“So I ask, why are you guys in charge of this decision? You’ve received money from the sponsors of this bill.”  –Russ Otten

by Scott Liddicoat

Chapter 1:  Slow-walking Meagan Wolfe

This  account begins with everyone’s least favorite Wisconsin bureaucrat, Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe.  Pick the reason for your dislike.  Illegal drop boxes.  Canceling special voting deputies. Continuing hangover from 2020.  I am not acquainted with anyone who trusts her leading the Wisconsin Elections Commission into 2024.  There is strong popular support among Conservatives for her removal as WEC’s administrator.

Of course, now she and the Democrats have found a way for her to continue in that role for life.  They’re exploiting how WEC law is written to challenge any move to dismiss her.  Republicans are crying foul, although they had many hands in how the law was crafted and voted to approve it.  And they’ve used similar provisions in other situations to retain their friends against Democrat opposition.

Failing in her dismissal by other methods, we now see a lukewarm effort to impeach Ms. Wolfe despite popular Conservative demands for her removal.  Assembly speaker Robin Vos has moved any potential impeachment effort to Representative David Steffen’s Assembly Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight.  From Chairman Steffen’s office on December 15^th, I received this message:

“Rep. Steffen believes that the legal, historical, and political significance of the impeachment proposal demands a serious and deliberate attention to detail, procedure, and consideration by the entire State Assembly. As such, he has requested that the resolution’s co-authors spend the next few weeks educating members, providing evidence, and securing the necessary votes for passage out of this chamber.”

So, where does Meagan Wolfe’s fully justified removal from office under Republican leadership stand on January 1^st, 2024?  Despite longstanding and strong support for her removal, the process continues at a frustratingly slow pace for Conservative voters.

Keep these thoughts in mind as you read chapter two.

Chapter 2:  Fast-tracking Final Five

The Meagan Wolfe story has dragged on for nearly four exasperating years.  However, Monday, December 11^th was my first ever contact with Final Five Voting. 

Early in the day I received a frantic email.  It said tomorrow the Wisconsin Senate is having a hearing on Final Five Voting.  Could I travel to Madison to demonstrate opposition to it? 

Calling and messaging around, no one seemed to know exactly what Final Five Voting was.  There had been no popular Conservative push for it.  But one thing was certain.  This hearing to move Final Five Voting on to the Wisconsin Senate for a vote was happening fast.

Days later, I watched video of testimony before the Senate Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections, and Consumer Protection.  Proponents of Final Five voting were numerous.  Most were from Democracy Found, “a Wisconsin-based initiative committed to revitalizing democracy.”  They tried to explain Final Five voting and their perception of its merits.  Better elections, better politicians elected, and a process that can be trusted. 

Opponents testified to the opposite.  The process can be confusing.  It can be gamed.  Many ballots are thrown out because some people don’t understand how to complete them.  Or, they’re discarded because others simply refuse to vote for more than one candidate for one political office.

On principle I was drawn to Sheboygan County Republican Chairman Russ Otten’s uncommonly common sense testimony.  During it, he aired the “very smelly” relationships between Democracy Found, and politicians he saw in the Senate hearing room.

“So when I see Democracy Found having everybody come here today, they were established for one reason.  For today.  To get this passed.  And the money that has been thrown around this state is unbelievable. 

I look at…Senator [Dan] Feyen [R] who’s not here right now, received $1675.  Not a lot of money, but it’s something.  Mr. Chairman, [Senator Dan Knodl, R] you received $2500 from Democracy Found.  Senator [Romaine] Quinn [R], if you’re still listening, you received $8150 from Democracy Found.  [Senator] Jesse James [R], one of the sponsors of the bill, $10,360.  Representative [Ron]Tusler [R], $11,285 from Democracy Found.  And then we get to the largest one, and that is Senator [Jeff] Smith [D], $25,700.”

Of note, that’s nearly $60,000 paid to four of five Senate committee members and two of the bill’s cosponsors.  Otten concludes:

“So I ask, why are you guys in charge of this decision?  Why are you on this committee?  You’ve received money from the sponsors of this bill.  You know, I think it was Scott [not your author, I wasn’t there] that was talking about before, you know, the corruption in Madison, right here in this building.  We’re in it right now!  None of you guys should be taking money from this group and then being on the committee to push it on to the Senate.  I’m sorry, this is very smelly.”

