Scott Walker Personally Sought to Kill the Wisconsin Idea and Lied, New Docs Confirm
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker sought to legislatively eviscerate the Wisconsin Idea in 2105 and lied publicly in denying he attempted the scheme, new documents the adminstration tried to keep secret show, (Beck, Wisconsin State Journal).
The attempt to kill the Wisconsin Idea was followed in 2015 by Walker's aborted attempt to legislatively kill Wisconsin's Public (Open) Records law. See also Wisconsin Public Records law.
The Public/Open Records case is Center for Media and Democracy, Kathleen Meter Lounsbury, The Progressive, Inc., and Jud Lounsbury v. Scott Walker, Office of the Governor, Wisconsin Department of Administration, and Scott Neitzel, (Case No.: 14 CV 1289), (Wisconsin State Journal document).
The release of the new documents confirms Scott Walker lied about his effort to destroy the long-cherished Wisconsin Idea.
Documents released last year also show Walker's duplicity, (Wisconsin State Journal (DeFour)).
Walker 2105 Aborted Attempt to Kill Wisconsin Idea
"Gov. Scott Walker's administration gave detailed, line-by-line
instructions about how to strike the decades-old Wisconsin Idea from
state law — even as top university officials objected — according to legislative drafting notes reviewed by the State Journal." (DeFour, Hall, Spicuzza and Simmons, Wisconsin State Journal, Feb. 6, 2015)
"First Walker defended the change. Then he backtracked and said it was a 'drafting error.' Then, after multiple news reports showed his staff's fingerprints were all over plans to delete wording from the UW's mission in the 2016-17 budget bill, he issued a lengthy and tortured statement Thursday [Feb. 5, 2015] saying it was all just a miscommunication," notes Rob Thomas. (The Capital Times)
The story on Walker's attempted radical transformation of the world-class University of Wisconsin System was broken by the Center for Media and Democracy's PRWatch, (Jonas Persson and Mary Bottari), on February 4, 2015.
Truth and Rule of Law Alive and Well
Much to acclaim in developments this week.
The Center for Media and Democracy, Kathleen Meter Lounsbury, The Progressive, Inc., and Jud Lounsbury fought the ever-desperate-for-secrecy Walker administration and won.
Dane County Judge Amy Smith ruled for transparency and the rule of law.
Local newspapers are becoming more aggressive in reporting the efforts of a mendacious Scott Walker from whom, no reasonable person can conclude, we can expect candor.
Showing posts with label Scott Walker Open Records Retreat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scott Walker Open Records Retreat. Show all posts
Feb 1, 2016
Wisconsin Lead Pipes Threaten Water, GOP Pushes Anti-clean Water Laws
Silke Schmidt and Dee J. Hall report from the Center for Investigative Journalism shows Wisconsin is poised to become home to "abundant" Flint, Michigans as Wisconsin's Republican governor is actively pursuing a bizarre, anti-clean water approach to water protection.
The public interest law firm, Midwest Environmental Advocates (MEA), has filed a "complaint in Dane County Circuit Court against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for violating state open records laws by unreasonably delaying DNR responses to MEA open records requests."
Scott Walker is pursuing polices to literally toxify Wisconsin waters, and Walker is shutting down public scrutiny to his administration's complicity with the polluters.
Meanwhile, Walker and Republicans are selling out the peoples' water to corporate interests, (Viste, Door County Pulse).
In Sturgeon Bay in northeastern Wisconsin, citizens are fighting more sell-off of Wisconsin waters to private and polluting developers, (Alyssa Bloechl and Warren Bluhm, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin).
The public interest law firm, Midwest Environmental Advocates (MEA), has filed a "complaint in Dane County Circuit Court against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for violating state open records laws by unreasonably delaying DNR responses to MEA open records requests."
Scott Walker is pursuing polices to literally toxify Wisconsin waters, and Walker is shutting down public scrutiny to his administration's complicity with the polluters.
Meanwhile, Walker and Republicans are selling out the peoples' water to corporate interests, (Viste, Door County Pulse).
In Sturgeon Bay in northeastern Wisconsin, citizens are fighting more sell-off of Wisconsin waters to private and polluting developers, (Alyssa Bloechl and Warren Bluhm, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin).
Jul 11, 2015
Scott Walker Lies and Stumbles His Way to Presidential Kick-off
CNN: Washington (CNN) "America's Best Eyeglasses is reminding people that their logo may look like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's new campaign logo, but they're not endorsing him, or any other candidate for that matter."
