Respect My Vote Rally

A coalition of Wisconsin grassroots groups has come together to fight the GOP proposals to curb the next governor’s authority in a lame duck session and waste taxpayer dollars on an extra election. There will be multiple statewide rallies simultaneously next Saturday.

This particular rally will be held in State Senate District 5 (Tosa, small part of western Milwaukee, Brookfield, New Berlin, Elm Grove and West Allis) targeting Leah Vukmir. Yes, this is the same Vukmir who just ran against Tammy Baldwin and lost. Until January though, she is still in the State Senate. While we would particularly like to see people from District 5, everybody is welcome. Signs will be provided, or you can bring your own.

Shortly after Tony Evers’ victory, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos spoke about limiting the authority of the governor before the new governor takes office. State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald quickly jumped on board and together, they got Scott Walker’s support.

There is also a proposal to add a third election in the spring of 2020. Currently, the plan is hold a non partisan State Supreme Court election primary (reduce the field to two candidates) and then hold the final judicial election simultaneously with the presidential primary. This was how it was done in 2016. However, Scott Walker wants to separate the two, thus costing taxpayers a few million for the extra election, and depressing Democratic turnout in the hopes of keeping his conservative buddy on the State Supreme Court.

Republicans refuse to respect the popular vote. Any attempt by legislative leaders, in a lame duck session originally called for another purpose, after a victory by the other partly, to limit the governor’s authority clearly is overreach by that branch of government. It is not a check and balance. It is a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the incoming governor.