Ethics

Throughout his career as a politician, Scott Walker has shown a willingness to push the boundaries of ethics and law, which has ensnared him in two John Doe investigations into activities of his campaign.

In addition, he was able to take advantage of a recall fundraising loophole to raise unlimited campaign cash and solidify a nationwide network of megadonors. He has also rewarded loyalty, with a number of state jobs, public contracts, and economic development awards going to his close aides, associates and donors.

Scott Walker’s political philosophy can be summed up in three easy steps we call the Walker Doctrine: (1) Reward my donors, (2) Increase my power, and (3) Punish my enemies.

Content
Scott Walker Slammed for Tweet Mocking AOC’s Expensive Haircut When He Spent Thousands on Flights One Wisconsin Now, a left-leaning non-profit in the state, conducted the investigation into state records that found this information. [Newsweek, 10/13/2019]
Records: Evers using state planes less than Walker During the 2018 campaign, opponents focused on Walker’s plane use, including the number of flights that were 50 miles or less. [WisPolitics, 08/13/2019]
Wisconsin Nice Beats the Politics of Hate and the Scott Walker Money Machine The advocacy group One Wisconsin Now highlighted Walker's extensive use of airplanes to travel to events all over the state costing taxpayers $818,000. [Center for Media and Democracy, 11/07/2018]
Mamma Mia! Those Are Some Big Contributions In September 2018 Scott Walker charged Wisconsin taxpayers over $6,500 to fly from Madison to Milwaukee to Omaha, Nebraska and back to Madison. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/05/2018]
Scott Walker Breaks the Law, Again, Campaigning While Flying on Taxpayer Dime New flight records released late Friday by Scott Walker to One Wisconsin Now reveal Walker again broke the law with his use of the state airplane. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/02/2018]
Four pedophile ex-priests had their professional licenses granted under Gov. Scott Walker’s administration Scott Walker was responsible for pedophiles getting licenses for the last eight years, and Scott Walker had to hope no one found out before the election. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/02/2018]
Will Brad Schimel Dress Up Like Scott Walker for Halloween? One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross suggested Attorney General Brad Schimel could dress up as Scott Walker for Halloween. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/26/2018]
Three Months and Four Days Later, Still No Reimbursement or Remorse From Scott Walker for Illegal Usage of State Plane In July 2018 Scott Walker broke the state law prohibiting politicians from using taxpayer resources to benefit their campaigns. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/22/2018]
Gubernatorial Debate Question: Will Scott Walker Fly There? The beltline in Madison can be tough commute and Scott Walker has shown time and again he has no shame when it comes to taking to the air at taxpayer expense. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/19/2018]
‘Scott-holes’ campaign counters Walker’s ads at the gas pump Terry McGowan, president of Local 139, referred to a report from the liberal group One Wisconsin Now that found Walker had spent more than $800,000 on flights. [Daily Reporter, 10/17/2018]
Democratic candidates “road trip” mocks Walkers plane use Walker’s use of the state plane has been criticized by since One Wisconsin Now released reports revealing what they called his “misuse” of the state plane. [WKOW-TV, 10/03/2018]
Scott Walker’s Brief Presidential Campaign Followed by Even Shorter Taxpayer-Funded Flights Among the most egregious examples of Gov. Scott Walker’s “misuse and abuse” of the taxpayer-funded state plane are ridiculously short flights he took. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/02/2018]
Evers, Barnes Mock Walker’s Flights During Livestream Walker has spent $934,000 in taxpayer-funded flights between September 2015 ... and July of this year, records obtained by One Wisconsin Now show. [Associated Press, 10/02/2018]
Scott Walker Scheme to Use State Airplane to Film Campaign Ad Similar to Incident in Which Former GOP Governor McCallum Was Investigated by Wisconsin Ethics Board Scott Walker Scheme to Use State Airplane to Film Campaign Ad Similar to Incident in Which Former GOP Governor McCallum Was Investigated by Ethics Board. [One Wisconsin Now, 09/20/2018]
Ad Targets Scott Walker’s Serial Misuse and Abuse of Taxpayer-Funded State Planes His new motto is ‘I fly, you buy’ and our research and ad shows Scott Walker is not the same guy he’s been trying to sell to Wisconsin. [One Wisconsin Now, 09/12/2018]
Scott Walker took 127 more flights last year than scrutinized New York governor One Wisconsin Now recently reported on Walker’s taxpayer-funded airplane travel since September 2015 when he dropped out of the presidential race. [Wisconsin State Journal, 09/10/2018]
New Evidence Shows Gov. Scott Walker’s Excuse for Using State Plane to Film Campaign Ad Doesn’t Fly Information obtained today by One Wisconsin Now shows the Governor’s office intentionally scheduled an event at Nicolet Technical College on July 17. [One Wisconsin Now, 09/07/2018]
Madison Democrats seek investigation into Walker’s travel expenses One Wisconsin Now indicated Walker used $2,017 in state funds to fly to Rhinelander on July 17, the day he filmed a new ad for his gubernatorial... campaign. [Daily Cardinal, 09/05/2018]
Scott Walker Flew to Green Bay TV Market Six Straight Days Before Green Bay Area State Senate Special Election A review of Scott Walker’s serial misuse of state airplanes has revealed he used a state plane to fly to the Green Bay area prior to a special election. [One Wisconsin Now, 09/05/2018]
DPW blasts Scott Walker for illegal state plane use in new video The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has released a new video entitled “We All Pay for Scott Walker’s Ambitions.” [Democratic Party of Wisconsin, 09/04/2018]
Liberal group continues to attack Scott Walker on state plane use One Wisconsin Now argued Walker misused taxpayer dollars by using a state plane for an official visit to Rhinelander before filming a campaign commercial. [Capital Times, 09/04/2018]
‘He charged taxpayers:’ Liberal group demands criminal investigation into Gov. Walker’s use of state plane Officials with the liberal group One Wisconsin Now say they have proof of allegations of misuse and abuse of taxpayer resources against Governor Scott Walker. [WITI-TV, 09/04/2018]
Gov. Walker’s Trip To the Northwoods Causes Conflict The group One Wisconsin Now is asking the state Ethics Board and the Dane County District Attorney to see whether Governor Scott Walker violated state laws. [WXPR-FM, 09/04/2018]
Walker campaign: No wrongdoing in state-funded flight to Rhinelander One Wisconsin Now said state taxpayers paid $2,017 to fly Walker in a state plane from Madison to Rhinelander on July 17. [WAOW-TV, 09/04/2018]
One Wisconsin Now Requests Ethics, Criminal Investigation of Gov. Scott Walker’s Use of State Airplane Scott Walker used a state plane, at a cost to taxpayers of $2,017.66, to fly from Madison to Rhinelander to film a television ad for his re-election campaign. [One Wisconsin Now, 09/04/2018]
Rep. Sargent: Statement on reports Gov. Walker misused taxpayer dollars One Wisconsin Now announced open records reveal Scott Walker recently used state resources for traveling to film a campaign ad for his re-election bid. [Melissa Sargent, 09/01/2018]
Scott Walker Charged Taxpayers $2,017 for Using State Plane to Fly to Film Campaign Commercial State flight records obtained by One Wisconsin Now show that on July 17 Walker flew to Rhinelander on a state plane at a cost of $2,017.66. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/31/2018]
Will Frequent Flyer Scott Walker Get Bumped from Trip with Veep on Air Force 2 When VP Mike Pence jets to Wisconsin today on Air Force 2 to raise campaign cash, he’ll be greeted at the airport by frequent flyer Gov. Scott Walker. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/30/2018]
Not the Same Guy Anymore: Data Shows Gov. Scott Walker More Than Doubled Taxpayer-Charged Flights From 2011 to 2017 Records show the state’s first flier has more than doubled the tab for air travel between 2011 and 2017, starting at $155,548 and exploding to $326,705. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/29/2018]
Scott Walker’s Air Travel Abuses Taxpayers After extensive investigation of the use of state airplanes by Gov. Scott Walker, it seems his attitude toward Wisconsin taxpayers is, “I’ll fly, you buy.” [Urban Milwaukee, 08/23/2018]
Scott Walker hammered in brutal ad by former employee, then hit with multiple investigations One Wisconsin Now hit Walker earlier this week for his ridiculous habit of spending gobs of state money to take private flights to private campaign events. [DailyKos, 08/23/2018]
Here We Go Again: The Scott Walker Airplane Scandal That Wisconsinites Aren’t Hearing About One Wisconsin Now has produced a mind-blowing report on Walkers’ extensive use of the state airplane after his failed Presidential run. [DailyKos, 08/23/2018]
Please Rescind Walker’s Open Records Award We urge you to rescind the “Openness” award you gave to Gov. Walker earlier this year. [Urban Milwaukee, 08/22/2018]
Scott Walker’s flights in years after presidential run cost state taxpayers $818,000 About 41 percent of the flights Walker took between September 2015 ... and April 2018 covered distances of less than 100 miles. [Wisconsin State Journal, 08/21/2018]
Wisconsin Governor Accused of Misusing Taxpayer Money Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker spent over $800,000 in taxpayer dollars for air travel over a period of two and a half years. [Courthouse News Service, 08/21/2018]
Group knocks Walker’s state plane use One Wisconsin Now is knocking Gov. Scott Walker for his “misuse and abuse” of taxpayer-funded flights on the state plane. [WisPolitics, 08/21/2018]
Liberal group says Walker travel cost taxpayers $818K One Wisconsin Now says Republican Gov. Scott Walker has made flights on the state airplane costing taxpayers $818,000 in the last three years. [New Richmond News, 08/21/2018]
Walker Reportedly Used State Plane Over 800 Times Since 2015 One Wisconsin Now put together public records on flight data, releasing the findings this week. [KFIZ-AM, 08/21/2018]
Video: One Wisconsin Now reveals results of Scott Walker investigation One Wisconsin Now revealed results of its months-long investigation of alleged misuse of taxpayer resources for political purposes by Gov. Scott Walker. [La Crosse Tribune, 08/21/2018]
Scott Walker Spent at Least $65,000 on Planes for His Closed to the Public ‘Town Halls’ Scott Walker flying to ‘town hall meetings’ that excluded the public are yet another example of the expensive misuse and abuse of taxpayer resources. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/21/2018]
Morning Minute: One Wisconsin Now Reveals Results of Gov. Walker Investigation One Wisconsin Now revealed results of their investigation what they claim has been misuse of taxpayer dollars by Gov. Scott Walker. [Wisconsin Eye, 08/21/2018]
Public records show Gov. Walker’s spending thousands on state plane trips A liberal group is going after Governor Scott Walker for what they call "unnecessary" airplane trips on state planes that have cost taxpayers thousands. [WKOW-TV, 08/20/2018]
Senator Taylor Responds to Governor’s Exorbitant Use of Taxpayer Money Earlier today, One Wisconsin Now held a press conference in which they released data detailing Governor Scott Walker’s usage of the state plane. [Sen. Lena Taylor, 08/20/2018]
Liberal group criticizes Walker for state airplane use A liberal advocacy group says Governor Walker used a state airplane to make 869 flights since he dropped out of the presidential race in September. [WHBY-FM, 08/20/2018]
Liberal group highlights Walker’s air travel A liberal group is calling out Governor Scott Walker, over his use of state planes. Scot Ross of One Wisconsin Now says some flights were short hops. [Wisconsin Radio Network, 08/20/2018]
Scott Walker opponents hit him over flights on state planes Gov. Scott Walker used a state plane for 29 flights of less than 40 miles — including one between Kenosha and Milwaukee — since September 2015. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 08/20/2018]
Liberal group accuses Scott Walker of misusing state planes Gov. Scott Walker billed taxpayers more than $818,000 to rehab his political image by flying around Wisconsin on state-owned airplanes, a liberal group alleged. [WITI-TV, 08/20/2018]
One Wisconsin Now database details Scott Walker’s use of state airplane At a Monday press conference ... One Wisconsin Now released details from a database it has compiled of flights taken by Gov. Scott Walker on a state-owned plane. [Capital Times, 08/20/2018]
One Wisconsin Now Database Reveals Scott Walker’s State Plane Use Liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now has been keeping a database of Governor Scott Walker’s flights since dropping out of the presidential election in 2015. [WORT-FM, 08/20/2018]
Walker’s Use of State Airplane Increased Since 2015 Gov. Scott Walker's use of the state airplane has increased ... public records obtained by a liberal attack group released on Monday show. [Associated Press, 08/20/2018]
‘I’ll fly, you buy”: Liberal group says records show Walker spent $818K on state flights since 2015 A liberal advocacy group says Republican Gov. Scott Walker used the state airplane to make 869 flights since he dropped out of the presidential race. [WISC-TV, 08/20/2018]
Report: Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker used state plane for 869 flights since 2015 One Wisconsin Now compiled public records on flight data to release the findings Monday. The flights cost taxpayers about $818,000. [Associated Press, 08/20/2018]
Scott Walker Air: One Wisconsin Now Investigation Reveals Gov. Walker’s Serial Use and Abuse of Taxpayer Resources One Wisconsin Now’s investigation reveals Scott Walker’s use abuse of taxpayer resources, deploying the state airplane at a cost in excess of $800,000. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/20/2018]
Liberal advocacy group raises questions about Gov. Scott Walker’s use of state plane One Wisconsin Now rolled out a new report saying that Gov. Scott Walker excessively used the use of the state plane, costing taxpayers more than $818,000 [WISC-TV, 08/20/2018]
Records runaround: In Wisconsin, long delays are common for those requesting documents “Walker had a political problem because of what happened with the open records debacle a couple of years ago,” said Scot Ross of One Wisconsin Now. [Capital Times, 04/11/2018]
Wisconsin Supreme Court leaves John Doe II case involving Scott Walker to lower court judge The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Thursday it would stay away for now from lingering litigation over a now-closed investigation into Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign, leaving a Brown County judge to sort out the legal fight. In its 4-0 order, the high court handed over to Brown County Circuit Judge Kendall Kelley millions of pages of […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 04/06/2018]
Wisconsin GOP operative Mark Block details pivotal yacht meeting between Cambridge Analytica and billionaire backers This raises serious questions about the connections between Scott Walker’s [campaigns]... and this growing international scandal," said Analiese Eicher. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/29/2018]
The dark days of open government As Matt Rothschild and Scot Ross pointed out in a joint column, Walker has generally been a hostile force to transparency for much of his tenure as governor. [Lakeland Times, 03/16/2018]
Devil’s Advocates Radio: March 12, 2018 Scot Ross joins the Devils to criticize Scott Walker for his Open Records Award. [WRRD-AM, 03/12/2018]
Matt Rothschild and Scot Ross: Open records watchdog FOIC’ed up with Walker award The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council could not have picked a worse recipient for its political openness award than Scott Walker. [Capital Times, 03/11/2018]
Open Records Watchdog FOIC’ed Up With Scott Walker Award The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council could not have picked a worse recipient for its political openness award than Scott Walker. [Scot Ross, 03/08/2018]
Report: Rigged Bid Delivers State Contract for Gov. Scott Walker’s Campaign Treasurer A consulting firm owned by Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign treasurer Kate Lind received a state contract for services, after being the only one to bid on it. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/09/2017]
Scott Walker’s campaign treasurer’s firm gets Capitol contract after being the only bidder This rigged deal to give a state contract to Governor Walker's campaign treasurer's business is as sleazy as it gets. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/08/2017]
PoltiFact: Scott Walker veers on NFL national anthem protests There appears to be a wider political connection. The liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now pointed out the timing. We give Walker a Half Flip. [PolitiFact, 10/25/2017]
Defense Attorney or District Attorney? A sleazy last-minute budget deal between Gov. Scott Walker and three GOP state senators has raised legal questions and drawn a request for investigation. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/18/2017]
Gov. Scott Walker’s Reverse Field on National Anthem Comes with Fundraising Pitch Gov. Scott Walker first said he'd, “leave it up to them” whether to join peaceful protests of National Anthem, but yesterday reversed field. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/17/2017]
Did Gov. Scott Walker Issue Executive Order to Win Republican Senate Holdouts’ Budget Votes? Did a sleazy budget deal between a desperate Gov. Scott Walker and three holdout Republican State Senators break the law? [One Wisconsin Now, 10/03/2017]
Gov. Scott Walker’s deal-making with senators raises questions of logrolling from opponents Scot Ross said he had a tough time believing creating the inspector general's office was not part of the discussions with the senators. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 09/29/2017]
