Ethics

Justices face questions as ‘John Doe’ probe lands in Supreme Court

One Wisconsin Now said the four-year-old rules are a “get-out-of-court-free card” for powerful interests that spend heavily in Supreme Court races. His group has called on the four justices to recuse themselves from any John Doe case. “There’s an $8 million weight on the scales of justice spent to elect these justices,” Ross said. [Wisconsin State Journal]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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]

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 […]

Details of judges’ decisions to halt John Doe probe

“Basically what happened was is that they got caught and they are trying to use any and all legal arguments to try and get the case thrown out so they can save their bacon. It’s very simple,” said Scot Ross. [WLUK-TV]

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]

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]

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]

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 […]

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 […]

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]

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 […]

Liberal group asks Supreme Court to stay out of John Doe case

One Wisconsin Now sent the court a letter saying two groups involved in the investigation — Wisconsin Club for Growth and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state’s chamber of commerce — helped get the court’s four conservative-leaning justices elected. The two groups have spent a combined $7.3 million to support Annette Ziegler, David Prosser, Michael […] [Associated Press]

Liberal group asks Supreme Court to refuse to take John Doe case

A liberal group on Monday asked the state Supreme Court to refuse to take a case related to a secret investigation of fundraising and spending in Wisconsin’s recent recall elections. Scot Ross, the executive director of One Wisconsin Now, argued in a letter to the court that the four conservatives on the seven-justice court should have […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

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]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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]

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]

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]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

#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 […]

#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 […]

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 […]

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]