But the smell gets worse.  Much worse.  On the State of Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System (CFIS) government website anyone may find the information that follows.

Over the last four years, Democracy Found has been a conduit donor to 50 Wisconsin politicians.  Here is a breakdown of the $368,110 they have paid out according to the CFIS.

 Payout         To Whom

$ 88,390        13 Senate Republicans (11 of 22 current, 2 former)

$ 177,540      22 Assembly Republicans (21 of 64 current, 1 former)

$ 24,700          1 Senate Democrat (of 11 current Democrats)

$ 77,480         15 Assembly Democrats (13 of 35 current, 2 former)

________________________

$ 368,110      Paid to 51 Wisconsin Politicians

Who got the majority of that money?  Here are the top eleven recipients, the eleven five-digit recipients of Democracy Found cash.

Payout        To Whom

$ 24,700         Senate Democrat Jeff Smith

Assistant Minority Leader, Committee member

Introduced and spoke in favor of Senate Bill 528

$ 22,820        Assembly Republican Joel Kitchens

Cosponsor of Assembly Bill 563 (companion to SB528)

$ 21,445        Assembly Republican Tony Kurtz

Cosponsor of AB563

$ 20,000        Assembly Republican Todd Novak,

Cosponsor of SB528

$ 15,535         Assembly Democrat Lisa Subeck

Minority Caucus Chair; Cosponsor of AB563

$ 15,480 *      Assembly Democrat Dan Riemer

Cosponsor of AB563 and spoke in favor of SB528

$ 14,900        Senate Republican Devin LeMahieu

Senate Majority Leader

$ 11,900        Assembly Republican Robin Vos

Assembly Speaker

$ 11,285        Assembly Republican Ron Tusler

Cosponsor and spoke in favor of SB528

$ 11,030        Assembly Republican Alex Dallman

$ 10,360        Senate Republican Jesse James

Introduced and spoke in favor SB528

________________________

$ 179,455      This is 49% of the $ 368,110 Democracy Found distributed!

From the above list:

• $ 123,740 (69%) was paid to Republicans
• $ 55,715 (31%) was paid to Democrats

But did all of the money paid to Wisconsin politicians from Democracy Found represent the popular support and contributions of hundreds of people?  Thousands, or tens of thousands?  Maybe even hundreds of thousands of people? 

It turns out this information is also available on the CFIS government website.  Anyone may find the information that follows.

Eight members of Democracy Found’s Advisory Council contributed $167,230 (45% of all Democracy Found conduit’s political contributions).  Twenty-six members in their Leadership Circle donated $60,275.  Finally, an additional twenty-five contributors paid $140,605 into Democracy Found.

The total?  Fifty-nine people donated the $368,110 paid out to Wisconsin politicians by Democracy Found.  That’s 59 people out of a Wisconsin population of nearly 5.9 million citizens.

This certainly represents weak popular support from Wisconsin voters for a Senate bill that got the fast track.

Chapter 3:  Lessons To Be Learned

Conservative Voters, Take One: 

The slow walk of Meagan Wolfe’s removal process has taught us well.  Strong voter support for political initiatives doesn’t mean much to many Wisconsin legislators. 

The quiet, fast tracking of Final Five Voting has taught us equally well.  Many Wisconsin Republicans aren’t dedicated to representing the voters of the areas they serve.  They’re committed to quietly promoting the interests of small numbers of people who will pay them large sums of money.

Democrat Voters: 

You’re in no better shape.  There are lots of donor conduit groups and your favorite politicians want money too.

Wisconsin Republican Politicians, Take One: 

I’ll guess any of you that bother to read this story probably think it’s no big deal.  Meagan Wolfe, Democracy Found cash, Final Five Voting.  That’s the way political sausage is made in Madison. 

But in our republic you are required to represent us on every issue.  You serve us.

Wisconsin voters are not served by fast tracking Final Five Voting.  Nor are we served as Meagan Wolfe’s removal is slow walked past the widespread, longstanding, and principled demands for her removal.  You have a serious credibility problem with knowledgeable Conservative voters.

If you don’t like reading this criticism, that’s too bad.  Toughen up.  You are made of no better human material than anyone else.  Work harder…like so many ordinary Wisconsin citizens do every day.  Serve us well and demonstrate that you deserve our vote.

