The State Senate debate on the bill to standardize early voting hours for all Wisconsin citizens got terribly personal and truly ugly.
From FOX6 News:
The measure would require county clerks to limit early voting to between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. It would end weekend early voting hours.This is terrible.
The bill would make early voting hours uniform across the state.
“What we’re trying to do is bring some consistency to voting hours throughout the state. I’ve heard from a number of constituents that watch (FOX6) and other Milwaukee news outlets that it just seemed to be unfair when you see a line of people in Milwaukee ready to vote on a Saturday and yet somebody in rural Wisconsin or Dodge or Washington County is unable to go to the town hall that they may vote in and cast a ballot,” Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said.
Democrats say the bill is baffling — and say it targets urban areas.
“The uniformity is inconsistent with the need to remember that each municipality needs to be in control of its own. On top of the Capitol, we have Lady Forward. There’s no question that this really reeks of Jim Crow and backwards,” Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) said.
...Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) is demanding an apology from Sen. Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) — not for something he said about her, but for accusations he made against a lawmaker from New Berlin.
Sen. Carpenter, during debate on Tuesday, told Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) she must hate blacks and Latinos — and fireworks ensued.
"Jim Crow"?
Supporting a bill to give citizens across the state equal access to early voting means one "must hate blacks and Latinos"?
That's sick, even for the shameless Democrats.
Of course, Chris Larson and his Democrat colleagues want to give their voting blocks preferential treatment. Of course, they don't want all Wisconsin voters to be treated equally and offered equal opportunity to vote. Still, I hoped conscience and integrity would prevail.
Alas, I gave the Democrats too much credit.
Why did the Democrats resort to engaging in such despicable behavior and making such foul accusations?
Because they can't argue against the merits of the bill.
Bottom line: All Wisconsin citizens should have an equal opportunity to cast an early ballot. One should not be penalized for living in a smaller community or a rural area. That's unjust.
Wisconsin Senate Democrats really disgraced themselves on Tuesday.
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Video from FOX6 News:
