In Wisconsin Supreme Court, Fix Is in for Scott Walker

The Koch brothers have made their intentions public to buy the U.S. presidency with Scott Walker as their front-man, as Scott Walker limits his appearances before the press (Byers, The Politico), (Confessore, NYT), (Beck, Wisconsin State Journal), (Katz, New York Daily News), (Fischer, PRWatch).

What the national commentariat is missing is that this suggests that the two John Doe cases—investigating Walker's illegal direction and coordination of independent and advocacy money—before the Wisconsin Supreme Court are already decided, and four members of the Court can no longer be regarded as anything but an arm of the Republican moneyed interests who funded their campaigns (See Bottari, Walker's Dark Money Allies Orchestrate Coup of the Courts at PRWatch).

The Koch brothers wouldn't bother with Walker if they didn't know the outcome at the Court now still ostensibly deliberating.

The rightwing media is ratcheting up its campaign to recast the bipartisan John Doe II probe as a partisan abuse of power in anticipation of the Court's pro-Walker ruling (French, National Review).

So, when the four Republican justices rule for Walker, all the rightwing chorus will sing: We told you so, as though the four justices brought by GOP money were not part of the problem.

There is of course the Due Process Clause case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, 5-4 by Justice Kennedy, Caperton v. Massey (2009) (Brennen Center for Justice).

Writes Justice Kennedy: "We conclude that there is a serious risk of actual bias—based on objective and reasonable perceptions—when a person with a personal stake in a particular case had a significant and disproportionate influence in placing the judge on the case by raising funds or directing the judge's election campaign when the case was pending or imminent. The inquiry centers on the contribution's relative size in comparison to the total amount of money contributed to the campaign, the total amount spent in the election, and the apparent effect such contribution had on the outcome of the election."

Facing the litigant-purchased Wisconsin Court, the John Doe probe cases will take years to reach the High Court, and by that time, the presidential race will be over and Caperton won't present a problem for the then-former-presidential candidate, Scott Walker.

Americans for Prosperity Is a Koch-fronted 501(c)(4) That David Koch Said He Uses for Elections

Update: Koch brothers left confidential political document at Palm Beach donor conference.

Last year David Koch took credit for Republicans' keeping control of the legislature in the Wisconsin state senate recall elections held in August 2011, a Palm Beach Post reporter said.

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," said Stacey Singer referring to a rare Koch interview with the press for a Palm Beach Post, (Feb. 18. 2012) piece. The quote was not published in her piece.

Singer noted in her February 18, 2012 piece that Koch also said, "We're helping [Scott Walker], as we should. We've gotten pretty good at this over the years. We've spent a lot of money in Wisconsin. We're going to spend more."

One problem with this is that Americans for Prosperity is registered as a non-profit 501(c)(4). So electoral politics are supposed to be out of bounds, by law.

As Lawrence O'Donnell pointed out in May 2013, 501(c)(4)s are by federal law, 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 not an electoral tool used to elect political candidates for public office.

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 status of these complaints.

Few doubt that Americans for Prosperity is exclusively used for the promotion of social welfare.

Lawrence O’Donnell Show - May 2013

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Cato Institute: Koch Bros engaged in hostile takeover

Gaius Publius [Americablog] breaks down the situation at the Cato Institute where the Koch brothers are turning what used to be an independent, nonpartisan research organization into an arm of the Republican Party.

People Power v. Scott Walker

When Gov. Scott Walker appeared on conservative commentator Larry Kudlow's CNBC show last week, the headline crawl asked regarding Wisconsin's recall: “Most Important Non-Presidential Election?”

By John Nichols

Every signal from Walker was that it is just that.

And that Walker, despite his $12 million campaign fund, is running scared. ...

Scott Walker's anti-mandate - Via PolitiScoop

Since the recall drive began, the only big-media advertising campaigns have been those paid for by Walker and national groups that back him. [See also Koch brothers all in to save Scott Walker (Sargent. Washington Post)]

After all that pro-Walker spending, polling shows that he remains vulnerable because of popular disapproval of his policies. Even in the most Walker-friendly recent poll, 55 percent opposed his attempts to limit the number of people eligible for the BadgerCare health assistance program and 65 percent opposed his reductions in state aid to public schools. ...

But what Walker (and Kudlow) said is true. The Wisconsin recall is the most important non-presidential election of the year, and the results will send a powerful message.

It will be a real fight, pitting two critical forces in American politics against one another: the big money that Walker is raising from across the nation versus the people power [whose right to vote the GOP has schemed to block] that collected 1 million signatures on petitions demanding the removal of an increasingly desperate governor.