Scott Walker Violated Own Ethics Pledge by $15 Million As a candidate, Scott Walker pledged and promised to not raise money as governor from the January introduction of the budget until it would be signed into law. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/11/2017]
Scott Walker Still Welcoming Donald Trump to Wisconsin to Raise Campaign Cash Donald Trump has been announced as the special guest at a Scott Walker fundraising event in Southeastern Wisconsin on the evening of June 13. [One Wisconsin Now, 06/09/2017]
Scott Walker, Robin Vos spar in newly released personal text messages Tensions between Gov. Scott Walker and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos are evident in personal text messages between the two, newly released under Wisconsin’s open records law, in which they spar over the state’s next budget. The texts were released by Walker’s office Friday. They came in response to a Wisconsin State Journal request for text […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 04/08/2017]
Text Messages Show Tension Between Walker, Vos Text messages between Gov. Scott Walker and fellow Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos released Friday reveal private tensions over the state budget, adding another layer to increasingly terse inter-party bickering over the spending plan. Copies of the messages were released Friday by the governor’s office to The Associated Press and other news outlets under the […] [Associated Press, 04/07/2017]
One Wisconsin Now to Gov. Scott Walker: Wrap Up Sunshine Week With a Bang, End 1,799-Day Stonewall and Reveal Donors to Legal Defense One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross suggested that Walker end the week by revealing the identities of the donors to his criminal legal defense fund. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/17/2017]
Federal judge dismisses Governor Scott Walker-related John Doe lawsuit A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against investigators and former state officials involved in a now-halted secret investigation into Gov. Scott Walker’s 2012 recall campaign. The Wisconsin State Journal reports Thursday, March 16th (http://tiny.cc/wsmvjy) that U.S. District Judge William Conley tossed the lawsuit by the conservative group the John K. MacIver Institute. Conley found […] [WITI-TV, 03/16/2017]
Federal judge throws out John Doe suit against Milwaukee County DA John Chisholm A federal judge Wednesday threw out a lawsuit that a conservative group brought against prosecutors over how they conducted their investigation of Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign. The MacIver Institute alleged in its lawsuit that Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm and others violated a federal law by seizing records without alerting their owners that they […] [Milwaukee State Journal, 03/15/2017]
Walker orders state agencies to improve records access Scot Ross, director of the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now, called the executive order an “empty gesture.” [Iron Mountain Daily News, 03/10/2017]
Scott Walker issues order making it easier to find state public records Gov. Scott Walker on Thursday issued an executive order making it easier for the public to find state government notices and meeting minutes. Walker in his order also asked state agencies to post the most commonly requested documents online to be readily available to the public, and to post how quickly their officials respond to […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 03/10/2017]
Walker Orders State Agencies to Increase Access to Records Scot Ross, director of the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now, called the executive order an "empty gesture." [Associated Press, 03/09/2017]
Scott Walker wants to add 485 positions in management ‘category’ to state Administration Department? In sounding alarms about Walker’s budget, Vinehout says the governor is proposing to add 485 positions “in the category of supervisor and management” to his Department of Administration. Vinehout is correct on the number and, technically, they are “in the category” of supervisor and management. But while they are involved in the supervision and management […] [PolitiFact, 03/01/2017]
Scott Walker huddles with GOP donors at NFC game Walker, his wife, Tonette, and their sons, Matt and Alex, all traveled to the game and drew notice from liberal critics such as the group One Wisconsin Now. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 01/24/2017]
Ex-Walker aide questions signature A former top aide to Gov. Scott Walker hoping to reinstate her lawsuit against prosecutors is alleging in new court documents that a judge didn’t properly review a search warrant of her home – and that his signature may have been forged. The accusations by Cindy Archer are the latest development in the ongoing legal […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 08/04/2016]
Memo to Washington Post: Welcome to Walker’s Wisconsin Scott Walker has been regularly barring the public and the media from his taxpayer-funded ‘listening tour’ since it began in 2015. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/29/2016]
Lobbyists, Republican Donors Central to Gov. Walker Closed-Door ‘Listening Sessions’ Instead of hearing about what's really on the minds of Wisconsinites who overwhelmingly disapprove of the job he's doing, Scott Walker is tooling around the state on our dime. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/15/2016]
As Scott Walker reaches 50 listening sessions, critics continue to question invite-only policy "Gov. Walker is tooling around the state on our dime hearing from an exclusive audience recruited to tell him what he wants to hear," said One Wisconsin Now. [Capital Times, 07/15/2016]
As Scott Walker reaches 50 listening sessions, critics continue to question invite-only policy Gov. Scott Walker’s office has asked legislators, lobbyists, state agency heads and local economic development agencies to help select attendees for the governor’s invite-only listening sessions throughout the state, records show. The records provided to the Cap Times offer insight into the selection process for participants in the governor’s marquee effort to reacquaint himself with […] [Capital Times, 07/15/2016]
Conservative Wisconsin group expanding focus nationally A conservative Wisconsin group that’s filed lawsuits in defense of several of Gov. Scott Walker’s most contentious proposals announced Monday it is expanding its work nationally, with a focus on limiting powers of the federal government. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty’s new Center for Competitive Federalism will focus on filing lawsuits and issuing […] [SFGate, 07/11/2016]
Walker Denies Legal Counsel to Agency Sued by His Campaign Chair’s Legal Fund Gov. Walker is denying legal counsel to a state agency because the lawsuit was brought by his campaign chair’s legal fund. [One Wisconsin Now, 06/16/2016]
Scott Walker sought changes to Wisconsin Idea, emails show after judge orders release of records Records released Friday by Gov. Scott Walker’s office in response to a judge’s order make clear he sought controversial changes in 2015 to the University of Wisconsin System’s mission statement, known as the Wisconsin Idea. The office made public 82 pages of records late Friday after Dane County Judge Amy Smith said Walker’s office erroneously […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 05/28/2016]
Walker releases names of potential Prosser replacements More than half of the applicants vying to replace retiring Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser already owe their jobs to Gov. Scott Walker – and now he could tap one of them for the state’s highest court… Walker expects to appoint a replacement by the time Prosser retires on July 31. It will be […] [WISN-TV, 05/20/2016]
Scott Walker’s HR agency slammed civil service changes in private memo The personnel agency in Gov. Scott Walker’s administration privately blasted changes to the state’s civil service days after they were proposed, telling his office the overhaul would slow hiring, turn away qualified job applicants and trigger more lawsuits against the state, public records show. Documents obtained under the state’s open records law by the Wisconsin […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 05/02/2016]
Prosecutors: Walker campaign, group ‘one and the same’ Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign and a supposedly independent conservative group were “one and the same,” prosecutors told the U.S. Supreme Court in a filing this week seeking to reopen a probe of the governor’s campaign that state courts shut down. The Wisconsin Supreme Court last year halted the investigation in a ruling that concluded candidates […] [Appleton Post-Crescent, 04/29/2016]
John Doe Investigation Into Lincoln Hills Abuse Allegations Closed A state John Doe investigation into a troubled juvenile prison in northern Wisconsin has been closed under a law signed last year by Gov. Scott Walker that put time limits on such cases… That coincides with the six-month time limit imposed by a new law that reduced the power of John Doe investigations in Wisconsin. […] [WPR, 04/19/2016]
The ‘me-first’ session? 10 ways Walker and the Republican-led Legislature have moved to diminish accountability The Walker administration cited the [records denial] provision... when the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now requested visitor logs to the governor's mansion earlier this year. [Capital Times, 03/23/2016]
Special treatment or limited access: State policies spell out who can talk to the press While the policy has been in place since at least 2008, the agency’s monthly and quarterly employment data came under intense scrutiny after Gov. Scott Walker promised to add 250,000 private sector jobs during his first term, prompting the agency exert greater control over shaping the message around those numbers. [La Crosse Tribune, 03/15/2016]
Scott Walker calls for state agencies to track open records requests, speed up response times In advance of Sunshine Week, Gov. Scott Walker is ordering his administration to improve its handling of public records requests, speed up response times and provide mandatory records training for all state workers. The move comes months after he helped draft legislation, later withdrawn, to severely restrict the kind of information the public can use […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 03/12/2016]
Scott Walker was always the principal target’ of criminal probe Gov. Scott Walker “was always the principal target” of a now-halted criminal investigation into his recall campaign, the state’s top ethics administrator wrote in a June 2014 email released Friday. The email from Government Accountability Board Ethics Division Administrator Jonathan Becker was written within minutes of special prosecutor Francis Schmitz issuing a statement on June […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 02/26/2016]
Sex assault allegation mishandled at Lincoln Hills Despite what a former state employee called a strong case, officials in 2013 abandoned pursuing charges against a juvenile inmate accused of sexually assaulting his roommate at a secure Northwoods facility now at the center of an investigation into sexual assault, prisoner abuse, child neglect and other crimes.”It blew me away that no one was […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/23/2016]
Department of Corrections Secretary to resign as new information surfaces on Lincoln Hills A staffer at a troubled Northwoods youth prison has been put on paid leave pending an investigation of the medical treatment of a juvenile who was taken to a hospital this month. The situation comes amid a criminal probe of Lincoln Hills School for Boys and Copper Lake School for Girls, which share a campus […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/22/2016]
Walker picks campaign donor for University of Wisconsin Board of Regents A Milwaukee lawyer just named to the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents by Gov. Scott Walker has been a frequent contributor to his campaign fund, donating $9,639.68 since 2010. Tracey Klein, a shareholder at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, made seven contributions to Walker totaling $7,439.68 in the months running up to his 2014 […] [Capital Times, 02/20/2016]
Walker appointees at Department of Natural Resources considered disciplining employee for releasing public records Political appointees of the Department of Natural Resources discussed disciplining an employee after she provided public records to a Sheboygan County citizens group fighting plans by the Kohler Co. for a golf course on the shore of Lake Michigan, emails show. In the view of at least one top official then serving at the DNR, […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/13/2016]
Gov. Walker Signs Invitation to More Scandal, More Incompetence and More Cronyism in State Government Repeal of Civil Service Protections Removes Last Line of Defense From Walker Administration for State Employees [One Wisconsin Now, 02/12/2016]
Walker signs overhaul of state civil service law Gov. Scott Walker signed legislation Friday overhauling the state’s century-old system of merit hiring and firing, gaining the first legislative priority he set after calling off his presidential bid last year. Inking the legislation at the offices of ManpowerGroup, Walker said the rewrite of the state’s civil service law would help the state keep the […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/12/2016]
Walker was notified in 2012 of Lincoln Hills crisis A Racine County judge warned Gov. Scott Walker’s office in 2012 of severe safety issues at the state’s youth prison, and later the county stopped sending its juvenile offenders to the Irma facility that is now the subject of a criminal investigation. The letter, sent to Walker in February 2012, appears at odds with Walker’s […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 02/12/2016]
Walker denies prior knowledge of Lincoln Hill youth prison abuses as Corrections Secretary resigns amid investigation Wisconsin Department of Corrections Secretary Ed Wall has resigned amid an investigation into abuse allegations at the state’s youth prison, the governor’s office said Friday as news emerged that the FBI had taken over the inquiry. Gov. Scott Walker’s staff said Wall submitted his letter of resignation on Feb. 5. He will be replaced by […] [Associated Press, 02/12/2016]
Walker was notified of Lincoln Hills concerns in 2012 Four years before abuse allegations put a state prison for youth in headlines, the institution botched its response to a sexual assault of an inmate so badly that an entire county stopped sending offenders there. Their confidence shaken, Racine County officials pulled all their youth offenders from the state-run Lincoln Hills School for Boys in […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/11/2016]
Brad Schimel: Prosecutors shouldn’t retain Doe materials Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, a Democrat, conducted two probes related to the Republican governor. The first resulted in six convictions of his aides and associates for activities such as campaigning on taxpayer time when Walker was Milwaukee County executive. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 01/29/2016]
Walker administration won’t explain what happened to WEDC text messages Jenni Dye, research director for One Wisconsin Now, said she doesn’t believe the police logs meet the definition of “transitory” records. [Capital Times, 01/16/2016]
Scott Walker says DOA decision to not release WEDC text messages doesn’t match his policy Gov. Scott Walker on Wednesday indicated a decision by his administration to not release an employee's text messages related to a questionable WEDC loan goes against his own open records policy. [Capital Times, 01/14/2016]
Editorial: On open records, Public Records Board does the right thing The Walker administration also cited the August redefinition of “transitory correspondence” when denying a records request from the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now. [Racine Journal Times, 01/14/2016]
Walker’s Secretive Governing Style Then there was the open records request by One Wisconsin Now, asking for visitor logs at the governor’s mansion from November 2014 through early April 2015, during the time Walker was planning for and then campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination. Walker’s assistant legal counsel David J. Rabe claimed there were no visitor logs for […] [Urban Milwaukee, 01/12/2016]
Public Records Board under intense scrutiny The action drew objections from groups on both sides of Wisconsin’s partisan divide, such as the as the liberal One Wisconsin Now . [Wisconsin Radio Network, 01/11/2016]
Records Board backtracks amid public outcry on access The change drew criticism from conservative and liberal groups alike, including the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and One Wisconsin Now. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 01/11/2016]
Records board must reverse bad decision Concealing a list of people who visit a public building, presumably to meet with the state’s most powerful leader, is arrogant and immediately suspect. [Wisconsin State Journal, 01/10/2016]
Gov. Walker Claims He Shortchanged His Personal Political Ambitions, Not People of Wisconsin, While Not Doing His Job As Governor Scott Walker put his personal political ambitions before the well being of Wisconsin and mostly didn’t even show up to do the job for which he’s paid. [One Wisconsin Now, 01/08/2016]
Closed to the public Then there was the open records request by One Wisconsin Now, asking for visitor logs at the governor’s mansion from November 2014 through early April 2015, during the time Walker was planning for and then campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination. [Isthmus, 01/07/2016]
Wisconsin Board Reboots, Holds Hearing on Changes to Open Records Law The changes also appear to address a records request from the advocacy group One Wisconsin Now. The organization repeatedly requested records which would show who visited the governor’s mansion before and after Walker became a presidential candidate. The group’s research director, Jenny Dye, got a “transitory records” denial one day after the board’s decision, and […] [PRWatch, 01/04/2016]
In TV interview, Bill Lueders decries ‘culture of contempt for the public’s right to know’ Lueders’ group last week filed a verified complaint against the state Public Records Board, which it contended violated the open meetings law at its Aug. 24 meeting, when it voted to expand what can be considered as transitory records. Those transitory records — items considered to have no long-term value — have been central to […] [Capital Times, 12/20/2015]
