The Road Map to Political Influence
July 8, 1997
Road builders in Wisconsin contributed more than $134,000 to candidates for the state legislature and legislative campaign committees (LCCs) during 1995 and 1996 (Table 1). This makes them one of the top industry players in the political influence game in this state. As the legislature votes on a transportation budget in the $3 billion range, and decides issues such as gas taxes and the division of money between new road construction and maintenance of existing roads, you can be sure that the road builders are around the table. Small changes in these tax rates and program priorities can means millions of dollars in income for this industry.
Table 1
Contributions by Individuals and Political Committees
Associated with Road Builders 1995-96
| Type of Contribution | Amount |
|---|---|
| Individuals Giving $100 or More to Candidates | $102,286 |
| Individuals Giving to Legislative Campaign Committees | $ 6,925 |
| PACs* Giving to Candidates | $5,550 |
| PACs Giving to Legislative Campaign Committees (LCCs) | $19,700 |
| TOTAL | $134,461 |
*WI Road Builders Assn PAC, WI Ready Mixed Concrete Assn PAC, and Transportation Political Education League.
Who gives these campaign contributions and who receives them is a road map of political influence that all citizens of Wisconsin need to understand.
Who Gives the Money
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign has identified thirty-five businesses and three political action committees (PACs) as road building interests. Ninety-one individuals and family groups associated with these businesses gave 677 contributions of $100 or more to legislative candidates in 1995 and 1996 totaling $102,286 (Table 2). These large individual contributions represent 76% of the political money tracked in this study and are the major avenue used by road builders to funnel money into the political process. This is another example of the growing role of large contributions from individuals in state legislative campaigns.
Table 2
Individual Contributions of $100 or More
to Legislative Candidates by Road Builders
1995-96
| Business Name | Total Contributions |
|---|---|
| Payne & Dolan | $17,450 |
| Edward Kraemer & Sons Construction | $10,150 |
| Mathy Construction | $9,950 |
| Lunda Construction | $9,550 |
| Rock Road Companies | $8,450 |
| Fabco Equipment Inc | $6,450 |
| Northeast Asphalt Co | $4,975 |
| Mann Brothers Construction | $4,750 |
| Zignego Co | $3,600 |
| Hoffman Construction | $2,950 |
| James Peterson & Sons | $2,950 |
| Vinton Construction Co | $2,350 |
| Timme Construction | $2,000 |
| James Cape & Sons Co | $1,950 |
| Cicchini Asphalt Paving Inc | $1,700 |
| Amon & Sons Inc | $1,550 |
| Trierweiler Construction & Supply Co | $1,500 |
| FC Raemisch & Son | $1,250 |
| Pitlic & Wick | $1,250 |
| Scott Construction | $1,250 |
| Mashuda Construction Inc | $900 |
| Musson Bros Inc | $775 |
| Streu Construction Co | $700 |
| Wisconsin Road Builders | $550 |
| Dresel Construction | $500 |
| Monarch Paving | $500 |
| Reliance Construction Co | $500 |
| Senn Blacktop Inc | $400 |
| Appleton Asphalt | $250 |
| R&R Wash Materials | $250 |
| Lund Builders Inc | $236 |
| Biehl Construction | $200 |
| CC Linck | $200 |
| DC Burbach Inc | $200 |
| Kaiser Construction Inc | $100 |
| TOTAL | $102,286 |
Individuals associated with five major road building companies provided $55,550 to candidates, over half of all individual contributions to candidates, and $4,925 to the legislative campaign committees (Table 3). These five companies are Payne & Dolan, Mathy Construction, Edward Kraemer & Sons, Lunda Construction, and Rock Road Companies. They are major road builders in Wisconsin and they are major contributors to political campaigns.
