Republicans Liquored up with Power, Cronyism, and Corporate Welfare.

One of my biggest pet peeves is giving credit to conservatives to who finally wake-up, a little late, to the things Democrats have been warning them about for years.

But in Scott Walker's Wisconsin, I'll take what I can get. You won't believe this special interest deal. Oh, didn't Walker brag to the nation how he's been successfully fighting special interests? Just not the conservative kind:

RightWisconsin: WisPolitics’ PM report confirmed that the Republican co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee, State Sen Alberta Darling and State Rep John Nygren are considering allowing a special interest provision that would benefit liquor wholesalers to be slipped into the “wrap-up motion” for the state budget.

Check out this incredibly uncompetitive setup for liquor distribution:

In Wisconsin, we have a three-tier system of producers, wholesalers and retailers. This is supposedly to make it easier to collect the liquor taxes. It also is a protectionist measure as the wholesalers must be Wisconsin companies … producers cannot terminate their contracts with the wholesalers without “just cause.”

Remember, this is RightWisconsin freaking out about this stuff. This is what Scott Walker and his band of legislative plundering pirates are all about. It's cronyism, big government and corporate welfare that even Charlie Sykes can't stomach. Oh, it's hardly a "budget item" is it:

Such a privileged place in the liquor supply chain is not enough apparently for some wholesalers. The proposed sop to the liquor wholesalers would allow them to pass to their heirs the contractual agreements with the liquor producers. It would also allow the wholesalers to sell the contracts to other wholesalers. The producers would then be bound to honor the contract to the new wholesaler even if the liquor producer had no interest in doing business with that company. Such a change in the law would, in effect, give the wholesaler ownership rights in a product they did not create … When a similar change in the law was made in Illinois, alcohol prices went up as much as 20%. Illinois repealed the law but now Wisconsin is ready to make the same mistake.

If Nygren and Darling allow this, they will be responsible for everyone else paying more for alcohol. The retailers will pay more, putting a squeeze on the state’s family-owned taverns and convenience stores. The cost will be passed down to the consumer, of course. Prince and pauper alike will pay more for the privilege of having a drink without any benefit to Wisconsin or the taxpayers. 

Special interest favors like this that put the “crony” in Wisconsin capitalism. Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee need to rediscover their free market principles. That does not mean selling out for campaign contributions.

Oh but it does mean selling out to contributors.  

Walker's unfettered Cronyism.

Not much left to say...WISC-TV:

Walker announced Friday that he has appointed Mike M. Grebe, son of Michael W. Grebe, president and chief executive of the Bradley Foundation, to the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.The foundation has backed a number of conservative public policy experiments, including welfare reform and, voucher schools. Michael W. Grebe also has served as chairman of Walker's campaign.

Walker offers state office building construction to squeeze donors just before election.

Pay-to-play government is becoming so common place now that it won't be long before no one is even going to notice...that is until Democrats gets back into office.

After several open records requests for the names of the interested developers for a couple of state office buildings, we now know who they are. But who cares, when Wisconsin is coming back: 

WKOW: A Madison developer who donated nearly $10,000 to Gov. Scott Walker's (R-Wisconsin) campaign, after the state put out a request for proposals (RFP) to purchase and redevelop the state's Hill Farms property, is now one of four finalists being considered for the project by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA).

You’ll notice the “bidding” process started just before the elections, when campaign contributions were most needed. Even the losers ended up helping Walker win. Nice con:

The RFP process opened on October 13th, 2014 and on October 24th, Wall donated $9,975 to Friends of Scott Walker, maxing out his donations for the year.  

"What I think is very obvious and smacks of pay to play is the fact that the donation came, the donation of $10,000 to the Walker campaign, came 11 days after the RFP was announced and during prime campaign season," said Rep. Terese Berceau (D-Madison), who represents the Assembly district in which the Hill Farms property is located.

"There were two other companies that were part of the T. Wall bid, Potter/Lawson and I believe Miron Construction, also gave money during that same period," said Jenni Dye, research director for One Wisconsin Now … the construction and architectural firms tied to Wall's proposal, gave a total of $3,500 to Walker after the RFP period opened.

Walker Administrations Pay-to-Play Cronyism hits stride after Election...nothing to stop them now.

In what is turning out to be an endless stream of stories tying campaign contributions to government contracts, pay-to-play, we've got another one that stinks to high heaven. What has to happen to get the attention of "stand with Walker" supporters?

Scott Walker's business friendly elimination of competitive bidding for taxpayer funded projects is bearing fruit for some well connected individuals, and is plainly set up for backroom pay-to-play deals. Let's get serious here and admit the obvious?

Keep in mind, the story from WKOW's Greg Neumann starts by saying the DOA is forking over the names of all the parties, but that obscures the fact that despite a long list, it wouldn't matter. The administration had already picked a winner based on a suspiciously timely campaign contribution.

The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) has agreed to release the names of all developers who have submitted proposals to purchase the state's Hill Farms property, just one day after 27 News reported the agency had turned down records requests for similar information.  The names will be released either late Monday or early Tuesday of next week.

Here's the video story:

The interest from the media is due, in part, to a $10,000 donation Madison developer Terrance Wall made to Gov. Scott Walker's (R-Wisconsin) campaign less than two weeks after DOA opened its Request for Proposals (RFP) on the property in October. In June 2013, The state legislature passed a measure eliminating competitive bids On October 13th, 2014.  27 News wanted to know who was on the tour, because nine days after the registration deadline for it, Terrance Wall made a donation of $9,975 to Gov. Walker's campaign.

In an amazing understatement, at least one Democrats had the time to comment:

"I think we're starting to see a very direct line of cronyism," said Rep. Terese Berceau (D-Madison).

Ya think? Where are the other Democrats we thought learned their lesson from the midterm drubbing? No major offensive? Nothing has changed. 

Incidental Governor Scott Walker still not aware of Blatant Pay-to-Play, even after $20,000 Donation resulting from $6 million Tax Credit!!!

The sharp political divide in the state has resulted in an extreme conservative backlash against their "enemies on the left," causing them to go into defense mode whenever Scott Walker is criticized. It doesn't matter how serious the infraction or how crooked Walker looks, conservatives have invested too much of their political identities into this administrations "unintimidated" leader. 

So listen for the big yawn from the right. WSJ:

Less than a month after the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. board approved a $6 million tax credit for Ashley Furniture Industries, the company’s owners gave $20,000 to Gov. Scott Walker’s re-election campaign.

In their standard “above-the-law” response...prove it!

Laurel Patrick, a spokeswoman for Walker, said in an email: “Political contributions are in no way tied to tax incentives provided by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Decisions related to investments or awards are contractually required to meet certain objectives.”

And “stand with Walker” supporters continue to ignore the growing cronyism under Walker.

After Interviewing Finalists, Cindy Archer Takes their Job.

Scott Walker knows how to pick 'em. We've seem examples of that from John Doe 1 & 2.

What seemed strange got even stranger: Getting a job you didn't apply for seemed unusual enough when Cindy Archer, a former Walker aide, took the job at the public defender’s office. But as it turns out, Archer was the one giving the interviews...for the job she took...from her two hand picked finalists. Channel3000:

Newly released records show a longtime aide to Gov. Scott Walker helped interview the two finalists for the $113,000 job at the state public defender's office she landed. State Public Defender Kelli Thompson determined that Archer was the best person for the IT manager job.

Archer apparently didn't think the job paid enough to bring the best and the brightest…like herself:

The Journal Sentinel reported that Archer's salary is $3,400 a year more than the top pay listed in an advertisement for the position. 

It must have been painful interviewing the less qualified riff raff.  

Walker's Crony Jobs Plan Working....

The only time cronyism isn't really cronyism is when Republicans successfully rationalize away the guilt and shame of their behavior...that pretty much stinks to high heaven for everyone else. Our incidental Gov. Walker will be very surprised I'm sure.

Political silence and loyalty comes at a price: I wonder how the two qualified finalist feel right about now?

WSJ: The chairman of the state Public Defender Board on Thursday defended the hiring of a longtime aide to Gov. Scott Walker for the public defender office’s top IT position — even though she didn’t interview for the job and wasn’t a finalist.

Is Official Denial a Jedi Mind Trick?

“As I am sure the questions will fly as to who pressured us into putting her (Cynthia Archer) in this new position, I can assure you this was an internal agency decision and not a decision made for the agency by anyone else,” Danny Berkos, a Mauston defense attorney said.

The unemployed should be so lucky; don’t seek work = get called for job:

Archer was hired as chief information officer for the office at a salary 31 percent higher than her predecessor. Archer also received an 11.7 percent pay raise, to $113,459 annually. Archer was not one of seven candidates who interviewed for the job, nor one of two finalists ... department spokesman Randy Kraft said. The final decision recognized the importance of Cindy’s hands-on knowledge and experience with the agency’s aging technology.”

