Here & Now

Former Senate Staffer Questions Intent Behind Voter I.D. Law

OUR NEXT GUEST IS A FORMER REPUBLICAN STATE SENATE STAFFER WHO OBSERVED AND PARTICIPATED IN CLOSED CAUCUS DISCUSSIONS THAT LED TO THE VOTER ID LAW. THIS WEEK, HE EXPERIENCED THE LAW THROUGH THE EYES OF A YOUNG MAN EMPLOYED AT HIS SMALL BUSINESS. HIS SOCIAL MEDIA POST ABOUT IT DREW A LOT OF ATTENTION. TODD ALLBAUGH IS CO-OWNER OF A FIFTH ELEMENT, A SPECIALTY COFFEEHOUSE IN MADISON. HE IS FORMERLY THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO REPUBLICAN SENATOR DALE SCHULTZ. TODD, THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.

TODD ALLBAUGH:

MY PLEASURE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SO TAKE US BACK TO THOSE CAUCUS DISCUSSIONS THAT SHAPED THE VOTER ID LAW. WHAT DID YOU HEAR?

TODD ALLBAUGH:

IT WAS THE IMPETUS FOR ME DECIDING TO LEAVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. SOMETHING I’VE BELONGED TO AND HELD TO FOR 30 PLUS YEARS OR SO. WHAT REALLY GOT ME WAS THE INTENT. THE SPIRIT IN THE ROOM, WHICH WAS CLEARLY WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT UP, ONE SENATOR GOT UP AND SAID, WE REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO TO SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND MILWAUKEE AND THE COLLEGE CAMPUSES, THE IMPACT THAT COULD HAVE. CLEARLY THE PHRASE VOTER SUPPRESSION WAS NEVER USED, BUT CLEARLY THAT WAS THE INTENT. MY FORMER BOSS DALE SCHULTZ GOES, “YOU KNOW GUYS I THINK WE OUGHT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT NOT ONLY IS THIS GOING TO DO TO OUR PARTY, BUT ALSO ACROSS THE STATE.” AND AT THAT POINT ANOTHER SENATE SAID, “WELL ALL I’M INTERESTED IN DOING IS WINNING HERE. AND YOU KNOW THE DEMOCRATS WOULD USE EVERY OPPORTUNITY THEY WOULD HAVE IF THEY WERE IN THIS POSITION. AND WE NEED TO USE THIS WHILE WE CAN.” AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO INTENT. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE VIGOROUS DEBATES ON ISSUES. I’VE WORKED AT A CAMPAIGN FOR PEOPLE I DIDN’T ALWAYS AGREE WITH 100% OF THE TIME. THERE ARE CERTAIN LINES I DON’T THINK YOU CAN CROSS. EQUALITY RIGHTS AND VOTER RIGHTS ARE TWO OF THOSE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

YOU DESCRIBED THESE CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THAT CAUCAUS AS GIDDY ALMOST ON THE PART OF REPUBLICANS.

TODD ALLBAUGH:

YEAH. THAT’S PART OF WHAT SICKENED ME. IT WASN’T LIKE THIS IS REALLY SERIOUS. IT WAS LIKE, YEAH, WE CAN DO THIS. THIS IS REALLY GOING TO GIVE US AN ADVANTAGE. THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF FEELINGS THAT WERE IN THAT ROOM. AND THAT’S DISTURBING.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHAT KIND OF BLOWBACK ARE YOU GETTING FROM THOSE VERY REPUBLICANS NOW?

