Oneida County residents will have two constitutional amendment proposals on the ballot on August 13, and one contested primary race.
The constitutional amendments are designed to strip the Governor of his power to distribute funding received by the state without prior action from the legislature. The Democratic Party of Oneida County, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, and the Governor's Office all recommend a "no" vote on both of these amendments. There are two major problems with these amendments. First, it inhibits the prompt distribution of emergency funds when the State receives emergency funding to help deal with natural disasters or other forms of federal aid.
Second, this is a blatant partisan effort to change the powers of the Wisconsin governor. The current strategy for dealing with these kind of funds was generally seen as fine when the office was held by a Republican. When the governorship changed parties, it then seemed an appropriate time to the Republican dominated legislature to change the rules. This rule change is an extension of what started when Walker lost the governorship.
The contested race on the Democratic primary ballot is the race for the 7th Congressional District, for the seat currently held by one of the most MAGA-deranged member of the House of Representatives, Tom Tiffany. Kyle Kilbourn, a resident of Oneida County and an active member of the Democratic Party of Oneida County has been extremely active for the last year or so in meeting with members of the 22 Democratic County parties that comprise the current 7th Congressional District. He was endorsed by the 7th Congressional District at their recent convention (held in Rhinelander on April 13).
The Democratic Party of Oneida County recommends a vote for Kyle.
And I too am proud to endorse Kyle's candidacy.
