WIS. DOT Secratary Mark Gottleib turning a blind eye on voter ID

[Ellipsis]

The state official whose agency issues photo IDs for voting stood by a controversial new policy in a letter to a state lawmaker Friday, saying agency staffers are not obliged to point out to customers that the cards are free - customers have to ask for them.

The letter, sent from state Department of Transportation Secretary Mark Gottlieb to Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, cites a section of the controversial voter photo ID bill passed into law May 25 and says the language of the bill "clearly places responsibility on the applicant to request that the product be issued without cost."

"The fact that not all IDs are issued for free does not mean that effective notice is not being provided or that anyone who is entitled to a free ID is being denied that product," writes Gottlieb, a former Republican lawmaker recently tapped by Walker to head the department.

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To make sure the state continues to collect the $28 fee for a photo ID from the felons and teens, the department is rejecting a proactive policy that would inform all customers -- including the estimated 178,000 senior citizens statewide who lack photo ID -- that they are free.

More...

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/capitol-report/article_3b05bba8-db16-11e0-bce2-001cc4c002e0.html



...and then of course there is this.



State worker fired after email about free IDs


Larsen's email read, "Do you know someone who votes that does not have a State ID that meets requirements to vote? Tell them they can go to the DMV/DOT and get a free ID card. However they must ask for the free ID. a memo was sent out by the 3rd in command of the DMV/DOT. The memo specifically told the employees at the DMV/DOT not to inform individuals that the ID's are free. So if the individuals seeking to get the free ID does not ask for a free ID, they will have to pay for it!!"

Larsen added, "Just wanted everyone to be informed!! REMEMBER TO TELL ANYONE YOU KNOW!! ANYONE!! EVEN IF THEY DON'T NEED THE FREE ID, THEY MAY KNOW SOMEONE THAT DOES!! SO TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!"

His firing was first reported Thursday morning by John "Sly" Sylvester during his talk show on WTDY-AM (1670).

Larsen, who had no role in issuing IDs, told WTDY he had no previous disciplinary problems, other than leaving work early once, since he began working for the department in December 2010.



http://www.superiortelegram.com/event/article/id/57621/group/homepage/


John Murray, the executive assistant at the Department of Safety and Professional Services, confirmed Larsen had been fired Thursday and said the firing is under review. He said Larsen had a series of documented work rule violations, including past instances of inappropriately using work email.

Larsen, however, said he had not previously been disciplined.


http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/129469023.html









This is not my Wisconsin.

[secondwind]

1. This is so astonishing... I cannot believe that this is LEGAL. I hardly recognize Wisconsin !

[N7Shepard]

2. I wonder if Sykes or Belling reported this

[N7Shepard]

3. Remember Walker saying WI state employees had

the best civil service protections in the US?

[Ellipsis]

4. mornin' kick