2022 Governor Debate
Gubernatorial Debate Topic Backgrounds
-
WBA Debate Topic: Election Results
Governor Evers and Mr. Michels, let’s talk about this election process. Recounts, investigations and audits on the 2020 election found no evidence of significant, wide-spread voter fraud. If you lose in November, and following the normal processes of county canvasses and potential recounts, do you commit to respect the outcome of this gubernatorial election and…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Undocumented in Wisconsin
There are approximately 75,000 undocumented immigrants living in Wisconsin as well as about 7600 recipients of the deferred action for childhood arrival program–often referred to as DACA. Would you support drivers licenses and in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants and DACA recipients?
-
WBA Debate Topic: Worker Shortage
Wisconsin already has a teacher shortage and a new report shows that by 2030, the state will see a decline of 130,000 workers with young people in Wisconsin leaving and not be replaced by people moving here. What is your prescription for attracting and retaining young adults to our workforce? A 2019 analysis by the…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Public Protests
If elected, what will your administration do to ensure the safety of Wisconsinites during civil unrest, while securing their First Amendment right to assemble? Categories of free speech protected by the First Amendment. A visual timeline of violence in Kenosha after police shooting of Jacob Blake. USA Today (August 27, 2020) State statute pertaining to when…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Parole
Wisconsin abolished parole about 20 years ago, which means only people convicted before the year 2000 are eligible. According to the state, that’s roughly 1700 people. It’s up to the Wisconsin Parole Commission to grant discretionary parole. The Governor appoints the commission’s chairperson. What factors do you want the chairperson to consider when deciding whether…
-
WBA Debate Topics: Crime Prevention
We hear a lot of talk about fighting crime. What is your detailed plan on crime prevention? Here are current prison population figures in Wisconsin. Here are recent Wisconsin crime statistics. “Wisconsin had 315 homicides last year. That’s a 70 percent increase from 2019.” Wisconsin Public Radio (March 8, 2022) Attorney General Josh Kaul’s 2023-24…
-
WBA Debate Topic: History of Race
Tim Michels often says “we need to stop the CRT and get back to the ABCs.” The Department of Public Instruction says Critical Race Theory – the university-level academic theory – is not being taught in Wisconsin K-12 classrooms. What is your position on how the history of race should be taught in our schools?…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Public/Private School Funds
On education: Tim Michels says he is in favor of universal school choice, which would open up private school attendance to any student at taxpayer expense. Tony Evers wants to put $2-billion dollars into public school funding. The question is, why should or shouldn’t Wisconsin fund two parallel school systems: one private and one public?…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Clean Water
Wisconsin has a water problem. Thousands of Milwaukee homes still get water through lead laterals. Hundreds of utilities state-wide exceed safe nitrate levels. And in La Crosse and Marinette Counties, thousands of families have been drinking bottled water for years because the water coming from their faucets is contaminated with PFAS. The state dollars currently…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Climate Change
Climate change is already affecting Wisconsinites. I have reported on Ojibwe people in Northern Wisconsin and their reliance on wild rice, but more frequent extreme weather events tied to climate change are disrupting wild rice beds, threatening a source of food and culture for the Ojibwe. How should Wisconsin respond to climate change? Here is…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Budget Surplus
According to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, our state has a projected budget surplus of about $5 billion. What, as Governor, will you do with it?
-
WBA Debate Topic: Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
Let’s talk about conflicts of interest. Here’s what Wisconsin state statute says: “No state public official may use their public position to obtain financial gain or anything of substantial value for the private benefit of themselves or their immediate family.” Governor Evers, you were expected to adhere to that during your term in office. Mr.…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Abortion
On the issue of abortion: Please specify what your position is on access to abortion in Wisconsin following the repeal of Roe v Wade; including whether you favor criminalizing abortion pills trough mail and people in Wisconsin crossing state lines to get an abortion in a state where it is legal? Here is background on…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Voter Confidence
Recounts, investigations, and audits on the 2020 election found no evidence of significant widespread voter fraud. Despite that evidence, there are voters in Wisconsin tonight who still believe the 2020 election was rigged and there are voters who fear the reaction to that by state officials will result in restrictions that will take away or…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Weapon Policy
19 states have red flag laws. Universal background check proposals did not make it out of legislative committee. What is your stance on the use of extreme risk protection orders and universal background checks? Information on states with red flag laws. Proposed Assembly bill to create a red flag law in Wisconsin. Here is the…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Illegal Guns
The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service in an article this fall reported that the Milwaukee Police Department seized 8,076 from January 1, 2020 to July 8, 2022. Nearly half of these firearms came from several Milwaukee northside Zip codes. Given the adage, “So goes Milwaukee, so goes the state,” how would you curb the presence of…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Shared Revenue
Here’s what we know about shared revenue in Wisconsin: State collection of taxes goes up as the money it sends back to cities for critical services remain stagnant. What action will you take to enable municipalities to provide for public health and safety? Wisconsin Policy Forum report on trends in income tax revenue and shared…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Inflation
I want to ask a question about rising prices. This winter, Wisconsin families can expect to pay at least a hundred dollars more than last winter to heat their homes. At the same time a gallon of gas costs 75 cents more since last year. And a grocery store receipt is likely around 10% higher.…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Health Care Costs
According to the Wisconsin Hospitals Association, $1.1 billion in unpaid BadgerCare patient costs are not covered by the state, and those $1.1 billion are shifted onto all Wisconsin businesses and families. How will you reduce the reimbursement gap to lower healthcare costs for all Wisconsinites? Here is the Wisconsin Hospitals Association’s report on medicaid in…
