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UW System releases results of student survey on free speech and free expression

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Results of a University of Wisconsin System survey of student attitudes on free speech and free expression were released Wednesday at UW Oshkosh.

System President Jay Rothman said students were surveyed about why they participate in class discussions. “The students felt they knew enough about the topic, that they cared about the topic and that they were in a class that encouraged discussion,” Rothman explained. “We asked a similar question of those students who didn’t express views in class. Some worried that other students would disagree with their views, or that the instructor would find their views offensive, or that they would get a lower grade.”

Rothman said threats of cuts to state funding should not dissuade the system from allowing viewpoints some may consider unpopular. “We can’t be afraid of the truth and what the survey shows us. We want to make sure we get ourselves better. It is important that our universities continue to be marketplaces of ideas where divergent opinions can be shared and debated and discussed. And I think that at the end of the day is a bipartisan issue.”

Rothman said more than 10,000 students responded to the survey, with a profile that parallels the UW System student body resulting in a solid sample with low margins of error. “The student response to this survey was strong,” Rothman said. “It provides a foundation for us to evaluate critically what we can do better to enhance civil dialogue at our universities.”

The survey will also provide a roadmap for UW System universities to help students better understand their First Amendment rights and responsibilities, according the the UW System. Full survey results may be viewed here.

State Senate Natural Resources Committee gets PFAS update

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Members of the Wisconsin Senate received more information about PFAS contamination in a Tuesday hearing at the Capitol in Madison. University of Wisconsin researcher Dr. Christy Remucal told lawmakers that most of Wisconsin’s contamination still stems from one source.

“Researchers have shown firefighting foam is one of the major sources of contamination and so my I think that’s probably the most likely source in this region as well.”

Remucal said there’s a reason why cleanup of PFAs contamination remains challenging and expensive. “We have a lot of different water treatment methods; engineered water treatment methods, and none of our usual approaches work on these chemicals. There’s not currently a good disruptive technology for PFAS. The good news is that there is a ton of research going on, both in the US and across the world on trying to come up with a better way to destroy these chemicals. But we’re not quite there yet.”

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has signed a bill in 2020, regulating firefighting foams which contain PFAS. The chemicals are found in many products, but the foam is a major source of contamination. Once in the water supply, the chemical compounds don’t break down. That can result in the human health issues, and damage to the ecosystems they contaminate.

Evers delivers State of the State address

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Governor Tony Evers laid out his priorities for Wisconsin in his fifth State of the State address on Tuesday night. The Democratic governor noted that state government is in a great fiscal position, expected to end the current biennium with about a $6.5 billion surplus and over $1.7 billion in the rainy day fund.

WATCH: State of the State Address on WisconsinEye

Evers called for nearly $1.3 billion in new state spending on mental health initiatives, addressing PFAS contamination and supporting Wisconsin workers. Evers also called for a major increase in shared revenues to local governments to be funded with 20 percent of the sales tax. He rejected a Republican flat tax proposal, calling that a giveaway for the wealthiest in the state.

WATCH: Speaker Vos response on WisconsinEye

In the Republican response, Speaker Robin Vos pledged Wisconsin Republicans will not raise taxes and won’t pass a budget that doesn’t have significant tax reform.

Abortion rights rally highlights Wisconsin Supreme Court race

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Events took place around the nation including in Wisconsin, for Sunday’s 50th anniversary of the now overturned Roe versus Wade ruling. In Madison, protestors took part in a Bigger than Roe march on State Street before making their way to the State Capitol Rotunda. The Madison Area Reproductive Rights Coalition for Healthcare (MARRCH) helped organize the protest.

Speakers in the rotunda focused on the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election. There are two conservative candidates, Waukesha County Judge Jennifer Dorow and former Justice Daniel Kelly, and two liberal candidates, Dane County Judge Everett Mitchell and Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz.

“The candidate who is elected in April must reflect the wants and the needs of the people of Wisconsin,” said Amadi Ozier of MARRCH. “Over 70% of the people of Wisconsin support abortion.”

The spring primaries take place February 21st, and the general election to decide the next state Supreme Court Justice is on April 4th.

In addition to Madison, Wausau, Elkhorn and Minocqua also had events on Sunday.

Abortion rights events in Wisconsin and around the country follow the annual anti-abortion March for Life demonstration, which took place on Friday in Washington DC, where thousands of anti-abortion activists turned up to celebrate the movement’s success.

WIBA

Bail and benefits questions will be on Wisconsin’s April statewide ballot

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WRN photo

Wisconsin voters will be able to weigh in on a proposed constitutional amendment on bail reform as part of the April statewide ballot. In Assembly debate Thursday, Representative Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) argued against the proposal, and for pretrial detention.

“I support pretrial detention.” Goyke said. “I support people that pose a public safety risk being held in custody. But when we make that decision and that measure solely about money, we allow a subgroup of people the opportunity to buy their way out of jail.”

The amendment’s author, Representative Cindi Duchow (R-Delafield), said pretrial detention has been on the books for decades in Wisconsin, but has never been used.

“Pretrial detention doesn’t work,” said Duchow. “It’s basically a mini trial before your trial. The victim has to come in and testify which can be traumatizing for a victim of violent crime. You have to have a whole little mini hearing. You have to have all your evidence. You have to have your DNA back. We don’t have the physical space to do it, nor do we have the finances to do it.”

Democrats argued that the proposed change will disproportionately impact low income Wisconsinites, while allowing those with the financial resources to pay higher bail amounts.

“If we’re serious about safety, there are other measures to do that,” said Representative Dora Drake (D-Milwaukee). She noted prosecutors and public defenders are understaffed and underfunded.

