April Ballot Will See Constitutional Amendments
Hi everyone! Early voting starts next Tuesday (March 19) for the April 2nd spring election. So get down to your local clerk’s office and let your voice be heard.
Let’s talk about what we can expect to see on the April ballot. In addition to the candidates for president, you will see county board, city council, and school board candidates and possibly local spending referendum questions (I know De Pere Unified has one), and you will see 2 questions for amendments to our state Constitution.
These two Constitutional Amendment questions are in direct response to issues that arose during the 2020 election. In Green Bay and other cities across Wisconsin, we saw out-of-state activists, funded by Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, take over the running of our elections, pushing the Green Bay clerk to the side.
If you want our local election clerks and not Zuckerberg and his activists to run our elections ever again, then you would need to vote “yes” on both of these questions on the April 2nd spring ballot. Or you can vote “no” if you want Facebook running our elections.
I voted for the resolution to put these questions on your spring ballot. Now the choice falls to you.
The questions are as follows:
Question 1: “Use of private funds in election administration. Shall section 7 (1) of article III of the constitution be created to provide that private donations and grants may not be applied for, accepted, expended, or used in connection with the conduct of any primary, election, or referendum?”
This question would amend the Wisconsin Constitution to add a section to Article III to prohibit any level of government in the state from applying for or accepting non-governmental funds or equipment for election administration.
Question 2: “Election officials. Shall section 7 (2) of article III of the constitution be created to provide that only election officials designated by law may perform tasks in the conduct of primaries, elections, and referendums?”
This question would add a new section to Article III of the state constitution that states that no one other than an election official authorized by law may help conduct any election in the state.
SJR 78, the resolution that proposed these constitutional amendments to the people passed both chambers this session. I voted in favor, as I believe these amendments will uphold the integrity of our election process while protecting the independence of local election clerks to administer elections.
Session 2/13
AB 100 provides that projects for the reduction of infiltration and inflow in connecting laterals and sewer lines are eligible for funding under the Clean Water Fund Program (CWFP), administered by the Department of Natural Resources.
AB 180 requires the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to establish a telephone hotline to assist employers in hiring someone with a conviction record.
AB 197 makes a change to the scheduling process for commercial building plans that are reviewed by the state.
AB 198 encourages local governments to complete more plan reviews, thus freeing up the state plan review process at the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS).
AB 199 makes a change to the statutes to recognize a current practice at DSPS of allowing a builder to proceed with certain preliminary steps for construction before plans have been reviewed, at the builder’s own risk.
AB 274 would require the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to create a commercial driving training grant program.
AB 314 increases the cap on state aid that fairs can receive from $10,000 to $20,000 and prohibits the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) from imposing restrictions on the number of fairs exhibitors may participate in.
AB 337 eliminates the 13-week limit imposed on the garnishment of earnings by certain debtors.
AB 353 creates a sales and use tax exemption for the sale of a membership to a licensed real estate broker who, pursuant to the membership agreement, offers to compensate and cooperate with other real estate brokers in brokering sales of properties.
AB 365, for purposes of the overweight or oversize scrap permit, creates a definition for “metallic or nonmetallic scrap” that is functionally identical to the Department of Transportation’s definition for “recyclable scrap,” except that the new definition explicitly includes pig iron.
AB 442 removes the requirement for 14- and 15-year-olds to get work permits to gain employment.
AB 491 simplifies the training requirements and eases the regulatory burden to allow more consumers and prospective businesses to utilize propane auto gas.
In-District Events
Saturday, March 16th, will be the Pancake and Porkie Breakfast from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the 1000 Islands Environmental Center in Kaukauna.
Sunday, March 17th, will be the Denmark Fire Department Booyah at Denmark Fire Station #1 starting at 11 a.m.
Friday, March 22nd, will be the Fish Boil at the Mishicot Fire Department (214 S Main St.) starting at 3 p.m.
Friday, March 22nd, will be the Fish Fry fundraiser at the Reedsville Sportsman Club (7015 Pleasant View Road, Reedsville) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, March 22nd, will be the Bunny Hop at Sunset Park (Sunset Park Road, Kimberly) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Come see the Easter Bunny!
Saturday, March 23rd, will be the Easter Bunny Hunt in the Village of Mishicot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information and clues regarding the event, visit The Easter Bunny Hunt | Facebook.
Saturday, March 23rd, will be an Easter Egg Hunt at the Ponderosa (7075 Morrison Road, Greenleaf), starting at 12 p.m. If you are planning on attending, please call 920-864-3499 in advance to register.
Saturday, March 23rd, will be Eggstravaganza at W1734 Ken Dale Dr. in Kaukauna from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit Eggstravaganza – Community Benefit Tree, Inc. (flipcause.com).
Wednesday, March 27th, will be the annual soup fundraiser (SLURP) at the Kaukauna High School Commons from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, March 29th, will be the West Shore Clay Crushers Annual Fish Fry at 11267 Lakeshore Road in Two Rivers from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friday, March 29th, will be the City of Two Rivers Fish Boil at the Two Rivers Fire Department (2122 Monroe St.) from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 30th, will be the Easter Egg Hunt at the De Pere Community Center starting at 9:30 a.m.
