Koch Was Not Shy About Talking Strategy for Wisconsin Recall

Updated - Every Wisconsin politico remembers the recording made public in 2011 of Scott Walker's gushing over the man Walker thought to be David Koch.

Repulsive in about a dozen ways.

Jack Craver of the Capital Times looked at the transcripts of the Walker-faux Koch conversation and found another repulsive angle: Koch and Walker plotting to use Koch's Americans for Prosperity 501(c)(4) (AFP), illegally I would say, to help out the six Republican state senators who were recalled in 2011.

From the 2011 recording referenced in Craver's piece:

And later Walker hinted at how AFP could protect state senators running for reelection: "(P)articulary in some of these, uh, more swing areas, a lot of these guys are gonna need, they don’t necessarily need ads for them, but they’re gonna need a message out reinforcing why this was a good thing to do for the economy and a good thing to do for the state."

Koch and Walker were right about using AFP to keep GOP control in the Wisconsin senate.

Mal Contends learned last February that David Koch more than hinted, he explicitly took credit for keeping the Wisconsin State Senate in Republican control.

In February 2012, a reporter, Stacey Singer, scored a rare interview of Koch for her piece that ran February 18, 2012 in the Palm Beach Press.

Writes Singer:

Asked about his efforts to sway public opinion, Koch acknowledges his group is hard at work in places such as Wisconsin, where Gov. Scott Walker is facing off with public unions and grappling with a likely recall vote.

"We're helping him, as we should. We've gotten pretty good at this over the years," he says. "We've spent a lot of money in Wisconsin. We're going to spend more."

By "we" he says he means Americans for Prosperity, which is spending about $700,000 on an "It's working" television ad buy in the state. It credits Walker's public pension and union overhaul with giving school districts the first surpluses they've seen in years.

Reached at the Press in 2012 after the Koch piece had run, Singer told me (by phone) Koch said, it "was the work our people did, what Americans for Prosperity did and the money spent that enabled them [the Republicans] to keep control in the [Wisconsin state] senate."

The problem with Koch and AFP is that AFP is registered as a non-profit 501(c)(4).

So AFP's electoral politics, electioneering, are explicitly delineated by law, and they are not supposed to act in support or opposition of political candidates.

As noted here regarding Lawrence O'Donnell reporting on 501(c)(4)s:

Lawrence O'Donnell pointed out in May 2013, 501(c)(4)s are by federal statute, supposed to be operated "exclusively for the promotion of social welfare," as O'Donnell cites federal law on non-profit, tax exempt organizations

And this "exclusively" element means  501(c)(4)s cannot be an electoral tool used to elect political candidates for public office.

Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code defines tax-exempt social welfare groups like this:
"Civic leagues or organizations not organized for profit but operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare." (Evan Puschak, The Last Word with  Lawrence O'Donnell; May 13, 2013)

There have been complaints filed with the IRS and the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board alleging illegal use of tax-exempt status by Koch's group.

Wisconsin awaits word on the response to these complaints. John Doe II may comprise much of this response.

Few believe, and certainly not Koch and Scott Walker, that Americans for Prosperity is exclusively used for the promotion of social welfare.

Lawrence O’Donnell Show - May 2013

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GOP Could Use Van Hollen's Plan to Make Redistricting Fair and Legal

"Wisconsin Attorney General Van Hollen - - as signaled Thursday by Senate Co-Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald - - communicated a plan Friday afternoon on behalf of the redistricting defendants (the state) in response to a petition filed earlier in the day by the winning defendants," reads the Political Environment.

A new plan is a good idea; how about the panel with the consent of the Republicans and Democrats take this opportunity to accept compliance with its judicial order by instituting a non-partisan approach to redistricting, ala Iowa's.

This can happen now, but the judicial panel's Memorandum, Opinion and Order make clear it must happen fast.

Democrats will go along. What say you, Republicans?

Republicans Went Soviet—Redistricting Decision‏ Harshly Condemns GOP

Thinks he can do to Wisconsin what he did to Milwaukee

Wisconsinites know Scott Walker and the Republicans believe public policy exists to rig the game to keep Walker and the GOP in power against the Wisconsin people.

Now, a panel of the federal judges has joined Wisconsinites behind the Recall movement by blasting Walker and the GOP in their decision to quash the secret GOP redistricting maps and their order the legislature to draw another map.

In Baldus et al, Baldwin et al v. Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, Sensenbrenner et al; and Voces De La Frontera et al v. Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, et al [Case No, 11-CV-1011 (JPS-DPW-RMD)], Judges Stadtmueller, Wood and Dow sound a lot like the people of Wisconsin in criticizing Walker and the Republicans' conduct.

