Wisconsin State Assembly Republicans Refused To Suspend Rules To Consider A Cesar E. Chavez Optional Holiday

Democrats in the State Assembly attempted to address the Cesar E. Chavez optional holiday, but the Republican controlled State Assembly refused to suspend the rules to take AB 244 out from committee.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

February 24, 2018

Madison, WI - On Thursday, the Republican controlled State Assembly in Wisconsin on a vote of 34-59 failed to suspend the rules so, Assembly Bill 244 (AB 244) relating to creating an optional holiday for state employees to observe the birthday of Cesar E. Chavez on March 31st would be pulled from the Committee on State Affairs Important Actions and bring it to the floor to debate. AB 244 was introduced on April 14, 2017 by State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milw.) including 18 other Democrats in the State Assembly and co-sponsored by 5 State Senate Democrats.

Chavez was the founder of the National Farm Workers Association, which later was renamed the United Farm Workers Union and a civil rights leader for migrant farm workers in California who struggled to improve the treatment of workers, fair wages and better working conditions in farms. 

Zamarripa has been attempting to create an optional holiday for Cesar E. Chavez's Birthday since 2014, but the Republican controlled legislature have opposed it including State Representative Yesenia Eldermira "Jessie" Rodríguez (R-Franklin). State Representative Rodriguez was an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, but later became a U.S. Citizen.