Wednesday, March 31, 2010

And Still There Are No Answers

Walker Stonewalls on Rape Allegations

MADISON — He is the executive of Milwaukee County, but several weeks into allegations of rape and abuse at his Mental Health Complex, Scott Walker continues to stonewall the press and elected representatives.

In response, Walker has alternately presented appointees who have minimized the scandal, which has put $60 million in federal aid in jeopardy; has deflected questions by investigative reporters to political underlings, like John Chianelli; has not replied to a Milwaukee state representative. And now, when questioned by WisPolitics.com, Walker's political shop will not deign to return phone calls.

"Caring for our most vulnerable is a solemn responsibility that should not ever be entrusted to Scott Walker," Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said Tuesday. "Scott Walker works in the darkness because he fears what the light will show."
The news has been grim from the Walker Behavioral Health Division since 2005, when two residents died of overdoses from contraband narcotics, and 2006, when the state intervened after someone starved to death there under Walker's watch.

According to his own adopted budget numbers about the Walker Behavioral Health Division.

• Scott Walker repeatedly cut staff there. In 2001 there were 1,053.1 funded position equivalents. In 2008 that number dropped to 890.9. In his 2010 proposed budget he sought cuts down to 746.7.

• In 2001 overtime costs stood at $2,807,027 (or the equivalent of 77.5 positions). In 2008, overtime costs shot up to $4,719,383 (or the equivalent of 87 positions).

• Walker's cuts saved no money. In the 2002 adopted budget, BHD was slotted to have $136,850,224 in expenditures. In the 2009 adopted budget, that number was $187,598,123.