Complaint alleges WMC didn’t report UW budget lobbying
Capital Times, September 30, 2008
By Steve Elbow
A progressive watchdog group is taking the state's largest business lobby to task for failing to disclose lobbying activity concerning the University of Wisconsin's budget.
One Wisconsin Now filed a complaint Tuesday with the state Government Accountability Board alleging that Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce didn't disclose lobbying activity a WMC official referred to in an Aug. 20 memo.
The memo, from WMC Vice President for Government Relations James Buchen, was in response to an article in Madison Magazine written by recently retired UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley that was critical of WMC's support of uncomprisingly partisan Republican legislators.
The second paragraph of Buchen's memo says, "WMC supported the University of Wisconsin's budget as supported by Gov. Jim Doyle and passed by both houses of the Legislature. WMC actively lobbied for final passage of the UW budget."
One Wisconsin Now filed a complaint Tuesday with the state Government Accountability Board alleging that Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce didn't disclose lobbying activity a WMC official referred to in an Aug. 20 memo.
State law requires that lobbyists disclose lobbying activity by subject matter within 15 days after the lobbying takes place. One Wisconsin Now filed its complaint after reviewing Government Accountability Board lobbying records and finding no listing for WMC on issues concerning the University of Wisconsin.
Penalties for failure to file lobbying activity include monetary fines and lobbying license suspension.
"WMC will have to come clean," said Scot Ross, One Wisconsin Now executive director. "Did they fail to follow the law, or did they do nothing to help the UW?"
A WMC spokesman Tuesday said the complaint is "without merit," and WMC's lobbying efforts were focused on the entire state budget, which included UW funding.
WMC Tuesday issued a revision to the Aug. 20 memo, which says, "WMC lobbied for final passage of the state budget that included increased funding for the University of Wisconsin."
"All of our materials were reported accurately to the Government Accountability Board and this is just part of an ongoing harassment campaign by One Wisconsin Now," said WMC spokesman Jim Pugh.
Kyle Richmond, a spokesman for the accountability board, said the board received One Wisconsin Now's complaint Tuesday. He said the matter would be investigated.