Gov. Walker Signs Measures to Weaken State Ethics and Elections Laws in Secret Ceremony Gov. Walker has led an administration that has attacked clean and open government from day one, rife with systematic cronyism and corruption. [One Wisconsin Now, 12/16/2015]
Walker signs split of state’s GAB \| Campaign finance measure also approved Gov. Scott Walker privately signed a measure Wednesday loosening the state’s campaign finance laws and eliminating the state elections and ethics agency that investigated his campaign for teaming up with conservative groups. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/16/2015]
Complaint filed over Walker’s denial of requests for public records The rule changes also were raised in response to a request from One Wisconsin Now, a liberal group seeking a list of visitors to the governor’s residence. [Wisconsin Gazette, 12/15/2015]
Wisconsin Public Records Board head: We didn’t change transitory records definition Gov. Walker’s administration cited the “transitory” record provision when it denied a records request for text messages by the Wisconsin State Journal, and when the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now requested visitor logs to the governor’s mansion earlier this year. [Capital Times, 12/15/2015]
2 DAs back away from bid to revive probe into Walker campaign Two of the five district attorneys involved in an investigation of Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign and conservative groups are walking away from an attempt to revive the probe that the state Supreme Court terminated this summer. In a letter and court filing last week, Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg wrote he would not seek […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/15/2015]
Open government group files complaint against Public Records Board He noted that Gov. Scott Walker’s administration has already used the new definition of “transitory” records to justify denying records that existed at one time, but were not maintained. One of those cases involved text messages related to a failed $500,000 state loan to a struggling Milwaukee business. [Wisconsin State Journal, 12/15/2015]
Watchdog calls rules cited by Walker administration improper The rule changes also were raised in response to a request from One Wisconsin Now, a liberal group seeking a list of visitor's to the governor's residence. [Associated Press, 12/14/2015]
Worker used as an example of problems not a civil servant One of the state employees that Gov. Scott Walker and some lawmakers used to argue for broad changes to the state’s civil service system was never a civil servant, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel review has found. In arguing for a proposed overhaul of the century-old system of merit hiring and firing, Walker and some GOP […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/14/2015]
Scott Walker: DOC reviewing safety at all prisons in wake of criminal investigation at youth prison Gov. Scott Walker said Friday his administration is reviewing safety measures and policies at all state prisons as the Department of Justice investigates alleged abuse of inmates at a juvenile prison in Lincoln County. Also on Friday, the Department of Corrections announced it plans to purchase body cameras for staff at the Lincoln Hills boys […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 12/11/2015]
Is Wisconsin’s John Doe investigation really over now? What you need to know One Wisconsin Now argues that under the U.S. Supreme Court case Caperton v. Massey Coal, at least a few of those judges should have recused themselves. The case found a judge must recuse when "extreme facts" create a "probability of bias." [Capital Times, 12/10/2015]
Questions, answers about text messages, visitor logs and other Wisconsin open records issues In April, the liberal group One Wisconsin Now requested copies of visitor logs for the executive residence. [Capital Times, 12/10/2015]
Questions, answers about text messages, visitor logs and other Wisconsin open records issues Gov. Scott Walker on Monday refuted reports that his administration is doing anything questionable when it comes to Wisconsin ‘s open records law. But those reports brought to light a change made this summer by the state’s Public Records Board that could shield communications like public officials’ text messages and Facebook messages from being made […] [Capital Times, 12/10/2015]
Abuse, misconduct, intimidation at center of sweeping investigation of Wisconsin juvenile prison Under a law Gov. Scott Walker signed Oct. 23, John Doe inquiries cannot be used to investigate allegations of misconduct in public office. The John Doe request in this case was filed a day before that law was signed. Previously, no parties involved in a John Doe could acknowledge even the existence of such an […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 12/10/2015]
Board’s records action appears to have violated open meetings law An obscure board overseeing state public records gave so little notice of a move to sharply limit electronic records that it appears to have violated the state’s open meetings law, attorneys and open records advocates say. The changes have already had an impact — they were used by Gov. Scott Walker’s administration as a reason […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/09/2015]
Quiet change in public records policy could shield messages In another case involving transitory records from October, it was disclosed that Capitol Police did not maintain all the records of who visited the governor’s mansion in the runup to his July entry into the presidential race before the filing of an open records request by the liberal group One Wisconsin Now. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/08/2015]
Scott Walker says he saves all of his state business-related text messages Gov. Scott Walker told reporters Monday he forwards all text messages related to state business to his state email account and that his administration complies with the law in handling records. “As you all know in the past four or five years I’ve been in office we’ve gotten tens of thousands of open records requests […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 12/08/2015]
Walker administration finding new way to deny public records In response to a request from liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now, the Department of Administration released the reports which showed Walker meeting with presidential campaign staff at the residence. [Wisconsin State Journal, 12/07/2015]
Quiet change in public records policy could shield messages An obscure board overseeing public records in Wisconsin has quietly cut back on requirements to maintain some electronic records such as text messages about major taxpayer awards to businesses. … Gov. Scott Walker said afterward that the attempted rewrite in which his office participated was a “huge mistake.” In September, it was disclosed that after […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/07/2015]
Scott Walker administration finding new way to deny public records Gov. Scott Walker’s administration has found another novel method to deny the public access to government records. In at least two recent cases, the administration says it doesn’t have to keep certain “transitory” records and therefore can’t release records it doesn’t have. [Wisconsin State Journal, 12/07/2015]
State’s handling of workers caught in workplace sex doesn’t match Scott Walker’s account In making his case to Republican lawmakers this fall that the state’s civil service system needed to be overhauled, Gov. Scott Walker cited the case of two state workers who he said couldn’t be fired even though they had been caught having sex in their office. But records released Friday show no efforts were made […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 12/05/2015]
Wisconsin Supreme Court won’t restart John Doe probe of Scott Walker recall campaign The state Supreme Court has denied a special prosecutor’s request to reopen an investigation into Gov. Scott Walker’s recall campaign, a decision the prosecutor says he plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court if he has the money and personnel to do so. However, the state high court also ruled that special prosecutor Francis […] [WiscNews, 12/03/2015]
Walker Secretly Signed John Doe ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ Bill in Chicago Scott Walker’s gubernatorial calendars for the months of August and September show he largely ignored his duties as governor as he mounted a historically inept presidential campaign. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/23/2015]
GOP lawmakers reverse course, balk at campaign donor reporting GOP state senators reversed course early Saturday and voted to let people make political donations without disclosing their employers as part of a broad overhaul of campaign finance laws.Earlier this week, Republicans senators said they were considering parting with their colleagues in the Assembly and keeping the requirement that donors list their employers. But they […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/07/2015]
Editorial: What has Gov. Scott Walker got to hide? As One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross pointed out, Walker and his aides have already “delayed, misdirected and obfuscated efforts to obtain very simple information — who’s coming and going at the taxpayer-funded executive mansion. [Capital Times, 11/04/2015]
Scott Walker campaign failed to report thousands of donor employers Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign failed to submit required employer information for nearly 6,000 contributors last year — by far the most of any committee and 27 times more than his Democratic opponent, according to the Government Accountability Board. But the agency hasn’t penalized the campaign or any other committee that failed to report missing information […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 11/02/2015]
Walker’s office says visitor logs for governor’s mansion, sought by liberal group, don’t exist Their own behavior in retaining months of these records belies their own ridiculous argument. [Associated Press, 10/30/2015]
Scott Walker administration, liberal group at odds over partial release of mansion visitors’ log The release of a partial list of visitors to the governor's mansion has prompted criticisms from open government advocates and a liberal organization, who are skeptical that the full scope of information requested has been provided. [Capital Times, 10/30/2015]
Walker: Presidential Campaign Staffers ‘Occasionally’ Worked From Governor’s Mansion The liberal group One Wisconsin Now has received some of the records it requested about visitors to the governor's mansion. The logs from earlier this year show that people working on Walker's presidential bid were among those dropping by. [Wisconsin Public Radio, 10/30/2015]
Did Walker use governor’s mansion as ‘de facto’ presidential campaign headquarters? One Wisconsin Now is investigating whether Walker was illegally engaging in fundraising for his presidential campaign in the mansion. [Wisconsin Gazette, 10/30/2015]
Gov. Scott Walker releases partial list of mansion visitors The group’s director Scot Ross says it is “woefully inadequate” that Walker did not fulfill their full request and that it took six months to turn over what they did. [WITI-TV, 10/29/2015]
Walker’s office says visitor logs for mansion don’t exis "Their own behavior in retaining months of these records belies their own ridiculous argument," said One Wisconsin Now director Scot Ross. [Associated Press, 10/29/2015]
Governor Walker’s Mansion Mystery: The Case of the Missing Visitors Log There’s a mystery at the taxpayer-funded Executive Mansion as at least five months of visitor logs appear to have vanished. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/29/2015]
Scott Walker’s political team visited him at governor’s mansion Scot Ross, the One Wisconsin Now's executive director, said the records show the mansion was turned into a "de facto campaign headquarters." [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/29/2015]
Scott Walker signs bill limiting Doe probes as records are released Gov. Scott Walker signed legislation Friday curtailing the ability of district attorneys to use the John Doe law to launch investigations like the probes they have conducted of his campaign and his aides and associates. The GOP governor signed the measure a day after documents related to the secret probe of his campaign were released […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/23/2015]
Lawmakers approve bill ending John Doe probes of political crimes The proposal, which would reshape how cases of bribery of public officials and other political crimes are often investigated, was largely prompted by a probe into the Republican governor’s campaign and conservative groups that supported him. The state Supreme Court this summer shut down the investigation, which Walker and other Republicans have described as a […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/20/2015]
Advocacy group claims Walker Administration denied access to certain public- records One Wisconsin Now claimed Gov. Walker’s office failed to release certain emails in response to a public records request, after comparing what they received to email records obtained and reported on by 27 News last week. [WKOW-TV, 10/19/2015]
Spurning Wisconsin offer, Ashley Furniture Industries takes jobs and safety issues to N.C. “Pay-to-play certainly comes to my mind and I know I’m not alone,” said Scot Ross, executive director of the progressive group One Wisconsin Now. [Wisconsin Gazette, 10/17/2015]
Gov. Walker’s travel expenses leave unanswered questions There’s clearly a pattern of behavior. Walker tends to mix official state business with campaigning. [WBAY-TV, 10/11/2015]
Gov. Walker Spreads His Cronyism to State Supreme Court With Appointment of Rebecca Bradley Putting cronyism before qualifications, Gov. Scott Walker announced he has appointed Rebecca Bradley to the open seat on the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/09/2015]
Scott Walker dismisses political concerns, appoints Rebecca Bradley to Supreme Court Gov. Scott Walker announced the appointment of state Appeals Court Judge Rebecca Bradley to the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday, bolstering the court’s conservative majority. It’s the third judicial appointment Walker has given Bradley in as many years… Democrats have criticized Walker’s decision to appoint an announced candidate so close to the election, but Walker […] [Capital Times, 10/09/2015]
The ‘Fix’ Is In: Gov. Walker and Legislative Republicans Introduce Latest Scheme to Manipulate the Rules to Gain Unfair, Partisan Advantage Republican leaders, with the support of Scott Walker, are unveiling their latest scheme to manipulate election & ethics laws to gain unfair, partisan advantage. [One Wisconsin Institute, 10/07/2015]
Want More Cronyism, Corruption and Incompetence from Gov. Walker’s Administration? Republican Fast Track Effort To Gut State Anti-Corruption Laws Will Deliver Removing anti-corruption protections from Wisconsin’s civil service laws is an invitation for more scandal, incompetence, and cronyism in state government. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/06/2015]
Nobody Home: Gov. Walker’s Administration Stonewalls Request for Log of Visitors to Taxpayer-Funded Mansion According to the office of Gov. Scott Walker, they have no record of visitors to the taxpayer funded Governor’s mansion. What is the administration hiding? [One Wisconsin Now, 10/02/2015]
With Scott Walker back to work in Wisconsin, focus returns to what’s next for state Scot Ross said appointing Bradley to the seat would allow her political ads next spring to refer to her as “Justice Bradley,” and that would be “unseemly.” [Wisconsin State Journal, 09/23/2015]
Who, What, Why: Can a bang on the head cause a bald spot? The comments prompted some ridicule at the time, with left-leaning One Wisconsin Now accusing him of making "hair-raising excuses" and "bald-faced distortions". [BBC, 09/04/2015]
Rearranging the Deck Chairs Won’t Save Gov. Walker’s Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation The centerpiece of Scott Walker’s economic agenda has been a prime example of his administration’s cronyism, corruption and incompetence. Now it's looking for yet another new head. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/27/2015]
In light of Scott Walker’s China comments, aides defend Wisconsin’s trade relationship Scott Walker desperately wanted to change the media focus on his three positions in a week as he tries to chase Donald Trump's race to the sewer. [La Crosse Tribune, 08/26/2015]
Scott Walker, Crony Capitalist A report by One Wisconsin Now found that since 2009 the governor’s campaign organization had received more than $2.1 million from individuals linked to WEDC awards. [Politico, 08/25/2015]
Walker’s dystopian vision will push the threat of economic isolation, military feet on the ground and “steal in the face of our enemies.” One Wisconsin Now made an important point. In fact, if anybody needs a backbone it's Scott Walker, Walker was once drooling over the possibility of trade with China. [Democurmudgeon, 08/24/2015]
Scott Walker Is Two-Faced on China “In his desperate attempt to out-Trump Trump, Scott Walker has out-Palined Palin.” [Daily Beast, 08/24/2015]
Months later, still no final costs for Scott Walker’s trips abroad Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, said Walker’s campaign for president has gotten a political benefit from his recent trips without having to pay the full financial cost. “Scott Walker has had an active campaign account for the last 22 years that’s raised and spent more money than any state candidate […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 08/13/2015]
Questions remain about Scott Walker’s ‘Unintimidated’ book deal "Scott Walker hid the details of his book deal for two years and now we know why." [Capital Times, 08/08/2015]
Walker’s Latest Whopper on Criminal Investigation There is no universe which exists where an ambitious career politician like Scott Walker wouldn’t have his high priced criminal defense lawyers find out if he was under criminal investigation. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/07/2015]