Democracy Found: 

At a minimum you’ve legitimized serious discussion of Final Five Voting in Madison.  That’s a victory for you if your strategy is to play the long game for passage of Final Five. 

But if you want to play the “trust” card with the public you’ve got a lot of educating to do.  You have to know that ordinary citizens have natural reasons to distrust any change in such an important, longstanding practice.  Understand too that the widespread, tangible lack of trust you sense in the election process has nothing to do with how electors cast votes on their ballots.

Personally, I admire private groups like yours.  But you’ve violated an important principle.  We are (supposed to be) a representative republic, not an aristocracy.  Perhaps Final Five Voting has merit.  But you failed to bring your case to Wisconsin citizens.  Now you have a credibility problem.  Lots of people, at least people like me, are on the lookout for you now.

I hope you will change your approach, respecting and educating Wisconsin voters in the process.

Wisconsin Republican Politicians, Take Two:

You need to know there is no greater divide between many of you and most of the Conservative voters who put you in office than the 2020 election.  The issue of Meagan Wolfe’s status is a clear sign of this. 

Conservative voters are upset that someone who authorized the use of illegal drop boxes remains in office.  Most Wisconsin citizens believe an official who doesn’t do their job properly should be fired.  We’ve rightly lost confidence in the election process with her still on the job in 2024.

Allegations of Meagan Wolfe’s complicity in other activities influencing the 2020 election remain strong.  This isn’t hard to understand with Democrats defending every single action she’s taken.  It’s not hard to understand with the 2020 backdrop of Zuckerbucks and the Wisconsin Five.  Milwaukee vote dumps.  Nursing home votes skyrocketing with the removal of Special Voting Deputies.  Numerous other questionable activities witnessed outside of your view, but observed locally by poll workers, election observers, or the general public.

Many Conservatives—decent, honest people—have good reason to question, or deny the results of the 2020 election.  And we vote.

Conservative Voters, Take Two:

It seems to me there are two paths for Conservative voters.

• One is the “I’ve had enough, it’s not even worth it to vote anymore” path.  I respect that.  I was there for a long time after 2020.  You need not accept the illogical “truth” that if you don’t vote, you can’t complain.  I’ve been voting for nearly fifty years, and politics is worse than it’s ever been.

The other path?  Accept the fact that good government, like anything that’s good, takes work.

• Work to be strong.  If RINOs have an official creed, it must go something like this:  “Just keep voting—for us.  Just keep giving—to us.  Then shut up and let us take care of everything else.”  Stand up to this.

• Work to stay better informed.  As you’ve learned here, the politicians almost got one past us.  They may yet still if we don’t stay on top of what they’re doing.  Be vigilant.

• Work to communicate with the politicians representing you.  I like short, original emails.  Briefly state your position.  Be courteous but firm in what you expect.  Request a swift reply.   Your representatives were elected to serve you.

• Work to use your special talents, whatever they may be, to support true, constitutional conservative candidates, principles, and  government.

• Work to educate others.  What you’ve read in these pages represents a mountain of research, and my best effort to tell you what I’ve found.  Talk about and share this, and other good information with family, friends, neighbors, fellow Conservatives, etc.

• Work to keep the election process honest.  Sign up to be a (paid) poll worker or (paid) Special Voting Deputy.  Volunteer to be an election observer.  These are all positions of need, especially on the Conservative side.

• Work in the political process.  Participate in your political party.  Find, support, and participate with Conservative political groups that match up well with your beliefs.  Network with the acquaintances you make.

• Work to find out about other politicians or political parties that may better fit with your conservative values.  The Constitution or Libertarian parties come to mind.  You’re never “wasting your vote” by voting with them, especialy when your other choices are a Democrat and a liberal Republican.

• Work against the election or reelection of RINOs.  In the end, it may be that an agreeable alternative to a liberal Republican cannot be found for a particular political race.  Tell your RINO you will pass over voting in that race if necessary.  Then pass them over if they don’t shape up.  And if this happens…

• Work to find good candidates to run for political offices or run for office yourself. 

Why do the work?  I’ll let Ronald Reagan answer that question and conclude this story at the same time.

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

Thank you for reading.  You’ll have to excuse me now.  I’m going to prepare for the tax audit that’s surely coming my way.  It’ll probably come fast.