Mar 14, 2023 | Election Central, News
REFERENDA QUESTIONS ON WISCONSIN STATEWIDE BALLOT
SPRING 2023 – ELECTION DAY, APRIL 4, 2023
The state legislature has approved three (3) referenda questions on the statewide ballot for this spring’s nonpartisan general election.
Questions 1 and 2 are “binding” referenda, meaning if they pass, the state constitution will be amended to include language as reflected in the questions. If they fail, the state constitution will not be amended.
Here are the questions taken directly from the ballot, with some annotation Wisconsin Family Council is supplying to help voters understand what each question involves. Simply put, both questions give judges more flexibility when setting bail. Voters indicate either “yes” or “no” in response to the questions.
State of Wisconsin Conditions of Release Before Conviction Referendum – Question 1
QUESTION 1: “Conditions of release before conviction. Shall section 8 (2) of article I of the constitution be amended to allow a court to impose on an accused person being released before conviction conditions that are designed to protect the community from serious harm?”
Question 1 is about whether or not a judge can consider “serious harm” (public safety) when setting conditions of bail. A “yes” vote will amend the Wisconsin constitution as noted; a “no” vote means the noted section of the Wisconsin constitution will remain as it currently is.
Under current law, judges can only consider conditions that prevent the risk of death or potentially life-threatening injury. For example, a pedophile awaiting trial currently can’t be prevented from going to a playground as a condition of bail, because that condition (banning the pedophile from playgrounds) isn’t really necessary to prevent a risk of injury potentially resulting in death. It would just be preventing sexual assault.
State of Wisconsin Cash Bail Before Conviction Referendum – Question 2
QUESTION 2: “Cash bail before conviction. Shall section 8 (2) of article I of the constitution be amended to allow a court to impose cash bail on a person accused of a violent crime based on the totality of the circumstances, including the accused’s previous convictions for a violent crime, the probability that the accused will fail to appear, the need to protect the community from serious harm and prevent witness intimidation, and potential affirmative defenses?”
Question 2 deals with whether a judge can consider the “totality of the circumstances” when setting cash bail for violent crimes. A “yes” vote will amend the Wisconsin constitution as noted; a “no” vote means the noted section of the Wisconsin constitution will remain as it currently is.
Currently in Wisconsin a judge is limited to a single factor (flight risk) when setting cash bail. This question allows a judge to look at additional factors (past criminal convictions, serious harm, etc.) when setting cash bail for violent crimes.
The third question on the statewide ballot is strictly advisory, meaning if the “yes” votes outnumber the “no” votes, nothing changes in our law; and if the “no” votes outnumber the “yes” votes nothing changes in our law. The state legislature put this question to the voters to get a sense of what citizens think about this issue. The question is very straight-forward.
State of Wisconsin Welfare Benefits Referendum – Question 3
QUESTION 3: “Shall able-bodied, childless adults be required to look for work in order to receive taxpayer-funded welfare benefits?”
A printable pdf of this post is available HERE.
Aug 31, 2022 | News, Press Releases
September 1, 2022
Madison, WI – Today, Wisconsin Family Action (WFA) released its 2021-2022 Legislative Scorecard, giving its assessment of how all thirty-three State Senators and all ninety-nine State Assembly Representatives did this past legislative session. The session began in early January 2021 and floor activity concluded in March of this year.
“Within our mission, we work on or at least track quite a variety of bills during a legislative session. It’s important that citizens get an idea of how their elected officials did relative to those proposals,” said Julaine Appling, WFA president.
This past session, sixteen (16) senators and eleven (11) representatives earned a 100% score from WFA, meaning on all bills scored, these legislators agreed with WFA’s position.
The 100% senators are Kathy Bernier (R-SD 23), Julian Bradley (R-SD 28), Alberta Darling (R-SD 8), Mary Felzkowski (R-SD 12), Dan Feyen (R-SD 18), André Jacque (R-SD 1), John Jagler (R-SD 13). Chris Kapenga (R-SD 33), Devin LeMahieu (R-SD 9), Steve Nass (R-SD 11), Jerry Petrowski (R-SD 29), Roger Roth (R-SD 19), Rob Stafsholt (R-SD 10), Duey Stroebel (R-SD 20), Van Wanggaard (R-SD 21), and Eric Wimberger (R-SD 30).
