The High Cost of Low Elected Expectations

By Jeff Simpson

I brought you my thoughts of what happened in the special elections yesterday and how to start fixing them in the future.   As I was going through the articles regarding the elections, something hit me that did not stand out at first.  

In the 69th, to replace dirty little Scott Suder,  republican Bob Kulp won.    Now we know that he will not be the brightest bulb on the legislative Christmas tree already but this one made me wonder.

See dirty little Scott Suder knew that when the United Sportsmen calamity came to light he had better be as far away from elected office as he could get.   DL Suder also knew that his friends Robin Vos and Scott Walker would give him cover to get out of there, because in the end he was giving hundreds of thousands of dollars of our taxpayer money to his friends, but they were also their friends.    Suderman just was willing to take the heat, as long as he got a nice promotion out of the deal.    

In recruiting his replacement, he found someone who would not upset the apple cart with any new thoughts or ideas and picked Bob Kulp to replace him.  

Contrast that with Kulp, who had created a campaign Facebook page the weekend before Suder even officially announced he was leaving the Assembly. Kulp also received the support of top Assembly Republicans, and Walker spoke in support of Kulp at a Marshfield fundraiser last week that drew hundreds of supporters.

However this from the person who ran a "jobs" campaign:

 Kulp said his first priority is figuring out what is stagnating job growth in the state.

So Mr. Jobs, in the party of jobs, who has been a candidate to replace dirty little suder for months, who knows he is the best person to represent the 69th assembly district in Madison, will soon get around to figuring out why Scott Walker has not created any jobs yet.  

Does anyone vet these people?   Is it any wonder our economy is a disaster? 




(Notice Luke Hilgemann in the background,  whispering in Kulp's ear.  As long as Kulp is an elected official, Hilgemann will be whispering in his ear.   Luke wants his $500,000 back)   

Ken Slezak for 69th Assembly District

This from Ken Slezak, who is the Democratic Candidate for the 69th District:

Every generation tends to believe there is no hope for the next generation. After my father made the decision to close his small rural store in Minnesota, I was lamenting the ending of two generations of family ownership. My dad, a World War II veteran, simply said, “Everything changes.”

Nostalgia is comforting. My wife, Marilynn, and I are now enjoying the fruits of a full life. As a veteran, I remember the good times with my buddies in the Army. I also remember those who never had the opportunity to enjoy a full life. Marilynn remembers the joys of teaching and raising a family, and only occasionally reminds me of the pain of giving birth.

We have an obligation to ensure the next generation has the same opportunity as our generation. God, motherhood and apple pie are nice campaign slogans, but they just aren’t good enough.

Wisconsin consistently provides high-quality workers to the workforce. We must make sure the Wisconsin education system continues to be among the top three nationally. We must ensure affordable, high-quality health care for all our citizens.

Wisconsin is known as the Dairy State, and dairy is still our No. 1 industry. Increasing state funding for rural roads is as important to Wisconsin as our interstate system.

I am not for big government. I am not for no government. I am for good government. Once again, I am ready to serve my friends and neighbors. I hope you’ll vote for me for the 69th Assembly District seat on Nov. 19.

Ken Slezak of Neillsville is the Democratic candidate for the 69th Assembly District.

Ken Slezak is married to Marilynn and has three daughters that they raised together in Wisconsin's 69th Assembly District. He's a veteran of the US Army and owned a small business for over three decades. He enjoys hunting and fishing in the woods and streams of Wisconsin and is a member of American Legion Post 73; Disabled American Veterans Chapter 57, the Neillsville Kiwanis, and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Neillsville. Ken believes that resources like rural roads and water are as vital to our businesses as the interstate and will fight in Madison to protect them. Please vote for Ken Slezak Tuesday, November 19th.

"Like" Ken Slezak facebook page here, Ken's Act Blue page is here!

The last person that the 69th sent to Madison, Republican Scott Suder, ended up trying to give hundreds of thousands of dollars to his friends on his way out of town.  

