The time is now for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to decide Bothfeld v. Wisconsin Election Commission.
The court already decided Clark v. WEC, which found state-level maps violated the Wisconsin Constitution. So I ask: Why allow Wisconsin voters to be harmed by unconstitutional maps when they vote for their federal representatives?
With full and due respect to the court and the deliberative process, the people of Wisconsin have been robbed of the full power of their vote by extreme gerrymandering in the state since 2011, when Gov. Scott Walker was in charge.
Even though Wisconsin is politically split between Democrats and Republicans, Republicans now hold six out of eight congressional seats. Democrats, including myself and Congressman Mark Pocan of Black Earth, only hold two seats in Congress.
A lay person can see that a 50-50 state being represented 75-25 doesn’t add up. Voters should not be asked to participate in another election with rigged maps.
Wisconsin, the state I love and serve in Congress, should be at the vanguard of strengthening and affirming democracy. It should not be unduly paralyzed by any consideration other than the integrity of our democratic processes, from which flows the very legitimacy of our government.
I cannot conceive of any role for the court that is more noble or necessary at this moment.
I am reminded of Justice Jackson’s words: “With all its defects, delays and inconveniences, men have discovered no technique for long preserving free government except that the executive be under the law, and that the law be made by parliamentary deliberations. Such institutions may be destined to pass away.
But it is the duty of the court to be last, not first, to give them up.”
The Bothfield v. Wisconsin Election Commission case is an opportunity for Wisconsin to turn a new page and end minority rule at the federal level.
The court should move with deliberate speed to remedy this wrong and strengthen our democracy.
The time is now for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to decide Bothfeld v. Wisconsin Election Commission.
The court already decided Clark v. WEC, which found state-level maps violated the Wisconsin Constitution. So I ask: Why allow Wisconsin voters to be harmed by unconstitutional maps when they vote for their federal representatives?
With full and due respect to the court and the deliberative process, the people of Wisconsin have been robbed of the full power of their vote by extreme gerrymandering in the state since 2011, when Gov. Scott Walker was in charge.
Even though Wisconsin is politically split between Democrats and Republicans, Republicans now hold six out of eight congressional seats. Democrats, including myself and Congressman Mark Pocan of Black Earth, only hold two seats in Congress.
A lay person can see that a 50-50 state being represented 75-25 doesn’t add up. Voters should not be asked to participate in another election with rigged maps.
Wisconsin, the state I love and serve in Congress, should be at the vanguard of strengthening and affirming democracy. It should not be unduly paralyzed by any consideration other than the integrity of our democratic processes, from which flows the very legitimacy of our government.
I cannot conceive of any role for the court that is more noble or necessary at this moment.
I am reminded of Justice Jackson’s words: “With all its defects, delays and inconveniences, men have discovered no technique for long preserving free government except that the executive be under the law, and that the law be made by parliamentary deliberations. Such institutions may be destined to pass away.
But it is the duty of the court to be last, not first, to give them up.”
The Bothfield v. Wisconsin Election Commission case is an opportunity for Wisconsin to turn a new page and end minority rule at the federal level.
The court should move with deliberate speed to remedy this wrong and strengthen our democracy.
The time is now for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to decide Bothfeld v. Wisconsin Election Commission.
The court already decided Clark v. WEC, which found state-level maps violated the Wisconsin Constitution. So I ask: Why allow Wisconsin voters to be harmed by unconstitutional maps when they vote for their federal representatives?
With full and due respect to the court and the deliberative process, the people of Wisconsin have been robbed of the full power of their vote by extreme gerrymandering in the state since 2011, when Gov. Scott Walker was in charge.
Even though Wisconsin is politically split between Democrats and Republicans, Republicans now hold six out of eight congressional seats. Democrats, including myself and Congressman Mark Pocan of Black Earth, only hold two seats in Congress.
A lay person can see that a 50-50 state being represented 75-25 doesn’t add up. Voters should not be asked to participate in another election with rigged maps.
Wisconsin, the state I love and serve in Congress, should be at the vanguard of strengthening and affirming democracy. It should not be unduly paralyzed by any consideration other than the integrity of our democratic processes, from which flows the very legitimacy of our government.
I cannot conceive of any role for the court that is more noble or necessary at this moment.
I am reminded of Justice Jackson’s words: “With all its defects, delays and inconveniences, men have discovered no technique for long preserving free government except that the executive be under the law, and that the law be made by parliamentary deliberations. Such institutions may be destined to pass away.
But it is the duty of the court to be last, not first, to give them up.”
The Bothfield v. Wisconsin Election Commission case is an opportunity for Wisconsin to turn a new page and end minority rule at the federal level.
The court should move with deliberate speed to remedy this wrong and strengthen our democracy.
