“Wisconsin is Open for Corruption”
Republicans Pass Corrupt Politician Protection Act
MADISON – Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) today released the following statement on the Assembly Republicans’ passage of the Corrupt Politician Protection Act (AB 68):
“Today, Republicans took the first steps to allow Wisconsin to be open for corruption.
“By passing the shameful Corrupt Politician Protection Act, Republicans are making sure that future political crooks can skate by knowing it will be very difficult to investigate and even harder to prosecute them.
“Wisconsin has had a history of clean, open and transparent government and has long used our John Doe tools to root out corrupt politicians. With the elimination of these tools it begs the questions: What are Republicans trying to hide, and who are they trying to protect?
“As if today wasn’t bad enough, tomorrow Republicans will push through bills to make it even easier for corruption by turning Wisconsin’s nonpartisan government watchdogs into partisan lapdogs. Equally bad, the new government oversight committees will have to ask the partisan-controlled Joint Finance Committee for approval for investigations of serious ethical and election violations. Republicans will also vote to give the super wealthy and special interests even greater influence over our elections and our government without any transparency.
“Republicans continue to show they don’t care about ordinary people in Wisconsin. It is clearer than ever that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is a complete abuse of power that instead of working to improve economic security for hardworking Wisconsinites, Republicans are dead set on allowing Wisconsin to be open for corruption and more able to sell off our government to the highest bidder.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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If this wasn’t really happening, I wouldn’t believe it. I too would like to know who they are protecting by passing this law. It certainly isn’t the general public. I used to have pride in Wisconsin’s open government laws, but not any more. But for the rest of you out there, you don’t get to escape the John Doe process. This is favoritism only for politicians. To all of you who support this bill, you will never again have fair elections in Wisconsin. Remember that when things don’t go your way, this is what you wanted.
If Republicans had attempted to put forward AB68 and AB388 in 2014, and if Right to Work Law and Prevailing Wage changes were also attempted in 2014 would Scott Walker have been reelected? We are stuck with majority TeaParty Rulers ramming through their agenda with as little information and as little time as possible for the public to react. Public input is neither considered or wanted. Wisconsin TeaParty leaders don’t pass the smell test. Guess we will just have to hold are noses until we can vote them out.
I’m not saying that I agree with the bills… but at the same time I don’t think they’re doing this to protect anyone or because they are corrupt. I believe these bills are purely a reaction to the John Doe investigations that they believe were an abuse of the system. When things get pushed too far you tend to see a reaction… now we’ve got one.
This has really brought out the worst in everyone, unfortunately. The rhetoric is out of control. Democrats essentially say this guarantees Wisconsin will be as corrupt as it gets overnight. Republicans have played the Nazi card, which is the surest way to lose an argument. What a mess.
@AG (shock) you don’t agree with the bill but, you don’t think they’re corrupt or trying to protect anyone?? Do you think it’s ok for them to “react” by cloaking themselves in secrecy to do whatever they please? Last I checked the ONLY reason they are in office is because they were elected by the people. THE PEOPLE is who they work for & without transparency you don’t know what they’re doing & for whom. The fact that they come up with these types of bill & pass them says THEY ARE CORRUPT.