Citizen to State Rep. Scott Krug: YOU SOLD US OUT

Long Lake in Wisconsin - Used to be a lot of water
Kate Golden, Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

By Patt Pisellini (of central Wisconsin)

Scott [Rep. Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa)],

I have tried - really tried - to believe you. As our local representative, I have always given you the benefit of the doubt, hoping your motives were concerned with protecting your constituents. But, your performance on bill AB 874 leaves little doubt that you care very little about us.

First, your method of contacting me, by hacking Criste's (Greening's) email list, is unconscionable. It demonstrates a total lack of concern for private communications.

From your opening paragraph, you have shown total disrespect for the intelligence of your constituents. Intimating this bill would have gone forward out of committee regardless of your vote, is ridiculous. 

Second, the fact you offer elaborate scientific studies of watersheds, is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. There is scientific research already available. The vegetable growers have been conducting research for years. They know exactly what the performance of each watershed is. They just choose not to share it with the general public because it might force them to admit their agricultural practices need to be altered.

I watched your entire performance on the floor. Suggesting we drill more HCWs (High Capacity Wells) to fill up dried-up lakes, such as Long Lake, to study the hydrology is ludicrous. There are 5 monitoring wells already in place around Long Lake, that could, and should, have been used to study the hydrology over the past few years, but NOTHING has been done with them. We don't need to study the hydrology; all we need to do is take a drive around the perimeter of Long Lake, and the other Channel Lakes, and look at the proliferation of HCWs.

Your letter is a ploy to justify your actions, in hopes of getting back into our good graces.  Unfortunately, it is disingenuous, and lacks any substance. YOU SOLD US OUT - period. You have lost our trust, and do not deserve our respect.  I agree with Criste, I intend to support your opponent, and to actively campaign to oust you from office.

Rep. Krug Votes Against His Own Proposal … After He Voted for It

State Rep. Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa) cannot decide what lie to tell his constituents as he works to deplete and poison his own constituents' waters.

So Krug last night decided to vote against his own bill.

Notes Assistant Democratic Leader Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) in a press releases: 

MADISON – Last night on the Assembly floor, in a highly unusual action, Rep. Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa) voted against final passage of his own substitute amendment to Assembly Bill 874, which grants indefinite water rights to some large water users at the expense of the average citizen.

This comes on the heels of Rep. Krug casting the deciding vote in favor of Assembly Bill 874 just two days prior in the Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry, and voting in favor of adoption of his substitute amendment on the Assembly floor last night.

“In all my years, I have never, ever, seen someone write their own amendment, vote for it in committee, and then vote against it on the Assembly floor. These are the kinds of twisted, political games that people are just fed up with,” commented Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha).  “Does he really think he can have a vote in both pockets, mislead his constituents, and get away with it?”  

When asked on the Assembly floor why he voted against his own proposal, which he claimed to have worked on for three and a half years and previously voted for, Rep. Krug said the proposal “fell a little bit short.”   

“The only person that can be blamed for this proposal falling short is Scott Krug. He wrote the proposal that he voted against. Is this really the best he could do for his constituents?” said Assistant Democratic Leader Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point).  “In a desperate attempt to protect himself and save face in an election year, he is willing to intentionally mislead our Central Sands community.” 

“The people of the Central Sands have asked for and negotiated in good faith for years for responsible groundwater management policy,” continued Rep. Shankland. “Instead, Rep. Krug fulfilled the Republican party’s and special interests’ bidding by casting the deciding vote in committee, voting for the adoption of his proposal, and then voting against its passage. This continues a clear pattern of Rep. Krug promising his constituents one thing and then doing another. It’s cynical and manipulative politics that he believes will fool people and protect his seat while selling out his constituents’ water interests.”

Central Wisconsin Legislator Has Residents Seeing Red, Feeling Betrayed

Increasing opposition to a proposed massive CAFO in Wood
County in central Wisconsin spurs State Rep. Scott Krug (R)
to lie he has support of clean water advocates for legislation
he is co-sponsoring in the state assembly. Krug's bill would
facilitate the permitting of high capacity water wells drawing
100,000 gallons of groundwater per day and used by CAFOs
to create pathogen-laden liquid cow manure that is dumped
into the environment.
- Photo by Mary Captain-Braund

Update: WisPolitics notes, "The GOP author, (State Rep. Scott Krug) of a sub amendment for a high-capacity well bill got his proposal adopted and then voted against the bill."
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State Rep. Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa) has rarely made a promise he has kept.

Krug was elected in 2010 after a solemn promise to serve two terms, and never accept a penny of per diem money. Both were lies. "I'm for real," two terms and I'm out, declared Scott Krug in a campaign plank in 2010.

Now Krug has committed another betrayal on protecting fresh water.

