Subject: RE: damning information on our local senator Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 15:07:23 -0500 Message-ID: <FEBBF51AFF7B8B4B8A2F32F6E63092AE02C22A1B@COKE.uwec.edu> From: "Drumm, Daniel L." <DRUMM@uwec.edu>
RE: Ron Brown 2005 Contributions.
I did some further checking, and what I found is attached. The figures
are for the spring of 2005, not figures for last year. (his most recent
campaign finance report only, which covers January 1 2005 - July 1
2005.) You may access that info by going to
http://elections.state.wi.us/section.asp?linkid=156&locid=47 and
clicking on "electronic filing" and then clicking on Reports Filed
Electronically.
The Schedule 1A shows all his contributions from individuals and his
schedule 1B shows his PAC contributions. See attached.
These documents do seem to substantiate the figures in the email below.
-- Dan
________________________________
From: Richmond, Rick
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 6:05 PM
To: sfpj@listserve.uwec.edu; Drumm, Daniel L.
Subject: RE: damning information on our local senator
We might want to check this further - the information differs from
what's given by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign (http://www.wisdc.org).
A $1000 WalMart contribution is listed, 'tho not from WalMart heirs.
Disappointingly, there are a fair number of contributions from district
residents. The WDC report covers Brown's 2003-2004 contributions, and
totals $16381 from individuals ($7550 in-district) and $8700 from PACs.
________________________________
From: sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu on behalf of Drumm, Daniel L.
Sent: Tue 8/16/2005 3:51 PM
To: sfpj@listserve.uwec.edu
Subject: damning information on our local senator
Good to see Sen. Brown is working so hard to help WI subsidize Wal-Mart
through health benefits...
In his most recent campaign finance report, Republican Senator Ron Brown
could not find one person in his district to support his campaign. But
he did find Wal-Mart heirs in other states to write him a check. Who is
Ron Brown working for?
See below for information regarding this finance report. Please
consider writing a letter to the editor today. Call a radio call-in
show. Talk to your friends and neighbors and help get the message out.
To send a letter to the editor.....
Eau Claire Leader Telegram
701 South Farwell Street,
Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701
Fax: (715) 833-9244
http://www.cvol.net/contacteditor.htm#editorform <
http://rm.resultsmail.com/route.cfm?mid=dd873104-f6fb-4b7b-9445-d98f311
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The Numbers
During the budget and 2005 Spring Session Ron Brown took in $11,000.
That $11,000 came from three sources: The Walton family, a conduit of
out-of district, out-of-state supporters of alternative choice schools,
and PAC's.
By the numbers:
Walton money: 41%
School Voucher conduit money: 63.6% (Fund for Choices in
Education, based in Milwaukee)
Out-of state money 83%
Milwaukee money 17%
In-district money 0%
Contributions of over $250 100%
Average contribution $475
The Walton Case:
Jim Walton $500
1/16/05 Arkansas
Lynne Walton $500
1/16/05 Arkansas
Christy Walton $250
5/2/05 Wyoming
John Walton $250
5/2/05 Wyoming
Christy Walton $600
6/24/05 Wyoming
Jim Walton $600
6/24/05 Arkansas
John Walton $600 ($100 returned) 6/24/05
Wyoming
Lynne Walton $600 ($100 returned) 6/24/05
Arkansas
Total Amount $3900
Other Brown contributions from out of district:
Laura Fisher $500
1/16/05 California
Jerry Hume $500
1/16/05 California
Susan Oberndorf $500
1/16/05 California
Howard Fuller $250
5/2/05 Milwaukee
-Deborah McGriff $250
5/2/05 Milwaukee
Betsy DeVos $300
6/24/05 Michigan
Dick DeVos $300
6/24/05 Michigan
Howard Fuller $600
6/24/04 Milwaukee
Deborah McGriff $600
6/24/05 Milwaukee
Bill Oberndorf $600
6/24/05 California
Susan Oberndorf $600 ($100 returned) 6/24/05
California
Rick Sharp $600
6/24/05 Virginia
Total Amount $5,600
What others have to say:
Ron Brown (R), Arkansas?
