1. I'd strongly encourage Tony Evers not to veto the whole budget that is on his desk, but instead to surgically use the line-item veto to get rid of some idiocy that the GOP threw in. This includes the kickback to State Senator Chris Kapenga on Tesla dealerships (Evers should tell them to do this as a separate bill), and Evers can adjust some of the new registration and title fees for vehicles, while cutting the one-sided giveaways to small-town roads at the expense of cities and villages. There are plenty of other spots to veto, but those were the first I thought of.
To me, it's a tell that GOPs are pleading with Evers not to reject the whole budget, as they know they are losing the policy arguments on many of these issues. And the GOPs gave Evers some concessions with more spending for K-12, some more spending for roads, and increased rates for Medicaid caregivers and hospitals. It's nowhere near to what we need, especially with the rejection of Medicaid expansion, but it also allows for the bleeding to stop, and Evers can get more in his next budget while holding Medicaid expansion and other GOP decisions over their heads in 2020.
2. I'm disgusted but also unsurprised by the Supreme Court's decision on gerrymandering, which essentially kills any chance of Republicans facing any consequences for their 2011 map-rigging and the secretive way they did it. And Evers wisely connected this to why GOPs continue to hold back the will of the majority of Wisconsinites on the budget and other issues.
Partisan gerrymandering is exactly how we end up with a majority party in power that doesn’t care that 70% of our state supports things like Medicaid expansion.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) June 27, 2019
If every Dem running in the next 2 years isn't saying "OUTLAW GERRYMANDERING" at every level, they're doing it wrong. This is a political winner, especially now that it makes people think about how much right-wingers have rigged our political system, and makes Republicans try to defend this garbage to the public (and they won't be able to).
And yes, it makes it tougher for Dems to win at the legislative level now that "packing and cracking" is considered OK by SCOTUS. But it also presents opportunities, and there's always a point where gerrymanders backfire if the people are angry enough at the party that set up the rigging.
Repay, do not forget. More to follow over the weekend if I find the time.
Agreed on not vetoing the entire budget. Going forward however, all progressives in Walker's Wisconsin have to tell the story of Wisconsin's Lost Decade of what happens when you divide a state against itself: the destruction of public education, epic failure of the economy, massive political corruption by Republicans, corrupt judiciary at all levels, two system of justice-one for Republicans and one for Democratss.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest targeting Wisconsin's tourism industry by urging progressives across America to not visit Walker's Wisconsin for vacations, conventions, etc... until the corrupt Gerrymanding ends. The ONLY thing that Republicans respect is $$$.
When the tourism industry gets affected by the massive corruption that Republicans have brought to our state, things will change.
Can't Evers veto the entire thing and then call them into special session? If they are in special session trying to put together another budget they can't be traipsing around the state campaigning and telling voters how they saved Wisconsin.
ReplyDeleteEvers could, but I don't like that idea. The GOPs would just sink the whole thing and do nothing for months, because the Legislature doesn't have to do anything if the Governor calls the Special Session.
DeleteThen would then use the void to blame Evers for "not compromising" and lie about what is going on. And GOPs always benefit from the "both sides suck" meme.
Take the small win, use the line-item veto pen, and keep fighting more.
On one hand, I think the fact that neither side seems entirely happy is the mark of a good compromise. On the other hand, if Evers vetoes the whole kit-and-kaboodle, spending can continue at the current level. Which can continue for years, would be my preference!!
ReplyDeleteLOL!! Widdle Twoll wants to pwetend it can have an “informed” opinion!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
ReplyDeleteWiddle Twoll starts by making a “both sides” argument, then posits the laughable “good compromise” sophistry (look it up, Twoll).
But then Widdle Twoll go “ooooops!” and accidentally squeak that he likes seeing Wisconsin devolve into a moldy ol’ country club for grumpy Republikkkans.
Silly Twoll!!! Cwawl back under your wock!!!
See, I view what WashCo Repub said as telling in another way. They know they can't win the argument with Evers on Medicaid expansion and K-12 and a number of other issues, so now they have to seem reasonable and compromising.
DeleteIf I'm Evers, I take the gains for now, and hammer them more over the next 16 months for not doing more, which is what is needed after the wreckage of 8 years of Walker.