14 Big Donors Exceeded Contribution Limit In 2008
Three payday lenders among those who gave more than $10,000
October 15, 2009
Madison - Three payday lenders and a veteran lobbyist were among 14 individuals who exceeded the $10,000 annual limit on total contributions to state and local candidates and political committees in 2008, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign review shows.
The Democracy Campaign’s findings are based on campaign finance reports filed by legislative, judicial and statewide candidates that detail their campaign contributions and spending. The contributors who exceeded the $10,000 limit doled out between $10,050 and $18,125, the records showed (Table).
The Democracy Campaign compared its findings to contribution tallies produced for these contributors by the state’s new electronic reporting system – the Campaign Finance Information System – and found the state system failed to identify five contributions worth $2,350 made by four of the contributors. WDC’s database results were verified by double checking the reports filed by the candidates and committees.
Herzing University executive Stacey Herzing of Milwaukee contributed $18,125 in 2008. Her contributions included two $5,000 contributions to Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson and a $5,000 contribution to former Justice Louis Butler’s campaign.
Following Herzing was Robert Wolfberg, the Glencoe, Illinois co-owner of PLS Financial Services which operates a chain of more than 300 PL$ Check Cashers stores in nine states, who contributed $15,775 to 29 candidates and committees. He gave $8,725 to 20 Republican candidates and $7,050 to nine Democratic candidates and committees including $1,300 to Governor Jim Doyle.
Daniel Wolfberg of Winnetka, Illinois and PLS Financial’s other co-owner, also exceeded the contribution limit by doling out $10,500. Daniel Wolfberg contributed $5,750 to eight Democratic candidates and committees and $4,750 to 11 Republican candidates.
The tally of Robert Wolfberg’s contributions by the state’s electronic reporting system totaled only $15,275, as opposed to $15,775 found by the Democracy Campaign. A check of the candidates’ campaign finance reports found the state’s system failed to include a $500 contribution Wolfberg made August 20 to Representative Dean Kaufert.
Former state senator and veteran Madison lobbyist Gary Goyke contributed $14,074 to more than three dozen mostly Democratic candidates and committees including $1,755 to the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee. This is one of the four legislative leadership committees used by Assembly and Senate Democratic and Republican leaders to raise large amounts of special interest contributions to pay for election year campaign activities.
The state’s reporting system tallied one Goyke contribution twice – a $422 donation on August 19 to state Senator Spencer Coggs – and failed to identify three contributions totaling $1,400 Goyke made to two legislative leadership committees last July and October.
Kevin Dabney of Waukesha, president of the Speedy Loan payday lending chain, contributed $14,000, including nine $1,000 contributions to five Republican Senate candidates and four Democratic Senate candidates.
Two well-known Wisconsin philanthropists also exceeded the 2008 individual contribution limit, according to campaign records. Lynde Uihlein of Milwaukee, a longtime supporter of women’s causes and Democratic candidates, contributed $11,950, including $7,500 to Butler. Jerry Frautschi of Madison, who is best known for his $200 million gift to build the Overture Center for the Arts, contributed $11,500 including $10,000 to Doyle.
State law allows the Government Accountability Board to fine those who violate the $10,000 contribution limit $500 plus triple the amount by which the limited was exceeded.
The number of contributors who have violated the annual limit in the past is all over the board, ranging from lows of one in 2004 and two in 2007 to highs of 27 in 2006 and 39 in 2002.
