Friday, July 29, 2011

Undisclosed Legal Contract Proves State Wasn't Broke When Walker Said It Was

Scott Walker's problems with truth-telling began early, but some details are now just emerging back to the days when Walker was preparing to force budgetary and collective bargaining changes - - because the state was broke [sic].

If you're really broke, you don't have half-a-million bocks to hire a lawyer, unless, as in Walker's case, it's not your money. Reports Bill Lueders:

Gov. Scott Walker has agreed to pay a private law firm up to $500,000 for legal services regarding his controversial budget repair bill curbing public employees’ collective bargaining rights, a spokesman for the governor confirmed.

Walker signed a special counsel contract with the Madison office of Michael Best & Friedrich on Feb. 7, four days before unveiling the bill, public records show. The contract authorized payment at the rate of up to $300 an hour, to a total of $100,000.

Additional tasks, including two recent federal lawsuits challenging the bill, have since been assigned under the contract.  Cullen Werwie, spokesman for the Republican governor, said the contract was amended a few days ago and “the maximum was adjusted to $500,000...”
And you don't go on national TV shortly after you hire the lawyer at $300-an-hour, for dubious purposes, and still plead poverty.

4 comments:

Reagan's Disciple said...

Nor do you attempt to build choo choo trains.

James Rowen said...

Complete non sequitur.

And why do you and others make yourselves sound ridiculous by saying "choo choo." It's childish.

Jake formerly of the LP said...

And I know this will stun you, James, but the people who got the contract were major contributors to Walker and Van Hollen. And that's especially true for Ray Taffora, who went through the revolving door directly into this $300 an hour contract.

Reagan's Disciple said...

They go choo choo baby. It's like a freight train, choo! choo!

A fitting comment with football season around the corner don't you think? Does anyone want to take a shot at the commercial referenced in the comment above?

Think early 90s... Packers...