This press release from Rep. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), ranking member on the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee, shows just how little respect Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson and the UW-Madison Law School have for Wisconsin law (note; all emphasis is in the original):
January 22, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rep. Steve Nass (608) 266-5715Chief Justice’s Campaign Using Public Website to Obtain Campaign Staff Nass: UW-Law School Website Pushing "Internships" for Abrahamson Campaign.
State Representative Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), Ranking Republican on the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee, is challenging Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson’s use of the UW-Madison Law School to obtain campaign workers by calling it an "internship." The Abrahamson campaign positions are being treated as "career opportunities" in the eyes of officials at the UW-Madison Law School. Use of public resources for campaign purposes is prohibited under Wisconsin law.
"It appears that the Chief Justice’s campaign is using her influence and office to solicit campaign workers through the UW-Madison Law School. The description of these internships is clearly unseemly, unethical and possibly illegal," Nass said.
The "internship" description makes clear that the individuals will be involved in fundraising, phone banking, canvassing and get out the vote operations. The internship notice was submitted by Jane Heymann, Assistant Dean for Career Services at the UW Law School. Nass noted that he will be communicating with Chancellor Biddy Martin and requesting that the use of public resources to promote these campaign positions be ceased immediately.
"This was clearly not a simple mistake on the part of the Abrahamson Campaign or the UW-Madison Law School. This is just another example of the liberals in Madison wanting laws and rules enforced on other people, but openly defying the same standards," Nass said….
Rep. Nass went on to include the wording of the posting. Since I have multimedia capabilities, I’ll do one better and include a screencap of the web page (which was still up as of 11:19 am):
Click for the full-sized picture.
I somehow doubt UW would have done the same for either Abrahamson’s opponent, Judge Randy Koschnick, or any of the sitting conservative members of the Supreme Court.
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Just curious, what statute do you feel this violates? You can’t just proclaim the law without providing an authority. Nass neglected to provide the statute and his own campaign did the same thing at U.W. Whitewater. Darn glass houses.
Your “doubt” is un-merited as the career center has publicly stated that it would welcome Judge Koschnick’s postings:
“We would be delighted to run that announcement in our next newsletter,” she said. “If it’s anything we think law students might be interested in we’re happy to oblige.”