GAB decisions on voter ID, recall petitions come under fire at committee hearing

[PeaceNikki]

Post by Emily Mills on 11/15/2011 1:30pm
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The Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) voted on party lines Tuesday morning to order the Government Accountability Board to promulgate rules based on decisions it made at last week's meeting regarding use of technical college IDs and stickers for voter ID, as well as how recall petitions may be filled out.

The meeting was called by committee co-chair Sen. Leah Vukmir after the GAB reversed a previous decision barring the use of technical college IDs as valid voter identification, upheld a decision to allow the use of stickers to make student IDs compliant with the new law, and clarified its decision regarding what information on a recall petition should be filled out by the signer.

Kevin Kennedy, director and legislative counsel to the GAB, and Nate Robinson (a GAB division administrator), were called before the body to explain the Board's decisions. Vukmir expressed displeasure with those decisions, saying, "We gave you the benefit of the doubt but I’m troubled that the GAB chose to ignore many of the questions raised."

In moving to require the GAB to promulgate rules based on their decisions, the final say on whether the rules take effect goes to Gov. Scott Walker. Under recently signed Executive Order #50 Walker now has the power to approve, veto, or simply not act on any newly created administrative rules. The order was authorized under Act 21.

More at link: http://www.dane101.com/current/2011/11/15/gab_decisions_on_voter_id_recall_petitions_come_under_fire_at_committee_hearing

[undeterred]

1. Let's throw him out of office.

Starting today.

[PeaceNikki]

2. I wish that John Doe case would break

and that he and his bug-eyed psycho sidekick are frogmarched out of the state with their heads hanging in shame.

Then I realize that they have no fucking shame.

[seacaves]

3. About the judges on GAB....

I think this a very informative article. The middle section gives pictures and an overview of the current judges.


Early last summer there was an excellent article about the dire consequence of Republicans handing over ALL decision making to the Governor. These dire consequences have now come to light!!


http://bdgrdemocracy.wordpress.com/2011/11/15/walkers-gop-cronies-end-four-short-years-of-gab-autonomy-shred-constitutional-checks-and-balances/?mid=52


Walker’s GOP “Cronies” end four short years of GAB autonomy, shred constitutional checks and balances
Posted: November 15, 2011 by Badger Democracy in Uncategorized
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The non-partisan Government Accountability Board (GAB) fell under the GOP hammer today, in Leah Vukmir’s powerful Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) hearing. In a 6-4 partisan vote, the committee passed resolutions which will force the non-partisan and independent GAB to create “rules” regarding opinions they have rendered on voter ID and recall petitions over several months. These “rules” under the newly adopted Act 21 are subject to a virtual “veto” from Scott Walker, essentially eliminating any legislative check on the Governor’s authority. The move also puts the very autonomy of the GAB at risk – autonomy which kept watch over the partisan electoral process in Wisconsin; and was created in 2007 out of a bi-partisan effort to enforce fair election standards in Wisconsin.

The following motions were adopted by JCRAR :
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In a commentary titled “The Persistence of Partisan Election Administration,” Ohio State University law professor Daniel P. Tokaji states: “The best American model is Wisconsin’s Government Accountability Board, which consists of retired judges selected in a way that is designed to promote impartiality.”

Scott Walker and the GOP have discarded the national role model the GAB was; as they have for Collective Bargaining, Public Education, Badgercare, and Wisconsin’s Progressive traditions.

The recall of Scott Walker must succeed – as a message that NO Governor, or single individual, is above the Constitution. Nor is one person or party entitled to such broad and sweeping power so as to effect single party rule in Wisconsin, suppress the true will of the people, and trample the rights of the minority.

Put Wisconsin First – Forward with the recall!:cry: