Sheila Plotkin
As the WI GOP Assembly fast-tracked the destruction of the Government Accountability Board, voting on it after midnight, and sending it to the Senate, I began to wonder whether constituents were asking for this to happen. There was really only one way to find the answer.
On October 27, 2015, I filed 17 Open Records Requests (ORR), one with each Republican State Senator. Here’s the relevant paragraph from the template I used:
I request access to review, under the state's Open Records Law (§§19.31-39, Wisconsin Statutes) any and all correspondence sent and/or received, and records created or received, referred to, discussed or otherwise relied upon by Senator or his/her staff, beginning through and including , related to: Government Accountability Board (herein GAB); GAB and American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC); GAB and election oversight; GAB and partisan witch hunt; GAB and Kevin Kennedy; GAB and Gov. Scott Walker; GAB and recall elections; GAB and partisan election oversight; GAB and other states; GAB and promulgating election regulations; GAB and changes to election laws; GAB and audit.
Each Senator was given a one week time period within which to search for records. To date, I have received seven responses.
Sen. Richard Marklein (R-Spring Green) 110 opposed; 2 supporting
Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) 13 opposed; 1 supporting
Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) 48 opposed; 9 supporting
Sen. Duey Stoebel (R-Saukville) 2 opposed; 0 supporting
Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) 27 opposed; 0 supporting
Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) 42 opposed;12 supporting
Sen. Richard Gudex (R-Fond du Lac) 62 opposed;11 supporting
Total: 304 opposed; 35 supporting
Additionally, I discovered the results of a County Clerk survey conducted by WI GOP. County Clerks are responsible for overseeing elections, ensuring laws are followed, and creating an atmosphere for voters that is efficient, welcoming, and trustworthy. The 72 County Clerks were asked, “Do you favor the current GAB structure?” The results were 70 Yes; 2 No. *SEE CORRECTION NOV. 19
Every Senator above voted to destroy the GAB.
On Friday, Nov. 13, I was interviewed regarding this project on The Devil’s Advocates radio program. Here is a link to that broadcast: http://darnwi.com/?p=2857
Along with a few others, I have begun sending the same ORR to each of the 63 WI GOP Assembly Representatives. As data continues to come in, it will be tallied and publicized.
Within the next month, all of the GOP Senators and Representatives will receive ORRs asking for records regarding changes to our campaign finance laws. After that, the focus will be on the John Doe procedure. I am starting with these three issues because they are the most current. They are by no means the only issues that need to be researched in this manner.
We cannot stop these bills from being passed. But, we can arm ourselves with proof that constituents are being ignored. We can document that voters are now marginalized. We can offer evidence that representative democracy in Wisconsin is just a fond memory. We can supply voters with valuable information that will help them make their decision at the ballot box.
This is one means whereby we can reclaim democracy, one office holder at a time.
If you’d like to help me gather this essential data, please contact me at plotkin5007@gmail.com.