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More on the August 13th Constitutional Questions that did not pass.
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There's a very important issue coming our way in the August 13th election. Make sure you are informed! And vote! Don't be fooled by the Republican Legislature.
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Common Cause Wisconsin Urges Voters to Oppose Two Constitutional Amendments on the August 13th Primary Ballot. Two highly partisan and potentially harmful measures have been rammed through the Wisconsin Legislature over the past several years. They are in the form of amendments to the state constitution. They will appear as questions on the August primary election ballot for approval or rejection by Wisconsin voters.
The ballot questions are intentionally confusing and seemingly harmless. But they are potentially harmful to citizens because they fundamentally change the process used to distribute federal funds in times of urgent need such as in a public health crisis or natural disaster when a quick response is required. These proposed changes will impact the balance of government, delay response time, and change the process for allocating federal money. |
Here are the two constitutional amendment questions that will appear on the August 13th primary election ballot:
Question 1: “Delegation of appropriation power. Shall section 35 (1) of article IV of the constitution be created to provide that the legislature may not delegate its sole power to determine how moneys shall be appropriated?” Question 2: “Allocation of federal moneys. Shall section 35 (2) of article IV of the constitution be created to prohibit the governor from allocating any federal moneys the governor accepts on behalf of the state without the approval of the legislature by joint resolution or as provided by legislative rule?” Both questions were approved by only Republican members of the Wisconsin Assembly and State Senate and were opposed by all Democratic legislators and by Gov. Tony Evers. Many public interest organizations as well as the Wisconsin Public Health Association and the Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments & Boards oppose these measures. |
WISDEMS ENDORSES “NO” VOTE ON AUGUST CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
TOPLINE MESSAGE: Legislative Republicans have placed two misleading constitutional amendment questions on the August 2024 primary ballot. These amendments are designed to trick voters into eliminating checks and balances in our government by grabbing power from the governor and giving the Legislature the “sole power” to distribute federal funds. Wisconsinites should not eliminate checks and balances in our government and should vote “NO” on questions one and two in August.
TOPLINE MESSAGE: Legislative Republicans have placed two misleading constitutional amendment questions on the August 2024 primary ballot. These amendments are designed to trick voters into eliminating checks and balances in our government by grabbing power from the governor and giving the Legislature the “sole power” to distribute federal funds. Wisconsinites should not eliminate checks and balances in our government and should vote “NO” on questions one and two in August.
- MAGA Republicans in the State Legislature have been trying to get an unfair advantage for years:
- They drew legislative district boundaries to give themselves unfair political power, spent millions of taxpayer dollars to promote false election conspiracy theories, and voted to ban abortion against voters' wishes.
- And now they're scheming to grab the “sole power” to determine how to distribute federal funding in Wisconsin.
- Right now the governor and the legislature must work together to decide how to distribute most federal funds in Wisconsin. These two misleading Constitutional Amendments would strip power away from the governor and give the sole power to the legislature.
- Wisconsin’s legislature has been one of the least productive legislatures in the country and is too dysfunctional to be given sole power over federal funds. Once, we missed out on tens of millions of dollars waiting weeks for the legislature to pass what was required.
- And just this year, the legislature blocked money to clean toxic chemicals from our water, and tried to block the way money could be spent to prevent hospitals from closing.
- These Republican-backed constitutional amendments are misleading, risky and have unintended consequences that could create gridlock and delays in getting emergency funding to firefighters, police, and hospitals.
- Instead of the state being able to act quickly, funding would be tied up in the legislature and subject to partisan games and obstruction.
- Federal funds are essential for state agencies and programs to operate and support Wisconsinites. Adding restrictions on how these funds can be allocated, and subjecting them to partisan politics in the legislature, will jeopardize programs across agencies, including:
- Jeopardizing public health by delaying or rejecting federal funding to support BadgerCare recipients, mental health and drug treatment programs, cancer prevention programs, and local health departments.
- Restricting emergency response and delaying relief for small businesses, agricultural workers, and families during natural disasters or emergencies.
- Threatening food assistance programs and hurting women, infants, and children across Wisconsin by delaying funding for federal food assistance programs like SNAP and FoodShare that thousands of Wisconsinites rely on.
- Delaying infrastructure and road projects which rely on federal funding. Delays would disrupt planning and project schedules, increase costs, and make it more difficult for Wisconsin to compete for federal grants and funding for local projects.
- Hurting workers and jeopardizing employment programs by putting up barriers to getting aid to job training and apprenticeship programs, including allocating funding to unemployment programs to support people who have been laid off or are unable to find work.
Funraising and Fundraising for Democrats in June!
FAIR MAPS, A WIN FOR WISCONSIN!
Look who joined Governor Evers in celebration of Fair Maps on Tuesday 2/20/2024 in Green Bay! Some of our very own Indivisibles! Congratulations to all that worked so hard to end gerrymandering in Wisconsin!
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INDIVISIBLE DOOR COUNTY APPLAUDS FAIR MAPS
On Tuesday Feb. 20 WI Governor Tony Evers was in Green Bay to announce his decision to enact fair legislative maps for Wisconsin. Karen Wilson and Mike and Judy Brodd, representing Indivisible Door County were among those present. The Gov. stated that the new maps "are fair, responsive, and reflect the will of the people." He stressed that they are fair because they give each party a "fair shake" at winning control of the Legislature. They are responsive because it is now more likely that districts will flip from one party to the other when voter's preferences change. And they reflect the will of the people because voters not politicians will be making critical decisions about the future of this state. |
Speaking on behalf of Indivisible, Mike Brodd said "we were honored to be invited to participate at the event." He wants to thank all the volunteers that worked so relentlessly for many years to get to this day. "Democracy in Wisconsin has been reborn with the Governor's pen" he noted, adding "it took many hours, days, months and even years of persistence by committed citizens across the state to put the ink in that pen."
Karen, Judy and Mike want to express their sincere appreciation and acknowledge the tremendous amount of volunteer work done by persons such as yourself to write Letters to The Editor, write and send thousands of postcards, install yard signs, participate in rallies and listening sessions, call elected representatives and vote in support of Door County's successful Fair Maps referendum. The three of us who attended the Governor's event, were honored to represent all the hard work that Indivisible members have done in support of Fair Maps. |
