Travelgate Plot Thickens

Source: Republican Party of Wisconsin



Amidst an amassing amount of evidence indicating pay-to-play tactics were utilized in the awarding of a lucrative state contract to a company whose executives contributed $20,000 to the Doyle campaign, a Channel 27 News investigation recently revealed that his administration approved a hefty bonus to Georgia Thompson, a member of the contract evaluating committee who was critical to approving the bid. (Channel 27 News, 11/23/05)

Members of the evaluating committee told Channel 27 News they felt Thompson was putting pressure on them to favor Adelman Travel Systems for the $750,000 contract, even though they rated a competing vendor higher. As a result of the timing of Adelman’s donations and concerns raised by the committee, a federal-state-county investigation is underway into how the contract was awarded.

“The Adelman Travel donations certainly didn’t pass the smell test, but this is just flat out bad government,” said Rick Graber, chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. “Taxpayers shouldn’t have to suffer at the expense of a Governor who rewards powerful special interest groups that pad his coffers and his minions who help funnel the money.”

The station’s investigation revealed that state records show Thompson won her first bonus ever since her hire in 2001 shortly after she helped Adelman win its contract. According to a state official, Thompson’s bonus was a result of her “additional workload” and “extra effort” in ensuring that new state programs stayed on track.

“Apparently Thompson’s additional workload includes directing money to Doyle’s campaign account,” said Graber. “Under Doyle, government is for sale to the highest bidder and apparently now, those who work hardest to capture the campaign cash are rewarded at taxpayer expense.”

In response to the Travelgate scandal, the Republican Party of Wisconsin submitted an open records request to the Department of Administration asking for a list of all contracts the Doyle Administration has entered into since the Governor took office.

“It’s no wonder Doyle is one of most vulnerable governors in the country,” said Graber. "In less than a year, residents will finally get the leadership they deserve when they elect either Mark Green or Scott Walker.”