March 20, 2005
The People speak again
The people in the beautiful northwestern part of our state took their turn with the People's Legislature (TPL) Saturday. I drove through one of the worst snowstorms in recent Wisconsin history to get there, but it was worth it. There was an exciting commitment to TPL; if there were any doubts the idea would take root, those doubts disappeared long before noon.
The agenda was broader than in the Madison and La Crosse sessions, although electoral reform was enthusiastically endorsed from complete public financing of elections, non-partisan drawing of district lines, and an ethics and elections board taken from politician control and given over to citizen control.
Given the dominance of the proposed Weston to Arrowhead extension cord, PSC ears should have been ringing. Many spoke out for the idea of electing PSC members, instead of appointing them.
It was an exciting discussion, and by the end of the day, regional reps to TPL had been elected, a structure was adopted, and bold plans for the future were laid out. TPL is slowly taking shape from the bottom up. It was non-partisan more than multi-partisan. The Libertarians were missing, due to their state convention and, face it, it ain't easy finding Republicans in northwestern Wisconsin. But the Greens were actively involved and pushed instant run-off voting to the applause of the delegates.
An important step forward. (And, need I say, fun. Lots of laughs as usual.)
post a letter about this blog »
current
--------
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003