New Document Shows Scott Walker Was Targeted in Criminal Investigation Scot Ross, president of the progressive group One Wisconsin Now, concurred with Fischer. “Scott Walker simply cannot be trusted,” he said. “Scott Walker repeatedly told the people of Wisconsin he wasn't under criminal investigation. Today, the evidence shows Scott Walker repeatedly wasn't telling the people of Wisconsin the truth.” [Daily Beast, 08/06/2015]
Scott Walker proposes shutting down Wisconsin ethics board Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin said on Monday that he wanted to eliminate the state’s Government Accountability Board, a nonpartisan agency that oversees elections, ethics, campaign finance and lobbying. [New York Times, 07/20/2015]
Taking the shine off Scott Walker’s PateGate "It's funny to think Gov. Walker would blame a cabinet for causing his male pattern baldness, but his pathological inability to tell the truth is making Wisconsin a joke." [Chicago Tribune, 07/17/2015]
Wisconsin Supreme Court quashes Walker investigation Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal One Wisconsin Now, said that the conflict of interest among the justices was part of a system "run amok". [CNN, 07/16/2015]
Did Walker Gang Just Use $10 Million ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ Card? Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign and outside groups accused of illegally coordinating campaign activities were let off the hook today by four justices of the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/16/2015]
Scott Walker will ‘make changes’ to public record restrictions before budget vote The biggest fear is that government will run amock. And, that whoever is making the actual decisions of government will be shielded from the public's ability to see that. [Wisconsin State Journal, 07/04/2015]
Will Scott Walker Choose to Be a King? After cowering behind closed doors, Republicans emerged to unleash the greatest assault on open records in our state’s history. [Scot Ross, 07/02/2015]
Wisconsin Supreme Court justice wants to reconsider case of former Walker aide Scot Ross, director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, accused Gableman of having political motives in attempting to revive the appeal. [Associated Press, 06/25/2015]
Walker says tax increase he supports for Bucks deal is not a tax increase The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, citing unnamed sources, reported Thursday that the most recent proposal would include $250 million from taxpayers, with another $150 million coming from Bucks owners and $100 million from former U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, a previous Bucks owner. The likely Republican candidate was asked about the report Thursday and indicated support for […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 05/30/2015]
Walker aides pushed for questionable WEDC loan for donor who had maxed out to Walker Gov. Scott Walker’s top aides and a powerful lobbyist pressed for a taxpayer-funded loan in 2011 to a financially struggling Milwaukee construction company that lost the state half a million dollars, created no jobs and raised questions about where the money went, a State Journal investigation has found…The push to fund the BCI project came […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 05/18/2015]
Gov. Scott Walker’s Economic Development Agency Under the Microscope Walker has come under scrutiny by media for a $62 million-plus award of state funds to the retail outlet Kohl's doled out under his watch as chair WEDC. [One Wisconsin Now, 04/24/2015]
Third Time Not a Charm as Nonpartisan Analysis Finds Gov. Walker Breaks Campaign Pledge to Keep Policy Out of State Budget, Again Gov. Scott Walker has produced a third straight state budget larded with policy which has no fiscal impact, despite as a candidate vowing to halt the practice. [One Wisconsin Now, 04/07/2015]
Audio Reveals Walker’s ‘April Fool’ on Campaign Finance Laws Audio from an Iowa event in March reveals Gov. Scott Walker joking with the crowd about his effort to evade campaign finance laws. [One Wisconsin Now, 04/01/2015]
GOP Trying to Cover Their Tracks, Limit Disclosure on Sources of Big Campaign Donations State legislative Republicans are circulating a proposal to hide even more information on the sources of their campaign cash. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/27/2015]
Report: John Menard gave $1.5 million to conservative group tied to Scott Walker Is Walker going to get away with telling people that he has nothing to do with the allocation of WEDC dollars? [Associated Press, 03/25/2015]
John Menard Jr. donated $1.5 million to pro-Walker groups, received money from Walker’s WEDC He wrote more than $1.5 million in checks to a pro-Walker political advocacy group that pledged to keep its donors secret, three sources directly familiar with the transactions told Yahoo News. Menard’s previously unreported six-figure contributions to the Wisconsin Club for Growth — a group that spent heavily to defend Walker during a bitter 2012 […] [Yahoo News, 03/23/2015]
Not-So-Sweet Sixteen Highlights the Lowlights of Gov. Scott Walker’s Deceit, Cronyism, Corruption and Incompetence We've unveiled our own “sweet sixteen”, highlighting the not so sweet deceit, cronyism and corruption and incompetence of Gov. Scott Walker’s tenure. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/20/2015]
Will Senate GOP Rubber-Stamp Appointment of Gov. Walker Political Crony? The treasurer of the political group formed by Walker to employ his presidential campaign staff in waiting is before the Wisconsin State Senate today for a confirmation vote. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/17/2015]
Walker would reverse Obama executive order on immigration Asked Monday if he would get rid of Barack Obama’s executive orders right away, Walker said: “Yes…if I were to run, that would be a key part of what we’d be talking about.” He noted that he was one of the first to sign onto the lawsuit challenging the president’s actions on immigration and said […] [Politico, 03/17/2015]
One Wisconsin Now Issues Walker Warning for New Hampshire One Wisconsin Now is warning New Hampshire voters to beware this weekend when Walker visits to audition for the 2016 GOP Presidential nomination. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/15/2015]
Scott Walker hit from left, right for evolution on key issues In four mere months since his last election, Gov. Walker has reversed his public position... on immigration, abortion, workplace rights and ethanol in service of his personal political ambitions. [Capital Times, 03/12/2015]
Scott Walker signs bill, makes Wisconsin 25th right-to-work state How fitting that Gov. Walker chose to sign the bill at the business of a millionaire campaign contributor. [Wisconsin State Journal, 03/09/2015]
Assembly GOP Passes Right to Work Despite Not Campaigning on Lower Wages, Fewer Resources for Schools, Less Health Care or More Dangerous Workplaces There’s not a single member of the state Assembly that ran for election in 2014 promising lower wages, fewer resources for our public schools, less health care or more dangerous workplaces. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/06/2015]
Flip Flop Alert: Will Walker’s Views on Ethanol ‘Evolve’ for Trip to Iowa Ag Summit? Just because he has a longstanding position on renewable fuel standards won’t stop him from saying whatever he thinks he needs to say now try to win an election. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/06/2015]
Scott Walker on immigration: ‘My view has changed’ Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says his views have changed on immigration — and he doesn’t support amnesty for undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. Pressed about previous statements in which he allowed that immigrants who are currently in the U.S. illegally could stay if they paid certain penalties, Walker said in an interview aired on […] [Politico, 03/01/2015]
Wrong for Wisconsin Right-to-Work Advocates Get Exclusive Access on Gov. Walker’s European Vacation An open records request has uncovered that the only two non-government employees who accompanied Gov. Walker on his ostensible trade mission to London. [One Wisconsin Now, 02/28/2015]
Gov. Walker’s Profile in Cowardice on the ‘Wrong for Wisconsin’ Right to Work Law Provides Preview for Nation Scott Walker is politics incarnate and he will say and do anything to get elected. He did it before and he’s doing it again. Far from being unintimidated, he is a profile in cowardice. [One Wisconsin Now, 02/20/2015]
Gov. Walker Appoints Industry Insiders, Special Interest Lobbyists and Political Cronies to Top State Jobs With his appointments today of industry insiders, lobbyists and political cronies to top state posts he can be sure the special interests will continue to get the preferential treatment they’ve come to expect. [One Wisconsin Now, 02/16/2015]
Walker says state budget won’t eliminate Wisconsin Idea Ross said if Walker hadn’t intended to seek that change, he would have said right away that it was a drafting error, rather than saying that hours later. [Badger Herald, 02/04/2015]
State has selected developer for massive Hill Farms project One Wisconsin Now previously accused the Walker administration of steering contracts to campaign contributors. One of the finalists is a company owned by prominent Dane County developer and Walker donor Terrence Wall. There were also Walker donors among the other finalist groups and those cut earlier in the process. [Wisconsin State Journal, 01/15/2015]
During 2014 Campaign, Walker Promised to Serve Full Term as Governor His continued interest in exploring a 2016 presidential bid prompted a question at the Oct. 10, 2014 gubernatorial debate: Would he promise to serve a full term if re-elected? He said he was “committed” to the position and planned to be in the job for the full four years. Some media saw that as a […] [Politifact, 01/04/2015]
John Doe emails: ‘Dark side’ was code for Scott Walker campaign Scott Walker’s Milwaukee County staff had a code name for his gubernatorial campaign with which they secretly coordinated strategy and messaging nearly every day: “the dark side.” […] Most of the correspondence involves routine county business, but many of the messages were sent using private email accounts. County staff also used private emails to conduct […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 12/31/2014]
The Best Defense Money Can Buy: Parties Involved in Criminal Investigation of Campaign Collusion Spent Millions to Help Elect Court Majority That Could Hear Cases The Supreme Court, with Justice Bradley abstaining, voted to hear several appeals related to the criminal investigation of collusion between the Walker's campaign and outside groups. [One Wisconsin Now, 12/17/2014]
The political pitfalls of cultural crossover: Scott Walker edition In an undated letter unearthed by the liberal group One Wisconsin Now during the August release of documents from the first of two John Doe investigations related to the governor, Walker responded to a letter from Milwaukee attorney and chairman of the Wisconsin Center District Franklyn Gimbel… The letter is signed, “Thank you again and Molotov.” [Capital Times, 12/11/2014]
Scott Walker continues to court Sheldon Adelson’s support in Las Vegas But the courtship dance began months ago and Gov. Scott Walker is continuing his endeavors to woo casino mogul Sheldon Adelson — most recently with a dinner in Las Vegas. The mega-donor — who poured more than $92 million on behalf of Republicans into the run-up of the 2012 presidential election — is scheduled to […] [Capital Times, 12/10/2014]
Scott Walker’s Hanukkah Message: ‘Molotov’! Molotov In an undated letter posted by the Capital Times Wednesday, Walker wrote to a constituent that he would be happy to display a menorah at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. At the time, he was serving as county executive. But what stands out most is his closing line. From the letter: Thank you for your […] [Huffington Post, 12/10/2014]
Walker Joins Immigration Lawsuit Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, a potential 2016 Republican president candidate, has signed on to a lawsuit that seeks to block President Barack Obama’s recently announced unilateral immigration actions. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, is being led by Governor-elect Greg Abbott in Texas and includes at least 17 states. It represents a test for Republican governors considering […] [Bloomberg, 12/03/2014]
Under Gov. Walker Those Who Give, Get: Hill Farms Edition In the weeks before the November 4 election, the Walker administration attempted to quietly solicit bids to redevelop the Hills Farms state office complex in Madison. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/18/2014]
State Government The Wisconsin GOP Way: Those Who Give, Get and Those That Don’t, Don’t Assembly GOP Speaker Robin Vos and Gov. Scott Walker called for a dramatically expanded private school voucher program in Wisconsin, financed with public tax dollars. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/17/2014]
Campaign Finance Records Reveal Out-of-State Special Interests Funneling Support for Gov. Walker Through In-State Big Business Lobby According to campaign finance filings, the RGA appears to have been funneling their TV ads supporting Walker through the state big business lobby, WMC. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/03/2014]
Desperate Walker Republicans Roll RoJo Out to Shriek ‘Fraud’ Johnson’s comments were part of a consistent campaign by Republicans to suppress voter turnout through public statements and disenfranchisement legislation. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/02/2014]
The Anatomy of a Right-Wing Smear Campaign The wallet and fingerprints of Scott Walker’s campaign co-chair, Michael Grebe, are all over this last-second desperate smear against Mary Burke. [Cody Oliphant, 10/30/2014]
Gov. Scott Walker’s Campaign Co-Chair’s Fingerprints on Latest Political Hit Job to Try to Maintain Power for Gov. Walker A review of IRS records and Bradley Foundation reports reveals they have provided significant financial support for the media outlet that first reported on the smear. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/30/2014]
Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive and Dodge – the Scott Walker Gang’s Response to Open Records Request Gov. Walker and his team's actions show that they believe Wisconsin's open records statute is a nuisance to be evaded, not a law to be followed. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/28/2014]
In 2010, Scott Walker’s campaign sought to keep IBM ‘happy’ Liberal group One Wisconsin Now accused Walker of “hypocrisy” because he was copied on those emails while at the same time promising on the campaign trail to “restore Wisconsin’s reputation for clean and honest government through transparency in the state contracting process.” [Wisconsin State Journal, 10/24/2014]
Scott Walker’s Corruption Problem New documents released show that Walker helped his longtime campaign treasurer get inside information for a bid to lease office space to the county. Ross, who describes Walker’s administration as “arguably one of the most corrupt in recent history,” is calling for those aides, Cindy Archer and Jim Villa, to resign [The Progressive, 10/23/2014]
#TBT 2006-2010: The Stunning Hypocrisy of Scott Walker Running for office on a platform of transparency in contracting while working surreptitiously to manipulate a contract for the benefit of a political crony is at the top of the list. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/23/2014]
Mary Burke, others question ethics of information given to Scott Walker campaign treasurer One Wisconsin Now called for Archer and Villa to resign from their posts, calling their exchanges with Hiller a “massive violation of the public trust.” [Capital Times, 10/23/2014]
One Wisconsin Now Calls for Central Figures in Attempted Milwaukee County Bid Scheme to Resign State Positions New documents reveal how individuals participated in providing inside info to try to help a political crony of then-County Executive, and now Walker win a lucrative publicly-funded contract. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/22/2014]
Scott Walker campaign staffer OK’d statement denying political activity by county staff Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, called the email exchange “Exhibit A” for how Walker, a Republican up for re-election, put politics ahead of public service. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/21/2014]
Top Walker aide worked to help Walker campaign treasurer on county office space deal The new emails do shed light on the part of the John Doe investigation focused on competition to house the county’s Department on Aging in private office space. Cynthia Archer, who was the county’s administration director, offered inside financial information to John Hiller, then Walker’s campaign treasurer and a consultant for RAIT Financial Trust, owner […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/21/2014]
Lt. Gov. Kleefisch Hosts Schimel Fundraiser After DA Refused to Investigate Husband’s ‘Pay-to-Play’ Allegations Months after refusing to investigate Rep. Joel Kleefisch, Brad Schimel will benefit from a fundraiser hosted today by the Lieutenant Governor at the Tory Lake Club in Oconomowoc. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/02/2014]
5.5 Million Plus Reasons Why Scott Walker’s Ethics Reform Plan Was a Lie MADISON, Wis. — In an “Ethics Reform Plan” Scott Walker proposed while running for Governor, he promised he would not accept contributions from the date of his inauguration until the signing of the state budget. A review of Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign finance records by One Wisconsin Now shows that for each budget he introduced between […] [One Wisconsin Now, 09/26/2014]
#TBT Eight Million Reasons Four WI Supreme Court Justices Must Recuse in Walker-John Doe Case A reminder from April 14 of how four of seven Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices owe their current elected position to the millions of dollars in spending in their races by the Wisconsin Club for Growth and Wisconsin Manufactures and Commerce. Gov. Scott Walker has previously asked the appeal of the Peterson ruling go directly to […] [One Wisconsin Now, 09/25/2014]