Table
Contributors Who Violated Annual Campaign Contributions Limits In 2008
|
Contributor, Location, Employer |
Date | Candidate | Amount |
|
Stacey Herzing Milwaukee, WI Herzing University |
12/22/2008 | Abrahamson, Shirley | $5,000 |
| 12/19/2008 | Abrahamson, Shirley | $5,000 | |
| 11/3/2008 | Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee | $1,500 | |
| 10/17/2008 | Wasserman, Sheldon | $650 | |
| 9/26/2008 | Pasch, Sandra | $500 | |
| 4/23/2008 | Wasserman, Sheldon | $100 | |
| 3/31/2008 | Butler, Louis Jr | $5,000 | |
| 3/19/2008 | King, Jessica J | $125 | |
| 2/12/2008 | Wasserman, Sheldon | $250 | |
| TOTAL | $18,125 | ||
|
Contributor, Location, Employer |
Date | Candidate | Amount |
|
Robert Wolfberg Glencoe, IL Payday Loan Store |
12/19/2008 | Doyle, Jim | $1,000 |
| 12/2/2008 | Doyle, Jim | $300 | |
| 11/18/2008 | Stone, Jeff | $250 | |
| 11/7/2008 | Kramer, Bill | $250 | |
| 11/7/2008 | Hraychuck, Ann | $500 | |
| 11/5/2008 | Gundrum, Mark | $250 | |
| 11/4/2008 | Gottlieb, Mark | $250 | |
| 11/3/2008 | Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee | $1,000 | |
| 11/3/2008 | Bernard Schaber, Penny | $500 | |
| 11/1/2008 | Gunderson, Scott | $250 | |
| 10/27/2008 | Sheridan, Mike | $250 | |
| 10/27/2008 | Friske, Donald | $250 | |
| 10/27/2008 | Wasserman, Sheldon | $1,000 | |
| 10/21/2008 | Suder, Scott | $250 | |
| 10/20/2008 | Hopper, Randy | $500 | |
| 10/20/2008 | Kapanke, Dan | $1,000 | |
| 10/20/2008 | Johnson, Tara | $500 | |
| 10/20/2008 | Holperin, Jim | $1,000 | |
| 10/11/2008 | Tiffany, Tom | $1,000 | |
| 10/11/2008 | King, Jessica J | $1,000 | |
| 10/11/2008 | Fitzgerald, Scott | $1,000 | |
| 9/26/2008 | Rhoades, Kitty | $300 | |
| 9/16/2008 | Davis, Brett H | $500 | |
| 9/15/2008 | Huebsch, Mike | $500 | |
| 9/5/2008 | Townsend, John | $200 | |
| 9/1/2008 | Kestell, Steve | $300 | |
| 8/27/2008 | Vos, Robin | $375 | |
| 8/26/2008 | Fitzgerald, Jeff | $300 | |
| 8/25/2008 | Zipperer, Rich | $500 | |
| 8/20/2008 | Kaufert, Dean | $500 | |
| TOTAL | $15,775 | ||
|
Contributor, Location, Employer |
Date | Candidate | Amount |
|
Timothy Erdman Madison, WI Marshall Erdman & Associates |
8/28/2008 | Abrahamson, Shirley | $10,000 |
| 7/18/2008 | Nelson, Tom | $200 | |
| 6/25/2008 | Doyle, Jim | $5,000 | |
| TOTAL | $15,200 | ||
|
Contributor, Location, Employer |
Date | Candidate | Amount |
|
Gary Goyke Madison, WI Goyke & Associates |
12/7/2008 | Ehlke, Stephen | $250 |
| 12/6/2008 | Abrahamson, Shirley | $500 | |
| 11/30/2008 | Dane County Democratic Party | $300 | |
| 10/23/2008 | Danou, Chris | $250 | |
| 10/8/2008 | Hintz, Gordon N | $500 | |
| 10/2/2008 | Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee | $1,000 | |
| 9/26/2008 | Fields, Jason M | $250 | |
| 9/25/2008 | King, Jessica J | $250 | |
| 9/17/2008 | Schneider, Marlin | $200 | |
| 9/15/2008 | LeMahieu, Daniel R | $100 | |
| 9/12/2008 | Toles, Barbara L | $200 | |
| 9/11/2008 | Williams, Annette Polly | $200 | |
| 9/10/2008 | Holperin, Jim | $172.38 | |
