To the editor,

When our heat went out years ago during a cold winter it was really important to get help immediately. I’m sure everyone, like us, appreciates a timely response in emergencies.

No matter who we are or what we believe, in an emergency most of us want resources and funding to quickly arrive. But Wisconsin Republicans are trying to block the governor’s powers to accept and distribute federal funding in emergencies through two constitutional amendments they put on the Aug. 13 ballot.

They’re trying to trick us with confusing language and take advantage of a low turnout election to get rid of the governor’s authority to quickly help us with federal funding in emergencies. They want to undermine our established and reliable system for getting federal funding to communities and people without long delays in times of urgency and critical need.

If Gov. Evers can't quickly send out emergency federal funding after a flood or tornado or other major disaster because the money caught up in legislative red tape our community resources will be completely overwhelmed because our individual communities don’t have enough money on hand to cover all the immediate costs of dealing with major disasters on their own.

While Wisconsin Republicans play games, grab power and refuse to do their job, we all – our friends, neighbors and community members – must ensure that necessary federal funding will be quickly available to those of us who need it in the unfortunate event of an emergency.

Let’s VOTE NO with our friends, neighbors and community members on the two constitutional amendments on the Aug. 13 ballot! Remember to check the back of your ballot for the two constitutional amendments that will appear as referendum questions. Vote No for Our Freedoms! Our Families! Our Futures!

Jim Camery

River Falls