WI Senate Dem Recall Win Yielding Documents, Public Information

Republicans had been chortling that the Democratic Party's reclaimed control of the State Senate with John Lehman's win in Racine was nothing more than symbolic, as the Senate is not scheduled to be in session until after the November elections, when the GOP thinks it will retake control.

But wait, there's more: Turns out that the flip in partisan control means the GOP now has to turn over records to incoming majority Democrats that make the GOP look bad, and dishonest, to boot, as this first batch of released records shows, courtesty of the Wisconsin State Journal:

Wisconsin's Republican legislative leaders have said the voting district maps they drew last year were not aimed at political advantage, but new documents made public Tuesday show they discussed ways to increase the number of "safe" and "leaning" GOP districts and to protect conservative incumbents.

In one email, state Sen. Leah Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa, offered these thoughts about redrawing her district: "Western Wauwatosa — yes (more GOP)," "West Milwaukee — No (forgot to mention this part of current district — VERY Dem" and "Milwaukee — cop wards if needed..."

The documents were among hundreds turned over to new Senate Majority Leader Mark Miller, D-Monona, by Michael Best & Friedrich, hired by Republicans when they controlled the state Senate.

So elections have multiple consequences: look for more disclosures on issues from redistricting to mining.

There's more to controlling a legislative house than floor voting - - and in this case, the public gets a deeper look-see at the special sausage GOP legislators cooked up, with public money.