Wisconsin Assembly Veto Override Fails, Two Democrats switch votes
Last time they failed the override by one vote. This time it was two votes. But both times the Democrats had to put a lot of pressure on those who had voted for the original bill to switch their votes.
Six Democrats, including Van Akkeren, voted to pass the bill late last year, but Van Akkeren and Rep. John Steinbrink of Pleasant Prairie flipped and voted today to sustain the veto.
“In the end, I have put my faith in the views and concerns of my constituents, Sheboygan County law enforcement, and the law enforcement leaders across the state,” Van Akkeren said in a release immediately after today’s vote. “For those reasons, in the end, I felt I needed to sustain Governor Doyle’s veto of SB 403.”
Rep. Steve Kestell, R-Elkhart Lake, who voted to override the veto, said he was upset with Van Akkeren switching his vote to side with the governor.
“After the first vote on the bill, I said if everybody keeps their word, we’d be able to do the override," Kestell said. "Well, not everybody kept their word. Two people flipped their votes and one of them was Terry Van Akkeren, who just didn’t keep his word." . . . .
“In the end, I have put my faith in the views and concerns of my constituents, Sheboygan County law enforcement, and the law enforcement leaders across the state,” Van Akkeren said in a release immediately after today’s vote. “For those reasons, in the end, I felt I needed to sustain Governor Doyle’s veto of SB 403.”
Rep. Steve Kestell, R-Elkhart Lake, who voted to override the veto, said he was upset with Van Akkeren switching his vote to side with the governor.
“After the first vote on the bill, I said if everybody keeps their word, we’d be able to do the override," Kestell said. "Well, not everybody kept their word. Two people flipped their votes and one of them was Terry Van Akkeren, who just didn’t keep his word." . . . .
posted by John Lott at 6:04 PM
3 Comments:
What about a referendum. I should think the NRA wouldn't have much trouble putting together a sizeable petition. I find it hard to believe the legislators have the pulse of their constituents on this issue. Too few do these days.
Referendum's cost a lot of money. In any case, there will effectively be a referendum in the November elections when the Democratic Governor who has been vetoing the bills is up for re-election. My guess is that the Assembly people who first voted for the bill before voting against it may also face some difficulties. In any case, Wisconsin should adopt the law next year.
Living in next door Minnesota, I have followed this story. We have a 'Shall Issue' CCW. We lived through all the bogus 'blood in the streets' claims during the debate. All the Governor of WI had to do was look at the success in our state, and know it would be the same in his state. In his case, it was a case of imposing his will on his constituents.
Of course, the success of these laws are a constant threat to the gun-banners.
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