WisDems Press: ICYMI: Rep. Hong, First Responders Gather in Madison, Mayor Reynolds and Elected Leaders Gather in La Crosse to Encourage a No Vote on August Primary Ballot Questions 

MADISON, Wis. — Today in Madison, State Representative Francesca Hong and first responders gathered outside the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin headquarters to discuss the negative impacts the passage of the constitutional amendment ballot questions could have on emergency relief and first responders, and to encourage Wisconsinites to vote no on the two constitutional amendment questions appearing on the August 13 primary ballot.

In La Crosse, Mayor Mitch Reynolds joined City Council Member Mark Neumann and County Board Supervisors Kelly Leibold and Grant Mathu at a press conference in La Crosse, also urging a no vote on the constitutional amendments. 

Speakers in both cities highlighted the dire impacts these risky and misleading constitutional amendments would have for Wisconsin’s communities. 

See what speakers had to say in Madison below: 

State Representative Francesca Hong: “We know what Republicans in our Legislature do when they’re actually in control of distributing funds. They do nothing. They tapped out, and now all of a sudden they want to tap back in because they realize that the Governor and the administration and the community know what to do with these funds.”

Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals Local 5000 President Connie Smith: “Early in the pandemic we were short on Personal Protective Equipment, including gowns. Before the supply of PPE was increased throughout the state, we were re-using PPE, including gowns in some cases. This was the reality for many health care workers across Wisconsin. Thankfully, federal pandemic relief dollars were granted to Wisconsin and swiftly allocated by Governor Evers…As nursing and health care professionals, we know that federal funds can’t afford to be caught in Republican gridlock.”

Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Executive Board member and Fire Fighters Local 311 Secretary-Treasurer Pete Friedericks: “Fire fighters across the state were able to get vaccines and PPE due to the Governor’s quick response to the public health emergency, but we also know that we were also able to do our jobs safely and effectively because of the Governor’s quick distribution of federal funding. Specifically, fire fighters with the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin were able to take time off with pay in order to quarantine if they were sick with COVID 19 thanks to the paycheck protection provided by the CARES Act. This allowed sick firefighters to recover without losing out on a paycheck, and in turn made sure that firefighters on the job were healthier and able to perform their life-saving work in our communities.”

SEIU Wisconsin President Pat Raes: “As a nurse who worked through the pandemic, I know firsthand how important it is to provide timely and quality care to patients. Part of what allows us to do that is having the necessary resources. During the first year of COVID-19, I remember the legislature gaveling in and out and in and out of session. As we, first responders, risked our lives to keep our communities safe and healthy during a pandemic, I remember feeling so disappointed and frustrated to see leaders abuse their unearned political power and not step up to the plate when we, the citizens of Wisconsin, needed them the most…We don’t want the legislature to have sole control over emergency federal funding. Vote no and help ensure that all of us, no matter who we are or where we work, can access the resources and support we need to live and thrive in Wisconsin.”
 

See what speakers had to say in La Crosse below: 

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds: “This to me is not a partisan issue. This is an issue of operational efficacy. In truth, what these constitutional amendments try to do is limit the authority of the Governor to be able to funnel federal funds to local municipalities to save lives. I am responsible for the health and safety of the people of the city of La Crosse, and that means utilizing federal funds when we need to…I urge people to vote no on these constitutional amendments. It will only help our community and help the people in our community.”

La Crosse Alderman Mark Neumann: “We have money that we the taxpayers have sent to Washington D.C…that appropriations work [for those funds] has been done by Congress. Why would we even think that it needs to be re-appropriated [by our Legislature]? What it needs is an efficient execution…During the pandemic, we did not have time to re-appropriate those funds. What we needed was an efficient executive function of the government to get those monies out to help us…I, for one, will be voting not on these two amendments because they are not helping us in the State of Wisconsin.”

La Crosse County Supervisor Kelly Leibold: “After the pandemic, La Crosse grew and maintained a strong, vibrant Main Street small business community thanks in large part to ARPA funding and Governor Evers’ Main Street Bounceback Program. Without the Governor’s ability to act quickly to distribute emergency funding, we could have seen our small businesses and nonprofits here in La Crosse and across Wisconsin struggle and disappear…So far more than 8,500 small businesses have opened or expanded brick and mortar locations on mainstreets and in downtowns, all with this funding that might not have been available if it had been solely up to our State Legislature.”

La Crosse County Supervisor Grant Mathu: “The bottom line is Emergency Medical Services and child care are two of the most important parts of our society, without which the rest of our economy, the rest of society just doesn’t function. Governor Evers has done a phenomenal job as Governor getting funds to communities that need it…Tony Evers has worked hard to build on the progress of Child Care Counts, which is an important piece of legislation that the Republican legislature just won’t support and wont ensure that our child care providers have the financial support that they need. Tony Evers was able to help us get federal dollars into child care centers where they were most needed throughout the pandemic.”