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.

Wisconsin GOP Targets Madison City Police, Citizens

GOP's nightmare

Wisconsin's counter-offensive against GOP-Tea Party attacks on the working class has provoked the Wisconsin Republican Party to declare political war against anyone, including now the city of Madison police who remain committed to the First Amendment and Article 1 rights of Wisconsinites protesting the Koch brothers and the GOP

The echos of the pioneering civil rights activist and Madison Police Chief David Couper [Marine, Chief of Police in Madison from 1972-1993] live on in current Madison Police Chief Noble Wray to the consternation of the GOP.

The GOP cannot stand any challenge to what it views as its authority over the public. No protests. Close the capitol. Police must enforce the will of the Party.

People assemble and make their voices known. Nein, nein, nein!

To understand the GOP mind, consider the reaction to Wisconsinites gathering together to express their discontent with the Scott Walker regime this year:

GOP Locks Capitol Down, U.S. Rep Obey (1969-2011) denied entry into capitol



Contra the Madison police and Dane County Sheriff's office who refused to be Walker's palace guard, Wisconsin capitol police chief, Charles Tubbs, dishonored his office, catering to the Department of Administration Walker lackeys in closing the capitol on orders form the Party.

After Scott Walker "dropped the bomb" on Wisconsin citizens, a stark image from March is of a Wisconsin legislator [Nick Milroy (D-South Grange)] being tackled to the ground for trying to get to his office as Walker unlawfully closed down the capitol.



Republicans are so hostile to the idea of a democratic republic that a judge had to order the Wisconsin capitol open to the public in early March.

Other examples of GOP hostility to democracy abound today.

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s office threatened constituents with arrest and investigation.

Now, Wisconsin Republicans are declaring open war on Madison police leadership with a racial slap at Police Chief Noble Wray.

Chief Noble Wray told a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter that questions about his department's conduct during the protests constitute "almost a slap in the face."

As John Peterson writes, "The myth of violence, vandalism and thuggery during the protests is the lie their pushing, repeating and burning into the mind of Wisconsinites who weren’t there. It’s like George W. Bush said, 'catapulting the propaganda.'"

There is a clear choice, and the fight against anti-democratic forces is worth joining.

Obama DoJ Shoots Down Citizen Criminal Complaint Against Gov. Scott Walker

One might believe that Gov. Scott Walker discussing planting “troublemaking” agents provocateur at the Wisconsin budget-recall rallies would certainly draw the interest of the U.S. Dept of Justice, Civil Rights Division.

Wrong.

I received the second of two letters from the DOJ June 8 responding to my allegation of a civil rights violation from one Natania Gazek rejecting an investigation and refusing to forward to any appropriate investigative unit that might be more inclined to investigate civil rights violations about which I contacted the U.S. DOJ.

Ms. Gazek volunteers that I contact a "private attorney."

Disappointing. One must go to the top, and try again. Expect a letter Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division.

The February letter is below.
---
United States Attorney's Office
Western District of Wisconsin
660 West Washington Avenue, Suite 303
Madison, WI 53703

February 24, 2011

I am writing to ask for a criminal investigation into the actions of the office of Governor Scott Walker.

I refer to the recently publicized tape of a phone call in which Gov. Walker responds to a caller’s (pretending to be David Koch) suggestion (vis) [“But, uh, what we were thinking about the crowds was, uh, was planting some troublemakers.”] to place agents provocateur among the citizens protesting the Wisconsin budget bill, to which Walker replies, “You know, the, well, the only problem with that — because we thought about that. The problem — the, my only gut reaction to that is right now the lawmakers I’ve talked to have just completely had it with them, the public is not really fond of this” [A.G. SULZBERGER; New York Times, February 23, 2011. “Walker Receives Prank Call From Koch Impersonator”].

My concern is that—as presumably the “thought” Walker referenced was not conveyed telepathically—the Walker administration discussed planting “troublemaking” agents provocateur at the rallies that I have attended, along with members of my family. Such discussions merit an investigation.

I would like what Gov. Walker said and to whom he spoke on this matter of planting agents provocateur at political rallies held in Madison investigated under suspicion that Walker conspired to disrupt protected political activity.

In point of fact, apropos to the tape referenced above, members of David Koch’s organization, Americans for Prosperity, were bussed in on Saturday, Feb. 19, according to numerous media reports; and labor organizations and supporters were widely warned to stay away from Koch’s group and not “engage” them. Several law enforcement agencies were reportedly aware of the possibility of violence.