From an e-mail going around on the state on the judicial panel's Memorandum, Opinion and Order, called the "greatest hits" from the redistricting decision.

Regrettably, like many other states, Wisconsin chose a sharply partisan methodology that has cost the state in dollars, time, and civility. (Page 4, Par 1)

The new governor and legislators were sworn in on January 3, 2011, and the very next day the Republican legislative leadership announced to members of the Democratic minority that the Republicans would be provided unlimited funds to hire counsel and consultants for the purposes of legislative redistricting. They informed then Democrats that they would not receive any funding for this process. (Page 5, Par 1)

Every effort was made to keep this work out of the public eye and, most particularly, out of the eye of the Democrats. (Page 5, Par 2)

The drafters did not limit their outreach to public officials; they also held meetings behind closed doors with selected outsiders. In January 2011, they met with certain private business interests, including representatives from realtor and banking associations, and a hybrid state chamber of commerce called Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce. (Page 6, Par 2)

Instead, upending more than a century of practice in Wisconsin, Act 39 required the municipalities to adjust their ward lines to the new state legislative districts. (Page 8, Par 2)

Our analysis of each of the plaintiffs’ claims leads us to the conclusion that Act 43 violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, 42 U.S.C. § 1973(a), by improperly diluting the citizen voting age population of Latinos across Assembly Districts 8 and 9. (Page 10, Par 2)

Only 323,026 people needed to be moved from one assembly district to another in order to equalize the populations numerically, but instead Act 43 moves more than seven times that number–2,357,592 people–for a net change that results in districts that are roughly equal in size. Similarly, only 231,341 people needed to move in order to create equal senate districts, but Act 43 moves 1,205,216–more than five times as many. (Page 14, line 10-15)

We come to that conclusion not because we credit the testimony of Foltz, Ottman, and the other drafters to the effect that they were not influenced by partisan factors; indeed, we find those statements to be almost laughable. (Page 17 Line 26-27, page 18 line 1-2)

we do not understand defendants to be arguing that a voter can constitutionally be deprived of the right to vote in a particular race–maybe for the House of Representatives–as long as he/she may vote for dog-catcher or the library board. The right to vote is a fundamental right for every elective office in a democracy. (Page 19 11-15)

“The evidence shows that the new lines for Districts 8 and 9 will be disruptive to the Latino community of interest.” P. 28

“Section 2 rights are too valuable to be evaluated on an expert’s unsubstantiated opinion.” P. 30

“It is no matter, however, because Dr. Grofman’s supposition utterly ignores the radical reconfiguration that the New Assembly District 8 imposes.” P. 30

“We take the GAB at its word that it will use the 2002 districts. That is sensible, especially in light of the command in the Wisconsin Constitution not to re-district more than once each 10 years.” P. 32 (this pertains to the recall elections)

“We find that…the drafting of Act 43 was needlessly secret, regrettably excluding input from the overwhelming majority of Wisconsin citizens, and although the final product needlessly move more than a million Wisconsinites and disrupted their long-standing political relationships…” P. 34

“Tempers can flare when people are excluded from the political process, whether they are shut out because of their party affiliation, because of their race, because of their economic status, or because of any other trait. Such a contentious atmosphere is neither necessary nor desirable. We know that it is not necessary, because courts hold themselves to a higher standard and have succeeded in drawing successful maps time and time again. We should have learned that it is not desirable because of the rancor that it fosters.” Pp’s 34-35

“IT IS ORDERED that the plaintiff’s and intervenor-plaintiffs’ Sixth Claim for relief be and the same is hereby GRANTED, the Court having found that New Assembly Districts 8 and 9 violate the Voting Rights Act, and, accordingly, the Government Accountability Board is hereby ENJOINED from implementing Act 43 in its current form;” P. 37

Ruthelle Frank Reacts to Recent Voting Rights Developments

Ruthelle Frank of Brokaw, Wisconsin fights for
her right to vote against Scott Walker
- Image from the Brad Blog

Ruthelle Frank missed voting for the first time in 60 years last month.

Ms. Frank was unable to legally vote in the February 21 Spring Primary election, disenfranchised from voting in her local school board election in Brokaw, Wisconsin.

Frank is a co-plaintiff who filed suit in federal court to block Scott Walker's voter ID law saying it unconstitutionally burdens the rights of senior citizens, minorities, homeless veterans and others from voting. [Frank v. Walker, 11cv1128, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin (Milwaukee)]

She is a 84-year-old woman living in Brokaw [and is a member of the Brokaw Village Board] and has been voting since 1948, but would have to pay up to $200 to get a Wisconsin GOP-approved ID.
 
