Former Sen. Jeff Plale, the conservative Democrat who was unseated in a primary challenge from Sen. Chris Larson in September, was named to a top job in the Department of Administration by Gov. Scott Walker. One of the two Senate Democrats who voted against the state worker contracts that Walker had asked be delayed, Plale was rumored to be seeking a job in the new administration for some time now, and will now head the Division of State Facilities in the DOA.
This is not especially surprising. Plale has never been much of a Democrat. What is more interesting is the future of former Democratic Majority Leader Russ Decker, who, in a shocking turn of events last month, announced that he too would not support the contracts, therefore dooming them to a 16-16 tie vote.
Some Democrats alleged that Decker was also seeking a job with Walker. "I look forward to seeing who gets appointments," was how Sen. Lena Taylor concluded her remarks on the issue last month. (She later thanked Decker for giving her committee assignments and told Plale she would miss carpooling with him to Madison)
Giving Decker an appointment as well would be way too obtuse. I'm guessing that if any favors are being paid to the former Dem leader, they're securely on the down-low.
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