It was announced this afternoon that two separate investigations will go forward regarding the "Prosser chokes Bradley" incident. Coverage on Kos (litho's diary and stcroix cheesehead's diary) has been excellent and extensive. The incident was due to frustration over arguments about the passage of Scott Walker's union-busting bill. Capitol Police Chief Charles Tubbs has requested that Dane County Sheriff David Mahoney take over the investigation. Mahoney's recommendations will go to Dane County DA, Ismael Ozanne, the same man who argued the Open Meetings Violations in front of the State Supreme Court. This could potentially be a criminal investigation.
The Wisconsin Judicial Commission will also investigate the incident. They could ultimately make disciplinary recommendations to the State Supreme Court. The State Supreme Court would conceivably have to make a judicial ethics ruling on the conduct of their colleagues. I don't know about you, but I'm not brimming with confidence regarding the many conflicts involved in this accountability stream!
Governor Walker said on a radio talk show this morning that justices must end their long-standing divisions for the sake of public confidence in the court. Is this a skit? Governor Walker, the most divisive Wisconsin politician since Joe McCarthy, suggesting that people resolve their differences for the good of the institution? Are you kidding me?
Of course, in the interview Walker makes no mention of his involvement with the root cause of the divisions that are tearing Wisconsin apart.
The two year budget is now officially law, and will take effect this Friday, July 1. Walker calls his over $800 million cuts to state education "reform" and claims, with the straight face of a true believer, that since property taxes will be frozen, jobs will be created. The schools will benefit from the "tools" that Walker has given them, according to Walker. 988 full time positions in Milwaukee schools will be lost as of this week. That is some kind of benefit. Meanwhile, school choice will be expanded, further eroding the public school system.
Wow, this is some sad kind of crazy!