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Wednesday, March 12, 2014
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Senate acts on voter ID, campaign bills By Andrew Hahn THE DAILY CARDINAL
The state Senate debated a number of bills Tuesday that would change Wisconsin’s voting and campaign fundraising rules. The two Republican-backed measures would limit the terms under which voters may submit absentee ballots, remove some reporting requirements for political organizations and allow lobbyists to contribute to political candidates more frequently. One of the bills would restrict the hours of the day during which citizens may submit absentee ballots at polling locations.
“The bill digs a grave for democracy.”
Robert Jauch state senator Poplar
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D-Poplar, along with other Democrats, expressed his fear that efforts to restructure absentee voting processes would make voting more difficult for many citizens.
“You are a coward if you don’t put your name on something you are financially responsible for.” Jon Erpenbach state senator Middleton
“[The bill] digs a grave for democracy,” Jauch said. State Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, the author of the bill, said Jauch “impugned both [his] motives and [those of ] anybody voting for this bill.” He added the bill would streamline the voting process in urban areas where polling places are often harder to reach. Democrats also objected to a
State Sen. Robert Jauch,
voting page 3
JAMES LANSER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Dean of Students Office Assistant Dean Kipp Cox shares the university’s new procedures for addressing sexual assault.
Committee hears new sexual assault plans By Paige Villiard THE DAILY CARDINAL
The University of WisconsinMadison may consider establishing new procedures for investigating sexual assault cases on campus. The Division of Student Life proposed the draft in a University Affairs meeting Tuesday. The new procedures would give sexual assault victims more privileges in a trial than acting solely as a witness, as currently outlined in chapter 17 of the UW System. The victim would be able to appeal the case under the new procedures. The draft outlines procedures for investigations into sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating or domestic violence and stalking, hopefully encouraging more victims to come forward, according to Kipp Cox, Dean of Students Office assistant dean and director. UW campuses are entitled to their own procedures, as
long as they are consistent with the system’s guidelines and are approved by the Board of Regents. The draft would add to UW System procedures and “equal the playing field” between the accused and accuser, Cox said. UW System procedures are not currently in compliance with the 2013 federal Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act or with the U.S. Department of Education’s “Dear Colleague” Letter. The letter, administered to campuses around the country in 2011, outlines necessary university action in Title IX cases. Title IX is a federal law giving women athletes equal opportunities in sports and requires universities to address sexual harassment allegations. The “Dear Colleague” Letter is not law, but Cox said university investigations will most likely
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The American Civil Liberties Union withdrew its request to temporarily freeze Wisconsin’s gay marriage ban Tuesday. The injunction was filed on Feb. 27 and requested the state not enforce its same-sex marriage ban until the U.S. District court rules on the state’s ban. The ACLU agreed to withdraw its injunction request under the condition that two same-sex couples added to the original lawsuit filed in February will not be prosecuted by district attorneys in Milwaukee and Eau Claire, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Wisconsin is the only state with a marriage evasion statute that allows same-sex couples married in other states to be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 or nine months in prison. The presiding U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb recommended the move, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Crabb cited the “flurry of lawsuits” across the country that have seen judges grant injunction, only to have the rulings reversed. Crabb said the plaintiffs should consider withdrawing their request in order to pursue a “swift final determination” rather than avoid getting bogged down in litigation, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Wisconsin passed the Domestic Partnership Act in 2009 to give same-sex couples benefits that opposite-sex couples receive through marriage. Under current law, same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples do not hold the same protections and rights. Seventeen states, in addition to the District of Columbia now allow same-sex marriage. —Eoin Cottrell and Siddharth Pandey
State’s ‘International Women’s Day’ passed with questions
ON THE SQUARE
Almost Famous
Madison residents wait for the doors to open for The Naked And Famous concert at the Majestic Theater Tuesday night. + Photo by Amy Gruntner
The state Senate approved an Assembly resolution Wednesday commemorating March 8, 2014 as International Women’s Day. The resolution called for a symbolic gesture to show Wisconsin’s commitment to women’s issues and gender equality. Several Senate Democrats expressed frustration that the Republican-led legislature
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would honor a commitment to women’s equality in light of recent legislation supported by the majority caucus, specifically on women’s health and education issues. State Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, accused Senate Republicans of contradicting the goals expressed in the resolution. “Let us not be confused that
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what we have done is not move women forward in this state … we’ve had an assault on women since you’ve been in the majority,” Taylor said, addressing her Republican colleagues. State Sen. Paul Farrow, R-Pewaukee, reminded the Senate of two Democratic legislators in the state Assembly who have been accused of sexual misconduct.
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“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”