School, college and other closings for Monday

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support


MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin's Republican Gov. Scott Walker
has reversed the promotion of a 27-year-old son of a lobbyist whose
appointment to an $81,500 administration job sparked cronyism
claims by Democrats.


      Walker's spokesman Cullen Werwie said in a statement Tuesday
that Brian Deschane will return to his previous $65,000 job with
the Department of Regulation and Licensing just two days after the
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel first reported his hiring and promotion.


      It's the latest chapter in the ongoing showdown between Walker
and Democratic legislators, including senators who fled the state
on Feb. 17 to temporarily delay a vote on a bill ending most union
rights for public workers.


      Deschane had been promoted to head up a division within the
Commerce Department that oversees environmental and regulatory
matters and dozens of employees, even though he has no college
degree and little management experience.

      His division was scheduled to be moved from Commerce back to DRL
under a restructuring proposed by Walker.


      Werwie says when Walker learned of the staffing decision, he
ordered that Deschane be put back in his original job as bureau
director of board services within DRL. He got that job after being
recommended for it by Walker's chief of staff.


      Werwie said a replacement for the post he is vacating will be
named soon.


      The announcement of his demotion came just minutes after
Assembly Democrats proposed eliminating his $81,500 position
altogether.


      "This is the problem with cronyism," said Democratic Assembly
Minority Leader Peter Barca. "This is it, right here."


      Republicans rejected the proposal just before Walker announced
the demotion.


      Deschane is the son of Jerry Deschane, a longtime lobbyist for
the Madison-based Wisconsin Builders Association. The group's
political action committee gave $29,000 to the campaigns of Walker
and his running mate, putting it among the campaign's top donors.


      The Journal Sentinel reported that members of the trade group
also funneled more than $92,000 to Walker's campaign over the past
two years, bringing the contribution total to $121,652.

Gallery

Politics and Government News

Wisconsin's Republican Gov. Scott Walker
has reversed the promotion of a 27-year-old son of a lobbyist whose
appointment to an $81,500 administration job sparked cronyism
claims by Democrats.

Wis. gov reverses appointment criticized by Dems

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox