Getting the public involved in creating laws a good idea

Kudos to the Wisconsin Legislature for doing something it doesn’t do much of anymore. That is getting the public involved in the decision making process. Last week the Legislature held a public hearing, inviting people to testify about the important issue our lawmakers are considering. In this case the issue was redistricting, trying to come up with legislative boundaries that don’t favor one political party over another as the current maps do. The issue is likely to ultimately be decided by the state Supreme Court, but it is good to see our lawmakers working to find out how their decisions would impact those they represent, and how they feel about it. That is key to enacting effective laws, and a far cry from how our state representatives have behaved of late. On issues such as abortion, gun rights, education spending and other issues important to Wisconsinites, our lawmakers refused to old public hearings, or even to do more than open and close a meeting while taking no action. I remember not long ago when legislative committees would travel to La Crosse and elsewhere to gather public input, and learn how people feel about the issue. It is good that our lawmakers are again seeking public input. Now the question is what will they do with the information they have gathered?