MON News Summary: Evers proposes legalizing recreational marijuana, vetoes GOP COVID-19 bill

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STORY TOPICS

WHITE HOUSE ^top^
– As Donald Trump’s impeachment trial begins, are Republicans headed for a split? The party’s roots in Ripon could point the way forward … [Ripon’s] first citizens were idealists who lived in a commune. Most of these settlers came from western New York, considered at the time to be a hotbed of “political turbulence,” according to [retired Ripon prof.] Woolley … where citizens did not feel it at all presumptuous to think that they could change the world by themselves.” … “There is a new generation of people coming along in the party, who think differently and are bringing new ideas to the table,” said former U.S. Rep Tom Petri, who represented the Ripon area for 36 years in Congress. “They are the future, and I am hopeful.” … “I think there’s a third party that will come out of the schism inside the GOP. And I’ll be very blunt with you. I don’t think it will be the largest of the two factions. I think the traditional Republican economic, social and fiscal conservatism is basically dead,” [said Lincoln Project’s] Wilson … [parallel to Whig Party, busting escape slave Glover and aiding him to Canada] put a face on slavery and the capture created outrage in Milwaukee and elsewhere. … Though there is no “smoking gun” evidence of any connection between Bovay’s meeting in the schoolhouse and the rest of the events leading to the triumph of the party in 1860, the Ripon story is a good one, Woolley said. … [Ripon Press] publisher] Lyke, who calls himself a “never-Trump Republican,” believes the party’s proud roots in abolitionism and civil rights have been undermined by the former president. … Similar to Lyke, [ex-guv, UW adjunct prof] McCallum has experienced the tone changes and incivility firsthand. … “Trump pitted working people against non-working people, even though 50% of working-age people are not working because the system isn’t working. … I was viciously chastised for [pushing bipartisanship as guv],” McCallum said. “People in politics today are playing a game to win, and ‘compromise’ has become a bad word to both parties. Unfortunately, when winning becomes so important, we lose what’s important for the country.” … What America needs now are brave center-right leaders who are willing to create a movement that reflects the old Republican Party at its best, with an emphasis on freedom, economic growth, the rule of law and global leadership,” said [NIshkanen fellow] Vance … “I feel sorry for what people have to deal with in politics and it has to do with the way communication has changed,” Petri said. “Lincoln himself used to write poison pen letters, but three days later he’d tear them up. Today it’s too easy to push a button and send.” … counts on the youths of today he sees working to evoke change. Petri serves on the advisory committee for the American Conservation Coalition … “Many young Republicans don’t like Trump and his cultish following,” [ACC-founder] Backer said. “We embrace issues like climate change, gay rights, improving race relations and allowing immigrants a path to citizenship that is productive and fair to those who want to make this country a better place. … If we can create a party that speaks to that middle and embraces common-sense principles, it would be unstoppable.”
https://www.fdlreporter.com/in-depth/news/2021/02/08/republican-party-headed-split-ripon-roots-could-show-way-forward/6552847002/

RACE RELATIONS ^top^
– Black teen sentenced for his part in 2019 Racine beating gets harsher punishment than white accomplice
https://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/black-teen-sentenced-for-his-part-in-2019-racine-beating-gets-harsher-punishment-than-white/article_63c753c3-ba59-5bb7-b55d-48649d817f53.html

CORONAVIRUS ^top^
– DHS Reports 671 New Cases … [7-day avg. daily cases: 1,058 – 1,349 a week ago. 7-day overall daily percent positive: 17.8 – 4.4 for multiple testers] … No counties had a “critically high” level of COVID-19 activity, 48 had a “very high” level … 24 counties had “high” … northwest, north central and western regions had “very high” and “shrinking” or “no significant change” levels … four other regions had a “high” level … 761,212 doses of the vaccines have been administered … 164,026 have received both shots … 986,275 doses of the vaccine has been allocated across Wisconsin. … preliminary daily number of vaccinations across the state shows fewer doses given this week than last week — although doses given tend to dip on weekends.
https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-dhs-reports-671-new-cases-covid-19

