Working America

Posted: April 11, 2012
Updated: January 15, 2014

Fall: Oath • Spending
Recall: Oath • Spending

This is a Washington D.C.-based group that is affiliated with the AFL-CIO that registered as a corporation in Wisconsin to make independent expenditures in the 2012 summer recall elections. Recall elections were called against six Republican office holders in 2012, Governor Scott Walker, Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, and four senators. The recall elections were called in response to the 2011 passage of the governor's controversial bill limiting public employee collective bargaining rights.

Working American first formed in 2011 when it spent nearly $57,000 on outside electioneering activities to support Democratic candidates in three 2011 Senate recall elections and nonpartisan candidate JoAnne Kloppenburg in her unsuccessful challenger to incumbent Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser.

The group was also involved in the fall 2012 general elections.

Fall Elections

The group reported independent expenditures only in the 18th Senate District race in support of Democratic incumbent Jessica King. King had first been elected to that seat in the August 2011 recall election when she defeated incumbent Randy Hopper.

Recall Elections

The group originally supported former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk for governor but when she lost in the May Democratic primary, it switched its support to the primary's winner, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Ultimately, the group spent nearly $40,000 supporting Barrett and the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, Madison firefighter and union activist Mahlon Mitchell. Over half of the spending was devoted to the Mitchell campaign.

Last active election: Recall 2011

This organization is registered with the Government Accountability Board following the January 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC as a corporation making independent disbursements.

PFFW Defense Fund

Posted: April 10, 2012
Updated: January 15, 2014

Oath • Spending

This is the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin - the state labor union for Wisconsin firefighters.  The union created this corporation in 2011 and used it to make about $3,700 worth of independent expenditures to support four Democratic candidates involved in Senate recall elections that targeted Republican incumbents for supporting pagssage of GOP Governor Scott Walker's 2011 plan to sharply curb public employee collective bargaining rights.

The group's political action committee has a long and active history of making direct campaign contributions to candidates for legislative and statewide offices.

The corporate fund filed documents with the state that showed it planed to make independent expenditures on behalf of Democratic candidates in three of the four Senate recall elections June 5, 2012. Following the May primary, they reported interest in supporting Mahlon Mitchell, Democratic challenger in the lieutenant governor recall election.

The PFFW Defense Fund did not report any spending in the 2012 recalls.

Last active election: Recall 2011

This organization is registered with the Government Accountability Board following the January 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC as a corporation making independent disbursements.

FreedomWorks for America - Wisconsin

Posted: April 9, 2012
Updated: January 15, 2014

Oath • Spending

This is a Washington D.C.-based conservative group created in 2004 by former Republican congressmen Dick Armey and Jack Kemp to help elect GOP congressional candidates.  FreedomWorks' top issues include repealing the Affordable Care Act, lower taxes, less government spending and regulation.  In recent years the group has become a key player in the tea party movement. In April 2012 Freedomworks registered as a corporation with the state's Government Accountabilty Board for the sole purpose of making independent expenditures to support Republican Governor Scott Walker in a June 5 recall election. Walker, Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and four GOP Senate seats faced recalls in response to passage of the governor's 2011 plan to restrict public employee collective bargaining rights.

The corporation spent neatly $51,000 on brochures, yard signs and online advertising in support of Walker.  The committee requested termination just two months after Walker's victory in the recall.

This organization is registered with the Government Accountability Board following the January 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC as a corporation making independent disbursements.

Wisconsin Education Association Council

Posted: April 6, 2012
Updated: January 15, 2014

Fall: Oath • Spending
Recall: Oath • Spending

This corporation was created by the Wisconsin Education Association Council to make independent expenditures in the June 2012 recall elections involving Republican Governor Scott Walker, the lieutenant governor and four GOP Senate seats. The recalls were prompted by the 2011 passage of the governor's bill severely limiting public employee bargaining rights.

