Tommy! Busted.

MADISON, Wis. — In his run for United States Senate, Tommy Thompson has made numerous outlandish claims, and among the claims he’s been most vociferous about is, “I’ve lived my whole life here”. But according to research gathered by One Wisconsin Now and released today in a video, that claim is simply not accurate.

One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross commented, “Tommy Thompson figuratively left Wisconsin behind as a member of the George W. Bush administration and as a Washington D.C influence peddler. Based on our research, he also left the state literally, living in Virginia for many years.”

In a recent profile article, Thompson stated: “They’re trying to say I’m not from Wisconsin anymore… If that is not the most ridiculous absolute lie I’ve ever heard. I’ve lived my whole life here.”

However, in 2001, Thompson resigned as Governor to take a position with the administration of George W. Bush. He stayed on in Washington D.C. after his public service, working as an influence peddler for a lobbying firm

Based on a review of Federal Election Commission records, Thompson listed his residence as Alexandria, Virginia when making political donations, such as one to former Texas Representative Tom Delay after his indictment on charges of money laundering in 2006 and as recently as an October 2010 contribution to Paul Ryan.

In addition, Thompson’s state income tax records obtained by One Wisconsin Now show a huge spike in his tax liability in the year leading up to his U.S. Senate run, skyrocketing from just under $51,000 in 2010 to over $490,000 in 2011. A Thompson move back to Wisconsin from Virginia would explain this dramatic change in his state income tax liability because he was, for the first time in years, filing state income taxes only in Wisconsin instead of multiple states.

Ross concluded, “Tommy Thompson is simply not telling the truth. On issue after issue, from Medicare and his investments in companies doing business with Iran right down to where he lives, Tommy Thompson says one thing, but the facts show something very different.”