It is not relevant to my concern that the David Koch impersonator turned out to be a journalist. What concerns me, again, is Gov. Walker’s taped statement that Walker said he presumably discussed planting “troublemaking”agents provocateur at political rallies, rallies which continue today.

The price of my exercising my First Amendment rights ought not to be dread that my governor is conspiring to plant “some troublemakers” when I petition my elected representatives on pending legislation and peacefully assemble to protest that legislation.

Would you please forward this letter to the appropriate investigative unit?

Yours truly,


Michael Leon

cc U.S. Rep Tammy Baldwin
cc Special Litigation Section, U.S. Dept of Justice
      Civil Rights Division

Obama 2012 Bashes Koch Brothers

The Obama for America organization is bashing the Koch Brothers as dishonest "billionaire brothers" in a fundraising e-mail blasting the Scott Walker allies:

One of the main special-interest political groups, 'Americans for Prosperity,' announced yesterday that they're launching an expensive national campaign to pin the blame for high gas prices on President Obama.

There's nothing unusual in Washington about this sort of announcement, but it caught my eye because Americans for Prosperity isn't as well meaning as its name makes it sound. In fact, it's a prime example of the kind of special-interest groups that plan to spend hundreds of millions of dollars this election cycle to defeat the President in order to promote their agenda. Its backers are the famous Koch brothers, billionaires who, according to one profile, believe in 'minimal social services for the needy and much less oversight of industry, especially environmental regulation.'

That's right: A couple of billionaire oil men are saying that it's all President Obama's fault that Americans are getting gouged at the pump while oil companies bring in record profits. And now they'll be spending the summer touting carefully orchestrated 'grassroots' protests across the country, with two goals in mind: damaging President Obama, and deflecting people's frustration about gas prices so their own profit margins stay safe.

But while the Koch brothers have been plotting a campaign paid for by oil company interests and designed to mislead people instead of empowering them, we've been building ours one person at a time. Since last Wednesday, thousands of first-time donors matched another supporter's pledge to give what they could. People are even connecting by exchanging messages about why they're stepping up to own a piece of this campaign.

Grab a stake in this movement by matching another supporter's $5 donation today.

Conservative candidates relied on these brothers' deep pockets during the 2010 elections, and for many of them, it was a good bet. Just last month, most of our major opponents showed up at an Americans for Prosperity event to say just how much they want that help again in 2012 -- and thanks to the Citizens United decision, the Kochs can spend as much as they want on front groups and disinformation campaigns aimed at misleading Americans about the President's record.

They can flood the airwaves with negative ads. They can launch smear campaigns to divert attention away from what matters.

That's exactly the kind of politics our campaign is aiming to change. And that's why we're building this organization not by checks from people like the Kochs, but with a grassroots match drive whose purpose is to recruit the most people into this campaign, not just raise the most dollars.

Now is the time, President Obama

Update: Obama Backs Workers, Slams Attacks on Rights

Just over three months ago Scott Walker and the Koch Brothers launched their program [Walker called it "the bomb"] attacking families and local control of government, followed by Paul Ryan's project to eviscerate Medicare.

The people reacted, defending rights won in hard struggles over the span of decades.

Many have been wondering if and when President Obama will also push back politically, declaring no compromise with economic terrorists: Walker, the Kochs, the Tea Party-GOP.

Adele M. Stan sees Obama attacking Paul Ryan's detructive budget plan as a  proxy for taking on the GOP-Koch blitzkrieg, right as overt appeals to racism increase and "the largest legislative effort to scale back voting rights in a century" accelerates. (NYT citing The Advancement Project)

Attacking Ryan is fine, but a full-blown political D-Day is what we need.

The grassroots in Wisconsin (like the nation) is leading—students, labor, farmers, seniors, community groups: Non-GOP sectors whose vote the GOP is trying to obstruct.

In the face of all this, President Obama, it's time to crash the schedule, assuming your goals and objectives are the same as progressives. Join the team.

Koch Brothers Still Reaping Pay-off from Walker

See Cognitive Dissidence.

Class Act v. the Sad Man

Scott Walker: "You've got a world driven by Madison, and a world driven by everyone else out across the state." (WSJ)

Walker's Judge lost and Walker is not happy.

Turns out "everyone" is a perverse description for our state where the Walker Judge lost 31 of the 71 non-Dane counties.

Turns out the Walker Judge lost the popular vote of the voting public across the state.

