They are taking us backwards; the list is long: attacking working people's rights; cutting
millions from our education system; reducing important funding for university research; taking
away people's health care; stopping progress on alternative energy and public transportation;
cutting taxes for the 1% while reducing the incomes of thousands of working people and turning
back many environmental protections critical to our state's future.

This cannot and it will not stand because although the state of our State may not be great,
I can tell you that the state of the People of Wisconsin is great. You collected almost two
million signatures which has started the return of our state to its progressive traditions.

Remember, this is Wisconsin and our motto is "Forward"!

• I think we need to be cautious about this decision; this may be the most important
  election in recent history.

• I agree with Dave Obey, we do not need to rush in making our decisions.

• I really want to defeat Walker; I don’t "need" to be governor, but I would run if it is clear
  that I am our best chance to beat him.

• At this point I don’t know who is the strongest candidate; most, except Kohl and maybe
  Feingold, have negatives.

This is why I keep stressing the importance of independent polling. I would hope this would take
place in the next few weeks, as individuals express their intrest in this important race.

Now there is growing talk and speculation about who would be a good candidate against Walker in
the recall election. As you might guess, I have been getting a number of suggestions that I should
run; for example, on the way to the office this morning five people commented to me to that effect.
One, a teacher, who when he learned who I was, was very excited about the idea of a La Follette
running against the man who has turned back much of the Progressive principles of Fighting Bob.

So why hasn’t the news media ever mentioned my name, and I also have not seen a poll matching
me against Walker. I think this might have a very interesting result.

My question is, do you all think I should take the idea seriously? Of course, I could never do it
without your support and help.

First of course, defeat Walker.

Second, put together a team of attorneys who can determine which of his actions can be
reversed by executive order which I would do the first weeks in office.

Third, appoint people to run our State agencies who respect education, worker’s rights,
environment protection and other critical values.

Fourth, if we are not successful in getting control of the State Senate, I would veto
any bad legislation that was passed.

Finally, we have to realize that until we gain control of both houses, we will not be
able to reverse his attack on our State and begin to pass legislation to get Wisconsin back
on its progressive track. Therefore, one of my and all of our, efforts will need to be
electing people to the Assembly and Senate in the November election.

For now, most importantly, I think there needs to be some serious statewide polling to
determine who our strongest candidate would be. If that is not me, I will enthusiastically
support them.

Sincerely, Doug

From his office atop a building opposite the state Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin, Secretary
of State Doug La Follette keeps watch on the comings and goings of the political mandarins who
see governing as a game rather than the serious work of democracy. Once, decades ago, La Follette
was one of the young stars of Wisconsin politics and he too played the games, as a state senator
and contender for congressional nominations. But long ago he settled into what has always been
the least partisan of state constitutional offices.

Now, however, La Follette finds himself at the center of the political wrangling of a state
he has loved and served for four decades. A governor born just three years before La Follette
entered Wisconsin politics forced legislators to enact an ill—conceived law designed to radically
restructure state government while stripping public employees of collective bargaining rights.
The governor’s actions have been so extreme that the senior member of the state legislature
characterizes the newly — elected executive as "dictatorial." La Follette cannot abide
by that. As a longtime champion of the system of checks and balances that has served Wisconsin
well since 1848, the secretary of state says, "I thought there were too many unanswered questions,
I noted confusion and I worried about all legal challenges and the concerns about possible
violations of open meetings rules."

But, most of all, La Follette worried about the thousands of local officials — school board
members, city councilors, village trustees, town board members — who suddenly found themselves
in the middle of debates about whether to quickly renew or alter existing collective bargaining
agreements. As someone who has worked closely with those local officials — many of whom
serve part time — he decided it was wise to slow the process down. So, under his powers as
the elected secretary of state, he delayed publication of the new law for ten days.

Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi ruled that a joint Assembly — Senate conference
committee did not provide the public with adequate notice before approving the bill March 9,
emphasizing the importance of open government in remarks during her ruling.

"This was something that would and did catch the public unaware," Sumi said,
"what ended up being a closed session of a body in propelling legislation forward."

Sumi’s decision was made soon after hearing arguments from Dane County District Attorney
Ismael Ozanne and Assistant Attorney General Maria Lazar. There was no witness testimony.
Sumi also denied a motion by Lazar to stay the restraining order pending an appeal.

