Just when you thought the leaders of FitzWalkerstan couldn’t surprise you with any more wacky ideas, well, surprise!
I’m sure many of you have read the Governor’s latest attempt to control free speech in the State Capitol. Note to the Governor: No matter how much you hate to be publicly criticized, the simple fact remains that the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment allows our citizens the right to assemble and to free speech.
But the even more interesting part of his 22-page document is buried on page 12, under “Section VI. Permit Decisions and Appeals, Item B.” The new Wisconsin State Facilities Access Policy states, “Permits shall be granted for public events or exhibits without discrimination on the basis of age, race, creed, color, handicap, marital status, sex, national origin, ancestry, and arrest or conviction record.”
Not included: “sexual orientation.”
Wow, have times changed. Almost 30 years ago, Wisconsin was a leader in non-discrimination law when we became the first state in the country to included “sexual orientation” in the statutes after a Republican governor signed the legislation into law.
Now we have a governor flagrantly violating state law that he’s supposed to uphold and ignoring Wisconsin’s anti-discrimination statutes.
Taking the oath of office once meant something, but attacking our Constitution and not treating our residents fairly and equally have become hallmarks of FitzWalkerstan.
Wisconsin State Representative Mark Pocan (D-Madison), who coined the term FitzWalkerstan on the floor of the State Assembly, served three terms on the state’s budget committee, including one as its co-chair. He also served as the vice-chair of the non-partisan National Council on State Legislature’s Budget and Policy committee. Pocan’s Assembly district includes both the State Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion, making Governor Scott Walker his most infamous constituent.
