July 4th Spirit, Democratic Realities Diminished In Walker's Wisconsin

The last six months have been a setback for open government and basic democracy in Wisconsin.

*  The Legislature gave away its rule-making authority to the Governor  - - rules have the power of law in Wisconsin - -  eliminating hearings legislators  routinely held when rules were considered before they voted them up or down.

*  Legislators granted Walker's Administration secretary the power to approve no-bid sales of state-owned power plants at campuses or state institutions: does anyone think the power these institutions then will purchase from these generating stations that also need to produce a profit will be less expensive for taxpayers?

*  The Legislature also gave Walker's Human Services Department Secretary the power to make rulings administratively about health-care program eligibility - -  again without hearings or open processes.

*  Walker, the Legislature and a 4-3 majority of the State Supreme Court threw aside precedent, tradition, established process and common sense to wipe out collective bargaining rights for public employees.

*  And kept the State Capitol in virtual lock-down for months until that final Court ruling was issued, and Walker's budget got rubber-stamped, too - - a document that meddles deeply into local affairs and slashes or restricts budgets.

So much for home rule, local control and grassroots elected officials carrying out the will of the people.

*  A restrictive Voter ID bill was enacted that adds hurdles to registration and balloting.

*  Republicans are opening running fake candidates in recall elections to confuse voters and extend the cycle to gain fund-raising advantages.

*  And now perhaps the ultimate insult: the City of Glendale is deliberately closing some of its polling places for the July 12th recall primary there, again adding confusion and barriers to voting.

Post-Walker, the GOP is interested in fewer rights, obstructed voting, and doing business behind closed doors.

The next bomb to be dropped: releasing obscenely-partisan legislative redistricting maps, drafted in secret caucuses to further the GOP's dream of authoritarian, one-party rule.

All in all, an obnoxious commentary on the endangered state of the democratic process in Wisconsin.