Walker names his attorney’s brother to judgeship Gov. Scott Walker has appointed a controversial former prosecutor — and brother of his campaign attorney — to the Outagamie Circuit Court. Late Friday, Walker named former Outagamie County District Attorney Vince Biskupic to fill the vacancy left by Judge Dee R. Dyer, who retired in August….In 2003, the state Ethics Board investigated Vince Biskupic […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 09/20/2014]
Executive behind voter fraud billboards sought Scott Walker advice A venture fund manager consulted with then-Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker about state and federal voting laws in 2010, just weeks before the businessman began posting controversial ads on billboards in Milwaukee that warned “Voter Fraud is a Felony.” “Scott, I need to know the rules for illegal voting in Wisconsin,” Stephen Einhorn wrote in […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 09/11/2014]
Court to hear arguments on secret Scott Walker investigation Gov. Walker has refused responsibility for his actions or to be held accountable for his bad decisions. [MSNBC, 09/09/2014]
Bradley Foundation’s WILL: Counsel for Walker’s Defense A right-wing “public interest” law firm and a legal expert who have raked in at least $1.75 million from the Bradley Foundation are entering the fray to try to help Gov. Walker out of his most recent legal jam. [One Wisconsin Now, 09/03/2014]
Will Gov. Walker Answer the $700,000 Question? MADISON, Wis. — Despite claims made by Gov. Walker to the media that he was an intractable supporter of reducing mining regulations, as reported in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel today Walker as a state legislator voted for the so-called “mining moratorium” bill authored by environmental champion, former Madison Democratic State Rep. Spencer Black. “Scott Walker […] [One Wisconsin Now, 08/27/2014]
Walker Voted in Favor of Mining Moratorium But the first-term Republican governor has not always been so pro-mining. In fact, he helped block a proposal to construct another major mine in northern Wisconsin years ago. In 1998 — as a member of the Assembly — Walker voted in favor of a mining moratorium that put the brakes on a proposed copper and […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 08/26/2014]
Gov. Walker Can’t Dispute Facts of One Wisconsin Now WEDC Report The increasingly desperate campaign of Gov. Scott Walker hastily convened a press conference yesterday to dispute the undeniable facts that his policies and administration have been an utter failure on job creation. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/22/2014]
Latest Finance Report Shows Walker Took Another $167,000 from Businesses That Got WEDC Funds A review of Gov. Scott Walker’s most recent campaign finance report reveals he continues to reap a windfall of campaign donations, nearly $167,000 in just the last six months, from individuals associated with state businesses getting tax breaks, loans and grants through his WEDC. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/28/2014]
Where There’s a WILL, There’s a Way… to Promote Gov. Walker’s Best Interests For the years in which Federal IRS records are available for both the Bradley Foundation and WILL, 2011 and 2012, Bradley funds accounted for over 90 percent of the total money WILL reported raising. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/11/2014]
Did Gov. Walker Raise Money to Help Elect State Supreme Court Justice? In comments reported by the news service WisPolitics.com, Gov. Scott Walker admitted he personally solicited contributions for the Wisconsin Club for Growth (WCFG) in 2011 and 2012. [One Wisconsin Now, 06/27/2014]
Will State Big Business Lobby Answer the Question, Is Gov. Walker Still Doing It? MADISON, Wis. — Contained in hundreds of pages of recently unsealed John Doe investigation court documents is information about the participation of the state big business lobby, the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), in a scheme termed “criminal” by prosecutors orchestrated by Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign. Since the release of the documents, Walker has refused to […] [One Wisconsin Now, 06/26/2014]
Scott Walker Accused of Illegal Fundraising One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross said there is one simple question Gov. Walker must answer as his 2014 and beyond campaigns heats up: "Are you still doing it?" [MSNBC, 06/20/2014]
One Simple Question Gov. Walker Must Answer: Are You Still Doing It? MADISON, Wis. — Court documents from the latest John Doe criminal investigation of Gov. Walker reveal he was at the center of what was described as a national “criminal scheme” to evade campaign laws. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross said there is one simple question Gov. Walker must answer as his 2014 and beyond […] [One Wisconsin Now, 06/20/2014]
Two ask to intervene, have records withheld in John Doe probe The two unnamed individuals rushing to court to prevent the release of secret investigative records said Tuesday they believed they are the “sole human targets” of the probe into fundraising and spending by Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign and conservative groups. In court papers filed Tuesday, the two asked the federal 7th Circuit Court of Appeals […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 06/17/2014]
Nearly 60% of WEDC funds have gone to Walker, GOP donors A liberal advocacy group reports that nearly 60 percent of the financial assistance money awarded by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has gone to businesses whose owners or employees have donated money to the campaign of Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wisconsin) or the Republican Governors Association (RGA). WEDC officials do not dispute that statistic, but […] [WKOW-TV, 06/14/2014]
One Wisconsin Now Slams Gov. Walker on Capitol City Sunday Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, isn’t buying Walker’s answer. “There’s something there,” said Ross. “All this discussion about a settlement comes after there’s been discussion about the records being made public from the investigation and I think that’s what he fears the most.” [WKOW-TV, 05/30/2014]
Desperate Attempt by Gov. Walker to Keep Documents Secret From the Public? “Seeing what was revealed in just a fraction of the documents from the first John Doe criminal probe of Gov. Walker and his associates, it’s no wonder he’s desperate to keep more of the paper trail of his record of cronyism, corruption and incompetence away from the media and the public,” said Ross. [WMTV-TV, 05/29/2014]
Gov. Walker Reportedly in Settlement Talks to End Criminal Investigation of Alleged Campaign Wrongdoing MADISON, Wis. — Are settlement talks between Gov. Walker and state prosecutors a desperate attempt to keep documents from a second, ongoing “John Doe” criminal investigation of Walker’s campaign from ever becoming public? One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross noted that word of a deal has heated up as more documents from an earlier John […] [One Wisconsin Now, 05/29/2014]
One Wisconsin Now Hits Gov. Walker over Alleged John Doe Deal “There is no question that Gov. Walker is driven by political ambition for higher office and his next election. And he is clearly, and rightly, concerned about what additional document dumps from the criminal investigations of his administration and campaign will do to his 2014 election prospects and 2016 presidential ambitions. What remains to be […] [WQOW-TV, 05/28/2014]
Is Gov. Scott Walker’s Book Deal Legal? MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker has, according to his state ethics filing, received more than $1,000 in compensation for “writing” a book. But how much more? According to One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross, Walker’s refusal to fully disclose the details of his book deal prevents the state ethics officials and the public from […] [One Wisconsin Now, 05/21/2014]
Gov. Walker’s Administration Continues Secrecy with Wisconsinites MADISON, Wis. — Governor Scott Walker continues engaging in a pattern of secrecy with the public he was elected to serve. His administration recently refused to fulfill a simple request for email communications between the Governor and his chief of staff. In Milwaukee County, Scott Walker’s administration went to great lengths to limit public scrutiny of […] [One Wisconsin Now, 04/30/2014]
Walker doesn’t disclose total book payment “This report shows Gov. Walker continues to keep secret from the people of Wisconsin both the details of how much he personally enriched himself for his lucrative pre-presidential campaign book deal, as well as who financed his criminal defense fund,” said Scot Ross, director of the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now. “Given the corruption, […] [Associated Press, 04/30/2014]
Legal Filings Show Walker Ousted GAB Chair After Board’s Unanimous Vote to Proceed with John Doe Investigation MADISON, Wis. — Just released filings related to the ongoing John Doe investigation into allegations of illegal coordination between Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign and a host of conservative organizations show Gov. Walker withdrew his own 2011 appointment of then-Government Accountability Board Chair David Deininger following a unanimous vote by the board to proceed with an investigation […] [One Wisconsin Now, 04/16/2014]
Eight Million Reasons Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices Should Recuse on Walker Request to Hear Corruption Investigation One Wisconsin Now has filed a formal letter urging four of the court's justices to recuse themselves from a legal request by the campaign of Gov. Scott Walker related to the ongoing John Doe investigation. [One Wisconsin Now, 04/14/2014]
Scott Walker campaign asks Supreme Court to intervene in ‘John Doe’ investigation Citing numbers from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, OWN executive director Scot Ross noted the four-member conservative majority on the court had benefited from millions of dollars in outside spending by the groups targeted by the investigation. “The parties that Gov. Walker’s legal appeal would protect from investigation have spent millions to put a right-wing majority on […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 04/12/2014]
Gov. Walker and Special Interest Pals Go Venue Shopping for Friendly Court MADISON, Wis. — Defense lawyers for Gov. Walker are reportedly appealing to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and its right-wing majority, to try to protect him from prosecutors investigating alleged illegal coordination between his campaign and right-wing groups. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross questioned whether the conservative court majority might be too friendly with Gov. […] [One Wisconsin Now, 04/11/2014]
National Progress Now ‘March Badness’ Tourney Reaches Finale Progress Now affiliates One Wisconsin Now and Pennsylvania’s Keystone Progress are wagering a selection of their state’s craft brews that their Governor will prevail as the worst of the worst. [One Wisconsin Now, 04/04/2014]
Reported Central Figure in Scott Walker Administration “John Doe” Criminal Investigation Snags Newly Created State Job at $178,000 Annual Salary MADISON, Wis. — Longtime Gov. Walker close confidant, lobbyist and former staffer, Jim Villa, has reportedly been named to a newly created state job that will pay him $178,000 a year. Gov. Walker is said to have given his personal recommendation of Villa for the job. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross commented, “Filling this […] [One Wisconsin Now, 04/02/2014]
Former Scott Walker Deputy Chief of Staff Left Without a Seat For ‘Inner Circle’ Game of Musical Chairs MADISON, Wis. — In an interview published in the Wall Street Journal, Gov. Walker’s former Milwaukee County Deputy Chief of Staff, Kelly Rindfleisch, alleges she has been shunned by GOP insiders and unable to find employment after her guilty plea on charges of illegal campaigning. Meanwhile, a close confidant of Gov. Walker, who Rindfliesch alleges was […] [One Wisconsin Now, 03/31/2014]
Show Us The Money: One Wisconsin Now Demands Gov. Walker Release Details of Book Contract MADISON, Wis. — Amidst reports that Gov. Walker was given an advance of over $340,000 for his poorly selling ghost-written book, One Wisconsin Now is calling on him to publicly release the details of the contract. “Gov. Walker looks to be getting an awfully big payday for himself when someone else wrote about his attack on […] [One Wisconsin Now, 03/26/2014]
Will Gov. Walker’s Ethical Flip-Flop Pay Big in Vegas? MADISON, Wis. — In previous campaigns, Scott Walker touted legislation he introduced to “ban political contributions from gambling interests.” Now, with presidential ambition dancing in his head, Gov. Walker is headed to Las Vegas to try to double down on the $250,000 contribution he received in 2012 from casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. One Wisconsin Now Executive […] [One Wisconsin Now, 03/14/2014]
Campaign aides again directing response to county issues, this time Walker mismanagement of county mental health complex Walker’s county and campaign staffs collaborated in determining how to respond to one issue after another — sexual assaults of patients at the complex, security lapses, controversial remarks by Milwaukee County’s mental health administrator. At one point, Walker’s campaign manager complained that a county lawyer needed to “think political for a change.” Walker played an […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/26/2014]
Walker, again, personally directing response to controversy “We need to continue to keep me out of the story as this is a process issue and not a policy matter,” Walker wrote on March 27, 2010. The issue at that point was fallout from stories on a patient sexual assault of another patient that resulted in a pregnancy. […] In this exchange, Walker […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/26/2014]
Walker’s campaign and county aides coordinated response to outrageous remarks of his appointed administrator of County Behavioral Health Division John Chianelli, then administrator of the county’s Behavioral Health Division, was quoted telling county supervisors that sexual assaults in mixed-gender wards were a trade-off for more violent assaults that would happen in all-male psychiatric units. Walker’s staff furiously exchanged views on what to do. Gilkes, Walker’s campaign manager, told Rindfleisch: “We won’t be commenting at […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/26/2014]
Walker’s gubernatorial campaign manager directs top Walker county aide to try to suppress open records Gilkes told Rindfleisch to prod a county lawyer — then-Deputy Corporation Counsel Timothy Schoewe — to take a tougher stance. “Just do me a favor and tell him that we are getting the crap kicked out of us by the County Board,” Gilkes wrote. “At some point I would like him to stop being a […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/26/2014]
Top Walker aide makes light of county mismanagement of mental health services, “no one care about crazy people” Rindfleisch was sarcastic about the Mental Health Complex issue in a Sept. 2, 2010, email to a friend. “Last week was a nightmare,” she wrote. “A bad story every day on our looney bin. Doctors having sex with patients, patients getting knocked up. This has been coming for months and I’ve unofficially been dealing with […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/26/2014]
Emails show Walker campaign manager successfully delayed Milwaukee County settlement with parents of woman who starved to death at Walker overseen County mental health complex Instructions from Scott Walker’s campaign manager were explicit: Delay settlement of a long-standing legal case over the starvation-relateddeath of Cindy Anczak at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex. “Could care less what it is on,” Walker campaign manager Keith Gilkes wrote in an Oct. 22, 2010, email exchange with a Walker aide at the county, […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/26/2014]
Bombshell New Report Casts Doubt on Gov. Walker’s Denial of Secret Email System in Governor’s Office MADISON, Wis. — A new report raises questions about the veracity of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s denial of the existence of a secret email system in the Governor’s office. An article posted today on UrbanMilwaukee.com reports that a source with knowledge of the Governor’s staff operation in the State Capitol described a system of top state […] [One Wisconsin Now, 02/25/2014]
Emails pose problem for Wisconsin governor The messages “unmask the real Gov. Walker,” said Mike Browne, deputy director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now. “He is revealed as a politician personally managing the minutest details of his public persona and during times of crisis showing more concern for protecting his image and prospects for higher political office than solving problems,” Browne […] [Associated Press, 02/22/2014]
Walker encouraged anti-immigrant rant: ‘Don’t hold back.’ Documents released this week show that Gov. Scott Walker told one of his closest advisers “Don’t hold back” after she forwarded an anti-immigrant screed to top members of his political inner circle in July of 2010. Dorothy Moore, Walker’s scheduler in his Milwaukee County executive’s office who came to Madison with his gubernatorial staff, forwarded […] [The Progressive, 02/21/2014]
Email dump makes political hurdles for Walker The emails raise serious questions about his ethics and trustworthiness as a politician and public official. [MSNBC, 02/20/2014]
Walker campaign manager directs firing of county aide to take the fall for mismanagement of mental health services under Walker After Chianelli was demoted for his handling of sexual assaults at the complex, Gilkes wrote to Walker’s staff about the need to fire him: “I think we throw John under the bus for covering up how dysfunctional the place is.” The campaign took a hard line on reacting to the sexual assault scandal, even as […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/20/2014]
What did Walker aides think was funny? Racism, apparently. In April 2010, Walker’s former deputy chief of staff Kelly Rindfleisch received an emailed joke from a friend about someone whose dogs supposedly qualified for welfare because they are “mixed in color, unemployed, lazy, can’t speak English and have no frigging clue who their Daddys are.” Rindfleisch wrote back: “That is hilarious. And so true!” […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/20/2014]
