To the editor,

Sadly, the attempt by Republican lawmakers and their shadowy puppet masters to impeach State Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz should not surprise any of us. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely – we are seeing that old statement prove itself once again.

There must be a smug satisfaction knowing you will win your election no matter what, which is how it is for most Republicans running for state office here. More than a fifth of races for our legislature go uncontested because the legislative voting district maps are so finely drawn that running as an opposition candidate is an exercise in futility. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos himself agreed that they offer partisan advantage to Republicans. 

Who would willingly give up that kind of power? No wonder the Republicans are scared. What if they had to win their seats in a fair campaign of ideas and then keep them by working on behalf of the people in their districts, rather than dutifully voting to serve the interests of their party?

Justice Protasiewicz did not say how she’d rule on a voting-maps case if it came before her. But the Republicans are scared enough that they are coalescing around the tactic of overturning the will of the majority of Wisconsin voters who voted for her. 

Their shameful disregard for the will of Wisconsin voters speaks volumes. We should all remember this the next time we go to the polls, whether Justice P remains on the court or not.

Maureen Ash

River Falls