Cross-posted from The Prairie Badger
Yes, you’re reading that headline correctly…Republican Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker recently amended his campaign finance report for the first half of 2013 to reduce the amount of money that six male Walker donors contributed to Walker’s campaign and list the difference between the original and the reduced donations as donations from the wives of the Walker donors:
Donald Kress, Green Bay, had contributed $11,000 to three candidates, including $5,000 to Walker. The governor’s latest report slashes Kress’s contribution in half and assigns the $2,500 difference as a new contribution from Kress’s wife, Carol.
Eugene Mallinger, Brookfield, had contributed $12,000 to two candidates, including $10,000 to the governor. Walker’s latest report cuts Mallinger’s contribution in half and assigns the $5,000 difference as a new contribution from Mallinger’s wife, Rebecca.
Albert Nicholas, Chenequa, had contributed $11,000 to two candidates, including $10,000 to Walker. The governor’s latest report reduces Nicholas’s contribution to $9,000 and assigns the $1,000 difference as a new contribution from Nicholas’s wife, Nancy.
Richard Pfister, Hayward, had contributed $10,100 to two candidates, including $10,000 to the governor. Walker’s latest report reduces Pfister’s contribution to $9,900 and assigns the $100 difference as a new contribution from Pfister’s wife, Terry.
Paul Schierl, Green Bay, had contributed $11,500 to six candidates, including $5,000 to Walker. The governor’s latest report reduces Schierl’s contribution to $3,500 and assigns the $1,500 difference as a new contribution from Schierl’s wife, Carol.
Richard Uihlein, Lake Forest, Illinois, had contributed $10,500 to two candidates, including $10,000 to the governor. Walker’s latest report slashes Uihlein’s contribution in half and assigns the $5,000 difference as a new contribution from Uihlein’s wife, Elizabeth.
This is an attempt to cover up the fact that six of Scott Walker's campaign donors exceeded the $10,000 annual limit on donations to state and local candidates in Wisconsin in the first half of 2013. The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB), which is responsible for enforcing the state elections, ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance laws in Wisconsin, will investigate 14 campaign donors for exceeding the $10,000 annual contribution limit early next year.
Maybe this is what Reince Priebus meant when he talked about “rebranding” the far-right GOP…