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As I See It

Why shouldn’t Wisconsin accept Zuckerbucks?

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Why turn away free money? The Wisconsin Legislature is proposing making it illegal for the state to accept outside money to administer elections. Because what they are proposing is a constitutional amendment, a statewide referendum would have to be approved by voters. This is in response to money sent to Wisconsin and other states in 2020, much of it from groups associated with Facebook founder mark Zuckerberg. But why shouldn’t Wisconsin accept money for running elections? Keep in mind this happened during the pandemic, and much of the money was used to help make voting safer by purchasing things such as PPE’s, and to inform voters of new rules at the polls. If Wisconsin hadn’t accepted the money, it would have come from taxpayers. Critics point out that the money was sent mainly to democratic cities, like Milwaukee and Madison. But that is where the biggest populations are, so more people could be reached. And not a single penny of those Zuckerbucks changed in any way the outcome of the election, or told people how they should vote. It seems dumb to turn down free money just because you don’t like where it came from. If we can’t take Zuckerberg’s money, maybe we should start a go-fund me campaign to help cover the costs of elections. There have been crazier ideas that people have thrown money at.

Scott Robert Shaw serves as WIZM Program Director and News Director, and delivers the morning news on WKTY, Z-93 and 95.7 The Rock. Scott has been at Mid-West Family La Crosse since 1989, and authors Wisconsin's only daily radio editorial, "As I See It" heard on WIZM each weekday morning and afternoon.

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4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. Debbie

    November 9, 2023 at 6:35 am

    You should do better research. Zuckerberg’s money was only given to certain counties in Wisconsin. The State of Wisconsin provided all the supplies and additional personnel that was needed. There were strings attached to the money from Zuckerberg. Get your fact straight.

  2. Not so Fast

    November 9, 2023 at 10:14 am

    Zuckerbucks were sent to Madison and Milwaukee “because that is where the biggest populations are.” Not true, Madison and Milwaukee combined account for less than 20% of the state’s population. Moreover, such population centers have much greater access to health care and pandemic personal protection equipment (PPE) than the rural areas. The rural areas (leaning Republican) could have used more access to PPE and medical resources during the pandemic, but received no Zuckerbucks.

    Just more “here is what we want you to believe today” from WIZM.

  3. The Dude

    November 9, 2023 at 12:26 pm

    Wisconsin lets move forward and REJECT “Zucker bucks” but instead ACCEPT donations from Ken Griffin (Hedge fund tycoon); Insurer Patrick Ryan, private equity mogul Steven Schwarzman, casino heiress Miriam Adelson, banking heir Timothy Mellon. And then lets see how the WIZM narrative changes in respect to accepting “Free” dollars.

  4. nick

    November 10, 2023 at 6:34 am

    We all know how the writer would respond if the names mentioned in the Dude’s response . I will write the headline: Conservatives trying to steal the election.
    The bias is so obvious day after day.
    We are in this mess since the media refuses to play it down the middle.
    Present the unbiased facts and let the chips fall where they may

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