Politicians who won’t decide also won’t let the people decide

Let the people decide. That is the gist of Governor Tony Evers’ call for a special session that Republicans chose to walk away from. The Governor asked lawmakers to gather to debate changing the state constitution to allow individual lawmakers to bypass the bureaucrats and propose legislation for the citizens to vote on in a referendum. It is not a new idea. Several states have such laws on the books, allowing voters to have a direct say in what gets passed into law. That is how Proposition 13 was passed in California, leading to lower property taxes. Results can be quicker and more decisive when we bypass the politicians. What could be more democratic than letting the people decide? The majority rules. No more grandstanding and filibustering by those in elected office. In order for this to happen, lawmakers in Madison would have to approve the change to the state constitution in consecutive legislative sessions, then the idea would be put to voters in a statewide referendum. If it passed, you and I, if we got enough signatures, could force a vote on just about anything. If more than half of the state feels something is a good idea, it would become law. Wisconsin should consider adopting such a plan, but first those we have elected to office need to be willing to at least sit down and talk about the idea.