WKOW wants the Governor to turn over any records relating to his consideration for planting troublemakers in the crowd of Capitol Protestors

Here is the text of a Open Records request that Madison Channel 27 - WKOW served on the Governor's office on Friday:

Brian Hagedorn
Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Scott Walker
Dear Mr. Hagedorn:


In accordance with Wisconsin’s Open Records statute, WKOW-TV, Madison, requests an opportunity to view any materials created by Governor Walker, or the governor’s staff members pertaining to the governor’s consideration of planting individuals in the crowd of demonstrators who have been present in and around the state capitol from Feb. 15, 2011 to the present date.


A transcript of a telephone call between the governor and Ian Murphy during the week of Feb.20-Feb. 26 includes the governor’s acknowledgment of such consideration by the governor:
Murphy:   “We’ll back you any way we can.   What we were thinking about the crowd was, uh, was planting some troublemakers.”
Governor Walker:   “You know, well, the only problem with that  -  because we thought about that.   The problem -  the,  my only gut reaction to that is right now the lawmakers I’ve talked to have just completely had it with them, the public is not really fond of this.   My only fear would be if there’s a ruckus caused is that maybe the governor has to settle to solve all these problems.”


During a Feb. 23 Fox News interview with Fox News correspondent Greta Van Susteren,  Governor Walker also referenced the consideration involved “lawmakers” in some capacity.


WKOW’s request for created materials includes, but is not limited to, draft plans, correspondence, calendar notations and e-mails.   WKOW’s request for created materials also encompasses any receipt of materials by the governor and the governor’s staff members in connection such consideration, and any response to received materials.


WKOW’s request for created materials includes, but is not limited to, draft plans, correspondence, calendar notations and e-mails.   WKOW’s request for created materials also encompasses any receipt of materials by the governor and the governor’s staff members in connection such consideration, and any response to received materials.  

The letter shown on WKOW's web site doesn't show the signer, but Tony Galli won an award from the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council in March of last year that stated, in part:

The veteran reporter for WKOW Ch. 27 in Madison breaks a lot of stories by making prodigious use of the state’s open records laws. This year he used public records to confirm that a controversial judicial pick was passed up as a finalist by a nominating committee.

I pulled up the interview of Governor Walker on Van Susteren's show on February 24 from Fox New's website, because I wanted to hear what the governor said about discussing with legislators "planting  troublemakers"  The discussion about the call with Pretend Koch runs from 18:18 to 21:42.  The Governor's acknowledgement that he spoke with "legislators and others" about "riling things up" is at 19:50.

I thought Greta was fairly aggressive in questioning the Governor, borderline cross-exam style.