Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Voter ID Bill Denies Many Wisconsinites the Right to Vote

The right to vote is fundamental to our existence as Americans.  This precious right exists because of decades of struggle that removed various barriers to voting for certain groups, from the outright denial of voting rights for women and African-Americans to discriminatory poll taxes and literacy tests that were finally deemed unconstitutional. 

 

The principle of universal suffrage should be beyond debate in 2011.  The exercise of voting rights should be strongly encouraged.  Instead, AB 7, the voter ID bill, which is currently up for debate in the Wisconsin Legislature, will actually make it much more difficult for many Wisconsinites to exercise their right to vote due to confusing and onerous obstacles, such as the most restrictive photo ID requirement in the country. 

Click here to send an e-mail today to your Representative in opposition of AB 7.

 

This legislation is not designed to verify identity because that can be achieved under current law via alternative methods.  It is designed to prevent many individuals from voting at all.  This will be especially true for those who are elderly, lower-income, students, people of color and the disabled.  Though many Wisconsinites have a state issued photo ID many do not.  Voting is a fundamental constitutionally guaranteed right for all citizens, not just citizens who handily have a driver’s license. 

 

Just who doesn’t have an ID you may ask?  Below is a list of who would be affected by this bill according to a 2005 study by UW Milwaukee Driver License Status of Voting Age Population. 

Those without state-issued photo ID and would need to obtain one to vote under the Voter ID Bill include: 

• 23 percent of elderly Wisconsinites over the age of 65
• 17 percent of white men and women
• 55 percent of African American males and 49 percent of African American women
  
• 46 percent of Hispanic men and 59 percent of Hispanic women
• 78 percent of African American males age 18-24 and 66 percent of African American women age 18-24

Their constitutional rights should not be denied. 

The real reason for this legislation is political power and to suppress turnout among constituencies who may tend to vote Democratic—not to address a manufactured problem of voter fraud.  Supporters of this legislation have not documented any systematic, widespread problem with votes cast in Wisconsin by those who are ineligible.  This is because in Wisconsin there is no voter fraud – it simply doesn’t exist. 

The real threat to the integrity of our elections is the nationwide campaign by the Republican Party to devise new barriers to voting.  AB 7 will deny access to the polls for many legitimate voters who have every right to cast their ballots and have them counted.   We strongly urge your opposition to this drastic curtailment of voting rights in Wisconsin.

Send an e-mail today to your Representative in opposition of AB 7 today. Help protect the voting rights of all of Wisconsin.

 

Below are some of the organizations and individuals who have come out against the Voter ID Bill:  

 

Wausau Daily Herald:  Our View, Voter ID bill is harmful and unnecessary

 

Channel 3000 Editorial: Voter ID is all about Political Power

 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:  Voter ID would disenfranchise many elderly, poor, Interfaith group says

 

Common Cause in Wisconsin: Most Restrictive and Costly Voter ID Bill in Assembly Wednesday: http://www.commoncausewisconsin.org/2011/05/most-restrictive-very-costly-photo.html

 

Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee: Statement on Voter ID Bill

 

League of Women Voters: Election Bill is pure voter suppression, at our expense!

Gov. Walker Reels in Protesters

Gov. Walker was met by protesters on Lake Wissota in Chippewa Falls last Saturday at the annual fishing opener.  This year in response to Gov. Walker’s attacks on Wisconsin workers, unions and the middle class, the community organized the Worker’s Fishing Opener.

Around 150 people took to the lake in their boats with signs in support of working people and against Walker’s budget.  A budget which proposes the most drastic cuts to services in Wisconsin history.  The boats paraded down the lake from state park to the Moon Bay area of Wissota.   For great video of the event click here. 

“He’s not looking out for the average citizen. He just wants to give tax breaks to big corporations,” said Brian Wiltgen a teacher in the Eau Claire School District.  “As a parent, I’m extremely worried about the effect on my kids. I think it’s going to keep high quality teachers away from the state. They’re not going to want to come where they are not valued."

The Worker’s Fishing Opener continues to prove that the energy, enthusiasm and creativity to take Wisconsin's democracy back is still strong as the people stand in solidarity to save the state. 

For pictures of the Worker’s Fishing Opener click here.

For local media coverage, see below:

WEAU, Gov. Walker Met with Protestors at Fishing Opener

Chippewa Herald, Walker Foes try to Keep Pressure On 

Steven's Point Journal, Governor Walker, protesters take part in 46th Governor's Fishing Opener

WSAW, Walker Meets Protestors at Annual Governor's Fishing Opener

CBS 58 (Milwaukee), Protestors follow Walker

Eau Claire Leader Telegram, Governor's outing draws protests, few bites

Videos: M&I 'Move Your Money'

On May 5, dozens of community and union members gathered outside of M&I Bank on Bluemound Rd. in Milwaukee as the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO joined the grassroots movement to "Move your Money" from M&I Bank.

