Outgoing Governor Scott Walker has made one of his last acts in office an attack on democracy itself. This measure—passed in a lame-duck session despite unprecedented statewide bipartisan condemnation, and with the narrowest possible vote in the Wisconsin Senate—is designed to let a handful of politicians ignore the results of elections they don’t like. The lawmakers who supported this power grab apparently think that nobody can hold them accountable, and it will be up to voters, election after election, to prove them wrong. 

 

The ACLU believes in the rule of law, and we will be looking closely at this sprawling, hastily passed measure in the months to come. At the same time, the ACLU also believes in free and fair elections, in Wisconsin and across the country. If you think attempts like this to overrule voters’ choices is wrong, we need you with us.

At its meeting, December 1st, the ACLU of Wisconsin’s Board of Directors strongly condemned the unfair spirit and underhanded manner in which the hundreds of pages of proposed changes were issued by the legislature during a lame duck session.

This costly legislative overreach seeks to harm Wisconsin families by changing laws pertaining to insurance, elections, and other issues essential to our state.

Drafting sweeping legislation behind closed doors to change the rules after an election violates the public’s trust, and their right to know and be heard, which are rooted in the first amendment.  This limits the people’s access to democracy and their ability to hold their legislators accountable to represent them.

There are real issues that the families of Wisconsin need addressed in order to thrive and this is not the way to solve those problems.

The legislature’s drastic and extreme action seeks to unfairly rush through what should be done during the regular session.  Their current strategy actively undermines the democratic process and the rights of Wisconsin residents.   Let’s return to Wisconsin values of openness and fair play.   

 

Please call your State Senator and urge them not to let power-hungry legislators ignore election results and push voters around. Find your legislator here: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/