Stacking the deck

If you wanted to get a reading on what the people of Wisconsin think about a constitutional amendment to limit government revenues and spending, where would you go?

Why, to the middle of Waukesha County, the hotbed of anti-tax, anti-government sentiment in the entire state.

The Republican leadership in the legislature, reluctantly, has decided to have an actual public hearing on Bride of TABOR, which they like to call the Taxpayer Protection Amendment, instead of having invitation-only "hearings" where they pick and choose the witnesses.

So they plunk the hearing down at the Country Springs Hotel on I-94, near Pewaukee, a favorite spot for Republican fundraisers, and a long ways from anyone who might actually want to testify against the amendment.

If that's not enough to insure an anti-tax mob, Wis. Manufacturers and Commmerce (one of those "shadowy" groups that doesn't disclose who's paying for the radio ads its running on the issue) is paying for auto calls from Republican radio's Charlie Sykes and others to tens of thousands of conservative voters in southeastern Wisconsin, urging them to attend, WisPolitics reports.

The hearing of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee will be at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. If you're going to testify against the amendment, consider wearing body armor.

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UPDATE: We've established that Journal Broadcasting has no problem throwing its corporate support behind a political issue, ad evidenced by the free radio spots Sykes aired on school choice.

So this script, where he identifies himself as WTMJ's guy, should come as no surprise, I guess. But the line between corporate contributions, lobbying on an issue before the legislature, and issue advocacy by WMC has been totally erased now. It's not just Sykes who's a shameless shill for the right wing agenda; it's his employer, too. The script for autocalls to voters:

Hi, this is Charlie Sykes from WTMJ with an important taxpayer alert.

On Wednesday at 4 o'clock, the legislature is holding a hearing on Wisconsin Taxpayer Amendment at the Country Springs hotel on I 94 in Pewaukee.

You need to attend to counter the gloom and doom from the teachers' union and others.

The amendment caps taxes and will lower our tax burden. It's common sense, but the politicians need to hear from you.

Please, go the hearing, and tell the committee to vote yes on the Taxpayer Protection Amendment.

Wisconsin will only lower its tax burden if our citizens reclaim our government. I

If you can't attend the hearing, please call 800 362 9472 and tell your legislators to vote yes on the Wisconsin Taxpayer Protection Amendment.

Thank you.

ANNOUNCER: A message from the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce.