pleased with. One need look no further than the recent electoral success of conservative gubernatorial candidates in New Jersey and Virginia in the fall and the recent Scott Brown victory in blue Massachusetts in January. But even with all this evidence of a changing political climate, President Obama and other liberals in Washington ignore reality - evidenced by the $3.69 trillion 2011 Federal Budget Proposal.

Unfortunately, it is no better at the state level. Wisconsin Democrats continue to pass outrageous budgets that raise spending to obscene levels. And the idea of prioritization is not even on liberals' radars. The Wisconsin budget passed last summer increases spending by 6.2% while cutting funding for district attorneys by 8.1%.

Conservatives have taken heed and are staying on message when it comes to the issue of spending restraint, lowering taxes, and less regulation. Moreover, in staying on message, conservatives and others in the “tea party coalition” have for the most part been able to work together.

However, if conservatives are serious about winning back majorities at the federal or state level, they would be wise to begin laying out serious policy initiatives based upon sound conservative ideology.

First, a little analysis. Conservatives need to articulate an actual governing philosophy. It is important to realize Conservatism is not the same as Libertarianism. In many ways, Conservatism is the most difficult ideology to articulate, even though it is based on a realistic assessment of government and spending. In fact, I would argue Liberalism and Libertarianism are intellectually lazy.

Liberals reflexively call for more government, more spending, more taxes – this is the answer to every ailment. Libertarians argue government shouldn’t have a role in anything for any reason. The mantra “government should get out of my life” is what one hears over and over. And for the most part, that is true.

But this is the difficult message conservatives need to articulate: government, in very select and limited circumstances, is the proper entity to exert influence. Conservatives call for a limited and restrained government, not the abolition of government. Conservatives recognize government should focus on the areas where it is needed – responding to emergencies, working with various governmental agencies to coordinate public services, ensuring business transactions can take place in an open and fair marketplace, free of deception and fraud, and most importantly, ensuring public safety. Law enforcement, prosecutors, and the court system must work in tandem to ensure those who pose a threat to public safety receive a just punishment for their crimes and are restrained from inflicting additional harm.

Conservatives recognize that in order for individuals to have liberty and true freedom to make the personal choices that impact their lives, government must protect property rights and individual liberty.

Unfortunately, it appears few legislators or other public officials recognize the grave situation facing district attorney offices throughout the state. This could be due to the public’s misunderstanding of the process. Police and other public safety officials arrest individuals for violations of state statutes. But prosecutors ultimately must make a determination of whether to charge the individuals detained by public safety officials. Prosecutors necessarily play an integral role in the criminal justice system.

Conservatives can show real leadership by advocating for an increase in funding for prosecutors, not because increasing spending is intrinsically a good thing, as those on the left often argue, but because liberty depends on it. At the same time, conservatives should articulate why this needs to happen and how it needs to be a priority.

Spending on less important government endeavors should be cut in order to pay for this most important of government functions. True leadership is having the ability to prioritize – articulating why government needs to act in order to ensure public safety while at the same time outlining why government should “stay the hell out” of less important areas of everyday life, to borrow a phrase from my “tea bagger” friends.

The public safety problem is real. In 2007, a Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau report noted that the state was short roughly 117 prosecutors. In all, 63 counties are understaffed. The amount needed to fund these additional jobs - $12 million. Most would agree there is enough “pork” in any budget to carve out for public safety. The problem has gotten to the point where some District Attorneys have warned if more cuts come, offices might be forced to simply stop prosecuting certain crimes. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, a conservative who understands the need for prioritization, recently commented on the situation.

The problem is real. The solution is simple. Prioritize. Make the tough decisions. Cut from unnecessary areas so that prosecutors and other public safety officials have the tools necessary to protect liberty. Conservatives can take the initiative and by doing so, will show the people of Wisconsin why they are ready to lead this state forward.

Jake Curtis is an attorney for the Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren law firm in Milwaukee. He also blogs for the Conservative Young Professionals of Milwaukee.

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