2012.04.17

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THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIII, Issue 124

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

www.badgerherald.com

High court rejects suit

Baldwin leads field for funds

State Supreme Court will not hear two cases on voter ID; photo provision remains invalid Mike Kujak State Legislature Editor With recall election primaries less than three weeks away, the state Supreme Court refused to take up two lawsuits challenging the state’s voter ID law on Monday. The justices’ one-page statement announced their decision not to take up the cases but did not comment on the lawsuits filed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the League of Women Voters. The refusal comes after two Wisconsin Courts of Appeals asked the court more than two weeks ago to take up the two separate lawsuits against the voter ID law approved last year for a final ruling on whether the law should be enforced. The lawsuits will now be sent back to the state appeals court for the cases to be heard. Government Accountability Board spokesperson Reid Magney said, as of now, the refusal

from the justices means the photo ID requirement will remain blocked for recall primary elections May 8 and general elections June 5. However, Magney said the state is ready to implement the law if the appeals court was to reverse the decision. “The clerks around the state have trained poll workers to administer the law,” Magney said. “If the court changes the status of things, we’ll have to adjust accordingly.” Magney was confident in the state’s ability to implement the law, which he said the state did successfully in primaries for the spring elections in February. Common Cause Executive Director Jay Heck said the appeals court should factor the upcoming recall elections into a decision. “The court should act deliberately and should not be bound by election

HIGH COURT, page 2

Candidate raises $2M in 1st quarter; GOP candidates net up to $660K in donations Julia Jacobson Campus Editor

polling numbers. However, he said this might be “counterbalanced” after the primary and Democrats begin targeting Walker more directly. Barrett also received endorsements from current Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, along with former mayors Dave Cieslewicz, Sue Bauman, Joe Sensenbrenner and Joel Skornicka. According to the statement, the five mayors have served consecutively since 1973. Bauman said she endorsed Barrett because she believes he has the best chance of winning against Walker as well as having the most balanced approach to

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., reported more than $2 million in contributions raised in the first quarter of campaign fundraising, with others running for Wisconsin Senate seats trailing her. In a statement, Baldwin thanked the 24,000 people who contributed to the campaign and said her fundraising numbers were “a sign of willingness to fight for Wisconsin families.” Republican candidates former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann and former Gov. Tommy Thompson are currently separated by only a slim margin for their fundraising, with Thompson raising $660,000 and Neumann reporting $654,000. On top of the money raised this quarter, Baldwin has already reported an additional $2.8 million on hand in previously released statements. Despite nearly edging out Thompson, Neumann’s campaign was positive about his funding results. “We ... are feeling fantastic,” Neumann’s campaign manager Chip Englander said. Englander said 85 percent of Neumann’s donors contributed $100 or less, which he said is an indication of Neumann’s widespread grassroots support. One of Neumann’s biggest donations came from the Citizens United PAC, which donated $10,000 to his campaign. Thompson’s campaign did not put out a public statement on the numbers but did put out a release after the campaign reports were released criticizing Baldwin for supporting the federal Buffett tax, which the campaign said in the statement was a “gimmick that will raise taxes on small businesses.” Republican candidate Eric Hovde reported the fourth most funding in the first quarter, with a total of $110,000 in donations. However, the Hovde campaign said he had an additional $1.5 million of cash on hand. Joe Fadness, a spokesperson for Hovde’s campaign, said the campaign raised $110,000 in their first three weeks of the campaign, which he said is “an impressive amount of money, especially so for a political outsider.” Fadness said donations are coming in strong, even with the recall elections set to move forward.

WALKER, page 2

FUNDS, page 3

Andy Fate The Badger Herald

Jeff Pharo, an MPD officer for neighborhoods around the Capitol Square and State Street, said encouraging students to contact police about suspicious behavior would be critical to the success of Eyes on the Isthmus.

City project would target crime uptick Adrianna Viswanatha City Hall Editor Student neighborhoods that have witnessed increased burglaries and other criminal activity could be the focus of a city program in the works to foster crime prevention among engaged citizens. At a meeting Monday, hosted by real estate company Hovde Properties, hosts looked for input on the proposed “Eyes on the Isthmus” program targeting crimes in the

downtown area, particularly in areas heavily populated by students such as West Mifflin and Bassett Streets. Victor Villacrez of Hovde Properties said over the last year, there has been a noticeable increase in breakins, to the point that he finally felt he had enough traction to get a group to form and tackle the issue. “This is grassroots,” Villacrez said. “We’re coming

CRIMES, page 3

Poll finds Walker leading Democrats Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett also logs endorsements from last 5 mayors of Madison, including Soglin Sean Kirkby State Politics Editor Gov. Scott Walker is leading all Democratic contenders for governor according to recent polling, while Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett snagged the endorsements of five Madison mayors over the weekend. According to a joint poll conducted by the Democratic leaning Public Policy Polling released Monday, Walker leads Barrett 50 to 45 percent, a change from February numbers which showed Barrett leading Walker 49 to 46. Walker similarly leads former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk 50 to 43 percent,

where Walker previously had 48 percent to Falk’s 47 percent. Walker leads Secretary of State Doug La Follette 51 to 40 percent and Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, 50 to 38 percent. The poll also shows Barrett leading other Democrats in the primary, receiving 38 percent while Falk has 24 percent. La Follette polled at nine percent, Vinehout six percent and 22 percent of voters said they were undecided. However, in February, Barrett polled 45 percent, Falk 18, La Follette 14, and Vinehout six, with 17 percent of voters undecided. University of Wisconsin political science professor

Barry Burden said in an email to The Badger Herald the changes between the polls could be the result of survey fluctuations. However, he said PPP has suggested it might be due to “applying a ‘likely voter screen.’” “It appears as though the people most likely to vote in the recalls tilt a bit more Republican than previously thought,” Burden said. “Democrats have some work to do to generate equal levels of turnout on their side.” Burden added it might be possible ads running on Walker’s behalf may have helped improve his image, while negative ads may have lowered Falk and Barrett’s

Letters to the future Wisconsin Union staff organizes materials being gathered from students and staff to be included in a time capsule celebrating Union South’s first birthday. The time capsule, which will be opened in 2061, includes students’ favorite memories of the new building.

INSIDE

Rebecca Hovel The Badger Herald

Megan McCormick The Badger Herald

Numbers aren’t everything Many doubt Montee Ball can match the lofty stats he put up in 2011, but the running back can still drive up his NFL stock.

SPORTS | 8

System sees record transfers Officials credit highest figures to better programming and a challenging economic climate.

NEWS | 2 © 2012 BADGER HERALD

They turn the music up, they’ve got their records on Record Store Day cause for celebration at local music shops

ARTS | 4


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