Representatives achieving a 100% are Scott Allen (R-A 97), Janel Brandtjen (R-AD 22), Rick Gundrum (R-AD 58), Cody Horlacher (R-AD 33), Dave Murphy (R-AD 56), Kevin Petersen (R-AD 40), Tim Ramthun (R-AD 59), Michael Schraa (R-AD 53), Shae Sortwell (R-AD 2), Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-AD 52), and Chuck Wichgers (R-AD 83).
“Earning a 100% on our scorecard is not easy. We are proud of these state legislators whose body of work during this past session evidences courage and true commitment to conservative principles and ideas. We congratulate these officials on a job very well done,” noted Appling.
A number of legislators distinguished themselves with scores in the 88%-90% range.
“We are also pleased to recognize the excellent work of those in this group of lawmakers,” Appling commented. “Being an elected official is not easy. It requires tough decisions in pressured situations. We are grateful for those officials who more often than not vote to protect Wisconsin’s families and their freedoms. We encourage citizens to check out the Scorecard to see how their legislators scored.
This edition of WFA’s Scorecard scores eleven (11) bills in the state Senate and eleven (11) bills in the state Assembly. Details on scoring, WFA’s positions, and the bills themselves are available in the Scorecard.
WFA’s 2021-2022 Legislative Scorecard is available online HERE.
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving, and promoting marriage, family, life, and religious freedom in Wisconsin.
Jul 7, 2022 | Election Central, News
WI Supreme Court
Justice Dan Kelly
Read WFA PAC Kelly endorsement Press Release here.
You can find what district you live in here.
Authorized and paid for by Wisconsin Family Action PAC and Wisconsin Family Action Federal PAC. Leslie Harrison, treasurer. Not authorized or paid for by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
May 8, 2022 | News, Press Releases
MADISON, WI – May 8, 2022 – Early this morning a leftist anarchist group attacked Wisconsin Family Action’s office in Madison, throwing two Molotov cocktails into the office, after breaking windows, and then proceeded to light a fire. The arsonists posted graffiti on the outside of the building near the group’s offices. The message was, “If abortions aren’t safe, then you aren’t either.” Anarchy 1312 took responsibility for the attack, leaving its logo on an outside wall.
Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action, issued the following statement:
“While this attack was directly provoked by the leaked draft opinion from the US Supreme Court in the Dobbs case earlier this week, this has far broader implications. Apparently, the tolerance that the left demands is truly a one-way street. Violence has become their answer to everything. This is what happens when leadership is missing or when leadership implies that violence is ok. In 2020, Governor Tony Evers basically looked the other way when violence erupted in Kenosha and Madison. That kind of non-response fosters what happened to us this morning, leaving Wisconsin citizens who disagree with his policies extremely vulnerable to similar violence.
“ In fact, Governor Evers’s response to today’s incident said nothing about demanding a full investigation and criminal prosecution. He just told his supporters he’d keep supporting abortion.
“But this attack fails to frighten us, and instead steels the resolve of law-abiding, common-sense, every-day folks to stand up and push back. We know today it is Wisconsin Family Action getting Molotov cocktails tossed through broken windows and fires ignited, but tomorrow it could be anyone in our state or another state who is attacked because we disagree with a policy or action, give voice to the voiceless, or stand up for what’s right.
“Americans see through the hypocrisy of the left. The violence needs to stop and stop now. It’s not the answer to any question or any problem. Just because the liberals don’t get their way, doesn’t give them license to threaten bodily harm or to burn and destroy.”
“Wisconsin has had enough of this kind of terror condoned by current state and national leaders. But we are still standing. We still support freedom. We love our republic and care for our neighbors. We will repair our offices, remain on the job, and build an even stronger grassroots effort. We will not back down. We will not stop doing what we are doing. Too much is at stake.”
Online copy available HERE.
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Jun 3, 2019 | Legislation, News
WISCONSIN FAMILY ACTION LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
2019-2020 Wisconsin Legislative Session
Current as of December 16, 2019
(To view as a pdf, click HERE.)
MARRIAGE/FAMILY
AB 41/SB 49 – Decriminalization of child prostitution. (WFA opposes)
Despite intentions and motives of those authoring and co-sponsoring this bill Wisconsin Family Action believes this proposal is ill-advised because it takes a tool away from law enforcement who are trying to get minors engaged in prostitution off the streets, assumes all minors involved in this activity are being coerced and gives an advantage to the Johns and the pimps to recruit more minors into their nefarious work, including sex trafficking. A substitute amendment was offered by author Republican Senator Alberta Darling. This amendment improved the bill. The Senate passed the bill on November 5, 2019, and sent it to the Assembly where it is currently in the Rules committee ready to be scheduled for a floor vote. The Assembly committee has already recommended the bill for passage.