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Scott Walker lies, pathologically.
This is why Walker avoids the people and the press, except for rightwing talk radio.
Walker's latest lie is his denial on rightwing radio in which Scott Walker claims, "I think it was a mistake to even think about [gutting Wisconsin's Open Records law] in the budget, even though it didn't come from us," (
even think about," why were Walker and Joint Finance Committee (JFC) working on it and passing it on the days before the July 4th holiday?
This radical change in Wisconsin law, since disavowed and rescinded, just happened without Walker's approval?
As already widely noted outside WalkerWorld, Scott Walker signed off on the secrecy provisions in motion 999—the Republican-authored proposal to sneak in legislation in the budget—as confirmed by JFC member, State Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton). All 12 Republican members of the JFC voted for motion 999 (Punzel, Wisconsin State Journal).
Meanwhile Walker's campaign is stumbling out of the blocks, accidentally sending out a presidential campaign communication and a logo that appears a trademark infringement. (CognitiveDissidence) (Blue Cheddar)
No comment from the Scott Walker administration.
The nation is about to learn what most of the Wisconsin electorate, some 74 percent, who didn't vote for Scott Walker already know well: Scott Walker lies, cheats and lies some more.
---
Scott Walker lies, pathologically.
This is why Walker avoids the people and the press, except for rightwing talk radio.
Walker's latest lie is his denial on rightwing radio in which Scott Walker claims, "I think it was a mistake to even think about [gutting Wisconsin's Open Records law] in the budget, even though it didn't come from us," (
even think about," why were Walker and Joint Finance Committee (JFC) working on it and passing it on the days before the July 4th holiday?
This radical change in Wisconsin law, since disavowed and rescinded, just happened without Walker's approval?
As already widely noted outside WalkerWorld, Scott Walker signed off on the secrecy provisions in motion 999—the Republican-authored proposal to sneak in legislation in the budget—as confirmed by JFC member, State Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton). All 12 Republican members of the JFC voted for motion 999 (Punzel, Wisconsin State Journal).
Meanwhile Walker's campaign is stumbling out of the blocks, accidentally sending out a presidential campaign communication and a logo that appears a trademark infringement. (CognitiveDissidence) (Blue Cheddar)
No comment from the Scott Walker administration.
The nation is about to learn what most of the Wisconsin electorate, some 74 percent, who didn't vote for Scott Walker already know well: Scott Walker lies, cheats and lies some more.
Scott Walker campaign infringed on a trademark logo below
 |
| America's Best Contacts and Eyeglasses; © 1999-2015 America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses |
Jul 8, 2015
Corrupt, Callow and Dogmatic Is No Way to Go Through Life
Hiding in the USA
Updated - Modern Wisconsin history has never seen a governor as fearful, even phobic, as seen in Scott Walker's adamant refusal to face the Wisconsin people, or hold extended press conferences.
This explains in part Walker's penchant for secrecy and Walker's belated acknowledgement through his flack that his staff helped craft the aborted Open Records fiasco. (Opoien, The Capital Times)
"I will call on Governor Walker to do what he promised Wisconsin he would do five years ago; make Wisconsin government more transparent and accountable," said State Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) in a statement.
Not going to happen. Secrecy is to corruption what violence is to assault and battery. And Walker does not want the American people examining his record too closely.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel kept up the pressure on Walker to come clean, noting in another editorial yesterday, "Gov. Scott Walker and state legislators have scrapped — at least for now — a brazen attempt to limit access to state public records. But that by no means is an end to the issue; there are still questions that need to be answered. ... To borrow a phrase: What did Gov. Scott Walker know and when did he know it?"
Other leading Wisconsin politicos—Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Rep. Mark Pocan and Russ Feingold for example—hype their listening sessions and open, accessible offices, though no one has approached Feingold's mark of holding a listening session in all of Wisconsin's 72 counties each year of his six-year senate term.
Can you imagine Scott Walker doing that?
Walker governs in secret, by "bomb" in his own description, and at the whim of campaign donors (Isikoff, Yahoo News), prompting the well-regarded John Torinus Jr. to ask if campaigns even matter "when almost none of the major policy departures contained in the [Walker] budget were proposed" by Walker during the 2014 gubernatorial campaign.
Selling out the Wisconsin people for special interest money does not a policy wonk make.
