999 Motion Gets Vos a Free European Vacation?
Law Change Could Have Allowed Payday Loan Company Footing the Bill for London Junket to Dramatically Expand State Operations
Robin Vos
MADISON, Wis. — Did an anonymous provision inserted into the 2015 state budget via a last minute vote in the Joint Committee on Finance help earn Assembly Speaker Robin Vos a free European vacation? One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross noted that the budget change could have dramatically expanded business opportunities for a payday lender that sponsored a trip to London that included Vos, his then fiancee and the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, Cliff Rosenberger.
“Speaker Vos and the company that reportedly helped underwrite a free European vacation for him have history,” commented Ross. “He’s pushed for legislation to help them and they’ve contributed generously to Vos’ political operations and Republicans that make up his majority in the State Assembly. Now it seems they’re also helping him see the world with a free vacation.”
According to reports, Select Management Resources funded a trip to London through the right wing GOPAC. Select Management Resources is the parent company of LoanMax Title Loans that has 16 locations operating in Wisconsin. Principals in the business and their family members have donated generously to Vos’ Assembly Republicans, especially in races critical to keeping Republicans, and Vos, in charge of the chamber.
The overseas jaunt has drawn the attention of federal authorities. It is reportedly part of an FBI investigation of that has led to Vos’ travelling companion, Ohio House of Representatives Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, to announce his resignation.
One Wisconsin Now is a statewide communications network specializing in effective earned media and online organizing to advance progressive leadership and values.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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More greasy schemes and tricks from Walker, Vos and republicans?! Hhhhmmmm…
Dump Vos
While we know Vos got a free trip, we don’t know how much his girlfriend (now his wife) paid for the same trip.
Certainly she paid nothing for hotels (double rooms cost the same as singles) or airport transfers (limos to/from O’Hare aren’t cheap but cost no more with a second passenger). The meals on the trip (besides the free breakfast that comes with the hotel room) were probably buffet spreads paid by the sponsor—thus no individual expense.
So, the only thing left for her (or Vos) to cover was her plane ticket, but there are numerous buy-one-get-one-free (“free companion ticket”) deals available for over-priced international flights with certain credit cards or airlines.