Letters to the Editor

Dear editor, State Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) is the co-chair of Wisconsin’s budget committee. Before he was elected to the legislature, he spent his professional career as a certified public accountant. I am glad that we have a CPA watching over the state’s checkbook. If you google why is everyone so angry When the U.S. Congress passed the CARES Act last year, the intent of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was for employers to get the funds tax-free. Those PPP funds have been a critical lifeline to help businesses keep their doors open and pay employees. In December, Congress took action to make sure this emergency assistance was not taxed at a time when so many businesses are shutting down. Thanks to Senator Marklein’s leadership, the state will not send an unexpected tax bill to businesses already struggling to survive. Recently passed legislation will federalize Wisconsin tax policy related to PPP loans so they are treated the same for federal and state taxes. As a CPA myself and a member of the Wisconsin Institute of CPAs, which advocated for state conformity with the federal tax policy, I know just how much this means to Wisconsin businesses. Thank you for pushing to make much-needed PPP loans tax-free.   Austin Ayers, CPA                     Dodgeville   Dear editor, Gerrymandering: the manipulation of voting district maps to keep the party in power in power by diluting or concentrating opposition votes to assure the opposition cannot win enough seats to assume power. While who you vote for is secret, sophisticated technology is used to draw maps based on where you vote, how often you vote, how likely you are to vote, whether you vote in primaries, which primaries you vote in, and if (and to whom) you contribute to political campaigns.  New voting district maps will be drawn in 2021 based on the 2020 US Census. It happens only once every 10 years. Competition in politics is just as important as it is in business – to protect constituents/consumers and prevent monopolies. We need strong, principled parties to generate new ideas and to bring people together. Yet, gerrymandering suppresses competition and increases hyper-partisanship. As our legislators feel safe in their voting districts, they listen more to party bosses and donors than to constituents. As a result, there is no action on issues important to most Wisconsinites - nonpartisan map drawing, Medicaid expansion, common sense gun control measures, common sense public safety measures, strengthening public education, etc.  Iowa County overwhelmingly passed (nearly 74 percent) a referendum calling for a nonpartisan process for drawing new maps in 2021. In Wisconsin, most people – Republicans, Democrats and Independents - support a nonpartisan, transparent map drawing process. Referenda have passed in 28 counties and resolutions have passed in 55 counties, representing 80 percent of Wisconsin’s population. These referenda and resolutions are non-binding, so our work is not done. (Wisconsin state law does not allow for statewide referendum on issues like this.) So, what can we do?  Contact your legislators to demand a nonpartisan, transparent procedure that bans the use of voting data Pay attention to the work of the People’s Maps Commission and attend the (virtual) 2nd Congressional District hearing on March 11. This citizen commission is researching the complicated process of map drawing, working with experts and drawing maps to show the public what nonpartisan maps, drawn without voting data, could look like. For more information, go to https://govstatus.egov.com/peoplesmaps/hearings-meetings.  Be an informed voter. Information on candidates in your area is available at www.vote411.org Encourage federal legislators to pass For the People Act, legislation to protect voting rights, diminish the influence of money in politics and strengthen ethics rules for public servants and fortify our democracy. Myra Enloe Dodgeville   Dear editor, I was somewhat shocked to see my last name so prominently displayed on the front page of the Home News (February 24, 2021). Normally people who are identified on the front page by their last name only, are considered kind of a “big deal.” I am certainly not a big deal. Unfortunately, the story following the headline was, to my way of thinking, inaccurate and only a small part of a larger story. I showed up at the February Lone Rock Village Board meeting as a concerned citizen. I first presented a declaration of non-interest in running for the village presidency, this was to eliminate any suspicions of trying to gain a political advantage in the upcoming election. The sole purpose of my presentation was to remind and encourage the village board to express interest in the Highway 14 industrial park that was previously agreed to in concept with the solar company. I and another village board member negotiated the agreement when we both were on the board two years ago. It’s now extremely important that the current board express some interest in the project or the solar company will revert to the original plan to fill the 75 acres with solar panels and Lone Rock will lose any hope of a future industrial park and lose future jobs, development and revenue.  