Those who make the law should understand and comply with the law:
Two state lawmakers are trying to intervene in a lawsuit over the state’s stalled voter ID law, but they are refusing to say how they are paying for it.
The representatives who filed the motion – Robin Vos (R-Burlington) and Bob Ziegelbauer (I-Manitowoc) – refused to answer questions about the funding of the legal work for a week but indicated Thursday that they are seeking a review of whether they complied with state ethics laws.
“As I understand it, they’re trying to determine whether or not there is some technical problem, and if there is then I’m not going to be party to the program,” Ziegelbauer said. “If there’s any violation at all, I’ll just be detached from the whole program.”
State law bars public officials from receiving anything of value, including legal work, because of their public position. A lawyer on the other side of the case is questioning whether that happened in this case.
“I believe that they are being provided something of value that they’re not paying for,” attorney Lester Pines said. “I don’t believe you can give a public official something for free. They have to explain it.”