‘Shhh! It’s a Secret…’
One Wisconsin Now, which sued lawmakers including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette).
Urban Milwaukee, 11/02/2019
Government Category Archive
Atty. General Brad Schimel Is an Incompetent, Corrupt and Self-aggrandizing Stain on His Office
The liberal group One Wisconsin Now summed up the shameless behavior with the quip, “Schimel put the AG in swag.”
Wisconsin Gazette, 09/21/2018Walker’s Rejection of Shipwreck Sanctuary Draws Mixed Responses in Mequon, Port Washington
Gov. Scott Walker’s decision to rescind the state’s application for a national marine sanctuary was a cause for celebration for many lakefront homeowners, but was also a devastating blow to some community...
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/14/2018Developments at State Level Worrisome
“As attorney general, Brad Schimel is putting the ‘AG’ in swag,” said One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross in a news release.
Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, 09/10/2017Wisconsin Attorney General’s Office Has Spent $83,000 on Promotional Material
Joanna Beilman-Dulin, One Wisconsin Now’s research director, said in a statement that Schimel should spend the department’s money on fighting crime.
Associated Press, 09/07/2017Wisconsin AG’s Office Has Spent $83K on Promotional Material
Newly released records show Attorney General Brad Schimel has spent about $83,000 on state Justice Department promotional items over the last three years.
Associated Press, 09/06/2017Attorney General Brad Schimel Puts the ‘AG’ in Swag
Brad Schimel’s office purchased SWAG like custom-made fortune cookies, stress balls, coffee mugs and tumblers, candy, pens and flashlights to hand out.
One Wisconsin Now, 09/05/2017Scott Walker Stands by David Clarke, Even After 4 Inmates Died in Milwaukee Jails in 6 Months
Scott Walker, the Wisconsin governor, indicated on Wednesday that he will not take any action against Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, the Chicago Tribune reported. Walker said that while he has the...
Salon, 04/27/2017Walker Says He Won’t Remove Clarke As Milwaukee County Sheriff
Gov. Scott Walker said he won’t remove Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke from office despite reports of an inmate who died of dehydration after being deprived of water for seven days in...
WPR, 04/26/2017Scott Walker Deals Another Blow to Big Labor in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed legislation that prevents local governments from requiring contractors to hire union labor for publicly funded construction projects. Walker signed the legislation, which passed along party lines...
Daily Signal, 04/18/2017Scott Walker Says Sheriff Clarke Fabricated a Story About Him in New Book
Yesterday, Governor Scott Walker, responding to an excerpt from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s new book, agreed with his long-time aide R.J. Johnson that the sheriff made up a story about his interactions...
Wisconsin Gazette, 03/03/2017Editorial: What the Next Sheriff Should Bring to The job
If Clarke is about to leave, Gov. Scott Walker should get serious about who would replace him. For the sake of the county he once led, Walker needs to get this appointment...
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/03/2017Gov. Walker Proposes Funding for More State Tax Auditors
Gov. Scott Walker is proposing to increase funding for an enhanced tax auditing program that generated nearly $27 million in additional revenue last year — more than enough to cover the cost,...
Wisconsin State Journal, 02/17/2017Walker Talks Public Safety With Milwaukee Authorities
Gov. Scott Walker is meeting with Milwaukee authorities to discuss public safety issues. Walker spokesman Tom Evenson said the governor met with Milwaukee aldermen and the Milwaukee police and firefighter union presidents...
Channel 3000, 08/19/2016Scott Walker: Hillary Clinton’s Comments Are ‘inflaming’ Racial Tension in Milwaukee
In an interview on “Fox and Friends,” Walker accused both Clinton and Obama of making the situation in the city worse, though he did not specify how. “I think comments like that...
Providence Journal, 08/16/2016Walker, Cabinet Coming to Area This Week
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is setting up shop for the next couple of days in places like Cornell, What is being dubbed the Cabinet on the Road tour features stops in several...
Chippewa Herald, 07/10/2016Polluter Penalties Drop 78%
Financial penalties for violations of Wisconsin environmental laws fell sharply in 2015 to their lowest level in at least a decade. Data released by a conservation organization show forfeitures paid by individuals...
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 05/19/2016Walker Administration Delays $101 Million Debt Payment
Gov. Scott Walker’s administration this month put off making $101 million in debt payments, driving up costs for taxpayers by more than $2 million in the long run, according to the Legislature’s...
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 05/10/2016Scott 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...
Wisconsin State Journal, 05/02/2016John 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...
WPR, 04/19/2016Special 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...
La Crosse Tribune, 03/15/2016Scott 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...
Wisconsin State Journal, 03/12/2016Rebecca Bradley Apologizes for Student Columns Calling AIDS Patients ‘degenerates’ and Gays ‘queers’
A spokeswoman for Gov. Scott Walker, who appointed Bradley to three judgeships in as many years — including as Supreme Court justice last fall — said Monday that “neither the Governor nor...
