State Senate Republicans Push Anti-Equity Agenda, Ignore Wisconsinites’ Urgent Concerns in Final Floor Period

MADISON, Wis. —Missed opportunities abounded in the final announced floor period of the 2023-2024 legislative session as state Senate Republicans today chose not to address critical issues facing Wisconsin families – like access to child care, reproductive rights, and paid family leave – and instead continued their unpopular anti-equity agenda, advancing bills that unjustly attack BIPOC and LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites.

Among items approved by GOP lawmakers today were Assembly Joint Resolution 109, which seeks to amend the state constitution to undo DEI protections for BIPOC Wisconsinites, and Assembly Bill 377, a bill that would put politicians in charge of deciding what sports teams Wisconsin kids can play on, specifically targeting transgender student athletes.

Leading medical experts agree that legislation like Assembly Bill 377 would have damaging consequences for the overall health of LGBTQ+ youth. 

In response to the Senate GOP’s blatant obstruction and disregard for what’s best for Wisconsinites, the following are statements from A Better Wisconsin Together Communications Director Lucy Ripp:

“While Wisconsin families face critical issues like finding and affording child care, accessing reproductive health care, affording medications, or having the time and means to care for a sick loved one, Wisconsin Republicans chose to spend their final floor session on bills meant to distract and divide our communities.

“The constitutional amendment and other bills advanced today are more in a long line of GOP attacks on efforts to make sure Wisconsin is a state where everyone has the tools they need to thrive and be successful, no matter their race, zip code, faith, who they love, or how they identify themselves.

“It’s clear that Wisconsin Republicans care more about enshrining their anti-equity agenda into our state constitution and targeting transgender students who want to safely participate in youth sports than they do about passing solutions to real and urgent issues facing Wisconsin families.”