African-American Roundtable Speaks Against Partisan Assault on Our Voting Rights

From the inbox:

The African-American Civic Engagement Roundtable released the following statement against LRB 1763, legislation being circulated by Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale) that puts historic barriers on Wisconsinites who wish to cast a ballot and jeopardizes Wisconsin's extraordinarily high voter turnout.

The African-American Roundtable strongly opposes LRB 1763. A democracy is only strong when it ensures that all of its citizens can participate and have a say in their government. For over 150 years, our great nation has worked to increase and expand access to democracy. Now, Rep. Stone seeks to reverse this progress with a legislative package that constitutes the greatest attack on voting rights in Wisconsin since the 1960s," said Mike Wilder the Co-Chair of the African-American Civic Engagement Roundtable.

Historically, we have made great strides towards empowering the poor, the elderly, students, and people with disabilities to vote. We should be proud of these expansions that endow all Wisconsinites the right to cast a ballot. LRB 1763 is yet another partisan attack our constitutionally protected right to vote, free from interference and unreasonable barriers. In fact, it includes "new" Voter ID legislation that is incredibly similar to the Voter ID legislation ruled unconstitutional last year. The Roundtable urges our state lawmakers to oppose this legislation, and to focus their attention on job creation. Wisconsin needs more people working, not less people voting," finished Rosalynn Wolfe, Co-Chair of the African-American Civic Engagement Roundtable.

Members of the African-American Civic Engagement Roundtable include Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund, Wisconsin Voices, ATU Local 998, The Transit Riders Union, The Advancement Project, The League of Young Voters Education Fund, 9to5 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Jobs Now, Urban Underground, Reproductive Justice Collective, MICAH, Afro World Enterprises, and Center for Progressive Leadership.

Ohio Republicans Want To Install Poll Tax On College Students

Sent in from one of my tweeps is this bit of outrage:

Republicans in the Ohio House of Representatives have included an amendment in the state budget, now under consideration in the State Senate, that would make students eligible for in-state tuition rates if universities continue to provide them with documents that allow them to register to vote in Ohio. Supporters of the proposal say it seeks to streamline the varied standards for tuition and voting. But critics say the provision is designed to penalize universities that make it easier for students to vote, since students traditionally vote disproportionately for Democratic candidates. A group that opposes the amendment said the proposal would cost the state’s public universities millions of dollars in tuition revenue.

This is a poll tax as much as any Jim Crow law.  Voting and registrations costs are two separate items and there is no rational reason for them to be tied together except to try to control the way people vote.

If the Republican agenda is so gosh darn good, why are they continuously trying to rig the game and punish people who don't kowtow to them?  The other question is how long before they try to do that here?  We already have people like Chris Abele, Joe Sanfelippo and the other Teapublicans and LefTeas throwing up resistance to allowing people to have any voice at all.

Whiny Wanggaard Wants A Recount, Or Should I Say, "We Count"

The voters had spoken last week in Racine County, and they stated that they've had enough of former Senator Van Wanggaard's hypocrisy, overreaching and disrespect for working families.

However, whiny old Wanggaard is giving them another big heaping helping of hypocrisy, overreach and disrespect.

He wants a recount.

He says that his former constituents asked him to do the recount because they allegedly feel disenfranchised. Their claims, if there really are any, are based on fabricated innuendos and obfuscatory propaganda.

However, it makes no sense to do a recall when even WISGOP leaders admit that a recount won't change the end result of Wanggaard being ousted.

So why are they really doing the recount?

Is it because he wants to continue his double dipping for a little while longer?  Or is it to prolong his time in office so Walker can call for yet another emergency special session, where they'll be using their laser sharp focus on job creation, because not everyone is laid off and bankrupt yet?

Or is it something as simple as some political backscratching so the Republicans can again commit election fraud?  After all, as One Wisconsin Now points out, both the Racine County Sheriff and the Racine County District Attorney are big supporters of Wanggaard.  It would not surprise me one bit if they borrow a page from Kathy Nicholaus' playbook and find a mysterious thousand votes somewhere.

Why should the DA or the Sheriff, who political biases are plain to see, even be allowed to do anything about the election, short of assigning it to an outside, neutral investigator, much less actually standing up for their constituents and call BS on this whole mess.

It's only a matter of time before the voters and the citizenry in general get fed up with the way Republicans continuously disrespect them.  In fact, I'm surprised the uprising hasn't happened yet.