AN WASSERMAN WATCH EXCLUSIVE
On Friday, Wasserman Watch got hold of records from the Elections Division of the Wisconsin Government Accountablity Board that Sheldon Wasserman is using your tax dollars to fund a significant portion of his war chest for the State Senate Campaign against Alberta Darling.
Records from the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board show that Wasserman applied for the Wisconsin Election Campaign Fund (WECF) grant every two years since 1994, receiving a total of $21,459.20 from taxpayers.
The WECF is taxpayer money handed to candidates who agree to certain finance limits. But, records show that Representative Wasserman was holding onto that money as a minature slush fund to help pad his current campaign finance account for the Wisconsin State Senate Campaign.
Campaign finance records show that prior to the fall 2004 election, Wasserman had $138,416.68 in his campaign finance account when he applied for tax dollars to pad his campaign. He received a check in the amount of $2,726.20. During the campaign candidates usually spend down their warchests, but Wasserman actually grewhis warchest, showing $169,821.38 cash on hand after the election! This seems to be a trend that some candidates are following when they have an assembly seat and go unopposed or win by wide margins, then when they do not spend the money a candidate would use it for a large scale race like State Senate after a candidate would serve 10 or 12 years in the Assembly.
Here is the list of WECF Amounts that Rep. Wasserman Recieved from 1994 to Today
1994-$6,519
1996 -$3,888
1998 -$3,734
2000 - $4,588
2004 $2,726.20
In 2002 and 2006 Wasserman applied for the taxpayer handout, but he ran unopposed and did not qualify for public funds
Total: $21,459.20
Representative Wasserman since 1994 has used close to $22,000 of your hard earned tax dollars to fund a significant part of his war chest. It is important to know that the $1 you check off on your tax forms to go to the State Elections Campaign Fund can be abused by career politicans in just the pure purpose of doing anything to stay elected.
Below Are Wasserman’s Campaign Finance Reports from 2002 to Present. Make sure your pop up blocker is turned off to view these reports.
ftp://doaftp04.doa.state.wi.us/electionsboard/2007/WassermanS-JAN08.txt
ftp://doaftp04.doa.state.wi.us/electionsboard/2007/WassermanS-JUL07.txt
ftp://doaftp04.doa.state.wi.us/electionsboard/2006/WassermanS-JAN07.txt
ftp://doaftp04.doa.state.wi.us/electionsboard/2006/WassermanS-PREF06.txt
ftp://doaftp04.doa.state.wi.us/electionsboard/2006/WassermanS-JUL06.txt
ftp://doaftp04.doa.state.wi.us/electionsboard/2005/WassermanS-JAN06.txt
ftp://doaftp04.doa.state.wi.us/electionsboard/2005/Wasserman-JUL05.xls
ftp://doaftp04.doa.state.wi.us/electionsboard/2004/Wasserman-JAN05.xls
ftp://doaftp04.doa.state.wi.us/electionsboard/2004/Wasserman-PREF04amd.xls
ftp://doaftp04.doa.state.wi.us/electionsboard/2003/Wasserman-JUL03.xls
ftp://doaftp04.doa.state.wi.us/electionsboard/2002/Wasserman-JAN03.xls
ftp://doaftp04.doa.state.wi.us/electionsboard/2002/WassermanS-PREF02.xls
ftp://doaftp04.doa.state.wi.us/electionsboard/2002/WassermanS-PRPF02.xls
ftp://doaftp04.doa.state.wi.us/electionsboard/2002/WassermanS-JUL02.xls
7 responses so far ↓
MoneyedPoliticians // July 14, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Using tax dollars? Absolute shame!!!
But of course, when Darling spends tax dollars to gain campaign funds from special interests, that’s okay?
I’d rather have Wasserman using tax dollars up front than have Darling spend far more tax dollars for the special interests that fund her campaign. (And for the record I am not a Wasserman supporter).
Our deficit problem has been caused by our moneyed political system, and that should upset even conservatives. But they can’t seem to follow the money trail.
Jack Lohman
http://MoneyedPoliticians.net
Gop3.com: The Triumvirate » Blog Archive » Wasserman using tax money for campaign // July 14, 2008 at 4:53 pm
[...] want to subscribe to our RSS feed or subscribe to our email newsletter. Thanks for visiting!(h/t: Wasserman Watch). –This blog also posted all the finance reports from 2002 [...]
MoneyedPoliticians // July 15, 2008 at 12:37 am
As well, one need only look at the campaign funds received by the two candidates to tell which has the coziest relationship with special interests. Wasserman doesn’t hold a candle to Darling, and of course Darling opposes public funding for the legislature (though she supports it for the judicial races).
Wasserman: http://www.opensecrets.org/wdc/cands.php?id=103149
Darling: http://www.opensecrets.org/wdc/cands.php?id=102511
Kat // July 15, 2008 at 3:51 am
I’m sorry, is this illegal? Maybe Alberta should change the law if she doesn’t like that Wasserman is obtaining this money under his legal right.
To be honest, I’m torn between the two. I’ve always voted for these two candidates but if you are going to start dirty politics like this – AND posting this stuff on whitefishbaynow.com, you are going to make my decision that much easier.
Sheldon Wasserman takes the bus to Madison to save tax dollars and he has done nothing wrong. Blasting him for doing so is even worse that what you are stating.
MoneyedPoliticians // July 15, 2008 at 11:48 am
Good point Kat, but Alberta likes the law just as it is. She gets far more special interest money than Wasserman, and her votes show it.
She should support public funding of campaigns, which would cost $5 per taxpayer per yet yet save taxpayers $1300 per year in government giveaways to the industries that currently fund their elections.
Even her conservative supporters should welcome a government not on the take.
Luke // July 22, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Public financing is not the answer. If government spending (earmarked or otherwise) is an important issue for you choose to support candidates that don’t give tax dollars away to anyone who comes asking.
The idea that public financing could do anything to lessen the impact of outside interests in the electoral process is laughable. If the money can’t go to candidates it will just go to swiftboating.
Has Wasserman built up Campaign Slush Fund from Taxpayer Dollars ? - Shorelines // July 31, 2008 at 5:18 pm
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