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Wisconsin Tribes Spent Millions on Political Campaigns

WISCONSIN – As reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Political spending linked to Wisconsin Indian tribes and tribal gambling interests totals at least $5.4 million in the past decade, a review of state and federal donations shows.

"That's the sum that can be counted from publicly disclosed campaign contributions and advertising campaigns. The true amount could be much higher because some expensive media campaigns by tribes are exempt from reporting requirements.

"The biggest beneficiaries have been Democrats, with Gov. Jim Doyle garnering the most of any candidate - about $926,000, including large sums from tribes funneled through Democratic Party committees in Washington.

"Individual donations to Doyle accounted for only about $107,000 of the total. The rest flowed to national Democratic groups, who in turn have given to Doyle or the state party.

"U.S. Rep. Mark Green, this year's Republican candidate for governor, has gotten virtually no tribal money. Nor had Scott McCallum, the Republican governor who lost to Doyle in the 2002 election.

"…Tribal gaming interests probably rank just behind the traditional "800-pound gorillas" of Wisconsin special interests, the Democratic-leaning state teachers union and Republican-leaning Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, said Michael McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. But a direct comparison with other interest groups is impossible because the tribes have put large portions of their political spending into efforts that resist detection, said McCabe, whose group monitors political donations and advocates for campaign finance reform…"

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