Capitol Chats: Barnes Says Public Service Commission Should Put the Public over Profit

Capitol Chats: Barnes says Public Service Commission should put the public over profit

In this week's "Capitol Chats" episode, Dem guv candidate Mandela Barnes discusses his vow to freeze utility rates if elected and criticizes utility companies for being "greedy" at Wisconsinites' expense.

Barnes’ PSC Idea Should Spark Debate

Mandela Barnes has hit on a good issue, even if he did so in a clumsy sort of way. Last week, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate said that he would only appoint Public Service Commission members who would pledge never to increase utility rates. That specific proposal is a bad idea because sometimes rate increases are justified, just as the price of any other product sometimes needs to go up due to the cost of materials or labor. But it’s pos…