Table 3
Individual Contributions of $100 or More to
Candidates and Legislative Campaign Committees
by Major Road Builders
1995/96
| Company | Legislative Leaders* | LCCS | Candidates Out-Side District | Candidates Inside District | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payne & Dolan | $4,950 | $625 | $10,400 | $2,100 | $18,075 |
| Mathy Construction | $2,300 | $3,400 | $4,450 | $3,200 | $13,350 |
| Edward Kraemer & Sons | $4,100 | $400 | $5,850 | $200 | $10,550 |
| Lunda Construction | $1,700 | $300 | $7,150 | $700 | $9,850 |
| Rock Road Companies | $3,150 | $200 | $4,700 | $600 | $8,650 |
| Total | $16,200 | $4,925 | $32,550 | $6,800 | $60,475 |
*including members of the Joint Finance Committee
The pattern of contributions from individuals associated with these five companies shows a sophisticated understanding of how the influence game is played. Very little of the amount contributed goes to their own representatives. Most is contributed to candidates who represent other people in the legislature and to those in legislative leadership positions. This pattern of giving -- to leadership and to candidates they cannot vote for -- is common among those seeking influence with the legislature. Why give to other than your own representatives if you are not seeking to influence their decisions? What better way of ensuring that your views are heard?
Who Receives the Money
When total contributions from road builders are looked at, the pattern of how the influence game is played is evident. Road builder contributions indicate a sophisticated system of punishing opponents and rewarding friends, steering money to legislative leadership and targeted races, giving primarily to incumbents, and hedging their bets by contributing to the legislative campaign committees of both parties in both houses.
State Senator Robert Welch, the leading recipient of contributions from road builders, received 39 contributions for a total of $6,700 (Table 4 at end of text). Senator Welch won election to the State Senate in a special election on September 12, 1995. However, the major contest for this seat was in the primary. His primary opponent was State Representative William Lorge, a leader in the fight against an increase in the gasoline tax during the 1995 session of the legislature. There were no contributions to Lorge in the records examined by the WDC. The road builders clearly play hard ball politics -- they punish their opponents.
Table 5 (at end of text) shows the list of candidates receiving contributions, and the totals by status of the candidate and political party. Every one of the 14 candidates who received at least $2,000 from road building interests are legislative leaders or were in targeted, high spending races. Only three of them (Petak, Soik and Silbaugh) lost their elections -- a 79% batting average. The road builders who contributed big money in these high profile races won’t be forgotten by leadership and the candidates they supported.
Incumbents received a total of $82,400 -- 76% of all PAC and large individual contributions to candidates. Incumbents are most active in raising money, they tend to spend the most money on their campaigns, and they are most likely to win their election contests. They’re safe bets for the contributor seeking influence. Very few road builders risk giving to challengers. Only one challenger, Lisa Soik, received more than $1,000 from the road builders. Sixteen challengers received contributions for a total of $9,636. Candidates in open seats and in special elections received $8,800. Incumbent state senators not up for re-election in 1996 received a total of $7,000.
Making contributions to legislative leadership, to the legislative campaign committees they control, and to the members of the Joint Finance Committee is a key facet of playing the influence game. The road builders contributed a total of $54,425 to these legislators and to the leadership committees (Table 6 at end of text).
Senator Chuck Chvala, Majority Leader in the State Senate, received $3,950 for his personal campaign committee and $8,600 for the State Senate Democratic Committee for a total of $12,550. Representative Steve Foti, Majority Leader in the Assembly, received $1,500 for his personal campaign committee and $7,600 for the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee for a total of $9,100. Representative Walter Kunicki, Minority Leader in the Assembly, received $4,150 for his personal campaign committee and $3,300 for the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee for a total of $7,450. Senator Mike Ellis, Minority Leader in the State Senate, received no contributions for his personal campaign committee -- he did not have an election during this period -- but $7,125 went to the Committee to Elect a Republican Senate. Senator Gary George, the leading recipient of contributions from the road builders on the Joint Finance Committee, received $3,100. Senator George was unopposed for reelection in 1996.
