Reduce power of next attorney-general after losing election
Legislative Summary: SB884: Eliminate the Office of the Solicitor General in the Department of Justice, which represents the state in certain cases on appeal in state and federal courts.
Analysis by The Capital Times:
This is the most controversial bill in the bunch altering the authority of the Department of Justice by stripping some powers from the office of the attorney general. One key change would allow legislators to hire their own attorneys at taxpayer expense
if sued in their official capacity. That measure is something Republicans wanted so they could be represented by Republican-leaning private attorneys rather than a Democratic attorney general.
Legislative Outcome:
Passed Senate 17-16-0 on Dec/4/18; Passed Assembly 57-26-12 on Dec/4/18; Signed by Governor Scott Walker on Dec/14/18
Avoid witch hunts: limit political corruption investigations
Q: Support Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations & unions? Views on Wisconsin campaign finance rules?
Tony Evers (D): Overturn Citizens United. Reverse Walker-supported law that limited political corruption investigations, doubled campaign contribution limits, & eased cooperation between candidates & outside groups.
Scott Walker (R): No public statement on Citizens United. To avoid "political witch hunts," he & allies pushed through a law to limit some corruption investigations.
See defense & criticism of his approach to campaign finance limits and these investigations.
A municipality may make available no more than 45 hours each week for in-person absentee voting for any statewide election
A municipality may hire individuals to assist in receiving absentee ballots in
person.
The state shall reimburse the municipality for 50% of the compensation paid to such individuals.
Excerpts from veto message: I am approving in-person absentee voting between Monday and Friday from 8 AM to 7 PM, and
prohibiting in-person absentee voting on legal holidays. I am vetoing hiring individuals to assist with in-person absentee voting. I object to a new state expenditure for a function traditionally performed by local governments. We should all be focused
on ensuring the integrity of the voting process by making it harder to cheat.
Legislative outcome: Bill passed Senate 17-16-0 on March 12; passed House 56-38-5 on March 20; vetoed by Governor Walker on March 27
Wisconsin "citizen filibuster" gave birth to Occupy movement
On Feb. 15, the longest budget hearing in the history of the State Legislature would soon claim a more ignominious place in history--as the moment that gave birth to the "Occupy" movement.
Taking testimony from the public, opponents of Act 10 called
a "citizen's filibuster." Using social media, the unions put out a call for people to come to the capitol and testify. They turned out more people than had ever been seen at a bill hearing.
The Democrats moved to a new hearing room and continued to
hear "testimony" throughout the night and into the morning. And once the protesters had spent one night in the capitol, they figured they could do it again the next night, and the next. They never left. The occupation had begun.
On Feb. 16, more people
showed up and joined the camp that was forming in the rotunda. The ranks of the occupiers grew with each passing day. While protesters chanted "Kill the bill!" outside my office, I remarked to reporters gathered inside, "Everyone has a right to be heard.
We passed legislation to prevent voter fraud by requiring voters to show photo identifications at the polls--a bill Republicans had worked to pass since 2003. As I signed the bill into law, the protesters chanted "Shame!"
and "Recall Walker!" outside my office. They weren't there for the voter ID bill; they were the same union protesters who followed me everywhere to protest Act 10.
Source: Unintimidated(Walker) p.215: Wisconsin Voting Records Act 23
, Nov 18, 2013
Recall election rejected big government interests & spending
On June 5th, voters in Wisconsin were asked to choose between going backwards to the days of double-digit tax increases, billion dollar budget deficits and record job losses.
Or moving forward with reforms that lowered the tax burden, balanced the
budget and helped small businesses create more jobs.
On June 5th, voters in my swing state were asked to decide if they wanted elected officials who measure success by how many people are dependent on the government.
Or if they wanted leaders who
believe success is measured by how many people are not dependent on the government, because they control their own destiny in the private sector.
On June 5th, voters in Wisconsin got to determine who was in charge--was it
the big government special interests in Washington? Or the hard-working tax payers of our state?
The good news is that--on June 5th--the hard-working taxpayers won.
Cutting the cost of government enables us to save jobs
The Legislature helped us save 1,500 middle-class jobs by moving forward this week with the budget repair. The state will now be able to realize $30 million in savings to balance the budget and allow
1,500 state employees to keep their jobs. The reforms contained in this legislation, which require modest health care and pension contributions from all public employees, will help put Wisconsin on a path to fiscal sustainability.
The first act I signed as governor eliminated the taxes on health savings accounts, making health care more affordable for small business owners and family farmers. This change was a long time coming for Wisconsin and brings us into line with the rest of
the nation. Our second act reduced frivolous lawsuits in Wisconsin. The litigation environment in a state is one of the key drivers for business. Now, we've turned the page on lawsuit reform and offer one more sign that Wisconsin is open for business.
Source: 2011 Wisconsin State of the State Address
, Feb 1, 2011