M&I Bank Executives received over $71 billion in taxpayers money in the bank bailout and have yet to pay one cent back. Instead M&I Executives have chosen to fund politicians like Scott Walker who are now attacking the middle class and the country's workers.

Refusing to let working people's money be misused in this way, M&I Bank is no longer a fit steward of the hard earned dollars of the members of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. 

 

Click here for photos of the event and here for more videos of the protests in Wisconsin.

 

The Action in the News

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, AFL-CIO official sends letter to M&I Bank

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:  AFL-CIO to withdraw funds from M&I

Huffington Post: Big Bank Backlash: From Coast to Coast People are Moving their Money

CBS 58:  AFL-CIO pulls money from M&I Bank 

TMJ4:  AFL-CIO Cuts Ties With Walker-Connected Business

Talking Union Blog: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO to Pull $105,000 from M&I Bank as Part of Move Your Money Actions

M&I Bank’s Golden Parachutes for Executives a “Breach of Trust” with Wisconsin’s Working Families

Wisconsin State AFL-CIO is the latest in a wave of businesses, organizations, and individuals who are closing their accounts with – and sending a strong message to – M&I Bank.

Taxpayers bailed out M&I Bank with $1.7 billion dollars of their hard-earned money. Instead of repaying their debt to taxpayers M&I executives spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on political contributions to Governor Scott Walker and politicians who are now attacking the middle class.

“Working people’s money will not be misused in this way,” explained Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “By contributing money to Scott Walker and other Republicans, M&I has taken part in the destruction of Wisconsin’s middle class and is an unfit steward of the hard-earned dollars of our members.  The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO is proud to say we’re moving our money.”

Steven Shea, a teacher at Milwaukee Area Technical College and member of AFT 212, was one of the fifty or so participants who gathered outside of M&I Bank at 76th and Bluemound in Miilwaukee to call for shared sacrifice. 

"M&I and other corporations are funding Scott Walker to wage war on working people and the people of Wisconsin will not stand for it," explained Shea.

In a letter delivered to M&I Bank CEO Mark Furlong today, Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO announced that the organization will close its account with M&I Bank by withdrawing more than $105,000 in funds.

The letter accuses Furlong and other M&I executives of betraying  Wisconsin’s working families by failing to pay back $1.7 billion in bailout funds, focusing on their personal bottom lines, and reaping $71 million in golden parachutes in the sale of M&I to the Bank of Montreal.

Today's action was part of a broader "Move your Money" campaign.  Just last Saturday Voces de la Frontera joined the Move Your Money effort, as more than 50 residents of Whitefish Bay gathered at an M&I Bank branch to close their accounts or sign letters of intent to do so once they could conclude their business with the bank.

“The community will not stand idly by while our rights are threatened,” said Voces de la Frontera member Fil Gonzalez. “We were invested in M&I and we need to rely on a corporate financial institution that has an investment in our values.”

On 100th Anniversary of Worker Compensation Law, Wisconsin’s Progressive History is Remembered

One hundred years ago today Wisconsin’s Republican Governor put aside partisan politics to sign a law protecting workers.  On May 3, 1911 Wisconsin Republican Governor Francis McGovern signed the nation’s first constitutionally upheld worker compensation law. 

The law, which helps workers who have been hurt or injured on the job, was passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support in both the state Senate and Assembly.  Reminding us that Wisconsin has a progressive history of coming together to protect the working people of the state.  This law was also passed because workers and their unions organized, fought and demanded action from employers and their government. 

“In a drastic turn of events, 100 years after the legislature put aside party politics to ensure fair treatment of workers we are seeing severe political attacks on Wisconsin’s working families,” explained Phil Neuenfeldt, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President.  “Instead of working together to ensure the safety of all workers in our state, our current Governor is pushing through a partisan agenda which punishes workers in order to pay back corporations and political allies.”

 
“What we are seeing in our current administration is shameful,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “Wisconsin has a progressive history where our elected leaders put aside party differences for the good of the state.  On this day, the 100th anniversary of the passage of the nation's first worker compensation law, we commit to fight the assault on workers’ right to bargain for fairer workplaces, safer workplaces, and a better life and a brighter future for all.” 

 

For more information on Worker Compensation visit the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development by clicking here.

Walker's Proposals Are Bad Choices, Not Tough Ones

Raising taxes on the poor while cutting taxes for the wealthy and corporations is a bad choice for Wisconsin and it is exactly what Gov. Walker is proposing.

According to a report by the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Walker plans to raise taxes for low and moderate income residents by more than $49 million over the next two years.

And a new report over the weekend shows Walker plans to raise taxes on the poor while lowering taxes for corporations by more than $46 million. 

 

“Since taking office, Walker has wasted no time plotting to shift the tax burden to those hit hardest by the recession in order to move his partisan agenda and reward his corporate allies,” said Phil Neuenfeldt, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President.  “Gov. Walker is not making the 'tough choices' Wisconsin needs, he is making bad choices that hurt the poor and marginalized in order to reward the rich and wealthy.”   

 

Instead of focusing on shared sacrifice from all of our residents Walker is shifting the tax burden to the poor in order to pay back corporate CEOs and political allies.  Walker uses the excuse that the state is ‘broke’ in order to attack teachers, fire fighters and nurses yet is pushing to do away with combined reporting laws which would cost the as much as $346 million in tax revenue through 2013.

 

Gov. Walker is playing political games in order to reward the rich while he punishes police officers, fire fighters and teachers.

 

READ THE NON-PARTISAN REPORTS & ANALYSIS:

 

Channel 3000 -- Walker Budget Plan Would Raise Taxes On Poor

 

Wisconsin State Journal -- Walker's proposed tax change: More money for corporations, less for state 

 

Una Marcha Historica

Over 100,000 immigrants, workers and community allies took to the streets of Milwaukee on May 1st for the 5th annual May Day March.  Since 2006 members of Wisconsin’s immigrant community have marched together for fair treatment, respect and a voice.  

This year marked a historic alliance between labor and immigrant groups as Gov. Walker’s attacks on Wisconsin continue to unite. 

The fight for workers’ rights and immigrant rights are cut of the same cloth. Politicians and their CEO backers are targeting all working people – including immigrants – to promote their corporate-backed political agenda and continue their power grab.  Corporate CEOs and the politicians they fund benefit from creating a toxic environment where immigrants, public employees and working men and women are scapegoated for the ills of the nation.

Early Sunday afternoon thousands gathered outside Voces de la Frontera on Milwaukee’s South Side.  Speakers from the NAACP, the United Nation of Wisconsin, Equality Wisconsin and Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa, the first ever Latino person to be elected to the Wisconsin Legislature, kicked the march off.

Jose Salazar, a volunteer with Equality Wisconsin explained that “issues relating to immigration and labor law affect us all.  That is why the LGBT community is joining today’s May Day March for Immigrant and Worker rights.  We march to protest Arizona style copy-cat laws that have no place in Wisconsin.  We march to protest Gov. Walker’s budget cuts that hurt our families and children and we march to support the union between immigrant and worker communities.” 

Hundreds of thousands than marched 2.5 miles to Veteran’s Park chanting “this is what democracy looks like,” “si se peude,” “Walker eschuca estamos en la lucha”  and ‘Wisconsin no es Arizona.”

Once at Veteran’s Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront a host of speakers addressed the crowd including AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera Christine Neumann Ortiz, AFT Local 212 President Michael Rosen, President of the Wisconsin Fire Fighters Professional Association Mahlon Mitchell and students from Voces de la Frontera’s youth branch Youth Empowered in the Struggle (Y.E.S). 

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, a former coalminer and the first generation son of immigrant parents, opened the rally proclaiming that "This day - May Day - is our day, our day to stand together shoulder to shoulder for immigrant and worker rights." 

Trumka continued:

“We're saying no to the Scott Walkers, you cannot take basic rights and jobs away from teachers, firefighters and police officers—the people we rely on to make our communities safe and worth living in. We're saying no to the Jim Sensenbrenners, you cannot force police officers to harass someone on the street simply because of how he or she looks.  And we're saying yes to a different future than the one the Scott Walkers and the Jim Sensenbrenners are mapping out for us. Yes to working together, all of us, every day, to build the America our children need and deserve—all of our children, whether we are third-generation Americans, second-generation, first generation or immigrants ourselves.” 

Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera explained how Gov. Walker was shamefully “scapegoating immigrants, union workers, and poor people for rising unemployment, low wages and lack of benefits.”  She declared that “it is important that no matter what color your skin is we stand together in defense of the American dream.”

Students then took to the stage for education rights.  Maricela Aguilar, a junior at Marquette University who will graduate with two bachelor degree’s next May, explained that

“Gov Walker and his administration are working tirelessly to curb education rights for all students – documented and undocumented.  We refuse to let Gov. Walker throw our education to chance.  Students are fighting for the rights of their public employee parents.  Parents are fighting to protect their children’s education rights; African Americans are marching for neo-natal care of immigrant babies.  Within us lies a progressive Wisconsin that we are fighting for, a better society that will protect working people -- a society that is truly American, not in theory but in practice.”

Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO closed the rally by exclaiming “let the word go out from the lakefront of Milwaukee, Wisconsin that immigrant and workers are coming together for good jobs, safe jobs, justice and a better democracy for America.” 

 

Click here for more pictures of the May Day Solidarity March for Immigrant and Worker Rights in Milwaukee.