April welfare referendum: What's on the ballot, what is existing policy, and what would it actually do?
Voters statewide will see a non-binding advisory referendum on the April 4 ballot asking if welfare recipients should be required to look for employment to receive benefits.
The Republicans backing the referendum say the question is necessary to address worker shortages across the state, but Democrats call it a political stunt to influence turnout in the critical Supreme Court race on the same ballot.
But what impact will the results of this referendum actually have? And what is Wisconsin's current policy on work requirements for welfare benefits?
What's on the ballot?
The referendum asks, "Shall able-bodied, childless adults be required to look for work in order to receive taxpayer-funded benefits?" Voters can respond yes or no.
This is one of three statewide referendum questions on the ballot, as well as Supreme Court candidates, other non-partisan races and a special election for an important state Senate seat in the Milwaukee suburbs. The other two referendum questions ask voters to approve a constitutional amendment giving judge's more discretion when making bail decisions.
What's an advisory referendum?
This question is an advisory referendum, which allows citizens to vote on a non-binding question, meaning the results of the referendum will not have any immediate effect or change any existing law. Rather, lawmakers can use the results to gauge public opinion and inform policy decisions, according to state documents.
However, referendums are increasingly being used by both political parties, particularly with non-partisan spring elections, which don't usually generate great voter turnout, said Barry Burden, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
"These elections just don't generate the same level of media coverage or public discussion so these gimmicks are one way to get the attention of the voter," Burden said. "The effect on overall turnout probably won't be great, but in Wisconsin, most people assume elections are going to be close, so even a change in the balance of things by a percentage point or two could tip the race and tip the balance of the Supreme Court itself."
If a non-binding marijuana referendum was on the ballot, it might bring out younger, more liberal voters whereas welfare or bail reform, which is also on the April ballot, could draw older voters, Burden said.
More:Young voters can help Democrats. Will enough of them cast ballots in Wisconsin Supreme Court race?
What's Wisconsin's existing policy?
Under current state law, many unemployed people are already required to search for employment in order to receive welfare benefits.
For instance, in order to receive FoodShare — or food stamp — benefits, applicants who are between the ages of 18 and 49 and do not have any children at home need to meet a work requirement if they do not meet any other exemptions such as being mentally or physically disabled.
Likewise, applicants need to search for work four times a week to receive unemployment benefits. Gov. Tony Evers waived these requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Republicans reinstated them in 2021.
"(We get to) let our constituents remind us what we do that makes a difference, and that is help people find a job, hold them accountable, give them benefits for as long as necessary, but not longer than required," Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said during a January floor debate. Vos co-sponsored the referendum with Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu.
What are lawmakers saying?
Republicans who support this referendum said these requirements aren't enforced the way they should be and that this vote could be a jumping-off point for more policies to address worker shortages.
"There is not a place you can go to visit, whether it's a school, a police station, a grocery story, you name the place, where people aren't crying for employees," Rep. Barbara Dittrich (R-Oconomowoc) said.
This referendum question was passed over a Democrat-supported advisory referendum that would have asked voters if the state should replace the 1849 abortion ban.
"(Republicans') resolution, simply put, attacks low-income people in the state of Wisconsin, and it's borne out of a consideration to their base for the spring election. They're trying to gin up their voters," Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard said in a January news conference. "The people are going to advise lawmakers on something that is already the law? That only makes sense if you're looking at the world through a cynical and political lens."
Gov. Tony Evers said that an abortion referendum would ask voters to weigh in on an issue that is relevant and that many are concerned about, adding that he thinks Republicans refusing to put an abortion referendum on the ballot will irritate voters and drive more liberals to the polls.
"For a year now, Republicans have willfully ignored the majority of Wisconsinites who support legal access to abortion," Evers said in a news conference, citing Marquette University Law School polls. "I think [the welfare referendum] is frankly ridiculous, to have an advisory referendum on something that already exists."
Where to find more information on the April 4 election
Information on voting early, absentee or on election day can be found here.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Welfare referendum: What does it say and what will it actually do?
