As amended assembly bill 415 relating legislative redistricting Senate substitute amendment 1 adopted
The question is shall Senate substitute amendment 1 be concurred
Representative from the 66
Thank you, mr. Speaker assembly Democrats
number one goal
Has been fair maps?
We have seen the impact that the current gerrymander has had on our state
For missed opportunities to pass popular policies that would improve the lives of people of Wisconsin
To party line boats passing harmful legislation
We know that fair maps are imperative to improving not only the legislative process, but our democracy as a whole
We as a caucus have been clear that we're open to engaging with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle
On maps if those conversations are in good faith and are going to produce a fair map
We need public input on anything in front of the legislature
But bringing a bill to the floor in less than 24 hours is not the way to consider a map that will have a lasting impact
On our state and the people of Wisconsin deserve better than 11th hour bill
The map in front of us was changed specifically to protect Republican incumbents
This is wrong and it puts politicians careers over the will of the people
GOP legislators
None of us should be using our power or authority to protect our own positions
We hope our colleagues will reconsider and respect the very clear directives the people of Wisconsin have given us
To create fair maps through a fair process that will result in a strong democracy
Question is show Senate substitute amendment one be concurred in
Representative from the 63rd
You
Know when you've done this job long enough you kind of think you've heard almost everything I
Have been in this chamber long enough and I have listened to enough speeches from people who are on the Democrat side of the aisle
Saying all they wanted
was different maps
What's interesting is under the current maps all the competitive seats but one are held by Republicans
Because we have better candidates a better message and an ability to connect with people no matter where the district is in the entire state of Wisconsin
So if you would have taken yourself back in time
To a previous legislature and talk to the minority Democrats and said you're gonna get the ability to adopt a map drawn by a Democrat governor
I think they would have fallen all over themselves
To say I can't believe this is what's occurring and they would pinch themselves to make sure it was reality
So here we said today
Where we gave our Democrat colleagues the ability to adopt the map exactly?
Exactly as drawn by governor Evers
What was their answer?
No
The exact map as drawn by the Democrat governor submitted to the court over two weeks ago and what was the answer from the assembly Democrats?
No
Now some in the media have been reporting that somehow we're circumventing the process of the courts and
The reality is that is ridiculous spin
The reality is according to the Constitution the power to redistrict the legislature lies with one of the three branches
the legislature
We pass a law. It's signed by the governor and then the court reviews it
Actually in their December opinion, which seems like forever ago, but it was just relatively recent
paragraph four
Quote the legislature has the primary authority and responsibility to draw new legislative maps
Wisconsin Constitution article four section three
Accordingly we the court urged the legislature to pass legislation creating new maps that satisfy all state and federal laws
We are not circumventing anything
Read the opinion for yourself
The legislature redistricts we are not taking anything away from the court
They are supposed to be the last resort not the first choice
so
How could they not?
How could we not if they just directed us to do this in December?
Now the map that we have before us makes very minuscule changes
Now we like our submission the best. I still think the map that was passed by a legislature signed by a governor is
Best
We had one that the court imposed that went all the way through both
Legislatures are both courts the u.s. And the state Supreme Court
Now under the map that we're voting on today with the small tweaks for five members
The governor is getting ninety nine percent of what he asked for
Ninety nine percent and actually the map that we're voting on today
disenfranchises fewer people than the governor's map because we reunite a couple of the legislators with their communities and
Undo the most egregious political gerrymanders in this map
When somebody is 10 feet or 15 feet out of their district
That is a gerrymandered that didn't happen to a single one of the people on the left when the last two sets of maps were drawn
not one
It was surgical it was certain and it was obviously partisan
Now I'm certain the reason they did that is because they've already identified political candidates
The DPW has already said will fund you the governor's already put the map together for many of us
We worry that the fix is in
Because if you used a computer system any technology whatsoever, and you randomize the drawing of the districts
What's the likelihood that half of the Republicans would be paired?
But only two of the Democrats
That is a mathematical impossibility unless it was intentional
It's obvious partisan intent now. We couldn't fix the vast majority of those
We only fixed the absolute most egregious cases
now
They tried to ignore the natural geography of Wisconsin
They split up communities of interest all to get a partisan electoral number which to them is the only thing that matters its partisanship
They've talked about it. They want a political gerrymandered. That's the only way they can win the legislature
Now what we're trying to do is to take the map that's in front of us and make it just a little bit more fair
A few of the most egregious examples on the edges
But in a divided government
Where we have heard people say all they want us to do is to work together
When you get 99 percent of what you propose
Do you know what they call that in politics?
a win
So why?
When you get 99 percent of what you want
With the people on the left side of the aisle vote no against their own governor's map
Now I could quote governor evers actually
On january 12th, I read the statement again just to make sure I was accurate quote
Wisconsinites don't want republican or democrat maps because Wisconsin isn't a red or blue state or a purple state
And our map should reflect that basic fact
He said he promised to fight for fair maps. We heard it again last night in this very chamber
These small tweaks don't add a single new district to either side of the aisle
Doesn't make one more republican doesn't make one more democrat
It is the exact same numbers for what they consider the composite how many districts donald trump carried how many districts tony evers carry
How many districts were carried by uh ron johnson they are all the same
All we did is to take out a few of the most egregious
Examples of the extreme partisanship that was shown in the map drawing
It was fair in january if you remember when it was submitted it was the most fair map according to the governor
I didn't see a single democrat disagree
With governor evers saying it was the best map
Until today
When they have an ability to put their money where their mouth is to actually push a button and say I believe in fair maps drawn by the democrat governor
Or I don't
What possible reason as you sit here and think about it and you're listening at home
Would there be for people to not accept 99 win? What would the reason be?
Because they believe the fix is in with the supreme court
They believe the court is so partisan and so bought for and so
Influenced by the 10 million dollars that was given to one of the justices. They're going to do whatever bidding they want
They can't take 99 percent for a win because they are certain the courts are already going to give it to them
How embarrassing is that for our system if we have so little respect for the court
That all we're going to do is accept the fact that they're going to do their political bidding
Now what you just heard the lady from the 66th