Three years ago, on January 6th, 2021, our nation’s Capitol was attacked by a group of rioters who sought to halt the peaceful transfer of power, one of the most pivotal tenets of our democracy.
While their actions ultimately failed, the damage done to our democracy still lingers and can be seen and felt all around the country – including here in Wisconsin, where the actions of a few legislators are further eroding public faith in our elections and destabilizing our democracy.
(D-Onalaska)
Those actions most-notably include attempts by members of the State Senate to fire the non-partisan Administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, simply because she made voting during a national pandemic easy, convenient and safe. They have also proposed abolishing the Elections Commission because they want direct control of our elections process. And significantly, they have chosen to leave an appointee on the Commission who was integral in the attempt to overturn the 2020 election’s results in Wisconsin.
Make no mistake, while the actions of January 6th, 2021 are well behind us, the same division, anger and mistrust in our public institutions is still being disseminated by people who are entrusted to do the exact opposite.
The people of Wisconsin expect their state government to be focused on the issues that impact their day-to-day lives, not focused on re-litigating the 2020 election.
They want us to fix the childcare crisis in Wisconsin, where on average, the annual cost of childcare is as much as in-state tuition at UW-Madison. They want us to address rising healthcare costs by lowering the cost of insulin and other prescription drugs. They want us to build our local economies through support for small businesses. And they want us to continue to work to ensure every child that lives in Wisconsin, no matter their zip code, gets a world-class education.
Those are the issues that I choose to be focused on. It’s why I introduced legislation to cap the cost of life-saving prescription drugs. It’s why I supported legislation and a Special Session to lower the cost of childcare.
It’s why I introduced a bill to create an online portal that will help small businesses grow and thrive. And it’s why I support paying our teachers competitively, investing in our children’s education, and ensuring that no matter the path that they choose, our kids have the education needed to enter the workforce and receive good-paying jobs.
As we approach this solemn anniversary that reminds us just how fragile our democracy is, I will continue to stand up and speak out against attempts to undermine trust in our elections and democracy. I will continue to work with any legislator, Republican or Democrat, who wants to make life a little easier for working families across our beautiful state. That’s what makes our democracy strong and it’s why I choose to believe better days lie ahead for Wisconsin and our great country.
He is a city boy who never worked and now knows everything. How much time did he support this country as a veteran???? (We Need New People That are not Free Loaders)
Who are you speaking about (city boy)? Van Orden? (he is reportedly a Navy Vet) How is the person you are describing a “freeloader?”