Milwaukee cops buy off John Gard

This was on my "to do" list for today, but Owen Robinson has done it justice. We seldom agree, so write this one down if you're keeping score. From Boots and Sabers:

Gard Sells Out... Again

This is outrageous.

A bill that would cut off pay to fired Milwaukee police officers charged with crimes has been buried after a lobbying blitz by the politically connected Milwaukee police union.

Assembly Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo) said Tuesday that the bill would not come up for a vote unless both sides agree on a compromise. The union wants its own bill to be taken up in a later legislative session. City officials, bill supporters and a political observer said that by requiring a compromise, Gard is all but ensuring the bill dies.

“It puts them in the driver’s seat. If the union is not willing to make any changes, then the union has succeeded in killing it,” said Mike McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a non-partisan group that tracks political contributions.

Gard’s campaign received a $5,000 donation from the police union’s political action committee in June for his congressional campaign, according to Federal Election Commission records. Sen. Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center), the Senate majority leader, received $7,000 from the union in 2003 and 2004 when he ran for Congress, FEC records show.

This is a good bill that is perfectly in line with Conservative principles. Actually, the previous version of this bill, which was stronger, was even better.

I suspect that this looks like exactly what it is. Gard is going to kill the bill because the union gave him campaign cash. It is further proof that John Gard is not the honorable Conservative that he used to, or claims to, be.

I’m waiting for some Republican leaders to condemn him. Where are you Mark Green? Scott Walker? Anyone? Bueller?

Earlier post: Milwaukee cops give, Milwaukee cops get.