Racine County Executive William Reynolds wants an advisory referendum on his county's Sept. 14 primary ballot, to ask residents if state constitution should be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund, the Journal Times reports.
Are people in Racine really worried that the road builders aren't making enough money, or is there something else going on? Advisory referendum or not, an amendment to the state constitution must be passed by two consecutive sessions of the legislature and then approved by voters in a binding statewide referendum.
But it does raise the intriguing possibility that Wisconsin Democrats should be taking a tip from Republican McReynolds. UPDATE: Waukesha County, too.
You'd think that hot races for governor and US Senator would be enough to get people to the polls, but that ain't necessarily so. How about an advisory referendum on Nov. 2 in Dane County on legalizing medical marijuana, or one in counties along Lake Superior and Lake Michigan on banning oil drilling in the Great Lakes?
Local governments can put them on the ballot.
That just might bring some extra voters (of the more progressive persuasion) to the polls -- and send a message to policy makers, too.
Inspired by Jim Rowen.