Did Governor Violate Ethics Rules?

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Posted Wednesday, September 3, 2008 --- 2:20pm

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Questions have been raised as to whether Governor Doyle violated ethics rules by having one of his staffers write the speech he delivered at the Democratic National Convention.

Using state resources for personal gain is a violation of the ethics law.

State staffer Lee Sensenbrenner wrote the speech and not a Doyle campaign worker. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports Sensenbrenner and the governor thought it was appropriate because Doyle was promoting Wisconsin on a national stage.

Government Accountability Board director Jonathan Becker says the speech might pass muster if it focused on state issues and policies rather than partisanship. He won't say whether the panel is looking into the matter.

While Doyle speech at the convention promoted Wisconsin workers, the governor also urged support for Democrat Barack Obama and criticized Republican John McCain.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 8, 2008 at 03:58 PM
I don't know? When didn't she? She sure got alot of money for Alaska. Oops, I did it again...sorry.

Posted by: Blane Location: Madison on Sep 6, 2008 at 02:13 AM
What a stupid question! how about going for the short list- when DIDN'T the governor violate ethics rules?

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 4, 2008 at 05:08 PM
"Did Governor Violate Ethics Rules." I'm sure Governor Palin did. Can't wait to see what comes out of her closet. Running for federal office always brings out the skeletons. Oh wait...never mind...I guess I should have read the whole story.

Posted by: Cheney on Sep 4, 2008 at 05:01 PM
What do I care!?! My pockets are lined with Haliburton money and oil lobbyists. 4 more years!! 4 more years!! 4 more years!!

Posted by: meesha Location: reality on Sep 4, 2008 at 04:14 PM
Oh bother, tell your political crap to my brother who died in Iraq in a war that was founded on lies. A lot of the politicians are spoiled rich kids who have had damn near everything in life handed to them with no reponsibility or accountability. Why should they change when put into an elected office? Take money from big corporations and vote on issues depending on who and how much money was lining their pockets! Our Founding Fathers would be ashamed and embarrased of the way our Government has turned out, let alone the country! Our politicians have forgotten that they are to serve the American people who voted them into office, not big oil, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies ect. ect. Until things of this nature are changed, it does not make a damn who gets voted into office, the results will be the same. Both parties are as crooked as the other

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Madison on Sep 4, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Get him out of Office now. Our Tax Dollars should not pay for this BS.

Posted by: Mary Location: Madison on Sep 4, 2008 at 11:36 AM
YEP ethics violation unless speech written outside of work hours, not on work premises, and person paid out of Govenor's own rich, deep, pockets. Will he be as bad as Chvala???

Posted by: oh bother Location: reality on Sep 4, 2008 at 11:07 AM
"Cheney", take your meds. This is about Doyle and his misuse of state tax money. Quit trying to tie up our federal tax payer money with your foolish quest of unfounded impeachment. Your inept national congress is wasteful enough - the last 2 years especially. Ya know who lied to me? Reid and Pelosi. And I pay over $3.60 a gallon as proof.

Posted by: c Location: Madison on Sep 4, 2008 at 10:19 AM
No we are not fools. It's just that people like him get to do whatever they want. It don't matter who you vote for, they've all got war chests to fill. Ethics don't mean anything.

Posted by: amazed Location: dane county on Sep 4, 2008 at 10:09 AM
In my opinion it's an ethical violation. He went only to the Democrat convention, promoted Obama, and criticized McCain. He probably traveled there on our tax payer money, and had a speech prepared by someone who is paid by our tax payer money. I can't say I'm surprised - these kinds of shenanigans are precisely why I have never voted for Doyle, and never will.

Posted by: Cheney on Sep 4, 2008 at 10:07 AM
If we can't get rid of Bush before he finishes his second term, who can we get rid of? Now that's a disgrace! BTW, we've supported a war on lies w/ no WMD's, like it or not.

Posted by: mel Location: madison on Sep 4, 2008 at 10:01 AM
He's a typical politician. Tell the people what they want to hear during the campaign and do what you want when elected. Your right Sam, he is a disgrace to the citizens of Wisconsin. Also, I have to throw this in the hat too. I see the lovely Kathleen Falk is going to run for a 4th term as Dane County Executive. Hopefully the people of Dane County have had enough of this disgrace of a public servant and do not re-elect her. It has become even more evident over the past 2 years that she is not concerned with what the citizens of Dane County have been telling her and would rather deal with her own agendas. These types of politicians must go!

Posted by: Tony Location: Madison on Sep 4, 2008 at 09:54 AM
Why should Doyle start worrying about ethics this late in his political career. Didn't vote for him ... wouldn't vote for him ... thanks, to the fools who did.

Posted by: Joseph on Sep 4, 2008 at 09:53 AM
I cant beleive this is even a rule. There are so many idiotic rules in government it is why we cant get anything done anymore. Both Doyle AND the person who allegedly wrote the speech are paid for with tax dollars, so it makes no difference who wrote the speech. What pisses me off is that we are going to spend money to investigate this, and that will probbly be more then I make in a year.

Posted by: Stephanie Location: Madison on Sep 4, 2008 at 06:49 AM
Did Chavala get in trouble for something along these lines? Suppose Doyle is just going to get a little slap on the wrist?

Posted by: sam and ally Location: sullivan on Sep 3, 2008 at 06:42 PM
Doyle is a disgrace to our state. While he is out shilling for St.Obama he claims he is supporting and promoting Wisconsin workers. Time to recall this fool or maybe we are the fools for voting him into office.

Posted by: HowDumb Location: Wisc on Sep 3, 2008 at 06:30 PM
This was a no-brainer: any communication at a partisan rally/convention is CLEARLY partisan by its very location, audience and nature. There is no counter-argument that holds as much water. The governor, an attorney & formerly our State Attorney General, should know that by heart so he has no excuse. However, if the Wisconsin Democratic Party wants to pay Mr. Sensenbrenner's salary for the time spent writing/editing/etc. the speech (including Sensenbrenner's benefits/retirement/etc. -- he DOES get those benefits as a state employee, right?!?) then I would think the deed could be forgiven. (It isn't like Tommy Thompson didn't do the same thing in his career! He just didn't get caught; when he did he would bluster & fuss & claim he was the state's best cheerleader. Nice pom-poms, Tommy!)

Posted by: kris Location: madtown on Sep 3, 2008 at 04:12 PM
always finding something to whine about.

Posted by: Anne Location: Madison on Sep 3, 2008 at 03:20 PM
So my tax dollars paid the salary of the guy who wrote the speech which promoted national partisan politics. So I'm paying to support a national politician, like it or not. Yup, ethics violation.

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