Freedom Index

A Legislative Scorecard Based on the Principles of the U.S. Constitution

Votes


Internet Sales Taxes and “Remote” Retail Permits  |  AB910

AB910 prohibits online retailers from selling cigars or pipe tobacco without a “remote” permit, including for the collection of state taxes, and mandates the use of an age verification system.   

The Senate passed AB910 on March 12, 2024, by a vote of 30 to 2. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill would force certain online retailers in the United States, even in states without a sales tax, to act as out-of-state tax collectors for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Subjecting American citizens and businesses in one state to taxes and regulations of another state is “taxation without representation.” It not only places an additional state tax on consumers, but also kowtows to the federal Food and Drug Administration’s erroneous minimum-age requirement that denies to adult citizens younger than 21 years of age—who are eligible to vote and enlist in the military—their right to purchase tobacco. The U.S. Constitution’s commerce and due process provisions were intended to protect individual rights and free-market enterprise against such discriminatory and burdensome forms of taxation.  

Restoring Sound Money  |  AB29

AB29 creates a sales and use tax exemption for gold, silver, and other precious metals.

The Senate passed AB29 on March 12, 2024, by a vote of 23 to 9. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this bill is a necessary step toward restoring sound money and adhering the U.S. Constitution’s monetary provisions. According to Article 1, Section 10, of the Constitution, “No State shall … make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts.” States can and must act now to protect Americans’ financial freedom and privacy by both ending the Federal Reserve’s unconstitutional monopoly on money and thwarting government plans to impose a Central Bank Digital Currency.

Rejecting Illegal Aliens as Law Enforcement Officers  |  Motion to Refer: AB51

AB51 would allow recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to become law enforcement officers.

The Senate stopped AB51 from advancing when it referred the bill to committee on February 20, 2024, by a vote of 22 to 10. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because persons who enter the United States illegally—which, by definition, is a crime—should not be permitted sanctuary or residency in Wisconsin, let alone be considered eligible for appointment as local police officers and deputy sheriffs. Rather than pursue an unconstitutional and anti-American policy that erodes both the ‘rule of law’ and the value of citizenship, Wisconsin should use its powers reserved under the U.S. Constitution’s 10th Amendment to end the crisis of illegal migration and provide for the public safety.

Restoring Sound Money  |  AB29

AB29 creates a sales and use tax exemption for gold, silver, and other precious metals.

The Assembly passed AB29 on February 20, 2024, by a vote of 86 to 12. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this bill is a necessary step toward restoring sound money and adhering the U.S. Constitution’s monetary provisions. According to Article 1, Section 10, of the Constitution, “No State shall … make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts.” States can and must act now to protect Americans’ financial freedom and privacy by both ending the Federal Reserve’s unconstitutional monopoly on money and thwarting government plans to impose a Central Bank Digital Currency.

Public Utility Monopolies  |  AB470

AB470 adopts a “right of first refusal” for incumbent public utilities to build transmission projects.

The Assembly passed AB470 on February 15, 2024, by a vote of 85 to 12. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill ends competitive bidding of new and large-scale multi-billion-dollar transmission projects in Wisconsin, granting exclusive control over the state’s electric grid to existing public utilities, further expanding their monopolies. Removing the benefits of competition and restricting access to utility providers will result in higher electricity rates and less reliable service, harming both families and businesses. Rather than contribute to Wisconsin’s energy inflation and threatening its industries through corrupt, corporate-sponsored protectionism, the Legislature should encourage competition and free-market enterprise, which spur innovation and create cost-savings for customers.

Eliminating the Waiting Period After Divorce  |  AB291

AB291 eliminates the six-month waiting period for remarriage after a divorce.  

