Koch, Walker phone tapes may spark ethics violation investigation

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A recorded telephone conversation between Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and blogger Ian Murphy suggest that Walker’s goal may be ‘troublemaking’ and union busting, not balancing the state budget.

Walker said, “I’m trying to keep out as many of the private unions as possible. I said this is about the budget, but this is about public-sector unions.”

The recorded conversation also raises questions of ethics violations. Walker admitted he was considering planting ‘troublemakers’ in the crowds of protesters, some of which are children, according to the transcript of the phone call, published in the Wisconsin State Journal.

Prank caller Ian Murphy claimed to be billionaire David Koch of Koch Industries. “Even before the new governor was sworn in last month, executives from the Koch-backed group had worked behind the scenes to try to encourage a union showdown,” according to the New York Times.

Koch Industries was one of Governor Scott Walker’s largest campaign contributors. The recorded phone call is raising questions of ethics violations, which may spark an investigation by the Attorney General’s office.