Thanks to the successful recall effort, the Republicans know their days are numbered. But as a result, they are working even harder to rush their agenda through before they lose control of the government.
At least publically, Wisconsin Republicans deny they’re rushing legislation for fear of losing their majority.
“Right now, I don’t foresee (losing the majority),” Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald said. “Obviously, I’m sure it will be in the back of your mind, but you’ll have to see how that plays out later this summer.”
But Rep. Robin Vos, co-chairman of the Legislature’s budget-writing committee, which will attempt to handle two months of budget legislation in half the usual time, acknowledged, “It’s a factor. For the budget, yeah, I want to get it done by June 30.”
The list of grievous wrongs they are racing to foist on us is incredible. It includes:
- the aforementioned budget, which has more ideologically-motivated evil than can be recounted here
- legalizing concealed weapons
- deregulating the telecoms
- requiring photo ID to vote
- expanding the school voucher program
- splitting the UW-Madison campus from the rest of the UW system
- eliminating the anti-recidivism early release program for prisoners
- redoing the bill that previously passed in violation of the open meetings law (so as to circumvent the lengthy court battle just getting underway)
- politcal district gerrymandering
Their modus operandi remains the same. Introduce bills at inconvenient times for the public, shortchange legislative vetting by virtually eliminating both committee and public hearings, and then ramming through votes at breakneck speed.
One would think they would be ashamed to make such naked power grabs, knowing full well how unpopular their agenda is and how likely it is that it will be overturned just as soon as Democrats regain control of the government.
But that would be mistaking Republicans for human beings.
These Republicans are definitively not human. They are corporatists, oligarchs. They have no interest in doing anything but enriching themselves at your expense.
The fight against their tyranny must continue unabated!