The Assembly passed AB291 on January 25, 2024, by a vote of 93 to 6. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill is a consequence of “no-fault divorce,” which is unjust and unconstitutional. It permits persons to commit serious acts of injury against their spouses and children (e.g., adultery or abandonment) with impunity—thereby aiding and abetting violators of the marital covenant while denying victims due process of law. Innocent parties are sued with no right to their day in court. It also mistakenly assumes that valid grounds for divorce, along with marriage itself, are to be determined solely, even frivolously, by the government. Yet, nothing in the Bill of Rights or the 14th Amendment can be used to render marriage vows as meaningless. On the contrary, marriage, being coeval with mankind, is ordained by God, not the state. The most sacred of all human institutions, marriage is a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman, whose one-flesh union serves as the foundation of the family. God-honoring marriages are essential to securing the blessings of liberty and self-government for our children, whereas the fallout from “no-fault divorce” has been devastating. Wisconsin should seek to protect families rather than tear them apart.

Legalizing Abortion Up to 14 Weeks  |  AB975

AB975 would have placed on the April 2024 ballot a referendum on legalizing abortion up to the 14th week of pregnancy, except in the case of a “medical emergency.”  

The Assembly voted to pass AB975 on January 25, 2024, by a vote of 53 to 46. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the care of human life—not its destruction—is the greatest responsibility of government. Wisconsin ought to enforce its 1849 abortion ban and secure the right to life for every pre-born child. The right to life is the most fundamental, God-given, and “unalienable” right asserted in the Declaration of Independence and protected by the Fifth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Moreover, state laws should not be subject to popular votes. Referendums are insufficient safeguards from what the American Founders described as the “dangers of democracy.” Article IV, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution guarantees to “every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,” which implies government limited to the ‘rule of law,’ as opposed to mere unchecked ‘majority rule.’  

Second Amendment Financial Privacy  |  SB466

SB466 forbids a financial institution from requiring the use of a merchant category code that identifies the merchant as a firearms retailer and provides that no governmental entity may maintain a list of firearms owners.

The Assembly passed SB466 on January 18, 2024, by a vote of 62 to 35, prior to it being vetoed by the Governor. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this bill prevents the unlawful use of credit card payment information to track firearms purchases. Recent adoption of a new merchant category code for “gun and ammunition shops” by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)—a globalist collaborative linked to the United Nations—aids unconstitutional efforts by the federal government to conduct mass surveillance, which, in part, is intended to create a national gun-owner database and confiscate firearms from law-abiding citizens. States should interpose between and nullify the actions of private or public entities that frustrate, if not blatantly violate, the Second and Fourth Amendment rights of the American people.

Second Amendment Financial Privacy  |  SB466

SB466 forbids a financial institution from requiring the use of a merchant category code that identifies the merchant as a firearms retailer and provides that no governmental entity may maintain a list of firearms owners.

The Senate passed SB466 on January 16, 2024, by a vote of 22 to 10, prior to it being vetoed by the Governor. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this bill prevents the unlawful use of credit card payment information to track firearms purchases. Recent adoption of a new merchant category code for “gun and ammunition shops” by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)—a globalist collaborative linked to the United Nations—aids unconstitutional efforts by the federal government to conduct mass surveillance, which, in part, is intended to create a national gun-owner database and confiscate firearms from law-abiding citizens. States should interpose between and nullify the actions of private or public entities that frustrate, if not blatantly violate, the Second and Fourth Amendment rights of the American people.

Voter ID for Absentee Ballots  |  AB494

AB494 would require persons seeking “indefinitely confined status” due to “frailty, physical illness, or a disability” to submit proof of voter indentation before receiving automatic absentee ballots.

The Senate passed AB494 on November 14, 2023, by a vote of 22 to 11, prior to it being vetoed by the Governor. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because mass vote-by-mail and permanent absentee ballot schemes enable electoral fraud, disenfranchising qualified U.S. citizen voters. The American people alone retain the “right of Representation in the Legislature,” and lawmakers in Wisconsin should perform their duty and exercise the full extent of their authority under Article 1, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the 14th and 26th Amendments, to implement free, fair, and secure elections, thereby ensuring equal protection of “the right of citizens of the United States to vote.” 

Free Speech, Academic Freedom, and Due Process  |  AB553

AB553 establishes free speech, academic freedom, and due process standards at University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges. 

The Assembly passed AB553 on November 7, 2023, by a vote of 62 to 36. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this bill prohibits the state’s taxpayer-funded colleges and universities from restricting the free speech, academic freedom, and due process rights of students, employees, and others. Freedom of speech and due process of law are among the “certain unalienable Rights” that every person is entitled to against government at any level, and what no public institution should deny. Indeed, both the U.S. Constitution and the Wisconsin Constitution exist to secure these rights. For example, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was written to protect “freedom of speech,” but, in conjunction with the Ninth and 10th Amendments, reserves jurisdiction over the matter to the states or to the people. The Wisconsin Constitution’s Declaration of Rights then clarifies that “no laws shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech,” the “right of the people peaceably to assemble … shall never be abridged,” and “no person may be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of law.”

Safeguarding Wisconsin’s 1849 Abortion Ban  |  SB343

SB343 would provide that “abortion” under state law “does not include a physician’s performance medical procedures or treatments designed or intended to prevent the death of a pregnant woman and not designed or intended to kill the unborn child. ”

The Senate passed SB343 on October 17, 2023, by a vote of 22 to 10. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this bill would bring clarity to Wisconsin law and reinforce the state’s 1849 abortion ban by ensuring that a physician may legally perform life-saving emergency medical procedures on a pregnant woman (e.g., removal of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy) when reasonable efforts are made to preserve both the life of the woman and her unborn child. Given that the care of human life—not its destruction—is the greatest responsibility of government, Wisconsin should act to secure the right to life for preborn children and their mothers. The right to life is the most fundamental, God-given, and unalienable right asserted in the Declaration of Independence and protected by the Fifth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Repealing Work-Permit Requirements for Minors  |  SB436

SB436 would eliminate the requirement for a minor who is 14 or 15 years of age to obtain a state-authorized work permit prior to employment.

The Senate passed SB436 on October 17, 2023, by a vote of 21 to 11. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because parents—not the government—have the authority and final say as to whether their teenage child can work. Wisconsin ought to protect the fundamental rights of parents and freedom of association of the American people, which are retained under and guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.   

Prohibiting Sex Mutilation Against Children  |  AB465

AB465 prohibits “gender transition medical intervention” for individuals under 18 years of age.

The Senate passed AB465 on October 17, 2023, by a vote of 22 to 10. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because sex mutilation violates the unalienable right to life and limb of minor children, while absurdly attempting to erase biological sex with fictional “gender” constructs. According to the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the States have a duty to protect the humanity of all people—male and female—who, as the Declaration of Independence affirms, are created by God and form the basis of individual and family self-government.

Taxpayer Money for Professional Baseball  |  AB439

AB439 would appropriate $411,500,000 in state and local funds from FY 2023-24 to FY 2045-46, along with $50,000,000 in loans, for improvements to the Milwaukee Brewers baseball stadium.

The Assembly passed AB439 on October 17, 2023, by a vote of 69 to 27. We have assigned pluses to the nays because there is no provision in the Wisconsin Constitution that authorizes either the creation of ‘special districts’ for Major League Baseball teams or the state and local subsidizing of professional sports. Privately-owned billion-dollar organizations, such as the Milwaukee Brewers, should be expected to pay for their own facilities, which they can more than afford. Forcing the people of Wisconsin to furnish proliferate amounts of taxpayer money to fund crony, corporate-sponsored spending bills violates their individual liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Preventing Local “Guaranteed Income” Programs  |  AB146

AB146 prevents political subdivisions from making expenditures “for the purpose of making payments to individuals under a guaranteed income program.”

The Senate passed AB146 on October 17, 2023, by a vote of 22 to 10. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because the concept of a “guaranteed income” (i.e., ‘universal basic income’) relies on the immoral and anti-constitutional act of government-imposed theft disguised as taxation, which takes from citizens the wages they have rightfully earned. This manifestly socialist wealth-redistribution scheme violates both the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment, which were intended to protect against undue deprivation or disparagement of a person’s “property” and provide “equal protection of the laws” for all Americans. 