The road builders clearly believe in hedging their bets with legislative leadership by giving to both, even when they clearly prefer Republican candidates in general. Democratic leaders received a total of $26,800 and Republican leaders received $27,625. This is in contrast to the pattern of giving to all candidates, where the road builders give over twice as much to Republicans ($74,211) as to Democrats ($33,325). U.S. Taxpayers candidates received $300. (See Table 5)
Table 4
Individuals Contributions of $100 or More
to Robert Welch from Road Builders
1995-96
| DATE | CONTRIBUTOR | CITY | EMPLOYER | AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/13/95 | Bechthold, Ned W | Waukesha | Payne & Dolan | $150 |
| 07/17/95 | Kennedy, William E | Janesville | Rock Road Companies | $200 |
| 07/24/95 | Zignego, Daniel A & Lisa K | Hartford | Zignego Co | $200 |
| 07/24/95 | Waskovick, Roger & Shirley | Green Lake | R&R Wash Materials | $150 |
| 07/26/95 | Kennedy, Robert | Janesville | Rock Road Companies | $100 |
| 07/26/95 | Kraemer, David | Madison | Edward Kraemer & Sons Construction | $500 |
| 08/04/95 | Fabick, Jere C | Madison | Fabco Equipment Inc | $500 |
| 08/04/95 | Maples, Michael J & Mary G | Manitowoc | Vinton Construction Co | $100 |
| 08/04/95 | Mashuda, Clifford G Jr | Princeton | Mashuda Construction Inc | $250 |
| 08/04/95 | Timme, Henry N & Shari J | Endeavor | Timme Construction | $200 |
| 08/04/95 | Zignego, Michael & Cynthia | Waukesha | Zignego Co | $200 |
| 08/04/95 | Gehl, Paul & Carol | Hilbert | Lunda Construction | $100 |
| 08/04/95 | Kraemer, WmJ & Jennifer N | Plain | Edward Kraemer& Sons Construction | $100 |
| 08/04/95 | Linck, Chet & Karen | Beaver Dam | CC Linck | $100 |
| 08/04/95 | Lunda, Milton A & Lydia | Black River Falls | Lunda Construction | $100 |
| 08/04/95 | Mann, Richard A | Elkhorn | Mann Brothers Construction | $500 |
| 08/04/95 | Peterson, John M & Patricia K | Medford | James Peterson & Sons | $100 |
| 08/04/95 | Raemisch, Thomas F | Waunakee | FC Raemisch & Son | $100 |
| 08/07/95 | Cape, Wm R | Racine | James Cape & Sons Co | $200 |
| 08/07/95 | Grohskopf, Herman W & Diane R | Fond du Lac | Northeast Asphalt Co | $100 |
| 08/07/95 | Kraemer, David | Madison | Edward Kraemer & Sons Construction | $500 |
| 08/07/95 | Miller, Howard W & Leah J | Fond du Lac | Northeast Asphalt Co | $100 |
| 08/07/95 | Story, Darren D & Laura A | Campbellsport | Northeast Asphalt Co | $100 |
| 08/07/95 | Treimstra, Ronald J & Darcy L | Green Lake | Northeast Asphalt Co | $100 |
| 08/07/95 | Triemstra, Ronald J | Green Lake | Northeast Asphalt Co | $200 |
| 08/07/95 | Washkovick, Roger & Shirley | Green Lake | R&R Wash Materials | $100 |
| 08/15/95 | Mashuda, Clifford G Sr | Princeton | Mashuda Construction Inc | $250 |
| 08/15/95 | Vergeront, David J & SusanB | Cedarburg | Fabco Equipment Inc | $100 |
| 08/16/95 | Buglass, William G | Deerfield | Payne & Dolan | $200 |
| 08/16/95 | Mathy, Steven C & LeeAnn | La Crosse | Mathy Construction | $100 |
| 08/21/95 | Hoffman, David | Black River Falls | Hoffman Construction | $100 |
| 08/22/95 | Lunda, Larry | Black River Falls | Lunda Construction | $100 |
| 08/22/95 | Slifka, Richard & Marlee | Black River Falls | Lunda Construction | $100 |
