Madison – Today was the first day that the Assembly was in session. A number of resolutions were passed, regarding a constitutional amendment, a referendum item, and more. Rep. Dave Considine (D-Baraboo) released the following statement on the passage of this legislation:
“Today, we voted on divisive policies that do not move our state forward. Assembly Joint Resolution (AJR) 1 changes the criteria judges can use when considering bail. AJR 1 passed the Assembly today after passing the Senate earlier this week. I voted against this resolution because our cash bail system is broken. We must instead look at proven strategies that will provide a long term solution to this problem. Everybody deserves to be safe. We must invest in strategies to reduce violent crime while ensuring that release is not based on ability to find funds to post bail.
“Another resolution passed today is AJR 3 which requires an advisory referendum be added to the ballot on April 4th. The referendum would ask voters in Wisconsin if able-bodied, childless adults should be required to look for work in order to receive government benefits. Former Governor Tommy Thompson signed the work search requirement into law when he was in office. This referendum will not fix our labor shortage. My Republican colleagues, while advocating for AJR 3, mentioned the things that would actually help us with our labor shortage like transportation, affordable housing, affordable childcare, and health care. However, the proposals before us today had nothing to do with fixing those issues.
“Reproductive freedom also impacts our workforce. I have heard from many women who do not want to live in place where they cannot make their own choices about their body. We must assure that women have the right to make their own health care decisions, so that they do not have to move to gain reproductive freedom. I will continue to fight to ensure women’s rights are protected in Wisconsin.”