Class Act

Asst. AG JoAnne Kloppenburg ran in the face of near-constant lies backed by assorted big money liars such as the Koch brothers which massively outspent rule-of-law forces.

Throughout the barrage of lies, Kloppenburg ran on the explicit promise to serve on the top Court as an impartial judge ascertaining the law and the facts.

Kloppenburg, no natural politician, never wavered: A class act who does honor to the idea of a judicial branch of government.

Prosser the Sad Man

David Prosser squawked around the state, memorably complaining, "I feel like the victim of a drive-by shooting. Here I am, I’m walking along, I should win this race going away. But I mean, not if people aren’t thinking about what they’re doing." (NYT, April 4, 2011)

You don't vote for Prosser, you don't think. Right.

I'm sure that Prosser does feel like a victim; like he can never stand up and speak the truth.

Prosser peddled his votes on Court cases, not his impartiality and dedication to law. He trolled for company like the desperate man he is, unsure the Koch Brothers could turn around his losing campaign.

The sad man, ashamed and desperate, v. the Class Act.

As the recount begins: May the better person win.

AP Numbers: JK Wins! Sykes hits panic button

Update VII: JoAnne Kloppenburg declared victory this afternoon!!!

Update:VI: J-Klop wins; AP has all numbers in and JK lead of 204 votes. WTMJ calls it for J-Klop.

Update:V:  J-Klop lead at 206; One precinct remains: Jefferson County. MJS (Marley, Sandler and Stein) reports at 1:02 p.m.: "The Jefferson County Clerk's officer reported that Prosser picked up only 2 votes in the electronic vote in Lake Mills and that 24 handwritten ballots were not yet counted. ... "

About 220 votes were cast in Town of Lake Mills - seemingly not enough for Prosser to make up the votes he would need to defeat Kloppenburg."

Check AP for update.

Update IV: J-Klop lead at 224 votes; three precincts left

Update III: Sykes already in high damage-control mode; calls for reports of "voter irregularities."

Update II: Kloppenburg takes 309-vote lead! Five precincts left.

Update: Keep updated at AP. Twenty-four precincts left; Prosser margin at 800-plus votes. No cost for a recall with vote margin within some 7,000 votes. Still, lots of variables out there. Dunn County has posted its numbers in its two remaining precincts; AP does not have them yet but Kloppenburg will pick a few-hundred more there. See Dunn County Unofficial Election Results.

If JoAnne Kloppenburg wins the remaining 34 precincts to report (including 12 precincts in Milwaukee) by an average of 18 votes per precinct, she'll win by 20-some votes.

Thirty-two of the 34 remaining precincts are in counties Kloppenburg is winning. (Kos)

See the AP tally.

A recount seems very likely at this point.

A friend writes:

No matter the outcome at this point, we won and Scott Walker lost.

Kloppenburg came from out of no where to maybe beat a sitting Supreme Court Justice, who has the support of Koch-funded groups that spread tons of lies, massively outspending rule-of-law forces.

Robert Greenwald: Koch Brothers Exposed; Scott Walker Is a Lackey

"The size and the scope of what the Koch brothers are trying to do is unprecedented in the history of our country," said Robert Greenwald of the Brave New Foundation.

Walker-Koch Republicans

If you ask: How can Walker and the Koch brothers do this to Wisconsin families?

The answer is: It's what they do.

For two revealing pieces on the Koch Brothers:

- How Koch Industries Makes Billions Corrupting Government

- The Kochs, A Nazi Past, Oil and the Foundation of the Right

Story of Citizens United v. FEC

See Story of Citizens United v. FEC for overview of what Walker and the Koch brothers have in mind.

Koch Bros and Walker: Open War on Workers

Koch Industries, the private company of the billionaire Koch brothers Charles and David, is an oil and gas, chemicals, cattle, forestry, and synthetics giant -- and also a major force for punishing Main Street Americans. Charles and David Koch (pronounced "coke") have directed many millions of their shared $43 billion net worth into a vast propaganda machine that's corrupting American politics in order to reward their pollution-based enterprise. The Koch brothers have played an integral role in provoking Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's (R) notorious attempt to crush Wisconsin's public sector unions. Koch Industries contributed $43,000 to Walker's gubernatorial campaign, and Koch political operatives encouraged the newly elected governor to take on the unions. Koch Industries is a major player in Wisconsin: Koch owns a coal company subsidiary with facilities in Green Bay, Manitowoc, Ashland and Sheboygan; six timber plants throughout the state; and a large network of pipelines. Since the showdown began two weeks ago, Koch-funded front groups like Americans for Prosperity (AFP) -- which is chaired by David Koch -- and the American Legislative Exchange Council have organized counter-protests, prepped GOP lawmakers with anti-labor legislative talking points and even announced an anti-union advertising campaign. For now, however, the AFP message doesn't appear to be resonating: Koch-backed pro-Walker demonstrations have had low attendance and were dwarfed by pro-union supporters in Madison this week.

