Sheila Plotkin, an 80-year-old retired teacher and McFarland resident, is among the growing segment of Americans questioning the strength of democracy in this country.
In 2015, she took the lead in forming a citizens’ group, “We, the Irrelevant,” which uses public records requests to gauge the power of citizens to influence state government, The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism looked into this question in considerable detail and the results of its investigation are reported here. [WARNING: reading this article may be hazardous to your confidence in Wisconsin’s state government.]
Pressure builds for nonpartisan approach to redraw state’s electoral districts despite U.S. Supreme Court’s inaction on Wisconsin case
The U.S. Supreme Court in June sidestepped a decision on a pair of redistricting cases — from Wisconsin and Maryland — and sent them back to lower courts for further consideration But no matter which way the Court eventually decides these cases, serious change could well be coming to Wisconsin’s partisan system for redrawing electoral districts.
The Wisconsin case stems from a ruling by a U.S. District Court that the state’s 2011 redistricting, enacted by a state legislature controlled by Republicans, was unconstitutional. The Maryland case involves a similar challenge to a congressional redistricting plan put into effect by a Democratic-controlled legislature.
Thus far, 39 of 72 Wisconsin counties have passed resolutions in support of a nonpartisan redistricting process, at the urging of two state groups concerned about the issue.
Wednesday evening UW-Eau Claire forum to discuss “Fair Voting Maps”
By UW-Eau Claire University Communications and CVPost Staff Reforming Wisconsin’s current system of drawing new voting district maps will be discussed at a free public forum at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Wednesday evening, Oct. 28. Two former state senators — Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) and Tim Cullen (D-Janesville) — will join Prof. Rodd Freitag […]