Letter’s to the Editor 5/11/22
To the Editor:
Many people talk about decertifying the November 2020 election. By law that can’t happen. However there is a way to nullify the election and certify the legal votes cast. Look at Wisconsin State Statute 783.03; “Election cases, trial of is very clear to what can be done to nullify an election. “(2) In mandamus against a board of canvassers in the supreme court to compel the execution and delivery of a certificate of election to any person claiming to have been elected state senator or member of the assembly, or United States senator or representative in congress, or presidential elector, the court may if deemed necessary inquire into the facts of such election, irrespective of the election returns, and determine who received the greater number of legal votes cast, and the certificate issued in pursuance of such determination shall be the only lawful certificate of election to such office, and any other certificate of election to the same office shall be NULL and VOID. Such issue of fact may be tried as hereinbefore provided or according to such rules as the court may prescribe.”
If election laws were violated (ex. not using Special Voting Agents in nursing home), those votes were not legally cast. Special counsel Gableman and Racine County Sheriff Schmaling have found evidence that several WI state election laws were violated.
With Statute 783.03, the legislature gives authority to the state courts to determine a different result due to illegal/legal votes cast, the current certificate would be null and void and a new certificate would then be lawfully issued.
What is not clear is who has the correct standing to bring this motion to the courts. Is it a private person (one who has had their rights trespassed against) or the legislature, etc.?
This is not about getting Trump back; it is about righting a wrong so that we can move forward with fair elections. It’s about making sure that election laws are not broken in upcoming elections and reestablishing trust in our election process.
JoAnn Utphall, Boyceville
It was so uplifting to read the recent news on climate change from the $350-billion petroleum company Exxon Mobil. Yes, they too have come to the realization that climate change is real and it is caused by humans, a large portion of the problem creating climate change is the burning of fossil fuels, fuels that Exxon produces. Exxon believes they face serious financial problems without far-reaching environmental change. The business of the petroleum industry needs to change to provide future economic benefit. The shareholders of Exxon were convinced as well, voting in three independent board members to help with the transition. Many more of the biggest companies in America are following on the same path as Exxon. Time Magazine reports that more than 1000 companies collectively worth $23 trillion have set emission reduction goals consistent with the Paris Agreement.
Interesting though is that some of our elected officials have not come to the same conclusion regarding climate change as our business leaders. There is a bill in The House of Representatives, The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, with nearly 100 co-sponsors. The bill will put a price on carbon spawning innovation to industry to develop alternative energy sources. Pricing carbon is supported by over 3500 economists including four former Chairs of the Federal Reserve, 27 Nobel Laureate Economists, 15 former Chairs of the Council of Economic Advisers, 2 former Secretaries of the US Dept. of Treasury and the American Petroleum Industry (API). The beauty of this bill is that it is revenue neutral; the money collected will be given back to the public. More information regarding this bill can be found at CCL.org.
Our representatives need to hear from you about climate change. Each one is very receptive to public opinion. Please call or email them with your climate change concerns. Ask them to support this bill.
Representative Thomas Tiffany 202 225 3365
Senator Tammy Baldwin 202 224 5653
Senator Ron Johnson 202 224 5323
Michael Pesko
Rice Lake, WI
