Commentary
The clean water we all deserve
During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, as we fast daily from food and water from dawn till sunset, let us honor and celebrate the central role of water in our lives, both physically and spiritually. This month-long spiritual experience enhances and deepens our compassion for the poor, hungry and thirsty. Recently, the United Nations […]
Weird politics, silent candidates and an insidious news vacuum in Waunakee
In a news void, wild conspiracies take hold, pitting neighbors against neighbors, poisoning civic dialogue and, in some cases, driving the stealth takeover of local government bodies by people with no concern for the real needs of communities. Case in point: Waunakee. Waunakee gained national notoriety a year ago after rightwing radio talk show host […]
State Supreme Court decisions have a big impact on Wisconsin’s environment
A lawsuit working its way through the state court system and likely to be decided by the state Supreme Court could have significant consequences for environmental protection in Wisconsin. The lawsuit, which was filed by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), takes aim at the state’s authority under the Spills Law to respond to spills of […]
April 4 ballot measures sow confusion, resentment
With all the attention focused on the Most Expensive State Supreme Court Race in U.S. History, Wisconsin voters have not had much of a chance to absorb the ballot measures — including two that would amend the state constitution — they are expected to ratify or reject in the April 4 election. Along with various […]
Concerned about gerrymandering in Wisconsin? Keep an eye on North Carolina.
On Tuesday, the North Carolina Supreme Court reheard arguments in a redistricting case that has been the focus of much national attention. The new conservative majority on the court is reconsidering a recent decision to throw out GOP lawmakers’ gerrymandered voting maps — a decision that had already made its way up to the U.S. […]
Corporate profits outweigh health, culture and livelihood
As farmers in Wisconsin and across the Corn Belt make planting decisions, the question always on their minds is, will income cover their expenses? The price farmers all over the world are paid is determined by the global marketplace. With Mexico being one of the biggest buyers of U.S. corn, Mexico’s planned ban on imports […]
State Reps Hong and Shelton reintroduce Economic Justice Bill of Rights
Two years after its initial introduction into the state legislature, State Reps. Francesca Hong (D-Madison) and Kristina Shelton (D-Green Bay) reintroduced their Economic Justice Bill of Rights (LRB-1728), surrounded by supporting public officials and social justice organizations on the Assembly floor at the State Capitol (WisconsinEye recording). They have re-opened a door to reviving Wisconsin’s […]
Politics, ‘values’ and big money in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race
Everyone knows that money and politics have overrun Wisconsin’s nominally nonpartisan election for the state Supreme Court — now the most expensive in U.S. history. One Washington, D.C.-based group is holding up our state contest as an example of how not to choose Supreme Court justices. The nonpartisan Election Reformers Network makes a compelling case […]
Proclaiming March 31 César Chavez Day in Wisconsin
State representatives from the Latino Caucus are collecting co-sponsors to proclaim March 31 as César Chavez Day. This commemorative holiday would be an uplift of the countless migrant workers who serve Wisconsin’s dairy industry, and it would honor the valiant history of migrant labor movements in Wisconsin. In the 1960s, Wisconsin was a home for […]
Dan Kelly’s divine inspiration
In his Editor’s Introduction to the inaugural issue of the Regent University Law Review, the once and potentially future Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly was quite sure about both the provenance of law and its immutability. “Law originates with God and is impressed on His creation, including mankind,” Kelly wrote in 1991, the year […]
Railroad workers warned us: Greed is dangerous
The toxic clouds that billowed up from a derailed freight train in Ohio this February are a chilling metaphor for the toxic greed that has infected so many of our big corporations. After having to evacuate, residents of East Palestine, Ohio, are cautiously going back home, but they still don’t know the full extent of […]
Enslaved workers are making your breakfast: Wisconsin confronts labor trafficking
On Friday, a coalition of advocates for migrant workers and state officials announced a $5.1 million grant to fight labor trafficking in Wisconsin. Milwaukee, where the coalition made the announcement, from the headquarters of United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS), was identified not long ago as a center for human trafficking in the U.S. “We have […]