AB 71/SB 68 – Possession of child pornography (WFA supports)
This bill tightens up the definition of child pornography making it easier to bring charges against someone who is engaged in this activity. The bill passed in both the Senate and the Assembly. Governor Evers signed it into law in July as 2019 Wisconsin Act 16.
AB 111/SB 107 – Prohibiting so-called “conversion therapy” for minors (WFA opposes)
This bill prohibits certain mental health workers from actually providing real hope and real help for minors dealing with unwanted same-sex attraction and/or gender confusion. It makes it clear that the only advice these mental health workers can give is that which affirms, normalizes and encourages minors to continue with these beliefs and behaviors. The bill trounces on religious freedom of mental health workers and on the rights of parents regarding counseling for their children. This bill is in committee in both the Assembly and the Senate; no further action to date.
AB 201/SB 191 – Creating a nonrefundable tax credit for adoption expenses (WFA supports)
The intent of this bill is to encourage Wisconsin families to adopt children. This $5,000 tax credit piggybacks on the federal adoption tax credit and helps parents offset some of the costs related to adoption, which today can be very expensive. These bills are in committee in both the Assembly and the Senate. No further action to date.
AB 248/SB 262 – Removing “personal conviction” exemption from vaccination requirements (WFA opposes)
Wisconsin currently has three options for parents seeking to exempt their children from vaccinations: health, religious and personal conviction. This bill would remove “personal conviction,” which would make it harder for parents choosing to not vaccinate their children. These bills are in committee in both the Assembly and the Senate. No further action to date.
AB 439/SB 398 –Eliminating waiting period after a divorce is finalized before a re-marriage (WFA opposes)
Wisconsin law currently requires that after a divorce is finalized that an individual must wait six months before entering into another marriage, whether that marriage is in Wisconsin or another state or country. This waiting period is both reasonable and responsible, especially if minor children are involved. The state has a valid interest in the well-being of the next generation. Parents rushing into another marriage immediately after a divorce is not in the adults’ best interest and certainly not in the best interest of minor children who are already dealing with much uncertainty and loss as a result of their parents’ divorce. The bill is authored by Republicans with substantial Republican support as co-sponsors, along with some Democrats. Both the Senate and the Assembly committees have held public hearings on the bill. The Senate Committee has passed it, but the Assembly Committee has not yet voted on the bill.
EDUCATION (subheading of Marriage/Family)
AB 108/no senate version yet – Requiring parental choice program schools and charter schools to provide instruction in American Indian history, culture, and tribal sovereignty. (WFA opposes)
WFA does not support more requirements for voucher schools. We do not believe this curricular mandate does anything to increase the educational value in any given school. It simply takes away from time that could be better spent. We believe most schools cover this topic already in the course of implementing their curriculum across the grades. This bill is in committee; no further action to date.
AB 129/SB 111 – Allowing voucher schools to provide pupil instruction virtually (WFA supports)
This bill levels the playing field with public schools by allowing voucher schools to offer direct pupil instruction virtually—to make up for missed time due to extreme weather closings and also as a part of the regular program of the school. These bills are in committee in both the Assembly and the Senate. No further action to date.
AB 149/SB 138 – Funding character education in public schools (WFA opposes)
Character education under this bill is not defined—and there is too much room for “character” to be stretched beyond its typical meaning and understanding. The bill authorizes DPI to award grants to schools to pay teachers to receive “professional development trainings in character education.” The Senate Education Committee held a public hearing and voted to move the bill to the full Senate. As of this update, the bill has not been scheduled for a Senate floor vote. There has been no public hearing on the Assembly version.
LIFE
AB 128/SB 114 – Creating a tax credit for parents who experience a stillbirth (WFA supports)
This bill seeks to compensate parents who have had a stillbirth for some of the costs related to this heart-rending situation (up to $2,000). These bills are in committee in both the Assembly and the Senate. No further action to date.
AB 179/SB 175 – Born Alive bill (WFA supports with one concern).
