Here & Now

Wisconsin Legislature Passes Workforce, Criminal Laws

Frederica Freyberg:

Meanwhile at the state Capitol, the legislature passed a slate of law enforcement bills aimed at increasing recruitment for a workforce hit hard by the pandemic. Also in the package, Republican bills in response to the protests seen during 2020, some of which turned violent. The GOP proposal would define what a riot is and make knowingly participating in a riot that results in substantial damage to property or personal injury a felony.

Francesca Hong:

Protest is democracy. This bill being brought forward today by my friends across the aisle is a declaration of war against the First Amendment. The spirit of this bill is dismantling of the very first guarantees in this country’s Constitution. Those of free speech and the right to assembly.

Shae Sortwell:

You have an absolute right to go out there and say that you disagree with your government on their policies. An absolute right to go out there and make sure that your voices are heard. You don’t have the right to go out there and violate somebody else’s right of private property, burn their businesses, destroy everything they’ve built up.

Frederica Freyberg:

Also at the Capitol, Governor Tony Evers wants to give every Wisconsinite $150. With news of a growing projected state budget surplus, Evers would spend $1.7 billion of the $3.8 billion surplus for those checks, education funding and child care help. Republican leaders want to use the surplus for tax cuts in 2023.