 Its time that the 69th was actually represented, with honesty and integrity, in Madison and Ken Slezak is THE person to do it! 

Tweet Of The Year!

By Jeff Simpson


Everyone has heard about the Scott Suder/Scott Walker/United Sportsman scandal by now.  Here at CogDIs, we also explained how Scott Suder's former chief of staff, and current AFP-WI Koch Boy Luke Hilgemann was knee deep in the scandal and was going to fleece the Wisconsin Taxpayers of hundreds of thousands of dollars that he planned on parking right in his own bank account! 

When I shared this story on twitter, this response is what I woke up to this morning:

@JeffSimpson7 @LHilgemann is a great American&fights 4 us all.Your horrid blog is like reading the onion comical!Luke keep up the hard work!
— Claire Milbrandt (@clairemilbrandt) October 5, 2013

Yes getting paid $500,000 of Wisconsin taxpayer dollars to "train" young hunters in Wisconsin, when you live in Virginia is the mark of a true patriot.  If only we could all serve our country so honorably!

You too can thank Mr. Hilgemann for his service and for volunteering to personally watch over OUR taxpayer dollars from afar!  

@Lhilgemann or luke.hilgemann@gmail.com    

Luke Hilgemann Says "Bring It"

By Jeff Simpson


Then runs for the hills and hides!

Our friends at PRWatch came across an email where Luke Hilgemann, then state director for Americans for (their own) Prosperity, wrote saying if there was going to bad press  --- "Bring It.".

An August 28 email from Hilgemann, regarding the bad press from the paper and CMD (and sent one day after CMD's article), lays out some of the strategy. “Let me be as direct as I can with this recent attention to USW… BRING IT!”

Then we found out that Luke was a member of the United Sportsmen, attempted theft of Wisconsin taxpayer money and learned that what Mr. Hilgemann meant was "bring me as much Wisconsin taxpayer money are you can."

Typically, after Hilgemann's macho Bring it, line and after getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar, he has mysteriously disappeared from view!

Hilgemann, Suder's former top aide, hasn't responded to repeated requests for interviews over the United Sportsmen grant. But privately, he wasn't shy about giving his thoughts on the matter.

The effect of light shining on Hilgemann, appears to have the same effect as some other species!

Here is an exclusive picture of Hilgemann addressing a Kathy Nickolaus appreciation party, where he informs everyone in the room - "Sorry about your kids public schools, but we need to cut their aid so I can be rewarded for all of my time playing the good soldier."

In the "taxed enough already", small Government, free market AFP, this massive taxpayer cash grab was rewarded with a promotion!  They felt if he could fleece $250,000 a year from Wisconsin taxpayers, imagine how much he could get from the Federal Government - so off to Virginia he went!


Here is Hilgemann, saying good bye to his followers,  as he leaves for greener pastures.  Ironically every green t-shirt stands for $10,000 of WI taxpayer money Scott Suder had planned on handing him to make the move easier.

Scott Suder IS the New Wisconsin

By Jeff Simpson

One of my absolute favorite writers in WI is Ruth Conniff, who recently received a well deserved promotion to editor of The Progressive Magazine.  

I usually love her work, and make a point to read all of her columns. 

Today I vehemently disagree with what she wrote about the recent United Sportsmen controversy.  

What does United Sportsmen have to do with all that?

Since it was formed two years ago, the group has spent a lot of money lobbying for a wolf hunt, easier access to wetlands by developers, and the massive open-pit mine proposed by Gogebic Taconite in northern Wisconsin -- including a measure to keep hunters and other outdoorsmen off the land where GTAC wants to build its mine.

Doesn't sound like much of a conservation group, does it?

Oh, and it sent out a mailing, along with Americans for Prosperity, supporting Republicans in the 2011 recall elections.