Walker Transportation Department Assistant Deputy Secretary’s racist Facebook rant In August, Walker fired Steven Krieser, assistant deputy secretary at the state Department of Transportation, after he likened illegal immigrants to Satan during a Facebook debate over a bumper sticker declaring open season on foreigners living in the United States without documentation. That case was also brought to light by Bice. “You may see Jesus […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/20/2014]
Politics top concern among Walker and team in response to O’Donnell tragedy. An email from Walker’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Timothy Russell, sent shortly after the tragedy reads: “Where is SKW (Scott Walker)? This is going to be a problem, whether we did (or didn’t do) anything or not. Barrett has already been there. Scott cannot be at a fundraiser or something like that. He’ll be eaten […] [WITI-TV, 02/19/2014]
United Sportsmen seeks exemption from penalty for faulty tax filings Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, said United Sportsmen’s sole source of funding appeared to be a conservative political group and that its main spending went to a GOP campaign consultant. “It is clear, based on their track record, that had United Sportsmen gotten state funding as envisioned by Governor Walker […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 01/17/2014]
Facts Are Facts. Gov. Walker’s Agenda an Abysmal Failure for Wisconsin Instead of owning up to the fact that his radical, ‘divide and conquer’ agenda has failed and changing course, Gov. Walker is turning to the special interests he serves to try to re-write history. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/07/2013]
Did Walker’s Milwaukee County Aides Destroy Documents at Direction of Gubernatorial Campaign Manager? At issue is whether any documents related to the O’Donnell tragedy that were generated by Walker’s staff were destroyed. Walker was Milwaukee County executive and a candidate for governor when 15-year-old Jared Kellner was killed by a 13-ton concrete panel that fell from the O’Donnell parking structure facade. The death spawned multiple lawsuits, which were […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/06/2013]
Scott Suder steps away from job in Scott Walker’s administration Just days before receiving the grant, the lobbyist for United Sportsmen offered free fishing excursions to Suder, the Journal Sentinel reported Monday. The day the trip began, Suder joined 17 other Republicans in urging a committee to give the grant to United Sportsmen. The liberal group One Wisconsin Now filed an ethics complaint with the […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/03/2013]
Suder Shuffles Off the State and On To Special Interests’ Payroll Mere days before he was slated to start a $94,000 a year job in the Walker administration, it was announced today that former Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder has taken a different job as a special interest lobbyist. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/03/2013]
Air Walker, Frequent Flyer MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Walker has ditched the brown bag and four-door Saturn featured in his 2010 campaign ads for state taxpayer funded airplane travel, according to a report this week in the Shepherd Express. The paper’s review of Gov. Walker’s travel records found that between January and July 2013 Walker used state planes to fly […] [One Wisconsin Now, 09/12/2013]
Gov. Walker Jets to Seattle, Washington For Speech… Meanwhile in Wisconsin Over 6,100 Citizens Demand He Follow Campaign Fundraising Disclosure Rules MADISON, Wis. — According to reports, Gov. Walker has reversed course and will allow media to attend a speech he’s delivering to a right-wing think tank in Seattle, Washington today. While he’s not hiding from the press on the West Coast, back home in Wisconsin, over 6,100 citizens have signed a petition to the Government […] [One Wisconsin Now, 09/04/2013]
Walker personally oversaw response to O’Donnell Park tragedy, he and his team put political concerns first Gov. Scott Walker worked simultaneously with his campaign staff and county aides in coordinating responses to media inquiries, open records requests and news stories about the 2010 O’Donnell Park tragedy, according to newly released emails. The records show that Walker was integrally involved in the efforts to challenge any negative publicity after a concrete panel […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 07/30/2013]
Top Walker aides sought to slow down release of public records In one exchange, Walker’s top Milwaukee County fiscal aide, Cindy Archer, emailed Walker and Walker campaign aides on July 8 that “we may be responding too quickly” to requests for O’Donnell-related records made by his Republican primary rival, Mark Neumann, and by the state Democratic Party. Archer said she heard from Gilkes, Walker’s campaign manager, […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 07/30/2013]
Walker aide indicted on charges of stealing from fallen soldiers group proposed alternate theory of O’Donnell accident On the day of the O’Donnell accident, a county aide to Walker raises the issue of whether a car striking the concrete panel might have jarred it loose. “Perhaps grasping at straws but there is a vacant parking space at the north end of the area where the slab was hung,” Timothy Russell wrote in […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 07/30/2013]
Walker sought to justify involvement of campaign aides in county response to O’Donnell Park incident by blaming political opponents Gov. Scott Walker said Tuesday that his top campaign staffers began advising and directing his Milwaukee County aides on their response to the 2010 O’Donnell Park tragedy because Walker’s political foes were trying to hijack the issue. “Literally, within moments — I think even that day in your paper’s story — there were comments from […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 07/30/2013]
Will Gov. Walker Take His Own Advice? MADISON, Wis. — In a recent story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Gov. Walker weighed in on the Ryan Braun scandal, ripping him for failing to “fess up”. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross called on Walker to heed his own advice by revealing the donors to his criminal legal defense fund and making […] [One Wisconsin Now, 07/23/2013]
#WalkerAt20: Friends’ Felonious Failures MADISON, Wis. — In his twenty years in office, Scott Walker has amassed a truly astounding record of failure. To commemorate the looming anniversary of his first election to office, One Wisconsin Now is highlighting a different and depressing failure of Gov. Walker every day, for twenty days. Today we examine the close aides and […] [One Wisconsin Now, 06/26/2013]
#WalkerAt20: Promises Made, Promises Broken MADISON, Wis. — In his twenty years in office, Scott Walker has amassed a truly astounding record of failure. To commemorate the looming anniversary of his first election to office, One Wisconsin Now is highlighting a different and depressing failure of Gov. Walker every day, for twenty days. As the legislature prepares to begin debate […] [One Wisconsin Now, 06/16/2013]
Gov. Scott Walker Maintains Veil of Secrecy for Those Who Foot the Bill for His Criminal Defense Lawyers Gov. Walker has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay for his criminal defense attorneys, yet, to this day, he is refusing to disclose who's footing the bill. [One Wisconsin Now, 05/01/2013]
Right Wing Attempting to Rewrite History of Criminal Investigation of Walker Administration MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross released the following statements regarding the announcement of the conclusion of the John Doe criminal investigation of Gov. Walker and aides and associates: “This criminal probe revealed there were no lines between Scott Walker’s political operation and public office. “As the right wing rushes to […] [One Wisconsin Now, 02/28/2013]
Tim Russell pleads guilty Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, said this investigation may have significant political implications in regards to Walker running for reelection in 2014. Ross also believes the investigation could go on, and voters will likely ask questions aboutScott Walker’s connections to the cases. “It was a very clear and corrupted effort when Scott Walker was a […] [Badger Herald, 12/02/2012]
Walker Aide Pleads Guilty Today. Set Up Secret County E-Mail System Used by Previously Sentenced Brett Davis Campaign Fundraiser. MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross renewed a call made earlier this week for Gov. Walker to demand the resignation of top administration aide Brett Davis for his participation in a scheme to benefit his failed Lieutenant Governor campaign, at taxpayer expense, that has resulted in jail time for one former […] [One Wisconsin Now, 11/28/2012]
State Medicaid Director Brett Davis Must Go for Role in Illegal Campaigning on Public Dime MADISON, Wis. — On the heels of Kelly Rindfleisch’s guilty plea to a felony misconduct in office charge, and a jail sentence for campaign fundraising work she did while a top aide to Scott Walker as Milwaukee County Executive to benefit the 2010 Lieutenant Governor campaign of then Rep. Brett Davis, Gov. Walker must ask […] [One Wisconsin Now, 11/25/2012]
Venture capitalist Einhorn behind ‘voter fraud’ billboards Billboards warning communities of color in Ohio and Wisconsin that voter fraud can lead to jail time were put up by a group led by a Milwaukee-based venture capitalist and donor to Mitt Romney and the Tea Party movement, an investigation by NBC’s theGrio has found. The billboards—which carried the unnecessary (and some might say, […] [MSNBC, 10/30/2012]
Venture capitalist Einhorn paid for voter fraud billboards Stephen Einhorn – a Wisconsin venture capital fund manager and major GOP donor – acknowledged Monday that he and his wife Nancy paid for dozens of anonymous billboards in and around Milwaukee and two Ohio cities warning residents of the penalties for committing voter fraud. Democrats and civil rights groups complained that the signs – […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/29/2012]
One Wisconsin Now Statements on Top Walker Aide Pleading Guilty to Felony Misconduct in Office MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross released the following statements related to the announcement that Kelly Rindfleisch will plead guilty to one count of felony misconduct in public office for her actions as Deputy Chief of Staff to Scott Walker while he was Milwaukee County Executive: “You cannot understate the seriousness […] [One Wisconsin Now, 10/09/2012]
Rindfleisch may plead guilty One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross said Rindfleisch agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in their ongoing John Doe investigation, which has been focused on Walker’s county executive office. Ross emphasized Rindfleisch was one of Walker’s top aides, which may reflect badly on him. “We’ll have to see what the plea deal was and what […] [Badger Herald, 10/08/2012]
Walker subpoenaed to testify in trial of former aide Gov. Scott Walker has been subpoenaed to testify in the criminal trial of a former aide. The subpoena was sent to Walker’s lawyer Friday, according to a court document. The subpoena orders Walker to show up Oct. 16 for the trial of Kelly M. Rindfleisch. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/08/2012]
One Wisconsin Now Calls for End to Walker’s ‘Gravy Train’ for Michael, Best & Friedrich MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now today called on Gov. Scott Walker to halt the taxpayer-funded gravy train for the politically connected law firm, Michael, Best & Friedrich, and stop using public funds to pay for the continuing legal battle to overturn a court decision declaring Act 10, his controversial law stripping workplace rights from […] [One Wisconsin Now, 09/17/2012]
One Wisconsin Now Statements Regarding Gov. Scott Walker’s Address to the Republican National Convention With a record like Gov. Walker’s, it’s no wonder why he was the opening act for the candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Delaware tonight. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/27/2012]
What Happened? Wisconsin’s Scott Walker Reduced to Warm Up Act on GOP Convention Governors’ Night MADISON, Wis. — Right wing celebrity Gov. Scott Walker’s star power appears to be on the wane in recent weeks, as evidenced by his warm-up act role on Governors’ night at the Republican National Convention. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross commented, “Walker’s fall looks a lot like the superstar arena rock band of […] [One Wisconsin Now, 08/26/2012]
Sentencing delayed in case against ex-Walker aide The sentencing of Darlene Wink, a former aide to Gov. Scott Walker, for misdemeanor convictions of campaigning while working at her Milwaukee County job was delayed Tuesday for four months to make sure Wink follows through on a promise to help prosecutors in other cases. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 07/17/2012]
Cognitive Dissidence: Following Russell’s Revelations Down The Rabbit Hole Tim Russell’s defense attorney, Dennis Krueger, had filed two motions, one to dismiss the case outright, and failing that, to suppress the evidence against his client. The Honorable David Hansher found the defense’s motions to be without merit and dismissed them… Maistelman is NOT a target. Got it? And he is not a leak. There […] [Cognitive Dissidence, 07/12/2012]
Judge refuses to throw out charges again former Walker aide A Milwaukee County judge Wednesday refused to throw out charges against Timothy Russell, a former top county aide to Gov. Scott Walker who claimed that prosecutors had taken steps to hobble his defense. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 07/11/2012]
Respect the Integrity of the John Doe Inquiry The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported this week that popular radio personality Charlie Sykes received leaked information about individuals who might be charged in the John Doe investigation of criminal wrongdoing by aides and allies of Gov. Scott Walker. Watchdog groups like One Wisconsin Now are calling on Sykes’ superiors to reprimand him. [Capital Times, 06/29/2012]
Beer and Brats: Is Gov. Walker Just Feeding Wisconsin Another Line? MADISON, Wis. — Citing the age-old adage that actions speak louder than words, One Wisconsin Now is calling on Gov. Scott Walker to take concrete actions to heal the rift in Wisconsin brought on by his “divide and conquer” agenda. One Wisconsin Now Deputy Director Mike Browne commented, “Time and again Gov. Walker has told […] [One Wisconsin Now, 06/11/2012]
Walker Political Appointee Stonewalling Release of Public Records? MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Walker’s political appointee in charge of the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) appears to be stonewalling the release of public records related to claims he made about the release of unverified state job numbers. One Wisconsin Now spokesperson Mike Browne commented, “The unprecedented release of unverified jobs numbers weeks before the […] [One Wisconsin Now, 06/06/2012]
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel didn’t endorse Gov. Walker’s agenda Here are some quick examples: Walker, GOP took eyes off the ball on job creation – April 28, 2012 Wisconsin lost nearly 24,000 jobs over the past 12 months – the only state in the union with “statistically significant” job losses over that period, according to a new federal government report. For a governor who promised thousands […] [Cody Oliphant, 05/29/2012]
Memo to Reporters: “Bombshell” Email Exchange With Top Adviser John Hiller Suggests Scott Walker is at the Heart of Criminal Corruption Probe Progressive advocacy group One Wisconsin Now continued to analyze Walker’s campaign finance records throughout the 2010 campaign for governor. They found that his campaign improperly reported well over $500,000 in contributions from inside and outside Wisconsin. The organization also filed a formal complaint with the Government Accountability Board regarding Walker’s serial breaking of campaign finance […] [WisDems, 05/29/2012]
What is Gov. Walker Hiding? MADISON, Wis. — Eighty-two days and $160,000 later, Gov. Walker and his campaign are continuing to refuse to name the donors to the legal defense fund he is using to pay for defense lawyers in a “John Doe” criminal investigation of corruption and illegal campaigning. One Wisconsin Now spokesperson Mike Browne commented, “It’s understandable that […] [One Wisconsin Now, 05/29/2012]
5 Questions Gov. Walker Should Answer At Tonight’s Debate MADISON, Wis. — Questions continue to mount about Gov. Walker’s candor on serious issues, including his involvement in the secret John Doe investigation of corruption and illegal campaigning by close aides and associates and video showing him telling campaign contributors a very different story than the public. One Wisconsin Now Deputy Director Mike Browne called […] [One Wisconsin Now, 05/24/2012]
Which of Gov. Walker’s Billionaire Boys and Girls Club Members Are Paying For His Criminal Defense? MADISON, Wis. — In response to Gov. Walker’s continued stonewalling about who’s footing the bill for his high priced team of criminal defense lawyers in a “John Doe” probe of corruption and illegal campaigning, One Wisconsin Now unveiled an online contest to let people submit their guesses. One Wisconsin Now Spokesperson Mike Browne commented, “It […] [One Wisconsin Now, 05/23/2012]
Madison Politiscope: Wisconsin Conservatives Try to Discredit John Doe Investigation Gov. Scott Walker has largely shrugged off Democratic attempts to link him to the ongoing John Doe investigation that has led to arrests and convictions for several of his former close associates in Milwaukee County. Some of his allies are going on the offensive, attempting to discredit the probe by challenging the credibility of Milwaukee […] [Capital Times, 05/21/2012]
Memo: Follow the Money You've also probably seen the ads paid for by the special interests benefitting from tax giveaways, consumer protection rollbacks and lax public safety regulation enforcement by the Walker administration. [One Wisconsin Now, 05/21/2012]