Reached by phone Friday morning, Ms. Frank offered her thoughts on recent developments in the GOP voter obstruction fights.
 
"I have been living here 83 years; everybody knows me. We [Brokaw] have 194 people. I maybe could have voted last month illegally," Frank said. "I wasn't allowed to vote legally though, because I didn't have a valid Wisconsin ID. I didn't vote."
 
As civil rights activists today march from Selma to Montgomery in protest of Alabama's voter ID and anti-immigration laws, Ms. Frank keeps up the fight in Wisconsin.

"My motto is: You don't use what you have, you lose it. But I have never seen treatment like this, what is going on," said Frank. "I'm fighting for everyone who has lost his [voting] rights. This isn't right, it's just plain crazy. Just because we're old, and can't get around like we're young doesn't mean we're stupid and can't think and shouldn't be able to vote."

Asked about GOP criticism of Dane County Judge David Flanagan's temporary injunction barring implementation of the voter ID law while having signed a recall Walker petition, Frank said, "as far as I'm concerned, he has an opinion about Scott Walker and he [Flanagan] has to live his own life, you're not supposed to speak what you believe in?"

Frank whose story was broken by Robert Mentzer last year in the Wausau Daily Herald, sang the praises of old-time journalism, singling out Mentzer.

"I called up Bob Mentzer of the Wausau Daily Herald and told him what was going on; and he just said, 'he's driving over,'" said Frank.

As the state and federal law suits against voter ID laws across the country continue, Frank said she is optimistic and ready for the fight.

"We're going to make it, we're are not going to crawl under a rock. I'm talked to people from California, Washington and even had a relative in Florida call me after seeing me on [Rachel Maddow]. Keep writing and thank you for spreading the story," Frank said.

The GOP Hates People with Whom They Disagree Casting Votes

Ruhelle Frank of Brokaw, Wisconsin fights for her right
to vote in federal court against Scott Walker.
Because of the state’s new voter ID law,
2012 will be the first year Frank can’t vote.

Days after the first election under Wisconsin's new voter ID law Tuesday, a federal complaint need not make a facial (on its face) challenge to Wisconsin's voter obstruction, stop-nonexistent-voter-impersonation-nonsense statute. See the Brennan Center's: "future (federal) challenges to voter laws must be filed with respect to the application of a specific law—after its controversial mandates are already applied in an election."

But it won't mater.

The Wisconsin ID law is so blatantly unconstitutional that I think even the corrupt 4-3 majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court will have to enjoin the law as voting in Wisconsin is extremely well-protected under Wisconsin Constitutional law, and upholding the law would cause GOP justices to look even more foolish than they do now.

So, in both state and federal court, we are looking good.

• In other developments,
•  Brad Friedman chronicles some early reactions from users' point of view of the GOP voter obstruction system in practice.
• The Racine Journal Times reports: "69-year old veteran Gil Paar was shocked when poll workers told him his photo I.D. from the V.A. wasn’t on the accepted list."
•  Eric Kleefeld's Wisconsin Veteran Irate at Voter ID Law: ‘What The F*ck Did I Go in For?’ offers a nice wrap-up.
• And my A Voter ID Reality Overlooked provides background
• Worth a quick look from 2011: Wisconsin Official Instructs Staff Not To Mention Free IDs for Voting

I worked the polls Tuesday as an election inspector, and I had to reject an Army Reserve ID that did not include an expiration date.

- Before getting into revealing how foolish Republicans are on this issue, note that before you vote, you have to register to vote; see Wisconsin Voter Registration Application. To register to vote you need to establish who you are, and where you are (residency) with government and employee IDs, leases, utility bills, bank statements, etc; and if you have a driver’s license you need to register with your driver’s licence. In addition, you need to sign the voter reg. form stating that you are aware that falsification of any information is a Class 1 felony in Wisconsin. That’s before you can vote. … Then, you have to present a GOP-approved ID that Republicans say, is intended to stop rampant voter impersonation at the polls. Not one case of voter impersonation in Wisconsin has been prosecuted going back decades. -

One women left Tuesday before she voted because she felt the registration process was too intrusive, and it is. She had been purged from the voting rolls through a clerical error and so had to re-register.

A election inspector colleague, a Republican, said he didn't believe college and tech students, the elderly and black voters in Milwaukee were denied the right to vote.

I told him about a research report by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Employment and Training Institute showing that over 177,000 elderly persons in Wisconsin aged 65 and older do not possess a driver's license or state photo identification.

"No," he said. They must have IDs to receive "their Social Securty checks," he said triumphantly.

Tell that to 96-year-old Dorothy Cooper and 86-year-old Darwin Spinks (ThinkProgress).

