GOP Staffer and Big Pharma Lobbyist Appointed Wisconsin Health Secretary

Something the media has not picked up on this summer... Gov. Scott Walker has appointed Tom Engels a former and longtime lobbyist with Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin to take Kitty Rhoades' top spot at the Wisconsin Dept. of Health. Engels' experience also includes working for Rep. Scott Klug as well as serving as the Communications Director for the Senate Republican Caucus.

Walker administration DNR grant mishap shows ineptitude and misuse of the public trust

The latest mistake by Wisconsin's Republican (and nearly completely absent) Governor Scott Walker shows the depth of ties of the GOP with conservative groups like Americans for Prosperity and the National Rifle Association.  The recently formed group, United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation, received a $500,000 grant despite having no expertise in the grant requirements and lying about its nonprofit status.  Only after these details made it to the press did Scott Walker step in and cancel DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp's promise to green light the award regardless of the facts.  The Governor and Republican legislators are now in full on damage control, trying to figure out how to siphon this money to their cronies in another way while trying to save face over the debacle.

Link:  http://scottwalkerwatch.com/2013/09/04/walkerdnr-pay-to-play-united-sportsmen-of-wisconsin-500000-crony-scandal-tied-to-gop-donors-and-koch-brothers/ and http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/after-outdoor-training-grant-canceled-scott-walker-lawmakers-eye-alternatives-b9992104z1-222703171.html

Wisconsin Governor's Office fails to meet Section 508 (web accessibility) requirements

Several state government websites lack basic accessibility features (Section 508 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, amended in 1998, as well as state policy). These sites include the Governor's office's (headings, alt text for images, captions for video, keyboard navigation, etc.). The url is http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/Home. Other state websites that are lacking important web accessibility standards include the Dept. of Veteran Affairs (http://dva.state.wi.us/), the Dept. of Tourism (http://travelwisconsin.com/), and the Dept. of Safety and Professional Services (http://dsps.wi.gov/). Failing to provide accessible websites leaves the state open to lawsuits, not to mention simply leaving a significant number of computer users to not be able to use the websites in part or at all. I just emailed the address on the 'Accessibility' webpage of the Wisconsin State Govt, and the email totally bounced. The page hasn't been updated in 4 years, since Governor Doyle was in office (see http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/core/accessibility.html).

Politifact finds #GovWalker's job growth report false

Politifact has ruled on the side of opponents of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker today by stating his July 29th statements on positive job growth during his two-year tenure are indeed false.

Link: http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2013/aug/19/scott-walker/scott-walker-says-best-two-year-job-growth-came-du/

Wisconsin Capitol Police now arresting children, journalists

Whatever moral authority defenders of the Walker administration's crackdown on the Solidarity Sing Along claim to have is rapidly deteriorating as a 14-year-old girl, several grandmothers, and a distinguished journalist were arrested today. 

Link: http://bloggingblue.com/2013/08/15/matthew-rothschild-editor-of-the-progressive-magazine-arrested-by-capitol-police-for-taking-photos/

League of Conservation Voters targets Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) @SenRonJohnson in video

Republican Party whines about Clinton miniseries, threatens debate boycott

So nice to hear Reince Priebus and his GOP buddies actually fearing a presidential run by Hillary Clinton. I thought they wanted her to run because she would be so easy to defeat.

Link: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/05/rnc-boycott-threat-cnn-nbc-hillary-clinton