| 9/7/2008 | Colon, Pedro | $200 | |
| 9/7/2008 | Barca, Peter | $200 | |
| 9/7/2008 | Staskunas, Tony | $100 | |
| 9/4/2008 | Hubler, Mary | $250 | |
| 9/2/2008 | Jorgensen, Andy | $250 | |
| 8/27/2008 | Roth, Roger | $250 | |
| 8/20/2008 | Nelson, Tom | $500 | |
| 8/19/2008 | Spanbauer, Richard | $75 | |
| 8/19/2008 | Coggs, G Spencer | $422 | |
| 8/19/2008 | Coggs, G Spencer | $500 | |
| 8/13/2008 | Holperin, Jim | $250 | |
| 7/30/2008 | Suder, Scott | $500 | |
| 7/30/2008 | Hixson, Kim | $500 | |
| 7/29/2008 | Democratic Party of Wisconsin | $100 | |
| 7/25/2008 | Jorgensen, Andy | $250 | |
| 7/16/2008 | State Senate Democratic Committee | $200 | |
| 7/14/2008 | Jorgensen, Andy | $250 | |
| 7/9/2008 | Klemme, Dale | $250 | |
| 7/8/2008 | Committee to Elect a Republican Senate | $100 | |
| 7/8/2008 | Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee | $200 | |
| 6/30/2008 | King, Jessica J | $250 | |
| 6/30/2008 | Bernard Schaber, Penny | $250 | |
| 6/30/2008 | Fisk, Paul | $500 | |
| 6/24/2008 | Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee | $250 | |
| 6/24/2008 | Mason, Cory | $500 | |
| 6/18/2008 | Milroy, Nick | $500 | |
| 6/18/2008 | Myszka, Nate | $500 | |
| 6/17/2008 | Schmuki, Steve | $250 | |
| 6/11/2008 | Gruszynski, Stan | $250 | |
| 6/8/2008 | Sargent, Justin | $500 | |
| 5/22/2008 | Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee | $305 | |
| 4/3/2008 | Butler, Louis Jr | $500 | |
| TOTAL | $14,074.38 | ||
|
Contributor, Location, Employer |
Date | Candidate | Amount |
|
Kevin Dabney Waukesha, WI Speedy Loan Corp. |
11/24/2008 | Kanavas, Theodore J | $1,000 |
| 11/24/2008 | Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee | $500 | |
| 11/12/2008 | Kapanke, Dan | $1,000 | |
| 11/10/2008 | Huebsch, Mike | $500 | |
| 11/7/2008 | Townsend, John | $500 | |
| 11/7/2008 | Hraychuck, Ann | $500 | |
| 11/6/2008 | Hopper, Randy | $1,000 | |
| 11/5/2008 | Gundrum, Mark | $500 | |
| 11/4/2008 | Wasserman, Sheldon | $1,000 | |
| 11/3/2008 | Kaufert, Dean | $500 | |
| 11/3/2008 | Johnson, Tara | $1,000 | |
| 11/3/2008 | Holperin, Jim | $1,000 | |
| 11/1/2008 | King, Jessica J | $1,000 | |
| 10/31/2008 | Bernard Schaber, Penny | $500 | |
| 10/31/2008 | Fitzgerald, Scott | $1,000 | |
| 10/28/2008 | Tiffany, Tom | $1,000 | |
| 10/28/2008 | Friske, Donald | $500 | |
| 10/28/2008 | Vos, Robin | $500 | |
| 10/27/2008 | Sheridan, Mike | $500 | |
| TOTAL | $14,000 | ||
|
Contributor, Location, Employer |
Date | Candidate | Amount |
|
Rick Halverson Fountain City, WI Former owner of the Golden Frog Saloon |
12/12/2008 | Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee | $242 |
| 11/6/2008 | Hopper, Randy | $63 | |
| 11/4/2008 | Fitzgerald, Scott | $244 | |
| 10/27/2008 | Sheridan, Mike | $500 | |
| 10/21/2008 | Davis, Brett H | $500 | |
| 10/20/2008 | Brooks, Ed | $500 | |
| 10/20/2008 | Meyer, Dan | $355 | |
| 10/20/2008 | Honadel, Mark | $500 | |
| 10/20/2008 | Williams, Mary | $352 | |
| 10/18/2008 | Russell, Nathan R | $500 | |
