Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort Calls on Legislators to Stand Up to Senator Zien’s Assault On Democracy
MILWAUKEE, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ — Threatening fellow state lawmakers with political retaliation, Senator Dave Zien indicated that out-of-state, special interest money would be used against any legislator who “screwed” with his bill to legalize the carrying of hidden, loaded handguns. Recently, Zien was quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as saying, “Anyone that screws us on this legislation — Democrat or Republican, Assembly or Senate — the NRA is going to work unbelievably earnestly, taking no prisoners, on this next election cycle.”
Last session Zien made similar threats to fellow lawmakers that they’d lose their seats if they voted against concealed weapons legislation. However, no state lawmaker lost his or her seat for taking a stand for public safety and voting against Zien’s bill to put more deadly handguns on the streets.
Last week, Governor Doyle vetoed the concealed weapons legislation, which would allow hidden, loaded guns to be carried in most public places. Attempts to override Doyle’s veto in each house are imminent.
“Senator Zien has crossed a line of decency, and his conduct is unbecoming of a state senator from Wisconsin. Threatening his own colleagues to vote in favor of something Wisconsinites don’t want shows how little respect Dave Zien has for the people of our state and for the legislative process. This is nothing short of an assault on American democracy,” said Jeri Bonavia, Executive Director of Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort. “When they vote, our elected officials should be thinking about the ppinions of their constituents, not about threats from an over-zealous politician or an out-of-control, out-of-state lobbying organization.”
“Most unsettling is that Zien’s comment makes him sound more like a paid spokesperson for the NRA than a senator from Wisconsin,” said Bonavia.
Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort urges all community leaders and state lawmakers to condemn the coordination of campaign activities between elected officials and out-of-state special interest groups to determine elections. “Any legislator who is willing to stand up to the special interests and fight for the preservation of representative democracy will most certainly earn the respect — and the votes — of his or her constituents. After all, the people of Wisconsin want to be represented in Madison, and we deserve no less.”