Tommy Thompson Devises the 11th Commandment

I was told the following story about our former governor, Tommy Thompson, by my co-worker, Ed...

Ed used to work with the Division of Public Health. Five or six years ago, Disney offered to put on parades in towns that showed that hyper-Disney spirit. Somehow Platteville persuaded Disney to let them host one of these Mickey Mouse events. The local pubilc health officer contacted Ed about the event and what needed to be done to ensure the safety of the public. An estimated 300,000 - 500,000 people were to attend. So Ed takes these figures and plugs them into equations which yielded results about how many public toilets would have to be available (thousands). He also informed the local authorities that street vendors who sold food would need licenses, corn fields could be turned into makeshift campgrounds only if a restroom facilities were provided, et al. His report also had some language that referenced Department of Commerce codes though DPH could not and did not enforce them. Ed also pledged DPH's support and manpower. So he sends his report off and gets back to his normal duties.

A day or two later, he gets an e-mail telling him to report to DHFS headquarters here on Wilson Street ASAP. He heads over and meets with the Secretary of the Department. There's also a conference call on speakerphone which features Attorney General Jimmy Doyle and Governor Tommy Thompson. Doyle was present as DOC codes were referenced. Then Thompson starts yelling, "Who do you think you are?!" Ed couldn't tell whether he was sober or not. Then in the loudest, most booming voice, "THOU SHALT NOT HINDER COMMERCE IN THIS STATE!!!"

There ya go. The 11th Commandment, for Wisconsin, at least. And Tommy became Secretary of Health & Human Services for the whole country!