Northwoods Patriots: GAB WITHHOLDS SIGNATURES FROM THE PUBLIC

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

GAB WITHHOLDS SIGNATURES FROM THE PUBLIC

PLEASE QUICKLY SCAN THESE TWO ARTICLES IN ITALICS.

THEN START CONTACTING THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD (GAB) AND YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO RELEASE ALL SCANNED NAMES TO THE PUBLIC. SO THAT EFFORTS TO RECALL GOVERNOR WALKER ARE TRANSPARENT.

http://www.wisconsinreporter.com/privacy-concerns-stall-release-of-wi-recall-signatures

Wisconsin Reporter – M. D. Kittle – 1/30/2012

MADISON — What’s in a million names?

Wisconsin and the world were supposed to find out Monday.

Now, the Government Accountability Board, or GAB, which oversees state elections and campaigns, is reportedly holding off posting the reported 1 million signatures on petitions seeking to recall Gov. Scott Walker due to privacy concerns.

GAB spokesman Reid Magney told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Monday evening the board was holding off on posting the names online after hearing concerns about a stalking victim and others who did not want their names released.

The GAB’s move is unprecedented in unprecedented political times in a divided Badger State.

GAB Delays Release of Recall Petitions Over Privacy Worries

http://m.jsonline.com/138363309.htm?ua=android&dc=smart

JSOnline – Patrick Marley – 1/30/2012

In the past, the accountability board has treated recall petitions as public records, just as it has the routine nomination petitions that candidates must submit to get on the ballot.

Making both types of petitions available has allowed the general public to verify that enough proper signatures were gathered.

On Monday, the board heard from people who did not want their information disclosed for privacy reasons, which led the board to take more time to consider the issue, Magney said.

Bill Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, said that the petitions should be public and that he expected that they would be made public either by the accountability board or an outside group.

Lueders said signing a recall petition was a public act like signing a nomination signature for a candidate, not a private act such as voting.

"You can't sign a petition to recall an elected public official in secret," Lueders said.

http://gab.wi.gov/about/members

Send e-mail to gab@wi.gov

GAB's decision to prevent the public from viewing the WALKER RECALL PETITIONS is UNACCEPTABLE. Citizens of Wisconsin should immediately be contacting GAB and their ELECTED OFFICIALS to voice their opinion. Recall Petitions are public documents!

GAB’s general number: 608-266-8005

Kevin Kennedy: kevin.kennedy@wisconsin.gov

Nat Robinson: nat.robinson@wisconsin.gov

Reid Magney: 608-267-7887 reid.magney@wisconsin.gov

If you send an email to anyone at GAB, request that it be forwarded to the GAB judges.

We do not have the contact information for the GAB judges but here are their names and where they live.

Judge Barland, Eau Claire

Judge Gerald Nichol, Madison

Judge Michael Brennan, Marshfield

Judge Thomas Cane, Wausau

Judge David Deininger, Monroe

Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen: 608-266-1221 FAX: 608-267-2779