Scott Walker's Record of Failures – Corruption

Scott Walker Takes Phone Call From "Phony" Koch Brother, Engages in Illegal Activity

Amidst growing protests in the days following the introduction of his union-busting budget repair bill, Scott Walker's administration limited entrance to the Capitol and shut down the Legislative hotline, denying thousands of citizens easy, convenient and effective ways to communicate with their elected officials.

At the same time that Scott Walker and his Republican cronies were ignoring the people of Wisconsin, Walker found the time to take a phone call from whom he thought was David Koch, a wealthy out-of-state financier of conservative causes who made contributions to Walker's gubernatorial campaign totaling $43,000. In 2010, David Koch also gave a $1 million contribution to the Republican Governors Association, which spent $3.4 million on television ads in support of Walker's campaign.

Some of the revelations of Walker's call with the phony Koch brother, on state time and using state resources, are as follows:

• That he had consulted with staff members, including Cabinet officials, to consider "planting" troublemakers to incite violence in the peaceful crowds, deciding not to only because as "that would scare the public into thinking that maybe the governor has to settle to avoid all of these problems." This coordinated activity constitutes a conspiracy to recklessly endanger public safety.
• That he had the Attorney General's office "looking into" strategies to force the Democratic senators to return from Illinois, where they fled to deny a quorum and prevent the passage of Walker's bill. This constitutes a misuse of the independently elected office of the Attorney General for primarily political motivations.
• That he would send out 5,000-6,000 layoff notices to public sector employees in an attempt to "ratchet up" pressure on the Democratic Senators. This use of threat against, and intimidation of, public sector employees for political purposes constitutes an abuse of power.
• Walker requested that "Koch" run ads in Republican swing districts, which constitutes illegal third party coordination.

Scott Walker, Aides Subjects of Widening Corruption Probe

Scott Walker is embroiled in an ever-widening and unprecedented corruption probe. An investigation being conducted by the Milwaukee County District Attorney seems to be focused on illegal campaign activity by Walker's county staffers and to be growing closer to Gov. Walker and his inner circle by the day. ["Walker says he was unaware of aide's immunity deal," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/27/2011]

• Walker Chief of Staff Keith Gilkes steps down ["Keith Gilkes resigns as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker chief of staff," Green Bay Press Gazette, 9/30/2011]
• Walker Spokesman Cullen Werwie granted immunity for testimony in John Doe proceedings ["Governor's spokesman granted immunity," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/23/2011]
• State and federal law enforcement officers conducted a raid at the home of longtime Walker aide Cindy Archer, seizing items that included computer equipment. ["FBI seizes items at home of former top aide to Gov. Walker," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/14/2011]
• Walker donor William Gardner is indicted on multiple felonies for illegal campaign contributions to Scott Walker. ["Railroad CEO charged with campaign law violations," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4/11/2011]

Walker's Proposal Allows No-Bid Sale of State Property

Walker's "budget repair bill" originally proposed to sell 37 state-owned power plants to private contractors without bids or review by the state's Public Service Commission, even going so far to let the state determine what a "fair selling price" for the plants would be, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

["Walker administration still intends to sell state power plants," Wisconsin State Journal, 3/19/2011] 

Walker Uses County Time, Money For Political Campaign Purposes

Several Milwaukee County supervisors filed a complaint against Walker in June 2009 after he took $2,800 from AirTran Airways to sponsor his annual motorcycle tour. The complaint alleged the trip breached state ethics and campaign laws because it was a corporate donation for what was a political trip. ["AirTran sponsorship of Walker's motorcycle trip draws complaints," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/19/2009]

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