Walker's Wis. GOP legislators have passed 128 restrictions to "local control" in the past 6 years.

[riversedge]

Madison Knows Best

GOP legislators have passed 128 restrictions to "local control" in the past six years.


http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2016/05/30/the-state-of-politics-madison-knows-best/


By Steven Walters - May 30th, 2016 11:35 am


Wisconsin State Capitol. Photo by Rosina Peixoto.

Their official Blue Book biographies say almost half of all legislators started their political careers in local governments – as mayors, members of city councils, and on school, town, village and county boards. Many still hold local government jobs.

That’s why it was surprising that Republican Gov. Scott Walker and GOP legislators, with help from a few Democrats, approved 128 changes since 2011 that either told local governments they had to do something or told those local governments they could not specifically do something.

It’s even more surprising because, for decades, Republicans claimed to champion “local control” more than Democrats. But, for the last six years, in the clash between “local control” and “Madison knows best,” Madison has usually won.

Assistant Assembly Democratic Leader Katrina Shankland asked the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau to compile that 128-item list. Local government leaders, afraid of what new limits or requirements may be inflicted on them next session, declined to comment.

Shankland asked only for changes enacted since Republicans took control of the Capitol in 2011, which is misleading. Governors and legislators of both parties have been telling local governments what they can and cannot do since Wisconsin became a state in 1848. More on that later.

Still, the six-year total of 128 was striking, as was the scope of the changes that became law. They ranged from major to petty.

Some major changes: All but eliminating collective bargaining by public employees. Cutting the pay and authority of Milwaukee County supervisors. Limiting local governments’ taxing powers to control property tax bills. Telling local clerks when their offices can register new voters and accept absentee ballots, and that voters must display a photo ID. Not allowing county executives to serve in the Legislature. Dictating shoreline setback building rules. Limiting counties’ authority over new mines. Telling local governments they can’t require all employees to live in their communities.....................

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1. What's the issue/complaint here?

The residents of Wisconsin voted these people in, and in the case of Gov. Walker they voted him in twice and when given the chance to remove him from office they again voted to keep him. The majority of Wisconsin residents who bothered to vote in their elections evidently are in favor of these regulations. Now if the majority of voting age residents oppose this kind of governess maybe they should get off their sofas and vote, otherwise they have no one to blame but themselves.