This can get you fired in Republican controled Wisconsin state government:
Chris Larsen, a low-level Wisconsin state employee, was fired for the apparent cause of using his work e-mail to mock and disparage state policy to his co-workers, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The policy in question: The state's decision for DMV employees to not tell citizens about the availability of free photo identification to satisfy the state's new Voter-ID law, unless they ask first.
Larsen, a limited-term employee at the state Department of Safety and Professional Services, sent this e-mail Thursday morning to colleagues, encouraging them to tell all their friends about the free ID cards:
"Do you know someone who votes that does not have a State ID that meets requirements to vote? Tell them they can go to the DMV/DOT and get a free ID card. However they must ask for the free ID. a memo was sent out by the 3rd in command of the DMV/DOT. The memo specifically told the employees at the DMV/DOT not to inform individuals that the ID's are free. So if the individuals seeking to get the free ID does not ask for a free ID, they will have to pay for it!!
"Just wanted everyone to be informed!! REMEMBER TO TELL ANYONE YOU KNOW!! ANYONE!! EVEN IF THEY DON'T NEED THE FREE ID, THEY MAY KNOW SOMEONE THAT DOES!! SO TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!"
The policy Larsen is complaining about is pretty shocking and exactly as described by Larsen in his email:
The Madison Capital Times reports that in the latest development in the controversy over the state's new Voter-ID law, recently passed by state Republicans, a memo written by a state Department of Transportation official instructs employees at the Division of Motor Vehicles not to directly offer applicants the option of a free photo identification card -- but only to assist if people directly ask for it.
The option of free photo identification is necessary in order to prevent the law from clearly becoming a poll tax -- a tax or fee required in order to vote, which was made unconstitutional under the 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1964. Unless applicants check the appropriate box on the DMV's new forms, there will be a fee of $28.
The memo written by Steve Krieser, executive secretary at the Department of Transportation, instructs DMV employees: "While you should certainly help customers who come in asking for a free ID to check the appropriate box, you should refrain from offering the free version to customers who do not ask for it."
Krieser defended the memo, telling the Capital Times that the Voter-ID law does not have language requiring DMV employees to ask people who request a photo ID whether they needed it for voting, or for other purposes. "If the person initiates that direction, then certainly, we will help them. We will not be coy," said Krieser. "But we still are not going to be selling it at the counter as a free ID."
It took me two tries to get registered to vote in VA, the first time I had to work that hard. Supposedly I didn't check some box certifying my elegibility to vote. And I was paying attention and probably count as educated and competent to do paper work.
Comments