Thread by @carolinehutt10

Good morning from Madison, where the Joint Committee on Government Operations and State Affairs will hear public testimony on gerrymandered, GOP-backed legislative (SB621) and congressional (SB622) redistricting plans.

#FairMapsWI

Kicked off the morning with a pre-hearing @WIFairMapsCo Press Conference - feat. friends from @WisConVoices @LWV_WI @wisdc @allontheline_wi @FairElections

#FairMapsWI

.@SEIUHCWI showed up for #FairMaps 💪 #FairMapsWI

Folks can tune in from home via @WisconsinEye ➡️ wiseye.org

#FairMapsWI

First to testify were the bills' co-sponsors, @SpeakerVos and @SenatorDevin.

Among their lies:
🚩they offered "unprecedented" opportunities for public input
🚩these maps favor the GOP simply b/c Dems run "bad candidates"
🚩a least-change approach is "traditional" criteria

Also notable that Vos claims these maps were drawn without race data, which mirrors the "colorblind" approach we're seeing from Republican map-drawers across the country 🚩

Dan said it best tbh:

https://twitter.com/DanRShafer/status/1453733969883590656?s=20

Solid crowd gathered, despite the fact that legislative leadership chose to only offer one, in-person testimony option (at 9am on a workday) (during a global pandemic)

https://twitter.com/byjackkelly/status/1453732396763795463?s=20

We’re now in expert testimony from local leaders & electeds — so far we've heard outstanding testimony from @skchheda, Debra Cronmiller @LWV_WI, Rep Ortiz-Velez (by proxy), @SenTaylor, Prof Yablon @WisconsinLaw and @mattrothschild

“When does it stop?" said Sen. Jeff Smith, D-Brunswick. "Which decade does it stop, which decade do you believe that people and the voters should be able to determine who they want to lead this state?" via @WPR

wpr.org/what-youre-doi…

admittedly stepped out quickly for a snack, but came back and everyone is RAVING (rightfully) about @SEIU's testimony (Go Calena!!):

https://twitter.com/skchheda/status/1453798719342661633?s=20

Also heard from @CommonCauseWI, @wifarmersunion, Joan from @LWVDaneCounty, and Cheryl from North Shore Fair Maps.

We're moving into public testimony now and volunteers are ready 👏 to 👏go 👏

Ann, Grace, and Sally from Appleton —

"As a young person, I’m terrified for the future of our country. Our climate doesn’t have 10 years to spare” -Grace

"As a retired educator, I ask you to remember the first teacher who taught you the concept of fairness" -Ann

#FairMapsWI

Jean and John from Elkhorn note the damage gerrymandering has done to our legislature's credibility.

#FairMapsWI

Tim from Mount Horeb: "I ask you: where is the groundswell of support for gerrymandering? Whose voices are you listening to?"

#FairMapsWI

Geralyn from Sheboygan tells stories of knocking doors in her gerrymandered district and being asked, "why does my vote even matter?"

#FairMapsWI

Patty from Lodi — one of the very first @WIFairMapsCo team leaders! 💜

Wendy Sue from Eau Claire, with a fiery testimony — "[Republicans gerrymander because] you're afraid of losing. You know you can’t win on your ideas. And you’re afraid of losing power.”

Note that the Chair then chose to skip her Q&A "in the interest of time."

Also heard from Kathleen from Wauwatosa, Bob from Hudson, Charlene from Eau Claire, Mark from Appleton, all in strong opposition to the gerrymandered maps.

Also note hometowns - these people drove long distances to get here and have been waiting 6+ hours to speak.

#FairMapsWI

Terry from Western WI for Nonpartisan Voting Districts talks about his experience testifying for the People's Maps Commission, and how public input informed their iterative map process.

"I wonder how your maps will change after today's hearing."

#FairMapsWI

So many amazing activists showing up to speak out against these maps — Ellen from Menomonie, Jean from Wauwatosa, Cecile from Wisconsin Rapids, Deb from North Shore Fair Maps, & more.

Some committee members appear to be losing interest, have to be called to focus.

Breathtaking testimony from Cheyenne & Jade of @ProgressNorthWI on the impact of gerrymandering on Wisconsin's Indigenous communities. Called out the GOP for spending millions on private attorneys in 2011 redistricting, while their communities fought to survive.

#FairMapsWI

Jenelle from Pierce County came prepared with a cutout of her district in the GOP-proposed maps, and asked the commission: "What do you want your legacy to be in these maps?"

#FairMapsWI

Maia & Kevin from @RiseFreeOrg (who have waited nearly 9 hrs to speak!) point out all the instances in which these maps have cracked, split, and carved UW campus communities across the state, disenfranchising college students across the state.

#FairMapsWI

This UW-Madison student said he wasn't planning to speak, but was inspired after watching Vos & LeMahieu testify this morning.

"My Republican parents agree with me on fair maps. They're fed up of the blatant ignorance and refusal of the majority party to do the right thing."

Hearing adjourned, nearly 10 hours later. #FairMapsWI

Thanks all for following along — and SO MUCH GRATITUDE to all the Wisconsinites who traveled from all over the state to testify.

Every single person spoke *against* these bills, clearly showing where the people stand. We won’t rest until we have #FairMapsWI.