This bill requires any health care provider present at the time an abortion or attempted abortion results in a child born alive to exercise the same degree of professional skill, care and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care provider would render to any other child born alive. The bill makes intentionally causing the death of a child born alive as a result of an abortion or attempted abortion a felony with a penalty of life imprisonment. WFA’s concern is that the bill has an express exemption for a woman who intentionally kills her baby that has managed to survive an abortion or an attempted abortion. Passed in Assembly & Senate. Governor vetoed.
AB 180/SB 174 – Requiring that women taking RU-486 be told there is a reversal to the abortion-causing drug (WFA supports).
This bill requires certain information regarding an abortion-inducing drug regimen to be given to a woman who is planning to have an abortion induced by this abortion-inducing drug regimen. This is primarily about RU-486. Essentially the bill requires that the woman be told that the first drug in the regimen may not result in an immediate abortion and that if she acts quickly, she can reverse the effects of the first drug and perhaps save her baby. This information would be added to the Woman’s Right to Know publication. The bill also requires that any place an abortion takes place, including a hospital, certain information must be collected and reported. The bill adds to what the law already requires abortionists to report. Passed in Assembly & Senate. Governor vetoed.
AB 181/SB 199 – Stopping taxpayer funded Medicaid payments from going to most abortion providers (WFA supports).
This bill generally prohibits an entity that does abortions from receiving Medicaid payments. This bill is effectively dead with the legislature having voted on AB 183/SB 187.
AB 182/SB 173 – Prohibiting abortions based on sex, race, nationality, ethnicity or disability (WFA supports with one concern).
Our concern is that the bill has an exception related to disability. That exception deals with a situation where medical professionals determine an unborn baby has a disability that is deemed “fatal,” meaning the child is unlikely to survive outside the womb and the condition is not treatable. We believe this is an unnecessary exception. Passed in Assembly & Senate. Governor vetoed.
AB 183/SB 187 – Stopping taxpayer funded Medicaid payments from going to most abortion providers (WFA supports).
This bill generally prohibits an entity that does abortions from receiving Medicaid payments. Passed in Assembly & Senate. Governor vetoed.
AB 590/SB 524 –Prohibits the sale and use of the body parts of aborted babies, requires reporting of the sex and any fetal anomaly of an aborted baby, and requires proper final disposition of an aborted baby (WFA supports)
This bill has been introduced in prior legislative sessions. Even with a Republican governor and strong Republican majorities in the Senate and the Assembly, the bill has never received a floor vote. Current Republican leadership does not seem inclined to move these bills at all. The bills are currently in committee in both the Senate and the Assembly; no public hearing has been scheduled.
LIBERTY
AB 185/SB 197 – Changing how WI’s electoral votes are allocated (WFA opposes)
This bill erodes the Electoral College. Instead of awarding WI’s 10 electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote in our state, those 10 votes would go to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote. These bills are in committee in both the Assembly and the Senate. No further action to date.
MISCELLANEOUS
SB 577/no Assembly version to date – Decriminalizing 28 grams or less of marijuana (WFA opposes).
This bill makes a number of changes in the current law as it relates to bringing charges against a person who possesses, attempts to possess, possesses with the intent to manufacture, distribute, or deliver marijuana. WFA believes marijuana is a gateway drug that leads to using other harder drugs and that marijuana use in and of itself can significantly impair judgment and alter behavior. Twenty-eight grams of marijuana is the equivalent of over 80 “joints.” The bill is currently in committee; no further action to date.
AJR 106/SJR 75 – Renaming the decorated tree in the capitol rotunda during the Christmas holiday season as the Wisconsin State Christmas Tree (WFA supports).
These joint resolutions reflect the long-standing tradition of referring to the tree in the capitol rotunda during Christmas as a Christmas tree, not a holiday tree as Governor Evers refers to it. The Assembly passed the resolution in November on a bi-partisan vote; the resolution is waiting for action in the Senate.
AJR 108/SJR 59 – Prohibiting the governor from using the partial veto to increase state expenditures (first consideration) (WFA supports).
This resolution would amend the Wisconsin constitution to prevent the governor from using his/her partial veto power in an appropriations bill (like the state budget) to increase state expenditures for any purpose other than what is provided in the bill that is presented to him/her for signing. A proposed constitutional amendment requires adoption by two successive legislatures and then ratification by the people in a statewide referendum before it becomes law. If this resolution passes both the Assembly and the Senate this session (which concludes December 31, 2020), then it would need to be reintroduced and passed again sometime between January 2021 and December 2022 before it could be put on a statewide referendum. The Senate passed the resolution in November; the Assembly has not held a public hearing yet on the proposal.