| 10/18/2008 | Egelhoff, Jo | $500 | |
| 10/18/2008 | Ripp, Keith | $500 | |
| 10/18/2008 | Murtha, John | $500 | |
| 10/18/2008 | Danou, Chris | $446 | |
| 10/17/2008 | Suder, Scott | $500 | |
| 10/16/2008 | Erpenbach, Jon | $1,000 | |
| 10/4/2008 | Towns, Debi | $500 | |
| 9/17/2008 | Holperin, Jim | $1,000 | |
| 9/8/2008 | Nygren, John | $334 | |
| 8/25/08 | Page, Allison | $1,000 | |
| 8/25/2008 | Huebsch, Mike | $500 | |
| 8/21/2008 | Knodl, Dan | $500 | |
| 8/12/2008 | Hraychuck, Ann | $350 | |
| 8/6/2008 | Nerison, Lee A | $500 | |
| 8/4/2008 | Petrowski, Jerry | $500 | |
| 6/16/2008 | Republican Assembly Campaign Committee | $2,000 | |
| TOTAL | $14,386 | ||
|
Contributor, Location, Employer |
Date | Candidate | Amount |
|
Pierre McCormick Madison, WI Wisconsin Distributors |
10/27/2008 | Sheridan, Mike | $500 |
| 10/20/2008 | Schneider, Marlin | $500 | |
| 10/17/2008 | Hebl, Gary | $500 | |
| 10/17/2008 | Decker, Russ | $500 | |
| 10/17/2008 | Plale, Jeffrey | $500 | |
| 10/16/2008 | Hopper, Randy | $1,000 | |
| 10/14/2008 | Kedzie, Neal | $500 | |
| 10/14/2008 | Brooks, Ed | $500 | |
| 10/12/2008 | Egelhoff, Jo | $500 | |
| 10/11/2008 | Spanbauer, Richard J | $500 | |
| 10/10/2008 | Petrowski, Jerry | $500 | |
| 10/10/2008 | Moga, Don | $500 | |
| 10/8/2008 | Pocan, Mark | $500 | |
| 10/10/2008 | Olsen, Luther | $500 | |
| 10/8/2008 | Ripp, Keith | $500 | |
| 9/10/2008 | Holperin, Jim | $500 | |
| 7/16/2008 | State Senate Democratic Committee | $500 | |
| 7/8/2008 | Wirch, Robert | $500 | |
| 6/29/2008 | Hansen, Dave | $250 | |
| 6/26/2008 | Republican Assembly Campaign Committee | $500 | |
| 6/25/2008 | Hellman, Dan | $500 | |
| 6/18/2008 | Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee | $500 | |
| 1/20/2008 | Owens, Carol | $500 | |
| 1/5/2008 | Kaufert, Dean | $500 | |
| 1/3/2008 | Kleefisch, Joel | $500 | |
| TOTAL | $12,750 | ||
|
Contributor, Location, Employer |
Date | Candidate | Amount |
|
Lynde Uihlein Milwaukee, WI Brico Fund |
8/25/2008 | Hansen, Dave | $150 |
| 8/23/2008 | Johnson, Tara | $150 | |
| 8/22/08 | Page, Allison | $150 | |
| 8/21/2008 | Holperin, Jim | $150 | |
| 8/19/2008 | Dexter, Kristen | $240 | |
| 8/7/2008 | King, Jessica J | $150 | |
| 8/6/2008 | Bernard Schaber, Pen | $240 | |
| 8/5/2008 | Klemme, Dale | $240 | |
| 7/29/2008 | Weix, Lou Ann | $240 | |
| 7/29/2008 | Wisnefske, Kristin | $240 | |
| 5/23/2008 | Lawton, Barbara | $2,500 | |
| 2/27/2008 | Butler, Louis Jr | $3,250 | |
| 1/8/2008 | Butler, Louis Jr | $4,250 | |
| TOTAL | $11,950 | ||
|
Contributor, Location, Employer |
Date | Candidate | Amount |
|
Jerome Frautschi Madison, WI Overture Foundation |
6/21/2008 | Abrahamson, Shirley | $500 |
| 6/21/2008 | Abrahamson, Shirley | $500 | |
| 6/6/2008 | Doyle, Jim | $10,000 | |
| 5/8/2008 | Englund, Eric | $500 | |
| TOTAL | $11,500 | ||
|
Contributor, Location, Employer |
Date | Candidate | Amount |
|
Donald Becker Madison, WI Becker Law Offices |
10/29/2008 | Buckel, Chris | $500 |
| 10/29/2008 | Garthwaite, Phil | $500 | |