You think her "hands-on knowledge and experience with aging technology" had anything to do with that secret router?

Archer was among Walker’s campaign and county staff who used private emails and a secret Internet router to hide campaign-related communications from public disclosure. Archer and Walker were not charged with any wrongdoing.

Racially insensitive Walker confidant Jim Villa lands job at diverse University of Wisconsin System as lobbyist.

My conservative friend in Milwaukee called to tell me he was not happy with Scott Walker hiring Jim Villa, a long time friend for a wholly new position at the UW for university relations. He mentioned cronyism, and said something didn't smell right, especially at a yearly cost of $178,000. That was a lot from a diehard Walker supporter.

This is a perfect example of government intimidation. Check out this pathetic statement from the university, now on the down slide:

UW System President Ray Cross downplayed the governor's involvement in the process while emphasizing that Villa was the unanimous choice of the search-and-screen committee. Cross said the system had concerns about this issue. But he said officials did a great deal of due diligence, even digging into the massive amount of emails. "To the best of our ability, we did not find anything," Cross said.

Didn't find anything, right? Uppity Wisconsin found something easily, and it's not insignificant. The diverse multinational student body needs a guy like this?

Shortly after Coca-Cola debuted its Superbowl commercial featuring people of different ethnicities singing America the Beautiful in different languages, Villa posted to his Facebook page, "Another reason why I hate Coca Cola..."

Villa's comment isn't anything new from the most racist, bigoted staff of numskulls exposed by the massive email dump from the first Scott Walker John Doe investigation. Ray Cross did little to screen out this very good friend of Walker's, if you know what I mean.

United Sportsmen didn't File Tax Returns. Republicans, the Great Watchdogs of Taxpayer Money Exposed, Award Donors Gifts.

The United Sportsmen of Wisconsin blunder, Scott Walker and the Republican Party's "Waterloo," is a window into what conservative governance looks like. 

It's moments of naked arrogance like this that should alert voters of all stripes. If you wanted to see what reduced regulations and government would do for taxpayers, here it is.  

Oh, and they didn't file any tax returns:  

jsonline: An affiliate of an embattled sportsmen's group, United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation Inc., that had sought a controversial $500,000 state grant has represented itself as both a nonprofit and a for-profit group, and in spite of its substantial revenue it has no record of having filed a state tax return, a Journal Sentinel review has found.

In statements with a donor in 2011, United Sportsmen represented itself as a nonprofit. But on Friday, the group said in a statement that it was a for-profit entity. State tax information requested by the Journal Sentinel showed that neither the United Sportsmen of Wisconsin nor its affiliate group, the United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation Inc., has filed a tax return for 2011 or 2012.

Separately, the two arms have applied for the state grant, sent out mailings on a 2011 recall election and done tens of thousands of dollars' worth of lobbying on state legislation … failed to follow state law by not reporting whether it owes taxes.

These groups had Walker's backing...until they blew up in his face.  Gee, so close to his reelection campaign too. 

And then came this:

On Friday, United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Inc. said in a statement that it was "not a public charity" and instead is a for-profit corporation required to file its federal tax return using Form 1120. Melissa Scholz, a Madison attorney specializing in nonprofit law, said that all didn't make sense. "There's clearly a disconnect between a group that's now calling itself a for-profit that got a grant from a (c)(4) when it organized," Scholz said. 

David Werner, a certified public accountant in Milwaukee said that corporations filing using a Form 1120 at the federal level must also file taxes with the state. "If they are a for-profit enterprise ...they have a filing requirement," he said.

Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, blasted the state's involvement with United Sportsmen. "We think a full investigation and accounting of the events that led to this provision being put into the budget and signed into law by Gov. Walker are owed to the people of Wisconsin," Ross said. "What's clear is Gov. Walker's plan to reward an organization that endorsed him was suspect from the get-go."

Did you hear the one about United Sportsmen....can you believe this stuff?

Not only is the following $500,000 Republican payout to right wing activists an in-your-face giveaway to donors, but can you imagine what kind of deals are being made behind the scenes to even bigger players favored by our red state legislators. If they don't care about how this looks, with no blowback, skies the limit for the Walker Authority from here on in. 