Feb. 26, 2011; Photo by Al Rodgers

By Faiz Shakir, Benjamin Armbruster, George Zornick, Zaid Jilani, Alex Seitz-Wald, Brad Johnson, and Tanya Somanader at ThinkProgress

KNEE-CAPPING UNIONS: In a speech earlier this month at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Americans For Prosperity-Michigan Executive Director Scott Hagerstrom revealed the true goal of his group and allies like Walker. Speaking at CPAC's "Panel for Labor Policy," Hagerstrom said that even more than cutting taxes and regulations, AFP really wants to "take the unions out at the knees." Knee-capping free labor has long been a goal of the Koch brothers and their many front groups. In the run-up to the 2010 elections, the Kochs worked with other anti-labor billionaires, corporations and activists to fund conservative candidates and groups across the country. Now after viciously opposing pro-middle class policies for years, Koch Industries is trying to eliminate the only organizations which serve as a counterweight to its well-oiled corporate machine. Believing he was talking with David Koch, Walker told a prankster his plans to crush the unions. Koch's AFP operatives are now working with "state officials in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania to urge them to duplicate Walker's crusade in Wisconsin."

PUSHING POISON: According to EPA databases, Koch businesses are huge polluters, emitting thousands of pounds of toxic pollutants. As soon as he got into office, Walker started cutting environmental regulations and appointed a Republican known for her disregard for environmental regulations to lead the Department of Natural Resources. In addition, Walker has stated his opposition to clean energy jobs policies that might draw workers away from Koch-owned interests. The Koch political poison has spread across the nation. Robocalls from Koch's Americans for Prosperity group flooded New Hampshire in support of a bill that would repeal participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which has cut greenhouse pollution and created 1,130 jobs as a result of energy efficiency benefits. AFP climate deniers in New Jersey are trying to kill RGGI there as well. Koch's main man in Congress, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS), inserted an amendment to slash EPA funding in the House GOP's already wildly anti-environment budget. Koch's many subsidiaries have filed challenges against health and environmental rules from toxic chemical disclosure to dumping in streams.


LABOR The Kochs Versus Main Street

Koch Industries, the private company of the billionaire Koch brothers Charles and David, is an oil and gas, chemicals, cattle, forestry, and synthetics giant -- and also a major force for punishing Main Street Americans. Charles and David Koch (pronounced "coke") have directed many millions of their shared $43 billion net worth into a vast propaganda machine that's corrupting American politics in order to reward their pollution-based enterprise. The Koch brothers have played an integral role in provoking Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's (R) notorious attempt to crush Wisconsin's public sector unions. Koch Industries contributed $43,000 to Walker's gubernatorial campaign, and Koch political operatives encouraged the newly elected governor to take on the unions. Koch Industries is a major player in Wisconsin: Koch owns a coal company subsidiary with facilities in Green Bay, Manitowoc, Ashland and Sheboygan; six timber plants throughout the state; and a large network of pipelines. Since the showdown began two weeks ago, Koch-funded front groups like Americans for Prosperity (AFP) -- which is chaired by David Koch -- and the American Legislative Exchange Council have organized counter-protests, prepped GOP lawmakers with anti-labor legislative talking points and even announced an anti-union advertising campaign. For now, however, the AFP message doesn't appear to be resonating: Koch-backed pro-Walker demonstrations have had low attendance and were dwarfed by pro-union supporters in Madison this week.

KNEE-CAPPING UNIONS: In a speech earlier this month at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Americans For Prosperity-Michigan Executive Director Scott Hagerstrom revealed the true goal of his group and allies like Walker. Speaking at CPAC's "Panel for Labor Policy," Hagerstrom said that even more than cutting taxes and regulations, AFP really wants to "take the unions out at the knees." Knee-capping free labor has long been a goal of the Koch brothers and their many front groups. In the run-up to the 2010 elections, the Kochs worked with other anti-labor billionaires, corporations and activists to fund conservative candidates and groups across the country. Now after viciously opposing pro-middle class policies for years, Koch Industries is trying to eliminate the only organizations which serve as a counterweight to its well-oiled corporate machine. Believing he was talking with David Koch, Walker told a prankster his plans to crush the unions. Koch's AFP operatives are now working with "state officials in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania to urge them to duplicate Walker's crusade in Wisconsin."

