Top Stories Milwaukee

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson put Wisconsin on the map when it came to junkets paid for by special interests. The Republican’s most headline-grabbing venture was a trip to China paid for by nonprofits funded by the tobacco giant Phillip Morris. Before Thompson, these kind of special interest-paid junkets for state officials were rare. But they are becoming increasingly common, even among lowly members of the state Legislature.

Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, has upheld the torch. His most visible junket was a trip to Spain sponsored by Spanish train-maker Talgo to visit the company. It was later awarded a no-bid $47 million deal to build two high-speed trains for the state’s upgraded rail corridor between Madison and Milwaukee.

A number of legislators have received gotten trips paid for, as found in a recent review of economic interest statements legislators filed earlier this year with the state Government Accountability Board. Lawmakers are required to disclose any “honoraria,” a payment or reimbursement of expenses related to an otherwise unpaid speaking engagement or other service. Legislators were often reimbursed for airline and hotel costs to visit public policy groups, corporate officials, union leaders or other organizations.

State Sen. Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee) received $1,251 for speaking, his form discloses, “with AT&T execs re: future of broadband technology and its legislative impact” in 2009. He also received $100 to address the Wisconsin Public Service Corp., a Wisconsin gas and electric utility, on “current utilities issues in the legislature.” Plale is chairman of the Senate Commerce, Utilities, Energy and Rail committee and didn’t return a request for comment.

Earlier this year, Plale sponsored a bill that would have deregulated land line phone carriers such as AT&T in the state. Currently, the state Public Service Commission (not to be confused with the aforementioned energy company) has oversight of the service provided by the companies and the rates they charge. AT&T backed Plale’s bill, which failed. The company argued the bill would have allowed its land line networks to better compete with cell phone carriers, which don’t face similar regulation by the PSC.

jeff plale

Mike McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a campaign finance watchdog group, says honoraria are “an obvious conflict of interest. Look at the case of Plale. He introduces legislation written by AT&T. They give campaign contributions to him, and they pay him to speak. It was a good deal for AT&T.”

Last month, Plale lost to primary challenger Chris Larson, a Milwaukee County supervisor who argued Plale had gotten too close to business interests.

Most corporate political action committees give the maximum money they can to legislators under current campaign finance laws, and they also fund independent groups that seek to influence elections, he says. After that, honoraria are all that’s left. “It’s just another way they are currying favor,” McCabe says. “They’ve blown a huge hole in the law.”

He calls it the “D.C. model of politics filtering to the state level.” Members of Congress have long taken advantage of such perks. “It’s become quite the racket in Washington,” McCabe alleges.

On the road

Topping the list of all Wisconsin legislators who had travel expenses paid for in 2009 was state Rep. Kelda Helen Roys (D-Madison), who was elected in 2008 and is a former head of the state’s pro-choice group, the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League. She disclosed receiving $8,618, which covered travel for her service as a “nonprofit public diplomacy delegate” for the American Council of Young Political Leaders, according to her statement. The Council runs a variety of international study and exchange programs.

State Sen. Judy Robson (D-Beloit), who didn’t seek reelection this year, came in second for a similar “study abroad trip,” according to her statement. She got $6,524 for a trip hosted by the National Council of State Legislators during which she represented “the Wisconsin Senate on an education/economic development mission … to exchange ideas on economic development, education, health care systems and women in government.”

Leading the way in travel for the Milwaukee delegation was outgoing State Rep. Polly Williams, also a Democrat, who had $5,700 covered for six trips to meetings of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, including one trip to the Virgin Islands and two to Fort Lauderdale in Florida.

State Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee), a member of the powerful Joint Finance Committee, received about $4,100 to appear at various gatherings dealing with drug policy, juvenile justice, parental school choice and state finances. A fellow committee member, Rep. Pedro Colon (D-Milwaukee), received about $2,000 to cover expenses for his visit to a meeting of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

All these lawmakers collected more than someone sitting above them on the legislative food chain: Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Wausau) disclosed that he received $1,262 for hotel and travel costs to speak and participate in panels at an Indiana meeting of the International Bricklayers Union. “No state funds were used for this travel,” he notes in his disclosure.

State Rep. David Cullen (D-Milwaukee), Assembly Insurance Committee chairman, was reimbursed $988 for a trip to the annual National Association of Insurance Legislators conference.

Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) and State Rep. Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) ventured to the annual conference of the American Legislative Exchange Council last year. ALEC is a conservative group that favors federalism (more power to the states) and free markets. Fitzgerald had a $1,466 tab covered and Suder received $1,200 for the trip. Fitzgerald didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Suder also hooked up last year with the free-market favoring Heartland Institute for a $1,400 visit to a “global warming seminar.”

Not all of the money may be coming from the groups hosting the meetings or events – legislators can also receive reimbursement from their campaign funds for trips that are considered educational.

Lawmakers’ economic interest statements were posted online earlier this year by the Madison-based conservative think tank the MacIver Institute.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.