The measure will allow judges to consider past convictions of those charged with crimes, as well as “the need to protect the community from serious harm” and “prevent the intimidation of witnesses,” when setting bail. Judges are currently only allowed to set bail amounts to ensure an individual appears back in court.

Duchow said that will still leave judges and court commissioners with considerable discretion. “They’re gonna look back at their (defendants) past criminal convictions. They’re going to sort out the dangers to the community and then they’re going to set their bail. And if they want to set it for $10 they can do it, if they want to set it for 10 million. We are not handcuffing our judges.”

Ten Democrats voted to approve the amendment which passed 74-23, following state Senate approval on Tuesday. Passage by two consecutive legislative sessions is required before proposed constitutional amendments go to voters.

The Assembly also approved putting a nonbinding, advisory referendum on the ballot. Voters will be asked if childless, able bodied adults should be required to apply for work in order to receive state funded welfare benefits.

That’s something that’s already required under state law. “It is amazing to see the mental gymnastics that Wisconsin Republicans are actively pursuing to make sense of something that already is happening,” said Representative Christina Shelton (D-Green Bay.)

Republicans argue it’s not being enforced. This is something the state’s supposed to be doing,” said Representative Jon Plumer (R-Lodi). “It’s not the only instance in the state of Wisconsin where an agency is not following the letter of the law.”

It’s an advisory referendum, meaning no action is required if approved by voters.

Evers issues promised TikTok ban

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As expected, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has issued a state TikTok ban. The governor on Thursday issued an executive order to prohibit the popular Chinese video sharing app on state issued devices.

“New and evolving technologies will continue to present risks to privacy, safety, and security, and this order ensures we will continue to be vigilant in monitoring these technologies while trusting the advice of these experts on evolving cybersecurity issues facing our state.”

The order also bans some software from other technology companies, but it does not apply to the UW System or to the judicial and legislative branches of state government. Evers said he decided on the ban after consulting with the FBI and homeland security officials.

Johnson, Baldwin both vote ‘yes’ to avert rail strike

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Wisconsin’s US Senators voted Thursday for a measure to avert a nationwide rail strike. Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Republican Ron Johnson voted ‘yes’ to send the measure to President Biden’s desk. The Senate vote was 80-15.

The agreement will give rail workers a roughly 24 percent pay increase by 2024 and more sick time flexibility. It does not include any new paid sick leave, the sticking point that could have resulted in a disruptive rail strike by the end of next week. Baldwin voted for a House passed amendment granting the rail workers seven paid sick days failed in the Senate on a 52-43 vote, short of the 60 votes needed for approval.

In a statement, Johnson said the ‘cooling off’ period should have been extended to force railroads and unions back to the negotiating table while keeping trains rolling. But he said a shutdown would have harmed people and the economy.

 

Evers calls special session of legislature – says voter referendum could allow for repeal of state abortion ban

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Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers wants to give voters a say on the status of abortion in Wisconsin. Evers has proposed a special session of the Legislature, to take up a constitutional amendment allowing statewide referendums.

Evers said that could provide a pathway for Wisconsin voters to repeal the state’s 1849 law which criminalizes abortion. Republicans quickly rejected the idea.

During a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, Evers cited Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, who has said the issue of abortion ought to be resolved by voters in the states.

“I heard it directly from Senator Johnson’s mouth. He said look let’s let the people take care of this. And we agree with him.”

The Democratic governor said voters in both parties are “appalled” by the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. ”We had fifty years of rights that suddenly disappeared overnight, and a legislature that is unwilling to even discuss it. That’s disgusting.”

But Johnson and Republican legislative leaders were quick to reject the idea. Johnson accused Democrats of exploiting the issue by politicizing it before an election. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu called the proposal a “desperate political stunt.”

The Republican led legislature has not convened for any of Evers’ previous special session calls.

 

 

 

 

 

Wisconsin veterans cheer passage of PACT Act

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The PACT Act, legislation supporting veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins is ready for President Joe Biden’s signature following this week’s passage by the U.S. Senate.

“This will affect 3.2 million veterans because many veterans were exposed to toxins during their service,” said Al Labelle with the Wisconsin office of Disabled American Veterans.

Labelle said bill will expand health care benefits for veterans who developed illnesses due to their exposure to a variety of toxins. “Everything from radiation risks, meaning the 50s and 60s when they were doing atomic testing, through Agent Orange, burn pits and PFAS.”

Labelle credits comedian Jon Stewart’s advocacy for the PACT Act, but said it was a team effort supported by more than 70 veterans organizations.

“John Stewart amplified our message, and it was very important what he did. However it was also due to the many phone calls emails meetings that were held with legislators.”

The bill passed the Senate Tuesday night on a vote of 86 to 11. Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Republican Ron Johnson voted in favor.

Last week, Johnson and fellow Republicans held up passage of the bill. Republicans said their opposition was tied to an argument over which portion of the federal budget would pay for $280 billion worth of funds for veteran health programs.

Lasry leaves U.S. Senate race and endorses Barnes

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Mandela Barnes

Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry is out of the race for U.S. Senate. Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes welcomed Lasry’s endorsement Wednesday in Milwaukee’s Deer District. He said the focus now is defeating Republican Senator Ron Johnson.

“I know this is gonna be tough, it’s gonna be difficult, it’s gonna be an uphill battle. But I know it’ll be that much easier because we’re in this together,” Barnes said.

Lasry said he saw no path forward to win the August 9th Democratic primary. “The second I realized that there was no path forward, we made sure that we did what we thought was best for us to be able to defeat Ron Johnson. And that meant getting with the person who is best positioned to do that, and has been running the best campaign in this primary. And that’s the Lieutenant Governor.”

Outagamie County Exec Tom Nelson suspended his campaign on Monday and is also endorsing Barnes. State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski is the remaining high-profile Democrat, and said she intends to stay in the race.