Wisconsin Assembly Speaker flaunts our democracy at our expense

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is one of the most powerful men in Madison. It looks like some of that power needs to be reigned in. Vos has the largest staff of any Wisconsin state lawmaker, with 14 people on his payroll. Or more accurately, our payroll, with a cost to taxpayers of over $1 million a year. As we reported earlier, as Assembly leader, Vos has hired a big Chicago law firm to defend the legislature’s drawing of legislative boundaries that has been tied up in the courts for years, with a cost to taxpayers of millions of dollars. Vos initially refused to disclose the details of the contract, but finally relented amid public pressure. The contract will line the pockets of these Chicago lawyers to the tune of $840,000 a year. And that cost could rise if the legal fight drags on. The law firm’s out of pocket expenses, including copying, travel and the hiring of consultants will cost taxpayers even more. For nearly $1 million, you’d think they could throw in the copying costs. Vos is the same lawmaker who led the effort to retain his party’s hold on power by limiting the power of our new Governor, and tried to limit early voting opportunities before that was thrown out by a federal judge. Vos continues to show he doesn’t respect Wisconsin taxpayers, voters, or open government. The fact that Wisconsin taxpayers are getting stuck with the bill makes it even more egregious.