10/23/07: Student Political Gifts Questioned- Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Student Political Gifts Questioned
Democracy Campaign Says Big Donation Seem Fishy
The Capital Times :: METRO :: C1
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
By ANITA WEIER The Capital Times
Pricey campaign contributions by college students raise red flags about potentially illegal giving, says the head of a state watchdog group.
A Wisconsin Democracy Campaign analysis released Monday shows that 177 contributors identified as "student" in campaign finance reports gave $86,243 to candidates for statewide office and the Legislature from 2002 through June 2007. Of those, 31 contributed $1,000 or more.
"The typical money struggles people associate with college students certainly did not appear to be a problem for many of these 177 student contributors," the group said in a news release, and Executive Director Mike McCabe said in a telephone interview that "I think the kids and their parents have some explaining to do. The circumstances around these donations is clearly curious."
He added that that is particularly true for a dozen donors who made their contributions at the same time or shortly after one or both of their parents had given the same candidate the maximum allowable contribution in that election cycle.
State law requires contributors to be at least 14 years old. It also prohibits making contributions in the name of another person or reimbursing someone for making campaign contributions. That law is designed to prevent individuals from exceeding limits on contributions.
Topping the list of student contributors was Vikram Saini of Elm Grove, who gave Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle $5,000 on March 8, 2000. His father, Dr. Bhupinder Saini of Advanced Pain Management, gave $5,000 to Doyle on the same day, the Democracy Campaign said. (For the list of 49 student donors who gave $500 or more, see www.wisdc.org/pr102207.php)
Troha's son on list\ One name that jumps off the list is Matthew Troha of Kenosha, who contributed $2,000 to Doyle and $500 to Democratic legislative candidate Roger Dier in 2002.
Troha's father, Dennis, was charged early this year with two felonies accusing him of funneling more than $100,000 to family members so they could make campaign contributions to state and federal candidates and party committees to win approval of a proposed $800 million casino in Kenosha. No other family members have been charged.
Matthew Troha also made two contributions totaling $1,500 to the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee in 2003. His contribution to Doyle coincided with $16,000 in contributions by four other Troha family members on Aug. 22, 2002, and his contributions to the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee coincided with contributions made by other family members.
Dennis Troha, who severed his ties with the casino project before charges were filed, agreed to plead guilty to two lesser misdemeanor charges of exceeding campaign contribution limits.
"We've seen in the Troha case where this kind of giving pattern can lead," McCabe said today, adding that "hopefully this is something that ends up getting looked into."
Big names\ But the heads of some prominent families on the Democracy Campaign list contacted by The Capital Times said their children's giving decisions were entirely their own.
John Walsh, son of Madison attorney, Board of Regents member and Doyle supporter David Walsh, gave Doyle $2,000 in 2002 and another $500 in 2006, Another son, Michael Walsh, contributed $2,000 to Doyle in 2002, on the same day his brother did, and two $500 contributions in 2006. Daughter Molly Walsh, who now works in Doyle's office, gave contributions to Doyle in 2002 and 2004 totaling $2,500.
"I wish they would have given him more," David Walsh said Monday.
"I can't tell my kids what to do, but I asked them to consider contributions. My children have enough money. I have set aside funds for them. I help them invest, but they are independent of me."
David Walsh has raised money for Doyle and contributed heavily to him over the years, including $7,500 in 2004.
Three children of Rep. Gary Hebl, D-Sun Prairie, also gave money to the campaigns of Gary and Tom Hebl, their uncle who held the Assembly seat prior to Gary Hebl, as students in various years. Matt Hebl gave $1,425, Andrew Hebl $1,125 and Jenny Hebl $1,000.
"We had a family meeting and many discussions and my kids have been supportive of Tom's campaign and are politically active with Tom's campaign and mine," Gary Hebl said. "They have worked very hard and prioritize. This is their money. One is on a scholarship and one is a teaching assistant."
David Sensenbrenner, the son of former Madison Mayor Joe Sensenbrenner and Mary Ellyn Sensenbrenner, made three contributions totaling $3,000 in 2002 to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Falk. He also made $500 contributions to Doyle and a Democratic legislative candidate. The Democracy Campaign said his Falk contributions closely matched his mother's, but the David Sensenbrenner also did volunteer work for Falk.
Five student contributors gave $2,500 each.
Courtney Oldenburg, daughter of Milwaukee businessman Wayne Oldenburg, contributed $2,500 to Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Green on July 24, the same day her father gave Green $5,500, the Democracy Campaign found.
The maximum amount an individual may give to a candidate for governor is $10,000 during an election cycle. The maximum donation to a state Senate candidate is $1,000 per election cycle, and the maximum for an Assembly candidate is $500. Donors also have an aggregate limit for all campaign donations of $10,000 in a calendar year.
Ninety-one candidates for statewide office and the Legislature and three legislative leadership committees accepted student contributions from 2002 through June 30, 2007. Topping the list was Doyle, who received $26,185, or 30 percent of total student contributions to all candidates during the period.