PUSHING POISON: According to EPA databases, Koch businesses are huge polluters, emitting thousands of pounds of toxic pollutants. As soon as he got into office, Walker started cutting environmental regulations and appointed a Republican known for her disregard for environmental regulations to lead the Department of Natural Resources. In addition, Walker has stated his opposition to clean energy jobs policies that might draw workers away from Koch-owned interests. The Koch political poison has spread across the nation. Robocalls from Koch's Americans for Prosperity group flooded New Hampshire in support of a bill that would repeal participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which has cut greenhouse pollution and created 1,130 jobs as a result of energy efficiency benefits. AFP climate deniers in New Jersey are trying to kill RGGI there as well. Koch's main man in Congress, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS), inserted an amendment to slash EPA funding in the House GOP's already wildly anti-environment budget. Koch's many subsidiaries have filed challenges against health and environmental rules from toxic chemical disclosure to dumping in streams.

RICH FINK DEFENDS KOCHS: Even while local business leaders have called for Walker to end his assault on Wisconsin unions, Koch executives have said that they "will not step back at all" and pointed to the importance of their "grassroots" group, saying, "it is good to have them on the ground, in the battle, trying to help out." Rich Fink, the executive vice president of Koch Industries who oversees their ideological campaigns, defended the billionaire brothers in an interview with the National Review Online by blaming "the Left." "With the Left trying to intimidate the Koch brothers to back off of their support for freedom and signaling to others that this is what happens if you oppose the administration and its allies, we have no choice but to continue to fight." The Koch brothers, who have been increasing their personal wealth by billions even as they have fired thousands of workers, are really just victims of a vast left-wing conspiracy, Fink claims. "This is part of an orchestrated campaign that has been going on for many months. It involves the Obama administration, the Center for American Progress, aligned left-wing groups, and their friends in the media. This is just the latest salvo in their attacks on the Koch brothers and Koch Industries. But it is an escalation -- they're now bringing in some labor groups, which they have not done before." Somehow, Rich Fink seems unaware that his own operatives have declared open war on American workers.

Citizen's Criminal Complaint Against Gov. Scott Walker

Update II: Defending Wisconsin - New Website to start Recall Petition launched. Pass it on.

Update: Madison Police Chief Noble Wray Thursday asked Gov. Scott Walker to explain his "troubling" and "unsettling" statements captured in a secretly recorded phone conversation that he "thought about" planting troublemakers among the thousands of peaceful demonstrators at the Capitol. (Dee Hall, Wisconsin State Journal)

In summary, Gov. Scott Walker can't do this to us.

This letter was dropped off Thursday; this is still America.
---
United States Attorney's Office
Western District of Wisconsin
660 West Washington Avenue, Suite 303
Madison, WI 53703

February 24, 2011

I am writing to ask for a criminal investigation into the actions of the office of Governor Scott Walker.

I refer to the recently publicized tape of a phone call in which Gov. Walker responds to a caller’s (pretending to be David Koch) suggestion (vis) [“But, uh, what we were thinking about the crowds was, uh, was planting some troublemakers.”] to place agents provocateur among the citizens protesting the Wisconsin budget bill, to which Walker replies, “You know, the, well, the only problem with that — because we thought about that. The problem — the, my only gut reaction to that is right now the lawmakers I’ve talked to have just completely had it with them, the public is not really fond of this” [A.G. SULZBERGER; New York Times, February 23, 2011. “Walker Receives Prank Call From Koch Impersonator”].

My concern is that—as presumably the “thought” Walker referenced was not conveyed telepathically—the Walker administration discussed planting “troublemaking” agents provocateur at the rallies that I have attended, along with members of my family. Such discussions merit an investigation.

I would like what Gov. Walker said and to whom he spoke on this matter of planting agents provocateur at political rallies held in Madison investigated under suspicion that Walker conspired to disrupt protected political activity.

In point of fact, apropos to the tape referenced above, members of David Koch’s organization, Americans for Prosperity, were bussed in on Saturday, Feb. 19, according to numerous media reports; and labor organizations and supporters were widely warned to stay away from Koch’s group and not “engage” them. Several law enforcement agencies were reportedly aware of the possibility of violence.

It is not relevant to my concern that the David Koch impersonator turned out to be a journalist. What concerns me, again, is Gov. Walker’s taped statement that Walker said he presumably discussed planting “troublemaking”agents provocateur at political rallies, rallies which continue today.

