Thanks to Daniel Bice's piece in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel today, Wisconsinites are aghast at the $81,500 job given to Brian Deschane, son of the leader of one of Walker's biggest PAC contributors, Wisconsin Builders Association. (1)
It's not just the favoritism causing the buzz, either. At least when the father of Walker's pals, the Fabulous Fitzgerald Boys, got the top post at the State Patrol, he had credentials. (2)
Walker's latest controversy, however, has a less-than-stellar resume for managing a department overseeing environmental and regulatory matters: little management experience, no college degree, and two drunk driving convictions (the most recent in 2008). (1) You can see what is reported to be Deschane's actual LinkedIn resume here (thanks to sally305 for the tip). NOTE: This link no longer works (4/8/11). Hopefully our Deschane friend, now resigned from all government posts, will still be able to secure employment without it...
And the fun won't stop with Deschane. Walker's budget repair, according to the Journal Sentinel "would make existing civil-service positions into 37 new political appointments...That would allow Walker and agency secretaries to hire and fire employees in those positions at will." (3)
So to appease Walker's big-money donors, he can offer positions such as Deschane's and at least 37 more?
That won't be nearly enough.
ADDENDUM: The very next day, Walker "took action" after getting caught with his pants down regarding cronyism--he "demoted" Deschane to a $62,000/year job. Walker demotes son of campaign contributor, JS Online, 4/5/11 http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119283094.html
(1) No degree, little experience pay off big, JS Online, 4/3/11, http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/119159584.html
(2) Top lawmakers' father Stephen Fitzgerald to lead State Patrol, WI State Journal, 2/8/11 http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_5dbcb93c-3394-11e0-8091-001cc4c03286.html
(3) Walker gives himself more power..., JS Online,3/17/11 http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/118217614.html
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