On the first day of the new session of the Wisconsin Legislature, Governor Tony Evers is proposing a way to put you on a similar footing when it comes to putting issues on the ballot. The Democratic governor announced Monday a budget proposal that would require the Wisconsin State Legislature to allow voters to place binding referenda on the ballot without the approval of the Assembly and Senate. The move would put Wisconsinites on a similar footing with those in 20 other states like Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. In his release, Evers took aim at issues like abortion, medical marijuana, paid family leave, and gun control that have public support, but he says Republicans have refused to entertain. "The will of the people should be the law of the land. Republican lawmakers have repeatedly worked to put constitutional amendments on the ballot that Republicans drafted, and Republicans passed, all while Republicans refuse to give that same power to the people of Wisconsin. And that's wrong," said Evers. Common Cause Wisconsin Executive Director Jay Heck says now is a good time to educate citizens that there can be another way to get things they care about on the ballot rather than hope and pray that it might.

Heck admits that the measure will likely be removed from the budget after Evers releases his version of the 2025-2027 biennial budget next month. Evers made a similar call to action via a special session in September 2022 after the reversal of the Roe vs. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision. The Republican-held Wisconsin Legislature gaveled in and out of the special session without discussion. They called the request a political stunt and a distraction from other issues while Evers was campaigning for re-election.