| 09/05/95 | Cape, Chris | Racine | James Cape & Sons Co | $100 |
| 10/02/95 | Kennedy, William | Janesville | Rock Road Companies | $100 |
| 10/20/95 | Gehl, Paul | Hilbert | Lunda Construction | $200 |
| 06/25/96 | Zignego, Lisa | Hartford | Zignego Co | $100 |
| 06/25/96 | Zignego, Terry | Delafield | Zignego Co | $100 |
| 09/23/96 | Kaiser, Karen | Portage | Kaiser Construction Inc | $100 |
| TOTAL | $6, 700 | |||
Table 5
Total PAC and Individuals Contributions of $100 or More
Received by Legislative Candidates from Road Builders
1995-96
| Candidate | Office | Party* | Status** | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welch | S14 | R | I | $ 6700 |
| Brancel | A42 | R | I | $4850 |
| Petak | S21 | R | S | $4700 |
| Huebsch | A94 | R | I | $4550 |
| Kunicki | A08 | D | I | $4150 |
| Chvala | S16 | D | I | $3950 |
| Breske | S12 | D | I | $3450 |
| George | S06 | D | I | $3100 |
| Musser | A92 | R | I | $3000 |
| Skindrud | A79 | R | I | $2500 |
| Soik | S28 | R | C | $2400 |
| Silbaugh | A46 | R | I | $2200 |
| Darling | S08 | R | I | $2100 |
| Clausing | S10 | D | I | $2100 |
| Fitzgerald | S13 | R | N | $1900 |
| Panzer | S20 | R | I | $1800 |
| Drzewiecki | S30 | R | I | $1800 |
| Gunderson | A83 | R | I | $1750 |
| Klusman | A56 | R | I | $1600 |
| Meyer | A95 | D | I | $1600 |
| Shibilski | S24 | D | I | $1600 |
| Foti | A38 | R | I | $1500 |
| Jensen | A32 | R | I | $1500 |
| Travis | A81 | D | I | $1400 |
| Weeden | S15 | R | N | $1400 |
| Wineke | S27 | D | N | $1350 |
| Dobyns | A52 | R | I | $1350 |
| Ott | A03 | R | I | $1300 |
| Hahn | A47 | R | I | $1250 |
| Wieckert | A57 | R | O | $1250 |
| Kedzie | A43 | R | O | $1250 |
| Rude | S32 | R | I | $1200 |
| Lazich | A84 | R | I | $1200 |
| Gard | A89 | R | I | $1000 |
| Plache | S21 | D | S | $1000 |
| Johnson, S. | A02 | D | C | $900 |
| Griggs | S10 | R | C | $886 |
| Handrick | A34 | R | I | $850 |
| Freese | A51 | R | I | $800 |
| Albers | A50 | R | I | $800 |
| Metcalfe | S16 | R | C | $800 |
| Levanetz | S12 | R | C | $775 |
| Plombon | A68 | D | I | $750 |
| Schultz, D | S17 | R | N | $700 |
| Schafer | A68 | R | C | $700 |
| Gannon | A53 | D | C | $625 |
| Hasenohrl | A70 | D | I | $600 |
| Moore | S04 | D | I | $600 |
| Kreibich | A93 | R | I | $600 |
| Kreuser | A64 | D | I | $600 |
| Springer | A86 | D | I | $550 |
| Moser | A87 | R | C | $550 |
| Moen | S31 | D | N | $500 |
| Rosenzweig | S05 | R | N | $500 |
| Zukowski | A69 | R | I | $500 |
| Young, L. | A16 | D | I | $500 |
| Powers | A80 | R | I | $500 |
| Hoven | A60 | R | I | $500 |
| Kelso | A88 | R | I | $500 |
| Jauch | S25 | D | N | $450 |
| Harsdorf | A30 | R | I | $450 |
| Wilder | A67 | D | I | $450 |
| Ladwig | A63 | R | I | $450 |
| Cowles | S02 | R | I | $400 |
| Johnsrud | A96 | R | I | $400 |
| Ourada | A35 | R | I | $400 |
| Brandemuehl | A49 | R | I | $400 |
| Otte | A27 | R | I | $400 |
| Schultz, Dave | A13 | R | C | $400 |
| Plale | A21 | D | I | $400 |
| Stone | A82 | R | C | $400 |
| Schneider | A72 | D | I | $300 |
| Ziegelbauer | A25 | D | I | $300 |
| Walker | A14 | R | I | $300 |
| Ryba | A90 | D | I | $300 |
| Ward | A37 | R | I | $300 |
| Olsen | A41 | R | I | $300 |
| Carson | A23 | R | C | $300 |