WEAC is the state’s largest teachers union and a powerful force in state elections that mostly supports Democratic candidates for statewide office and the legislature. WEAC claims 98,000 members and helped spearhead the throng of unionized public employees and other supporters who participated in weeks of State Capitol protests in February and March 2011 over Walker’s controversial bill.

WEAC’s political action committee was previously its sole independent expenditure arm – making over $5 million in such expenditures between 2008 and 2011. In addition to nearly $500,000 it spent on independent expenditures in the 2011 Senate recalls, the PAC also contributed $1 million in 2011 to to an arm of the Greater Wisconsin Committee, another Democratic outside electioneering group.

Fall Elections

In the 2010 fall elections WEAC made nearly $1.6 million in independent expenditures through its political action committee. In  the 2008 fall elections, its independent exependitures exceeded $2 million. In 2012 WEAC's PAC was inactive and the council was active in only one race - the 4th Senate District in Milwaukee - spending less than $1,400.

Recall Elections

Once a recall for governor was approved in 2012, WEAC initially supported former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk for the Democratic nomination for governor. After she lost in the May 8 Democratic primary it switched its support to the primary's victor, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Walker's opponent in the 2010 general election. WEAC spent over a quarter million dollars in the recall elections.

This organization is registered with the Government Accountability Board following the January 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC as a corporation making independent disbursements.

Republican State Leadership Committee

Posted: April, 6, 2012
Updated: January 15, 2014

Oath • Spending

This Virginia-based group supports Republican candidates for state offices around the country. The group doled out about $936,000 for independent expenditures in the 2010 fall elections – the first time it sponsored outside electioneering activities in Wisconsin to defeat a Democratic legislative leader.  The following year, the committee spent an estimated $900,000 on independent expendiures and phony issue ads in various 2011 elections.

Republican Governor Scott Walker, Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and four Republican Senate seats were subjects of a June 5, 2012 recall election because of the governor's successful effort to restrict public employee collective bargaining rights in 2011. RSLC registered in April of that year to make independent expenditures in support of all but Republican Senator Scott Fitzgerald in the 13th Senate District.

In April 2012 the group sponsored two 30-second television ads - here and here against Democratic candidates in two of the Senate recall races. One of the ads accused Democratic Representative Donna Seidel of Wausau of voting against numerous job creation bills that could have helped the economy and stemmed job losses in recent years.  Seidel was a candidate for the 29th Senate District seat formerly held by Republican Senator Pam Galloway who resigned once a recall election was approved. Republican Representative Jerry Petrowski of Marathon ran in her place  The other ad accused former one-term Democratic Representative Kristen Dexter of voting to increase government spending and taxes when she was in the Assembly.  Dexter, of Eau Claire, opposed GOP Senator Terry Moulton of Chippewa Falls. The incumbents in both races kept their seats.

The committee sponsored a 30-second ad to support Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch against Democrat Mahlon Mitchell.

The committee also sponsored a mailing that attacked former Democratic Senator John Lehman of Racine for supporting the 2009-11 state budget which contained a prison early release program the group claims puts dangerous criminals back on the streets before they serve their full sentences. Lehman defeated incumbent GOP Senator Van Wanggaard of Racine in that recall election.

Last active election: Recall 2011

This organization is registered with the Government Accountability Board following the January 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC as a corporation making independent expenditures.

Defending Wisconsin PAC

Posted: April 4, 2012
Updated: January 10, 2014

Oath • Spending

Defending Wisconsin PAC was formed in February 2011 during the height of the protests against the successful passage of Republican Governor Scott Walker's plan to restrict public employee collective bargaining rights.

Documents filed with the Government Accountability Board show the organization's executive director is Jeremy Ryan. In 2010 Ryan, then 21, registered as a Democratic candidate for Wisconsin's Secretary of State but failed to make it on the ballot.

In late May 2012 the group paid for an ad against Governor Walker in a Madison-area newspaper.

