Open deliberations, New/old VA Secretary, Recycling funding, Here and Now preview

After no criminal charges were filed yesterday in regards to last month’s incident between Justice David Prosser and Justice Ann Walsh Bradly, the Supreme Court’s chief justice issued her own statement, calling for what might be a unique path forward toward civility.

Justice Shirley Abrahamson said in a statement released that she would propose to her colleagues that “court conferences are open to the public.” She did not elaborate as to whether that meant deliberations would be open to the public. Currently, oral arguments on cases before the justices as well as its own meetings setting up court rules and finances are open to the public.

Former State Supreme Court Justice and now Marquette University Law Professor Janine Geske told The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that no other appellate court in the country allows court deliberations to be viewed by the public and asserted that doing so, if that is the Chief Justice’s goals, could “create huge problems in decision-making.”

Here’s Chief Justice Abrahamson’s full statement:

Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson

“With respect to the prospect of criminal prosecution the district attorney has reached the conclusion not to prosecute, a decision that should be respected. Media sources have reported that the issues presented by these events are of longer standing and larger than the question of a criminal violation. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has a long history and a reputation for excellence, a reputation that all justices must uphold. As Chief Justice, I remain committed – as ever – that the court be maintained as a place where disputes are resolved, not created. Each justice owes the others and the people of the state civility and personal control in our language, demeanor, and temperament in the conference room and on and off the bench. To promote these ends, I will propose to the Court at the start of the new term that the presumption will be that court conferences are open to the public.”

SCOCOS BACK AS VA SECRETARY

Using a new law passed and signed earlier this year, Gov. Scott Walker re-appointed former Department of Veterans Affairs

Secretary John Scocos back to the position he held until 2009 when he was fired from the position by the state’s Board of Veterans Affairs. The new law takes the power to hire and fire the VA Secretary from the board and gives it to the governor with the charge to consult at least six Wisconsin veterans organizations before making a decision.

The governor included statements from 14 different veterans groups including the state’s biggest, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars in his news release announcing Scocos’ appointment.

Scocos, who is suing the state over his dismissal in 2009, said in interviews yesterday that he was not dropping the lawsuit and that he had not discussed the suit with the governor. The two men worked together in the mid-1990′s in the State Assembly when Gov. Walker was a representative and Scocos served as the chamber’s Chief Clerk.

Scocos was dismissed shortly after returning from a second tour of duty in Iraq and he is currently in the U.S. Army Retired Reserve. The board said issues came to light while he was overseas that showed he had made key decisions without their input like raising fees at a veterans nursing home. An audit showed hundreds of thousands of dollars in overspending at a state veterans facility as well.

However, the governor said no one was more qualified than Scocos for the position, stating in his release, that “while Secretary, Scocos helped guide the passage of the Wisconsin GI Bill and the creation of the Mission Welcome Home Program. His experience will be beneficial as WDVA explores options to improve the solvency of the Veterans Trust Fund and begins operation of a new veteran’s nursing home.”

RECYCLING MONEY

You may remember one of the battles in the state budget was over money that has helped local communities pay for recycling programs. Initially, the governor’s plan called for the $32 million per year line item to be removed entirely, but instead, lawmakers cut roughly 40% of that, or $13 million, to help balance the budget.

Now, two Democrats are proposing to restore that funding. Rep. Mark Pocan

(D-Madison) and Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) are circulating a proposal to direct $26 million over the next two years to help local communities continue to recycle.

“Protecting our environment through responsible recycling programs not only protects our natural resources, but it’s good for business and good for our economy,” said Pocan in a news release. “When we weaken recycling programs by raiding their funding, what does that say to families trying to teach their kids about protecting the environment?”

HERE AND NOW PREVIEW

Tonight’s program is a busy one. Frederica looks at the upcoming U.S. Senate race to replace U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin). She’ll speak with former Tommy Thompson aide, Bill McCoshen.

We’ll speak with Ken Taylor of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families about the Council’s sponsored “Kids Count” and what it says about the latest child welfare statistics in Wisconsin.

Several state public worker unions have filed a lawsuit against the budget repair bill. An attorney working on behalf of those unions, Susan Crawford, will appear in our Madison studio. A Milwaukee guest, Marquette Law School Professor Rick Esenberg, will speak to his view of the constitutionality of the repair bill and its impact on unions.

And finally, Frederica’s “Money Matters” report, a joint project with our friends at Wisconsin Public Radio, covers the impact of the state budget on transportation issues. You can find all of our Money Matters reports on line.

Here and Now airs tonight at 7:30 p.m. on Wisconsin Public Television.