Sometimes politicians do the right thing

Sometimes, our politicians show some common sense. Such is the case with a new state law that took effect last week in Wisconsin. At issue is the ability of Wisconsin cities to accept donations from their citizens. The fight to change the law began in Green Bay, when the Optimist Club there offered to build a concession stand and restrooms in a city park. For free. Parents of kids who play league baseball games at the park, some of them excavators, carpenters and concrete layers by trade, volunteered to donate all the time and materials necessary to build the park. It would cost the city nothing. Except for all the red tape. State law requires private organizations to go through the city’s bidding process to build on government-owned park land. Even though there would be no city money involved, the project would still have to go out for bid. That made no sense. So some state lawmakers from the Green Bay area authored legislation exempting the need to go through a bidding process if 100% of the material and money is in the form of donations. Governor Walker has now signed this legislation into law. As a result, many parks will benefit from the work of volunteers at no cost to taxpayers. It makes sense to get rid of this unnecessary red tape, and let good people do good work at no cost to taxpayers.