– WI moves to top of nation in daily COVID-19 vaccinations as plans for community clinics ramp up … now 16th in administering a first dose to residents — up from 48th just two weeks ago. … is creating the clinic in Rock County by partnering with Virginia-based AMI Expeditionary Healthcare … “Wisconsinites are working together to stop the spread of COVID-19 and put this pandemic behind us. This partnership with AMI is going to help us take another step in the right direction,” Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/08/wisconsin-now-tops-nation-per-capita-daily-covid-19-vaccine-shots/4433825001

– Racial disparities in Milwaukee County’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution continue … less than 8% of the 73,000 doses administered to county residents have gone to Black residents, despite being about 27% of the county’s population. Just over 5% of the vaccine has gone to the county’s Hispanic residents, who make up about 16% of the county’s population … More than 60% of the doses have gone to white residents, while Milwaukee County is about 50% white … [Milwaukee Health Services Dr. Izard not surprised] because of the large number of white workers in the health care industry. … “Because we knew that and because that still was a necessary priority, then the consideration should have been how do we [now target] high-risk ethnic minority populations who we already know have two to three times the mortality rate from COVID,” he said. … [noting state focus on equal not equitable vaccine rollout] has now been corrected and the city’s federally qualified health centers are receiving the amounts they request. EM Dr. Weston: “These disparities represent a significant equity gap in vaccinations and one that we are focused and committed to improving.” Exec. Crowley: “we’re going to continue to work with the City of Milwaukee and all the local municipalities to support their vaccine distribution plans.” Mayor Barrett: “We’re working with our partners at the federal level, again we’ll work with Walgreens, we’ll work with churches, we’re working with the county, obviously, to try to get vaccinations — to the extent we have them — throughout the entire community.” Interim CHO Jackson “touching churches … community centers … places of employment where we know particularly individuals that are Black, Latinx and other minorities tend to work in large groups.” CHO nominee Johnson suggested targeting zip codes. DHS Deputy Willems Van Dijk prepping to report vaccination data by race. AP survey showed racial disparity nationally. City Board of Health prez Burich-Weatherly, Biden task force chair Dr. Nunez-Smith comment.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2021/02/08/r/4393279001/

– A Year Into The Pandemic, What’s Driving Varied Coronavirus Rates Across Wisconsin? A Host Of Factors Contribute To Lower Per Capita COVID-19 Numbers In Dane And St. Croix Counties
https://www.wiscontext.org/year-pandemic-whats-driving-varied-coronavirus-rates-across-wisconsin

STATE GOVERNMENT ^top^
– Evers Proposes Legalizing Recreational Marijuana Under State Budget, 36 States Have Legalized Medical Marijuana, 15 [including MI, IL] Approved Recreational Pot … to generate more than $165 million each year [$80M] for rural schools and underserved communities. … In 2018, voters in 16 Wisconsin counties and two cities supported ballot questions about the use of marijuana, a dozen of which were related to medical marijuana. … “Legalizing and taxing marijuana in Wisconsin–just like we do already with alcohol–ensures a controlled market and safe product are available for both recreational and medicinal users and can open the door for countless opportunities for us to reinvest in our communities and create a more equitable state,” said Evers. [Sen. Bernier, Rep. Felzkowski among GOP support for medical pot] … “The bottom line is, he knows, I know, we know that the Republican Legislature is not going to legalize marijuana, per se,” said Bernier. “So, let’s talk about the things we can do, and work together.” … [Vos told recent WisPolitics forum] he backs legalizing medical marijuana … wouldn’t support including that proposal in the state budget. Vos, LeMahieu did not respond. 2019 MU Law poll found 59% support for legal pot, 83% support for med pot. DOR, DATCP would regulate, med pot would be tax-free. Would limit possession to 2 ounces, 6 plants. NORML’s Selthofner: “Prohibition is unconstitutional. … cannabis is safer than alcohol or cigarettes, and the wasteful spending we have on prohibition, which is not supported by science or the public, needs to change.” Rehash WI pot law, ACLU found leans harder on blacks, especially in Ozaukee, Manitowoc, Washington and Waukesha counties. WDOJ data found pot busts dropped from 19,261 in 2018 to 16,044 in 2019.
https://www.wpr.org/gov-tony-evers-proposes-legalizing-recreational-marijuana-under-state-budget