Former Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder, who is about to start making a big salary as a Walker appointee to the Public Service Commission, carefully crafted grant language to exclude real conservation groups from getting the $500,000 state grant. If you were a chapter of a larger, national organization, you were not eligible for the money.

Suder rigged the grant for United Sportsmen. But also, by writing the rules the way he did, he jeopardized $28 million a year in federal wildlife management funds.

Talk about not upholding Wisconsin values.

This is where I disagree.  

This is EXACTLY what Wi values are now.

Until we prove otherwise in an election, reward donors, punish enemies and grab for taxpayer cash are the new WI values.  

Good Government, responsibility, fiscal conservatism, bipartisanship, wanting to benefit all, hard work and earning your pay, are all Wisconsin values of years past. 

As they say that ship has sailed.  

If you don't believe me, just do an Open Records request for a typical say in Scott Suder's life. 

The lobbyist for a self-described sportsmen group offered free fishing excursions to then-Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder just days before an affiliate of the group secured a now-canceled $500,000 grant from the state, newly released records show.

Suder, an Abbotsford Republican, went on the Lake Michigan outing with the head of the United Sportsmen of Wisconsin in August, about 21/2 months after he engineered money for the grant into the state budget. Also scheduled to be on the Aug. 22-23 trip were a lobbyist and a former lobbyist for the National Rifle Association. The former NRA lobbyist, Darren LaSorte, is also a board member of the foundation affiliated with United Sportsmen.

Don't worry Ms. Conniff, Rep. Nick Milroy agrees with you.   

"Public officials are held to a higher standard," Milroy said. "The people who elect us expect more of us than this."

No Mr. Milroy, unfortunately the people of Wisconsin no longer do.  

Tony Galli

UGGG.

We all know that Scott Walker is in trouble. His poll numbers are tanking. His absolute love of cronyism at the expense of the Wisconsin taxpayer was perfectly defined recently. Add to that, almost daily we get stories of how Scott Walker is spending unlimited Wisconsin taxpayers money on his presidential run.

This slow descent into Scott Walker's unemployment demanded action. So in steps one of the right wings "news"(term used loosely) divisions - Wisconsin Reporter. Of course not being very creative on the right, they went back to their old stand by --- They attacked a teacher! See while trolling left leaning blogs(hey guys :)) they came upon troll gold! They found Art teacher Kati Walsh's blog. Someone actually dared to criticize Scott Walker.

The problem is Ms. Walsh perfectly explained the situation and context so end of story.

So the rest of the class started drawing their own cartoons and they turned very political. They have very strong feelings about Scott Walker. The cartoons started getting a little inappropriate so at this point, we stopped drawing and discussed what a political cartoon was. We also talked about how you can disagree with someone and not wish them harm. It was also important for them to understand the role art plays in sharing one’s opinion and ideas! Wow, I did not plan for THIS intense lesson with kinders through 2nd graders!

Unless you are desperate.

The Walker crew ARE desperate, so they had to create a story. This from Ryan Ekvall the original "reporter" (term used loosely).

Kati Walsh, an elementary art teacher at the Madison Metropolitan School District in July posted some of her students’ drawings of Gov. Scott Walker in jail. Walsh suggests her young Rembrandts’ ideas for their sketches popped up out of thin air.

Woodward and Bernstein he isnt.

The sad thing in today's Wisconsin, attacking our public school teachers by the well funded Bradley machine is to be expected. What followed next is not.





Apparently deciding that a 1st grader's artwork is newsworthy, WKOW's Tony Galli jumped on the story! Tony Galli, picked up on a non story to the great glee of the far right Wisconsin Reporter, and then if that was not bad enough, the ONE person that Galli opted to talk to about this was even farther to the right, former Scott Walker staffer, now communications director for Maciver Institute - Nick Novak. Apparently no one from PETA was available to give a balanced view to Macivers.

