999 Motion Gets Robin Vos a Free European Vacation?
Did an anonymous provision via a last-minute vote in the Joint Committee on Finance help earn Assembly Speaker Robin Vos a free European vacation?
Ethics
Robin Vos’s Relationship with Disgraced Ex-Ohio Speaker Didn’t Start in London
The list of questions Robin Vos needs to answer about his relationship with sleazy Cliff Rosenberger and how he’s doing business in Wisconsin keeps growing.
Robin Vos’s Free European Vacation Leaves Unanswered Questions
Robin Vos’ fantastical claim raises even more questions that must be answered about his already shady relationship with the payday loan industry.
Is Brad Schimel More Interested in Protecting the Big Corporate Lobby Than Crime Victims?
Today, One Wisconsin Now Research Director Joanna Beilman-Dulin blasted DOJ’s response as, “wholly inadequate.”
Wisconsin Republicans received nearly $90,000 from execs of title lender involved in free London trip for Robin Vos
"If there's one thing to know about payday loans, it's that the people in this racket expect to be repaid," Browne said. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Speaker Robin Vos took free trip to London with lobbyists and leaders from other states
The Wisconsin Assembly's top leader was among a group of lawmakers from several states who took a free trip with lobbyists to London — an August excursion that contributed to the resignation Tuesday of his counterpart in Ohio. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
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]
Victim’s family asks WMC to take Supreme Court ad down
Meanwhile, liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now, which has worked to discredit Screnock, sent a letter to WMC’s Board of Directors. [Wisconsin State Journal]
Group wants ad criticizing Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate stopped
The criticism of the ad comes from several victims advocates as well as the liberal-leaning, One Wisconsin Now group. [WITI-TV]
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]
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]
Calendars show former sheriff David Clarke did little business in Milwaukee County in 2015-2016
"It was a complete and total abuse by David Clarke," said Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now. [WITI-TV]
Devil’s Advocates Radio: March 12, 2018
Scot Ross joins the Devils to criticize Scott Walker for his Open Records Award. [WRRD-AM]
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]
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.
GOP Leaders Threat: Anyone Investigating Us Risks Losing Their Jobs
Top Republicans have called on the administrators of the agencies responsible for campaign finance and ethics to resign.
Leah Vukmir Goes Back to the Future With Claim She Was Targeted By Investigation Into Illegal Campaigning
Unless GAB had a secret time machine, it is impossible for Leah Vukmir to claim they targeted her in 2012 for something she did in late 2015.
Senator Ron Johnson’s ‘Seat at the Table’ Doesn’t Include an Actual Seat at the Table
Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson was left off conference committee on GOP tax giveaway after bragging he would personally protect his ‘Badger Bribe’
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.
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]
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]
Memo to Robin Vos: It Wasn’t Terrorism It Was ‘Executive Favor’
One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross released the following statements regarding the latest public fighting between Wisconsin Republicans.
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.
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.
Wisconsin State Budget Could Have Been Passed Illegally
One Wisconsin Now has submitted evidence to law enforcement authorities, including the Dane County District Attorney. [Door County Pulse]
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?
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]
Dee J. Hall: Public officials shouldn’t block social media users
Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now, said that is exactly what is happening with his organization. [Wisconsin State Journal]
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.
DOJ Denies Group’s Request for Swag Costs
Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel's Dept. of Justice has denied a liberal group's request for records detailing promotional purchases during his tenure. [Associated Press]
Brad Schimel Swag Update: Attorney General Denies Request to Provide Details on Purchases of Promotional Material Using Public Funds
“He’s spending our money to buy things like commemorative coins, travel mugs and towels and he owes us a complete accounting of it.”
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.
Debate heated at hearing on constitutional carry
One Wisconsin Now said it had obtained records showing that Brad Schimel met privately with the lead lobbyist for the NRA on his second day in office. [Lakeland Times]
Wisconsin DOJ: James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas tape did not show election law violations
This is beyond partisan politics, this is abuse of power by Schimel," Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, said by email. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Wisconsin AG: Undercover Campaign Videos Reveal No Crime
"This is beyond partisan politics," Ross wrote in an email to The Associated Press. "This is abuse of power by Schimel." [Associated Press]
Whitnall Schools: DPI candidate Lowell Holtz possibly misused resources
One Wisconsin Now requested the district attorneys in Milwaukee County and Rock County investigate whether Holtz broke the law by misusing public resources. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
ICYMI: Personnel Records Detail Troubled Tenure of Lowell Holtz at Beloit School District
He was reprimanded for ethical lapses and criticized for questionable decisions by a school board that found his willingness to follow district policies lacking.
State superintendent candidate once questioned for wife working in district
Records in Holtz’s personnel file were obtained by the Wisconsin State Journal under the state’s open records law, and from liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now. [Wisconsin State Journal]
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.
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke Keeps Public in the Dark on His Whereabouts
A simple request to Milwaukee County’s top law enforcement official has yet to be fulfilled as constituents are left in the dark about his whereabouts.
Failure of Election Commission to Act Doesn’t Make Lowell Holtz’s Proposed Election Bribe Any Less Sleazy
Inaction by the Wisconsin Elections Commission points to shortcomings in the law, not lack of sleaze in the conduct of Lowell Holtz when he proposed the bribe.
Attorney General’s open government office gets knocked from left and right
Liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now has waited more than a month for calendars for Schimel and department spokesman Johnny Koremenos. [Wisconsin State Journal]
Cloud Over State Attorney General Brad Schimel’s Office for Sunshine Week With Failure to Respond to Simple Open Records Request
We’re shining a light today on the failure of the Attorney General who nearly two months later has yet to provide us with the requested documents.
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]
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]
Do Lawmakers Still Support Lawbreaker Candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction?
Why are Republicans yet to speak out against Lowell Holtz in light of evidence of his repeated violations of state law prohibiting campaigning on public time.
One Wisconsin Now Requests Investigation of Lowell Holtz by Milwaukee, Rock County District Attorneys
One Wisconsin Now provided District Attorneys evidence that Lowell Holtz misused public resources to boost his campaign in possible violation of state law.
Lowell Holtz Expected ‘Outside Groups’ to Handle Fundraising and Organizing for His Campaign for Superintendent of Public Instruction
Claiming someone else is doing the work for him is apparently not limited to the election bribe caper, according to records obtained by One Wisconsin Now.
Lowell Holtz Makes the Case That Lowell Holtz Can’t Be Trusted to Stand Up For Public Schools
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lowell Holtz attempted to absolve himself of responsibility for a bungled and possibly illegal election bribe.
One Wisconsin Now Statements on Latest John Humphries-Lowell Holtz Revelation
One Wisconsin Now released the following statements on the latest revelations about the sleazy deal between the two school privatization supporters.