Accountability Matters - Talk vs Actions Series

Public Policy Review
Area: Accountability in WI Government
Source: Secretary Mike Huebsch - Department of Administration

MILWAUKEE, WI - From time-to-time, MPA Public Policy Review will note/match/contrast, what our elected-appointed-hired-volunteered public servants say with what they do - Code of Conduct - Transparency - Accountability - Best Practice - Customer Care - Due Diligence - TRUSTABILITY

The first in this month's series is: Secretary Mike Huebsch, DOA.

Take a listen to his comments regarding the State of Union speech by Governor Scott Walker.

MPA PUBLIC POLICY COMMENTS with Grade
We offer the following as to his administration efforts over the last two months:
-- right-the-wrong
-- accountability
-- set apart
-- attractiveness to business
-- creating environments to grow
-- not playing the gimmicks/tricks

On May 5, 2011, the Department of Administration was contacted for public information regarding contracts - procurement of services, goods, and other funding via the UW Regents Milwaukee Initiative ($240 million) and Senate Bill 514 ($176 million). The inquiry was directed to Mr. David Osborne (report to Deputy Peter Maternowski), he referred my office to Mr. Gil Funk (report to Division Administrator Jeff Plale - who was a/the leader on Senate Bill 514), he then referred me to Attorney Gregory Murray, counsel for DOA. Counsel Murray reports directly to Secretary Huesbsch.

On July 5, 2011, two months after original request and information requested not received, I contacted "formally" Secretary Mike Huebsch for documentation requested. This contact was in addition to previous "cc" (computer copy) information regarding same.

As of today, my office has not received a Code of Conduct "courtesy" response from either Secretary Huebsch or Counsel Gregory Murray.

I have talked with twice and twice received a response from Ms. Patricia Reardon, Paralegal for Counsel Murray (June 15, 2011 and July 13, 2011) - I have called Mr. Murray's office twice and spoke with Ms. Reardon.

In a news release, 12/30/10, per WKBT-TV News 8 news8@wkbt.com, to be Secretary Huebsch stated, "I'm looking forward to working with Governor-elect Walker and the fantastic cabinet he has chosen. The individuals he has appointed understand the challenge we have before us and are ready to get Wisconsin working again."

Grade D
The grade for Code of Conduct is a "D" for Secretary Huebsch administration so far. As for Secretary Huebsch respect for a Wisconsinites request for public information and his office leadership - due diligence. It is not inline with his quotes or the above video.

It is not what is expected of a 16-year state assembly veteran legislator (who by experience know the importance of response to citizenry).

It is also a "D" in showing respect for the state statutes that governs his office for the state of Wisconsin - state statute compliance relating to:

16.001 Organization of department. (1) PURPOSES. The purposes of this chapter are to conserve the state’s resources by coordinating management services and providing effective aid to agencies of the state government; to present clearly defined alternatives and objectives of state programs and policies so that the state’s agencies, the governor and the legislature may plan cooperatively and finance the services which the state will provide for its citizens; to help the state’s agencies furnish the agreed upon services as efficiently and effectively as possible, avoiding any duplication of effort or waste of money; to assure the legislature and the governor that the services are being provided to the public at the agreed upon quantity, quality and cost; and to anticipate and resolve administrative and financial problems faced by the agencies, governor and legislature of the state.

HOWEVER, in view of his statement of "righting wrong" and the contact today of Ms. Reardon, Paralegal, we will see if Secretary Huebsch and Counsel Murray amend this major faux pax - basic communication courtesy, building trust, "righting the wrong", creating an environment to grow, not to play the gimmicks/tricks, accountability; and setting themselves apart for the better.

It is important that those responsible to the Oath, state statutes, state constitution and U.S. Constitution do right by ALL Wisconsinites. It is the law.

Attractiveness to government and growth is not being shared with African American, other People of Color and the Work-Challenged - That is not what has happen at UW-Milwaukee.

To get to the bottom of this type of unjustice, we asked for public records at UW-Milwaukee.

According to UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mike Lovell, the Department of Administration is the distributor of goverment funds for the projects my office asked him to provide information.

We will report follow-up.

MPA Public Policy Review - Secretary Mike Huebsch, Department of Administration for Wisconsin.

Talk vs Action Series
July 13, 2011