I started getting excuses about why the project wouldn’t work even before I finished talking. At this point the meeting spiraled out of control with misconceptions of spending money for this land and confusion about annexation. Any further attempt to explain the situation to the board seemed futile. The object of securing this land for future development is really a no brainer.  The good news is that the board still has about 30 days to let the solar company know that it still wants the first industrial park in the history of the Village of Lone Rock. This industrial corridor represents business activity, jobs, families and new children for our schools, in other words revenue and a bright future. It simply needs a little ambition, a little caring and a “deal maker” and no cost to the village.  Before I saw my name as a front page headline, I was preparing a letter to announce a crossroads in my life and two major decisions. One of course was my decision “not” to run for Lone Rock Village Board President, the other is that I will shortly be resigning from the River Valley School Board. Because of the tremendous support of so many wonderful people in the district, I feel that I need to show my heartfelt gratitude and offer an explanation. You may be aware that the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Association (WIAA) is experiencing a critical shortage of certified officials. I’m currently certified to officiate three sports and my body is still willing and able. This is one of my great loves in life. I am currently on the River Valley School Board, the Tri County Airport Commission and am a Richland County Supervisor. This leaves little time for something I dearly love and that desperately needs certified and experienced officials. I’ve already signed contracts for several dozen baseball and softball games this spring and I need to focus my time and attention where I can do the most good. I plan on remaining a Richland County Supervisor because it has almost no conflict of scheduling and it exposes me to interaction with state lawmakers, hiring of law enforcement, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), highway and park issues and federal aviation issues. I also want to remain on the Tri County Airport Commission because we are doing some very important and exciting work at this time and it also presents no conflict in scheduling.  Once again I really appreciate all the support and I think everyone understands my decision. This is not to say I have lost interest in school issues, quite the contrary, I will stay engaged with school decisions and stay connected with you through this medium. Dan McGuire  River Valley School Board Member Area #4 Richland County Supervisor #21 Lone Rock   Dear editor, As many of you know, our lives were turned upside down on February 10 after we lost our home to a massive fire. Thankfully our family was safe, which is most important. While we are saddened that this experience will be etched in our children’s memories, we are hopeful that the acts of kindness will be more vivid. A heartfelt thank you for all your generous donations. The River Valley community is amazing! To the River Valley School District (my wonderfully amazing coworkers and friends), Cardinal IG, Village Family Dental, Prem Meats, Straka Meats, Spring Green Animal Hospital, Spring Green Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Peoples Community Bank, we cannot thank you enough.  We would also like to thank the contributors to the Go Fund Me, this is something we never imagined.  Also to the River Valley Medical Clinic for always taking great care of us. I apologize if I have missed someone, as I am sure I have. Your generosity will never be forgotten. This community is like no other. Thank you, Heather, Hanna, Isabella and Lindsay Olson Reedsburg   Dear editor; In America, all voters must have fair and equal representation. Gerrymandering prevents this. The political party that controls the state government gets to draw the maps every 10 years.  In 2011, Wisconsin Republicans used political consultants armed with high-tech software to tinker with district lines to ensure the GOP will virtually always win 59 of the 99 Assembly seats, even in an election where Democrats overperform. This is completely un-American. Wisconsin needs to reform the rules at the state and local level to make the process of drawing districts impartial. As our constitution states, we are a government that is of, by, and for the people. Let’s live up to those words, and provide fair elections to let the will of the people determine representation rather than elected officials choosing their constituents. It’s unlikely Republicans in our state legislature will willingly give up any ground when they draw the new maps, but maybe it’s time to pressure them to bend to the will of their constituents who approve of fair district maps by over 70 percent in our state. If you agree, make your voice heard by participating in the People’s Maps Commission virtual hearing on March 11. Written submissions accepted now. More information here: https://govstatus.egov.com/peoplesmaps. Anthony Wood Highland