Barca files complaint with district attorney on controversial Capitol vote

[Skip_In_Boulder]

Source: The Cap Times

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, filed a complaint Thursday morning with the Dane County district attorney charging that the Joint Conference Committee that convened at 6 p.m. Wednesday and passed an amended version of Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill is in violation of the open meetings law.

The complaint states that Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald and his brother, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, and others "knowingly attended the meeting in violation of the Open Meetings law" and are subject to penalties identified in state statute.

The complaint asks that the actions taken at the meeting be declared void.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_edd8ffae-4b3f-11e0-9f0f-001cc4c03286.html

[mike_c]

1. Democratic senators should delay their return until this issue is settled....

I'm still concerned that this is a ploy to force the hands of the missing dem state senators.

[Snoutport]

12. ME TOO!

They keep dodging and veering. They sure don't run a straight line!

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Good. Sue and complaint those fuckers into the stone age.

So much illegal shenanigans going on.

[Angry Dragon]

3. Long live the kings.............

[hlthe2b]

4. Why would this be filed with the County DA and not the Attorney General?

It is clearly a statewide issue? This makes no sense to me. Yes, I know the AG is a Republican, but it does not seem as thought the local DA would have any jurisdiction. :shrug:

[sybylla]

5. Because it happened physically in the county and because the AG is a puke

You gotta go where you have people willing to do something about it.

And in this case, both would have jurisdiction, but I don't know that the AG can be compelled to act like the DA can.

[hlthe2b]

7. County DA will have no standing on a state matter... so just show

it appears.

[sybylla]

9. County DA has standing in open meetings law. Doesn't matter what Govt agency is involved.

It was a governmental meeting that took place inside the County of Dane - doesn't matter if it's town, city, county or state meetings. They all fall under the same public notification requirements and that means, where ever they take place, any state judicial authority can act on the violation.

So in this case, the DA of Dane County can prosecute an open meeting violation.

[hlthe2b]

11. Well, then, kudos to him... Ihope he takes the case seriously.

[sybylla]

10. as per the article - DA and AG both have standing in open meeting law violations.

"District Attorney Ismael R. Ozanne confirmed this morning that he had received the complaint and that his office would be reviewing it, noting that either he or Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has authority to do so."

[neoralme]

6. Maybe it was more of a show. Who knows?

[Kingofalldems]

8. K and R for a great American.

Keep the subject on the outrageous repubs, not on things freepers would rejoice over.

[iwishiwas]

13. Barca talking now in the assembly. LIVE...

http://www.livestream.com/cbsnews

[Kingofalldems]

14. Repubs trying to divert our attention with trivia

Must keep our eye on the ball. This is extremely important.

[Snoutport]

15. Rep. Barca proposes motion to remove Speaker Fitzgerald.

Source: Wisconsin Eye Camera in Capitol

VIDEO

Read more: http://www.wiseye.com/Home/AirVideoStream.aspx

[Kingofalldems]

16. Repubs not liking this one

K and R

[Iliyah]

18. Do it!

The gopers did not following the rules, at all.

[Seedersandleechers]

17. Do the Dems

even have enough votes to do anything?

[Iliyah]

19. He filed a

Complaint regarding the notice rule and apparently this is in the complaint also. As the gopers try and sift the blame on Pres. O, y'know the gopers are never wrong and they soooooo LOVE the working class people, I think this time it will the people won't be fooled. I think America is waking up and seeing the true colors of the gopers aka tea brats.

Heil Walker!

[Seedersandleechers]

20. Thanks for the explaination

I'm unable to access the link provided.

[Sonicwall]

21. Seconded. Thirded. Fourthed.

Passed! Since the Senate/Assembly chose to ignore to proper procedure. Fitzgerald will be indicted and removed from power (all 3 of them - facing long prison sentences)

[Judi Lynn]

22. Thank you, Snoutport! K & R. n/t

[kpete]

23. dupe

Source: The Capital Times

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, filed a complaint Thursday morning with the Dane County district attorney charging that the Joint Conference Committee that convened at 6 p.m. Wednesday and passed an amended version of Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill is in violation of the open meetings law.

The complaint states that Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald and his brother, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, and others "knowingly attended the meeting in violation of the Open Meetings law" and are subject to penalties identified in state statute.

The complaint asks that the actions taken at the meeting be declared void.

District Attorney Ismael R. Ozanne confirmed this morning that he had received the complaint and that his office would be reviewing it, noting that either he or Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has authority to do so.

"This is the first step. That allows us to take a look at the allegations," Ozanne said.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_edd8ffae-4b3f-11e0-9f0f-001cc4c03286.html

---

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, calls an impromptu news conference Wednesday after Republicans in the Senate voted to strip nearly all collective bargaining rights from public workers after discovering a way to bypass the chamber's missing Democrats. ANDY MANIS - Associated Press

[Kingofalldems]

24. K and R again

This is a dupe, I rec again though.

[ewagner]

25. Glad you reposted...I wanted to comment

and lost the thread...

What Barca did is brilliant. Last night in the confusion and anger there was much talk about going to the Attorney General for an "opinion" that what the Repubs did was illegal. Barca didn't waste time with that he filed a complaint with the District Attorney which by law must be investigated and, if laws were broken, prosecution must be pursued.

The Republican Attorney General will now be only another member of the defense team...not the sole determinant of the legality of the system.

Excellent.

edited to add:

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[Iliyah]

26. Agreed

I think they have the Complaint up at Daily Kos.

If these Public attorneys vote in favor of the gopers quickly, that will not be a good sign overall for the gopers. If they investigate and make available the bill, then America will finally understand that the gopers across the country are up to no good.

[No Elephants]

27. Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald and his brother, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Daddy

Fitzgerald heads state troopers doing Walker's bidding.