Wisconsin State Journal, 03/08/2016Paul Soglin Blasts WEDC, WMC in Wake of Kraft Heinz Report
In the days after the Oscar Mayer announcement, Gov. Scott Walker pointed out that Soglin never contacted his office or WEDC. In Thursday’s interview, Soglin maintained that Madison made no mistakes.“We’re the...
Wisconsin State Journal, 03/04/2016Feds Looking at Whether Civil Rights Were Violated at Lincoln Hills
In February, Gov. Scott Walker’s office released records that showed Lincoln Hills staff in 2012 failed to take an inmate who was sexually assaulted to an emergency room until after a prison...
Wisconsin State Journal, 03/02/2016Walker Signs Bill Letting Libraries Use Collection Agencies to Recoup Fines
Another bill signed into law permits libraries to report borrowers who owe late fees to collections agencies, or in some cases, to law enforcement. It allows a library to report delinquent accounts...
Wisconsin State Journal, 03/01/2016Walker Signs Bill Allowing Towns in Dane County to Opt Out of Zoning Laws
Walker also signed a bill allowing towns in Dane County to opt out of county zoning laws. The bill, authored by Rep. Keith Ripp, R-Lodi, was introduced after the Dane County Towns...
Wisconsin State Journal, 03/01/2016Walker Signs Sex Offender Placement Bill
Gov. Scott Walker has signed a bill that creates uniform restrictions on where violent sex offenders can live.Municipalities currently use local ordinances to create zones where sex offenders can’t live.The bill creates...
Associated Press, 02/29/2016Wisconsin Uses Affordable Care Act but Rejects Funding For it
Wisconsin’s decision last week to challenge a fee imposed by the Affordable Care Act set up a comparison not lost on advocates who support the law.The fee has cost the state about...
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/28/2016Walker Won’t Push for Sanctuary City Bill
Gov. Scott Walker says he doesn’t expect the Wisconsin state Senate will pass a bill banning sanctuary cities, and he’s “just fine with that.” Walker said Wednesday that his focus is on...
Associated Press, 02/24/2016Walker Policies Cited As Factor in Increase Rise of EPA Polluted Water Listings in Wisconsin
The proposed EPA Impaired Waters List for 2016 in Wisconsin contains 1,694 listings, more than double the 761 approved for the list in 2004.The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has recommended...
Green Bay Press-Gazette, 02/24/2016Sex 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...
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/23/2016Taxpayer Tab for Walker Presidential Run Security Rises
Taxpayers cut nine checks for five figures — including one for more than $93,000 — to members of Gov. Scott Walker’s security team last year after a federal agency found the state...
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/22/2016Department 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....
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/22/2016Walker 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...
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/13/2016Lincoln Hills Investigation Results in Resignation of Walker’s Secretary of Department of Corrections
Department of Corrections secretary Ed Wall has resigned amid a wide-ranging investigation of the state’s youth prison, now led by the FBI. The disclosure Friday of Wall’s resignation came hours after federal...
Wisconsin State Journal, 02/13/2016Walker 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...
Associated Press, 02/12/2016Walker, GOP Attack Local Control
Since Gov. Scott Walker took office in 2011, Republicans have passed nearly 100 unfunded mandates or measures that restrict the authority of local governments, according to a new memo. Over the last...
Wisconsin State Journal, 02/10/2016Walker’s Act 10 Cited As Concerns Rise Over Teacher Shortage
In the five years since Act 10 became law, Wisconsin school districts have experienced a dramatic decline in the number of applicants for each teacher vacancy. In 2015, there were an average...
WITI-TV, 02/09/2016Some Neenah Teachers Can Opt Out of Evaluations
Before Act 10, the law championed by Gov. Scott Walker to limit collective bargaining powers, public school districts in Wisconsin used step-and-lane models in which educators advanced on a salary schedule by...
Appleton Post-Crescent, 01/30/2016Rauner Is No Friend to Working Families
The fact is that Gov. Scott Walker’s rabid anti-union agenda has been a disaster for the economy of Wisconsin, which remains in the bottom third of states for job growth.
Chicago Tribune, 01/29/2016Lincoln Hills Youth Had Toes Amputated After Run-in With Staff
In recent days, Lincoln Hills inmates have fought with each other multiple times, refused to go into their rooms – at least once en masse – and in one case threw urine...
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/16/2015Walker 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, 12/16/2015Open 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...
Wisconsin State Journal, 12/15/2015Lawmaker Asked Corrections Officials in March About Problems at Youth Prison
Earlier this week Gov. Scott Walker said he didn’t think there was a connection between staffing issues and the Lincoln Hills allegations. “I think their concerns were not specific to that,” Walker...
Wisconsin State Journal, 12/11/2015Scott 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...
Wisconsin State Journal, 12/11/2015Abuse, 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...
Wisconsin State Journal, 12/10/2015Questions, 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...
Capital Times, 12/10/2015