Barnes Has Supported Legislation to Make Wisconsin Communities Safer
A new TV ad launched by the NRSC is falsely attacking Lt. Governor Barnes, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, over his record of promoting public safety. Lt. Governor Barnes has consistently supported plans that would make Wisconsin communities safer.
“The GOP is trying to distract Wisconsin voters from Ron Johnson’s record of delivering for his wealthy donors and attacking Social Security, but it’s not going to work,” said Maddy McDaniel, spokesperson for Mandela Barnes for Wisconsin. “Wisconsin voters know that Lt. Governor Barnes has always prioritized public safety — unlike Ron Johnson, who has prioritized Big Pharma and his wealthy donors at the expense of working families.”
FACT: Lt. Governor Barnes Has Worked to Keep Wisconsin Communities Safe
Barnes Is Committed To Continuing Investment In Struggling Communities And Giving Law Enforcement Officers The Resources They Need To Prevent Crime Before It Happens. [Mandela Barnes Public Safety Proposal, 3/26/22]
Barnes Called For More Funding For Law Enforcement Officers So That They “Have The Resources They Need To Keep Us Safe,” And Called For More Investments In Crime Prevention. [WUWM, 7/18/22]
The Evers-Barnes Administration Invested Additional $45 Million On Violence Prevention Efforts In Wisconsin, Including $10.4 Million For A Competitive Grant Process To Support Violence Prevention Projects Statewide. [News 8000, 10/13/21]
2013: Barnes Released A Statement Regarding Gun Violence In Milwaukee, Saying, “As Elected Officials, We Have An Obligation To Our Constituency To Take The Necessary Actions To Ensure The Public Safety.” [Milwaukee Courier, 8/10/13]
2014: Barnes Joined Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Police Chief Edward Flynn As He Gave A Speech Addressing A Spate Of Shootings In Milwaukee. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8/10/14]
2022: Barnes Praised The U.S. House Agreement On Police Funding And Safety Bills, Saying, “We Must Ensure Our Police Officers Have The Resources And Accountability They Need To Keep Wisconsin Safe.” [Mandela Barnes, Press Release, 7/29/22]
The Evers-Barnes Administration Used $50 Million In American Rescue Plan Funding To Support Police, Sheriff’s Offices And Criminal Justice Initiatives. [WBAY, 3/15/22]
FACT: Under Lt. Governor Barnes’ Plan, Any Individual Who Was Deemed A Threat Would Not Be Eligible For Release
The 2016 Legislation Barnes Sponsored Would Require A Judge to Hold A Defendant in Jail if There Was “Clear And Convincing Evidence” That The Defendant Could “Cause Serious Bodily Harm To A Member Of The Community.” [Accessed 8/10/22; Assembly Bill 981, Sponsored 3/10/16, Introduced 3/10/16]
Republicans Have Backed Proposals Similar to Lt. Governor Barnes’ Bill. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/21/22]
Cash Bail Reform Maintains Public Safety, Lowers Costs, and Does Not Increase Recidivism. [Kenosha News, 2/22/22]
FACT: Lt. Governor Barnes is Running to Represent Wisconsin, Not Any Ideological Group
The Things He Talked About “Transcend Political Labels.” [The Hill, 8/18/22]
The Hill: “Those On The Ground Largely Believe His Economic Populist Push To Uplift The Middle Class Surpasses Any Branding Attempts — Either By National Party Figures Or The Republican Opposition.” [The Hill, 8/18/22]
Axios: “The Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Is One Of Several Democratic Candidates This Year Who Aren’t Embracing Or Eschewing Labels Like ‘Progressive’ Or ‘Moderate.’” [Axios, 1/9/22]
Barnes: “I Know That The Only Way We Can Govern At Our Best Is When We Have All These Varied Interests At The Table, All These Varied Experiences At The Table.” [Axios, 1/9/22]
Barnes: “It’s Not About Labels. It’s About Who’s Been On Top, And Everybody Else Who’s Been Left At The Bottom.” [Wall Street Journal, 8/7/22]
FACT: Sen. Ron Johnson Has Voted Against Funding and Resources for Law Enforcement
Senator Ron Johnson Voted Against The American Rescue Plan Act. [CQ, 3/6/21; Vote110, H. R. 1319, 3/6/21]
The American Rescue Plan Included $651 Million For The Community Oriented Policing Services Program, A Major Increase From The Previous Year. [NBC News, 7/8/21]
The Evers-Barnes Administration Used To American Rescue Plan Funds To Allocate $56 Million In Federal Funds To Address Public Safety, Including Nearly $19 Million For Local Police Departments. [Wisconsin Public Radio, 3/15/22]
Johnson Voted For FY 2013 Toomey Budget Plan that Experts Said Would Endanger Law Enforcement [CQ, 5/16/12; S.Con.Res. 37, Vote 99, 5/16/12]
Johnson Supported Toomey’s Budget Proposal, Calling It “Serious,” Because “The First Step Should Be To Establish Hard Spending Caps To Instill Fiscal Discipline, And To Force Washington To Prioritize Spending.” [Office of Sen. Ron Johnson, Press Release, 5/10/11]
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Toomey Budget Would Endanger Important Programs Such As “Law Enforcement, Veterans’ Health Care, Education.” [Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 5/6/12]
Original source can be found here.