Fire Fighters for Mahlon Mitchell

Posted: March 28, 2012
Updated: January 15, 2014

Oath • Spending

This corporation was newly created by the AFL-CIO-affiliated International Association of Firefighters in Washington D.C. to make independent expenditures on behalf of Madison firefighter Mahlon Mitchell in his bid to be the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor and face GOP Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch in a June 5, 2012 recall election. Kleefisch was one of six Republican office holders, including Governor Scott Walker and four Republican senators, targeted for recalls in response to pasage of the governor's 2011 legislation to restrict public employee bargaining rights. The IAFF backs firefighters across the country for local, state and federal office.

About a week before the May 8 primary, the union sponsored a 30-second ad that urged viewers to vote for Mitchell because he supports ending corporate tax giveaways and investing in public education.  Shortly after Mitchell won the primary, the group reissued the ad but changed the ending to urge viewers to vote for Mitchell in the June election.

Two weeks before the June election, the group had reportedly spent nearly $246,000, including $131,429 on television advertising and $105,995 on radio and online advertising. 

Kleefisch, Republican Governor Scott Walker and four GOP Senate seats were targeted for recalls after 2011 passage of the governor's plan restricting public employee collective bargaining rights.

This organization is registered with the Government Accountability Board following the January 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC as a corporation making independent disbursements.

Right Direction Wisconsin PAC

Posted: January 30, 2012
Updated: January 15, 2014

Oath • Spending

This is the local political action committee of the Republican Governors Association (RGA) which spends millions of dollars nationwide on outside electioneering activities in support of Republican candidates for governor. This PAC was originally called the RGA Wisconsin 2010 PAC.  In Wisconsin, the group spent an estimated $2 million on issue ads in 2006 and $5 million in the 2010 general elections - $1.5 million on issue ads and about $3.5 million on independent expenditures paid for by the PAC. Documents filed with the state Government Accountability Board list Michael Adams, who is the RGA's general counsel as well as a conservative columnist and political commentator, as the treasurer for Right Direction Wisconsin PAC.

Right Direction PAC rolled out three television ads - here, here and here - in late March 2012 that said taxes, government spending and unemployment all surged under the watches of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.

One of the ads showed an elevator going up and down and said Barrett "has increased spending in Milwaukee by over $300 million and raised taxes every year but one. No wonder unemployment is up 27% on his watch;" (corresponding flyer) and "under Madison liberal Kathleen Falk, local property taxes went up and unemployment tripled." The other two ads were very similar and targeted Barrett and Falk separately.  They alternately showed someone doing an internet search of Barrett and Falk and the results show taxes, government spending and unemployment increased while Barrett was mayor and Falk was county executive (corresponding flyer for Barrett).

Falk and Barrett were among four Democratic candidates - and the popularly perceived frontrunners - who eventually faced off in a May 8 primary to determine who would challenge Republican Governor Scott Walker in a June 5 recall election.  Barrett won the primary.

About two weeks before the May primary, the group sponsored an ad that said Milwaukee had gone backward under Barrett because spending, taxes and job losses all increased while he was mayor. The PAC also sponsored radio and television ads - here, here and here - in mid- to late May that again claimed unemployment and taxes increased under Barrett and credited Walker for balancing the budget without raising taxes and for an increase in state job numbers since he was elected governor.

A week before the June 5 recall election, the PAC had reportedly spent more than $8 million on the governor's race - most of it on television advertising. At the same time it sponsored a 30-second television ad  that touts Walker's endorsement by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

The Republican Governors Association also operates a 527 group which has to file reports with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service that identify its donors and expenses.  Nineteen Wisconsin donors, including corporations, trade groups and individuals, donated $792,725 to the association's 527 group in the first half of 2012 when it raised a total of $29 million and spent $19 million. Topping the list of Wisconsin contributors to the association was the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce which gave $437,725.