Miraculous or Scandalous? MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now Deputy Director Mike Browne today announced the filing of public record requests associated with the suspicious timing of a new television ad from Gov. Walker’s campaign, containing previously undisclosed information from an administration jobs report, and denials of consultation between the agency producing the report and the Governor. Browne […] [One Wisconsin Now, 05/16/2012]
Gov. Walker Touts Leadership, But Official Schedule Tells a Different Story MADISON, Wis. — A One Wisconsin Now analysis of Gov. Walker’s schedules from August 2011 through January 2012 reveals that little time was scheduled by the state’s chief executive for communicating with legislators or working on a legislative agenda but that huge amounts of time were blocked off as “personal”. One Wisconsin Now Spokesperson Mike […] [One Wisconsin Now, 03/13/2012]
Recall Rolls On: Extension Granted, Dates Set, Walker Downplays Job and Forms Legal Defense Fund Gov. Walker claims that he has hired new criminal defense lawyers for the purpose of cooperating with the Milwaukee County District Attorney. However, for a year, the campaign itself was paying an attorney to ‘cooperate’ with the DA by providing needed emails, etc. [Dane 101, 03/13/2012]
Gov. Walker’s Legal Defense Fund Creation Raises More Questions The latest in the sad saga of perhaps the most ethically challenged administration in recent state history is the formation of a legal defense fund, the Scott Walker Trust, to accept funds to pay for criminal defense lawyers retained by Gov. Walker. Gov. Walker had refused to reveal how he intended to pay for his […] [One Wisconsin Now, 03/12/2012]
Gov. Walker’s Legal Defense Fund Announcement Leaves Questions Unanswered MADISON, Wis. — Thirty-seven days after announcing he “lawyered up” in the ongoing criminal investigation of his administration, Gov. Walker has announced he’s created a legal defense fund. But the questions still remain. Who’s contributing to the fund that will presumably be used to pay for his team of criminal defense attorneys? How much have […] [One Wisconsin Now, 03/08/2012]
37 Days Since Gov. Walker Announced He “Lawyered-Up” in Criminal Investigation of Administration, Still No Word On Who Is Paying His Legal Defense Bills MADISON, Wis. — In early February, Gov. Scott Walker announced he had “lawyered-up” in the ongoing criminal investigation of his administration, retaining two high profile criminal defense attorneys. His continuing refusal to disclose how he is paying for his lawyers, whose billing rates could approach $1,000 per-hour, raises troubling ethical concerns, according to One Wisconsin […] [One Wisconsin Now, 03/08/2012]
Walker Sets Up Legal Defense Fund Gov. Scott Walker said Friday he has set up a legal defense fund to pay for two attorneys representing him in a Milwaukee County investigation, under a state law that allows such a move for officeholders if they’re charged or under investigation for election or campaign violations. [Associated Press, 03/08/2012]
Walker campaign sets up legal fund as John Doe investigation continues Governor Scott Walker has created a legal defense fund to pay for his expenses connected with the ongoing John Doe probe into his former Milwaukee County aides. [WSAU, 03/08/2012]
John Doe Probe Update: Former Walker Employee Postpones Arraignment The former aide to Gov. Scott Walker received a new judge Thursday, postponing a scheduled arraignment; the latest turn of events in an investigation into Walker’s former employees. Tim Russell, a former Milwaukee County employee under Walker’s tenure as Milwaukee County Executive, who faces charges of embezzlement, has requested and received a new judge in Milwaukee County Court. […] [Badger Herald, 02/15/2012]
Former Aide to Walker Pleads Guilty in John Doe Investigation A former county-level staffer for Gov. Scott Walker pleaded guilty to two felony charges on Tuesday as the ongoing 20-month investigation into Walker’s former campaign staff continues. Darlene Wink, a former Milwaukee County employee under Walker’s tenure as Milwaukee County Executive, entered a guilty plea for two felony charges of soliciting political contributions while working in a […] [Badger Herald, 02/06/2012]
Governor Scott Walker Needs to Come Clean MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now statement regarding burgeoning Scott Walker political corruption scandal and the reluctance of the Governor to answer questions about “what he knew and when he knew it”: Gov. Walker needs to come clean. The latest charges in the scandal surrounding Scott Walker paint a grim picture of a culture of […] [One Wisconsin Now, 01/26/2012]
3 Wisconsin veterans board members have resigned in protest A third veteran has resigned from a state board in response to Gov. Scott Walker’s moves to gain greater control of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including his decision to appoint John Scocos as agency secretary…In his letter to the first-term Republican governor, Freedman criticized legislation that stripped the board of its ability to appoint […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 01/18/2012]
Walker hired insurance company attorney and lobbyist to be DHS legal counsel Mary Spear has joined us today as the new Chief Legal Counsel for the Department of Health Services. Mary has many years of experience as an attorney in both private practice and serving as legal counsel and director of governmental affairs for insurance companies in Texas. She served as Director of State Affairs at the […] [Email from Dennis G. Smith to DHS Employees, 01/17/2012]
DHS Secretary hires Heritage Foundation fellow with no background or degree in public health to run Division of Public Health But insiders point out that McKeown, who as the state’s health officer is the administrator of the Division of Public Health, appears to have no background or degrees in public health, a specialty within the vast arena of health care… Wisconsin’s health officer is charged with everything from making sure the state has an emergency […] [Capital Times, 01/13/2012]
Walkergate Exclusive: Add a New Campaign Violation to the List One Wisconsin Now has been following his campaign finance reports for years and recently reported that he has violated campaign finance laws more than 1100 times which, if enforced, could tally up to more than $500,000 in fines for his campaign. [Cognitive Dissidence, 01/12/2012]
Spokesperson refuses to speak to reporters who ask about his immunity deal Gov. Scott Walker’s spokesman, Cullen Werwie, has begun to refuse interviews with media outlets that discuss the fact that Werwie has been granted immunity in a Joe Doe inquiry into wrongdoing by the governor’s associates. This is the problem with keeping Werwie in his position now that he has been granted immunity in a probe […] [Capital Times, 01/12/2012]
Walker’s Past Statements on the Need for Recall MADISON, Wis. — With Gov. Scott Walker in the midst of an extended period of fundraising unlimited amounts of campaign cash, One Wisconsin Now is reminded of this video produced by Walker’s 2010 campaign about recalls. A Walker donor filed papers on November 4 for a fake recall of Walker, allowing the governor 11 additional […] [One Wisconsin Now, 11/13/2011]
Walker says he opposes “double dipping” but won’t force top aides to stop taking pensions Gov. Scott Walker voiced support for legislation that would end a long-standing practice that allows public workers to simultaneously collect their pension and a state paycheck. The statement concludes by adding Gov. Walker “supports applying the same policy for administration appointees.” [Capital Times, 10/26/2011]
Walker says he opposes “double dipping” but won’t force top aides to stop taking pensions In the past five and a half years, at least 6,829 state and local government employees covered by the Wisconsin Retirement System left then returned to work, simultaneously earning a pension and a salary. Those include two of Gov. Scott Walker’s cabinet secretaries: Corrections Secretary Gary Hamblin and Children and Families Secretary Eloise Anderson, both […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 10/23/2011]
Van Hollen’s Gun Bravery From Behind Locked Doors, Guarded Office Time and again, scion to a Republican fortune and our state’s Attorney General JB “John Noe” Van Hollen has proven he is a partisan hack instead of the state’s top cop. Van Hollen is the perfect Roscoe P. Coltrane to Scott Walker’s corrupt Boss Hogg. Van Hollen refused to join the John Doe investigation of […] [Scot Ross, 10/05/2011]
Van Hollen shows his skewed priorities By Scot Ross. Van Hollen refused to help local law enforcement in the John Doe investigation that has ensnared top officials from Walker’s Milwaukee County executive regime. Among those involved are people given top jobs in the Walker gubernatorial administration. The two previous Wisconsin attorneys general offered resources and support in similar types of cases involving […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/03/2011]
One WI Now’s ‘RecallScottWalker.org’ Flies High Over Camp Randall Thanks to the generosity of the online supporters of One Wisconsin Now, Badger faithful, Nebraska fans and Gov. Scott Walker were treated to this banner, which flew above Camp Randall for several hours preceding Saturday’s nationally-televised game. We’ll have video later, but here’s a picture of the banner — which turned out to be one […] [Scot Ross, 09/30/2011]
WRTL under investigation for recall GOTV bribery From Dan Bice at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Details of the secret investigation are sketchy, but it is clear the Milwaukee County district attorney’s office is investigating charges that Wisconsin Right to Life offered rewards for volunteers who signed up sympathetic voters in the recall races. Several people familiar with the investigation said subpoenas were […] [Cody Oliphant, 09/25/2011]
Walker’s #2 at DOA abruptly takes leave of absence; is moved to new state job; house gets raided by FBI Three days after Cindy Archer was to have started her job as the legislative liaison at the state Department of Children and Families – and while she was already being paid sick leave for it – the agency interviewed someone else for the same job. Department officials did not fully explain why they interviewed another […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 09/23/2011]
Walker Spokesperson Granted Immunity in John Doe Investigation Gov. Scott Walker’s chief spokesman has been granted immunity in the ongoing John Doe investigation of the governor’s current and former aides, it was learned Friday. Former Appeals Court Judge Neal Nettesheim, who is overseeing the secret criminal probe, said he had granted immunity to three people, including Cullen Werwie, spokesman for Walker, in this […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 09/23/2011]
Van Hollen REFUSED to investigate Walker’s ‘Cronygate’ Republican Attorney General JB Van Hollen, according to a news report today, refused to help the investigation into fellow Republican Scott Walker’s office in the scandal being called “Cronygate.” The refusal and silence of the state’s “top cop” to investigate his fellow Republican raises serious questions about Van Hollen’s conduct and warrants an investigation, according […] [Cody Oliphant, 09/20/2011]
Van Hollen Refused to Investigate Walker’s ‘Cronygate’ MADISON, Wis. — Republican Attorney General JB Van Hollen, according to a news report today, refused to help the investigation into fellow Republican Scott Walker’s office in the scandal being called “Cronygate.” The refusal and silence of the state’s “top cop” to investigate his fellow Republican raises serious questions about Van Hollen’s conduct and warrants […] [One Wisconsin Now, 09/20/2011]
Archer’s home raided by FBI as part of John Doe investigation About a dozen law enforcement officers, including FBI agents, searched the Madison home of a former top aide to then-Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker on Wednesday morning…The search of Archer’s house comes amid a John Doe investigation in Milwaukee County, which started last year after another staff member working for Walker, then county executive, was […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 09/15/2011]
Walker’s #2 at DOA abruptly takes leave of absence; is moved to new state job; house gets raided by FBI Cindy Archer, who abruptly left Scott Walker’s administration last month for “personal family matters,” actually had another politically appointed job under the governor already lined up. She’ll take a $25,000 pay cut in moving to the Department of Children and Families, but the nearly $100,000 she’ll be making is tens of thousands of dollars more […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 09/12/2011]
Walker’s fundraiser to restore mansion raises some eyebrows On Sept. 22, the governor and first lady will hold a private reception and croquet tournament at the governor’s mansion from 5 to 7 p.m. to raise money to help rehab the Maple Bluff facility. Attendees can donate anywhere from $50 to $1,000 to the mansion’s nonprofit foundation. Those who drop a grand get a […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 09/04/2011]
Walker’s former chief of staff awarded multiple state jobs, resigns from final appointment three days after taking job Tom Nardelli abruptly quit his state job with Gov. Scott Walker in late July, pulling the plug on his $90,000-a-year position just days after accepting the post…Nardelli said Tuesday he resigned as administrator for the state Division of Environmental and Regulatory Services because he decided it would be unfair to keep the job knowing he […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 08/23/2011]
Legal fees soar for Wisconsin taxpayers over bargaining, redistricting \| GOP skips bids, pays up to $395 per hour The Capitol battles over union bargaining and political redistricting proposals have paid off for one group: politically connected GOP lawyers. So far this year, two firms with strong Republican connections have racked up more than $700,000 in invoices and payments authorized by Gov. Scott Walker and GOP lawmakers to help represent the state in cases […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 08/20/2011]
Conservative group spent at least $1.5 million on recall ads, says liberal group Here’s something interesting from liberal blogger Greg Sargent at The Washington Post. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 07/25/2011]
Walker’s former chief of staff awarded multiple state jobs, resigns from final appointment three days after taking job Tom Nardelli was named to his second job in Gov. Scott Walker’s administration Monday as administrator of the state Division of Environmental and Regulatory Services. The division, formerly housed in the state Commerce Department, now falls under the newly organized Department of Safety and Regulatory Services. The environmental division regulates underground fuel tanks, petroleum quality […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 07/18/2011]
Politicized Department of Veterans Affairs & Appointed Crony as Secretary Walker signed into law a bill that politicizes the Department of Veterans Affairs by giving the governor authority to appoint the Secretary, rather than being selected by the Board of Veterans Affairs, as under prior law. Walker then appointed political crony, John Scocos, who had previously served as Secretary for six years, and was fired […] [2011 WI Act 36, 07/13/2011]
As a candidate for governor, Walker had promised not to raise any taxes. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker”s core theme on the campaign trail in 2010 was a firm stance against any tax increases. Walker and his opponent in the Republican primary, Mark Neumann, emphatically said they would not raise any taxes, ever…And like hundreds of conservative candidates before him, Walker signed the Americans for Tax Reform”s “Taxpayer Protection […] [Politifact, 05/19/2011]
As governor, however, Walker proposed tax increases in his first budget. Walker’s controversial budget-repair bill, unveiled in February 2011, did not propose tax increases. But what about his 2011-“13 budget? It included some tax cuts, but also tax increases. That’s according to the nonpartisan state Legislative Fiscal Bureau, which both parties have long cited as a neutral scorekeeper on budget matters. The bureau determined that Walker […] [Politifact, 05/19/2011]
Walker appointed politically connected campaign volunteer with no relevant experience to county post Walker has taken heat for nominating Republican campaign worker Renee Miller to the Marinette County register of deeds position, despite Miller’s conspicuous lack of experience with either land or vital records. Miller has done campaign work for Marinette County Republican Rep. John Nygren and is married to Nygren’s campaign treasurer, Paul Miller. According to the […] [Isthmus, 04/29/2011]
Politically connected college drop-out with drunk driving convictions gets $81k political appointment McCabe points to Walker’s appointment of Brian Deschane to the state Department of Commerce as “an episode that opened some eyes.” Deschane, 27-year-old son of influential Republican lobbyist Jerry Deschane, was tapped to fill an $81,500-a-year position despite two drunk-driving convictions, little relevant experience and a lack of a college degree. A hubbub ensued, and […] [Isthmus, 04/29/2011]
Will Scott Walker File Complaint With District Attorney over Recall ‘Shots for Signatures’ Like He Did in 2000? In 2000, Scott Walker personally filed the complaint with the Milwaukee County district attorney calling for an investigation into what he called bribery, but 'shots for signatures' appears to be fine with him now. [One Wisconsin Now, 04/21/2011]
Deschane was hired over candidates with a Ph.D. & 25 years experience The Department of Commerce recently hired Deschane, 27, as its new administrator of environmental and regulatory services – an $81,500-a-year job that supervises 76 employees and oversees storage tank regulations and environmental cleanups. Deschane never graduated from college and, according to his resume, has no discernible experience in the field. Yet according to documents provided […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 04/06/2011]