Factually incorrect, but never use facts and logic in speaking to die-hard Republicans—it's not their thing. Should have ignored him.

Ruthelle Frank, 16 co-plaintiffs and the ACLU are filing suit in federal court to block the law saying it unconstitutionally burdens the rights of senior citizens, minorities, homeless veterans and others from voting. [See Frank v. Walker, 11cv1128, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin (Milwaukee)]

Finally, another federal lawsuit against Wisconsin's new voter identification law by the Advancement Project was filed Thursday on behalf of several groups who say it discriminates against African-Americans and Latinos. ... three other lawsuits are all pending. The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee branch of the NAACP filed a lawsuit each in Dane County Circuit Court. The American Civil Liberties Union have also filed a federal lawsuit. AP

In closing, this question has not been anwsered: Why didn't Scott Walker get together in 2011 with the League of Women Voters, civil rights groups and other communites of interests and say: We're crafting a Voter ID bill, but we do not want legal voters to be stopped from voting. What can we do stop impersonation at the polls while ensuring the legal voter reflects the uncontroversial Wisconsin constituional doctrine:

"Every one having the constitutional qualifications then, may to go the polls, vested with this franchise, of which no statutory condition precedent can deprive him, because the [Wisconsin] constitution makes him, by force of his present qualifications, a qualified voter at such election."
- [Wis. Const, article III, section 1] Wood v. Baker, 38 Wis. 71: (August 1875)] Wisc. - Wisconsin Supreme Court

Scott Walker's $810 million Rail Road Blunder Looks Even Worse One Year Later

This model train, featuring the slogan "Wisconsin is Open for Business,"
is running around the base of the Christmas tree
at the state Capitol in Madison. Photo by Larry Tamiso

Update: See also Absurd: Tea Party Mayor Rejects Federally Funded, Job-Creating Amtrak Line.
"In what could be a new high water mark of anti-Washington sentiment, the city of Troy, Mich., is rejecting a long-planned transportation center whose construction would have been fully financed with federal stimulus money. The terminal, which would help Troy become a transportation node on an upgraded Detroit-to-Chicago Amtrak line, was hailed by supporters as a way to create jobs and to spur economic development." (NYT)

Suppose that a given state is offered $810 million in funding for a labor-intensive [lots of jobs] project to improve and expand its rail road system. And the state's governor said, in effect, 'no, we don't want the $810 million, or the jobs.'

This is precisely what happened when Scott Walker made one of the most foolish decisions in the history of Wisconsin public policy in this period of sustained high unemployment.

Scott Walker, taking his cues from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the Koch brothers, has dictated over a no-growth, crony capitalistic, corrupt period of Wisconsin history that will take a years-long, damage-repair effort.

For an excellent analysis of the scope and danger of what is happening to our country, especially the state of Wisconsin (ground zero in the battle to take our country back starting with the recall of Scott Walker), see:

• ALEC Exposed: Business Domination Inc. (Joel Rogers and Laura Dresser)
• ALEC Exposed: The Koch Connection ( Lisa Graves)
• ALEC Exposed: Rigging Elections (John Nichols)
• Why the Koch Brothers and ALEC Don't Want You to Vote (Ari Berman)

The Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin) has a tremendous editorial looking back at Scott Walker's corrupt and imbecilic rejection of $810 million:

A year later, Walker rail blunder looks even worse

Last Dec. 9, exactly a year ago, federal officials redirected $810 million in transportation funding that Gov. Scott Walker had rejected to improve Wisconsin's rail system.

That rejection may go down as one of the biggest political goofs in state history.

Walker had campaigned against the proposed Madison-Milwaukee passenger train project, saying it represented "runaway government spending" and would cost state taxpayers in the long run.

"I'm going to stop that boondoggle train to Madison" became a rallying cry for Walker, whose own polling showed that dissing Madison — and the train — was a winning issue despite the wider long-term implications for the state's transportation system.

Walker played that high-stakes gamble throughout the race, saying he could persuade Congress to redirect the money to fix Wisconsin's highways or bridges.

But after the election, when it became obvious the Obama administration was going to send the rail funds to other states, Walker had to fall on his sword to save face. That prompted the Los Angeles Times to famously write "Thanks a billion, cheeseheads" after the money was sent instead to California.

Now, as other states move forward to upgrade their rail systems — the 110 mph train could be a reality by 2015 — Wisconsin is floundering. No 2,300 construction jobs, no track improvements, no plan.

In fact, the only new train running in Wisconsin is the toy train around the Christmas tree in the Capitol proclaiming the state "Open for Business."

"At least we have one train we can enjoy while other GOP governors get a real train," quips Rep. Brett Hulsey, D-Madison.

