Wisconsin-Report

Alvin Ott Wisconsin State Assembly Republican Koch Industries 2010 $250
Kevin David Wisconsin State Assembly Republican Koch Industries 2008 $250
Petersen
Don Pridemore Wisconsin State Assembly Republican Koch Industries 2008 $250
Kitty Rhoades Wisconsin State Assembly Republican Koch Industries 2006-2008 $1,000
Jeff Stone Wisconsin State Assembly Republican Koch Industries 2006 $500
Scott Suder Wisconsin State Assembly Republican Koch Industries 2012 $500
Karl Van Roy Wisconsin State Assembly Republican Koch Industries 2006-2010 $750
Robin Vos Wisconsin State Assembly Republican Koch Industries 2010-2012 $1,000
Chad Weininger Wisconsin State Assembly Republican Koch Industries 2010-2012 $1,000
Mary Williams Wisconsin State Assembly Republican Koch Industries 2008-2010 $750
Cory Mason Wisconsin State Assembly Democrat Koch Industries 2010 $250
Tom Nelson Wisconsin State Assembly Democrat Koch Industries 2006-2010 $500
Penny Bernard Wisconsin State Assembly Democrat Koch Industries 2010 $500
Schaber
Michael J. Sheridan Wisconsin State Assembly Democrat Koch Industries 2010 $500
James Soletski Wisconsin State Assembly Democrat Koch Industries 2010 $500
John Steinbrink Wisconsin State Assembly Democrat Koch Industries 2006 $250
Total: $33,250
LOCAL LEVEL ELECTIONS
School Board
[Follow the Money, Accessed 2/8/16]
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Executive Director Matt Rothschild: “The Koch Brothers Have Spent More Than
$5,000,000 In This State, Not Only To Help (Gov.) Scott Walker Along, But Also To Get Rid Of A Couple School
Board Members All The Way Down At The Kenosha School Board.” According to WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio,
“‘The floodgates have opened, and democracy is drowning all across the country, and here in Wisconsin, too,’ says Matt
Rothschild, executive director of the liberal group Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which tracks campaign spending in the
state. ‘For instance, the Koch brothers have spent more than $5,000,000 in this state, not only to help (Gov.) Scott Walker
along, but also to get rid of a couple school board members all the way down at the Kenosha school board. That’s how far
down ticket the money is going these days,’ Rothschild says.” [WUWM, 1/21/15]
AFP Got Involved In A Local School Board Election In Kenosha, Wisconsin To Oppose A Collective Bargaining
Agreement With Kenosha Teachers. According to the Center for American Progress, “In April 2014, the city of Kenosha,
Wisconsin, was facing an important school board election with two pivotal seats open. Going into that election, the Kenosha
school board had approved a new union contract with its teachers, despite Act 10, a newly enacted state law limiting publicsector
collective bargaining. Opposed to the new teacher contract, AFP decided to get involved in the school board election.
The Koch-backed outside group did not endorse particular candidates, and declined to say how much it was spending on the
race, but it did organize a field team to conduct phone banks and door-to-door canvasses. Although the race was technically
nonpartisan, the local newspaper editorialized that among the four candidates running, there became a ‘red team and a blue
team’: one alliance of candidates appearing on Tea Party radio stations, and another set of candidates who were endorsed by
the local teachers union. Powered in part by AFP’s support, the more conservative candidates narrowly won the election. Just
two months later, in June, the new school board voted to nullify the collective bargaining agreement it had approved just
months earlier, weakening the ability of teachers to advocate for the resources and materials they need. (In August, the
Wisconsin State Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Act 10. Studies show that when teachers and administrators
form collaborative and constructive partnerships student performance improves. The Koch brothers are fostering school
climates that prevent these partnerships from developing.” [Center for American Progress, August 2014]
• AFP Claimed It Was Not Supporting Certain Candidates But Became Involved After The School Board
“Approved New Union Contracts Despite The Collective Bargaining Limits.” According to Wisconsin Public
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