Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Lazich, August, Fitzgerald and Vos Still Silent on Redistricting Reform Public Hearings As Support & Pressure Builds


Press Release
September 17, 2013



CONTACT:
Jay Heck – 608/256-2686








Lazich, August, Fitzgerald and Vos Still Silent on Redistricting Reform Public Hearings As Support & Pressure Builds

Their Silence Underscores Need for an End to Gerrymandering in Wisconsin

In the wake of last week's Capitol Press Conference -- calling on Legislative Committee Chairs and Leaders to allow public hearings on redistricting reform legislation -- legislative and public support for the measures --Senate Bill 163/Assembly Bill 185 -- continues to grow. Two state legislators signed on as new co-sponsors of the measures and Common Cause in Wisconsin (CC/WI) members and other concerned citizens report numerous messages and calls to their own legislators as well as to State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), State Representative Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) -- the chairs of the committees with jurisdiction over redistricting reform, and to State Senator Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) -- who ultimately control the decision as to whether or not they will "allow" Lazich and August to hold public hearings.

For the current list of co-sponsors of SB 163/AB 185 go here. We are working to add more co-sponsors.

Wisconsin's newspapers continue to keep the pressure on for public hearings. This past Sunday, this Kenosha News editorial cited CC/WI's role in keeping redistricting reform front and center. Likewise, this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial lauded the press conference of last week with State Senators Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) and Tim Cullen (D-Janesville) with current CC/WI State Governing Board Members and former Republican politicians Bill Kraus and Dave Martin in support of this reform. The Wisconsin State Journal editorialized about the need for public hearings on redistricting reform with excerpts from other Wisconsin newspapers calling for those hearings last month.

Please view what we think is our compelling (and short) video on the need for public hearings on Redistricting Reform in Wisconsin:


Read More...


Thursday, September 12, 2013

Redistricting Reform Proponents Continue Push for Public Hearings and Will Not be Deterred


Press Release
September 12, 2013



CONTACT:
Jay Heck – 608/256-2686








Redistricting Reform Proponents Continue Push for Public Hearings
and Will Not be Deterred

Tuesday's Capitol Press Conference received blanket media coverage and the participants resolved to keep fighting to get redistricting reform legislation (Senate Bill 163/Assembly Bill 185) at least a public hearing -- even in the face of seemingly intractable opposition to the legislation by State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) and by Assembly Speaker Robin Voss (R-Rochester).

No one expects Fitzgerald or Vos to change their minds (although they should) and support redistricting reform any time soon. But to block even a public hearing on the legislation -- so that the citizens of Wisconsin can hear all sides of this important issue -- is just arrogance -- and certainly not in keeping with the rich tradition of open, accountable state government that Wisconsin was for a long time (but no longer) known for and revered nationally. That arrogance is, as one of the participants said, at the very heart of the reason why redistricting reform is so needed in Wisconsin.

State Senators Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) and Tim Cullen (D-Janesville) were joined by Common Cause in Wisconsin Board Chair Bill Kraus, a former Republican strategist and top aide to former Republican Governor Lee Sherman Dreyfus, and long-time CC/WI Board Member Dave Martin, a former Republican State Representative from Neenah and the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1970.

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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Today! "Mapping" a Better Redistricting Process for Wisconsin


September 10, 2013


CONTACT:
Jay Heck – 608/256-2686



MEDIA ADVISORY




"Mapping" a Better Redistricting Process for Wisconsin


Press Conference Today!

Tuesday September 10, 2013 - 10:30 AM

Senate Parlor - State Capitol

State Senator Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center)

State Senator Tim Cullen (D-Janesville)

Bill Kraus - Chair of Common Cause in Wisconsin and former Republican Strategist and Press Secretary for Republican Governor Lee Sherman Dreyfus

Dave Martin - Common Cause in Wisconsin State Governing Board Member and former Republican State Representative and Candidate for Lt. Governor

Wisconsin State Senators Dale Schultz and Tim Cullen are joined by Common Cause in Wisconsin State Governing Board members Bill Kraus and Dave Martin to visually demonstrate why Wisconsin (and for that matter, Illinois) ought to look to Iowa to adopt a more sensible, non-partisan, less expensive and greatly improved redistricting process now, so that it will be in place for the 2021 redistricting process following the 2020 Census.

__________________________________________

Jay Heck, Executive Director
Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703

608/256-2686


Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Does Your State Senator or State Representative Oppose Non-Partisan Redistricting Reform?


Press Release
September 4, 2013



CONTACT:
Jay Heck – 608/256-2686









Does Your State Senator or State Representative Oppose
Non-Partisan Redistricting Reform?

Lazich and August Ignoring Statewide Call for Public Hearings


The Wisconsin Legislature comes back into session this month (for three days) but not a peep yet from State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) or State Representative Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) on when the legislative committees they chair will hold public hearings on non-partisan redistricting reform legislation -- Senate Bill 163 and Assembly Bill 185 (which are identical).
(Click to enlarge)


Despite the fact that every major newspaper editorial board in Wisconsin and hundreds of Wisconsin citizens have called for hearings on this needed, common-sense legislation, Lazich and August remain unresponsive. Lazich has public hearings scheduled for this morning on five minor and largely unnecessary, partisan election-related measures that no one has clamored for, and on a misguided measure -- Senate Bill 268 -- that attempts to inject more partisanship into the non-partisan Government Accountability Board by doubling the number of candidates from which the Governor can choose so that he (or she) can have a better opportunity to select G.A.B. members more to his or her "liking." No one, other than the few disgruntled legislators who want the G.A.B. to be less independent and more responsive to their partisan concerns, thinks this is a good idea. It's not.

In the past we have released the complete list of Wisconsin Legislators who have co-sponsored either Senate Bill 163 or Assembly Bill 185 or both. Today we are detailing all of the Members of the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly who have not co-sponsored SB 163/AB185 and, presumably, oppose it:

Read More...


Sunday, September 1, 2013

In the News - September 2013