PRESERVE WISCONSIN’S GAB

PRESERVE WISCONSIN’S GAB By Rita Pachal As of this writing the governor and legislature are looking to overhaul the GAB or Government Accountability Board. This board governs our elections and the use of money in campaigns. It also investigates violations of the state ethics code. This board consists of six former judges and staff. It was formed in 2007 when both Republicans and Democrats were mired in scandals. The formation of the board was supported by both parties and was passed almost unanimously. The GAB forum held on September 14 at UWMC had panelists Jay Heck of Wisconsin Common Cause, Matt Rothschild of Wisconsin Democracy ...

50 YEARS OF THE VRA…VOTING RIGHTS ACTS

50 YEARS OF THE VRA…VOTING RIGHTS ACTS From League of Women Voters August 6 was the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). This landmark civil rights legislation has protected voters from discrimination for nearly half a century. But today, the VRA does not offer the same protections it did in 1965. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2013 gutted key provisions of the VRA in its Shelby County v. Holder decision. Congress currently has before it various proposals, but there’s been no legislation passed to repair the damage. Meanwhile, new restrictive voting laws have been enacted. Each and every eligible American voter ...

YOU NEED A PHOTO VOTER ID TO VOTE

YOU NEED A PHOTO VOTER ID TO VOTE by Virginia Kirsch You need a photo ID to vote in Wisconsin elections. The Government Accountability Board of Wisconsin has a very handy, user-friendly website to help you with this process as well as many other details concerning elections. At myvote.wi.gov you can register to vote, check your voter registration status, find your polling place, see what's on your ballot, request an absentee ballot (military and permanent overseas voters only), and check provisional ballot status. The U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed the photo ID provisions of 2011 Wisconsin Act 23. A photo ID is now required to receive a ...

QUESTIONS ON OUR APRIL 7 BALLOT….

You will be asked to vote on these questions. They are printed here for your convenience. QUESTION 1: “ELECTION OF CHIEF JUSTICE Shall section 4 (2) of article VII of the constitution be amended to direct that a chief justice of the supreme court shall be elected for a two-year term by majority of the justices then serving on the court?” QUESTION 2: ADVISORY REFERENDUM: “Shall the City of Wausau establish the position of city administrator, reduce the Mayor’s position to part-time, and transfer administrative and operational responsibilities from the Mayor to the city administrator?” The City of Wausau will retain the Mayor-...

Your Freedom Matters

First they came for our voting freedoms and I did not speak out Because I didn’t vote They came for my work place freedoms/ protections and wages I didn’t speak because I didn’t understand why it was so important Then they came for freedom to learn all that is possible through a great public education, I didn’t realize public schools are the heart of equal opportunity for all communities Quietly they attacked our state’s freedom to enjoy and protect our beautiful land and water Very few have noticed because it wasn’t in their back yard They came for the freedom to pursue truth ...

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