Will Wisconsin Collective Bargaining Be Heard Again Before Supreme Court?
Will Justice David Prosser try to strangle another member of the Court as tensions mount over collective bargaining?
Will Michael Gableman feel any sense of shame and remorse for his actions which leads to the story today out of Dane County? Will Gableman, who I contend is more intellectually comfortable with crayons than legal briefs, even feel a tinge of guilt for being on the Supreme Court, and well above his capabilities as a person?
So many questions.
This is a most remarkable story, and one that has huge ramifications for the state and the political environment. As with almost every other turn this year that has created all sorts of political chaos, this latest episode in Wisconsin again demonstrates the GOP is the root cause of the problems.
If the Republicans would just accept a fair and ethical way to proceed with the conduct of their offices, be it on the Supreme Court or in the Governor’s Office, these matters would never have happened.
I made it clear how I felt about the latest ethical problems with Gableman, and that there was reason for concern with his actions.
But due to greedy power plays, and over-reaches Wisconsin is once more in the midst of chaos over the collective bargaining bill.
The Dane County district attorney is considering asking the state Supreme Court to reopen his case over collective bargaining legislation without Justice Michael Gableman after learning that Gableman received two years of free legal service from an attorney involved in the case.
“We’re taking a hard look at it,” District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said Thursday. “I don’t think we have all the facts, but the ones we do have are concerning.”
Ozanne, a Democrat, said he would make a decision on what to do quickly, but declined to provide a more specific time frame.
The law firm Michael Best & Friedrich recently disclosed Gableman did not pay for legal work the firm did for him from July 2008 to July 2010 as Gableman fought an ethics charge. They had a deal that said the firm would get paid only if Gableman prevailed in the ethics case and was able to persuade the state to pay his attorney fees.
The Supreme Court split 3-3 last year on the ethics charge. That meant Gableman was not found to have violated the ethics code, but because he did not win he was prevented from asking for legal fees from the state.
Craig,
You missed the part of my comment when I stated…”Scott Walker did not campaign on ending collective bargaining in 2010, as he knew there was no way he could have been elected had he done so’
There was a political power grab after he won election, and the electorate is not pleased with that type of behavior, regardless of the party that does it.
The process of government matters, and I write of that often. That is one of the major reasons I support the recall of Walker.
That you believe the economic numbers Walker uses for his reasoning to attack unions does not make them correct. There was no reason to go after union members as they are not the reason for the fiscal problems the state faces. That is a fact.
You seen not to know the midlle class was created in this nation due to unions. That all workers in the nation have gained from unions (thanks to them for the weekend) seems also not to be on your radar.
I am always amused how the ones that should be pressing for economic justice, based on their own economic placement, are often swayed by the conservative rhetoric to work against their own interests.
So if you know Walker will be recalled, does it matter if a campaign on ending collective bargaining was started and approved on walker’s first week in office or at the end of his normal term? Ending it now only saved many more dollars for the state that much sooner. No new taxes and no new leverage in the statehouse for the boys and girls in blue.
I’m guessing Walker’s replacement will pile on the taxes and cow town to the union weenies as they slit their own throats with less jobs, less employment, less personal income.
The fleecing of the so called middle income, working families continues with the liberal mind set. Every family is a working family regardless of income. Don’t give me that bleeding heart crud from the left. That’s hardly what I call uniting together.
Truth is ‘you guys’ don’t have a better idea. And it showed in the mid term elections. You have no answer after Walker…I think Walker will be re-elected.
skip.
Craig,
Let me try to explain this again.
Scott Walker did not campaign on ending collective bargaining in 2010, as he knew there was no way he could have been elected had he done so. In mid-February 2011 on a Friday Walker announced his plan to attack collective bargaining and wanted the legislature to act on it by the following Thursday. With two weekend days included, one of the most audacious policy mutilations in Wisconsin history was to have been announced, acted on, and passed in less than week.
The only way for the people of the state to be made aware of and able to respond to this over-reach and political power-play by Walker was for the Democrats to slow down the process. I applauded their move to Illinois, and know many in the state that strongly supported them then, and now.
It was not illegal in any sense of the word. Quite the opposite. These elected officials were doing their duty, and earning their pay by allowing more of an understanding of what Walker was trying to pull.
Elected officials, by the way, are not unionized, as you seem to think in your comment. Furthermore elected officials in the Wisconsin Legislature are not overly paid. You have to be kidding me. I have advocated for higher pay for members of the legislature on this blog, and also have asked that per deims be better regulated as a means to increase pay.
I know Scott Walker will be recalled.
