An area state representative advocated for two crime bills that made it to the Wisconsin Senate.
3rd District Assemblyman Ron Tusler, who represents western Manitowoc County, spoke on the Wisconsin Assembly Floor about Assembly Bill 85 and 87 which he says targets repeat offenders and egregious violent crimes.
Assembly Bill 85 would require the Wisconsin Department of Corrections to revoke a person’s extended supervision, parole, or probation if the person is charged with a crime while on release.
Tusler says that there are two sides in a criminal case, the state and the defense with both sides trying to prove their point of whether an accused criminal is guilty or not and what their punishment should be if found guilty.
But he also says the DOC is part of the state.
Tusler stated, “As a result, they should take a role of following the letter of the law, asking that decision maker (a judge) to do what the letter of the law says.”
Tusler says if a DOC employee doesn’t take a role in the state, then the state isn’t really doing its role.
In the end, Tusler says the bill keeps the DOC in its lane and does not give the defense an edge.
“Stop playing defense,” he said. “Stop removing the information the decision maker needs. And fulfill your role as part of the state.”
Assembly Bill 87 would not allow someone convicted of human trafficking the right to vote unless they repay everything back from a victim or victims that they trafficked.
Tusler says in his newsletter that victims of trafficking have to wait years before they get any restitution and often have to come through wage garnishment.
Both bills passed the Wisconsin Assembly on mostly party lines.
Both bills have been passed to the Wisconsin Senate committees.
