On Wednesday, Gov. Tony Evers continued a time-honored tradition in Wisconsin politics: using a quirky Badger State governing tool to infuriate the opposing party.
When approving the state's biennial budget, Evers exercised Wisconsin's uniquely expansive "partial veto," which allows the governor to surgically remove words, phrases and individual numbers or letters from appropriations bills when signing them into law.
Among other changes, Evers removed a Republican-authored provision that he denounced as "cuts benefiting the wealthiest individuals in our state," noting that "roughly one-half of their proposed tax cut would go to filers with incomes above $200,000." He also struck the "0" in "$10 million" to slash a piece of funding for the upcoming Republican National Convention.
Evers also used his veto pen to lock in funding for Wisconsin's public school system for four centuries, changing the phrase "2023-24 school year and the 2024-25 school year" to the "2023-2425" school years. [snip]The move seemingly achieved the predicted outcome of infuriating political opponents. Lacking a supermajority, state Republicans are likely powerless to overturn the veto by legislative means, as doing so would require a two-thirds vote, and so they have vowed to contest the move in court. (our emphasis)
First off, congrats to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. The Wisconsin Republican Party is one of the most authoritarian, nihilistic, and corrupt in the country (and that's saying something!). The Wisconsin Supreme Court will have a 4-3 Democratic majority next month, so we'll see about that court challenge, Republicans.
Mamas are the key political force in 2024 and we need to harness that energy!” Ron DeSantis called down from the stage in the Franklin Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel in Philadelphia, where 650 “joyful warriors” had gathered for the second annual “Moms for Liberty Summit.” The Florida governor was met with raucous applause—just as when he claimed that “[the Left] has awakened the most powerful force in the country: mama bears!” [snip]
Given that Moms for Liberty is a very young group on the conservative circuit it’s remarkable that both Trump and DeSantis, in addition to other presidential hopefuls, made the pilgrimage to Philadelphia to laud Moms for Liberty’s message—and, in Nikki Haley’s case, to portray herself as one of them. None of the candidates appears to have been at all concerned by the fact that Moms for Liberty was just designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. According to the report by the SPLC, the group’s main goals are to “fuel rightwing hysteria and to make the world a less comfortable or safe place for certain students—primarily those who are Black, LGBTQ or who come from LGBTQ families.” [snip]
The vibe was strange, eerie, and excited—a cross between a White supremacist sorority meeting; a capitalist love-fest with deep bonding over hatred for “the Left,” the LGBTQ+ community, and anti-racism efforts (all dressed up as expressions of love for their children); and a pentecostal revival with some distinct NAR overtones. “Our children belong to the Lord, not the government,” declared Patriot Mobile spokeswoman Leigh Wambsganss. “This is not a political war, it is a spiritual war!”
The religious character of the summit was overwhelming—so many prayers, invocations, and explicit (as well as implicit) references to a spiritual war. Earlier, DeSantis had declared, in reference to a popular Bible verse amongst those who see themselves as soldiers in a spiritual war, that “there will be arrows that we have to take.” He lauded the “sacrifice” the “Moms” were making for enduring the dance party outside, essentially equating being called “fascists” by protesters to dying on Omaha beach. “We’re not being called to make sacrifices that grand,” DeSantis said—the unspoken “yet” hanging threateningly in the air...
This white supremacist/anti- LGBTQ sorority has established links to other extremist groups like the Proud Boys. You'll be seeing and hearing more about them as we approach election season. Remember what their goals are and the tactics they'll use -- and fight back.
A Republican meeting in Michigan turned into fight night on Saturday when two local GOP figures got into a physical brawl over access to the event.
James Chapman, a Republican from Wayne County, told The Detroit News he was outside the meeting at the Doherty Hotel in Clare. He was hoping to get inside and jiggled the door handle.
Clare County Republican Party Chair Mark DeYoung came to the door to see what was going on.
“He kicked me in my balls as soon as I opened the door,” DeYoung told the newspaper in an interview from the emergency room. He said Chapman ran at him and slammed him into a chair.
Chapman said DeYoung threatened to kick his ass and took a swing first. DeYoung denied that, and told the news outlet he suffered a broken rib and intended to press charges.
“We’re so divided,” he was quoted as saying. “I just wish we could come together.”...
Frankly, we wish you wouldn't come together... except maybe in a cage match. Republicans in disarray!
