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Nass to serve 10th term in state Assembly

Steve Nass attributes his re-election to a 10th consecutive term in the Assembly to his reputation for fighting tax increases.

“I have a long history of that,” he said, “and I think taxpayers recognize that. I will continue to fight against tax increases because they are coming.”

Nass, R-La Grange Township, said it’s not fair for state legislators to ask taxpayers for more money to fix the state budget deficit, which stands at $3 billion and growing.

“It’s not right for legislators who created the problem we are in … to go back to taxpayers and say, ‘We need to take more money from you in the form of tax increases to fix this,’” he said. “We need to reign in spending in government.”

Nass, 56, said increasing taxes is the “last thing” legislators should do when the economy is on rocky ground.

“It will make it worse,” he said.

Nass said business in Wisconsin is overtaxed and overregulated, making the state a less desirable location for existing businesses to expand and new businesses to relocate.

“It drives jobs and business out of the state,” he said. “We have to make it more competitive for the businesses already here to stay here and for businesses to come here.”

Nass noted that Wisconsin had lost 23,000 jobs as of August, and updated numbers will reveal an even more bleak picture.

“If we raised taxes, it will be even worse,” he said.

In addition to fiscal matters, Nass plans to address health care. He said he “vehemently” opposes universal health care, such as the Healthy Wisconsin plan proposed by Senate Democrats last legislative session.

Instead, Nass favors transparency so patients can compare costs as they would when shopping for other necessities. He said transparency would make health care providers compete, driving down costs.

Democratic challenger Frank E. Urban, 73, of Dousman commended the Nass campaign for running a clean race.

“They took the high road,” he said. “I appreciate that. We always put ourselves in a position not to criticize the person but to go after the issues.”

Urban acknowledge the difficult task he took on in challenging an incumbent, but he said the race was a learning experience.

“It really was an education,” he said.

Urban said he is thinking about running again in two years.