FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2018
Contact: Sen. Jennifer Shilling, 608-266-5490
Rep. Gordon Hintz, 608-266-2254
Voters Deserve Representation for Special Session
1st Senate District and 42nd Assembly District left with no voice in Madison
MADISON, WI – While residents in the 1st Senate District (SD 1) and 42nd Assembly District (AD 42) are left without representation in Madison, Governor Walker called for a special session on welfare reform that would severely impact struggling families. In addition to sending a letter to Gov. Walker calling for special elections in SD 1 and AD 42, Democratic Leaders Senator Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) and Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) introduced legislation that would require the Governor to call a special election within 60 days of an open legislative seat. If Gov. Walker does not call for a special election before November’s general election, it would leave the people of these districts without representation for over an entire calendar year, including the upcoming special session.
“After backing a $4.5-billion corporate welfare package for Foxconn, the Governor wants to go after struggling families and make them pay even more,” said Shilling. “Gov. Walker is running scared and is playing politics with people’s right to be represented in the State Capitol. He is clearly feeling the heat and scrambling to boost lack luster polls and the Republican brand, but voters are wide awake and aren’t buying it.”
“The Governor’s refusal to call special elections leaves the citizens of these districts without representation for over a year,” Hintz said. “That is unacceptable. This bill safeguards our electoral system from the short-term political motives of any sitting Governor.”
