Scandal Fever

The Capitol is abuzz with scandal. The Caucus Scandal. The Travelgate Scandal. Here a scandal, there a scandal, everywhere a scandal. Or so some hope.

There is no question that Wisconsin has received a black eye for various scandals. However, compared to most other states, we’re are still pretty clean. My legislative friends in Texas love to explain “reform” to me. Their idea of reform is that you used to be able to take ANYTHING of value from a lobbyist, including free vacations. Now after Texas reform however, if you take a trip for free, you must travel WITH the lobbyist. Reform, Texas style.

That does not dismiss, however, the very serious problems that have happened in our own state. Legislators and lobbyists (oh wait, no one is even looking twice at the lobbyists also involved in the scandals) who break the law should pay the price, period.

The newest indictment at the Capitol is Georgia Thompson, a purchasing supervisor in the Department of Administration. She is facing felony fraud charges over a travel contract. Thompson, who came to DOA during the McCallum administration, will have her day in court to make her case.

However, when you read the hype from the GOP, you’d think Governor Jim Doyle stood next to her with a gun to her head and made her do something improper. Scandal. They are so hoping for a scandal.

Let me just say this. If Governor Doyle was personally involved with rigging a contract, he will pay a price both electorally and personally. But if there are no legal dots to connect, you can’t just convict him with guilt by association. There are tens of thousands of state employees. Doyle cannot be responsible for every one of their actions if he was not involved. Remember, no one actually investigating this has made any connection to Doyle.

Here’s my beef. So many Republicans have already opportunistically made political hay out of this. They are accusing the Governor with no evidence or legal pronouncement. That is hit-and-run politics at its worst.

I just hope we also judge those who make baseless accusations as well. There may not be a legal price to be paid, but there should be a political one. That’s my opinion.