New Evidence Shows Gov. Scott Walker’s Excuse for Using State Plane to Film Campaign Ad Doesn’t Fly

MADISON, Wis. — Information obtained today by One Wisconsin Now shows the Governor’s office intentionally scheduled an event at Nicolet Technical College on July 17 in order to try to charge taxpayers over $2,000 to fly him to film a campaign television in nearby Three Lakes. One Wisconsin Now has filed formal complaint with the Dane County District Attorney and Wisconsin Ethics Commission over Walker’s illegal use of state resources for campaign purposes.

“The evidence leaves no question,” said One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross. “Scott Walker intended to charge taxpayers to fly him to shoot a tv ad for his campaign and he schemed to evade the law that prohibits him from using state resources to benefit his campaign.”

In response to an open records request for a copy of any communication from the technical college to the Governor inviting him to tour the campus they replied, “Nicolet College did not extend any invitations to Governor Walker during 2018. However, the Governor’s Office did contact us by phone about the possibility of visiting Nicolet College on July 17, 2018.”

In the complaint, One Wisconsin Now provided flight records showing the Governor flew to Rhinelander on a state plane at a cost of $2,017.66. That same day in nearby Three Lakes, Walker’s campaign filmed campaign commercial footage featuring Walker himself at the Three Lakes School District as well as at the Three Lakes Diner. One Wisconsin Now confirmed the July 17 school filming date by Walker and his campaign through an open records request with the school district and from social media posts featuring Walker at a local business, also featured in the campaign ad.

Walker’s team has attempted to justify the blatant misuse of the state plane in this instance by citing his visit to the college. Ross noted that the latest evidence shows that Walker was instead trying to evade the law.

He concluded, “The law on the use of state planes was written with a guy like Gov. Walker in mind. It says you can’t make up a public event to get away with sticking state taxpayers with the full tab for flying the state plane for campaign purposes.”