‘Free’ Driver Education for Low-Income Residents  |  AB394

AB394 establishes a driver education grant program for low-income individuals, including resident aliens and temporary visitors, who satisfy the “income eligibility criteria for a free or reduced-price meal in the federal school lunch program.”

The Assembly passed AB394 on October 17, 2023, by near-unanimous consent, with only 1 recorded “No” vote. We have assigned minuses to the ayes because driver education is not the role of government—rather, it is the responsibility of individual student-drivers and course instructors. Wisconsin has absolutely no duty to discriminatorily and unjustly provide “eligible” low-income residents, who have little or no tax liability, with government funds so that they may obtain a driver license at the expense of hard-working citizens.

Prohibiting Sex Mutilation Against Children  |  AB465

AB465 prohibits “gender transition medical intervention” for individuals under 18 years of age.

The House passed AB465 on October 12, 2023, by a vote of 63 to 35. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because sex mutilation violates the unalienable right to life and limb of minor children, while absurdly attempting to erase biological sex with fictional “gender” constructs. According to the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the States have a duty to protect the humanity of all people—male and female—who, as the Declaration of Independence affirms, are created by God and form the basis of individual and family self-government.

Extending Postpartum Medicaid Coverage  |  SB110

SB110 would extend postpartum coverage for Medicaid recipients from two months to 12 months.

The Senate passed SB110 on September 14, 2023, by a vote of 32 to 1. We have assigned minuses to the ayes because neither health care nor social welfare is the legitimate object of government. Medicaid, as with many other ‘entitlement programs,’ discriminatorily and unjustly provides “eligible” low-income persons, who have little or no tax liability, with government funds at the expense of other hard-working citizens. Wisconsin must reject the use of taxpayer dollars for this ever-expanding and unsustainable federal-state program that is not authorized under Article 1, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution.

“Gender-Neutral” Language in the Military  |  SB166

SB166 removes “gender-specific” language from Article 133 of the Wisconsin Code of Military Justice, which prohibits “conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman.”

The Senate passed SB166 on September 14, 2023, by unanimous consent. We have assigned minuses to the ayes because this bill replicates a “gender-neutral” modification to the Uniform Code of Military Justice made by a Democrat-led Congress in 2021, following President Joe Biden’s executive order on “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce.” Neither Congress nor the Legislature have any business advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), especially in the armed forces. The Wisconsin National Guard’s mission is to provide well-trained and equipped soldiers and airmen ready to fight and protect the lives, liberty, and property of their fellow citizens. Disgraceful “woke” efforts to socially engineer an effeminate, egalitarian, or insubordinate culture within its ranks are subversive of all order, discipline, and the very existence of the military itself. Wisconsin lawmakers should, in a manner more worthy of self-government, be expected to “bear true faith and allegiance” to the same constitutional principles that National Guard members also must take an oath to “support and defend.”

100-Day Drug Supplies for SeniorCare Recipients  |  SB263

SB263 would allow SeniorCare participants to purchase 100-day supplies of prescription drugs.

The Senate passed SB263 on September 14, 2023, by a vote of 33 to 0. We have assigned minuses to the ayes because this bill further contributes to the expansion of state-run healthcare in Wisconsin. The reality of these ‘cradle-to-the-grave’ or ‘nanny-state’ programs is that they not only cause more debt, poverty, and government dependency in the United States, but also continue the irresponsible use of other citizens’ taxpayer money in violation of the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.   

Easy Access to ‘Morning-After’ Pills  |  AB176

AB176 would permit a pharmacist to dispense “self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives” without a prescription from a physician or other medical professional.   

The Assembly passed AB176 on June 21, 2023, by a vote of 82 to 11. We have assigned pluses to the nays because hormonal birth control drugs, particularly high-dose prescription-only ‘morning-after’ pills, can and do prevent uterine implantation of developing pre-born children, causing them to function not only as “contraceptives,” but also as abortifacients, thereby resulting in ‘silent abortions.’ Given that the care of human life—not its destruction—is the greatest responsibility of government, Wisconsin should act to forbid all methods of abortion and secure the right to life for every pre-born child. The right to life is the most fundamental, God-given, and unalienable right asserted in the Declaration of Independence and protected by the Fifth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Preventing Local “Guaranteed Income” Programs  |  AB146

AB146 prevents political subdivisions from making expenditures “for the purpose of making payments to individuals under a guaranteed income program.”

