Wisconsin lawmaker who took protest sign says military training taught him it was a safety risk

[riversedge]

Wisconsin lawmaker who took protest sign says military training taught him it was a safety risk
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/05/kooyenga-reaches-30-000-settlement-taking-tells-group-his-military-training-taught-him-sign-critical/490097002/



Patrick Marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Published 1:39 p.m. CT April 5, 2018 | Updated 1:34 p.m. CT April 6, 2018

Wisconsin Eye Senior Producer Steve Walters and WisPolitics.com Editor JR Ross discuss State Rep. Dale Kooyenga's removal of a protest sign. WisconsinEye
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(Photo: Associated Press)
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MADISON - State Rep. Dale Kooyenga said he removed a protest sign from the state Capitol last year — an act that is costing taxpayers $30,000 — in part because his military training had taught him the placement of the sign could endanger the public.

Kooyenga, a Brookfield Republican running for state Senate, also defended having taxpayers bankroll the $30,000 court settlement he reached for removing the sign and putting it in his office, video of a Wednesday town hall-style talk shows.

“I'm not going to give the complete details, but the military, when I was in the military, military intelligence — and when you have something like a sign against a curved wall in a place where it shouldn't be, is that is a clear risk, OK?” he told the crowd. “You can't just leave signs that conceal something in the public.”

State Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) called Kooyenga’s claims that the sign presented a risk laughable.

“This had nothing to do with military training,” Erpenbach said. “It had to do with he can’t control his emotions.”...................................

[lkinwi]

1. How do they come up with this stuff?

[riversedge]

3. The stupid was looking for an excuse but it was a #FAIL

[Zambero]

2. Gotta watch out for those curved walls!

Anyone knows that sign next to a curved wall demands a confiscation with $30,000 remedy. $100,000 short of a Stormy fix, but well worth it!!!!

[riversedge]

4. ha ha Now he play the VICTIM...

"Kooyenga told the crowd he should have handled the situation differently but largely blamed it on his political opponents."