The price of my exercising my First Amendment rights ought not to be dread that my governor is conspiring to plant “some troublemakers” when I petition my elected representatives on pending legislation and peacefully assemble to protest that legislation.

Would you please forward this letter to the appropriate investigative unit?

Yours truly,


Michael Leon

cc U.S. Rep Tammy Baldwin
cc Special Litigation Section, U.S. Dept of Justice
      Civil Rights Division

Top Six Revelations in the Call Between Fake David Koch and Governor Scott Walker

Gov. Scott Walker is a pathetically, deluded narcissist who is playing games with the lives of Wisconsin working families, and bragging about it to an ultra-rightwing crazy, David Koch, though Koch is one Ian Murphy.

Walker is corrupt to the core, and is in bed with Koch while lying to the Wisconsin people.

Walker should resign.
By Jesse Berney at Huffington Post:

The call made by a Buffalo blogger pretending to be billionaire right-wing activist David Koch to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is quickly making an impact on the news cycle.
Walker is extremely frank with the man he believes to be an important financial supporter, both of his own campaign and right-wing causes. Below are the six most important revelations we learn from listening to the Governor speak his mind.

1. Walker and the Senate Republicans are conspiring to withhold Democratic lawmakers' paychecks.

A minute into the call, Governor Walker describes a plan by the Senate Majority Leader to institute a new rule that would stop automatic deductions of lawmakers' paychecks if they do not appear in the Senate for more than two days. It would require lawmakers to appear in person to collect their checks.

Walker describes this as part of a plan he is working on with GOP Senators: "Each day, we're going to rachet this up a little bit."

2. Walker sees billionaire David Koch as "one of us."

Two and a half minutes in, Walker is describing a conversation he had with a Democratic state lawmaker, Tim Cullen, who Walker says is the "only reasonable" one among the Democrats. When the man pretending to be Koch suggests he calls Cullen, Walker says that although Cullen is reasonable, he is not "one of us." Who is the "us" that includes Walker and out-of-state billionaire Koch, but not an elected state legislator?

3. Walker is planning to threaten state workers with layoffs.

Five minutes into the call, Governor Walker says he is planning to issue between 5,000 and 6,000 "risk notices" to state workers announcing that they are at risk of being laid off. He makes this statement in the context of what he is planning to do to put pressure on Democrats to cave into his demands, not what is necessary due to the budget crunch. "If they want to start sacrificing thousands of public workers to be laid off," he says, "sooner or later there's gonna be pressure on Senators to come back. We're not going to compromise."

4. Walker has a plan to lie to Senate Democrats and pass the bill while they are not aware of the vote.

Seven minutes in, Walker describes a plan created by his chief of staff to call Senate Democrats back to "hear what they have to say." While he is discussing the issues with the Democrats, the Senate would be in recess. In actuality, once Democrats come back to the state assembly, Republicans would be able to pass the bill eliminating collective bargaining rights while Walker is in discussions with Democrats.

5. Walker considered planting fake protesters to cause trouble among the real protesters.

Fourteen and a half minutes in, the fake David Koch says that they are considering "planing some troublemakers" among the crowd of protesters. Walker responds with, "we thought about that." He expresses no moral objection to the plan, but says that he thinks it is the wrong strategy, because a "ruckus" would make people think he should compromise.

6. Walker is corrupt.

Although early in Walker says they are investigating the Democratic Senators to see if they are committing ethics violations by accepting union funds, when the fake David Koch says he will fly Walker "out to Cali and really show you a good time," Walker responds by saying "that would be outstanding."

Fight War on Families; Call Your Senator

Find your state senator here.

Beginning this week, Walker and the GOP will try to push through legislation, they say, will combat the massive voter fraud that resulted in their election that allegedly gives Republicans their mandate to strike at state, county and municipal workers, our neighbors, our friends, and our families.

Walker, if successful, will drive families to bankruptcy, jeopardize college plans, and inflict stress on already over-stressed, working parents.

But I do not believe for a moment that most GOP senators have any idea how badly families with state, county and municipal public workers will be hurt by what Walker is doing.

Call your state senator here.

In November 2010 some 26 percent of eligible Wisconsin voters cast their lot in the gubernatorial election for Scott Walker, handing Walker a narrow 52-47 victory.

Walker claims mandate to end collective bargaining and local control

Walker now claims a mandate to dismantle public union collective bargaining, and a state-mandated end to local control in county, school district and municipal governance.

Think it's your school district your property taxes pay for? Think again, it's Walker's or so he believes when Walker has political scores to settle and power to grab.