| Leinstock | A33 | T | C | $300 |
| Adelman | S28 | D | I | $200 |
| Wood | A44 | D | I | $200 |
| Goetsch | A39 | R | I | $200 |
| Linton | A74 | D | I | $200 |
| Owens | A53 | R | I | $200 |
| Lehman, M. | A58 | R | I | $200 |
| Duff | A98 | R | I | $200 |
| Vanderloop | A05 | D | I | $200 |
| Vrakas | A33 | R | I | $200 |
| Kaufert | A55 | R | I | $200 |
| Green | A04 | R | I | $200 |
| Beal | A22 | R | C | $200 |
| Hutchison | A01 | R | I | $200 |
| Plouff | A29 | D | O | $200 |
| Anderson, J. | A29 | R | O | $200 |
| Sykora | A67 | R | C | $200 |
| Porter | A66 | R | I | $100 |
| Sanders | A05 | R | C | $100 |
| Buettner | S18 | R | I | $100 |
| Hubler | A75 | D | I | $100 |
| Zien | S23 | R | N | $100 |
| Underheim | A54 | R | I | $100 |
| Burke | S03 | D | N | $100 |
| Reynolds | A87 | D | I | $100 |
| Potter, R. | A20 | D | I | $100 |
| Urban | A99 | R | I | $100 |
| Ainsworth | A06 | R | I | $100 |
| Nass | A31 | R | I | $100 |
| Wheeler | A31 | D | C | $100 |
| Seratti | A36 | R | I | $100 |
| Riley | A18 | D | I | $100 |
| Grothman | A59 | R | I | $100 |
| Murat | A71 | D | I | $100 |
| Jeskewitz | A24 | R | O | $100 |
| Steinbrink | A65 | D | O | $100 |
| TOTAL | $107,836 | |||
| R = Republican | $74,211 |
| D = Democrat | $33,325 |
| T = US Taxpayer Party | $300 |
| I = Incumbent | $82,400 |
| C = Challenger | $9,636 |
| O = Open Seat | $3,100 |
| S = Special Election | $5,700 |
| N = No Election | $7,000 |
Table 6
Contributions to Legislative Leaders, Joint Finance Members
and Legislative Campaign Committees by Road Builders
1995-96
Legislative leaders and the legislative campaign committees they control are in bold.
| Legislator/LCC | Leadership Position | Party | Individual* and PAC contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate Democrats | |||
| SSDC | Legislative Campaign Committee | D | $8,600 |
| Chuck Chvala | Majority Leader | D | $3,950 |
| Gary George | Joint Finance | D | $3,100 |
| Kevin Shibilski | Joint Finance | D | $1,600 |
| Joe Wineke | Joint Finance | D | $1,350 |
| Bob Jauch | Joint Finance | D | $450 |
| Brian Burke | Co-chair, Joint Finance | D | $100 |
| Fred Risser | Senate President | D | $0 |
| Total Senate Democrats | $19,150 | ||
| Senate Republicans | |||
| CERS | Legislative Campaign Committee | R | $7,125 |
| Ben Brancel | Speaker | R | $4,850 |
| Mary Panzer | Joint Finance | R | $1,800 |
| Robert Cowles | Joint Finance | R | $400 |
| Mike Ellis | Minority Leader | R | $0 |
| Total Senate Republicans | $9,325 | ||
| Assembly Republicans | |||
| RACC | Legislative Campaign Committee | R | $7,600 |
| Steve Foti | Majority Leader | R | $1,500 |
| Scott Jensen | Co-chair, Joint Finance | R | $1,500 |
| John Gard | Joint Finance | R | $1,000 |
| Sheryl Albers | Joint Finance | R | $800 |
| Sheila Harsdorf | Joint Finance | R | $450 |
| Roburt Ourada | Joint Finance | R | $400 |
| Dean Kaufert | Joint Finance | R | $200 |
| Total Assembly Republicans | $18,300 | ||
| Assembly Democrats | |||
| Walter Kunicki | Minority Leader | D | $4,150 |
| ADCC | Legislative Campaign Committee | D | $3,300 |
| Barbara Linton | Joint Finance | D | $200 |
| Spencer Coggs | Joint Finance | D | $0 |
| Total Assembly Democrats | $7,650 | ||