A quick look at Novak's resume and we see that apparently , the former intern for "friends of scott walker" and regional field director for the Republican party is what passes as an education expert in Galli's world! Apparently looking at MMSD policy was too much of a task for Mr. Galli:

Controversial Issues In the study of controversial issues, provision is made in the Madison Metropolitan School District for the pupil to study under competent instruction in an atmosphere as free as possible from bias and prejudice. In the teaching of controversial issues in the Madison Metropolitan School District, the teacher: Develops a classroom atmosphere in which pupils feel free to express opinions and to challenge ideas; Teaches respect for the opinions of others and develops skills of critical thinking; Chooses suitable instructional materials presenting data on varying points of view on issues being discussed; Demonstrates through interpretations and actions rational methods of arriving at decisions; Maintains at all times a decent respect for the dignity and worth of each individual; Undertakes the presentation of a controversial issue to pupils only after careful study and planning; Confers with the principal or staff specialist if there is doubt regarding the appropriateness of discussing a controversial issue; Determines whether or not an issue raised by pupils is to be considered at the moment it arises; Guides discussion toward constructive courses of action available within our framework of values; Keeps in mind that the teacher's position is as a moderator and participant in the classroom forum; and Withholds the expression of personal opinion unless asked a direct question.

Then of course continue to read the policy and you come upon this.

The BUILDING PRINCIPAL shall: Approve the use of resource persons in the school; Handle complaints concerning controversial issues; and Consult with other PRINCIPALS in an effort to be consistent.

Apparently they left line item d. out of their policy

d. Run to far right ideologue website to get their incredibly biased view with absolutely no information of the story whatsoever.

Mr. Galli, I am sure you are busy checking Breitbardt's site for your next story, and too busy to do any actual reporting here, so let me help you. Here is the contact information for the members of the Madison Metropolitan School District, who would have been much more relevant to talk to, than Brian Fraley's cabana boy.

One last piece of advice. Saying she signed the recall petition is relevant how? You might as well add what color shirt she was wearing that day because it holds the same relevance!

 Isthmus once called Tony Galli - "Far and away, Tony Galli is the best investigative journalist in town,". O how the might have fallen.

Finally Mr. Galli, if you want to cover some more work done by elementary kids let me know. I will offer up my kids homework for you to report on. She just received a "super job" sticker on her math sheet and if you look real close, the Apple sticker her teacher placed on her sheet kind of looks like Andre Jacque. You have my permission to run it to Nick Novak and get his expert opinion!

Cross posted at Forward Lookout! 

Robin Vos Runs!

By Jeff Simpson

NO...Robin Vos is not running from his oath as a married man that he swore before God twice(at least) - He already has done that twice(at least)!  Nor is he looking to run for Governor....he knows he has no chance!

No Robin Vos is running from responsibility, again.  He is trying very hard to distance himself(and his party) from the debacle that is the United Sportsmen Scandal.

However, it is not working.  As typical, when Robin Vos speaks, ethics go flying out the window! 

First some background on United Sportsmen.

Scott Suder wrote a grant of WI taxpayer money into the last budget.  This money was written specifically for one group, a bunch of old Suder Staffers and republican donors.  It was for the sum of $500,000 and it was also written to give this group a sum of $250,000 annually for as far as we could see.

The problem was, that as is typical for the WI republicans, the former Suder staffers were not qualified in any sort of useful talent to actually justify such a payment, so Suder disguised it as a fishing and hunting grant.  Then Suder resigned his position to take another government position to double dip and help pad his WI taxpayer provided pension by joining the Walker Administration.  

Almost from the minute he wrote this horrendous piece of WI taxpayer theft, (it was debated all of 7 minutes then quickly passed by the Joint Finance Committee),  there were major problems.

First, as is par for the course for Wisconsin republicans, they lied from the start.  First about their tax exempt status. 

 - A sportsmen's group is apologizing for misleading lawmakers and the public about its federal nonprofit status in winning a controversial $500,000 grant to promote hunting and fishing. 

The Journal Sentinel reported on Friday that the United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation Inc. appeared to be improperly claiming a federal tax-exempt status during the process of receiving a grant to promote hunting and fishing in the state.