| 10/29/2008 | Page, Alison H | $1,000 | |
| 10/29/2008 | King, Jessica J | $1,000 | |
| 10/29/2008 | Smith, Jeff | $500 | |
| 10/29/2008 | ONeil, Trish | $500 | |
| 10/28/2008 | Soletski, Jim | $500 | |
| 10/28/2008 | Holperin, Jim | $1,000 | |
| 10/28/2008 | Reas, Judy | $500 | |
| 10/28/2008 | Clark, Fred | $500 | |
| 10/28/2008 | Johnson, Tara | $1,000 | |
| 10/28/2008 | Radcliffe, Mark A | $500 | |
| 10/28/2008 | Waelti, John | $500 | |
| 10/27/2008 | Gruszynski, Stan | $500 | |
| 9/22/2008 | Abrahamson, Shirley | $2,500 | |
| TOTAL | $11,500 | ||
|
Contributor, Location, Employer |
Date | Candidate | Amount |
|
Mary Studer Pensacola Beach, FL Studer Group |
10/5/2008 | Gruszynski, Stan | $300 |
| 10/5/2008 | Hixson, Kim | $300 | |
| 4/25/2008 | Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee | $10,000 | |
| TOTAL | $10,600 | ||
|
Contributor, Location, Employer |
Date | Candidate | Amount |
|
Daniel Wolfberg Winnetka, IL Payday Loan Store |
11/20/2008 | Stone, Jeff | $250 |
| 11/7/2008 | Kramer, Bill | $250 | |
| 11/7/2008 | Hraychuck, Ann | $500 | |
| 11/5/2008 | Gundrum, Mark | $250 | |
| 11/4/2008 | Gottlieb, Mark | $250 | |
| 11/3/2008 | Bernard Schaber, Pen | $500 | |
| 11/3/2008 | Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee | $1,000 | |
| 11/1/2008 | Gunderson, Scott | $250 | |
| 10/27/2008 | Friske, Donald | $250 | |
| 10/27/2008 | Sheridan, Mike | $250 | |
| 10/27/2008 | Wasserman, Sheldon | $1,000 | |
| 10/21/2008 | Suder, Scott | $250 | |
| 10/20/2008 | Kapanke, Dan | $1,000 | |
| 10/20/2008 | Johnson, Tara | $500 | |
| 10/20/2008 | Holperin, Jim | $1,000 | |
| 10/20/2008 | Hopper, Randy | $500 | |
| 10/12/2008 | Fitzgerald, Scott | $1,000 | |
| 10/12/2008 | King, Jessica J | $1,000 | |
| 10/12/2008 | Tiffany, Tom | $500 | |
| TOTAL | $10,500 | ||
|
Contributor, Location, Employer |
Date | Candidate | Amount |
|
Philip Hees Madison, WI McBride Companies |
10/20/2008 | Doyle, Jim | $10,000 |
| 8/27/2008 | Pocan, Mark | $100 | |
| TOTAL | $10,100 | ||
|
Contributor, Location, Employer |
Date | Candidate | Amount |
|
Thomas A. Schmidt Appleton, WI U.S. Oil |
12/2/2008 | Doyle, Jim | $5,000 |
| 11/21/2008 | Rhoades, Kitty | $500 | |
| 11/7/2008 | Miller, Mark | $500 | |
| 10/30/2008 | Holperin, Jim | $200 | |
| 10/28/2008 | Fitzgerald, Scott | $500 | |
| 10/13/2008 | State Senate Democratic Committee | $250 | |
| 9/26/2008 | Rhoades, Kitty | $250 | |
| 9/24/2008 | Huebsch, Mike | $100 | |
| 9/10/2008 | Republican Assembly Campaign Committee | $500 | |
| 9/9/2008 | Nelson, Tom | $100 | |
| 9/3/2008 | Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee | $250 | |
| 8/30/2008 | Fitzgerald, Jeff | $100 | |
| 6/30/2008 | State Senate Democratic Committee | $250 | |
| 6/30/2008 | Huebsch, Mike | $100 | |
| 6/30/2008 | Moulton, Terry | $100 | |
| 6/29/2008 | Hansen, Dave | $500 | |
| 6/27/2008 | Doyle, Jim | $500 | |
| 6/12/2008 | Committee to Elect a Republican Senate | $100 | |
| 4/28/2008 | Nelson, Tom | $250 | |
| TOTAL | $10,050 | ||
