MADISON –Today, the Wisconsin State Assembly met in regular session and took up a number of politically-motivated bills designed to divide and distract from Wisconsin’s unaddressed issues. Rep. Conley (D-Janesville) released the following statement in response:
“This is our first Assembly floor session in three months. Instead of taking any sort of meaningful action, Republicans instead chose to give the appearance of taking action by taking up divisive bills that ignore constituent needs. “I have long been a supporter of fair maps, and was dismayed that the Assembly today took up a resolution working directly against that effort. People should pick their elected officials, not the other way around. Wisconsinites want and deserve fair maps. It makes no sense to incorporate already- gerrymandered maps as a starting for drawing new lines. Wisconsin is one of the worst gerrymandered states in the country, and we will lose the ability to create fair lines for another ten years. Our state motto is Forward, so why do Republicans continue to work to keep Wisconsin moving backwards?
“Today we took up Assembly Bill 414, which is yet another politically-motivated bill that micromanages local governments. I have heard first-hand how my district’s law enforcement have effectively utilized unconscious bias training for the past ten years. Under AB 414, local governments will not be allowed to implement such trainings, which produce positive outcomes.
“Just a few months ago, Republicans stripped Governor’s Evers’ budget of mental health funding for public schools. Now, they want to use one-time federal dollars we do not have to fund these services. Instead, we should invest some of our significant available state fund balance in a way that is sustainable for our schools.
“Today’s floor session was full of misplaced priorities. People should choose their elected officials, not the other way around. If people are given a chance to elect officials that truly represent them, I do believe we will move our state Forward.”