TODD ALLBAUGH:

CONGRESSMAN GROTHMAN CALLED THE OTHER DAY. WE HAD A VERY GOOD CHAT. WE JUST FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN THE ROOM. I THINK WE FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE WITH THE OUTLOOK ON WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE. I THINK EVEN HE WOULD SAY REPUBLICANS CAN’T PROVE THERE HAS BEEN WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD. THE SAME THING MY FORMER BOSS TRIED TO BRING UP IN CAUCUS. AND I SAID GLENN, THAT’S THE WHOLE THING RIGHT THERE IS THAT YOU GUYS CAN’T PROVE IT, BUT YET YOU’RE GOING TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT TAKES RIGHTS AWAY FROM PEOPLE. CONGRESSMAN GROTHMAN IS A DECENT PERSON TO HAVE A BEER WITH. I JUST FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE WITH HIS OUTLOOK.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

AND YOU TALK ABOUT CONGRESSMAN GROTHMAN BECAUSE HE WAS THEN SENATOR GROTHMAN WITHIN THAT CAUCUS. THIS WEEK GLENN GROTHMAN IS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT HE THOUGHT IN THIS ELECTION TUESDAY THAT PHOTO ID WILL MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENCE.

TODD ALLBAUGH:

YEAH. HE BASICALLY OUTED HIMSELF. HE HAD A SLIP OF THE TONGUE. THAT’S ON HIM, NOT ON ME. I JUST TOLD PEOPLE, PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE NOW CONGRESSMAN GROTHMAN AT HIS WORD, PERIOD. LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT HIMSELF.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR EMPLOYEE THAT CAUSED YOU TO SPEAK OUT ON VOTER ID?

TODD ALLBAUGH:

HE’S OBVIOUSLY STILL EMPLOYED WITH ME. I THINK HE’S A LITTLE DISHEARTENED BUT I ALSO THINK OF THE RAMIFICATIONS. THIS ISN’T ABOUT ME. THIS ISN’T ABOUT HIM. THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING AWARENESS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHY DIDN’T HE HAVE AN ID TO VOTE?

TODD ALLBAUGH:

HE GREW UP IN CALIFORNIA, MOVED HERE. HE THOUGHT — EVEN I THOUGHT UNTIL THIS ALL HAPPENED — THAT YOU COULD JUST TAKE YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE FROM ONE STATE, TRADE IT IN FOR A WISCONSIN ONE. NOW YOU CAN’T DO THAT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE EITHER AN ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE, A CITIZENSHIP NATURALIZATION PAPER OR A U.S. PASSPORT THAT’S VALID. WHAT 22-YEAR-OLD PERSON WHETHER THEY’RE LIVING IN WAUKESHA, RICHLAND CENTER OR CALIFORNIA KNOWS IN THEIR PARENTS’ BEDROOM WHERE THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE IS AT? IT’S NOT AN EASY THING TO COME UP WITH LIKE THAT. THAT’S A DIFFICULT THING TO GET. THAT MAKES IT MUCH HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO GO VOTE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WELL, IF THIS EMPLOYEE, THIS FRIEND OF YOURS, KNEW THAT HE WAS GOING TO VOTE, WASN’T IT INCUMBENT ON HIM TO UNDERSTAND THAT WISCONSIN HAD A NEW VOTER ID LAW AND GET HIS PAPERS IN ORDER?

TODD ALLBAUGH:

THAT’S A VERY CONVENIENT WAY TO SAY WE ONLY WANT PEOPLE WHO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, WHO HAD A LOT OF TIME ON THEIR HANDS AND INFORMED TO GO VOTE AND NOT BRING AND INCLUDE PEOPLE. YOUNG PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR, MINORITIES, ELDERLY, COLLEGE STUDENTS, THEY DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME THINGS THAT EVERYBODY ELSE DOES. REPUBLICANS SHOULD REMEMBER THAT REPUBLICAN BOB LA FOLLETTE AND HIS WIFE BELLE CASE LA FOLLETTE FOUGHT FOR MORE VOTING RIGHTS IN THIS STATE, FOUGHT FOR WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE. THAT’S THE REAL REPUBLICAN WAY. THESE PEOPLE HAVE ABANDONED THAT. THE REAL REPUBLICAN PARTY DOESN’T EXIST AND THAT’S WHY I’M SAYING SEE YOU LATER.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

THANKS VERY MUCH.

TODD ALLBAUGH:

THANK YOU.