This is just so wildly out there, with no plausible excuses given, I'm still on the amazed side:

jsonline: United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation Inc., a group that claimed federal nonprofit status in winning a controversial $500,000 grant to promote hunting and fishing hasn't actually received that status yet ... showing it had misrepresented its tax status during the process of receiving a grant to promote hunting and fishing in the state. The DNR requested the letters from United Sportsmen, apparently following a Friday report by the Journal Sentinel that the group wasn't listed in federal and state registries of 501(c)(3) nonprofits.

United Sportsmen, a group with close ties to Republican politicians and other conservative organizations but a scant track record, applied for federal nonprofit designation on March 1 but has not yet received it. And the group has been denied a hardship request to speed up that process ... 

So could this group lie in it's application, a firing offense anywhere else, and still keep its job and credibility with our straight arrow Republicans?

Despite the misrepresentation, the DNR officially notified United Sportsmen in a letter Tuesday that it would be receiving the grant anyway, with $50,000 of it as an advance before receipts are filed. Rep. Al Ott (R-Forest Junction), chairman of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, was displeased the group had not been forthright with lawmakers and potential donors. "They misled and I'm disappointed about that," Ott said. 

As is typical with all Republicans, no response is necessary.

DNR spokesman Bill Cosh has not commented on whether the DNR has concerns about any possible misrepresentation by United Sportsmen about having received the federal designation. 

But wouldn't donors be surprised when they find out about their lack of tax exempt status:

Without the federal recognition, the group won't be tax-exempt, and its donors won't be able to deduct their contributions to United Sportsmen on their tax returns.

According to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin:

Suder’s resignation comes as questions are swirling about his motivations in an award process that resulted in a $500,000 state grant made in perpetuity to a shadowy Tea Party organization with ties to the National Rifle Association … group calling itself United Sportsmen of Wisconsin, headed by Suder’s former chief of staff, Luke Hilgemann … During the 2011 senate recalls, United Sportsmen faced backlash for their involvement in a series of misleading “Absentee Ballot Application” mailers and in 2012 they endorsed Scott Walkerin the recall election, stating that, “The second amendment took on a new meaning in Wisconsin under Governor Scott Walker.” 

Did Republicans give a Half Million Dollars of taxpayer money to United Sportsmen after they misrepresented their tax exempt status?

Lobbyist front group United Sportsmen may have lied about Tax exempt status for $500,000 of taxpayer money, a violation of law.

So what’s new. Still more money mismanagement from our Republican legislature, this time awarding a half million bucks to a group of right wing lobbyist tied to the Koch Brothers, who lied about their tax status. Don’t Republicans ever ask any questions, do any research or have any business sense at all?

Apparently not. Like the paramilitary groups brought in from Arizona who didn't have any of the required licenses for their weapons, now the DNR is awarding political cronies taxpayer money despite no proof of their 501(c)(3) status. That’s how things look now, which is how it would have looked had Republican sugar daddies asked the completely unqualified United Sportsmen a few questions.

jsonline-Jason Stein/Michael Phillis: State and federal registries have no record of a group that claimed federal nonprofit status in winning a controversial grant to promote hunting and fishing, a Journal Sentinel review has found … United Sportsmen presented itself as having a designation as a federal 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Neither the IRS website, an official state registry of charitable groups, nor the popular private website GuideStar have any record of that status being given to either the United Sportsmen foundation or an affiliate group.

Since Thursday, the Journal Sentinel has made repeated requests to United Sportsmen's board president to provide the federal Internal Revenue Service letter determining it qualifies as a federal nonprofit. The federal tax code prohibits false claims of 501(c)(3) status and requires groups claiming it to produce their IRS determination letter on request, according to the federal agency. Groups still waiting on an IRS determination typically present themselves as seeking that status, not as having it.

State DNR spokesman Bill Cosh declined comment on whether the DNR had concerns about any possible misrepresentation by United Sportsmen about having received the federal designation. 

Scot Ross, executive of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, said United Sportsmen's tax-exempt status still needed to be cleared up. "It raises serious concerns about the legitimacy of the organization and even larger concerns about the elected officials who spearheaded this half-million-dollar earmark," Ross said.

Taxpayers give Half a Million Dollars to Right Wing Lobbyists to promote hunting and fishing, which includes Mining, campaign concerts, and wetland development.

This is the most blatant political payoff and waste of taxpayer money yet from the Walker Authority. Seriously, nothing like in-your-face crass cronyism to desensitize the public for future grand giveaways just waiting in the wings.

