It’s Time’s Complaint Against AFP is Thrown Out

FYI.

A national group advocating lower government spending did not violate state election laws when it sponsored computer-generated telephone calls to West Bend school district residents regarding a proposed $119.3 million school referendum, Washington County District Attorney Todd Martens said today.

The message in the calls from Americans for Prosperity did not expressly promote or oppose a particular vote on the referendum so the group was not required to register to campaign on the issue, Martens said.

Martens was responding to a complaint he received from It’s Time, a citizen group supporting passage of the referendum.

“I believe the language in the call comes dangerously close to express advocacy,” Martens said in a letter to It’s Time. In his letter, Martens urged Americans for Prosperity and its state director, Mark Block, “to scrupulously adhere to the requirements of Wisconsin elections and campaign financing law.”

Wow.  One day to be thrown out.  That complaint sure had a lot of merit. 

Kudos to the D.A. for resolving this prior to the election. 

1. Agreed - kudos to Martens for the quick decision.  And congrats on calling this one right away, Owen.  I’m sure Mcookie-and-a-nap and his sympathizers will be chiming in with their plaudits any minute now.

   Posted by Tony Turner on November 05, 2007 at 1910 hrs




2. I have never met or even spoken to Todd Martens but I know people who have and everyone tells me that he is a very fair guy.

   I have known Mark Block for about 12-15 years and he absolutley would not make these calls if there was a hint of them being illegal.

   Posted by on November 05, 2007 at 1925 hrs




3. It seems obsurd to me that Mr Spettel would find it such a problem for citizens to be informed about getting $119,000,000 tax bill shoved down their throats. 

   “Its Time” for him to whine about something else!

   Posted by on November 05, 2007 at 2219 hrs




4. Wow -

   It took more time to debate the issue and watch Kris and Mcookie-and-a-nap twist themselves up trying to explain why this was illegal and/or unethical than it did for the DA to dismiss this.

   The irony is that IT got the story they wanted headed into the weekend and AFP got the story they wanted headed into the vote.  Everytime this issue gets press, it’s better for the referendum opposition.

   Posted by on November 05, 2007 at 2231 hrs




5. "I have known Mark Block for about 12-15 years and he absolutley would not make these calls if there was a hint of them being illegal.”

   Orv must have fallen off the cabbage truck.  Ask retired Supreme Court Justice John Wilcox about how fastidious Mr. Blockhead was when he ruined the former Justice’s good name and forced the former Justice to cough up what was at the time a record fine—$10,000. 

   That’s likely why the District Attorney felt it necessary to call Mr. Blockhead out by name—such is Mr. Blockhead’s reputation (or lack thereof)!

   Posted by on November 05, 2007 at 2254 hrs




6. Thanks for adding to the discourse, wally.

   And it’s TURNIP truck!  Get your colloquialisms right or don’t use any.

   Posted by on November 05, 2007 at 2317 hrs




7. I love it when political discussions turn into playground name calling… like, “Mr. Blockhead.” Brilliant!!!

   Posted by Fuzz on November 06, 2007 at 0731 hrs




8. Why don’t many of you bloggers grow up and just concetrate on the issues instead of descending immediatley into personal name callng etc?
   Let Dan Bice be the patheitc reporter around here.

   Posted by on November 06, 2007 at 1756 hrs