DOJ kicking ass with more than just coins

K.A.E.D. It stands for Kick Ass Every Day. And it is the motto of Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel. He is so fond of the saying, he had it printed on some commemorative coins that he hands out to promote the job his agency is doing. Schimel got in some hot water back in January when it was revealed that he spent $10,000 in taxpayer money on the profane coins. He defended the spending, but admitted at the time that he didn’t know exactly how much money was being spent to buy them. Now we know. The group One Wisconsin Now filed an open records request, and learned Schimel was spending way more than $10,000, and was buying more than just commemorative coins. We have learned that taxpayers were hit with nearly $53,000 in spending on swag. Pens, backpacks, visor clips, golf towels, lanyards and plastic tumblers, all purchased at taxpayer expense. All for shameless self-promotion. They were often handed out to police officers when they attended training sessions at the Department of Justice. When news of the coins first broke, Schimel should have come clean, and admitted to the thousands of other promotional items he bought. Did he think this was never going to come to light? There is no reason taxpayers should pay for these trinkets. Lawmakers should reduce funding for the Department of Justice by an equal amount in the next budget. That would be justice for taxpayers.