Concerning the liberals who fled Wisconsin to wait in Illinois…in the private sector if one fails to report to work for three unexcused days, then they just automatically terminated themselves.
So how come these folks still have their jobs in the Statehouse? I don’t get it.
Are these people above the law? Or just unionized? I guess no law exists saying they have to come to work in the Statehouse. After all they were only elected and highly over paid with wage and benefits.
Let them stay home. Fine with me. I was wondering, “What good did running away to Illinois do? It did not stop the vote. Which by way was the same method used to change the law by the liberals years ago when they wanted to implement something. Now the other side uses it and the liberals cry foul? I don’t think so.
I think this agenda to recall Walker is going to be fought in the courts for a very, very long time.
skip.
While I wouldn’t normally encourage anyone to not vote, if one is really concerned about the cost of an election then they perhaps they should do their part to help keep the cost down…
Shouldn’t Ozanne be proseucting Michael Best for bribing a judge? Look at the law, it seems right on point. Then when that cheap suit folds he can talk about Gableman and we’ll find out exactly what’s going on here. Democrats seem too timid to notice this isn’t just some ethics thing, this is felonies.
We shall see what happens. I think those elected and up for recall will not loose at the ballet box. Yes I’m green when it comes to politics and I shoot from the hip. I think it is good to go with your gut feelings. I really don’t know nor follow all the detailed procedures that you just showered me with and that is fine. I don’t care.
Generally we are in this mess because liberals spend more then the state brings in…how are we going to pay for it? How can you defend this? It can’t be any more clear then this. Can it? Shall we increase taxes and keep following programs that cost plenty and deliver zero benefits? Are we going to drive more business out of the state like Illinois and Michigan has done so? Have you heard that The Chicago Merchandise Mart is considering moving South into Indiana to find tax relief? By the way why do you think Subaru built the plant in Indiana and not Illinois or Wisconsin? And why did Palmer Johnson Yachts sail their boats into Indiana waters before turning the boats over to the owners…to escape excessive taxes imposed by Wisconsin on $44 million dollar yachts. Do you get the general idea what your party has done to the state?
I think Gov Walker is right for the state and I believe that the numbers will bear this out in any election. I seem to remember the mid-term as being a clean sweep for Conservatives. Not so much the state of Wisconsin but the country as a whole is Conservative. And I think Conservatives are pretty silent until they vote. I can’t wait.
Craig,
I have to get tough here on you and your comments that fly in the face of common sense. I have every respect for your freedom to express ideas, but this time I need to really cut to the core.
Lets get a few things straightened out for you.
The cost of democracy is sometimes high, and that is the price we pay to have this place where we can recall those elected officials who have betrayed their office..
That Walker never told the electorate his plans in the 2010 campaign, and then once elected over-reached and played his power politics on an electorate that was not interested in his assault does then not make the citizens the ones to blame. You have a bizarre way to lay the blame for bad behavior.
I know that some conservatives are trying to use the cost of the recall as a means to undermine it. Well if you think the recall is too costly I suggest you tell Walker that he might stop whoring for money from his conservative brethren.
Meanwhile the rest of the citizens of this state who will not stop and ponder our navels while the ass-wipes in your party rape the citizenry. We will continue to mount this campaign with spines of steel and retake this state.
I know you are aware of this, and are pissed. Tough.
I might also suggest that you take a minute and get caught up with civics.
The recall election has nothing to do with the November contests. You state “Just a few more months of ??? and then another election” Yes, another election, but not for governor. You do understand the role of a recall election, and how it differs from regular scheduled elections, right?
You also state “This is going to slow everything down and no bills will be introduced or passed. Hummmmmmm”
Really…..you think that a recall election will slow the LRB from drafting bills or the elected ones in Madison from following through with constituents or lobbyists on issues? Really!!????
Are you new to politics?
Next, There are no floor sessions during the summer months of that year in the cycle….as November elections approach and the members of the legislature are back in their districts campaigning.
Finally you somehow think that campaign money used on this recall, if not used for ads or lit drops would wind up in local units of government. You write, “That’s $10 to $12 million not going to police and fire units” Really???? This is how you think?
Now I hope you can rest more easy about the ass kicking conservatives are about to receive from a very pissed off electorate.
Eventually sometime late this summer, when folks are on vaction, it’ll work it’s way through the court system and then we will have a state wide election costing $10 to $12 million. That’s $10 to $12 million not going to police and fire units. And for what? Just a few more months of ??? and then another election. I don’t see any gain here for the liberals wanting this recall election…and what if Gov. Walker is re~elected? This is going to slow everything down and no bills will be introduced or passed. Hummmmmmm imagine that.