Thread by @jiggy_ca

THREAD: Republicans in multiple states are using their #lameduck legislative sessions to cheat the system in a blatant attempt to entrench their own power and undermine the will of the voters. Craziness has been going down in WI, MI, NC, and OH. Let’s dig in: 1/

Last week, Wisconsin passed measures to cut early voting and strip powers from the incoming Dem Governor @Tony4WI & Attorney General @JoshKaulWI. This was after Republicans lost all statewide offices in November. #WIPowerGrab. #WisconsinisWatching 2/

If that sounds desperate and shady to you, oh, it was. The GOP was literally handing out copies of their hastily written bills and Dems had to beg for time to read them before voting literally in the middle of the night. (I know because I was up waiting all night!) 3/

Legislators only try to pass bills while constituents are sleeping when they know they are unpopular. They tried to work secretly, but Wisconsin. showed. up. @IndivisMadison packed the statehouse for days, held a funeral for democracy, and another protest this weekend. 4/

We managed to kill some really bad provisions (e.g. moving the 2020 primary, replacing the AG entirely). Democracy dies in darkness but the people of Wisconsin shined a bright light on this #GOPPowerGrab to make Wisconsin a national news story. 5/

These bills are now sitting on @ScottWalker’s desk awaiting his signature. If he signs them, Walker’s legacy will be one of corruption and foul play. 6/

We know state laws spread, so now Michigan is trying to same strategy. There are a whole bunch of bad bills in the works in Michigan too... #MIPowerGrab #MILameDuck 7/

Following the WI (and NC) model, Michigan is teeing up legislation to limit the powers of the incoming Democratic Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General. #MIPowerGrab #MILameDuck 8/
apnews.com/f4439a9f378344…

But if that wasn’t enough, the Michigan GOP is trying to pass legislation to “implement” (read: undermine) ballot initiatives PASSED BY THE VOTERS in November. 9/

#Prop3 by @Promote_VoteMI would expand voting rights by expanding voter registration dates and establish automatic voter registration. Prop 3 passed with 66.9% of the vote. #PromoteTheVote #MILameDuck 10/

#Prop2 by @NotPoliticians would establish an independent redistricting commission in Michigan, one of the nations most gerrymandered states. It passed with 61.3% of the vote. 11/

It usually takes a ¾ majority in the legislature to override a citizen-led ballot measure. But the GOP is trying to frame the efforts as “implementation” that don’t alter the intent of the initiatives — but they do. 12/

The voters of Michigan sent a clear message on the ballot in November: we want a fair and representative democracy. Republicans know that a fair democracy means that they will lose, so they are desperately trying to rig the system before losing power. 13/

All of these bills in the #MIPowerGrab are being voted on this week. Democrats are hoping that @onetoughnerd will have the sense to veto them. But he won’t do it without pressure! 14/

https://twitter.com/IndivisibleMich/status/1071072082354671616

In yet another subversion of democracy in Michigan, GOP lawmakers already repealed the paid family leave and tipped wage policies that THEY THEMSELVES PASSED earlier in the session in order to avoid them appearing on the ballot. 15/

Meanwhile, in North Carolina, Republican supermajorities in the #NCleg frantically passed legislation to implement the voter ID ballot initiative before they lose their supermajority ability to override @NC_Governor’s veto. #NCpol 16/
ncpolicywatch.com/2018/12/06/hou…

Dems fought hard to widen the acceptable IDs as much as possible but any form of voter id restricts voting access and disproportionately disenfranchise voters of color. This is not an accident - this is the goal. 17/

Remember that North Carolina’s last version of voter id was struck down for targeting African-Americans with “surgical precision.” This bill awaits @NC_Governor’s veto (which they’ll likely override). #NCpol 18/

North Carolina is also trying to sneakily pass a bill that would REQUIRE that Republicans are in charge of county elections boards during election years. Can’t be more blatantly power-grabbing than that, folks. 19/
huffingtonpost.com/entry/north-ca…

This shady NC bill to require GOP power over elections is up for vote in committee and then the floor this week. 20/

And finally, Ohio’s lame duck legislature is trying to make it more difficult for voters to implement citizen-led ballot initiatives. 21/

Ohio’s #HJR19 would move up the deadline to submit signatures for a ballot initiative and mandate that all initiatives must get 60% to pass. It’s up for a committee hearing today. 22/

Taking over state legislatures and using them to undermine our democratic institutions has been a cornerstone of the GOP playbook for decades. But progressives have woken up. 23/

We know the reasons #WhyStatesMatter. We need to fight in the states to:
1⃣ Expand voting rights
2⃣ Draw fair district lines
3⃣ Protect communities under attack by the Trump administration
4⃣ Demonstrate our bold, progressive vision for the future. 24/

Indivisibles across the country are ready to take their activism to the state-level! Read our new Indivisible State Guide and fight with us! 25/25 indivisible.org/states