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We welcome you to peruse some of the Letters to the Editor we have submitted on various topics during the past year. Some of the issues are no longer current but we want to maintain our reader's access.
These referenda did not pass, preserving our Wisconsin Constitution, thanks to voters across the state.
Urging a ‘No’ Vote for Confusing Constitutional Referenda
The Primary Election set for Aug. 13 will likely have a low turnout of voters compared to the Presidential Election in November. Nevertheless, the August voters will be the ones to decide whether to change the Wisconsin Constitution for the second time this year.
Just this past April, in historically low turnout Spring Elections, two Referenda to amend the Wisconsin Constitution were passed by only 25% of the voter-age population casting ballots. I and many others who voted ‘no,’ found the referendum questions overly simple and misleading. We believe the new language will confuse elections administration as state and local officials (and lawyers) argue about what they mean. If the August referenda are approved, the Constitution once again will have been changed by a small percentage of voters in a low turnout election. |
The two questions on the ballot are confusing. What do they mean for the people of Wisconsin? They appear to mean that the Governor cannot accept or allocate federal funds in the case of a disaster, or for infrastructure projects, without the Legislature’s approval. More gridlock for Wisconsin?
Does this issue rise to the level of changing the Constitution? Voters need information about what they are being asked to decide! What are the problems? How else might they be solved? We need public hearings, education, information. We want to be informed voters. However you vote (absentee, early voter, in person), do not neglect to vote in the August election. I urge you to vote ‘no’ on these unexplained Constitutional amendments. Karen Wilson Published June 21, 2024 with permission from the Peninsula Pulse and the author |
Not only has the Republican Legislature called for a referendum to pass amendments to the State Constitution in August, they also called for and passed 2 amendments in April 2024, another typically low turn-out election--Ploys to prevent vetoes from the majority elected governor.
Constitutional Amendments
There are two amendments proposed to the Wisconsin Constitution on the April 2, 2024 election ballot. Vote No on both. These amendments are completely unnecessary and could inadvertently bring harm to the administration of our elections. Wisconsin elections are clean, fair, nonpartisan and effectively administered. However, third party and nonpartisan funding is needed by local governments because the gerrymandered Wisconsin legislature underfunds election administration. The first proposed amendment would restrict funding from outside sources to assist in the current underfunded election administration process. Local governments need this supplemental funding to administer elections because our state legislature underfunds election administration. Vote No on the amendment and then call your legislators and demand proper funding for local governments to administer elections. |
The second amendment is a policy issue that does not belong in the Wisconsin constitution. Detailed requirements for the administration of elections are already in place and in our Wisconsin Statutes. Why is this amendment necessary since our laws already provide strict requirements for election officials? Vote No and call your legislator and ask them why they are wasting local government resources on a constitutional amendment that is completely unnecessary.
The current unpopular and gerrymandered Wisconsin legislature continues to circumvent our normal policy setting process. These amendments are an attack on separation of powers. Simply vote NO on both. Jerry Iverson Published with permission from the author. Submitted to the Post Crescent, March 18, 2024 |
Shameful Congressional Disfunction
As we continue to watch the dysfunction of our so-called leaders in Congress it is nothing short of shameful. We have watched a handful of Republicans, and the Speaker of the House look and act like hypocrites. First, they will not do anything unless we do something about the border crisis. OK – done. A bill. No, wait – the ex-president says no, so forget it. Financing for our allies? No, we must have a border agreement first. Do they think we all just fell off the turnip truck?
As we continue to watch the dysfunction of our so-called leaders in Congress it is nothing short of shameful. We have watched a handful of Republicans, and the Speaker of the House look and act like hypocrites. First, they will not do anything unless we do something about the border crisis. OK – done. A bill. No, wait – the ex-president says no, so forget it. Financing for our allies? No, we must have a border agreement first. Do they think we all just fell off the turnip truck?
mericans are watching this dysfunction play out. We have our children and fellow citizens being gunned down with military grade firearms, and we are now watching our allies being gunned down by dictators because there is no border agreement. You cannot make this stuff up. It is like a Saturday Night Live sketch except people are dying. What is evident is that they not only have our blood on their hands, they now have our allies too!
Then they go on a two-week break. Shameful and embarrassing for our country! This is what I have been able to deduct from this latest fiasco. Come next November we the people will be taking a “national intelligence test” and we will be deciding which way our country will be moving – |
further into mediocracy and shame or fighting our way out of this insanity. In the words of Albert Einstein, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” There is always hope.
Carol Schmidt
Published 3/11/2024 with permission from the Peninsula Pulse and the author
Carol Schmidt
Published 3/11/2024 with permission from the Peninsula Pulse and the author
Support Jennifer Moeller for Door County Circuit Court Judge
I have known Jennifer for over 30 years. She is a compassionate, intelligent and caring person. Her connections in Door County go back to her childhood home in Egg Harbor. She is beyond qualified for this position with a long history of working in all aspects of the legal world. Her first positions in Milwaukee gave her a solid background in all aspects of law. She joined Attorneys Victor Dana Brooks and Nina H. Martel in 1999. In her 12 years at the firm, she handled a variety of legal matters for clients including divorce, family law, real estate, criminal defense, traffic, guardianship, probate, small claims, restraining orders, children in need of protection and adoptions. |
In 2000, she was elected to the Sturgeon Bay City Council and served on the Personnel Committee, Community Protection and Services and the Library Board. In 2001, her fellow council members elected her to chair the Public Works Committee.
For nine years, Jennifer served on the Sturgeon Bay Police and Fire Commission by mayoral appointment; seven of those years as President. In 2011, Judge D. Todd Ehlers and Judge Peter C. Diltz appointed Jennifer to her current positions – Family Court Commissioner and Register in Probate. It is notable that Brett Reetz, who is also running for the judge position, applied for this position as well. Moeller has served Door County as a Court Commissioner and Register in Probate for 13 years. If you’re one of the many people who don’t know what that means, the |
Wisconsin Court System provides a definition. A Court Commissioner is “a lawyer appointed by the circuit judges of a county who, as a judicial officer, exercises many of the functions of a judge, by conducting hearings and making findings and recommendations.” A Register in Probate is “a county official appointed by the circuit judges who keeps records of court proceedings in probate cases and oversees the administration of estates. Probate cases include wills, trusts, guardianships, and mental health commitment hearings. This position is similar to the clerk of court and sometimes part of the clerk of courts office.”
Elect Jennifer!! Kathy Navis Published 3/7/2024 with permission from the Peninsula Pulse and the author |