Madison Media Digest: Courts, Power, Transit

Here’s what we were reading while planning our next food tour through the Atwood neighborhood

Courts

A lot of local news was made in Washington D.C. this week, as two actions by the U.S. Supreme Court made important ripples in Madison. On Monday it rejected an appeal of a federal court’s ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. State officials were still unsure about the legality of marriages performed this summer, and couples are waiting to hear if they have legally valid marriage licenses. Caffeinated Politics reacted positively to the decision, and provided an interesting round up of how the news was reported in newspapers around the state. The State Journal’s editorial page is happiest for the children of same-sex couples, who it says will gain a measure of security

On Thursday, the court blocked implementation of Wisconsin’s Voter ID law for the 2014 election. Wisconsin Public Radio says the decision likely will mean shorter wait times at the polls next month.  UW-Madison Political Scientist Ken Mayer described the law as completely useless. Jonathan Gramling thinks the election will still come down to turnout among people of color and likens WIsconsin’s Voter ID law to efforts like the poll tax, which was used to disenfranchise black voters primarily in the South during the Jim Crow era. 

Power rates

MGE wants to increase the minimum amount it charges customers. The proposal would nearly double the minimum “standard charge” from around $10 to nearly $20. A group of 200 people protested at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin office last Thursday. A business group opposes the rate hike as well.

Rapid Transit

The city is looking at rapid transit plans, which would include bigger buses and potentally new lanes. Madison Metro Public Information Officer Mick Rusch estimates a price tag between the cost would be between $138 million and $192 million.