The Capital Times from Madison, Wisconsin • 12

A12 The Capital Times Wednesday, April 5, 2006 Feimgold backs gays right to many take position leader taking an ethical and moral stance," Foreman said. No hair splitting, no waffling, no equivocating. According to Foreman, Sens. Ted Kennedy, Lincoln Chafee, and Ron Wyden, are the only other senators to express support for gay marriage. Two other gay rights groups, the National Stonewall Democrats and the Human Rights Campaign, also put out statements praising Feingolds position.

Feingold said he believes the country wall one day support gay marriage, even in the most conservative states. It may take some time, but I think in the end the American people will see this as a human right that no one should interfere with, he said. playing to the fringe left," Fitzgerald said. As to Feingolds contention that the amendment was harsh and mean-spirited, Fitzgerald said, We didnt go looking for this fight. Were simply reacting to attempts to change the definition of marriage.

Marriage is not just about two loving and committed people," said Julaine Appling, executive director of the Family Research Institute of Wisconsin, which supports the amendment. Marriage is a social institution that provides a social good, and a public good." Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, praised Feingold. This kind of statement is something we have been yearning for at long last we have a fair-minded progressive civil unions, which will appear on the state ballot in November. I will be voting against the harsh amendment thats been proposed in Wisconsin, and I thought it was an appropriate occasion to indicate my feeling that if two people care enough about each other to get married, that it probably is a positive thing for society," he said. Gay and lesbian people in our country are fighting a mean-spirited movement to harm them and to discriminate against them," he added.

I stand with them against that movement, and Im proud to stand with them." Asked if he would support federal legislation to legalize gay mamage, Feingold said hes not focused on that now. 4th senator to By Frederic J. Frommer Associated Press WASHINGTON Sen. Russ Feingold said Tuesday he supports giving gays and lesbians the right to marry, becoming the fourth U.S. senator to take that position, according to a gay rights advocacy group.

Feingold, issued a statement saying he was asked about his views on the subject at a listening session with con-Istituents Sunday night in Kenosha. In an interview Tuesday with I The Associated Press, he said decided to express his sup- port for gay marriage at the session in response to what he called a mean-spirited Wis- consin constitutional amend- ment to ban gay marriage and Anytime By supporting gay marriage, Feingold, a potential presidential candidate, has once again taken a position that places him to the left of potential 2008 rivals. Earlier examples include his call for a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq, his opposition to the Patriot Act renewal and his proposal to censure President Bush for his domestic wiretapping program. Feingold said presidential politics had nothing to do with CALL ME Appleton smoking ban stands Chafee Wyden his position on gay rights. I recognize that it will have some national implications as well, but what caused me to do it at this time had to do with the Wisconsin proposal that I oppose, he said.

Wisconsin state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, a Juneau Republican and amendment sponsor, said Feingolds stance shows how far out of touch he is with mainstream Wisconsin voters. Russ Feingold, as usual, is Minutes 5 Rep. Ryan to give $27,500 of DeLay money to charity WASHINGTON (AP) Rep. Paul Ryan says he is donating to charity $27,500 in campaign contributions he received from the political action committee of former Majority Leader Tom DeLay because DeLays former top aide pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy.

Now that a former senior DeLay staffer has (pleaded) guilty while serving on the congressional staff, I believe it is appropriate to donate these contributions to charity, even though these contributions were perfectly legal and appropriate, Ryan, R-Janesville, said in a campaign statement. I simply want to remove any doubt in this matter." Tony Rudy, DeLays former deputy chief of staff, admitted but some tavern owners said it caused them financial difficulties because patrons were going to bars in other communities where smoking was allowed. The referendum vote approving the ban last April had been 9,276 to 7,551. conspiring with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff both while Rudy worked for the Texas congressman and after he left the lawmakers staff to become a lobbyist himself. DeLay announced this week he was not seeking re-election.

Ryan said hell donate the money to American Cancer Society Relay for Life events held in his 1st Congressional District in southeastern Wisconsin. restore caps on damages for victims of medical malpractice after the state Supreme Court declared a previous law last summer. The Legislature first passed a bill to restore a limit of $450,000 for adult victims, but Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed the measure in December. Lawmakers then passed a limit of $750,000 that the governor signed into law last month.

Gielow sponsored both bills. Gielow also was chairman of a committee on Medicaid reform, which was formed to study the future of the state-federal health care program for the poor. AMD Gielow wont seek re-election Associated Press State Rep. Curt Gielow said istrator, led the fight to Minutes It 1 1 i 4 1 1 Tuesday he will not seek a third two-year term in the state Assembly. Gielow, R-Mequon, has been a leader on health care issues and health insurance policy during his four years in the Legislature.

Gielow, 61, said in a statement he wanted to leave the Legislature so he could pursue other professional and personal opportunities. He runs a headhunting firm, Gielow Associates that helps organizations find top executives. Im pleased and proud to have had this chance to represent my area in the Legislature and to have made some real changes in health care policy in Wisconsin, said Gielow, whose district includes most of Me-quon, Thiensville, Bayside, Brown Deer and part of Milwaukee. Gielow, a licensed pharmacist and former hospital admin- U.S. Cellular We connect with yon He 31 ej' it II, 2 1 1 -t For the location nearest you, visit us online at uscellufar.com or call 1-888-BUY-USCC.

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