And Wisconsin is still trying to figure out how to pay for badly needed rail improvements that would have otherwise been covered if Walker had not acted so foolishly.

This week, the Legislature's budget committee slowed planning for a permanent train maintenance facility in Milwaukee, opening the possibility the Amtrak cars will be serviced in Chicago instead. Republicans have balked at spending an estimated $53 million on the maintenance facility, saying it wasn't worth it for only two dozen permanent jobs. But not building the facility would result in the state defaulting on its contract with Spanish train company Talgo.

Sadly, the $810 million federal grant would have covered the cost of the maintenance facility, along with upgrades of tracks for the Milwaukee-to-Chicago Hiawatha line.

Earlier this year, the Walker administration went back to the feds and begged for $213 million to pay for upgrades to the Hiawatha line and most of the cost of the maintenance facility. But that request was denied.

"The Walker administration made a bad choice in wasting federal resources," says Rep. Tamara Grigsby, D-Milwaukee, in a statement. "Now Wisconsin taxpayers must foot the bill."

The state has already spent about $25 million on maintenance equipment and a temporary maintenance facility in Milwaukee for the Hiawatha line. All of that would have been covered under the money Walker rejected.

A sad day indeed.

84-Year-Old Wisconsin Woman Takes on Scott Walker in Voting Rights Suit

Ruthelle Frank of Brokaw, Wisconsin fights for
her right to vote in federal court against Scott Walker

As State Sen. Jim Holperin (D-Eagle River) proposed legislation stating birth records should be free if needed for a voter I.D. in Wisconsin, an 84-Year-Old woman [and member of the Brokaw, Wisconsin Village Board], who has been voting since 1948, would have to pay up to $200 to vote in the next election under Scott Walker's voter obstruction law in Wisconsin.

Forget it, Scott Walker.

So, Ms. Frank, 16 co-plaintiffs and the ACLU are filing suit in federal court to block the law saying it unconstitutionally burdens the rights of senior citizens, minorities, homeless veterans and others from voting. [See Frank v. Walker, 11cv1128, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin (Milwaukee)]

Ms. Frank is asking the Court to find the Voter ID law unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and violative of the Twenty-Fourth Amendment outlawing payment of a poll tax as a precondition to vote.

By Joe Sherman at the ACLU

Out in the Cold at Age 84: Wisconsin’s Ruthelle Frank Fights for Her Right to Vote

Ruthelle Frank, a resident of Brokaw, Wisconsin since her birth in 1927, has none of the accepted forms of photo ID under Wisconsin’s photo ID law which goes into effect at the February primary election. In order to get a state ID card, she needs to prove citizenship, but since she was born at home, she has never had a birth certificate. The state Register of Deeds, however, does have a record of her birth and can produce a birth certificate at a $20 cost. There’s one problem though — her maiden name (Wedepohl) is misspelled in the record. That record can only be amended by legal proceeding, and the combined fees will run Ruthelle potentially upwards of $200. The state will not waive any of these fees, and under the new law, if she cannot obtain a state ID card, Ruthelle will be sent away from the polls.

If you lost all your IDs and personal documents in a fire today, could you prove who you are? What if there was an election coming up and your state required you to present photo ID in order to vote? Could you figure it out in time? Do you know where to go? What forms and documents you need? Do you have the time and money to get it all done?

In Wisconsin, it takes at least 3 types of proof to get a state ID card that can be used to vote. For most people, the combination of required documents is a certified copy of a birth certificate, a Social Security Card, and some proof of residency like a utility bill or government mail. But it takes ID to get ID. And, in some cases, it takes (A) ID and/or money to (B) get the ID required to (C) get the ID you actually need to vote. This obstacle course is leaving eligible voters discouraged and disenfranchised.

Some photo ID proponents have repeatedly argued that the only people who lack photo ID are those who don’t vote anyway. False. Ruthelle, a sitting member of her village board, has voted in every election since 1948, the year in which Truman signed the Marshall Plan and NYC subway fares jumped from 5 to 10 cents. She is a longstanding participant in this democracy. And sadly, her story is in no way unique — every day, eligible voters are finding out that, under current law, they will not be able to vote in 2012 or will face numerous and significant hurdles on the road to making their voice heard. At age 84, Ruthelle is now serving as the lead plaintiff in the ACLU’s constitutional challenge to Wisconsin’s photo ID law. She’s fighting back because she believes no person should have to pay a cent or pass a bureaucracy-navigation test in order to vote. The U.S. Constitution agrees with her.

