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Monday, March 23, 2015
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Right-to-work funds find both parties Both Democrats and Republicans took donations from groups interested in right-to-work By Andrew Bahl THE DAILY CARDINAL
In 1980 a gallon of gas cost $1.08, a dozen eggs were priced at 89 cents and, according to Mike McCabe, former head of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a state Senate candidate needed to raise $40,000 to be competitive in an election. “Now you would have to be prepared to spend seven figures to remain competitive in a race,” McCabe said. “We’ve even seen some state Senate races cost as much as $10 million.” Campaign finance has left its mark on the recent right-to-work debate, as members of both parties have accused the other of allowing special interest groups to manipulate them in the debate over the law. Republicans have accused Democrats of supporting labor unions for purely political purposes. “The organization that donates money [to campaigns], the 800pound gorilla in the room … is labor unions [giving to Democratic lawmakers],” said state Rep. Dean Knudson, R-Hudson, during floor debate in the Assembly. Democrats responded that Republicans introduced the bill to serve special interests.
EMILY BUCK/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
Right-to-work opponents said they were angry about special interests’ influence over legislators. “[Republicans] put the priorities of the Koch Brothers, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, and the Bradley Foundation ahead of every hardworking Wisconsinite,” State Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, said in a statement after the right-to-work bill passed the state Senate.
McCabe said both sides’ arguments are accurate. “There is no question that [business interests] have a friendly majority in the [state] legislature. They have a majority of [Republican] legislators who are easy to please,” McCabe said. “Democrats have long been very much interested in siding
with unions.” One of the most prominent rightto-work advocates is Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state’s chamber of commerce. In addition to hiring former state Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan, to lobby for the legislation, the WMC has been one of the more promi-
Protesters take center stage at mayoral forum By Irene Burski THE DAILY CARDINAL
A march for Tony Robinson that began on Williamson Street ended in tension during a mayoral forum Thursday. The protesters filled the Barrymore Theatre, which hosted the debate between Mayor Paul Soglin and Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, with angry disruptions, often interrupting the candidates’ answers. Protesters started their procession at the BP gas station across the street from the apartment where Robinson was shot and walked approximately one mile to the Barrymore, chanting “black lives matter,” “all power to the people,” and “this is what democracy sounds like,”— chants that have echoed on the streets of Madison during similar demonstrations over the past weeks. “We know that the mayor is a piece of this racist institution … and we want to talk to him,” Young, Gifted and Black organizer Alix Shabazz said at the start of the protest. “What are you going to do to make sure justice happens for Tony Robinson? What are you
going to do to end the racial disparity?” In the minutes leading up to the candidates beginning the forum, hosted and broadcasted by the Isthmus and WORT, the demonstrators unfurled the Black Lives Matter banner before other members of the audience, which included Tony Robinson’s grandmother, Sharon Irwin. “We are here simply to demonstrate our rights to civil disobedience,” YGB organizer Brandi Grayson said. “We are here to challenge the candidates … in how they are going to respond to what’s happening in our community and how are they going to deal with the anxiety, frustration and distrust as a result of the killing of one of our children.” YGB organizer Eric Upchurch said city officials have not yet demonstrated their accountability for combating racial injustices in Madison. “Our presence is strong. They have no choice but to address us,” Upchurch said. “But will they be accountable? … Right now what we’ve seen, [political officials and
nent campaign contributors for Republican lawmakers. In the 2014 election cycle, the WMC political action committee gave $4,150 in campaign contributions to seven Republican candidates, according to the candidates’ financial reports. The group also spent an estimated $4.8 million on TV ads promoting candidates, according to a report from the Center for Public Integrity. More notably, the WMC conduit gave $72,295 to Republican state Senate, Assembly and gubernatorial campaigns in the past election cycle, a 53 percent increase over the 2012 elections. According to McCabe, conduits bundle donations together from individuals as a single check and generally operate without limits that could constrain a PAC or individual giving. McCabe said campaign contributions weigh on a candidate’s mind more today than they would have in the past. “There is no question that today’s lawmakers are hypersensitive to the flow of money in campaigns,” he said. “There is an unmistakable [voting] pattern that favors those who bankroll their campaigns.”
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Intoxicated woman hit by car after running into traffic outside of Chaser’s
WILL CHIZEK/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Protesters, including Tony Robinson’s grandmother Sharon Irwin, displayed discontent during a Thursday mayoral debate. candidates] have accommodated us in the moment. But when it comes time for real results, they’ve been missing in action.” Once the forum began, protesters confronted the candidates.
Many were not satisfied with their statements, booing Soglin for one of his answers regarding why police violence happens and chal-
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An intoxicated woman was hit by a moving vehicle on the 300 block of West Gorham Street outside of Chaser’s Bar & Grille in the early hours of Sunday, according to a Madison Police Department incident report. MPD officers reported that the victim, a 21-year-old Madison resident, was being escorted out of the restaurant by a friend when she ran into traffic and was struck by the car. The collision caused her to flip onto the hood, MPD Lt. Eric Tripke wrote in the report. Following the incident, the woman was taken to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries. Police then issued her a sudden pedestrian movement citation because she ran out into traffic, according to the report.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”