Critical Race Theory Bills  

This month a troubling set of GOP authored bills received public hearings in assembly committees. Assembly Bills 411 and 413 would impose a 10% reduction of state funding on local school boards, colleges, and universities if they are found to have caused an individual to feel  “discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of distress because of the individual's race or sex.” A similar bill, AB 410, would impose a 10% reduction of state funding to municipal or county governments if any required training caused their staff to feel uncomfortable about their race or sex.  

The authors of these bills claim that they are pushing back against discrimination in education. However, it is clear to me that these bills are part of a national political strategy by conservatives to scare white voters into thinking that educators and Democrats are promoting hatred of white people and white culture. 

In advancing this strategy Republicans have latched onto the term “critical race theory.” For those who are not familiar with critical race theory, it is an academic approach to the study of race, racism, and society. In the broadest sense, it is the non-radical notion that racial discrimination has played an important and often intentional role in shaping America's history, institutions, and the racial variations in socio-economic conditions amongst our people. 

The danger with these bills is that they have a chilling effect on honest conversations about race and how it has shaped our history and how it continues to shape the ways that Americans, interact with each other. These conversations are often difficult and can touch on topics that might make some people uncomfortable. So how can we have uncomfortable conversations without anyone feeling discomfort?  The truth is we can’t.

Get the Vaccine and Get Paid $100

As summer began it looked as though we had made it through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. New cases were dwindling, restrictions were being lifted and businesses were reopening. A few short months later the delta variant has caused a new wave of infections, we are being asked to wear masks indoors again, and our hospitals are once again filling with sick and dying COVID patients. However, unlike in 2020 we now have safe and effective vaccines that block or greatly reduce the worst effects from COVID. That is if we only take them. 

If you haven’t yet been vaccinated I implore you to do so as soon as possible. The vaccines are safe and effective. Study after study has shown that those who are vaccinated are far less likely to contract COVID and far less likely to experience serious complications if they do.

For those who need an additional incentive, Governor Evers has announced a new $100 reward program to encourage Wisconsinites to get vaccinated. Under this program, Wisconsinites who get their first COVID vaccine dose between August 20th and September 6th will receive a $100 Visa gift card. You do not need to have insurance, show a photo ID, or be a citizen of the United States to be eligible for a gift card. For more details on how you or someone you know can take advantage of this program please visit the Wisconsin DHS website. 

My staff and I are looking into the possibility of setting up mobile vaccine clinics in the least vaccinated areas in the district. If we are going to get back to where we started this summer we are all going to have to roll up our sleeves. 

Redistricting Update

In August the Federal Government released the initial results of the 2020 census. The release of census data is the first step in the decennial process of redrawing of Congressional, State Senate, and Assembly districts. How these maps are drawn will have a profound impact on Wisconsin’s democracy over the next decade. 

In 2011 Republicans used control of the legislature and the governor’s office to maximize their political advantage by drawing district borders that assured themselves large majorities in both houses for the remainder of the decade. This time around maps drawn by the Republican majority will need the signature of Governor Evers.

Concerned about a veto from the Governor, Speaker Voss has indicated publicly that the Assembly will pass maps that the Governor can sign. It remains to be seen if he will be able to keep to this promise. 

A veto would lead to the courts getting involved and protracted legal battles that could last well into the spring. Cases are already being filed in State and Federal courts in anticipation of such a battle.

While it is not clear how legal challenges will play out one option would be that the courts use maps drawn by the Peoples Map Commission, a non-partisan group that has worked with thousands of Wisconsinites across the State to draw maps that are free from party politics. If you would like to draw and submit your own map you can visit them at their website.

Election Inquiry Price Tag

Speaker Vos recently announced that GOP lawmakers are prepared to spend $680,000 of taxpayer money in their probe of the now ten-month-old 2020 election. According to Vos, the inquiry will use this money to hire consultants for something he is calling a “cyber-forensic audit.” While Vos didn’t elaborate on what such an audit might entail, I can only assume it will look something like the audit conducted in Arizona this summer which has failed to produce any evidence of fraud. 

The Speaker’s inquiry isn’t the first, second, or even third review of last year’s general election results. In November, a Trump campaign funded recount netted Joe Biden an additional 159 votes. And in December, Wisconsin’s Supreme Court threw out a Trump lawsuit that would have discounted 221,000 Dane and Milwaukee County ballots. In fact, every one of the dozens of cases brought by Trump and his allies in state and federal courts has been tossed out as meritless.

Why then is the Speaker ready to dole out taxpayer money on yet another election challenge? I can only assume it’s politics. In the short term, I assume he fears losing the support of the most hardcore elements of his party who continue to parrot Trump’s big lie that the 2020 election was “stolen.” However, I am concerned that the Speaker’s long-term strategy is far more dangerous to our democracy.

I believe the real purpose of this “investigation” is to discredit any future election that the GOP doesn’t win. I fear that by undermining the credibility of our elections and fermenting baseless conspiracy theories the GOP risks degrading the trust in our democracy that is essential to its function. 

Refugees Arrive At Fort McCoy

With the end of America’s presence in Afghanistan, the Taliban once again seized control of the country forcing tens of thousands of Afghanis who partnered with US forces to flee their country. Up to 10,000 of these refugees are expected to arrive at Wisconsin’s Fort McCoy.  

Many of these men, women, and children have arrived here with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. As an immigrant myself, I do not doubt that we will welcome them to our state with the same kindness and generosity I experienced when I first arrived in Wisconsin. I have already been receiving calls from folks in the district who want to know how they can help with their transition. My staff and I are looking into ways to organize a donation center in the district. In the meantime you can help by visiting the following organizations: 

Your financial gifts will help the American Red Cross continue to fund efforts to help the people affected by this crisis: www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/

Team Rubicon partnered with the American Red Cross to coordinate local volunteers and donors throughout the Wisconsin community to improve the well-being of our Afghan guests. More information about Team Rubicon and how to volunteer is available at https://teamrubiconusa.org/volunteer/.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, launched a campaign to provide assistance (https://cclse.org/afghanistan-refugee-assistance/). They are also accepting donations at 3710 East Avenue South in La Crosse, and they have a gift registry set up through "https://smile.amazon.com/gp/clpf/ref=smi_se_clpf_rd_clpf.” Amazon Smile allows donors to purchase needed items and have them shipped directly.

Governor Adds Transit Money Back

This week I was honored to join Madison Mayor Rhodes-Conway, Senator Agard, and Madison Metro Transit workers at a press conference where Governor Evers announced a $25 million investment in transit services for the city of Madison and Milwaukee County. The investment is supported by the state's American Rescue Plan Act dollars and includes more than $5.2 million for the city of Madison and more than $19.7 million for Milwaukee County. 

The $25 million investment will help fill a gap in funding left by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance during the state budget process when Republican Legislators voted to cut public transit funding in Milwaukee and Madison by 50 percent over the next two years.

Coffee With Samba Listening Sessions

I was so pleased to get a chance to meet those of you who attended my “Coffee With Samba” listening sessions at Cool Beans Coffee and Java Cat. These listening sessions are a great way for me to hear from constituents about the issues that are most important to them in an informal setting

If you missed out on the first two sessions you still have two more chances to share a coffee and a conversation with me, September 3rd, at Ancora Coffee on Sherman, and September 10th at Twisted Grounds on Gemini Dr.  Each session runs from 9-11 am. 

Contacting My Office

My capitol office is here to help you with general inquiries as well as questions and concerns regarding legislative matters. Feel free to contact me or my staff. We are always ready to assist you in your needs. Please visit my website for press releases and other Capitol updates.