One Wisconsin Now
Press Release

One Wisconsin Now Calls on Gov. Scott Walker to Host Wisconsin Town Hall

After Endless Invite-Only, Lobbyist-Riddled Events, Walker Tells Electeds at CPAC ‘Do What I Say, Not What I Do’

By - Feb 23rd, 2017 01:25 pm
Gov. Scott Walker. Photo from the State of Wisconsin.

Gov. Scott Walker. Photo from the State of Wisconsin.

MADISON, Wis. — Following remarks at CPAC2017, where Gov. Scott Walker is said to have told Congressional Republicans to “Ignore Protestors,” One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross called on the governor to host an actual town hall meeting in Wisconsin. Since his presidential campaign ended after 71 days in 2015, Gov. Walker has held invite-only listening sessions, populated by lobbyists and Walker campaign donors.

“We agree with Gov. Walker calling out Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator Ron Johnson to grow a spine and have some town halls here in Wisconsin,” said One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross. “We also think Gov. Walker should practice what he preaches and hold an actual town hall in Wisconsin that is open to the public.”

In July 2016, after Gov. Walker held his 50th invite-only event, One Wisconsin Now revealed numerous alarming details about the closed-door sessions, which exposed a massive effort of time and taxpayer resources to ensconce the Governor in favorable settings. In one unseemly instance, an insurance industry lobbyist solicited by Gov. Walker’s office for suggested attendees at the sessions took the opportunity to also mention he needed to confer with the administration on administrative rule of concern.

Records also revealed Gov. Walker and his staff tapped state regulatory agencies and information they collect about the businesses they regulate to generate attendee leads. Secretaries and staff of cabinet agencies like the Department of Health Services, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Workforce Development and the Department of Administration were directed to provide the Governor’s office with lists of people associated with businesses over which they have oversight or with whom they do business.

One Wisconsin Now also analyzed the campaign contributions of the Walker session attendees and found that people at sessions between January and March 2016 made nearly 4,000 contributions totaling over $1 million, overwhelmingly to Republicans and conservatives.

“Taxpayers have been footing the bill for Scott Walker and his family for 24 years,” said Ross. “He needs to stop whining about protests from six years ago and meet the people paying his salary.”

One Wisconsin Now is a statewide communications network specializing in effective earned media and online organizing to advance progressive leadership and values.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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6 thoughts on “One Wisconsin Now Calls on Gov. Scott Walker to Host Wisconsin Town Hall”

  1. Mark E. Bye says:

    What would Walker know about growing a spine? During the Act 10 protests, he hid like a scared little bitch in the tunnel system underneath the Capitol. Governor Derp sure wants Trumplestiltskin to pay some attention to him.

  2. Eric J says:

    Governor it’s time to come out of your shell and meet with all of the people of Wisconsin. Don’t worry if they ” rock the limousine ” you’re riding in . It won’t roll over.
    -From town halls held all across the country this past week you see the emotions and issues on display. ( They aren’t all ” paid lefty protestors / big union bosses “)
    -While you’re doing your appearances ask the people if we shouldn’t rule again in favor of the Kenosha casino.

  3. WashCoRepub says:

    TRANSLATION: “We’d like somewhere to assemble our shock troops to scream at Gov. Walker so we can videotape it and use it for fundraising.”

  4. AG says:

    How are they supposed to host these town hall sessions when their opponents don’t know how to properly conduct themselves in public? Meetings and town halls where attendees just shout down politicians people they don’t like are not productive.

  5. Vincent Hanna says:

    Ah yes defend the status quo AG. These politicians who are elected by the people are cowards for refusing to hold town halls, as even many Republicans like Justin Amash and Jeb Bush have acknowledged. Sorry if it’s uncomfortable to have to deal with angry constituents, but that’s part of your job, and elected officials get paid very well. So do your job. When it was tea partiers that were angry, conservatives sang a very different tune about this. Bunch of hypocrites.

  6. Eric J says:

    The last time “everyday” citizens saw Gov. Walker in person was likely at the Christmas dinner he helped serve in Milwaukee. No one was talking politics then & there . Why can’t he appear before people that are not on his selectively screened list ? ( I am sorry I do not own a business like Husco etc. for a captive ,predictable response audience )

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