– Evers vetoes Republican-backed COVID-19 bill [Bauer]
https://apnews.com/d575046b47ea9faf69880ee6404558b4

– Evers Vetoes GOP COVID-19 Bill, Parties Blaming Each Other For Potential Fallout
https://www.wpr.org/evers-vetoes-gop-covid-19-bill

– Wisconsin Senate panel considers bipartisan slate of alcohol bills … [Felzkowski-Steffen bill] would legalize takeout cocktails, [Tauchen-Stroebel bills would] allow alcohol to be delivered straight to homes and make “click and collect” [designated pick-up zones] permissible statewide … all received a public hearing before a state Senate panel on Thursday. [though Tauchen bills died in prior sessions, he argued pandemic brought “expedited need”]. Distillers’ Klaetsch said “belated” bills require “sense of urgency.” While WRA supports all, Grocers oppose takeout cocktails but support delivery/pickup and Tavern League vice-versa. Bill review, with lobbies listed. Felzkowski-STeffen bill puts unspecified tamper-proof tape over open containers. Brewers’ Garthwaite asked to permit refilling growlers, but Felzkowski offered to sponsors separately. Home delivery bill requires payment at order, proof 21 and sobriety at delivery. Strobel noted bill may violate local 9 pm liquor sale curfews, sought input from locals to “make sure all stakeholders are in agreement with that.” Parking lot pick-up was implemented in Madison in 2018. Locals would be banned from stricter reqs, bringing Munies Witysnki’s opposition, while wine monger Moran supports.
https://madison.com/ct/e433f99f-71d9-59f3-b65b-4c4c5ad34a86.html

– The Great Divide | 10 stories about Act 10: videos with Scott Walker, ex-lawmakers Mark Miller, Peter Barca and Dale Schultz, teacher Susan Cohen, ex-MTI chief John Matthews, ex-Cap Police chief Tubbs, Sen. Ballweg, Ian’s Pizza workers, WPF’s Jason Stein, protester’s mom Michele Ritt. [see Editorials]
https://madison.com/wsj/abbc8202-5dd6-5c27-92b3-d8026f5d6967.html

– 10 years later, Act 10 maintains a firm grip on WI govt … It saved the state billions of dollars and took away much of the say government employees had in their workplaces, kicking off a rapid decline in union participation. Today, unions in Wisconsin claim 137,000 fewer members in the public and private sector than they did a decade ago. … Surreal developments unfolded hourly: Public workers wailed on vuvuzelas and heckled Republicans through bullhorns. Walker took a 20-minute [“dropped the bomb”] phone call from a prankster posing as conservative megadonor David Koch. One state Supreme Court justice put his hands on the neck of another during an argument. A camel meant for a “Daily Show” routine got tangled in a fence and fell down on the Capitol square. … “This is something that’s lasting,” Walker said in a recent interview. “Long after I’m no longer talking about politics, I think it will still be around, and it will still be a benefit to the people of Wisconsin. … The best vindication wasn’t winning the recall,” Walker said. “It was when things still worked.” … (Walker said) he was going to divide and conquer and then of course he did,” said [then Dem Rep., now DOR Sec.] Barca … “It helped to widen the wage gap between CEOs and workers and high-wage workers and average workers. There’s no doubt that’s had an effect on suppressing wages. And I don’t think that’s healthy for a society.” … “What Gov. Walker accomplished was, he got a substantial percent of Wisconsin to look at a teacher and not see the teacher of their child or their grandchild, but to look at a teacher and see a union member,” said [then-Dem Sen.] Cullen. Then-GOP Rep. Grothman: “I think the fact that (Democratic Gov.) Tony Evers did not try to repeal it says it all.” Then-MTI prez Matthews, then-Leadewr Fitzgerald comment. Analysis, rehash, including “divide and conquer” remark to megadonor Hendricks, right-to-work law 4 years later, old statements by Vos and Fitzgerald.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2021/02/05/a/4389037001/

