Posted on 09/18/2014 6:35:14 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
MADISON – Voters in the State of Wisconsin will see a referendum on whether the transportation fund should be protected in the State Constitution. However, most voter are not aware on how the referendum qualified for the November ballot.
Under Wisconsin State law, a binding statewide referendum can be qualified if it’s approved by the Wisconsin Legislature by both houses for two consecutive Legislative sessions. According to Ballotpedia, Wisconsin is one of 12 states that uses the two Legislative session method to qualify statewide ballot measures.
Extra: Learn More About the Transportation Fund Referendum
The Transportation Fund referendum will ask voters if they want to constitutionally protect funds from gasoline taxes and registration fees only for transportation purposes and not for any other purposes such as resolving state budget deficits.
The measure was first introduced to the Wisconsin Legislature in 2011 as Senate Joint Resolution 23. SJR 23 was voted on by the Wisconsin Assembly on May 17, 2011. The lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature approved the resolution by an 82-11 vote winning support from Republicans and some Democrats. All 11 of the no votes were from Democrats in the Assembly. The Senate qualified the measure on the same day as the Assembly by a 26 to 6 vote. The approval by both the Assembly and Senate for the 2011 Legislative Session on SJR 23 allowed the amendment to be considered for the next Legislative session.
The second consideration of the transportation fund amendment was introduced as Assembly Joint Resolution 2 in 2013. On February 14, 2013, the Assembly approved the measure by an 82 to 13 vote earning support from Republicans and some Democrats. All 13 of the no votes came from Democrats. The State Senate approved the measure on February 20, 2013 by a bi-partisan 25 to 8 vote.
More: WTBA Director Speaks About the Transportation Fund Referendum on Sunday Talk Show
Before the Legislature began its process to qualify the Transportation Fund amendment, 54 counties placed advisory referendums on the ballot. Racine County was the county to place the referendum on the September 14, 2010, statewide primary ballot while the remaining 53 counties placed the measure on the November 2, 2010 ballot. When combining all 54 counties that qualified the measure, it earned the support of 70 percent of the voters. Counties can refer advisory referendums during any regularly scheduled election.
The Transportation Fund amendment is the first statewide referendum that Wisconsin voters will see since April of 2008. That year, voters approved a constitutional amendment to restrict partial veto authority of the Governor of the State of Wisconsin with over 70 percent of the vote.
Tutorial: How does a referendum get on the Wisconsin ballot?
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
I’m equally THRILLED (Not!) that the POS GAB has decided to change our ballots of the past 20 years!
Speaker Voss is on this, but how I loathe the d@mn Libtards in our state!
I’m also really, REALLY tired of the BS floating around that Governor Walker is going to lose his re-election. The local Libtards I have to put up with are convinced he’s going to win - they have no praise, WHATSOEVER for Mary Burke; not even a positive comment about her from any of them. Graciously accepting defeat? *SNORT* I doubt it. They’re up to something...
Yet ANOTHER recall, perhaps?
The WI GOP really needs to get out the vote. I’m thinking we WILL turn out in great numbers, but all the behind the scenes ‘tinkering’ (that we know of, anyways!) is going to make it tough. B@stards.
Yes. I am in one of THOSE moods today, LOL!
P.S. I think our Transportation Fund SHOULD be protected. ‘Diamond Jim’ Doyle raided it on a regular basis!
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