Contact: Rep. Peter Barca, 608.266.5504
Rep. Dianne Hesselbein, 608.266.5340

MADISON – Today, all but three Assembly Republicans voted to take control of zoning decisions away from town residents in Dane County. Below is a statement from Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca and Assistant Democratic Leader Dianne Hesselbein on the passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 109:

“Assembly Republicans failed Wisconsinites today by stripping away their right to vote on participating in county-level zoning at annual town meetings. Government should be of the people, by the people and for the people,” said Rep. Barca. “The people of Middleton exercised their democratic rights on Tuesday when they voted in favor of local control. In fact, two town board members who supported this Republican bill were remarkably defeated by write-in candidates, yet Republicans ignored this. I’m proud of my colleagues for standing up to Republicans on this issue as they have on more than 100 other efforts by the GOP to take control away from local government and individuals. Democracy broke out in Middleton; I wish I could say the same of the Assembly.”

“Rather than respecting the decision making of local Dane County residents, Republicans have once again decided to change the rules of the game to advantage special interests,” Assistant Democratic Leader Dianne Hesselbein said. “While the bill did clear a vote in the State Assembly today, I’m proud to say that due to steps my Democratic colleagues and I took earlier this week, the residents and taxpayers of my district will maintain the ability to decide what’s best for their community at their annual meeting later this month. Assembly Democrats stood up for the voices of residents at a time when Republicans once again worked to skirt around pre-existing local ordinances and laws.”

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