Oct 31, 2017 | News
Mayor Michael Walsh
Phone 920-339-4040
Email mwalsh@mail.de-pere.org
Alderman Larry Lueck (First District)
Phone 920-339-8339
Email llueck@mail.de-pere.org
Alderman James Boyd (First District)
Phone920-336-0305
Email jboyd@mail.de-pere.org
Alderman Jonathon Hansen (Second District)
Phone 920-425-4265
Email jhansen@mail.de-pere.org
Alderman Dan Raasch (Third District)
Phone 920-217-3648
Email draasch@mail.de-pere.org
Alderman Scott Crevier (Third District)
Phone 920-940-8683
Email screvier@mail.de-pere.org
Alderman Casey Nelson (Fourth District)
Phone 920-277-3296
Email cnelson@mail.de-pere.org
Alderman Dan Carpenter (Fourth District)
Phone 920-609-2640
Email dcarpenter1@mail.de-pere.org
Mar 10, 2017 | News, Press Releases
March 10, 2017
Commissioned photographer and blogger sues for
right to create & speak
MADISON, WI – Earlier this week, Wisconsin Family Action partner Alliance Defending Freedom filed a law suit in Dane County Circuit Court on behalf of Amy Lynn Photography Studio. The Studio and its owner, Madison resident Amy Lawson are suing the City of Madison and the State of Wisconsin because a city ordinance and a state law prevent her from creating and speaking in accordance with her beliefs. Wisconsin Family Action president Julaine Appling issued the following statement:
“We have long known that Madison’s public accommodations ordinance is draconian—overreaching and free-speech chilling—and that the state public accommodations law is one of the broadest in the country. This pre-enforcement challenge to both Madison’s ordinance and the state law are timely, not just for Amy Lawson and her Amy Lynn Photography Studio, but for many others who are engaged in creative vocations where these laws essentially shut down their free speech.
“Our Wisconsin constitution and our US constitution clearly provide for free speech and freedom of conscience, and neither one turns on the viewpoint espoused. Just because Amy’s viewpoint as expressed in her creative, commissioned photography and her related blog does not agree with what others may think on issues such as marriage and abortion, does not mean Amy or her business lack the right to free speech. Laws that restrict such freedom are unduly burdensome and as in this case can even mean loss of livelihood.”’
Full details about this case are available here.
Wisconsin Family Action has monitored and been involved in protecting conscience rights and religious freedom in Wisconsin for more than a decade.
Click HERE for pdf of release.
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving and promoting marriage, family, life and religious liberty in Wisconsin.
Aug 25, 2016 | News
Here’s an example of how unique and singular we are in this state.
In the fall of 2015, seeing everything that was happening with the transgender/gender identity issue, with our backing Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) and Sen. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) introduced a bill
that would have required all WI public school districts to designate restrooms and changing rooms, including locker rooms, as being exclusively for either boys or girls. The bill further required that students use the facilities that correspond with their biological sex, as recorded on their birth certificate. Students and/or parents could request special permission to use a single-user facility for any reason, and the school would have been required to accommodate that request.
When the bill had a hearing in the State Assembly Education Committee, no other group whatsoever showed up to testify in favor of the bill other than WFA and our attorney. We arranged for a couple of other individuals to join us—citizens who had fought the battle in their local schools and a family therapist who has some professional background in this issue. That was it. Of course those opposing the bill had group after group testify against the proposal.
Check out the groups that registered with the Government Accountabilibity Board on this bill. You’ll see what we mean. Start at the top and scroll all the way down, noting the red down arrows and the green up arrows.
It didn’t (and doesn’t) matter to us, really. Right is right. Good is good. Protecting all children in our public schools is vitally important. That’s why we worked with the legislators, spoke to the media, showed up and spoke at the hearing and continue to this very minute working doggedly on this issue. Though no one join us, we will keep standing for what is good and right.
Dec 4, 2015 | News, Press Releases
Friday, December 4, 2015
Madison – Wisconsin Family Action (WFA) issued a statement in response to yesterday’s vote in the U.S. Senate on a bill that repeals much of the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. “ObamaCare) and defunds Planned Parenthood. Read the statement here.
Jun 19, 2015 | News, SCOTUS & Marriage 2015

Though marriage hangs in the balance in
America’s highest court, we have reason to hope!
Your gift now will protect your family AND religious freedom
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