WisDems: Roundup – Wisconsinites, distrustful of GOP legislature, urge ‘no’ vote on August 13 ballot questions

MADISON — Over the last few weeks, Wisconsinites from across the Badger State have written to their local newspapers to urge fellow voters to vote ‘NO’ on tomorrow’s ballot. If passed, these constitutional amendments would give Republican politicians in Madison—who turned Wisconsin’s Legislature into the least active governing body in the nation during the COVID–19 pandemic—sole control over the distribution of federal funds. Right now, the GOP-controlled Legislature is blocking millions of dollars of funding for PFAS cleanup, aid for western Wisconsin hospitals, child care providers, and BadgerCare expansion. Wisconsinites know that Republican politicians in Madison have repeatedly put politics over progress and cannot be trusted with the authority to control federal emergency funds.

See what they’re saying below:

Sarah Godlewski, Wisconsin Secretary of State: “Now this group of extreme legislators is asking voters to consolidate more power to the detriment of the state. They have strategically placed these constitutional amendments during the August election, which historically has lower turnout, and crafted the amendment language to be confusing and vague. This is a desperate attempt by their gerrymandered majority to hold on to power.” 

Elizabeth Koehler, State Director for The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin: “Questions 1 and 2 are asking voters to fix a system that simply isn’t broken. Our current system has worked well for 85 years, and we don’t need additional legislative barriers getting in the way when our natural resources and communities are most vulnerable. Happily, you, the voters, have a chance to speak up this summer. Use your outside voice to tell everyone you know about this important issue and Vote NO on Questions 1 and 2 on or before August 13th. Together, we can ensure the brightest future for our shared natural resources and communities.”

Evan Dannells, Madison: “The Wisconsin Republican lawmakers who voted on this language claim it is to provide “oversight” and “transparency” over these dollars. However, during the pandemic the Legislature had the opportunity to help, but chose to be out of session for most of a year. During that time, they didn’t do a single thing, even using the state’s dollars, to support small businesses like mine. Had Questions 1 and 2 been in effect it is likely that federal support would have been delayed, or even denied, leading to thousands of Main Street businesses across Wisconsin permanently closing.” 

Tamar Kusmin, Blue Mounds: “Federal grant money given to the states is from our federal taxes (not our state taxes, for which the Legislature already has the power of the purse). Forty governors, with good reason, have the power that the Wisconsin Legislature is trying to take for themselves. This Legislature is counting on you to not turn out to vote, as lower turnout typically benefits Republicans.” 

Mariette Nowak, East Troy: “The amendments would jeopardize funding for first-responders when disasters strike, as well as funding for other important public needs. The Legislature has been extremely slow to act on critical public health problems. It long blocked funding to deal with PFAS, the forever chemicals that have polluted our waters. It refused money that would provide health care to 90,000 Wisconsinites. And it cost Wisconsinites money to combat the opioid epidemic.” 

Lucy Ripp, Madison: “If passed, these two amendments would make it harder for our communities to quickly and effectively respond to things like snow storms or tornadoes – and would leave our neighborhoods relying on our politically gridlocked state legislature to release essential funds in emergency situations when we need action fast.”

Jerry Iverson, Appleton: “We all know that this current Legislature or a future one could delay or stop funding based on the political whims of either political party. Communities needing assistance would be caught in the middle and not get the federal funds.” 

Ron Ginsbach, Elmwood: “Wisconsin will do better to leave the constitutional authority on matters of spending federal emergency relief funding in the hands of the governor who represents the electorate of the whole state, has the ability to move quickly on matters of relief and access to the government agencies and bureaucracies to get funding where it needs to go without the acrimony of petty partisan wrangling. That’s why a “NO” vote on each amendment will serve us best. Incidentally, though nonpartisan, the LWV does take a position on constitutional matters and they also encourage us to vote “NO” on both question 1 and question 2.”