As I just learned from this fine summary by Windtalker, of the Wisconsin Governor Debate last night -- Scott Walker has (allegedly) been enabling Wisconsin Strip-Mining, because Wisconsin Strip-Miners have been 'enabling him'.
Scott Walker has denied the blatant Quid-pro-Quo (after the Judicial Friends of Walker -- failed to keep these internal Walker Documents under-wraps).
Mary Burke, the skilled Democratic challenger, did not let this potent Debate Talking Point pass, without putting a bright red exclamation point on the topic!
Walker and Burke debate abortion, minimum wage, jobs
by Jason Stein and Bill Glauber, Journal Sentinel -- Oct. 10, 2014
Eau Claire -- In their first meeting Friday, Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Democrat Mary Burke drew many sharp contrasts but much less blood as they debated their positions on jobs, the minimum wage and abortion.
The most pointed attack of the evening came from Burke, who accused Walker of signing a mining bill last year to benefit a company that put $700,000 into an outside group that backed him in the 2012 recall.
"A $700,000 donation and Gov. Walker changes the rules so a big company can strip-mine the Northwoods," said Burke, who throughout the debate sought to paint Walker as siding with wealthy interests over ordinary workers.
[...]
$700K -- that's a lot of Cheddar.
Why would Walker know about that -- seeing as how the local branch of the Club For Growth was a pivotal in Re-election campaign a while back.
Must have slipped his 'Swiss-cheese' memory banks ...
Governor calls probe a witch hunt
by Daniel Bice, Bill Glauber and Don Walker, Journal Sentinel -- Aug. 23, 2014
Gov. Scott Walker said Saturday that he played no role in soliciting cash from a mining company for the Wisconsin Club for Growth during the 2011 and 2012 recall elections, adding that no one should be surprised that the pro-business governor backed legislation helpful to the firm.
Asked whether he was aware that Gogebic Taconite secretly donated $700,000 to Wisconsin Club for Growth -- a pro-business advocacy group directed by the governor's campaign adviser -- Walker said, "Not to my knowledge."
[...]
Later, at a Racine stop, Walker said he helped solicit contributions to Wisconsin Club for Growth in 2011 primarily to help GOP senators who faced recalls. The court filings suggested, however, that he was involved in raising more than $1 million for Club for Growth in the months before his own recall election.
[...]
"If it isn't illegal, it should be," Burke said in a statement. "That is not the Wisconsin way."
[...]
The Joe Doe Investigation documents show that Scott Walker
'personally' raised "more than $1 million for Club for Growth" for ...
Does that 'jog your memory' any, Walker? THAT Club for Growth!
Taconite tailing pond, Michigan, photograph by Lowell Georgia, Corbis
So what about the
Environment Problems, the "Forgetful Governor"
unleashed on the good citizens of his state, just as a matter of 'happenstance', of course?
Walker wanted funds funneled to Wisconsin Club for Growth
Governor calls probe a witch hunt
by Patrick Marley, Daniel Bice and Lee Bergquist, Journal Sentinel -- Aug. 22, 2014
[...]
Among the funds that flowed into the Wisconsin Club for Growth was $700,000 from a company trying to build a massive open-pit iron mine in northern Wisconsin [a 21-mile long segment of the Gogebic Iron Range between the community of Upson and Mineral Lake in Wisconsin]. Soon after the 2012 recall and general elections, Walker and Republicans eased environmental regulations, helping the firm.
"The Governor is encouraging all to invest in the Wisconsin Club for Growth," said an April 28, 2011, email from Kate Doner, a Walker campaign consultant, to R.J. Johnson, an adviser to Walker's campaign and the advocacy group. "Wisconsin Club for Growth can accept corporate and personal donations without limitations and no donors disclosure."
In the email, Doner wrote to Johnson that Walker wanted Wisconsin Club for Growth exclusively to coordinate campaign themes. "As the Governor discussed ... he wants all the issue advocacy efforts run thru one group to ensure correct messaging," she wrote.
Walker's campaign has paid Doner's fundraising firm $1.26 million since 2011, including more than $70,000 in his latest spending report.
[...]
[Emphasis and annotation added.]
What else do you "not know about" that Wisconsin Club for Growth, Governor -- that you were actively raising funds for, as the unsealed John Doe documents show?
The "limitless" PAC that you instructed your minions to 'exclusively coordinate' with -- Oh you almost forgot!
Did you also "not know" that the WCFG spent over $9 Million on your pathetic "stop the recall" campaign? Being the "fine Eagle-scout" that you once-were Scott, surely you must have learned a little bit about "paying back favors" ...
Wisconsin Club for Growth -- sourcewatch.org
Wisconsin Club for Growth (WCFG) is a state arm of the national Club for Growth, and one of the top political spenders in Wisconsin. WCFG spent $9.1 million during the Wisconsin's historic 2012 recall races for Governor, Lt. Governor and State Senate, and has reportedly received a subpoena in a 2012-2014 John Doe criminal probe into possible campaign finance violations during those races. [1][2]
WCFG's Board of Directors includes Eric O'Keefe, a right-wing political operative with deep ties to the Koch brothers, and who helped form groups including the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity and American Majority. WCFG is led by RJ Johnson, a close Walker ally, who was a top campaign advisor to Scott Walker in his 2010 election and his 2012 recall race.
[...]
Those are some very well-paid "witches" Scottie.
Found 'em.
Let me guess, "you know nothing" about Eric O'Keefe and RJ Johnson's goings-on at the Club, either. And somehow you have mysteriously 'lost their cell-phone numbers and private email addresses' too?
Wisconsin deserves SO Much better than the standard BS excuses coming from their current "toxic" Chief Executive,
-- the good news is, they can easily make that happen -- by electing the well-qualified Democratic Candidate Mary Burke, in just a few short weeks from now.
Wisconsinites, need to choose better; Wisconsinites, need to choose Burke!