Matt Rothschild
Campaign Cash

NRA Arms Republicans With $3.6 Million

Walker and 44 legislators (just one Democrat) have gained that in campaign donations.

By - Nov 16th, 2016 11:13 am
The police were able to prevent a likely shootout on the near North Side where one criminal was armed with several guns and tons of ammunition supplied by his brother, who had a CCW permit. Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee Police Department.

The police were able to prevent a likely shootout on the near North Side where one criminal was armed with several guns and tons of ammunition supplied by his brother, who had a CCW permit. Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee Police Department.

As Wisconsin marks five years since the first concealed carry gun permits were issued, a GOP lawmaker says he plans on sponsoring bills next year that would allow guns in private and public schools and on college campuses.

Rep. Jesse Kremer, of Kewaskum, said he will first introduce a bill that allows licensed concealed carry holders to bring guns to private schools because that is more politically doable. He said the legislation would bring Wisconsin law in line with federal law, and that schools should have the right to arm staff and teachers in the event of a school shooting.

Similar proposals to allow concealed carry in public schools and on college campuses were introduced in the last legislative session, but failed to pass.

Currently, there are about 320,000 people in Wisconsin who are licensed to carry a concealed weapon since the law was passed in 2011 by the GOP-controlled legislature and approved by Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

The law was backed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), the nation’s largest and most controversial pro-gun lobby. The group generally supports conservative and Republican candidates for state and federal offices with direct contributions and outside electioneering activities.

In Wisconsin, the NRA has spent about $3.6 million since January 2008 on outside electioneering activities to support GOP and conservative legislative and statewide candidates, including about $23,400 on the legislative elections earlier this month. The vast majority of its spending, about $3.5 million, was to support Walker’s 2010 general, 2012 recall and 2014 general elections for governor.

In addition, the NRA contributed about $56,000 between January 2008 and August 2016 directly to all legislative and statewide candidates.

Nearly four dozen GOP legislators who will serve in the upcoming 2017-18 legislative session have received NRA campaign contributions or outside election support (see table below).

Campaign Contributions and Outside Election Support by the NRA to the Governor and Legislators Who Will Serve in the Upcoming Legislative Session 2008 – August 2016

Name Party Office* Direct
Contributions
Outside Election
Support
Total
Walker, Scott R G $12,500 $3,497,163 $3,509,663
Olsen, Luther R S14 $1,500 $10,772 $12,272
Harsdorf, Sheila R S10 $1,000 $6,231 $7,231
Tiffany, Tom R S12 $2,250 $4,437 $6,687
Cowles, Robert R S02 $0 $4,639 $4,639
Darling, Alberta R S08 $2,500 $2,035 $4,535
Kulp, Bob R A69 $0 $2,408 $2,408
Ripp, Keith R A42 $500 $1,768 $2,268
Moulton, Terry R S23 $500 $1,720 $2,220
Nerison, Lee A R A96 $500 $1,676 $2,176
Tranel, Travis R A49 $500 $1,216 $1,716
Marklein, Howard R S17 $1,000 $671 $1,671
Petrowski, Jerry R S29 $1,000 $638 $1,638
VanderMeer, Nancy Lynn R A70 $0 $1,629 $1,629
Krug, Scott S R A72 $500 $1,088 $1,588
Bernier, Kathy R A68 $500 $1,075 $1,575
Novak, Todd R A51 $500 $876 $1,376
LeMahieu, Devin R S09 $500 $666 $1,166
Roth, Roger R S19 $500 $650 $1,150
Lasee, Frank R S01 $500 $644 $1,144
Wanggaard, Van H R S21 $1,000 $127 $1,127
Kitchens, Joel C R A01 $500 $585 $1,085
Republican Assembly Campaign Committee R A $1,000 $0 $1,000
Kleefisch, Joel R A38 $1,000 $0 $1,000
Brooks, Ed R A50 $500 $497 $997
Petryk, Warren R A93 $500 $495 $995
Macco, John R A88 $500 $493 $993
Vos, Robin R A63 $500 $339 $839
Stroebel, Duey R S20 $500 $317 $817
Mursau, Jeffrey L R A36 $300 $486 $786
Steineke, Jim R A05 $750 $0 $750
Quinn, Romaine Robert R A75 $0 $717 $717
Horlacher, Cody R A33 $0 $526 $526
Edming, James R A87 $0 $501 $501
Vukmir, Leah R S05 $500 $0 $500
Ballweg, Joan R A41 $500 $0 $500
Spiros, John R A86 $500 $0 $500
Vinehout, Kathleen D S31 $500 $0 $500
August, Tyler R A32 $500 $0 $500
Jacque, Andre R A02 $500 $0 $500
Craig, Dave R A83 $0 $331 $331
Tauchen, Gary R A06 $300 $0 $300
Swearingen, Rob R A34 $300 $0 $300
Fitzgerald, Scott R S13 $0 $277 $277
Nygren, John R A89 $250 $0 $250
Born, Mark L R A39 $200 $0 $200

*“S” means Senate District and “A” means Assembly District

Matthew Rothschild is executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

Categories: Campaign Cash, Politics

3 thoughts on “Campaign Cash: NRA Arms Republicans With $3.6 Million”

  1. jim says:

    Quite the misleading headline, NRA arms Wisconsin Republicans with $3.6 million for elections. Only after reading the article one see’s it was over an 8 year period, and $3.5 million of the $3.6 went to three of Walkers campaigns. Only $23,400. was spent on the recent election.
    Will you be doing an article with how much WEAC and SEUI spent on Democratic elections over the last 8 years?

  2. AG says:

    Why would a Soros funded group do that? They’ll list just enough info on Democrat donations so they appear neutral… the rest is not in their best interest.

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