Ruthelle’s disfranchisement is horrifically unjust, but she’s actually better prepared to deal with this than many voters without accepted photo ID, who are disproportionately low-income, elderly, and/or minority, and disproportionately marginalized. Despite Ruthelle’s physical disability (she is paralyzed on the left side of her body), she has family that can assist her, savings, education, and familiarity with both the electoral process and local government. Consider the eligible Wisconsin voter with few contacts, low or no income or savings, and much less education. Is that person any less a citizen of this country? That voter is at risk of losing his/her voice in Wisconsin and everywhere in the U.S. that photo ID laws have been enacted. But maybe you’d reply that most people have photo ID in America. Well, the Ruthelle Franks of the world want you to know that “most people” isn’t a democracy.

Read more on the fight against voter suppression.

Citizens Uncover Huge County-state Mistakes in Voter Obstruction Efforts

Wisconsin Catch 22 on Voter Obstruction

Update: Here's Richard Pinney's PR with contact info.

Folks may need a birth certificate to get a photo ID to vote, but they are told by the State and County bureaucracies they need a photo ID to get a birth certificate.

Citizens acting to ensure registered legal voters in Wisconsin are not denied their right to vote due to the Voter ID law have uncovered a big snafu with the potential to invalidate the entire law.

State law doesn't require a photo ID to get a birth certificate, but 2/3 of the counties are using forms that say a photo ID is required to get a birth certificate.

Richard Pinney built a website, Get Voter ID, to help people get a voter ID, but in the process found the snafu, a Catch 22 that Republicans love.

In fact, as Pinney notes:

In a systemic state-wide failure, the Election Division of the Government Accountability Board, the Department of Health Services, 48 counties and the Wisconsin Register of Deeds Association all post a link to a mail-in form that explicitly requires submitting a copy of the applicant's 'current valid photo ID'.

So, some folks may need a birth certificate to get a photo ID to vote, but they are told by the State and County bureaucracies they need a photo ID to get a birth certificate. What is this the U.S. Army?

View the complete GetVoterID.org Report here (PDF) with links to all sites-in-error mentioned above and examples of several versions of the mistaken photo ID requirements.

Man Arrested in Washington County for Defacing Recall Petitions

Republican intimidation and illegal dirty tricks against the Recall Scott Walker movement mount.

West Bend police confirm that a Washington County man has been arrested on felony charges for destroying recall petitions.

By Phil Scarr

From Facebook. Tip-o-the-hat to @ShainaLovesMKE on Twitter for the pointer! More as I learn it.

UPDATE: I spoke to the on-duty Sergeant at the West Bend police department and got the following details:

•Incident happened at a residence in West Bend just after noon Sunday

•30-year-old male

•He is still in jail

•Charged with 2 felony counts of defacement of a recall petition

•Apparently, according to a witness to the incident, he scribbled all over the petitions trying to deface the signatures,

UPDATE 2: The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has the story and reports on the incident today.

Tomgram: Andy Kroll, Political Crossroads in Wisconsin

Excellent piece on the Wisconsin Democracy movement by Andy Kroll at TomDispatch.

Our Broken Escalator - Cuts to School Districts are UnAmerican

Nicholas D. Kristof has a piece in today's NYT on why public education is a good thing.

Scott Walker, Randy Hopper and the gang don't agree as they take their ax to school districts, demonize teachers, and take over community control.

Writes Kristof:

THE United States supports schools in Afghanistan because we know that education is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to build a country.

Alas, we’ve forgotten that lesson at home. All across America, school budgets are being cut, teachers laid off and education programs dismantled. ...

The immediate losers are the students. In the long run, the loser is our country. ...

it’s also true that blindly slashing budgets is making the problems worse. As Derek Bok, the former Harvard president, once observed, “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”

Still, we nation-build in Afghanistan and scrimp at home. How is it that we can afford to double our military budget since 9/11, can afford the carried-interest tax loophole for billionaires, can afford billions of dollars in givebacks to oil and gas companies, yet can’t afford to invest in our kids’ futures?

Sometimes I hear people endorse education cuts by arguing that “school isn’t for everybody,” which usually means something like “education isn’t for other people’s children” — or that farm kids in places like Yamhill [Oregon] really don’t need schools that double as rocket ships. I can’t think of any view that is more un-American.

Corrupt Open Meeting Ruling Steels Resolve of Citizens

Ismael R. Ozanne v. Jeff Fitzgerald/State v. Circuit Court for Dane County

is a dark scandal in the Wisconsin justice system.

The four corrupt partisans on the Wisconsin Supreme Court handed the GOP the victory that is has been clamoring for this week.

But the recall and family protection movement will only strengthen.

Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson's dissent blasted the corrupt partisan ruling: The majority " ... reached a pre-determined conclusion not based on the facts and the law, which undermines the majority's ultimate decision."