The Assembly passed AB146 on April 25, 2023, by a vote of 60 to 34. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because the concept of a “guaranteed income” (i.e., ‘universal basic income’) relies on the immoral and anti-constitutional act of government-imposed theft disguised as taxation, which takes from citizens the wages they have rightfully earned. This manifestly socialist wealth-redistribution scheme violates both the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment, which were intended to protect against undue deprivation or disparagement of a person’s “property” and provide “equal protection of the laws” for all Americans. 

Illegal Aliens as Law Enforcement Officers  |  AB51

AB51 would allow recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to become law enforcement officers.

The Assembly passed AB51 on March 22, 2023, by near-unanimous consent, with only 4 recorded “No” votes. We have assigned minuses to the ayes because persons who enter the United States illegally—which, by definition, is a crime—ought not to be permitted sanctuary or residency in Wisconsin, let alone be considered eligible for appointment as local police officers and deputy sheriffs. Rather than pursue a blatantly unconstitutional and anti-American policy that erodes both the rule of law and the value of citizenship, Wisconsin should use its powers reserved under the U.S. Constitution’s 10th Amendment to end the crisis of illegal migration and provide for the public safety.  

U.S. Citizenship Requirement to Vote  |  SJR32

SJR32 proposes to amend the Wisconsin Constitution to provide that only a U.S. citizen age 18 or older who is a resident of an election district in Wisconsin is eligible to vote in the state.

The Assembly passed SJR32 on February 24, 2022, by a vote of 60 to 35 (Vote 249). We have assigned pluses to the ayes because the right of the American people to vote and choose their representatives is retained solely by citizens of the United States, who, owing true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, are not subject to any foreign power. According to Article 1, Section 4, of the Constitution, the “times, places, and manner of holding elections” for Congress shall be prescribed in each state by its legislature.

Parental Rights  |  AB963

The Senate passed AB963 on March 8, 2022, by a vote of 19 to 12 (Vote 326). We have assigned pluses to the ayes because the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of children belongs to–and is a fundamental right of–parents, not the government. Parental rights, as with all other rights, freedoms, privileges, or immunities of American citizens, are protected by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Nothing in AB963 authorizes a parent or guardian to abuse or neglect a child in violation of state law.

No-Knock Search Warrants  |  AB834

AB834 creates a statutory provision that permits law enforcement officers to execute “no-knock” search warrants in certain “dangerous” or “ineffective” situations.

The Senate passed AB834 on March 8, 2022, by a vote of 20 to 12 (Vote 313). We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill undermines the rights of Americans protected specifically by the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. ‘No-knock’ warrants, by definition, violate the basic principle that law enforcement should not forcibly enter a premises without first providing notice of their authority and purpose of executing a warrant.

Article V Convention: Term Limits  |  SJR102

SJR102 applies to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the U.S. Constitution, to call for a convention to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution establishing term limits for members of Congress.

The Senate passed SJR102 on February 22, 2022, by a vote of 17 to 15 (Vote 292). We have assigned pluses to the nays because term limits conflict with the right of the American people to choose their representatives. Moreover, states should act immediately to nullify all unconstitutional federal laws, rather than risk an Article V convention. Article V of the U.S. Constitution was designed to correct potential errors or defects in the Constitution, not the failure of elected officials to uphold their oath of office.

U.S. Citizenship Requirement to Vote  |  SJR32

SJR32 proposes to amend the Wisconsin Constitution to provide that only a U.S. citizen age 18 or older who is a resident of an election district in Wisconsin is eligible to vote in the state.