Last active election (as RGA Wisconsin 2010 PAC): 2010

Republican Governors Association

Posted: March 23, 2012
Updated: April 19, 2012

This group spends millions of dollars helping Republican candidates for governor get elected nationwide.  In Wisconsin, the organization spent an estimated $7 million in the 2006 and 2010 general elections on independent expenditures and phony issue ads to sponsor negative broadcast ads and mailings to support the Republican candidate for governor.  It was the top GOP electioneering group in the 2010 governor's race when it spent an estimated $5 million to help elect Governor Scott Walker.

In the second round of recalls in 2012 that targeted Walker, the lieutenant governor and four GOP Senate seats, the Republican Governors Association used its state political action committee called Right Direction Wisconsin to sponsor television ads and mailings.  The PAC's outside electioneering activities said taxes, government spending and unemployment all surged under the watches of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.  Falk and Barrett were among four Democratic challengers in the May 8 primary to decide who would face Walker June 5.  Barrett handily won the primary.

In addition to the PAC, the organization's 527 group raised $22.1 million in the last half of 2011 - mostly from major corporations and special interest trade associations outside Wisconsin.  Its Wisconsin contributors gave the group nearly $271,000, including $63,850 from the Metropolitan Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce and $50,450 from the Forest County Potawatomi Community in Crandon.

During the first three months of 2012, three Wisconsin donors - all corporations - donated $85,000 to the association's 527 group when it raised a total of $12.3 million and spent $5.6 million.   The Wisconsin donors include American Transmission Company of Madison at $50,000; Kohler Company of Kohler at $25,000; and Wisconsin Public Service in Green Bay at $10,000.

The Republican Governors Association's largest donor during the first quarter of 2012 was industrialist David Koch, a Walker supporter and the money man behind Americans for Prosperity, who contributed $1 million.  David, along with his brother Charles Koch are multi-billionaires and longtime supporters of conservative causes and candidates.

Last active election: 2010

We Are Wisconsin Political Fund

Posted: March 12, 2012
Updated: January 15, 2014

Fall: Oath • Spending
Recall: Oath • Spending

This is a corporation newly created in 2012 to make independent expenditures in the recall elections of Republican Governor Scott Walker, Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and four GOP Senate seats, recalls forced by opponents of the governors 2011 bill that severely curtailed public employee bargaining rights. 

This corporation is connected with the We Are Wisconsin Political Action Committee which was formed and funded by a coalition of mostly out-of-state labor unions that sponsored negative broadcasts ads and other electioneering activities in nine Senate recall races in summer 2011.  We Are Wisconsin PAC led all outside group spending in the 2011 recall races at nearly $11 million. 

Fall Election

We Are Wisconsin indicated it would make independent expenditures to support Democrats in five Senate races and four Assembly races. A couple of weeks before the general election, the group sponsored a 30-second television ad in support of incumbent Democratic Senator Jessica King of Fond du Lac. The advertisement commended King for her support of education on the grounds it helps people get better jobs.  We Are Wisconsin also sponsored a 30-second television ad commending 12th Senate District incumbent Dave Hansen of Green Bay for backing laws that provide veterans with more educational opportunities and benefits. Just days before the election, brochures were printed to support the two candidates.

Also in the two weeks prior to the November 6th General Election, the group reported spending about $82,000 on mailings to oppose Republicans in the 1st, 35th, 72nd and 85th Assembly Districts.

It would spend over $300,000 by the time the election was over.

Recall Election

This corporation spent just over $3.6 million on the six 2012 recall races.  The group spent most of its money - $3.04 million - to oppose GOP Governor Scott Walker. Unlike the 2011 recall races when We Are Wisconsin's PAC doled out most of its cash for attack advertisements and mailings, the labor-backed group took a lower profile in the 2012 recalls and spent most of its cash on paid staff for statewide canvassing and get-out-the-vote efforts.

We Are Wisconsin Political Fund also formed a 527 organization of the same name which reported receiving a $500,000 contribution in late March from the Washington D.C.-based National Education Association Advocacy Fund. The NEA is the nation's largest teachers union.

This organization is registered with the Government Accountability Board following the January 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC as a corporation making independent disbursements.