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dailycardinal.com
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Dems challenge redistricting case By Rachel Fettig The Daily Cardinal
Grace Liu/Cardinal file photo
Gov. Scott Walker opponents rally at Capitol Square Nov. 19 to support the recall drive organized by United Wisconsin.
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin announced Monday it will intervene in a Republican lawsuit asking the Supreme Court to require recall elections for members of the state legislature to be held under new districts. Every 10 years, the state redraws Wisconsin legislative and congressional maps to account for population changes according to the census. The Republican-controlled legislature passed the redistricting law over the summer, but some argue the new district lines unfairly favor Republican senators by making districts less competitive. “It is interesting to me that the new lines have drawn Fort Atkinson out of Scott Fitzgerald’s district,” said Lori Compas, treasurer of the Committee to Recall Scott Fitzgerald. “I happen to live in Fort Atkinson, and I am the one who initiated the recall effort against Scott Fitzgerald.” The Government Accountability Board, the state agency that oversees elections,
decided the new districts would not apply to elections until November 2012. Therefore, any potential recall election that would take place before the date would be conducted via the old districts. A Republican group represented by Michael Best & Friedrich filed a lawsuit Nov. 21 arguing the new districts are constitutional. Michael Best & Friedrich is representing two claims—one
The Daily Cardinal
Un i t e d Wi s c o n s i n announced Monday they have collected over 300,000 signatures after two weeks of circulating petitions to recall Gov. Scott Walker. “This is an amazing accomplishment, and we need you to keep this grassroots movement going—we have a long way to go before Walker is out of office,” United Wisconsin said in an e-mail to supporters.
“The collection pace will slow as it expands to more disparate areas and groups of voters and [as] the weather becomes less pleasant.” Barry Burden professor Department of Political Science
Petitioners will prompt a recall election if they gather more than 540,208 signatures, 25 percent of the number of voters in the 2010 gubernatorial election, by Jan. 17.
Political science professor Barry Burden said it is easiest to get signatures at the beginning of the drive because the “most eager signers will quickly add their names.” “The collection pace will slow as it expands to more disparate areas and groups of voters and [as] the weather becomes less pleasant,” Burden said in an e-mail. But United Wisconsin spokesperson Erik Kirkstein said they believe they can get at least 600,000 to 700,000 signatures. According to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article, a similar petition drive in Ohio this spring, which prompted a referendum vote on their own collective bargaining legislation, gained around 215,000 in the first month, a number that United Wisconsin has far surpassed in two weeks. Some Republicans say they believe organizers will collect enough votes to hold the recall but are confident Walker would win a general election.
recall page 3
lawsuit page 3 Republicans are challenging a decision that recall elections occuring before November 2012 would be conducted in old districts. There are currently four Republican senators who could face recall elections.
Graphic by natasha soglin
300k sign to recall Walker By Mckenna Kohlenberg
that argues the new redistricting plan is “constitutionally valid” and another challenging the GAB decision that a potential recall election would be conducted in the old districts “superseded” by the new law, according to Eric McLeod, an attorney for the firm. The law firm had given the state legislature legal advice when
The Onion holds contest at UW
Mark Kauzlarich/the daily cardinal
ASM Legislative Affairs Chair Hannah Somers said UW System students will choose three topics to lobby this spring.
Students to lobby at Capitol The student government Legislative Affairs Committee discussed student issues Monday they would like to present at a UW System student “lobby day” at the Capitol. Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Chair Hannah Somers said the United Council of UW Students will select three issues to discuss with legislators this spring at the lobby day. One issue the committee decided to present to the council would ask the state to refrain from punishing
individuals who seek medical attention because of illegal actions, such as an underage student who goes to the hospital after drinking too much. “I think that there are a lot of arguments we could make, and I think we could probably convince a couple people to at least introduce a bill,” committee member Sam Seering said. “It would definitely catch people’s attention.” Committee members also said it was important to address
lobby page 3
UW-Madison students have the opportunity to win a dinner with the editor in chief of The Onion by submitting stories to a writing contest hosted by the popular satire newspaper, which was founded by two UW-Madison alumni. Students can submit stories through Wednesday at 4 p.m., of which three will be selected as winners to have dinner with current Editor in Chief Joe Garden and former Editor in Chief Carol Kolb Monday, Dec. 5. Contestants can e-mail stories, which must be 300 words or less, to DLS@union.wisc.edu with “Onion Contest Submission” in the subject line. Following the dinner, Garden and Kolb will give a free lecture called “An Evening with The Onion” in the Memorial Union Theater at 7:30 p.m. The lecture is part of the Wisconsin Union Directorate’s Distinguished Lecture Series. UW-Madison students, faculty, staff and Union members with a valid university or Wisconsin Union ID can receive tickets for the lecture at the Wisconsin Union Theater Box. Remaining tickets will be made available to the public Thursday.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”