Assistant Attorney General Steven Means said afterward that the state plans a quick appeal.

"The reason they have appellate courts is because circuit court judges make errors,
and we think that happened in this case," Means said.

He added that the bill is significant to the state, and the ruling raises significant
constitutional issues about when "a court can interfere in the legislative process."

The law prohibits most state and local employees from bargaining over anything other than wages
and imposes higher costs on public workers for their health insurance and pensions. Walker says
the measure is necessary to reduce state spending and give local governments the "flexibility"
they need to adjust to deep cuts in state aid.

Sumi set a hearing on a longer—term order blocking the bill for March 28. That is expected
to take much longer, with a number of witnesses expected to testify.

But in response to a question from Lazar, Sumi said she can’t stop the Legislature from
re—convening properly — noticed hearings and passing the bill again.

Friday’s ruling bars Secretary of State Doug La Follette from publishing the law, the
last step before it can take effect. La Follette had planned to publish the law on March 25,
which would cause it to take effect the following day.

Walker, who signed the bill last week, had asked La Follette to publish it sooner. But
La Follette said he saw no urgency to move the law ahead and wanted to give legal challenges a chance
to run their course.

"I feel pretty good, to be honest," La Follette said, adding he received a lot of negative
feedback from supporters of the law urging him to publish it. "It seemed prudent and conservative
to wait and see what the courts said, and it turns out I was right."

La Follette also said more than nine inten of all bills signed in the last two years were
published on the tenth day.

"This wasn’t something special," he said. "This is what we do unless
there’s an emergency and there wasn’t an emergency here."

Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said the legislation is still working through the legal process.

"We are confident the provisions of the budget repair bill will become law in the near future,"
Werwie said in a statement.

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who is also suing the state to block the bill from becoming law,
congratulated Ozanne.

"The District Attorney is right and courageous to protect the rule of law, respect for citizens,
the need for open, honest government from a governor and Republican legislators who have trampled those
values," Falk said.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R — Juneau, had no immediate comment.
Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald,R — Horicon, could not be immediately reached.

State Rep. Mark Pocan, D — Madison, applauded the decision and said he hoped Walker would
abide by it.

"In FitzWalkerstan, Republicans didn’t follow the rule of law in their haste to bust unions
and balance the Wisconsin budget on the backs of the middle — class" Pocan said.

In her decision, Sumi said she was making no judgment on the merits of the bill and was deciding only
the open meetings issue. She said the state chiefly had to show a probability that it would succeed on the
merits of its case and that irreparable harm would occur if it did not.

Sumi said that under state law, the conference committee was required to give the public 24 hours’
notice of its meeting unless it had good cause to hold a meeting on shorter notice. Even that would have
required two hours notice, she said. Lazar admitted during her argument that she did not have proof
that the meeting was posted on a legislative bulletin board two hours before it began.

Lazar also argued that a violation of the Open Meetings Law merited forfeitures but not an injunction
blocking La Follette from publishing the bill.

Sumi said, however, that the violation calls for a more serious consequence than fines.

"I think the question might be asked, how can something so apparently minor, the failure to
provide timely notice prior to a meeting..stop a bill in its tracks," Sumi said. "My
answer to that is: It’s not minor. It’s not a minor detail."

* Created an Office website to provide quick and easy access to frequently requested forms,
information and links.

* Redesigned the Office of the Secretary of State’s phone system to provide a personal and
efficient response.

* Improved service to the public by implementing modern office and computer systems and assisted
citizens in accessing public information.

As Chair of the Wisconsin Public Lands Commission Doug protected Wisconsin’s resources for our
children’s future by managing the people’s land using sustainable forestry practices.

Sec. La Follette has actively assisted numerous citizens’ groups with their efforts to
protect Wisconsin’s environment.

Doug holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and was a Professor at the University of
Wisconsin — Parkside in Kenosha. He taught chemistry and environmental science.

Doug’s concerns for state issues lead him to be elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1972
where he established a progressive voting record.

He introduced legislation to protect: family farms from corporate takeover, consumer’s
right to truthful advertising and veterans’ benefits.