Wisconsin Assembly Bill 874, a dangerous anti-groundwater bill that would facilitate the operation and permitting of high capacity wells drawing over 100,000 gallons of water per day, was passed out of the Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry yesterday. Krug voted for AB 874 and broke his promise.

Krug serves as Vice-Chair of the Committee. He had promised citizen groups privately in the Central Sands region AB 874 would not advance in a series of emails last year.

"We are under assault by the state legislature. Krug has totally betrayed us," said a Saratoga man fighting the siting of a Concentrated (Confined) Agricultural Feeding Operation (CAFO) in central Wisconsin. CAFOs use massive amounts of water, and vector it back laden with toxins and feces into the environment.

Krug is a champion of Big Ag in Wisconsin and polluting CAFOs but in a particularly brazen series of moves has has told groups such as Protect Wood County and Our Neighbors that he opposes a proposed massive new CAFO and anti-clean water legislation opposed by citizen groups

"I’m very disappointed that Rep. Krug had the opportunity to kill Assembly Bill 874, but instead he chose to side with the lobbyists and special interests. I’ve heard overwhelmingly from you about your strong opposition to this legislation and appreciate your advocacy on this vital issue for the Central Sands," said State Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point).

Krug's advocacy for AB 874 comes after a raft of anti-clean water bills and other legislation giving away the fresh water of Wisconsin to special interests have been passed by Wisconsin Republicans. Special interests have also enlisted the Republican attorney general to provide legal backing to water depletion initiatives.

The betrayal following other betrayals and broken promises by Krug was feared.

"As feared, Assembly Bill 874 (Gudex bill) was approved in committee and now moves to the Assembly for approval.  It shortcuts the process for high cap well replacement, creates a 'de facto' water right and takes the DNR out of the permitting process when wells are replaced or ownership transferred.  Notice that our Representative Scott Krug was one of those approving it in committee.  So much for protecting groundwater in our district.  Don't forget the over 3,000 high cap wells in our central sands area.  It's up to voters like you and me," writes Don Ystad of Adams County in an email to fresh water advocates.

Writes the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters in a press release:

From the start, the intent of the Death by a Thousand Straws Bill has been clear. Big Ag has lobbied legislators to advance the interests of their thirsty clients at the expense of the state’s valuable groundwater and the many people who rely on it.

Today, in the year 2016, there are people whose drinking water wells are running dry and lakes and rivers are drying up because high capacity wells are over pumping our groundwater supply. Yet, Death by a Thousand Straws moves forward and heads to the floor of the Assembly later this week.

We are very concerned that, despite an outpouring of opposition from thousands of Wisconsinites, including many who are directly impacted by loss of groundwater, legislators chose to listen to special interests rather than their constituents. We have a real groundwater crisis in this state and Death by a Thousand Straws not only refuses to address this problem – it makes it so we can never reach a commonsense, bipartisan solution.

The people of Wisconsin – especially those affected by careless and irresponsible groundwater management – deserve better.

Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters was disappointed to see Representatives Mursau, Krug, Czaja, Kitchens, Swearingen, Edming, and R. Brooks vote in favor of AB 874 during the executive session committee vote. Representatives Mason, Milroy, Hebl, Stuck, Considine, and Allen voted against the bill.

Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters is calling on members of the Assembly to stand in opposition to Death by a Thousand Straws and with their constituents who have taken action thousands of times and urged their decision makers to vote no on this bill.

Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to electing conservation leaders, holding decision makers accountable, and encouraging lawmakers to champion conservation policies that effectively protect Wisconsin’s public health and natural resources.

The lifeblood of civilization, clean water, is now a just another commodity Republicans are giving away to special interests, as they eviscerate protections against polluters.

Where Is Scott Krug?

Where Is Scott Krug? Not even Krug's
caucus trust him to show at joint
appearances with his opponent.

State Rep. Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa) has gone dark, refusing any more appearances with his opponent between now and Election Day.

Krug pretends to buck the Republican Party, but the GOP assembly caucus is his boss, sending money his way and advisors so Krug does not appear the clown at joint forums.

But not even the Republican Caucus trusts Krug anymore.

Word is Krug is forbidden to show anywhere where he would encounter his opponent, Dana Duncan (D-Port Edwards).

The fear is that Krug's opponent, Dana Duncan, is an attorney with the ability to cross-examine Krug and make him look foolish.

Moreover Duncan reportedly gets under Krug's skin and makes him say stupid things, e.g., "(my water committee) stopped meeting when they started campaigning for you."

This comment refers to Krug's recent line at one forum where Krug claimed to be studying a proposed massive CAFO sited in Saratoga because Krug says he is not afraid of his own party and concluded he against this one CAFO, though outside his district Krug is silent on other CAFOs.