University of Wisconsin-Madison
Since 1892 dailycardinal.com l
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
l
Uber, Lyft bill passes despite local qualms By Andrew Bahl the daily cardinal
The state Assembly approved a bill Tuesday that would regulate ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft at the state level, paving the way for expansion of those services. The bill would require the companies to carry $1 million in liability insurance, pay a licensing fee every two years and conduct background checks on drivers. State Rep. Tyler August, R-Lake Geneva, who authored the bill, said the legislation would allow the popular smartphone services to operate across the state and would reduce burdensome local restrictions. “[The bill] encourages companies to move here and, by setting statewide standards,
there is certainty for these companies,” August said in a press conference Tuesday.
“I understand why people have concerns ... but Madison may have rejected its own shot at local control [over ridesharing services].” Zach Wood alder-elect District 8 Graphic by Cameron Graff
The bill would supersede local laws that strictly regulate or ban the services. The Madison City Council passed an ordinance March 31 that would stringently oversee the companies, just days after the state Legislature announced it
would take up the issue. Madison Mayor Paul Soglin has been a longtime critic of rideshare companies, saying in an April 2014 blog post Uber and Lyft “refuse to meet” local safety standards. A group opposed to the expansion of rideshare companies also
endorsed Soglin in his successful re-election campaign. While he was not on the City Council to vote on the ordinance, Alder-elect Zach Wood, District 8, said local officials could have lost “its own shot” at regulating the companies. “I understand why people
have concerns … but Madison may have rejected its own shot at local control [over ridesharing services],” Wood said. “[The state law] looks like it could be construed as retribution [for action taken by
bill page 3
Resolution condemning religious freedom law fails in Assembly By Andrew Bahl the daily cardinal
Thomas Yonash/the daily cardinal
Students block East Washington Avenue for eight hours as part of a nationwide protest against police brutality.
Madison students lead city protest, block state highway By Laura Grulke The daily cardinal
Students from both Madison East and West high schools participated in coordinated nationwide protests against police brutality Tuesday, blocking East Washington Avenue from 10:45 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., according to a Madison Police Department incident report. The protest took place alongside others in cities across the country. Protesters and com-
munity members tweeted #ShutDownA14 along with pictures, videos and reactions to the protests. Tweets depicted protesters blocking the Brooklyn Bridge and the Oakland freeway, as well as occupying many city halls and capitol squares. Students from East High School were joined by students from West High School and other community members in one lane
protest page 3
+SCIENCE, page 4
What makes your dog kick?
Assembly Democrats failed to bring a resolution to the floor today that would prevent the Legislature from discussing any bill similar to an Indiana law passed last month that allows businesses to deny services to individuals when serving them would go against their religious beliefs. The resolution, which is currently in committee, would reaffirm the civil rights of Wisconsinites regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation and a host of other demographics. “I believe the state shouldn’t subject [LGBT citizens] to bigotry under the guise of religious freedom,” state Rep. Andy Jorgensen, D-Fort Atkinson, said
during debate on the resolution. Jorgensen’s Democratic colleagues echoed his comments and criticized Republican Representatives for their support of a 2013 resolution that they say is similar to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Assembly Joint Resolution 43, introduced by 25 Republican legislators last session, resolves that the lawmakers “protect the right of conscience from state action” and prohibits the state “from burdening the right of conscience unless it proves it has a compelling interest and the burden is the least-restrictive alternative.” The resolution text is similar to the title of Indiana’s law, which says that an “action may not substantially burden a per-
son’s right to the exercise of religion unless it is demonstrated that applying the burden to the person’s exercise of religion … [is] the least restrictive means of furthering the compelling governmental interest.” Republicans accused Democrats of playing politics and harassing their members over a bill they say is unnecessary. “We already have stronger constitutional language than what was proposed in the Indiana bill,” Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said. “We don’t have to listen to you berate individuals for whether or not they’re going to introduce a bill. You’re playing McCarthyism.” Vos said a bill similar to Indiana’s “would not happen” in Wisconsin.
Former dean of students dies at age 90 Former UW-Madison Dean of Students Paul Ginsberg died Monday at age 90 after spending 39 years on campus, according to a university press release. Serving as dean from 1970’87, Ginsberg more than doubled the average seven-year term of a dean of students, who oversees the university community
by providing support for students and managing misconduct policies, according to the dean of students office website. Ginsberg also attended UW-Madison for undergraduate and graduate degrees and later worked in employee assistance. Current Dean of Students Lori Berquam said she consid-
ers Ginsberg a mentor, according to the release. “He was a ‘giver’ and he cared deeply for students,” Berquam was quoted as saying. “His office light in Bascom Hall was usually the only one lit long into the night as he helped students.”
Clinton ‘primarily’ unopposed
dean page 3
+ OPINION, page 7
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”