To the editor,

There are three referendum questions on our ballot this November. Please don’t be fooled by the wording, which is so easy to do. Referendums questions are purposely written in a confusing manner in order to secure a vote that is contrary to what the voter intends.

The first referendum: “Governmental Entity Discrimination Prohibited: Shall section 27 article 1 of the constitution be created to prohibit governmental entities in the state from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education, public contracting, or public administration?” seems like a logical yes vote on its surface. But wait, take a deeper dive!

It leads voters to believe that is a new law to stop government from discriminating against people. That’s misleading. Wisconsin and federal law already make discrimination illegal! If this amendment passes, it will eliminate gains Wisconsin has made over the last 60 years. This amendment would reduce Wisconsin’s ability to address long-standing disparities. It would strip public systems of tools essential for promoting equal opportunity to the most vulnerable in our society.

If passed this amendment will declare Government programs that help people have an equal chance to succeed would be unconstitutional, ending decades of work to fix inequality. Nothing will be gained and 60 years of progress for women and people of color will be lost. Among other things, passage would allow eliminating such things as Head Start and social-support networks for operating food banks, homeless shelters, and domestic violence shelters.

Perhaps even more problematic is the actual wording of the constitutional amendment is different from the referendum question. The amendment, if passed, is more expansive than the writers of the referendum make apparent to you. For a clear explanation visit the League of Women Voters website and click on the Constitutional Corner. And please vote NO.

SuAnn Senso

River Falls