Vote ‘no’ on constitutional amendments

To the Editor:

I believe we should vote no on both constitutional amendments on April 2. The proper approach is to legislate thus adding it to the 5 chapters of statutes already regulating our elections. Our Constitution was intended to grant rights not take them away. Amending our Constitution is serious business!

The First Amendment prevents our towns from using grant or in-kind donations rather than tax payer dollars to cover the increasing costs for election equipment, ballot printing/mailing/transporting and training for poll workers. Don’t use our Constitution to forbid any and all private grant money under any and all circumstances into the endless future or to repeat a law already on the books as the Second Amendment does. Again, legislate, for heaven’s sake and, if you must, clarify that all donations must be disclosed and not from any foreign government! Our fire, EMS, and police all depend heavily on grants from these private family foundations and corporations like Lowe’s, Hormel, Motorola, All-State, Monsanto, State Farm, and K9Working Dogs LLC. 

The 2020 November Election Grants during the pandemic helped 221 Wisconsin townships and five of our largest cities with hazard pay and protections for poll workers and increased absentee ballots costs and their counting of  in a timely manner.

Vote no on both constitutional amendments and tell legislators to work on issues actually affecting the lives of hardworking Northwoods families.

Kay Hoff

Minocqua