February 18, 2012
Almost unbelievable
Three days before the public and the Democrats in the Legislature got a look at the new legislative lines the maps, drawn by Ray Taffora and Michael Best & Friedrich, were given to Scott Jensen. Yes--that one--the poster boy of the legislative scandal of a few years ago. He is lobbying for a pro-vouncher group called American Federation for Children. Some say he is earning more than $100,000 per year for his lobbying for more vouchers!
Think for a moment. MB&F was hired by the GOP for $400,000, to be paid by taxpayers, to draw the new lines that would, of course, favor Republicans. Republican legislators had to sign secrecy oaths before they were allowed to see the MB&F-drawn maps. Who says? Good question. Was MB&F in charge or were the elected officials in charge?
While the maps were sent to Jensen, the GOP went to court to argue that the GOP memos, e-mails and draft maps should be protected by the courts from discovery in a Democratic Party lawsuit. Were these motions in good faith? No way, says a three-judge panel.
Stay tuned! Meanwhile, read the MJS account. Good stuff.
post a letter about this blog »
No problem - just get one of those Waukesha County Get Out of Jail Free cards and it's business as usual.
-nonheroicvet | Disgusted, WI | February 18, 2012
It was obvious from the moment news broke that MBF was involved in drawing the maps that this was an effort by the Republican'ts to hide their scheming and claim the ruse client-attorney privilege. There should never be any aspect of any government which is kept from those governed, yet this seems to be standard practice for too many elected officials. Most folks don't even notice nor do they care what goes on behind closed doors.
We are lucky that we don't have government intrusion into our lives on a daily basis. Maybe this is part of the problem. We don't have daily contact with government so we just don't give a damn what that government does. Many of us stay uninformed or apolitical, and this is how bad people like Walker and the Fitzgeralds get elected and grab power away from us.
We had better stay on top of the recall efforts and oust the scoundrels. If we fail, you can be sure the power grabbers will "fix" government to limit or eliminate recalls and any other form of citizen participation.
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | February 18, 2012
FF - Good point about the general public's (or at least a significant proportion - - I'd estimate 30-50% - - of them) lack of interest in government workings (especially in the last 3+ decades.) That can make true reform virtually impossible, other than by random chance. If VOTERS get fired-up about something AND vote accordingly, the politicians will quickly fall in line, out of pragmatic self-interest if nothing else. However, when too many voters just casually vote according to bumper-stickers or right-wing squawk radio, we get what we got...
-Big EM | Milwaukee, WI | February 18, 2012
MBF has a history of falsely claiming attorney client privilege. As sworn officers of the court if they know a law is being broken they are, according to sworn oaths and professional ethics, required to notify authorities. Yet, time and time again MBF is hired by business to investigate environmental contamination(both soil and groundwater) on client's property. Results of these investigations are never disclosed to the proper authorities (WDNR) under the guise of attorney -client privilege. Thus ensuring that required clean-ups are put off until property transfers. Regardless of how many innocent women and children are exposed to these poisons.
-Dole O'Mite | Waukesha County | February 18, 2012
current
--------
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003