I need to catch my breath.

jsonline: A controversial $500,000 grant for promoting hunting and fishing was recommended by a state committee  … The United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation, a group with close ties to GOP politicians and other conservative organizations, is the only applicant for the award … a virtual lock on the money.

Here’s the most outrageous part; it has to be done fast:

Scott Gunderson, the committee chairman repeatedly said during the meeting that the agency was required by the state budget passed in July to quickly award the grant — one of the DNR's largest to an outside group planned in fiscal year 2014. "I think we have to follow the law," said Gunderson, who voted for United Sportsmen. "I never think it's a tough decision to follow the law."

The budget required the grant be given immediately. Amazing.

United Sportsmen has no history of doing the kind of training called for in the grant. The grant was quickly approved in May … Its language prevented most established conservation groups from applying for the grant.

Even some Republicans have a conscience:

Mark LaBarbera of Hazel Green, the sole member of the committee to vote against United Wisconsin, asked the group's president a number of questions about its finances, structure and qualifications, stressing that "people around here think this just doesn't smell right." Afterward, he said he wasn't satisfied with the answers as given. "I didn't think we had a clear enough answer that I could vote yes so I had to vote no."

This interesting note from Daily Kos about a comment from Greg Palast:

The Koch Operation, Americans for Prosperity, had its Chief set up a front called United Sportsmen of Wisconsin. United Sportsmen of Wisconsin, which appeared and then instantly vanished after the recall vote...

And now that these Republican lobbyists have the taxpayer money, it’s time to actually create United Sportsmen:

United Sportsman president Andy Pantzlaff said that his group would do a national search for a full-time executive director; and hire a full-time director of operations and part-time staffer to work on public policy.

They will serve their masters to promote other radical right wing lobbyists to spread propaganda in of all places, our schools:

The group would also bring programs such as the National Rifle Association's Eddie Eagle gun safety program into schools to try and change the trend of declining youth interest in hunting. "Failure is not an option," Pantzlaff said. "We have to try something new and innovative."

And like good Republican politicians who always say they're safe guarding taxpayer money:

The state budget includes no requirement that the grant be put out to competitive bid in the future...

Promoting hunting and fishing really means something else:

United Sportsmen of Wisconsin has been lobbying lawmakers in favor of sporting legislation such as the creation of a wolf hunt as well as bills to ease the way for a controversial open-pit iron mine in northern Wisconsin and to better enable development in wetlands … sponsored the Sportsmen Freedom Fest and Concert in Lake Delton with Americans for Prosperity and the National Rifle Association in October 2012, just ahead of the presidential election. United Sportsmen has apparently already received significant funds. In 2011, the group Citizens for a Stronger America reported in its tax filing giving $235,000 to United Sportsmen.

I hear crickets coming from tightwad conservative voting groups...teatards, anyone....? Here's both WISC TV and WKOW's coverage:

Walker, Republican crony Capitalism just Amazing. Taxpayer money encourages campaign contributors and employs former tea party state senator!

The following story is something you might find hard to believe, or maybe not. Sure you’ll hear about the $70 million in added tax revenue that will get eaten up quickly by other unexpected cost in the current budget, but will you hear much about another last minute addition that hands money to donors? It literally just gives them money, period:

Journal Sentinel-Jason Stein: A $500,000 sportsmen's grant slipped into the state … is set to go to a group with ties to Republican insiders that has praised GOP politicians and lobbied for legislation such as lowering regulations on iron mining and development in wetlands. The United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation Inc., a group formed in January with no record of its own in outdoors training, is the only applicant for the scantly noticed two-year grant to promote hunting, fishing and trapping in Wisconsin that is being reviewed Thursday by a special panel. If the grant is approved, the state could end up paying it every two years to United Sportsmen…

Wait for it….

…which has said in its application that it would use most of the money to pay its staff and consultants.

Ah, taxpayer money well spent. Are you sensing a little bit of arrogance and entitlement yet? Guess who drafted the payoff?

…unanimously voted into the state budget in May after just seven minutes of discussion by the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee, which acted on a motion drafted by outgoing Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder.

Open to every applicant (favored by Republicans that is) who knew about it:

George Meyer, executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation (said the) wording of the budget motion prevented Meyer's federation from applying for the award. "We think its purpose is important. But clearly it looks like it was put together for one group."

It gets worse too; claim total ignorance when caught:

In an interview, Suder said (he) wasn't aware that United Sportsmen would include his former chief of staff, Luke Hilgemann, in the application as one of its educators. Hilgemann recently left his job overseeing and lobbying for the Wisconsin chapter of Americans for Prosperity to take a job in Washington as the No. 2 executive for the group favoring conservative economic policies.

