Posted on 08/14/2015 7:44:29 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
MADISON, Wis. — A bill that would reform Wisconsin’s controversial John Doe law cleared a major hurdle this week.
State Rep. Jim Ott, R-Mequon, chairman of the Assembly’s Judiciary Committee, has placed Assembly Bill 68 on the agenda for the committee’s executive committee. The reform proposal could soon be added to the Legislature’s fall floor session for debate.
“I am pleased Chairman Ott has made passing our important John Doe reforms out of his committee a priority before the legislature reconvenes this fall,” state Rep. David Craig, R-Big Bend, the bill’s author, said in a statement.
“Legislation protecting civil liberties is paramount. Our bill does just that. I look forward to swift floor action on our bill in both the Assembly and Senate.”
The bill was inspired by lengthy campaign-finance probes launched by Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm into Wisconsin conservative organizations and the campaign of Gov. Scott Walker.
Chisholm, a Democrat, opened his investigation in August 2012, assisted by the state Government Accountability Board and, eventually, a GAB-contracted investigator-turned-special prosecutor when the probe expanded into five counties.
The John Doe featured raids on the homes and offices of conservative targets. Investigators seized property of the subjects and their families, and told them if they communicated publicly about the investigation they could go to jail. That gag order is among the law’s controversial investigatory mechanisms.
The bill doesn’t eliminate the John Doe procedure, but limits its use to specified felonies and possible crimes committed by on-duty law enforcement officers, corrections officers, or state probation, parole, or extended supervision officers. In short, it would end political John Does.
It also calls for greater accountability to taxpayers, and fixes timelines and strict guidelines for expanding the investigations.
RELATED: John Doe reform bill stuck in legislative waiting game
Craig’s bill has faced a series of setbacks and delays.
In April, sources told Wisconsin Watchdog that Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, slowed the bill’s movement amid the budget debate. Leadership, they said, wanted the state Supreme Court to rule on the political John Doe investigation before the reform measure moved forward.
The court did just that last month. In a 4-2 decision, the Supreme Court ordered the probe shut down for good, declaring it unconstitutional, a violation of the conservatives’ First Amendment rights.
Supporters of the bill say now that the court has ruled there is no excuse for delay.
Earlier this year, Madison defense attorney Dean Strang told Watchdog the proposed changes are 100 years overdue.
“I hope in the end the Legislature will have the will to follow through to make some important changes long, long overdue that will benefit ordinary citizens for decades to come. I hope that doesn’t get lost,” said Strang, who represents a target of the probe.
Part 233 of 233 in the series Wisconsin's Secret War
State Rep. Jim Ott places John Doe reform Bill placed on Fall legislative schedule.
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
God for Jim Ott!
“Earlier this year, Madison defense attorney Dean Strang told Watchdog the proposed changes are 100 years overdue.”
BUMP! Matt Kittle bump, too. He’s been filling in for Vicki on WIBA AM1310 this week. Love him. So measured, so RIGHT.
Who is/are the chief engineer in the state of Wisconsin to do such an unconstitutional thing?
The Social-Democratic Party of Wisconsin?
Muslim Society?
When did Conservative become a four-letter word?
When politicians seize power, especially where the other party is weak, abuse of power will follow. Democrats are more likely to do so, and will generally be more blatant in execution since their constituents condone and support this behavior. That doesn’t mean that Republicans are immune from this disease which is why the public need to demand constraints on our elected representatives and executive government leaders.
>>...which is why the public need to demand constraints on our elected representatives and executive government leaders.<<
And it’s also why every department in the federal government needs to be severely downsized, or disbanded in several cases, so that they are only serving essential federal needs. Send the rest of their responsibilities back to the states.
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