– Act 10 at 10: Four takeaways … Act 10 delivered a blow to unions … Passing Act 10 wasn’t easy … Wisconsin’s divisions in 2011 signaled where America was headed … Act 10 bolstered some political careers and ended others
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/08/act-10-turns-10-four-takeaways-law-shook-wisconsin/4402917001/

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ^top^
– John Nichols: Liz Cheney Is Right on Impeachment, and Wrong on Everything Else, Don’t make a hero of this neoconservative, warmongering, hate-amplifying apologist for Marjorie Taylor Greene.
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/liz-cheney-impeach/

– John Nichols: Democrats Have Inherited a Broken Senate. Can They Make It Work? Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer has his work cut out for him. Here are four ways he could make the Senate work.
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/democratic-control-senate-schumer/

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ^top^
– City mailer to taxpayers misstated massive tax increase for county, school district
https://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/city-mailer-to-taxpayers-misstated-massive-tax-increase-for-county-school-district/article_c2214973-d523-55e8-b417-7e6b40dfbe4c.html

CIVIL LIBERTIES ^top^
– Area gun shops have limited supply after record year
https://www.dailyunion.com/news/jefferson_county_area/area-gun-shops-have-limited-supply-after-record-year/article_57d7ffc2-ba9c-5807-bf62-0a10977dc084.html

EDUCATION ^top^
– Milton teacher [Calvert] to lead national art association [NAEA]
https://www.gazettextra.com/news/education/milton-teacher-to-lead-national-art-association/article_ceb6c830-edf2-50e9-bdc6-e7e8122b5874.html

– Busing among the logistical challenges as some area schools return for in-person learning
https://madison.com/ct/8102e8b1-4b4e-52fc-9175-8220c116729f.html

ELECTIONS ^top^
– Elections commission rejects complaints accusing state lawmaker of living outside his district … On separate 4-2 votes at its Thursday meeting, the bipartisan panel rejected three complaints filed against … [Rep.] Zimmerman [who] said he was “relieved … I’m ready to put this all behind me and stay focused on the jobs that I’m expected to do. … I am just solely focused on the road ahead,” Zimmerman said. … But [Hudson atty.] Yacoub, a Democrat who lost to Zimmerman in November, doesn’t appear ready to drop the issue … had talked with Pierce County District Attorney Halle Hatch … [who] is considering hiring a special prosecutor to review the allegations. Hatch did not immediately respond
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2021/02/05/c/4406915001/

– WEC dismisses residency complaint filed by neighbors against Wisconsin lawmaker, Six people, including neighbors to both residences Zimmerman owns, swore to the WEC he doesn’t live in River Falls. … Rep. Zimmerman has previously called the complaints “frivolous” and says he lives at the River Falls address. He did not respond to a request for comment earlier this week. His response to WEC is not public. … “We’re bending over backwards to prove the sky is blue,” said Hudson attorney Sarah Yacoub, who ran as a Democrat against Zimmerman in 2020 and filed an affidavit to accompany one of the complaints. “For [the WEC] to say there was not reasonable suspicion is such an ugly slap in the face for all the witnesses … Why we have an elections commission that deals with voter and election fraud in secret is baffling, and it’s wrong.” … Only [complainants] Linscott and Yacoub have come forward publicly. Both say the four other involved with the complaints fear retaliation. … Yacoub and other Democrats had called for [WEC Board’s Knudson] to recuse himself from the vote. CC/WI’s Heck, Linscott comment.
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/elections-panel-dismisses-residency-complaint-against-wisconsin-lawmaker

