Primary Election Date: 08/14/2012
General Election Date: 11/08/2012

Who Am I?

I am a progressive state legislator, LGBT leader, union member and small business owner for over 20 years.

I have a long history of success in advocating for progressive values. As the Assembly chair of the State Finance Committee I worked to advance healthcare access by expanding coverage to all children across the state, as a minority member I pushed the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Act through a Republican majority. I authored the American Jobs Act – which keeps state contracts on American and this year I was the original author in the Democratic bill to restore collective bargaining to the state’s public employees.

As the first openly gay man elected to the Wisconsin State Legislature, I took the battle for equality head on. I successfully shepherded a provision that created a Domestic Partner Registry and afforded 43 new legal protections to same-sex couples that were previously only available to married couples. Furthermore, I ensured increased funding for HIV/AIDS resource organizations as well as the Gay Straight Alliance for Safe Schools.

Now with the Democrats in the minority I'm hard at work for progressive causes - like writing legislation that would replenish Wisconsin’s raided recycling fund and much more.

I married my partner Phil in Canada in 2006. We live on Madison’s downtown Isthmus, with their dog, just two miles from the state Capitol. My candidacy endorsed by nine unions as well as the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and the Human Rights Campaign. A complete list of his endorsements can be found at http://pocanforcongress.com/endorsements/.

Why Am I Running?

I’m running for Congress because I believe that during these challenging times, our progressive values are more important than ever. But our values alone are not enough—we need to fight back effectively to make sure decades of progress are not dismantled. We need leaders who know how to get things done for working people.
In Congress I hope to be the same outspoken progressive voice in Washington that I’ve been in Madison. As a state legislator I was an active member of the Progressive Caucus. Even with Democrats in the minority, I was able to see progressive legislation through. I got the Republican majority to put the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Act on the agenda and we won the vote. It took both a lot of shrewd negotiating and a lot of relationship building. But that is what I believe we need more of in Washington.

Hold Me Accountable!

Jobs are without a doubt the number one issue facing the people of Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District. As I look at the ravages of this economy, I am troubled that doing what I did —building a small printing business over 23 years ago—is increasingly out of reach for too many hard-working people who cannot find a job, much less start a business. Small businesses don’t need another tax break for billionaires, they need access to capital, and we need to stimulate the economy by investing tax dollars in it, not by pulling back.
Economic justice is also important to the people in this region of Wisconsin. I’ve been a union small businessman and the chairman of the Finance Committee in the Assembly. My work has been about balancing budgets, and in both my private and public life I’ve learned you don’t balance them on the backs of working people. I know this takes more than just words. You have to mean it when times are hard. When I was chair of the finance committee facing a major deficit I was proud to expand healthcare coverage to uninsured children in our state.
Finally I think one of the most important issues to voters in this district is honoring the commitment we have to give our seniors a retirement of dignity and certainty provided by Medicare and Social Security.

My DFA values:

I believe that starts with incorporating a diversity of Democratic voices from across the districts we represent. I've been traveling to Democratic Party meetings throughout the urban and rural counties of Wisconsin's second congressional district to get their thoughts on what our campaign’s message should be.
I also believe the only way to build a strong party with pride in its values is by of using the power of your candidacy to help other Democrats.
I took a leadership roll in advancing Democrats in the state. As a leader in the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee in 2006 I helped the caucus obtain the first Democratic majority in 14 years.

My Campaign is People-Powered!

Our campaign has worked closely with organized labor and that has been a great source of pride for me. Presently our campaign is endorsed by nine unions representing working people in this area. I'm particularly proud of that support because they know what it means to be under attack, they know the difference between simply speaking out and needing to get results.
As a believe in the grassroots I’ve gathered hundreds of people, active in their communities, who aren’t necessarily affiliated with any one union or organization. I’ve posted their public endorsement on my website at www.pocanforcongress.com/endorsements