Secret $1.5 million donation from Wisconsin billionaire uncovered in Scott Walker dark-money probe

[hue]

https://www.yahoo.com/politics/secret-1-5-million-donation-from-wisconsin-114429739886.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

John Menard Jr. is widely known as the richest man in Wisconsin. A tough-minded, staunchly conservative 75-year-old billionaire, he owns a highly profitable chain of hardware stores throughout the Midwest. He’s also famously publicity-shy — rarely speaking in public or giving interviews.

So a little more than three years ago, when Menard wanted to back Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker — and help advance his pro-business agenda — he found the perfect way to do so without attracting any attention: He wrote more than $1.5 million in checks to a pro-Walker political advocacy group that pledged to keep its donors secret, three sources directly familiar with the transactions told Yahoo News.

Menard’s previously unreported six-figure contributions to the Wisconsin Club for Growth — a group that spent heavily to defend Walker during a bitter 2012 recall election — seem to have paid off for the businessman and his company. In the past two years, Menard’s company has been awarded up to $1.8 million in special tax credits from a state economic development corporation that Walker chairs, according to state records.

And in his five years in office, Walker’s appointees have sharply scaled back enforcement actions by the state Department of Natural Resources — a top Menard priority. The agency had repeatedly clashed with Menard and his company under previous governors over citations for violating state environmental laws and had levied a $1.7 million fine against Menard personally, as well as his company, for illegally dumping hazardous wastes.

[lutefisk]

1. Why isn't this pay to play?

Shouldn't the WEDC chairman of the board be investigated for this? He wanted to be the captain of the ship, right? But we all know Walker will be the first one to the life boats, captain or not.

[Still In Wisconsin]

2. If this isn't pay to play then pay to play does not exist.

John Menard is a recluse but he is a greedy one percenter of the worst sort. True story: a member of my wife's family was Menard's paper boy in Eau Claire in the days before Menards went national. John Menard was one of two customers on his route (the other being a muffler shop) that never tipped, never gave a Christmas gift, and often wouldn't even pay for his subscription. Suffice to say Menard was already a billionaire at that time.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. IIRC, the specific offense that finally triggered that $1.7 mil fine

was that John took a bunch of treated boards & suchlike home to burn with his own trash to avoid the toxic waste disposal fee. It was a repeated offense.

In general, it is legal to burn some types of trash in the area where John lives. But not toxic stuff.

The judge was apparently not amused by John's little prank.

[lutefisk]

4. Yep, he's a rascal. nt

[Jackpine Radical]

5. I didn't know "rascal"

was synonymous with "greedy, vicious right-wing bastard."

Ya learn something every day around here.

[lutefisk]

7. Ironic understatement?

[Jackpine Radical]

9. Being Scandinavian, I would know little about that.

[hue]

6. Kathleen Dunn: "Just to let you know, Isikoff is booked Wednesday, March 25 at 1PM -WPRadio"

[lutefisk]

8. Thanks- should be good!

http://www.wpr.org/shows/walker-probe-intensifies

[Jackpine Radical]

10. WPR is great. Kathleen has fantastic guests, and she knows her shit

whenever she does an interview. Great questions & followups, & unafraid to take on the monsters in our pathetic excuse for a state government.