Wisconsin elections should be run by the citizens of Wisconsin, not bureaucrats in Washington who have no stake in our communities.

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Finding an issue on which Republicans and Democrats agree is a rare feat in recent years. But we saw a moment of unity recently when President Trump threatened the sovereignty of Wisconsin and other states by suggesting the federal government should take control of our elections.

The Constitution reserves the right to administer elections to the states, rather than delegate that power to the federal government in the 10th amendment. Wisconsin elections should be run by the citizens of Wisconsin, not bureaucrats in Washington who have no stake in our communities, our values or what makes our state unique.  We are no stranger to close elections, over multiple election cycles we have repeatedly elected both Republicans and Democrats statewide. And Wisconsin has voted for the eventual presidential winner in every election since 2008.

Simply put, Wisconsin is a bellwether for a nation that has become increasingly divided. Why? Because Wisconsinites value independence. We value neighbors who dedicate their time to public service. And we vote for what we believe is best for our state and our country, not simply to uphold a party line.

Letters: SAVE Act seeks to disenfranchise millions from voting |

Our election system reflects that same streak of independence.

Wisconsin elections are safe and decentralized

Wisconsin’s elections are among the most decentralized in the nation. With thousands of units of local government, more than 1,800 municipal clerks and 72 counties, our state has deliberately built a system that keeps election administration close to home. This ensures local leaders, your neighbors and members of your community, are the ones making sure your ballot is counted, protected and secure.

That isn’t a weakness. It is a strength.

That commitment to local control and fair play is why we serve on the Wisconsin board of the Democracy Defense Project. DDP is a bipartisan organization dedicated to defending free and fair elections and restoring trust in democracy. Our board doesn’t always agree on policy, but we agree on the fundamental rules of the game. We believe in calling balls and strikes, standing up for election integrity and defending the local officials who administer our elections.

MADISON – History and a hat trick? It was all in a day’s work for Lacey Eden.

On the way to record her second career hat trick, the senior forward for the Wisconsin women’s hockey team became the fourth player in program history to score 100 goals.

Eden also recorded two assists for her first five-point game.

“It was a really fun game to play,” she said. “I think we played a complete game. We played 60 minutes. They came out pretty hard in the first period and gave us some competition there and we were able to get over that (hump) and just work hard and it showed up on the scoreboard today for us.”

The accomplishment was part of an eventful afternoon for the nation’s No. 1 ranked team.

First and foremost, the Badgers (28-3-2, 22-3-2 WCHA, 69 points) defeated St. Cloud State, 9-2, at LaBahn Arena to move within one victory of the WCHA regular-season title.

And individually Eden wasn’t even the team’s top goal scorer. That distinction went to junior Kelly Gorbatenko, who finished with four goals, two better than her previous single-game high.

Debt is not inherently irresponsible. Schools need safe, functional facilities. But when debt becomes permanent, it stops being a tool and starts being a constraint.

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Each year, Wisconsin property taxpayers contribute more than $6.5 billion in local school levies. Those dollars are commonly understood to support classrooms, teachers and student services. In reality, a large — and growing — portion is diverted to debt service, a non-negotiable financial obligation before a single classroom dollar is spent.

In fact, the debt-service share of the local levy continues to grow, not because students are receiving more, but because past borrowing decisions increasingly dictate today’s budgets. Fortunately, at least one school district is showing that a debt free future is possible.

Statewide, nearly 18% of all local school levies — about $1.18 billion each year — are used to service debt. In practical terms, almost one out of every five local school tax dollars is unavailable for instruction or student support because it has already been committed elsewhere. Unfortunately, long-term debt has become a routine feature of school finance rather than an exception.