Even Republican national politicos know Walker is in over his head, advising him to get more experience as Walker's ignorance became apparent to the national political audience this spring (Hoffman, Politico).
"Walker's diplomatic experience is limited to settling disputes with Minnesota during football season," sneered Ruben Navarrette in February (CNN). Walker "needs a better tutor on jobs and immigration," scolded the Wall Street Journal in April.
C'mon Scott, corrupt, callow and dogmatic is no way to go through life, kid.
Of course, neither is neo-Confederate, racist and misogynistic, but Scott Walker has trouble comprehending why in the radicalized Republican presidential primary.
Factor in petty and vindictive, with a self-proclaimed warrant from God, and even Republicans should worry what Walker would wrought onto the nation.
Updated - Modern Wisconsin history has never seen a governor as fearful, even phobic, as seen in Scott Walker's adamant refusal to face the Wisconsin people, or hold extended press conferences.
This explains in part Walker's penchant for secrecy and Walker's belated acknowledgement through his flack that his staff helped craft the aborted Open Records fiasco. (Opoien, The Capital Times)
"I will call on Governor Walker to do what he promised Wisconsin he would do five years ago; make Wisconsin government more transparent and accountable," said State Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) in a statement.
Not going to happen. Secrecy is to corruption what violence is to assault and battery. And Walker does not want the American people examining his record too closely.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel kept up the pressure on Walker to come clean, noting in another editorial yesterday, "Gov. Scott Walker and state legislators have scrapped — at least for now — a brazen attempt to limit access to state public records. But that by no means is an end to the issue; there are still questions that need to be answered. ... To borrow a phrase: What did Gov. Scott Walker know and when did he know it?"
Other leading Wisconsin politicos—Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Rep. Mark Pocan and Russ Feingold for example—hype their listening sessions and open, accessible offices, though no one has approached Feingold's mark of holding a listening session in all of Wisconsin's 72 counties each year of his six-year senate term.
Can you imagine Scott Walker doing that?
Walker governs in secret, by "bomb" in his own description, and at the whim of campaign donors (Isikoff, Yahoo News), prompting the well-regarded John Torinus Jr. to ask if campaigns even matter "when almost none of the major policy departures contained in the [Walker] budget were proposed" by Walker during the 2014 gubernatorial campaign.
Selling out the Wisconsin people for special interest money does not a policy wonk make.
Even Republican national politicos know Walker is in over his head, advising him to get more experience as Walker's ignorance became apparent to the national political audience this spring (Hoffman, Politico).
"Walker's diplomatic experience is limited to settling disputes with Minnesota during football season," sneered Ruben Navarrette in February (CNN). Walker "needs a better tutor on jobs and immigration," scolded the Wall Street Journal in April.
C'mon Scott, corrupt, callow and dogmatic is no way to go through life, kid.
Of course, neither is neo-Confederate, racist and misogynistic, but Scott Walker has trouble comprehending why in the radicalized Republican presidential primary.
Factor in petty and vindictive, with a self-proclaimed warrant from God, and even Republicans should worry what Walker would wrought onto the nation.
Jul 7, 2015
Scott Walker Busted, Legislators Say Walker Aides Developed Open Records Scheme
Scott Walker refused for days to acknowledge his administration's role in the Open Records fiasco that would have destroyed open government in Wisconsin.
Today, Republican legislators finally admitted the Walker administration was hip-deep in the last-minute scheme to gut Wisconsin's Open Records law before the July 4 holiday weekend.
Patrick Marley and Mary Spicuzza report:
Scott Walker and his office remained evasive on Saturday, saying, "When asked on Saturday if he knew the measure was included in Motion #999 before it passed, Walker avoided giving a yes or no answer while acknowledging that he was aware of the tide of public opinion opposed to it. (Jessie Opoien, The Capital Times)
An honest man would have owned up to his work. Not Scott Walker.
This is the way Scott Walker governs: Evade, run away, and obfuscate when caught.
Meanwhile, Scott Walker's office continues to operate as if his proposed open records gutting is law (Marley, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel).
Today, Republican legislators finally admitted the Walker administration was hip-deep in the last-minute scheme to gut Wisconsin's Open Records law before the July 4 holiday weekend.
Patrick Marley and Mary Spicuzza report:
GOP leaders in the state Legislature disclosed Tuesday that Gov. Scott Walker's office helped develop plans to dramatically roll back the state's open records law.
