February 20, 2025

Voter Suppression Takes on Women and Trans People, Wisconsin Public Defenders Curve Shortages Through the State Budget and Cellphones in Schools is Now Illegal?

31 minutes

Today on Spanning the State Kristin Brey and Brian Noonan discuss the Save Act. Voter suppression has already been an issue for many minority groups in the U.S. but now it seems it is targeting women and trans people. Kristin and Brian discuss the bill and how Brian received the news to be fake but proved it’s true. Kristin explains the impact this will have on married women and the new lengths it will cost people to exercise their civic right when casting their ballots. Later Jennifer Bias, a Wisconsin state Public Defender talks to Kristin and Brian about new changes the Wisconsin’s Public Defender’s Office requested to reduce how often criminal charges are filed in the state by focusing on limiting the definition of criminal disorderly conduct and getting rid of state criminal charges for Marijuana possession. The request was a part of the agency’s budget for the next two fiscal years. They talk about why this request is tied to the state’s budget, if charges will be standardized statewide versus city to city, if Governor Tony Evers addressed this in his state address and the likelihood of the joint finance committee will approving this for the budget. Then Kristin and Brian discuss a new bill that was passed to stop students from using their cellphones while in class and what are the repercussions for students moving forward. As well as how to enforce it and where the funding is coming from to enforce it. as well as what happens when there is a school shooting. They share their alternative ideas deter students from using their phones beyond this bill.

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