Business and government...fascism, now in control. But that's not all folks:

Suder said United Sportsmen was "eminently qualified" to receive the grant but when asked did not offer any specific qualifications.

One of the least qualified former tea party state senators who quit gets a job:

One of the educators listed in United Wisconsin's application was Pam Galloway, a former GOP state senator from Wausau who last session helped pass a concealed-carry law — also a big priority for Suder, and later stepped down from the Legislature.

Rammed down our throats? Does a 7 minute discussion period qualify, versus the outrageous one year debate for ObamaCare?

And due to the lack of public notice, several eligible groups weren't aware of the grant until after application deadline. Don Kirby, executive director of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, said he had no knowledge of the grant. "Our organization would have been interested to pursue this," Kirby said. "I'm more than a little disappointed to find out now." The Wisconsin Waterfowl Association has a long history of running Learn To Hunt and other training events.

Rep. Scott Suder passed this handout to United Sportsmen knowing almost all the money went into pockets of former politicians and campaign contributors, and not to promote fishing and hunting. 

According to the group's application, United Sportsmen would use $370,00 on salaries and $20,000 on employee benefits over the first two years, plus $56,000 more on unidentified consultants. The grant will provide $200,000 this year and $300,000 in 2014. Thereafter, it will provide $450,000 in each two-year budget. The grantee will have to provide $150,000 of its own funds in matching dollars in each future two-year budget.

Republicans as usual have not even come up with a way to fund the grant in the future:

The state money in the first year will be from general tax revenue; the DNR said it was still clarifying how the grant would be funded beyond 2013.

AG Van Hollen Reverses Position, Reinstates Solicitor General Position with lots of Taxpayer dollars. Walker Political Appointments, Cronyism, to Expand!!!

Well, saving taxpayer money and firing people sure sounded in good during the campaign.

jsonline-Jason Stein: In a reversal of one of his first actions in office, state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is working with Gov. Scott Walker on a nearly $1 million proposal to bring back Wisconsin's solicitor general - as a political appointee. In his first campaign, Van Hollen sharply criticized his predecessor for wasting money by naming a top lawyer to oversee appeals and related issues for the state and Van Hollen did away with the solicitor general job as soon as he took office in 2007.

More spending and bigger government always looks better when it’s for Republicans. Notice that? It just keeps growing and costing more for taxpayers….

Van Hollen, a Republican, is backing a budget proposal by Walker to name not just a solicitor general but three assistants as well. It would run $961,000 over two years to create a solicitor general position, two deputies and a secretary, according to Brueck and the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. The funding also would allow for a six-figure salary for the solicitor general.

The Democratic AG didn't spend any money. Fancy that?

Peg Lautenschlager, Van Hollen's Democratic predecessor, was surprised. She had created the solicitor general position by simply reassigning her existing staff, not seeking new money, and at that time, the solicitor general was filled by a lawyer who was classified as a civil servant.

That's not all folks. Government cronyism under Walker is set to expand even more:

In a separate budget provision, Walker's bill would create four regional political appointees who would do public outreach and coordinate work between state agencies and officials such as the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., lawmakers, universities and state agencies. These appointees would earn between $69,300 and $107,400 a year.  

Will Walker's Crony Capitalism and Lying turn Conservative Voters Off? Dream on.

Lies, lies and more lies from the Walker administration's denial, but expansion of crony capitalism.

Newly released records show a Stevens Point company accepted an offer of tax breaks contingent on it winning a state contract, appearing to contradict earlier claims from Gov. Scott Walker's administration that no firm commitment had been made to the company.

Surprise, the Walker administration lied.

WSJ: Documents provided to The Associated Press show the chief executive officer of information systems company Skyward signed an acceptance of the $11.7 million tax break offer on March 26, four days after it was proposed.

In a June 19 email, DOA spokeswoman Jocelyn Webster described the so-called "soft offer" this way: "To be clear, Skyward did not receive any firm commitment, monetary awards, or tax incentives from WEDC." The documents provided to AP show the company had accepted the offer.

Corporate blackmail is now common:

Skyward has threatened to leave the state if it doesn't get the contract.

And as I reported some time back:

Not bound by bid rigging?

WEDC leader Paul Jadin has stood by the Skyward offer, saying he believed it was legal because his agency isn't bound by procurement laws that forbid bid-rigging.