Link Snacks gets $75k in tax credits from Walker; Gave $50k to RGA for Walker election An announcement by Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday that Link Snacks Inc. of Minong, in Washburn County, will receive $75,000 in state tax credits came under fire from a liberal advocacy group because the top executive of the company, and the company, made political donations to the Republican Governors Association. The RGA spent heavily on […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 04/05/2011]
Politically connected college drop-out with drunk driving convictions gets $81k political appointment Deschane is the son of Jerry Deschane, a longtime lobbyist for the Madison-based Wisconsin Builders Association. The group’s political action committee gave $29,000 to the campaigns of Walker and his running mate, putting it among the campaign’s top donors. The Journal Sentinel reported that members of the trade group also funneled more than $92,000 to […] [Associated Press, 04/05/2011]
Politically connected college drop-out with drunk driving convictions gets $81k political appointment At the recommendation of Walker chief of staff Keith Gilkes, DRL Secretary David Ross appointed Deschane in January as bureau director of board services. A month later, Commerce Secretary Paul Jadin hired him at the recommendation of DRL Deputy Secretary John Scocos. [Wisconsin State Journal, 04/05/2011]
Walker Installs Koch Machine to Head Public Service Commission MADISON, Wis. — Former GOP Rep. Phil Montgomery, Gov. Scott Walker’s choice to head the Public Service Commission, has received tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the industries he has been appointed to oversee. The PSC is charged with oversight of utilities, including electricity, natural gas, water, combined water and sewer utilities […] [One Wisconsin Now, 03/29/2011]
Wisconsin Governor Rebuffs FOIA Requests One Wisconsin Now, a progressive, nonprofit advocacy group, also has requested the emails, it said in a statement. The group said that Walker’s administration told Isthmus and the AP it would charge $31,000 to fulfill their request for the records. [Courthouse News Service, 03/13/2011]
Over Two Weeks Later, Walker Has Not Released Administration-Koch Lobbyist Communication Emails MADISON, Wis. — Over two weeks after One Wisconsin Now filed an open records request for all email and written communications between Koch Industries’ lead Wisconsin lobbyist and the office of Gov. Scott Walker and the Department of Administration, the Walker administration has yet to fulfill the request. One Wisconsin Now said it is considering […] [One Wisconsin Now, 03/10/2011]
Gov. Scott Walker Refusing To Release Details Of Contacts With Koch Industries Over two weeks after receiving a request from One Wisconsin Now, Walker’s administration has refused to release details of its contacts with lobbyists from Koch Industries, run by billionaire arch-conservatives Charles and David Koch. The group requested “all email and written communications between Koch Industries’ lead Wisconsin lobbyist and the office of Gov. Scott Walker […] [Think Progress, 03/10/2011]
Records, please But not all observers are chuckling. The Madison-based liberal group, One Wisconsin Now, has adopted a frowny watchdog visage: Last week it filed a records request with Walker’s office seeking “all written communications and records of scheduled meetings between Koch Industries’ top in-state lobbyist and the office of Gov. Scott Walker, his former transition office […] [Milwaukee News Buzz, 02/27/2011]
As Governor, his signature achievement – ending collective bargaining for public employees – was a result of a bill passed in the middle of the night It took a sneak attack in the early morning hours on Friday for Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly to pass Gov. Scott Walker’s controversial budget bill, the one that would eliminate collective bargaining rights for most public-sector unions. Assembly Democrats savaged their counterparts for ramming the bill through at just past 1 a.m., screaming “shame!” […] [Mother Jones, 02/25/2011]
Liberal group files open records request against Walker One Wisconsin Now, a liberal activist group, today filed an open records request for all written communications and records of scheduled meetings between Koch Industries’ top in-state lobbyist and Walker’s office, his former transition office and the Wisconsin Department of Administration. [Biz Times, 02/23/2011]
Walker proposed no-bid sales of state-owned power plants; removed provision from final bill after public backlash; Koch denies they would gain from power plant sale A lesser-known provision of Wisconsin’s budget-repair bill would allow the state to sell off publicly owned power plants in no-bid deals – prompting a flurry of speculation by liberal bloggers who allege that Gov. Scott Walker is attempting a giveaway to energy conglomerate Koch Industries…Koch insists it doesn’t stand to gain from the legislation, and […] [Politico, 02/23/2011]
Appointed Assembly Speaker Fitzgerald and Senate Majority Leader Fitzgerald father as State Patrol Director; Sons will set his pay. 1) Stephen Fitzgerald, 68, was the Dodge County sheriff and had four decades of law-enforcement experience before he was selected as a U.S. marshal in the Western District of Wisconsin.2) Stephen Fitzgerald raised two successful sons, Jeff and Scott. Jeff, a Republican, is our state’s Assembly speaker. Scott, another Republican, is our state’s Senate majority […] [Appleton Post-Crescent, 02/14/2011]
Walker’s former chief of staff awarded multiple state jobs, resigns from final appointment three days after taking job Tom Nardelli, former chief of staff to then-Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, has been named administrator of the state Safety & Buildings Division….As head of the state safety division in the Commerce Department, he inherits an operation with about 165 employees and has oversight of state building and safety codes on everything from amusement park […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/11/2011]
Walker Gave Senator Job After He Voted Against State Employee Contracts Former Democratic Sen. Jeff Plale, who voted against his party during a lame duck session on state contracts last month, has joined the administration of Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Plale will earn $90,000 a year as the administrator of the Division of State Facilities, according to the Department of Administration. Critics speculated a Walker administration […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 01/20/2011]
One Wisconsin Now Statement on Walker Pension Gimmick, Refusal to Fulfill Open Records Request This is another election-year gimmick by Walker to divert attention from his failure to solve the Milwaukee County pension scandal. [One Wisconsin Now, 06/16/2010]
Walker reverses position on Arizona immigration law Republican candidate for governor Scott Walker reversed himself on Arizona’s controversial immigration law over the weekend, first expressing serious concerns about it then saying he would be comfortable signing it into law. The flip came after Walker was barraged with negative comments on his Facebook page following an Associated Press story reporting on his concerns […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 05/17/2010]
Scott Walker Flip Flops on Immigration; Remains Firm in Refusal to Explain How to Pay for $2 Billion Tax Giveaway to Rich, Big Business Scott Walker's pandering flip flop on the racist Arizona immigration law has One Wisconsin Now asking whether a similar strategy could get him to answer the question he has refused to answer. [One Wisconsin Now, 05/16/2010]
Walker says he will sign law removing protections for undocumented persons “As Governor of Wisconsin, I will sign legislation that strengthens our protection against illegal immigration and ensures that taxpayer funded benefits like Badger Care and drivers licenses are not available to those who are here illegally.” [Scott Walker, 05/16/2010]
In Assembly, Walker Voted to Allow Late-Night Lawmaking, Later Claimed to be Against It “Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker voted to allow late-night lawmaking when he was a member of the Assembly even though he rails against the practice now. Walker joined with the Republican majority in January 1997 to eliminate a rule that required lawmakers to finish their floor sessions at 8 p.m., voting records show. Republican lawmakers […] [Associated Press, 04/24/2010]
During his 2010 gubernatorial campaign, Walker endorsed halt to Legislature’s late-night votes Last week, when the Assembly pulled two all-nighters, lawmakers became an easy target of critics who said that late-night lawmaking is not the way to do the state’s business. One of those who criticized the practice was Republican candidate for governor Scott Walker, who said he would sign legislation as governor that would forbid the […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/26/2010]
Walker Attacked Doyle for Not Giving Walker Donor Contract for Train “Republican candidate for governor Scott Walker accused Democratic leaders of stifling the Milwaukee job market by buying trains from a Spanish company rather than from a local train maker run by one of his big-dollar donors. Walker, the Milwaukee County executive, said Super Steel Products Corp. could have built the high-speed trains in Milwaukee. …Walker’s […] [Associated Press, 03/18/2010]
Walker Signs No-Tax Pledge of Americans for Tax Reform “Republican candidate for governor Scott Walker has signed a pledge to veto any tax increase. Walker, the Milwaukee County executive, signed the pledge by Americans for Tax Reform to ‘oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes.’ That pledge created headaches in 2007 for Republicans when they controlled the state Assembly and ultimately […] [Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 03/15/2010]
Walker Gave County Custodial Contract to Campaign Donor “Edward Aprahamian, the owner of a West Allis janitorial firm, inherits the job of cleaning the Milwaukee County courthouse complex and other buildings as the county privatizes its custodial staff. …The county last week awarded MidAmerican Building Services a $1.2 million contract for cleaning the courthouse and nine other Milwaukee County buildings, picking it over […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/14/2009]
Walker Took Credit for Summer Youth Employment Program He Had Vetoed “Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker acknowledged Friday it was too late to apply for 350 county summer jobs he highlighted in an outdoor ceremony at Washington Park on the city’s west side. …Walker vetoed $100,000 of the funding for the program in the 2009 budget, but the County Board overrode the veto on a 15-4 […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 05/29/2009]
Walker Said Shared Revenue Cuts Made His Job as County Exec Harder “Doyle said Friday he is working with Democratic legislative leaders on the next round of cuts for all state programs but was not ready to announce what he will recommend. A 5% cut in state aid to local governments would give them about $48 million less for their 2010 budgets. In February, before the latest […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 05/16/2009]
Walker Backed Down from Top County Aide’s 26 Percent Pay Hike “Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker said Wednesday that he would drop his request for a 26% pay increase for his chief of staff, Tom Nardelli, at least until after work on the 2009 county budget is finished. Walker said he didn’t want the unilateral authority to raise Nardelli’s pay by $20,000 a year to $95,000, […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/09/2008]
Walker Appointed Campaign Cronies to Economic Development Posts “Walker’s last two choices to lead the county economic development office, Bob Dennik and Tim Russell, came from his campaign and lacked depth in the development business, Clark said. Dennik left the post this week to become an executive with a Pewaukee construction company. Russell is now Walker’s community relations director. ‘Walker chooses folks who […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/03/2008]
In 2008 Walker Reneged on Promise to Give Back $60,000 of Salary “Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker said Tuesday he’ll scale back the amount of his paycheck he returns to the county, if he’s re-elected to another term April 1. Walker will cut the sum he gives back from $60,000 annually to $10,000. …He joked today that his decision to continue giving back nearly 47% of his […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/19/2008]
Walker Campaign Returned Donations from Levine & Hurtgen After Indictments “Also getting refunds would be Stuart Levine and P. Nicholas Hurtgen, indicted in Illinois on charges related to a scheme to deny hospitals permits to expand unless they hired a favored construction firm, and Ernest J. Streu and Michael J. Maples, who pleaded guilty in 2004 to rigging Wisconsin road building contracts. The refunds total […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 01/12/2006]
Walker Protected Political Allies from Liability in Pension Scandal Suit “…Milwaukee officials are considering suing the actuaries behind the pension scandal, which has seen more than $100 million paid out to retiring county officials and employees. But the actuaries weren’t the county’s only advisers. The county also paid lawyers with the firm of Reinhart, Boerner, Van Dueren for advice and counsel. Yet, the Milwaukee Journal […] [Capital Times, 02/23/2005]
Law Firm Walker Protected in Pension Suit Gave Him Campaign Contributions “Graber said he expected no favors in the process, despite their political connections. Under Graber, the state Republican Party contributed $50,000 to Walker’s campaign in the final days of his re-election race against David Reimer last April, county records show. … Graber and Reinhart Attorney Steve Huff have made 10 separate donations to Walker’s campaign […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/21/2005]
Elections Board Questioned Walker’s Use of Campaign Funds to Lobby County Board “In a related development, a lawyer with the state Elections Board advised the Walker campaign to make a case to county election officials justifying its planned use of campaign funds for lobbying on the issue. The Walker campaign has sought donations from the public to fund a massive phone-call operation aimed at getting residents to […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 01/07/2005]
After Walker Supported Cutting Shared Revenue, He Blamed Loss of Shared Revenue for Midyear Shortfall Walker announced the unusual midyear layoffs and workweek changes in a ‘Dear County Employee’ e-mail message after what he described as several rushed meetings with stunned department heads scrambling to patch a $7.8 million deficit in the county’s 2003 budget…Walker’s email to employees blamed the current-year deficit on ‘a number of unanticipated occurrences including significant […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 08/13/2003]
Plan Walker Supported Was Particularly Harsh On Milwaukee Gov. Jim Doyle said Tuesday he will veto a Republican plan for distributing the state aid local governments use to pay for services such as police and fire protection, saying it unfairly penalizes poorer cities such as Milwaukee. The Democratic governor said he also will use his veto authority to cap cuts in shared revenue […] [Associated Press, 07/09/2003]
But Then Walker Supported Republican Plan for Shared Revenue Cuts & Property Tax Freeze “Assembly Republicans on Thursday proposed a two-year statewide property tax freeze as a way to shield taxpayers…State aid to cities, counties, villages and towns would be set at $931 million in 2004 — the level recommended by Doyle, and about a 7 percent cut from state aid in 2003. Doyle, speaking to about 200 municipal […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 05/23/2003]
Walker Hired Aide Who Was Named In Caucus Scandal “A former Capitol aide whose campaign fund-raising efforts as a state employee were cited in pending cases against two lawmakers now serves on the Milwaukee County executive’s staff. Greg Reiman worked for former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, R-Waukesha, and Rep. Bonnie Ladwig, R-Racine, who were accused in October of directing Reiman and another state-paid worker […] [Associated Press, 03/01/2003]
Walker Supported Guest Worker Plan for Undocumented Immigrants “It’s important for the federal government to move ahead with legislation that lets people live the American dream.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 09/18/2002]
Questions About Walker’s Use of State Funded Mailing From Assembly Office During County Executive Race The recent constituent letter sent by state Rep. Scott Walker (R-Wauwatosa) cost slightly more than a similar 2000 mailing – and wound up in more mailboxes…Walker said he checked with the state Elections Board and state Ethics Board before sending the newsletter, which includes a back-patting list of accomplishments from the just concluded legislative session. […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/18/2002]
Walker Voted Against Concealed Carry During Milwaukee County Executive Run The bill allowed people to apply for a permit to carry a concealed weapon and required a county sheriff to issue a license to any applicant meeting eligibility requirements. (Assembly Journal) [2001 AB 675, 02/27/2002]
Walker Supported Plan to Eliminate State Aid to Municipalities, Raise Local Sales Taxes The lawmakers’ proposal would eliminate the $ 819.5 million a year in operating subsidies that state government gives to cities, villages and towns.But it would continue state operating aid of $189 million to counties. The proposal would cut the 5 percent statewide sales tax by an amount equal to $ 819.5 million, which officials said […] [Associated Press, 02/26/1999]
Walker Authored Legislation to Bar Politicians From Accepting Contributions From Casino or Racetrack Owners, Operators or Managers The bill prohibited, “any committee or group, from accepting a political contribution made by any person who owns, operates or manages a casino or racetrack in any state, or who is licensed by any state to operate or manage a casino or racetrack.” [1997 AB 793, 01/01/1997]
Walker cast vote against stronger protections against polluting mining companies Walker cast votes against a bill that required increased disclosure from mining companies and allowed permits to be denied for a history of non-compliance with regulations. [1993 AB 542, 01/01/1993]