The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a political watchdog group, has analyzed the campaign finance records of Governor Scott Walker's 2010 campaign and filed formal complaints against the governor and 10 contributors.
One of those contributors was Ted Nickel, who apparently exceeded the campaign donation limit of $10,000 by contributing $10,255 to Walker during the election cycle. Walker later chose Nickel to become the state's insurance commissioner.
Another alleged violator was Thomas Schneider, whose trucking business headquarters in Green Bay was the site of a bill signing ceremony yesterday. Walker signed two bills. One of the bills reduces the liability of truck drivers in cases of negligence.
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign issued a press release today with further details of the complaints. It can be viewed here. Here are some lowlights...
In addition to the complaint against Walker’s campaign, the Democracy Campaign also filed complaints against each of the 10 contributors for exceeding the $10,000 limit on contributions they were allowed to give the governor during an election period. Finally, four of these contributors also were accused in complaints of violating the $10,000 annual limit in 2010 on campaign contributions an individual is allowed to make to all state and local candidates and political committees.
The complaints were filed with the state Government Accountability Board which enforces the state’s campaign finance, ethics and lobbying laws.
They also have a table listing the alleged violators with a breakdown of their contributions.
Just for kicks, the other bill signed by Walker at the offices of Schneider National allows for power from a hydroelectric dam being built in Manitoba (yes, Canada), to count toward the state mandate that 10% of electricity come from renewable sources by 2015. Environmental groups and renewable energy investors are not pleased. From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Environmental and renewable energy advocates and clean-energy firms say the bill is one of several developments this year that are threatening the development of homegrown renewable energy projects. Allowing dams in Canada to qualify for the renewable energy standard is a boon for job creation in Manitoba but not Wisconsin, they said.