Sen. Carpenter statement on removal from committee assignment

(MADISON)—Today, Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) issued the following statement regarding Republican actions to shut down debate and remove him from the Senate Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs:

“My voice on the Senate Committee of Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs has been silenced for speaking out against policies which contradict the teachings of Jesus, and against unjust actions of Republicans in the State Senate.

“The disagreement in committee was due to the chairman gaveling me down and trying to prevent me from rightly pointing out that the message of Jesus is to heal the sick and that the bill goes against that Christian principle. I was wrongly accused of insulting the authors’ character when I was referring to the policy before us, which can be seen in the record. I should not have been gaveled down for debating the morality of the bill.

“I was gaveled down again when I dared to speak about one of the saddest chapters in American history when over one million people of Mexican descent were deported, including thousands of U.S. Citizens. I have a right and responsibility to raise legitimate concerns about legislation that scapegoats people across Wisconsin.

“Over the last 14 years, while Republicans have held complete power of the Wisconsin Legislature as a result of their gerrymandering, I have seen the long-held traditions and values of our legislature violated to silence the Democrats in the minority. We have been prohibited from proposing amendments to major legislation, cut out of negotiations, I and others have been silenced during a meeting of the State Senate, and gaveled down in committee on the incorrect claim that I made a comment about my colleagues’ character.

“If the Republican Party is going to use their power in the majority to prohibit open debate and ignore the needs of the people of Wisconsin, then they will lose the majority.

“As someone raised in the Catholic faith, my upbringing taught me to recognize the difference between right and wrong, and when actions go against the teachings of Jesus. I will not remain silent when we hear bills in committee that contradict fundamental Christian teachings. We should be taking action to make sure that in Wisconsin we heal the sick. The bill we were debating would prohibit our state from following that teaching.

“I represent the largest Latino population of any Wisconsin senate district. It is my responsibility to stand up for their interests, especially when many have had their world torn apart by the chaos created by President Trump. Many of my neighbors have lived in fear for the last 8 months while their constitutional rights have been assaulted.

“In October of 2019, I joined the Catholic Charities of Milwaukee on their visit to the U.S. Mexico border at El Paso to see the conditions and suffering of detainees under the first Trump Administration. I have focused on learning about the issues impacting our state’s immigrants, and the history of immigration issues in our state and country. When we are debating bills about immigration issues those topics are relevant, like the operation under President Eisenhower named after a racist slur during which thousands of American citizens were deported to Mexico.

“Many constituents have told me they feel that our immigrant neighbors are being mistreated. Instead of focusing on deporting the most violent criminals, President Trump has taken valuable members from our community, tearing families apart and endangering our state’s economy. My constituents expect me to stand up for our neighbors who are being attacked.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.