ut the Obamacare bill, a BFD.
It's an even bigger day in the Wisconsin legislature as the GOP passes what's known as a Joint Resolution stating its criteria for the electoral maps it must draw this year in response to the new census data. Among some other items many of which are kind of a smoke screen is a stipulation that would "help secure electoral advantages for [Republicans] over the next decade," according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (September 28, 2021). The article — Republicans seek to limit changes to election maps as legal fight over redistricting heats up — goes on to show that Republicans used one set of principles when they last drew the electoral maps in 2011, and have completely reversed themselves for this current round of redistricting:
Where the lines go can give one party an edge. Republicans plan to pass Assembly Joint Resolution 80, which would declare that as few changes as possible should be made to the maps.
That would help lock in the advantages Republicans enjoy from the maps drawn a decade ago, when they controlled all of state government.
At that time, Republicans took the opposite approach. They moved nearly 2.4 million voters into new Assembly districts even though they needed to move only 320,000 to ensure the districts had balanced populations.
Similarly, in drawing state Senate maps, they moved five times more voters than required to equalize the populations.
By moving so many voters, they were able to reshape them in ways that guaranteed them large majorities in both houses.
With their new resolution, Republicans are saying that shouldn’t happen again. They now say they want to make as few changes to the districts as possible, which would largely keep in place the current, pro-Republican lines.
Why is this maneuver a problem? After all, such resolutions are not binding. But they send clear signals. In this case, "[t]he resolution could be used in court proceedings to try to persuade judges to take a largely hands-off approach when drawing new lines." In particular, the Joint Resolution could be used in the case they have already filed with the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. They have also appealed to the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) to try to get the Democrats' redistricting lawsuit currently in federal court dismissed on the grounds that redistricting issues should be the province of the state's courts. SCOTUS has not yet decided whether to adjudicate the appeal.
It is also a big day for voter registration. In fact, it is National Voter Registration Day. Common Cause in Wisconsin has a great page about what you can do TODAY to spread the word.
And in good — or at least entertaining — news, Drumpf Loses Case to Enforce Omarosa Manigault Newman’s N.D.A. and there's a new *rump tell-all book from one of his press secretaries — Stephanie Grisham, who famously held no press conferences during her tenure — called I’ll Take Your Questions Now. In it, she apparently accuses the former president of "abusing his staff, placating dictators like Vladimir Putin of Russia, and making sexual comments about a young White House aide." The New York Times article about the forthcoming book provides us with news we will hardly find shocking: "Stephanie Grisham’s Book Details Drumpf’s ‘Terrifying’ Temper."
EVENTS
Tue Sep 28, 2021
Become a Poll Worker-Training, 5:30pm - 6pm
Online
Support your community and become a Poll Worker in 2022! Working the polls and helping your neighbors cast their ballots is the most direct way you can support voting rights in your community. Join our 30-minute Info Session to learn more about being a Poll Worker and how you can get involved for 2022! You must be a Wisconsin resident to be a poll worker and you only need to attend one Info Session. REGISTER HERE.
Sierra Club- Environmental Justice Event Series, 6:30pm - 8pm
Virtual
Connection between Wolves and Indigenous Nations: Screening of the film ‘Family’ followed by Panel Discussion. Sign up.
Thu Sep 30, 2021
Josh Kaul Fundraiser, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Brewer's Hill neighborhood
Fundraiser for Attorney General Josh Kaul's reelection. Exact address provided upon RSVP. Please follow CDC guidelines regarding masks. RSVP.
Sat Oct 2, 2021
Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Capitol Drive & Humboldt Boulevard, Milwaukee
Stand for Peace has resumed in-person events with masks and social distancing. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.
BANS OFF OUR BODIES march, 1pm - 4pm
Memorial Library, 728 State St, Madison, WI 53706
Join the Madison Women's March to defend and protect a woman’s right to choose! This is one of the marches nationwide, at least one in every state. We will assemble at the UW Library Mall (State St, opposite end from the Capitol) at 1:00. We'll march to the Capitol from there. At 2:00, join us for a rally with guest speakers on the Capitol's State St.steps. Or you will be able to view the event on Facebook Live on the Indivisible Madison page. Abortion has never been fully accessible, but we are at the risk of losing our reproductive freedom completely. The call to action is clear and urgent. The relentless attacks from Texas to Mississippi are ramping up quickly. Anti-choice extremists have a deep desire to return to a time when there was more clear and effective domination and control over women; they want to revive those old values and societal norms to the point of re-acceptance. The GOP agenda of reproductive control is fueled by misogyny and racism - and we must challenge it, together. On October 2, we’re going to send the Supreme Court and lawmakers across the country a clear, unified message. The attack on our reproductive rights will not be tolerated. This is your fight. This is our fight. This impacts all of us. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact [email protected]. #BansOffOurBodies #MyBodyMyChoice #AbortionIsHealthcare #RuthSentMe #WomensMarch.
Tue Oct 5, 2021
Become a Poll Worker-Training, 5:30pm - 6pm
Online
Support your community and become a Poll Worker in 2022! Working the polls and helping your neighbors cast their ballots is the most direct way you can support voting rights in your community. Join our 30-minute Info Session to learn more about being a Poll Worker and how you can get involved for 2022! You must be a Wisconsin resident to be a poll worker and you only need to attend one Info Session. REGISTER HERE.
Wed Oct 6, 2021
Cavalier Johnson Mayoral Kick-off, 5:30pm - 7pm
Company Brewing, 735 E. Center St., Milwaukee
Council President Cavalier Johnson will start his campaign for Mayor of Milwaukee at this fundraising reception. RSVP.
Mandela Barnes Fundraiser, 5:30pm - 7pm
Address provided upon RSVP
Milwaukee fundraising event in support of Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes' campaign for U.S. Senate, with special guest Congresswoman Gwen Moore! RSVP.
Info: Laughing Liberally MKE, 8:30pm - 9:30pm
TBA
For information on the latest Laughing Liberally offerings go here.
Thu Oct 7, 2021
Book Discussion: Strange Fruit, 6pm - 7pm
Zoom
America's Black Holocaust Museum Book Club will discuss the book Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Biography of a Song by David Margolick. The song "Strange Fruit" was inspired by a photograph of the lynching (thankfully unsuccessful) of Dr. James Cameron, the founder of the museum. The meeting is free and open to all. RSVP.
Sierra Club—Environmental Justice Event Series, 6:30pm - 8pm
Virtual
Thru-hiking the Ice Age Trail: Emily Ford on race and outdoor recreation. RSVP.
Sat Oct 9, 2021
UN Association of MKE, 10am - 12pm
Zoom
The Genocide Rages on: Crisis in Cameroon. The previously peaceful political movement to restore the statehood of Southern Cameroons (currently called Ambazonia) has been met by the Cameroon government military with an apparent genocide including indiscriminate killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, burning down of villages, hundreds of thousands of displaced people, and a growing population of refugees fleeing into Nigeria. Valentine Mbinglo, an American resident living in Chicago who was born in Bamenda, a Northwest Region of Cameroon, will discuss the crisis. Register.
Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
TBA
Stand for Peace has resumed in-person events with masks and social distancing. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.
Mon Oct 11, 2021
Grass Roots South Shore Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Cudahy Library, 3500 Library Dr., Cudahy
Grass Roots South Shore holds its monthly meeting on the second Monday of each month. For more information call Jim Balk, 414-218-5944.
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