– Republicans Target Ballot Access After Record Turnout … GOP lawmakers in at least 28 states [not WI, MI, IL] have introduced more than 100 bills to tighten voting rules … for example, add new voter registration requirements and scale back or eliminate voting by mail … add photo ID requirements for mail-in ballots, ban ballot drop boxes and eliminate the option to vote by mail for most voters. Others would require witness or notary signatures for mail-in ballots and eliminate automatic voter registration. … many Republican lawmakers cite a new reason for restrictive laws: the lack of voter confidence in the integrity of U.S. elections
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2021/02/05/republicans-target-ballot-access-after-record-turnout

ENVIRONMENT ^top^
– [County Material Corp of Turtle] to pay [$171K] in air-pollution settlement
https://www.gazettextra.com/news/government/rock-county-concrete-plant-to-pay-state-in-air-pollution-settlement/article_18a31d5b-aaa8-5ac0-a279-b57d4b190e4c.html

LAW AND ORDER ^top^
– James Duquette killed an Appleton teen in 1980, but hasn’t spent a day in prison. He’s still in Massachusetts. A news clip solved the case.
https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/2021/02/08/appletons-james-duquette-faces-life-terms-wisconsin-remains-massachusetts/6672108002/

– Our Workload Is “Through the Roof,” How the closing of south-side station impacts Milwaukee Fire Department.
https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2021/02/07/our-workload-is-through-the-roof/

MANAGEMENT ^top^
– Notre Dame Academy alumni call for removal of St. Norbert abbot, two board members over response to clergy abuse
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2021/02/05/st-norbert-abbey-abuse-cases-notre-dame-alumni-call-resignations/4307672001/

SMALL BUSINESS ^top^
– WI grocery stores devising plans to get workers vaccinated … Since the start of the pandemic, grocery store workers, working in a high-traffic environment for low pay, have been among those most exposed to the virus. Metcalfe said his stores average 25,000 customers a week. … [UFCW reports 17,400 of its 835K members infected or exposed, 109 died] … Metcalfe’s Market [offering, not requiring 500+ employees] on-site vaccinations from [flu shot provider] … two hours pay for each of the two shots they get, plus eight hours of sick time if they have harsh side effects. … “All COVID has been is an expense,” he said. … join a growing number of [state, nat’l] grocers who are offering benefits or bonuses to get workers vaccinated. Grocers’ Scholz “in the process of reaching out to retailers to find out who has plans and who doesn’t. … These folks that have been working, they’ve been essential since day one … they’ve done everything that was asked of them. … it’s important that we talk about patience. … to recognize the challenge the state has getting the doses they need to accomplish this. … [members are incenting jabs like Metcalf and] the other end of the spectrum where an employer is basically saying, ‘If you want to get a vaccine, go ahead and get it.'” he said. “I think I find that more in small towns.” … [planning webinars to Q&A with members]. Metcalf waiting for info on vaccine sites, proof of eligibility, survey found 80% interest, “We think that’s a fairly high number,” sending them links to vaccine info, prioritizing skilled workers, like butchers, ahead of more-exposed cashiers, “You can’t just take someone for the produce department and say, ‘Hey, go take down that side of beef.’ It’s a very skilled position.”
https://madison.com/ct/da9f2207-1fed-51ec-a0e8-672d63e76391.html

TAXES ^top^
– Brown County sales tax increased $1 million despite a pandemic. Here’s why.
https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2021/02/08/brown-county-sales-tax-brought-1-million-more-2020-despite-covid-19/4236913001/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ^top^
– Town of Paris: Lack of Internet drives town to seek solution
https://www.kenoshanews.com/town-of-paris-lack-of-internet-drives-town-to-seek-solution/article_fa876884-e9a0-5697-8483-3157dcc0b5c1.html

– Wisconsin sets sights on broadband expansion, A proposed project in Douglas County is currently being considered for a 2021 grant.
https://www.superiortelegram.com/news/government-and-politics/6871911-Wisconsin-sets-sights-on-broadband-expansion

