Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Denounces Republican Plan to Smash the GAB

[Scuba]

https://www.uppitywis.org/content/wisconsin-democracy-campaign-denounces-republican-plan-smash-gab

MADISON—The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign blasted the bill (link is external) the Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature just introduced to do away with the Government Accountability Board, the state’s ethics and elections watchdog. “It’s a disgraceful move, constructed on a pile of lies, and it’s a recipe for more scandal,” said Matt Rothschild, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. “For months now, the Republican leadership has been issuing one lie after another to discredit this agency,” Rothschild said.

“It’s a lie that the staff was going behind the backs of the judges who govern the agency. The second phase audit by the Legislative Audit Bureau proves that, as do the statements of the judges themselves,” Rothschild said. For example, Judge Gerald Nichol, chair of the board, wrote in a letter to the leaders of the legislature on Sept. 29: “I can attest that the Board makes its own decisions guided by the law, not partisan politics.”

“It’s a lie that the Government Accountability Board exceeded its authority in the John Doe investigation. It has such authority by statute and by court ruling,” Rothschild said. He cited Wis. Stat. 5.05 (2m), which states: “The board shall investigate violations of laws administered by the board.” And he cited the Barland decision of the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which stated that “the GAB has joint enforcement authority with elected district attorneys to investigate violations of the state election laws.”

“It’s a lie that it’s unaccountable to the people,” Rothschild added. “Here’s how the judges on the Board are chosen: First, a panel of appellate judges chooses several retired judges as potential board members to nominate. From that list of nominees, the governor appoints one of the retired judges, and then the state senate confirms the appointment. So there is accountability through each of the three branches of government. And by the way, Gov. Walker appointed or reappointed five of the six current members of the Board, so it’s kind of silly for him or other Republican leaders to be complaining that they’re unaccountable.”

[HassleCat]

1. Any obstacle to corruption must be eliminated

We see similar actions everywhere, with various governments eliminating sunshine laws, dismantling ethics boards, making it more difficult to vote, etc. Any day now, I expect a Republican state legislature to initiate secret voting and closed committee hearings on all legislation.

[Scuba]

3. Nailed it.

[TheMastersNemesis]

2. The Only Way You Will Stop Walker Now Is Pitchforks And Torches.

Wisconsin is stuck with the creep. They elected him again when they should have recalled him when they had the chance. I hope GOPPERS are suffering I know Dems are. Unless there is an act of God taking him out he is yours now.

He has the rest of his term to really wreck Wisconsin.

[Angry Dragon]

4. see my sig line

[alterfurz]

7. torches and pitchforks...

...followed by tar, feathers & tumbrils!

[ewagner]

5. In my opinion...

What is going on in Madison now is pure evil....

Once the Republicans took total control over the Governor's office, the Senate and the Assembly, they quickly and ruthlessly went to work dismantling every institution that limited or stood as an obstacle to their continued and perpetual control of power.

We heard political operatives during the Bush Administration speak of the "permanent Republican Majority" in D.C....but it was even more insidious than that... it was to take place in individual state legislatures. And it has....Michigan, Indiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas....and of course, Wisconsin....the same insane acts are being committed all over the county and there is a master plan behind it.

It's no coincidence and we had better find the way to "cut the head off of the snake" before it destroys us.

[Scuba]

6. In my opinion ...

... you are exactly correct.

[dragonlady]

8. Another election bill introduced just today

The number is SB 295. Among other things it would eliminate the appointment of Special Registration Deputies (who now register people in the community) and would require absentee ballots to be received by the municipal clerk by the close of election day, not just be postmarked by election day and be received by the following Friday. It creates some kind of scheme to register to vote through one's driver's license or state ID, but I'm not clear on the details. All of this just makes it harder for people to vote if they are not among the privileged who lead settled lives, never move, and can get to a DMV easily. Some of the sponsors are Democrats, too. I'd like to hear why they think this is a good thing.

[Scuba]

9. What Dems would support a voter suppression bill?

[dragonlady]

10. Here's the list

Sens. Risser and Miller, Reps. Berceau, Kolste, Pope, and Sargent.