Voters will see two proposed constitutional amendments on their upcoming August 13 primary ballot. To talk about what these proposed amendments mean and their potential impacts, host Douglas Haynes talks with Bill Davis of the River Alliance and Eileen Newcomer from the League of Women Voters. They say their organizations are opposed to both amendments because they would inhibit the governor from responding to emergencies like public health crises or natural disasters. 

Newcomer says that the first proposed constitutional change stems from lawmakers wanting a more active role in how federal funds are dispersed, particularly in light of COVID funds. But, says Newcomer, the republican controlled legislature has been very inactive when it comes to responding to emergencies like COVID. 

The second proposed change would make it impossible for the governor to respond to people’s needs in a timely manner, particularly to respond to natural disasters by disprusing federal relief funds. Because federal relief funds come from taxpayer dollars, Newcomer and Davis say that the Wisconsin government needs a speedy way to access and disperse these funds back to Wisconsin taxpayers.

The language of both ballot referendum questions is poorly worded, some say intentionally so.  Davis and Newcomer are concerned that placing these issues on a primary ballot when voter turnout is historically lower, means that too few voters will have the change to weigh in.

To learn more about what’s on the ballot, go to myvotewisconsin.org.

Bill Davis is a Senior Legal Analyst at the River Alliance of Wisconsin. 

Eileen Newcomer is the Voter Education Manager at the League of Women Voters. 

Image courtesy of Rep. Mike Bare’s office.

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