How can we expect busy Gov. Scott Walker to keep track of EVERY $700K contribution

Was this his Rick Perry ‘oops’ moment? Scott Walker says he was unaware of $700,000 donation from mining company.

Gov. Scott Walker said Saturday that he played no role in soliciting cash from a mining company for the Wisconsin Club for Growth during the 2011 and 2012 recall elections, adding that no one should be surprised that the pro-business governor backed legislation helpful to the firm.

Asked whether he was aware that Gogebic Taconite secretly donated $700,000 to Wisconsin Club for Growth — a pro-business advocacy group directed by the governor’s campaign adviser — Walker said, “Not to my knowledge.”

When asked if the previously undisclosed funds and subsequent legislation were part of some pay-to-play scheme, Walker said, “That’s a ridiculous argument.”

Long before the recall elections were launched, he said, he advocated creating jobs in Ashland and Iron counties by permitting the iron ore mine. “Nobody’s shocked…that I supported the mine,” Walker said after a campaign event in Kenosha.

Later, at a Racine stop, Walker said he helped solicit contributions to Wisconsin Club for Growth in 2011 primarily to help GOP senators who faced recalls. The court filings suggested, however, that he was involved in raising more than $1 million for Club for Growth in the months before his own recall election.

Walker said he is not soliciting funds for Wisconsin Club for Growth in this election, stating that his focus right now is on raising cash for his personal campaign and the state Republican Party. He also said he doesn’t believe he directed campaign funds to the group during his 2010 campaign for governor.

 

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