Sheila Plotkin

Dear Republican Legislator,

You and Gov. Scott Walker want to eliminate every watchdog. You want to legalize bribery. You will strangle public education. You have insured that fewer people can vote. You have given away our tax money, driven away businesses, and produced only minimum-wage jobs. You have guaranteed the disappearance of our magnificent state parks. You have demonized the poor. You have shown contempt for women’s health, well-being, and freedom. You are determined to line your donors’ pockets with public treasure. You ignore reasoned opposition. Many of you lie without shame.

You and Gov. Scott Walker are drunk on power and wallowing in corruption. You are hiding behind a smoke screen of patriotic platitudes and pompous proclamations.

You succeeded because of voters’ indifference. In our stupor, we gave you permission to steal our democracy. You gleefully accepted.

The “Kill the Watchdog” and “Show Me the Money” bills will pass this week unless you stand up on behalf of fairness, common sense, and open government. If you do not stand up, your shameful legacy will be the death of Wisconsin’s democracy.