Frederica Freyberg:
Finally, our singing commentator Peter Leidy on tonight’s “End Insight.” The Assembly passed the payday loan bill this week. The floor action on this bill got almost as much attention as the off-the-floor action. That's because of attention paid to Speaker Mike Sheridan and self-confessed former relationship with a lobbyist for the payday loan industry. Here's Peter Leidy playing the part of the speaker in tonight's musical commentary.
Peter Leidy:
Hello, Wisconsin. I'm Speaker Mike Sheridan. Janesville is the district I represent. This is my third term. The voters decided that to Madison I should be sent. I'm sorry if you thought I was trying to mislead you. That was surely not my intent. I do see that could have been your perception of me. I think I'll give up dating lobbyists for Lent. I'm only human. Never said I was perfect. But this whole thing is not what it appears. I'm a hard worker. A blue collar background. Worked in a factory 31 years. Hey, I didn't take bribes. I'm not a criminal. I don't have multiple DUIs. I'm a straight-forward man, I don't write crib notes on my hand. And with the payday lenders, I've severed my ties. Yes, I dated that woman. At first I denied it. She worked for the payday loan industry. Now I see the perception. Bus traveling together, cast a suspicious light on me. Be assured it did not influence my views, about needed restrictions of that industry. Though at first I did state we need to cap that interest rate, I changed my mind so you can all shut up now. I don't care who did what and who did it when. I spent 31 years on an assembly line. Our number one job is to create more jobs, so let’s put this behind us already and get back to the work we need to do. Now. Thank you.
Frederica Freyberg:
Peter Leidy. Remember, Peter’s songs are commentaries and not opinions or music devised by Here and Now.