Walker and his aides have refused for days to explain their role in the plan, which was abandoned Saturday after intense public outcry. Walker's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
The GOP governor's help with the plan came to light as the Senate prepared to approve the state budget Tuesday and less than a week before he is to formally announce he is running for president. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
Scott Walker and his office remained evasive on Saturday, saying, "When asked on Saturday if he knew the measure was included in Motion #999 before it passed, Walker avoided giving a yes or no answer while acknowledging that he was aware of the tide of public opinion opposed to it. (Jessie Opoien, The Capital Times)
An honest man would have owned up to his work. Not Scott Walker.
This is the way Scott Walker governs: Evade, run away, and obfuscate when caught.
Meanwhile, Scott Walker's office continues to operate as if his proposed open records gutting is law (Marley, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel).
Scott Walker Concealing Role in Open Records Debacle, Pres Candidacy Speech Is Next Week
A secretive, fundamentalist, and uncompromising Scott Walker claiming a political warrant from God is maintaining his silence over his role in the Republican Open Records fiasco. (Bauer, AP, Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
A watchdog journalistic organ ran a piece today indicating that Walker's silence on the GOP attack on open government won't wash, as Walker prepares his formal announcement for president next week.
By Tim Morrissey, Public News Service:
"Bill Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, says his organization wants to know exactly who was behind last week's move to gut the state's Open Records law – something he will aggressively pursue.
Lueders says the measure, inserted in the state budget bill late at night just before the long Independence Day weekend, brought immediate, harsh, and nearly "universal" pushback.
The item was approved by the 12 Republican members of the powerful Joint Finance Committee, over the protests of the committee's four Democrats. Lueders says no one has said where the initiative for the proposal originated.
"The responsibility for this, we know, goes much deeper than just the people who came up with these horrible ideas," he says. "My intention will be to litigate this. I will sue them if they deny me access to that information." ...
Governor Walker has said the proposal will be discussed as a separate measure outside the budget bill.
Lueders, who adds he was gratified by the swift public response to the proposal, describes it as a "frontal attack on Wisconsin's history of open government." He says his organization will continue to delve for details.
"We know that 12 members of the Joint Finance Committee did vote for these changes, knowing full well how devastating they would be to Wisconsin's tradition of open government," he says. "I think all 12 of those people really ought to be held accountable."
A watchdog journalistic organ ran a piece today indicating that Walker's silence on the GOP attack on open government won't wash, as Walker prepares his formal announcement for president next week.
By Tim Morrissey, Public News Service:
"Bill Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, says his organization wants to know exactly who was behind last week's move to gut the state's Open Records law – something he will aggressively pursue.
Lueders says the measure, inserted in the state budget bill late at night just before the long Independence Day weekend, brought immediate, harsh, and nearly "universal" pushback.
The item was approved by the 12 Republican members of the powerful Joint Finance Committee, over the protests of the committee's four Democrats. Lueders says no one has said where the initiative for the proposal originated.
"The responsibility for this, we know, goes much deeper than just the people who came up with these horrible ideas," he says. "My intention will be to litigate this. I will sue them if they deny me access to that information." ...
Governor Walker has said the proposal will be discussed as a separate measure outside the budget bill.
Lueders, who adds he was gratified by the swift public response to the proposal, describes it as a "frontal attack on Wisconsin's history of open government." He says his organization will continue to delve for details.
"We know that 12 members of the Joint Finance Committee did vote for these changes, knowing full well how devastating they would be to Wisconsin's tradition of open government," he says. "I think all 12 of those people really ought to be held accountable."
Jul 5, 2015
Scott Walker Should Explain His Role in Open Records Scandal
Scott Walker refuses to acknowledge role after Walker and Republicans back down on killing Open Records Law
Updated - Scott Walker's office operating as if proposed open records gutting is law (Marley, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel).
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Scott Walker should release all papers, memos, emails and other communications and chronicle all of his and his administration's communications with Republican members of the Joint Finance Committee regarding the Republican effort to gut Wisconsin's Open Records law.
Following an unconvincing prepared statement, Scott Walker is offering silence to the Wisconsin people on his and the Republican effort to gut the Open Records law just before the July 4 holiday weekend (Hall, WisconsinWatch).
Walker's and Republican legislators' proposed evisceration of the Open Records law, [through a motion by the Wisconsin legislature's Joint Finance Committee (JFC)], provoked broad and blistering criticism of Walker and the Republican Party, including a front page editorial by Wisconsin's right-leaning and largest daily on July 4th (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) (Caffeinated Politics).
