Walker’s NRA Bankroll Topped $3.5 Million
June 22, 2016
Republican Gov. Scott Walker and GOP lawmakers ruled out changing any of Wisconsin’s gun laws in the aftermath of the Orlando nightclub shooting that killed 49 people and injured 53 earlier this month.
Shortly after the June 12 shooting, Walker and Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos continued to dismiss the claim that stricter gun laws would prevent incidents like the Orlando massacre. And Vos also said the Orlando massacre should not be used to push anti-gun laws.
Other Republican lawmakers, like Reps. Bob Gannon, of Slinger, and Jesse Kremer, of Kewaskum, said gun laws should be loosened even further. Gannon and Kremer support state laws to allow people to carry guns in public schools and on college campuses. Both of those proposals failed to get approval by the end of the current legislative session, but could be introduced again next year. Republicans hold comfortable majorities of 63-36 in the Assembly and 19-14 in the Senate. All 99 Assembly incumbents and 16 Senate incumbents are up for election in November.
Since Walker first became governor and the GOP took control of the legislature in 2011, they have made it quicker and easier for people to get guns by approving concealed carry and by abolishing the 48-hour waiting period to buy weapons. They have also provided greater legal protections for people who shoot trespassers in a home, business or vehicle. All of these measures were backed by the National Rifle Association, which contributed $49,575 and spent $3.6 million on outside electioneering activities on all candidates for statewide office and the legislature in Wisconsin between January 2008 and December 2015. Walker received $3.5 million of this support.
The following table, which shows campaign contributions and outside electioneering spending to support Walker and current legislators, shows why tighter gun purchase and carry laws are unlikely in Wisconsin.
Campaign Contributions and Outside Election Support by the NRA
to the Governor and Current Legislators
2008 – 2015
| 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 | $6,086 | $7,586 |
| Harsdorf, Sheila | R | S10 | $1,000 | $6,231 | $7,231 |
| Cowles, Robert | R | S02 | $0 | $4,639 | $4,639 |
| Darling, Alberta | R | S08 | $1,500 | $2,035 | $3,535 |
| Tiffany, Tom | R | S12 | $1,250 | $1,865 | $3,115 |
| Kulp, Bob | R | A69 | $0 | $2,408 | $2,408 |
| Moulton, Terry | R | S23 | $500 | $1,720 | $2,220 |
| Tranel, Travis | R | A49 | $500 | $1,216 | $1,716 |
| Marklein, Howard | R | S17 | $1,000 | $671 | $1,671 |
| Nerison, Lee A | R | A96 | $500 | $1,159 | $1,659 |
| Petrowski, Jerry | R | S29 | $1,000 | $638 | $1,638 |
| Ripp, Keith | R | A42 | $500 | $1,037 | $1,537 |
| LeMahieu, Devin | R | S09 | $500 | $666 | $1166 |
| 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 |
| Bernier, Kathy | R | A68 | $500 | $574 | $1,074 |
|
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 |
| Krug, Scott S | R | A72 | $500 | $496 | $996 |
| Petryk, Warren | R | A93 | $500 | $495 | $995 |
| Heaton, Dave | R | A85 | $500 | $493 | $993 |
| Macco, John | R | A88 | $500 | $493 | $993 |
| Novak, Todd | R | A51 | $500 | $492 | $992 |
| Vos, Robin | R | A63 | $500 | $339 | $839 |
| Mursau, Jeffrey L | R | A36 | $300 | $486 | $786 |
| Steineke, Jim | R | A05 | $750 | $0 | $750 |
| 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 |
| Knudson, Dean | R | A30 | $500 | $0 | $500 |
| August, Tyler | R | A32 | $500 | $0 | $500 |
| Larson, Tom | R | A67 | $500 | $0 | $500 |
| Jacque, Andre | R | A02 | $500 | $0 | $500 |
| Craig, Dave | R | A83 | $0 | $331 | $331 |
| Stroebel, Duey | R | S20 | $0 | $317 | $318 |
| Tauchen, Gary | R | A06 | $300 | $0 | $300 |
| Swearingen, Rob | R | A34 | $300 | $0 | $300 |
| Fitzgerald, Scott | R | S13 | $0 | $277 | $277 |
| Gudex, Rick | R | S18 | $275 | $0 | $275 |
| Nygren, John | R | A89 | $250 | $0 | $250 |
| Born, Mark L | R | A39 | $200 | $0 | $200 |
*“S” means Senate District and “A” means Assembly District