The majority justices "make their own findings of fact, mischaracterize the parties' arguments, misinterpret statutes, minimize (if not eliminate) Wisconsin constitutional guarantees, and misstate case law, appearing to silently overrule case law dating back to at least 1891," Abrahamson wrote. [MJS]

The case is Ozanne et al v. Fitzgerald, Ellis et al [Case No.: 2011AP000613-LV Ismael R. Ozanne v. Jeff Fitzgerald and Case No.: 2011AP000765-W State v. Circuit Court for Dane County].

From Blogging Blue, State Sen. Chris Larson had this to say: “It is a shame that the partisan agenda of special interest groups and big corporations has seeped into the very foundation of Wisconsin’s court system,” said Sen. Chris Larson (D–Milwaukee).

In March of this year, Republicans forced passage of Act 10 despite their actions violating Senate Rules and Procedures. Act 10 was the first step in Governor Walker’s unprecedented attack on basic worker rights and the middle class.

“Today is a dark day for Wisconsin,” said Sen. Larson. “This legislation and the subsequent ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court will undo over 50 years of progress in labor working with management to move Wisconsin forward.”

As Governor Walker and his rubberstamp Republican legislators have already made clear, this attack on worker’s rights was politically-motivated, not fiscal in nature, and will not be tolerated by the People of Wisconsin.

“We are reminded today what is at stake in Wisconsin,” said Sen. Larson. “Wisconsin is at the front of an unprecedented assault on workers and the middle class. Wisconsin voters

From One Wisconsin Now:

I remain here at the Capitol with thousands of other activists protesting Governor Walker and the Republican's continued assault on Wisconsin's way of life, and we have just received news that the four conservative member of our Supreme Court have aided and abetted Gov. Scott Walker's crime against 175,000 working Wisconsinites by overturning the lower court and allowing his disastrous attack on the rights of workers to stand as law.

But we remain unbowed. United. Standing for workers and Wisconsin's middle class.

Do you stand with us?

The disastrous agenda of Walker and the Republicans is fueling an unprecedented mobilization and awoken the middle class to the horrors of government bought and paid for by corporate special interests.

The fight goes on. I pledge that One Wisconsin Now will continue to aggressively fight for the values we share -- of decency, of caring for the least among us, for equal rights, for quality schools and the right to collectively bargain in the workplace.

Do you stand with us? If so, please help our efforts with a contribution tonight. I know that we have asked for your help many times, but you have all been so steadfast with your support so far. I know I can count on you again. Stand with us and speak out with one voice, and tell Governor Walker and his conservatives lackeys that this aggression against Wisconsin's working families will not stand.

Obama Should Learn from Wisconsin

Update: See Protesters Spread the News: Keep Hands Off Medicare and The 7 most awful truths you need to know about Paul Ryan’s war on Medicare.

President Obama should mention Protecting Medicare so often that it brings to mind how endlessly Brent Musburger used to tout: "On CBS" in the 70s-80s.

The vast majority of Americans wants Medicare and Social Security protected from Republicans like Rep. Paul Ryan and the insurance industry.

What President Obama has not achieved is to develop a communication strategy reflecting this popular sentiment of the Americans who voted him into office.

Medicare and Social Security are great economics, demonstrate respect for the citizens who lived in our country the longest, and are great politics.

Wisconsin Recall

Here in Wisconsin the Republicans similarly target popular programs and guarantees that make Wisconsin a great place to live: Access to and protection of voting rights, local control of government, craft breweries, open and clean government, freedom to assembly; the list seems endless.

But unlike the Obama administration, citizens here have in every way, on every day made their views and voices heard.

No one has to guess how Wisconsin feels about the Scott Walker-Randy Hopper regime.

As for President Obama, just over two years into his administration, his message is: Whaaat?

Working families matter; our seniors deserve our respect; the freedom to associate and organize is valued; and people are aching to participate in our country's public affairs in the hope and with the faith that we still live in a democracy.

President Obama, clarify your commitments and fight for us ... like now. One more thing, on the White House issues page, list Medicare! Also: I have been surfing the White House site and I cannot find one photo of the president with the cutline: 'I will not allow any attacks by the enemies of Medicare.'

GOP PR Operative: "No chance" Randy Hopper Survives Recall

Update: Randy Hopper (R-Empire (formerly Fond du Lac)), defeated in recall election by Democratic nominee, Oshkosh Deputy Mayor Jessica King, on August 9, 2011.

Recall Election Results
Jessica King ,   28,187  51%
Randy Hopper 26,937  49%
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Well-known (and well-liked) writer and PR specialist James Wigderson at Wigderson Library and Pub says recall target State Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac) is toast.

