“If it’s not broken, why are we passing legislation to fix it?” says Republican AG Van Hollen. That’s what voters were asking.

Why does it always take a Republicans acknowledgement to make what Democrats have been saying for the last couple of years believable? Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen just exposed how our GOP state legislature continues to spin it’s wheel writing rules and big government regulations that don’t solve real problems.

jsonline: Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen (is) calling on Gov. Scott Walker to veto a budget provision that would allow those accused of crimes to post bail through commercial bondsmen and let bounty hunters track down those who don't show up for court.

"I'm opposed to it, always have been … If it's not broken, why are we passing legislation to fix it?"

Van Hollen said he also opposes changes GOP lawmakers made to a plan to take DNA from those accused of felonies when they are arrested, rather than when they are convicted. That would create difficulties for law enforcement officials as they try to determine when samples can be analyzed, Van Hollen said.

Republican Rep. Robin Vos smarted off this way:

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said he had not heard from Van Hollen about his concerns during the budget process. "Considering the fact that it's a Monday, it sounds like he's attempting to play Monday morning quarterback."

Another money loser passed by Republicans for purely ideological reasons, again: 

Van Hollen said the current system works well and he is concerned about letting offenders get out of jail more easily by having them post one-tenth as much bail as they do now. What's more, the courts and victims could lose out on millions of dollars a year, he said. That totaled $9.5 million in 2012, according to court records. "It's money in the hand that doesn't have to be collected," Van Hollen said.

Under a commercial bail bond system, counties would have to seek money …  time consuming and yield unsatisfactory results, according to opponents of commercial bail bond. 

Lobbyist for Big Tobacco, Rent-to-Own and Loan Companies pushing privatized Bail Bondsman to save taxpayers money. What’s not to trust? No Red Flags?

Let’s face it, the above special interests are all big Republican supporters. Even though Big Tobacco and Rent-to-Own companies have a less than stellar history, we’re supposed to go along with even more “corporate promises” to supposedly save taxpayers money. I could be wrong, but that’s not why they’re in business is it?

jsonline: Two years after lawmakers unsuccessfully tried to enlarge the state budget by creating a privately run bail bonds system in Wisconsin, the controversial idea could be returning. Last time, the bipartisan group of opponents included the state's judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, sheriffs and clerks of court - virtually the entire legal system. Gov. Scott Walker ultimately killed the idea by vetoing it in June 2011.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said allowing bail bondsmen would increase the number of people who show up at their court date and reduce costs for the court system.

Here’s the kicker and big RED FLAG:

Supporters of the proposal, led by the American Bail Coalition, said that bondsmen would make government more efficient … The American Bail Coalition has registered to lobby lawmakers on the budget bill, hiring prominent Capitol lobbyist Eric Petersen, who also does work for a rent-to-own corporation, a title loan company and tobacco interests as well as other companies. Neither the Bail Coalition nor Petersen responded to requests for comment.

No response? I'm shocked!! I can hear the Walker zombies now, “big deal, so what.”  An amazing thing to say knowing bits and pieces of the government house our founding fathers build are getting sold off. Pretty soon, instead of defending our property rights, we’ll have landlords watching over that too.