UTILITIES ^top^
– Achieving Biden’s carbon goal ‘a moon shot’ for companies like We Energies, says Klappa [at 4Q webcast] … “When you think about what it would practically take to get to a full carbon-free grid by 2035, you would frankly have to have enormous technological change,” Klappa said. … spokesman said Friday WEC Energy is well-positioned vis-a-vis Biden’s decision that the United States’ rejoin the Paris Climate Accord. … [Klappa touted] most promising new technology … of carbon capture. … “Regardless of whether we’re totally there in 2035, I think we can continue on the path of reducing emissions,” Klappa said. “We don’t need any change at technology to hit our 2030 goal of a 70% reduction. So, I’m still optimistic about the path of emission reductions. And we’ll see about 2035.”
https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2021/02/05/achieving-bidens-carbon-goal-a-moon-shot-for-firms.html

EDITORIALS ^top^
– WSJ editorial: Act 10 was dark time with mixed results
https://madison.com/wsj/f1c0364b-b01f-574f-9dde-630b0275c478.html

– RJT editorial: A virtual snow job in Madison … [MMSD], which does all virtual learning for its students, decided to cancel those remote learning sessions because of last Tuesday’s incoming snowstorm. … No matter that in a more severe storm on Jan. 26 the district decided that students should keep humming away with remote learning on their computers. … [MMSD Lemond’s “equity decision” comment, shutting virtual classes because in-person classes needed cancelling] … One of the very few advantages of remote learning that was imposed on schools by the dangers of the COVID pandemic was that it eliminated the need to close schools during blizzards. But MMSD has found a bizarre workaround to that: a virtual blizzard closing.
https://journaltimes.com/opinion/editorial/journal-times-editorial-a-virtual-snow-job-in-madison/article_e3f75326-8608-5abb-b128-54fa5ec98c98.html

COLUMNS ^top^
– John Nichols: Mike Gallagher keeps defending GOP hatemongers
https://madison.com/ct/01902cf9-a21e-5272-8868-2480604efcb8.html

– Dave Zweifel: Did UW-Whitewater send Robin Vos and Steve Nass to Madison to act like grade schoolers?
https://madison.com/ct/3129ca9b-e3fa-5626-87d2-ba2fdc53a281.html

– M.D. Kittle: Evers veto leaves unemployed, hungry out in the cold
https://empowerwisconsin.org/evers-veto-leaves-unemployed-hungry-out-in-the-cold/

– WDC’s Matthew Rothschild: COVID-19, campaign finance and unfair maps
https://madison.com/ct/2ce1e230-ba3b-590b-a57b-84cf4995bf71.html

– James Wigderson: Grothman wants immunization wall: The congressman is objecting to the Department of Homeland Security policy supporting equal access to Covid-19 vaccinations for immigrants here illegally.
https://rightwisconsin.com/2021/02/06/grothman-wants-immunization-wall

– UWM emeritus William L. Holahan: Wisconsin needs a better infrastructure report card
https://madison.com/ct/57c9e6c3-b294-59e4-9209-d1636a9b30a3.html

– James Rowen: State’s GOP Congressmen Backed Greene, They opposed removing Rep. Greene, who supported the killing of Democrats, from House committees.
https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2021/02/07/op-ed-states-gop-congressmen-backed-greene/

– Mel Barnes: Gerrymandering explains Wisconsin’s Worsening Pandemic Response, It didn’t have to be this way. That is the unfortunate lesson of the Covid-19 pandemic in Wisconsin.
https://lawforward.org/recent-thoughts/pandemic-gerrymander

– Stan Milam: Steil joins the latest round of political tug-of-war over Keystone XL pipeline
https://www.gazettextra.com/opinion/columns/milam-steil-joins-the-latest-round-of-political-tug-of-war-over-keystone-xl-pipeline/article_28be421d-9028-55e7-9a63-8f6c0b1991b8.html

– Steven Walters: Many pieces in highway funding puzzle
https://www.gazettextra.com/opinion/columns/walters-many-pieces-in-highway-funding-puzzle/article_37e3120d-bb86-5ec0-be44-0f9690fa70fd.html

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