Doyle was followed by Gary Baier, a Republican state Senate candidate in 2004 who accepted $6,000 - in $1,000 contributions - from six students in two different families on Aug. 6, 2004. Their parents gave $1,000 each to Baier on the same day.
aweier@madison.com
Democracy Campaign Says Big Donation Seem Fishy
The Capital Times :: METRO :: C1
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
By ANITA WEIER The Capital Times
Pricey campaign contributions by college students raise red flags about potentially illegal giving, says the head of a state watchdog group.
A Wisconsin Democracy Campaign analysis released Monday shows that 177 contributors identified as "student" in campaign finance reports gave $86,243 to candidates for statewide office and the Legislature from 2002 through June 2007. Of those, 31 contributed $1,000 or more.
"The typical money struggles people associate with college students certainly did not appear to be a problem for many of these 177 student contributors," the group said in a news release, and Executive Director Mike McCabe said in a telephone interview that "I think the kids and their parents have some explaining to do. The circumstances around these donations is clearly curious."
He added that that is particularly true for a dozen donors who made their contributions at the same time or shortly after one or both of their parents had given the same candidate the maximum allowable contribution in that election cycle.
State law requires contributors to be at least 14 years old. It also prohibits making contributions in the name of another person or reimbursing someone for making campaign contributions. That law is designed to prevent individuals from exceeding limits on contributions.
Topping the list of student contributors was Vikram Saini of Elm Grove, who gave Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle $5,000 on March 8, 2000. His father, Dr. Bhupinder Saini of Advanced Pain Management, gave $5,000 to Doyle on the same day, the Democracy Campaign said. (For the list of 49 student donors who gave $500 or more, see www.wisdc.org/pr102207.php)
Troha's son on list\ One name that jumps off the list is Matthew Troha of Kenosha, who contributed $2,000 to Doyle and $500 to Democratic legislative candidate Roger Dier in 2002.
Troha's father, Dennis, was charged early this year with two felonies accusing him of funneling more than $100,000 to family members so they could make campaign contributions to state and federal candidates and party committees to win approval of a proposed $800 million casino in Kenosha. No other family members have been charged.
Matthew Troha also made two contributions totaling $1,500 to the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee in 2003. His contribution to Doyle coincided with $16,000 in contributions by four other Troha family members on Aug. 22, 2002, and his contributions to the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee coincided with contributions made by other family members.
Dennis Troha, who severed his ties with the casino project before charges were filed, agreed to plead guilty to two lesser misdemeanor charges of exceeding campaign contribution limits.
"We've seen in the Troha case where this kind of giving pattern can lead," McCabe said today, adding that "hopefully this is something that ends up getting looked into."
Big names\ But the heads of some prominent families on the Democracy Campaign list contacted by The Capital Times said their children's giving decisions were entirely their own.
John Walsh, son of Madison attorney, Board of Regents member and Doyle supporter David Walsh, gave Doyle $2,000 in 2002 and another $500 in 2006, Another son, Michael Walsh, contributed $2,000 to Doyle in 2002, on the same day his brother did, and two $500 contributions in 2006. Daughter Molly Walsh, who now works in Doyle's office, gave contributions to Doyle in 2002 and 2004 totaling $2,500.
"I wish they would have given him more," David Walsh said Monday.
"I can't tell my kids what to do, but I asked them to consider contributions. My children have enough money. I have set aside funds for them. I help them invest, but they are independent of me."
David Walsh has raised money for Doyle and contributed heavily to him over the years, including $7,500 in 2004.
Three children of Rep. Gary Hebl, D-Sun Prairie, also gave money to the campaigns of Gary and Tom Hebl, their uncle who held the Assembly seat prior to Gary Hebl, as students in various years. Matt Hebl gave $1,425, Andrew Hebl $1,125 and Jenny Hebl $1,000.
"We had a family meeting and many discussions and my kids have been supportive of Tom's campaign and are politically active with Tom's campaign and mine," Gary Hebl said. "They have worked very hard and prioritize. This is their money. One is on a scholarship and one is a teaching assistant."
David Sensenbrenner, the son of former Madison Mayor Joe Sensenbrenner and Mary Ellyn Sensenbrenner, made three contributions totaling $3,000 in 2002 to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Falk. He also made $500 contributions to Doyle and a Democratic legislative candidate. The Democracy Campaign said his Falk contributions closely matched his mother's, but the David Sensenbrenner also did volunteer work for Falk.
Five student contributors gave $2,500 each.
Courtney Oldenburg, daughter of Milwaukee businessman Wayne Oldenburg, contributed $2,500 to Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Green on July 24, the same day her father gave Green $5,500, the Democracy Campaign found.
The maximum amount an individual may give to a candidate for governor is $10,000 during an election cycle. The maximum donation to a state Senate candidate is $1,000 per election cycle, and the maximum for an Assembly candidate is $500. Donors also have an aggregate limit for all campaign donations of $10,000 in a calendar year.
Ninety-one candidates for statewide office and the Legislature and three legislative leadership committees accepted student contributions from 2002 through June 30, 2007. Topping the list was Doyle, who received $26,185, or 30 percent of total student contributions to all candidates during the period.
Doyle was followed by Gary Baier, a Republican state Senate candidate in 2004 who accepted $6,000 - in $1,000 contributions - from six students in two different families on Aug. 6, 2004. Their parents gave $1,000 each to Baier on the same day.
aweier@madison.com
Submitted by wnpj on Fri, 10/26/2007 - 12:28pm.