A head faint? No.

There is no chance Hopper can win the recall election. Is he watching Weiner get roasted? Hopper’s randy behavior makes him toasted. (It’s funnier because it rhymed.)

Blogger and Republican activist Kevin Binversie has suggested Hopper resign now to give the party a fighting chance to save the seat. My only addition to that would be that the Republican Party would have to be stupid to try to save him.

GOP Kim Simac's Contact Info: Ohio Area Code

Kim Simac - Via MyFoxWausau

Republican and Tea Partier Kim Simac (Eagle River) is challenging State Sen. Jim Holperin (D-Conover) in a recall election verified yesterday by the Government Accountability Board.

But according to Simac's press release, if you want to contact the Simac campaign, you have to call the 216 area code that covers greater Cleveland, Ohio.

That's because the campaign contact, Samantha Osborne, has not established her Wisconsin residency, said Osborne this morning. Osborne is new to the district.

Osborne assured me she is living in the Northern woods area of Rhinelander, but she could not give me the Simac campaign headquarters' phone number.

Word is the Simac operation [with its warped family values hyposrisy] is half-baked, incoherent and not much of a threat to knock off the popular Democratic legislator, Holperin [Senate District 12], who has long ties to the area.

The recall signatures against Holperin were overwhelmingly gathered by a Colorado-based operation that goes to state to state, and pays its employees by the number of signatures gathered.

The Simac press release, delivered by e-mail, follows:
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Samantha Osborne

June 8, 2011 (216) 650-4955

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD CERTIFIES RECALL
ELECTION TO BE HELD ON JULY 19TH

RHINELANDER, Wisconsin-Kim Simac released the following statement today on the Government Accountability Board certifying recall petitions against Jim Holperin.

“The GAB ruling certifies not only the recalls petitions but the disappointment I’ve heard around the district over our current representation and the dirty politics going on in Madison. The people want real leadership. Real leaders get the job done and don’t run away when facing tough decisions.”

Jim Holperin is one of the 14 Senate Democrats that fled to Illinois during the debate on budget balancing measures. There were 19,255 valid recall signatures certified, the most against any Democratic Senator. Kim Simac announced her candidacy for the 12th Senate District on May 5th.
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Randy Hopper on Video: "I’m gonna get you for everything you have 'fracking' done"

Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac, Wisconsin) tells Wisconsin citizen, "I’m gonna get you for everything you have fucking done."

Hopper faces a recall election scheduled now for July 12, barring developments from Republican Court challenges to the recall petition and a GOP effort to run fake Democrats to force a primary.

From Paul I. Tascoupe at PolitiScoop last week:

Joint Fin Committe Slips Anti-Union Provision into Budget after Midnight

Walker and the GOP's sneak government.

Randy Hopper Causes GOP Worry

Sen. Randy Hopper HQ in Oshkosh?

Update: GOP seeks to delay elections, as the GAB moves scheduled election date to July 19.

Sen. Randy Hopper (Fond du Lac) should do the “the right thing” and not run in the Recall Election, said GOP radio host [and effectively a GOP operative] Charlie Sykes last week.

Sykes cited GOP polling that has Hopper polling poorly in the 18th Senate District recall election scheduled for July 12.

A source in the Democratic Party close to the Hopper recall effort said their polling confirms Sykes' report.

From xoff:

WisPolitics.com, in a report to subscribers, says there's a GOP movement underway to get State Sen. Randy Hopper out of the recall election for his seat.

Hopper, beset by personal problems as well as political ones, looks like a dead duck. He's being challenged by Jessica King, who came within an eyelash of beating him in 2008.

Hopper reportedly insists he's not getting out, but if Gov. Scott Walker were to dangle a higher-paying job in front of him he might have a change of heart. He could also face a primary, but no challenger has surfaced yet and that gets messy.

Rabid talker Charlie Sykes says Hopper should do 'the right thing' and step aside in the race because he's polling poorly

This Is Why We Fight Scott Walker and the GOP Eight

Via Zach

Rep. Mark Pocan's open letter to Wisconsin GOP Leaders

March 12, 2011 - Madison

By Representative Mark Pocan (78th Assembly district - Madison)

The State Legislature over the past few months has been transformed into a vindictive and malicious institution ...

[Recovering] is going to take hard work and long hours of reaching across the aisle. It may even mean standing up to your own governor the next time he illegally threatens to kick kids off BadgerCare or issue layoff notices to state workers as a pawn in his political game of Chess.

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau hasn’t even released their summary of the Governor’s budget bill, yet the few details the public has already gleaned from the bill make it wildly unpopular from the start.

Read the complete letter at Dane 101.