Gubernatorial Giving By WISTAX Directors

The assertion that the WISTAX board gives heavily to Democratic Governor Jim Doyle appears less persuading when contributions to Gov. Doyleʼs two prior gubernatorial opponents--Scott McCallum and Mark Green--and Wisconsin’s former Republican governor, Tommy Thompson are considered. In the 2002 race, over 90 percent of WISTAX board contributions went to McCallum and just 10 percent to Doyle; in the 2006 race 80 percent of WISTAX board contributions went to Green and 20 percent went to Doyle. WISTAX board contributions to Thompson over ten years as a gubernatorial candidate and governor totaled nearly $97,000, while contributions to Doyle over the same amount of time as a candidate and governor totaled $31,000. By virtually every measure, the WISTAX board contributes more to the Republican.