There aren't many people willing to stand behind bid-rigging. Rep. Paul Ryan bashes crony capitalism in his reelection campaign, but it's standard operating procedure in Wisconsin:

Republican Rep. Robin Vos said he thinks WEDC has been doing a "wonderful job" and concerns … were overblown. "I don't even think it was that big of a deal," he said. It's possible that Skyward will still get the state contract.

Ya thing? Corporate welfare continues to drain the public coffers:

Skyward employs about 270 people statewide … sells management software to track grades, attendance and other information for schools and serves 220 of Wisconsin's 424 districts. The tax breaks offered were to help Skyward with a planned $20 million expansion of its headquarters and the hiring of more than 600 workers.

Politically appointed Crony's and Czars trash Environment at DNR and Governors Office.

Wisconsin Republicans decide to poison the wells of their own rural conservative voters.

Forget everything you thought you heard Scott Walker say about an open and clean government. Not only is he lousy at picking the right kind of people to work in his administration, like those in the John Doe investigation, but he's continuing that poor judgement in the political appointments put in charge of what should be non-partisan offices. 

This is a lesson in bad and corrupt government. Everyone here is running on adrenalized ideology, or just plain stupidity:

jsonline: A top political appointee at the state DNR chose not to send a complaint against an Oconomowoc waste hauler to the Department of Justice for prosecution despite findings by agency staff that the company was treating fields with so much human waste from septic tanks it risked poisoning nearby wells, DNR records show.

(Former state representative) Scott Gunderson, executive assistant to DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp, “made an extra effort” to deal with the complaint internally last year even though the agency’s enforcement staff urged that the case be referred to DOJ, which could have imposed fines of tens of thousands of dollars. Gunderson decided to fine the company $4,338 — the minimum forfeiture … which the lead DNR investigator called “among the worst” he’d seen.

Gunderson received $750 in campaign contributions from the owner of the company, Richard Herr … Gunderson said he forgot … Spreading waste 3 times the legal level, next to “30 residences in a rural Jefferson County subdivision as well as five neighboring farms (and serves) 40 drinking water wells are nearby” … any settlement with the DOJ likely would have included a requirement that Herr pay for testing wells in the areas near the spreading. No such testing agreement (was made).

But the lack of concern for detail is stunning:

…the company provided more than 60 inaccurate records after inconsistencies in a 2010 inspection. But Gunderson said he hardly recalled reading (the) referral and said the potential health implications of Herr’s actions were not discussed at length … Gunderson … sought to iron out the problem in meetings with Herr and Herr’s state representative, Joel Kleefisch, R, who interceded on his behalf … Herr said he spoke with Stepp who assured him “no citations or forfeitures would be required” … Stepp … denied in an email she made such a claim to Herr.

At a second meeting, on Dec. 20, Kleefisch challenged Gunderson to reconsider the citations … “In the age of the DNR/Wisconsin Governor being pro-business, why is the DNR giving Herr 5 citations and why can’t 2 or 3 be taken away as a show of good faith?” Joel Kleefisch asked.

Self-regulation: “…hopefully they are going to be self-regulators in the future,” Gunderson said. “That’s what we want, we want them to live by the law. But if something comes to us that’s very blatant, yeah…

But if something doesn’t come up? I guess we all can drink a glass full of nitrates?

George Meyer was secretary of the DNR from 1993 to 2001: ”I’ve never heard of anything like this … Or of political influence to this degree, not only by a legislator but also by top administrators in the agency.” Enforcement by the DNR has dropped precipitously at the agency a 12-year low last year. Stepp blame the drop on … a change in philosophy that emphasizes cooperation with businesses rather than relying on prosecution.

After reading the above, try and make sense of this upside down "official statement" if you can:  

Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie wrote, “Increasing compliance and decreasing the number of environmental regulation violations is a good thing for Wisconsin’s valuable natural resources, Wisconsin residents, tourism, our economy and ultimately for the next generation.”

Crony Republicanism. Is there anything more arrogant or an abuse of power?

What would you call this?

jsonline: The head of a state agency late last year gave a political appointment - and a nearly $27,000 annual raise - to the wife of a Republican Party official without considering any other applicants, state records show.

Cronyism? Yeah, but she was qualified, right?

In December, Angela Herl took over a state division with 40 employees that processes credentials for dozens of professions such as doctors, even though she had no direct experience in that area. Herl had not previously managed any staff during her 20 years working for the state as a payroll and benefits specialist. With the new job, Herl received a 49% pay boost, raising her annual salary from $54,378 to $81,265.