 OOPS....But whats a little lying to the legislature amongst friends, because there is more.   Then Suder said the legislation was incredibly important for the future of hunting in WISCONSIN.

In an interview, Suder said the grant would help to avert a "looming crisis" for hunting and fishing and ensure the future of those pastimes in the state.

 The problem here?  His good friend, the former head of AFP-WI and former Suder staffer Luke Hilgemann does not EVEN LIVE IN WISCONSIN!

Hard to ward off a "looming crisis" in WI when you live in Burke, Virginia.

Not ones to be deterred by minor details such as this, they plodded on.  As regular readers know, there is ALWAYS more. 

The head of United Wisconsin, the hunting training experts, Andy Pantzlaff, was cited for illegal hunting AND lied to the DNR about it. 

OOPS. 

This turned out to be the final straw, as hard as he tried to give his friends $500,000 of OUR money, after this latest guffaw, the 2016 pretend presidential contender had to draw a line somewhere.   The final straw was probably main cheerleader the JSONLINE editorial board even asked their boy Scott Walker to rescind the money.

 As the saying goes, when you lose the JSONLINE editorial board....

So finally Cathy Stepp had to be drug, kicking and screaming, to stop the ridiculous payment. 

In a statement, Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp said she spoke with Walker on Thursday and he canceled the grant to United Sportsmen, which had been aimed at promoting the state's sporting heritage. Instead, Walker ordered the DNR to find other means to achieve that goal.

"We also agreed that it is essential for any organization that receives financial support from the state to have the trust of the public in its capabilities to produce concrete results. Even though United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation Inc. did and does still meet the statutory criteria established by the Legislature for the grant award, the governor asked me to not finalize the grant award. I will honor this request and fully support this decision," Stepp said.

DNR Secretary Stepp, really really wanted to give them the money.  I get it though, they are all friends and im sure her friends at United Sportsmen already had that money spent!   

Its a tough thing for people like Hilgemann, havin to tell his wife the vacation to Hawaii this winter has to be called off for now.  

Now back to Robin Vos, who took time away from his paramour and attacking the UW  System to weigh in( Those paying attention will notice, that the longer Robin Vos has power the more arrogant he gets, but thats another blog).

What did Robin Vos have to say?  Exactly what you would think he had to say.   It was not his fault!

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said former Rep. Scott Suder, who recently stepped down as majority leader to take a job with the Public Service Commission, took the lead in adding the grant to the 2013-15 state budget.
Gov. Scott Walker asked DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp late Thursday to rescind the grant.
Vos said he “was not directly involved” in adding the language, which resulted in only one group, which has political connections to Suder, applying for the grant.
 

Vos is only the leader of the party and the head of the power joint finance committee that passed the amendment allowing this theft of WI taxpayer money but he was "not involved".   I'm guessing the party tries to cut him out of as many decisions as possible.    The party of "personal responsibility" is trying desperately to shirk the blame.   I am surprised in the article that Vos did not find a way to blame Obamacare.  

The light shone on the cockroachs and everyone went scrambling and two people who deserved much scorn and have escaped all scrutiny are Neil Kedzie and Al Ott.  

The five-member Sporting Heritage Committee is scheduled to meet Thursday in Madison to review the application.

The committee is composed of Gunderson, DNR executive assistant; Sen. Neal Kedzie (R-Elkhorn), chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee; Rep. Al Ott (R-Forest Junction), chairman of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee; and Mark LaBarbera of Hazel Green and Bill Torhorst of Oregon, both appointed to the committee by the DNR.

 Both of these "fiscal conservatives" could not give our money to their friends fast enough, no questions asked!  

My dream is that maybe one day, a reporter in the state will point out how truly not conservative, the Wisconsin "conservatives" are!

The Wisconsin republican party are NOT "fiscal conservatives", they are fiscal opportunists and its costing us all dearly!