Walker's deleted ethics code could have skewed Foxconn giving, lobbying

Whenever I need a good laugh I go back to the ethics code Scott Walker briefly trumped during his ill-fated run for Governor in 2006, since there have been so many intervening matters, like his use of Milwaukee County resources as County Executive to subsidize his 2010 campaign, or that campaign's secretive fund-raising coordination revealed in John Doe records make it alternately hilarious and tragic to put the words "Scott Walker" and "ethics" in the same sentence.

Which probably explains why Team Walker has turned that posted 2006 ethics code of his into No Longer Available/Error Report 404 material.

But having copied it out, and looking back at it again today as Walker's favor-laden Foxconn bill got final legislative approval, it occurs to me that anyone working for Foxconn, or for a construction or building supply or consulting contractor involved in the project would have a hard time giving Walker a dime for his upcoming re-election campaign had his plan become practice or law, as this item among several in his ethics plan caught my eye:

• Scott Walker will push legislation that prohibits contributions to his campaign from firms that are seeking to do business with the state while the contracts are being bid and awarded. (Walker's current policy in county government) 

And remember as his 2018 election campaign rolls around that Walker had said he could do on his own for the best of reasons:

Citing government ethics as one of the greatest challenges to Wisconsin's democracy, Milwaukee County Executive and Candidate for Governor Scott Walker today released his comprehensive ethics reform plan. Walker's plan calls for a major overhaul of Wisconsin's failing system to restore integrity to our state's government.

"During my 100-Day agenda tour I outlined ethical reforms that could be implemented without legislation," said Walker.

 "Today's plan is far more comprehensive and will not only require the assistance of the legislature, but also the people of Wisconsin to step forward to make it happen."

And the same could have gone for legislators over the Walker/WEDC years, and who voted this week for the Foxconn plan and have sent it to Walker for his signature - - and also for all the staffers-cum-lobbyists who are involved, too - - if his ethics code had integrity or intention beyond talking point material long ago forgotten.

I note in his proposed/moribund ethics code these particulars which Walker had posted publicly and said he could without legislative action:

• All appointed employees will be prohibited from contributing to Scott Walker's campaign committee. (100 Day Agenda and Walker's current policy in county government) 
• All appointed employees will be prohibited from organizing or participating in fundraising for Scott Walker's campaign committee. (100 Day Agenda and Walker's current policy in county government) 
• Scott Walker will not accept any campaign contributions (from any source) from the time he takes office (January 3, 2007) until the state budget is signed into law.  (100 Day Agenda) 
• Scott Walker will call on Legislative leaders to enact a similar policy for all elected state officials. (100 Day Agenda) 
• Scott Walker will push legislation that prohibits contributions to his campaign from firms that are seeking to do business with the state while the contracts are being bid and awarded. (Walker's current policy in county government) 
• Scott Walker will require every member of his administration to attend ethics training every two years to ensure that all executive staff members are aware of ethics standards and laws 
• Scott Walker proposes a five year ban on paid lobbying of the agency they worked in for all members of the administration, Legislature and legislative staff.   
• Scott Walker will push legislation to combine the State Elections Board and the State Ethics Board 
• Scott Walker will call for legislation to prohibit state candidates from accepting political contributions from the owners, operators or managers of casinos and racetracks. (Walker proposed similar legislation in 1997 and 1999) 
• Scott Walker will propose legislation to prohibit closed caucus meetings and to require that all votes in Legislative committees take place in public. 
• Scott Walker will push for term limits on all state offices of no more than 12 years (3 terms for Governor, other constitutional officers and State Senate and 6 for State Assembly). 
• Scott Walker will push for a return to a part-time Legislature.  
• Scott Walker will propose legislation to prohibit the transfer of funds from federal campaign accounts to state campaign accounts.