Ugly Bills in Final Days of Session

Since it appears the Republican leadership wants to essentially finish working for the year by March 9th, the legislative calendars this week have been full. Unfortunately, they have been full of bad legislation as well.

On Tuesday, the State Assembly had over fifty bills to vote on, including a bill to teach abstinence only (SB286), a bill increasing penalties for possession of ecstacy tenfold as well as creating a felony conviction (max 3.5 years prison) for a second charge of possession of ecstacy after any first drug possession charge including marijuana (AB989), a bill making it harder to house sex offenders in Milwaukee County (AB974), a bill to take DNA and store it from anyone charged with lewd and lascivious conduct (AB990), a bill furthering “virtual” charter schools (AB1060), new tax breaks for businesses who make engines (SB103), a bill to blow the cap off of vouchers in Milwaukee (AB618) and a bunch of bills affecting people’s rights to sue, pay impact fees and much, much more.

But if you read the Wisconsin State Journal today, the local section only mentions the voucher bill. (They do cover the death penalty bill from the State Senate also)

Tomorrow, we will take up ninety bills as well as any others that get sent over by the State Senate. Likely included are a bill to have a referendum on the death penalty (SJR5) and a bill to allow rent-to-own businesses to rip off Wisconsin's most needy(SB268). And that's just for starters.

Democracy? Not even close.

Live auction for special interests? Hey bidder, bidder, bidder...