Local communities and families are collateral damage in Walker's war for Walker.

Putting aside aside Walker's absurd assertion that citizen demands for radical change in labor negotiations catapulted him to victory, one notes Walker assures us the 2010 legislative elections reveal a similar call for initiatives that just happen to weaken the political infrastructure of his opponents.

And no compromises, Walker says.

Walker claims mandate to end local control of health care

And that includes no local control of Medicare, Family Care, Senior Care and Badger Care because that's what the voters want, and this just happens to coincide exactly with what the multi-billionaire Koch Brothers want.

Family and senior health care are collateral damage in Walker's war for Walker.

Depoliticized is dangerous

The number of Wisconsin citizens who can name their state representative and state senator, their political affiliation, and policy positions in this age of 30-second TV campaigns is low.

Most families are straining to make ends meet.

It strains credulity to contend a mandate for targeting Wisconsin families, as Walker does.

Wisconsinites like most Americans are depoliticized; though as Walker's schemes become known outrage and betrayal are the common resulting sentiments as we have seen in the streets around the state.

Walker claims mandate to end same-day registration and mandate voter qualifications

Beginning this week, Walker and the GOP will try to push through legislation, they say, will combat the massive voter fraud that presumably resulted in their elections that give Republicans their allegedly powerful mandate.

It just so happens that our fellow citizens who are most vulnerable to be being obstructed from voting from the GOP legislation—college students, blacks, browns, and the working class—lean Democratic.

Other GOP initiatives targeting Democrats specifically and families generally will be presented in the coming months.

Elect JoAnne Kloppenburg over David Prosser

Most of Walker's agenda will face vigorous legal challenge in the court system, so it is critical that we work to elect independent-minded jurists.

In the state's highest court, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Justice David T. Prosser, rakes in money from the same ideological special interests who fund Walker.

Walker, a petulant man, in his 18 years in the state assembly says he soaked in plenty of GOP money, and brags about his GOP connections: "Well, let me say this. I have the most partisan background of any member of the court." (Zweifel, Capital Times)

Prosser will face JoAnne Kloppenburg, Assistant Attorney General, dedicated to the rule of law and impartial adjudciation in the state's top appellate court.

But Prosser's campaign manager felt so comfortable in Prosser's loyalty to the GOP cause that he said a new Prosser term would protect the "conservative judicial majority and [act] as a common sense compliment [sic] to both the new [Walker] administration and Legislature." (Lueders, Isthmus)

Now, Prosser says he really didn't mean it, all that GOP money means nothing to Prosser when votes on cases before the Court. Right.

One critical step in restoring some sense of decency in Wisconsin politics is the election of Kloppenburg over the GOP tool, Prosser.

We have seen the results when we voters stay home.

Walker Exposed; Rejects Concessions, Demands No Collective Bargaining

Update: As the Tea Partiers rush to defend a desperate Gov. Scott Walker today, Forbes reports, Koch Brothers Behind Wisconsin Effort to Kill Public Unions.

In other news, Rush Limbaugh went a rant last night calling Wisconsin families "freeloaders."

Walker's Bluff Called

Wisconsin public unions have said all along they will compromise, negotiate and make concessions as they have for decades.

Wisconsin citizens have accused Gov. Walker as lying about his true motives in the so-called "budget repair" bill that contains language to bust unions and political opponents by outlawing collective bargaining for public unions.

Now, the unions have again called Walker's bluff.

"Mary Bell, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, and Marty Beil, executive director of AFSCME Council 24, said in a conference call with reporters [last night] that workers will do their fair share to narrow Wisconsin's budget gap." [Hall, Spicuzza, Barbour; WSJ)

All Bell demands is that Wisconsin working families be allowed to continue the right to collectively bargain and organize as before.

Walker refused the offer in a rambling response that personally I still cannot decipher.

The plain truth is Walker and the GOP want to destroy unions, they want to obstruct Democratically leaning voters ("Voter ID"), especially College students; gerrymander all voting districts (Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison) is high on their list); and a host of other anti-democratic measures.

It's been written here before: What Walker and the GOP fail to understand is that Wisconsin citizens do not owe the Republican Party political allegiance or face pay-back through the budget and other legislative measures. We can vote for and work for whomever we damn please. It's called: Democracy

Walker will continue his too-slick-by-half defence of the fiscal crisis. But his expressed concern for the budget is a sham. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) has the story.Funny, but I do not recall Gov. Walker mentioning the Koch Bros. Why the silence, Gov. Walker?