Walker’s Bad Habits Die Hard

The same week that Scott Walker filed his latest campaign finance report, both Capper and I raised serious questions about it. While most of the media were focused on the amount that he raised, we were both looking deeper and finding questions that needed to be answered. I questioned why Walker's general consultant was apparently working for free and further wondered if he was still getting paid by the corporate funded Wisconsin Club for Growth. Capper questioned why Walker didn't report his private plane costs from the day of his "very special announcement" (among other things). It is a new month and now there are new and disturbing questions that are being asked about Walker's campaign finance reporting shenanigans.

This morning WKBT is reporting that the Walker Campaign has "failed to report the required employer information of top donors who gave him over $172,000." They further report that this is a violation that affects one of every six dollars that he received in his first finance period. They also state that each violation can result in a $500 fine which could total over $150,000. WKBT goes on to report:

Walkers widespread reporting negligence includes:

•Two contributions of
$10,000, the
maximum contribution allowed under the law;

•30
contributions between $2,500 and
$1,000 totaling more than $38,000;

•235 contributions between $750 and
$200 totaling more than $71,000.

A review of the most recent report filed by Gov. Jim Doyle reveals no missing employer information for contributors over $100. A similar look at Appleton resident Mark Todd's campaign report shows $5,700 in contributions over $100 do not have the required employer information. Todd raised $6,250 total.

The money quote from the story comes from One Wisconsin Now's Scot Ross who observed, "Looks like Scott Walker treats campaign finance laws the same way he treats Milwaukee's seniors, working people and people with disabilities -- with no respect."

This is certainly not the first series of campaign finance/ethics issues that Scott Walker has been on the wrong sideof during his never ending quest for higher office. He has had many ethics and other complaints filed against him and he owns the dubious distinction of being one of the largest fined candidates on record in Wisconsin. For Walker, it looks like questionable campaign finance habits truly die hard.

Update: The link to this morning's original WKBT report has apparently been removed. Now the only thing running on the site is an AP blurb which states that the Walker Campaign is trying to correct their latest screw up.

By the way, the original WKBT story wasn't exactly clear but it appears that the original analysis was done by our freinds at OWN (see their press release on the subject which is linked above).