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MADISON (WKOW) — With the Republican Nationwide Committee (RNC) on the verge of formally choosing Milwaukee because the host of its 2024 conference, Vacation spot Madison has already been approached by tourism officers there.
The RNC’s web site choice committee beneficial Milwaukee final week and the total committee will maintain a last vote in two weeks at its summer season assembly in Chicago.
Nevertheless, officers from Milwaukee and the Republican Social gathering of Wisconsin are treating it like a achieved deal.
Shortly after the location choice committee made its suggestion, Vacation spot Madison President and CEO Ellie Westman Chin stated she obtained a name from her colleagues at Go to Milwaukee.
“We have now been requested about lodge rooms in Madison in the course of the convention,” Westman Chin stated. “However that is about so far as it is gotten to date as a result of it is fairly recent and fairly new.”
Westman Chin added she anticipates Madison would even be the location of further conferences and occasions, given town’s standing on the state Capitol.
RNC Nationwide Spokesperson Paris Dennard stated in an interview the GOP’s determination to decide on Milwaukee has nothing to do with Democrats selecting to host their 2020 conference in Milwaukee earlier than shifting to a largely digital format amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re not involved concerning the DNC, we’re not involved concerning the Democrats,” Dennard stated. “We’re involved about placing on an ideal conference for our delegates and for the residents of Milwaukee.”
Dennard stated Milwaukee, and Wisconsin as a complete, have been crucial Republicans’ 2024 fortunes given the state’s fame as a swing state. Whereas Democrats have received eight of the final 9 presidential contests in Wisconsin, 4 of the final six elections have been determined by lower than one share level.
Dennard stated Republicans have been additionally devoted to successful crucial statewide races this 12 months for governor and legal professional normal, in addition to U.S. Senate, opening two neighborhood facilities in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Milwaukee.
Critics: GOP hostile to Milwaukee, financial advantages overblown
Michael Rosen, a retired economics professor at Milwaukee Space Technical Faculty, stated the estimated $200 financial affect the RNC would have on Milwaukee and the encompassing area is deceptive.
Rosen pointed to a 2016 Fortune Magazine report that discovered political conventions do not give a lot of a lift to host cities. He stated a lot of the cash generates funnels to the accounts of enormous firms, like lodge and restaurant chains.
“So any argument that that is helpful to the employees, until the RNC are extraordinary tippers, we’re not going to see it,” Rosen stated.
Rosen additionally stated as a result of summer season is the height tourism season in Wisconsin, many resorts and eating places can be busy whatever the RNC internet hosting a summer season conference.
He stated conference guests would largely change different vacationers, in addition to residents who select to go away town that week to keep away from visitors snarls and safety detours.
Past that, Rosen stated it was a slap within the face of Milwaukee and Madison residents to have the GOP courted after Republicans on the state and federal ranges have made baseless claims of widespread election fraud in Wisconsin, usually pointing at how elections have been run within the state’s greatest cities.
Rosen talked about the current Wisconsin Supreme Court docket ruling banning the usage of unsupervised drop containers as the newest conservative effort to limit voting entry.
In a 4-3 vote, the courtroom’s conservative majority held there is not any language in state regulation explaining how individuals can cast absentee ballots, other than sending these ballots by way of the mail or delivering them to clerks in-person.
“These have been used within the state for a lot of elections,” Rosen stated. “Lengthy earlier than the Trump-Biden election, with none Republican opposition or concern, and despite the fact that there was no fraud.”
Dennard stated Republicans have been in assist of quick access to the polls, however needed to make sure nobody was casting ballots in a manner that conflicted with state regulation or might result in suspicions of unhealthy actors committing fraud.
“All that we’re saying is we wish your vote to be secure, we wish your vote to be counted,” Dennard stated. “And we do not need something to occur to separate your true supposed vote from being counted.”
Following the 2020 election, former President Donald Trump moved to have tens of hundreds of absentee ballots thrown out – focusing on solely voters in Dane and Milwaukee counties.
Dennard stated Trump’s 2020 election lawsuits should not have any bearing on Republican efforts to host their 2024 conference in Milwaukee.
The GOP is at present internet hosting election observer coaching events across the state. Whereas earlier occasions have been closed to the general public, Dennard stated that would change, with the press invited to future occasions.
“We imagine the vote ought to be protected,” he stated. “We imagine that election integrity issues.”
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