Cronyism. Remember the outrage over Obama’s cronies, his designated czars? But this is different right? Hypocrites. 

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha). "They don't seem to mind what the public perception is when they provide people with these huge pay increases. When you see his cronies be provided with big pay increases without proper credentials or even being bothered to check credentials, it doesn't sit well. . . . The idea they don't have a resume on file is just so troubling."

You Want Cronyism? Look No Further than Gov. Walker and his pet Cindy Archer.

While the D.C. Republicans try to tag Obama for cronyism over a failed solar panel business, state Republicans like Gov. Scott Walker are taking cronyism to an exospheric level with his political appointments (czars).

Empty liberal name calling? Not if you look at the proof:

AP: Three days after Cindy Archer was to have started her job as the legislative liaison at the state Department of Children and Families - and while she was already being paid sick leave for it - the agency interviewed someone else for the same job … The state's open records law … also show the office of Gov. Scott Walker - and not the Department of Children and Families - offered Archer the job at up to 65% more than what the last person to hold the position made. Children and Families Secretary Eloise Anderson never interviewed Archer for the nearly $100,000-a-year job, even though Anderson is responsible for appointing someone to the post.

Any snappy excuses, tea party trollers? If that wasn’t bad enough, Archer got the job a day before she was offered the position...oops:

The newly released records also show Archer was informed of the job offer on Aug. 19 - a day after she technically received it, according to state paperwork.

Cronyism 2.0? I don’t believe conservative talkers Charlie Sykes, Mark Belling and Vicki McKenna have noticed. Not even a little phony outrage guys?  How about a little "both sides do it"…anything?

The time line: Archer was the No. 2 official in Walker's Department of Administration … She quit that job 16 minutes after being told by Walker chief of staff that she was being offered the job at the Dept. of Children and Families. She was supposed to start the job on Aug. 22, but she started taking paid medical leave that day and has not yet reported for the new position. Three days later, on Aug. 25, Anderson interviewed Heidi Green for the job of legislative liaison, records show. "What is going on?" Green's email asked. "Why would I interview on August 25th if she got the job on the 18th???"

Who's Heidi Green, and why is she making Walker look so bad?

Green is a fundraiser for Republicans and charities who in the past has worked as a legislative aide in Wisconsin and a lobbyist in Illinois. She wrote Hansen follow-up emails after her interview, including one on Sept. 9 in which she said she was "disappointed I have not heard anything from you or your office."

Where are our righteous right wing conservative talkers? Guess a little self criticism might reign in the out of control extremism of their new tea party agenda.

Road Builders get Paid Off, Walker Plan By-passes Local Control and Bargain Public Employees for Costly Private companies.

Even one Republican is calling the plan a giveaway to special interests. After looking at the plan, one that doesn’t scrutinize the actual cost of privatization, it’s hard coming away with anything but a dirty feeling that this is only just the beginning. According to Democratic Rep. Peter Barca:

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca joined Sen. Mike Ellis in his call for the Legislature to reverse a Joint Finance Committee action to prohibit county highway departments from doing roadwork if it costs more than $100,000. The provision would force counties to contract this work out to private companies.  Barca agreed with Ellis that this would be bad for local governments and for Wisconsin taxpayers.

 “This motion is more bad news for those of us that believe in local control and I commend Sen. Ellis’ independence in seeking to reverse it,” Barca said. “We should trust local officials to make these contracting decisions and let them determine how to operate most efficiently for taxpayers … and this measure is a giveaway to special interests at the expense of the taxpayers.   

Nepotism, Cronyism without blinking an Eye, again: Kelli Thompson, daughter of Fmr.Gov. Tommy, new public defender.

Sure Kelli Thompson, former Gov. Tommy Thompson’s daughter,  appears qualified for her new appointment, but come on, when does the cronyism and nepotism stop with Scott Walker. Just a week ago Walker had appointed the wife of a former GOP governor to a state labor commission…Laurie McCallum. 

Wheelerreport: Kelli Thompson named State Public Defender. Public Defender Board selects long-time agency manager to lead … The Public Defender Board announced today the appointment of Kelli Thompson to the position of Wisconsin State Public Defender. Starting with the agency as a law school intern, Thompson has been with the agency for over 12 years. She has served as the Deputy State Public Defender for the past 7 years and as the Acting State Public Defender since January 2011.