Republicans Refuse to Allow Votes on Budget Proposals to Help People Vote
Action to Prevent Action Sums Up GOP Attitude Toward Democracy and Voter Rights
MADISON, Wis. — A ruling of the Republican co-chair of the Joint Committee on Finance today prohibited the state budget committee from considering or voting on measures that would have helped Wisconsinites vote. Proposals included in Gov. Tony Evers’ 2019-21 budget that could have been considered but for the ruling included measures to expand voter registration and to conform state law with a federal court order in the voting rights lawsuit, One Wisconsin Institute, et al. v. Thomsen, et al.
“Republicans summed up their attitude toward democracy and voter rights today by refusing to even allow a vote on voter registration and voter rights,” said One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Analiese Eicher. “Their concern is ensuring the rules on voting are tilted to give themselves an unfair partisan advantage instead of helping voters participate in our democracy.”
In his budget plan, Gov. Evers included funding for an automatic voter registration initiative that would have registered eligible individuals to vote when getting a driver’s license or state ID. The plan would also help ensure already registered voters keep their registration current and study expanding voter registration to situations where people provide information to other government agencies that would confirm their eligibility to vote.
Evers’ budget also proposed bringing state law into compliance with a federal court enforcement action in the voting rights case One Wisconsin Institute, et al. v. Thomsen, et al. The budget included a repeal of the actions taken by the Republican controlled legislature in the last days of Gov. Scott Walker’s administration, trying to re-impose limits on early voting and previously struck down voter ID requirements in state statute.
The voting rights provisions were among a list of over 130 items Republicans stripped from the budget document in an omnibus motion on the first day of budget deliberations.
One Wisconsin Now is a statewide communications network specializing in effective earned media and online organizing to advance progressive leadership and values.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
More about the 2019-2021 Wisconsin Budget
- State Budget Fell Short on Highways? - Laurel White - Jul 8th, 2019
- Rep. LaKeshia Myers Supports Governor Evers’ Partial Vetoes - State Rep. LaKeshia Myers - Jul 3rd, 2019
- Statement: Wisconsin’s biennial budget will speed up transition to electric vehicles and improve public transit - WISPIRG Foundation - Jul 3rd, 2019
- Majority Leader Fitzgerald Reacts to Governor Evers Signing the Wisconsin Budget - U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald - Jul 3rd, 2019
- Evers Uses 78 Partial Vetoes on Budget - Laurel White - Jul 3rd, 2019
- Rep. Bowen Statement on Gov. Evers’ Signing of Biennial Budget - State Rep. David Bowen - Jul 3rd, 2019
- Promises Made, Promises Kept: Gov. Evers Signs Wisconsin’s 2019-21 Biennial Budget into Law - Gov. Tony Evers - Jul 3rd, 2019
- Budget Bill The Shortest in Decades - Shawn Johnson - Jun 30th, 2019
- Op Ed: Budget Should Plan For the Future - State Sen. Jennifer Shilling - Jun 29th, 2019
- Majority Leader Fitzgerald Statement on the Passage of the Wisconsin Budget - U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald - Jun 26th, 2019
Read more about 2019-2021 Wisconsin Budget here
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