Questions sentencing reform

We deserve better, Robin Vos

I listened to Tony Evers’ brief press conference Nov. 7 at the Boys and Girls Club in Madison.

I was struck by his gracious thanks to Gov. Scott Walker for his call conceding the race and for Walker’s offer to work with him with an effective transition. Evers also talked about reaching out to the Senate and Assembly leaders, Scott Fitzgerald and Robin Vos, in an effort to open constructive dialogue about how to bring about solutions to Wisconsin’s problems. These are all hallmarks of a good leader.

So it was dismaying to later read that Vos, as his own opening salvo to the state’s newly elected governor, wants to limit the new governor’s powers (“GOP threatens to curb Evers’ powers,” Nov. 8).

Walker, Vos and Fitzgerald have enjoyed unlimited control of the state since 2010. Is Vos just waking up to something he totally overlooked during the past eight years?

This is not the right way to begin a new relationship. Wisconsin needs good leadership to solve a host of real problems. We want and deserve leaders who will work together effectively to do so.

If Bice had visited Central Count on Tuesday, he would know that the city was not “sitting on at least 45,000 outstanding and early absentee ballots.”

I have helped process early voter/absentee ballots on election days for several years. I can attest to the efficient and methodical way the city of Milwaukee’s central count operation is run. There is meticulous documentation required, along with detailed training, both prior to and on Election Day, to ensure proper procedures are followed. The staff works in teams so that no person singly processes a ballot. And the process is open to observers who routinely attend each election.

Daniel Bice asks and answers his own question: “We understand things were very busy at the polls and the city officials lobbied the GOP-controlled Legislature unsuccessfully to let them count absentee ballots earlier. But the question has to be asked: Why wasn’t this fixed after 2016?”

With unprecedented early voter turnout and state law that prohibits early processing of ballots, it is little wonder a warehouse full of people who began working at 6 a.m. did not finish until a few hours after the polls closed.

Peggy Creer every summer to be ready to be called to active duty. I went through basic training and active duty for training for four months. Our unit was never called to active duty during those six years. I have an honorable discharge.

When I requested to have the veteran identifier on my drivers license the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs sent me a letter saying that people who did not serve on “regular active duty” are not eligible for the identifier.

It is an outrage that Wisconsin treats veterans like myself no better than someone who never served at all. Why are we being discriminated against? We proudly wore the uniform and now the state says we don’t qualify? This must change.

Tom Haworth

Craig Mastantuono’s arguments against Wisconsin’s truth-in-sentencing law speak to my progressive instincts, making the case that people can change their attitude and behavior after being convicted of a crime and that such change qualifies them for a shorter sentence than unreformed criminals (“Baron Walker did his time and reformed; he stayed locked up,” Nov. 4).

But as a victim of violent crime, I question why we ought to define a class of criminals for whom sentences are not definite and grant them early release based on the promise of a law-abiding future.

There are few examples in other areas of life or the law where we give such consideration. Does the student who shows great promise of success in her future career get a tuition break in her senior year? If I apologize to the IRS for having filed late will they return half of my tax penalty?

Professional sports contracts often make huge advance payments in anticipation of future performance, but their success rate is hardly a comforting argument for applying this strategy to criminals. And the consequences for getting it wrong are more serious in the justice system than the National Football League.

I can rest easier knowing that the perpetrator in my case will remain behind bars until a date certain. If he is rehabilitated, reformed or transformed in that time, it will benefit him after his release, but that’s the only benefit he should derive from the effort.

Kevin Sasse