Commission rules Walker's e-mail didn't break lawsFor background, see my previous posts here and here.
The Milwaukee County Election Commission unanimously ruled Thursday that County Executive Scott Walker violated no campaign laws when his office urged potential voters to approve a referendum on a borrowing plan.
Commission Chairman Douglas Haag said elected officials are expected to provide constituents with information on important issues. [. . .] Commissioner Jack Melvin III said that while Walker used a public employee for a political purpose, the e-mail was no different than an ordinary press release expressing the executive's opinion. [. . .]
County Supervisor John Weishan Jr. and three other supervisors raised questions last week about whether Walker's actions crossed the line from education to express advocacy that courts have frowned upon. [. . .]
Weishan said he was not surprised at the ruling because he said Haag had appeared to prejudge the case in public comments last week.
Yeah, this is just "ordinary." Remember what happened: "At issue is the legality of Walker's use of office staff to send e-mails urging a 'yes' vote on the April 5 referendum on his $261 million borrowing plan involving pension funds. The non-binding ballot question produced a 57% negative vote on the idea." That doesn't sound like "information on important issues." This sounds like specific issue advocacy, and that is not kosher. I don't pay my taxes to further Walker: Tosa Ranger's political ambitions or personal agenda.
And this: "Election Commission Chairman Doug Haag, a Walker appointee, immediately pronounced his preliminary opinion that Walker had violated nothing. Haag said he had not read Walker's written request and was unfamiliar with the facts but felt that there likely was no problem."
And, wouldn't you know it, there wasn't! Lurvely.
No comments:
Post a Comment