A trio of Kenosha-area Democrats held a listening session on the proposed state budget Monday night.
Almost all of the concerns expressed from the audience were in line with the views collectively held by State Senator Bob Wirch, Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca and State Representative Tod Ohnstad. After an hour of comments ranging from transportation funding to potential health care cuts, it came down to this opinion: "Right now, through decisions we have made as an electorate, collectively, the government is in the hands of people who really don't represent us," said retired assistant police chief Jim Farley. "They represent their constituency which is generally people who give them money to obtain and maintain their office. I don't know everybody in this room, but I don't think its any of us."
Wirch responded by stressing the importance of increasing voter turnout, noting that the margin of Donald Trump’s victory in Wisconsin last November was just 22-thousand votes. "Don't tell me your vote doesn't count," Wirch said emphatically.
At the end of the session, Barca gave his analysis on the U-S Supreme Court case that challenges the way Republicans drew legislative district lines in Wisconsin. Barca says the decision will come down to one or two swing votes, and that if Republicans lose, it may mean that districts will have to be redrawn in time for the 2018 elections. He sounded optimistic, but noted that the Republican-controlled legislature has hired high-priced attorneys to defend the map.
A little over 100 people attended Monday night's listening session at the north side library.
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