The Senate passed SJR32 on January 25, 2022, by a vote of 21 to 12 (Vote 179). We have assigned pluses to the ayes because the right of the American people to vote and choose their representatives is retained solely by citizens of the United States, who, owing true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, are not subject to any foreign power. According to Article 1, Section 4, of the Constitution, the “times, places, and manner of holding elections” for Congress shall be prescribed in each state by its legislature.

Article V Convention: Constitutional Amendments  |  AJR9

AJR9 applies to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the U.S. Constitution, to call for a “Convention of the States limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.”

The Senate passed AJR9 on January 25, 2022, by a vote of 17 to 16 (Vote 178). We have assigned pluses to the nays because states should act immediately to nullify all unconstitutional federal laws, rather than risk an Article V convention. Article V of the U.S. Constitution was designed to correct potential errors or defects in the Constitution, not the failure of elected officials to uphold their oath of office.

Terminating the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency  |  SJR3

SJR3 terminated the COVID-19 public health emergency declared by Governor Tony Evers in Executive Order #104 on January 19, 2021, and all actions of the Governor and all emergency orders issued pursuant to the declaration of the public health emergency.

The Senate passed SJR3 on January 26, 2021, by a vote of 18 to 13 (Vote 9). We have assigned pluses to the ayes because Article IV, Section 1, of the Wisconsin Constitution vests lawmaking power in the Senate and the Assembly, not the Governor. Each state, under Article IV, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution, is guaranteed a republican form of government, which requires a limitation and separation of powers.   

Parental Rights  |  AB963

AB963 would prohibit the state from infringing on the fundamental right of parents or guardians to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their children.

The Assembly passed AB963 on February 22, 2022, by a vote of 60 to 34 (Vote 209). We have assigned pluses to the ayes because the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of children belongs to–and is a fundamental right of–parents, not the government. Parental rights, as with all other rights, freedoms, privileges, or immunities of American citizens, are protected by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Nothing in AB963 authorizes a parent or guardian to abuse or neglect a child in violation of state law.

No-Knock Search Warrants  |  AB834

AB834 creates a statutory provision that permits law enforcement officers to execute “no-knock” search warrants in certain “dangerous” or “ineffective” situations.

The Assembly passed AB834 on January 25, 2022, by a vote of 58 to 34 (Vote 174). We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill undermines the rights of Americans protected specifically by the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. ‘No-knock’ warrants, by definition, violate the basic principle that law enforcement should not forcibly enter a premises without first providing notice of their authority and purpose of executing a warrant.

Limiting Enforcement of Federal Firearms Laws  |  AB293

AB293 provides restrictions on state and local officials in Wisconsin from enforcing federal laws regulating firearms, accessories, and ammunition.

The Assembly passed AB293 on June 9, 2021, by a vote of 61 to 36 (Vote 71). We have assigned pluses to the ayes because the fundamental right of the American people to keep and bear arms should not be infringed, as guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Whenever the federal government assumes unconstitutional firearms restrictions, state nullification of such acts is protected by the 10th Amendment.

Article V Convention: Constitutional Amendments  |  AJR9

AJR9 applies to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the U.S. Constitution, to call for a “Convention of the States limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.”

The Assembly passed AJR9 on May 11, 2021, by a vote of 58 to 36 (Vote 70). We have assigned pluses to the nays because states should act immediately to nullify all unconstitutional federal laws, rather than risk an Article V convention. Article V of the U.S. Constitution was designed to correct potential errors or defects in the Constitution, not the failure of elected officials to uphold their oath of office.

Terminating the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency  |  SJR3

SJR3 terminated the COVID-19 public health emergency declared by Governor Tony Evers in Executive Order #104 on January 19, 2021, and all actions of the Governor and all emergency orders issued pursuant to the declaration of the public health emergency.

The Assembly passed SJR3 on February 4, 2021, by a vote of 52 to 42 (Vote 14). We have assigned pluses to the ayes because Article IV, Section 1, of the Wisconsin Constitution vests lawmaking power in the Senate and the Assembly, not the Governor. Each state, under Article IV, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution, is guaranteed a republican form of government, which requires a limitation and separation of powers.