The right-leaning Wisconsin State Journal writes of this appalling Republican attempt to codify corruption and secrecy: "Any politician who continues to support similar attacks on Wisconsin’s open records law in the future will never receive the endorsement of the State Journal."
Moreover, this newspaper will use every investigative mechanism and journalistic capability possible, including seeking opinions of the court, to shine an even brighter light on legislative action. Our readers should expect no less of a free press."
Walker backed down, declining to shed light on any authorship and raising more questions than he and the Republicans answered, as legislative Republicans and Walker issued a joint statement (Spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel).
Wisconsin's Open Records law helps citizens track legislation and special interests, shining a light on campaign donors who push for public law for their own benefit, against public interest.
So who was the culprit? JFC member, State Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-White People). A PRWatch piece certainly has her as a suspect. Scott Walker signed off the secrecy provisions, as noted by State Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton), as did all 12 Republican members of the JFC. (Punzel, Wisconsin State Journal)
The Open Records law has been a thorn in the side of Scott Walker and Republicans who have taken a sledge hammer to openness in government, impartial watchdogs, academic freedom and non-partisan state services.
"Public access to governmental records is a key component of an open government. Most of our contact with government decision-making comes in the form of governmental records. The public has a right and responsibility to monitor these decisions and hold government accountable for their decisions," notes Midwest Environmental Advocates (p.2).
Public access is even more important when legislative Republicans hold no committee hearings and slip in radical changes to state government with no debate or public notice.
Walker said in a statement that the Joint Finance Committee's effort to enshrine secrecy "was never intended to inhibit transparent government in any way."
Scott Walker isn't fooling anyone, but a town hall-style, question-and-answer session (which would be Walker's first in Wisconsin) is surely called for to explain why this proposed destruction of government transparency was even contemplated, when and by whom.
Updated - Scott Walker's office operating as if proposed open records gutting is law (Marley, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel).
---
Scott Walker should release all papers, memos, emails and other communications and chronicle all of his and his administration's communications with Republican members of the Joint Finance Committee regarding the Republican effort to gut Wisconsin's Open Records law.
Following an unconvincing prepared statement, Scott Walker is offering silence to the Wisconsin people on his and the Republican effort to gut the Open Records law just before the July 4 holiday weekend (Hall, WisconsinWatch).
Walker's and Republican legislators' proposed evisceration of the Open Records law, [through a motion by the Wisconsin legislature's Joint Finance Committee (JFC)], provoked broad and blistering criticism of Walker and the Republican Party, including a front page editorial by Wisconsin's right-leaning and largest daily on July 4th (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) (Caffeinated Politics).
The right-leaning Wisconsin State Journal writes of this appalling Republican attempt to codify corruption and secrecy: "Any politician who continues to support similar attacks on Wisconsin’s open records law in the future will never receive the endorsement of the State Journal."
Moreover, this newspaper will use every investigative mechanism and journalistic capability possible, including seeking opinions of the court, to shine an even brighter light on legislative action. Our readers should expect no less of a free press."
Walker backed down, declining to shed light on any authorship and raising more questions than he and the Republicans answered, as legislative Republicans and Walker issued a joint statement (Spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel).
Wisconsin's Open Records law helps citizens track legislation and special interests, shining a light on campaign donors who push for public law for their own benefit, against public interest.
So who was the culprit? JFC member, State Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-White People). A PRWatch piece certainly has her as a suspect. Scott Walker signed off the secrecy provisions, as noted by State Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton), as did all 12 Republican members of the JFC. (Punzel, Wisconsin State Journal)
Leah Vukmir
The Open Records law has been a thorn in the side of Scott Walker and Republicans who have taken a sledge hammer to openness in government, impartial watchdogs, academic freedom and non-partisan state services.
"Public access to governmental records is a key component of an open government. Most of our contact with government decision-making comes in the form of governmental records. The public has a right and responsibility to monitor these decisions and hold government accountable for their decisions," notes Midwest Environmental Advocates (p.2).
Public access is even more important when legislative Republicans hold no committee hearings and slip in radical changes to state government with no debate or public notice.
Walker said in a statement that the Joint Finance Committee's effort to enshrine secrecy "was never intended to inhibit transparent government in any way."
Scott Walker isn't fooling anyone, but a town hall-style, question-and-answer session (which would be Walker's first in Wisconsin) is surely called for to explain why this proposed destruction of government transparency was even contemplated, when and by whom.
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