100% of money to Eau Claire area state Senator, not from Eau Claire
area
Democratic Party Chairman Joe Wineke is asking Ron Brown to explain why
all of the money he has raised over the past six months has come from
either wealthy out-of-state donors or from Milwaukee School Choice
leaders.
"A politician from Eau Claire who raises 100% of his money in huge
chunks from out-of -state corporate interests and wads from
out-of-district conduit checks owes his constituents an explanation,"
said Wineke. "Why would the Waltons in Arkansas and Wyoming give
the Senator from Eau Claire $3900?"
During the budget and 2005 Spring Session, Ron Brown took in $9500.
That $9500 came from two sources: heirs to the Walmart fortune, and a
conduit of out-of district, out-of state supporters of Milwaukee Choice
Schools.
All of Brown's contributions were $250 or greater with the average
contribution being $475. Further troubling news is that 83% of Ron
Brown's campaign cash comes from Arkansas, Wyoming, California,
Michigan, and Virginia. The other 17% comes straight from Milwaukee
School Choice leaders.
"That's a lot of money coming in from people who seemingly have no ties
to Eau Claire, Buffalo, Trempealeau or Jackson Counties," said Wineke.
"I'm sure he has an explanation as to why these folks are so interested
in him, and I'm sure his constituents would love to hear it."
##
Sample Letter to the editor on this subject:
To the editor:
Can Senator Ron Brown not find anyone in his own district to support his
campaign? I was amazed to see on his most recent campaign finance
report filing (http://elections.state.wi.us <
http://rm.resultsmail.com/route.cfm?mid=dd873104-f6fb-4b7b-9445-d98f311
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70ae&uid=02803afe-5dd2-48dc-adbb-8740f18196b4&route=http%3A%2F%2Felec
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ns%2Estate%2Ewi%2Eus
<http://rm.resultsmail.com/route.cfm?mid=dd873104-f6fb-4b7b-9445-d98f31
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d70ae&uid=02803afe-5dd2-48dc-adbb-8740f18196b4&route=http%3A%2F%2Fele
cti
ons%2Estate%2Ewi%2Eus> > ) that he took 100% of his money from out of
the district, including a whopping $3,900 from Wal-Mart heirs from
places like Arkansas and Wyoming. Why is a Senator from Eau Claire
recieving the bulk of his support from one of the richest families in
the world, owners of a company who's employee's in Wisconsin have been
using the state's Badgercare program for health care because of the
substandard benefits provided. The rest of Brown's money came from
places like California and Virginia. Fully 83% of his individual
contributions were from out of state. What happened to Ron Brown?
While he is voting to send our public school tax dollars to Milwaukee
private schools, he took $7,000 from special interest conduits designed
to support such measures. Let's remind Ron Brown who he
represents...the hard working families of the 31st Senate District and
Not Wal-Mart heirs or narrow special interests. - signed Jan Smith
715-555-1234
Letter to the editor tips:
When done right, an op-ed is persuasive writing at its best.
It has the power to appeal on a real level with peers in your community,
and is therefore a worthwhile yet simple way to fight for Democratic
issues.
Here are some tips for writing an op-ed piece:
* Always sign letters with your name and a daytime telephone
number.
* Try to limit the article to 250 words. Shorter is even better.
Newspapers have limited space to offer, and editors generally won't take
the time to cut a long article down to size so make sure yours is
already short and to the point for them.
* Concisely make a single point. You cannot solve all of the
world's problems in 250 words. Be satisfied with making a single point
clearly and persuasively.
* State your main point early. You have no more than 10 seconds to
hook a busy reader, and so get to the point and convince the reader
that it's worth his or her valuable time to continue.
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the busy person looking at your article. At the end of every few
paragraphs, ask out loud: "So what? Who cares?" Make sure that your
piece answers these questions.
* Offer specific recommendations. An op-ed is not a news story
that simply describes a situation; it is your opinion about how to
improve matters. Don't be satisfied with mere analysis. Offer
recommendations, and try to be original yet maintain practicality.
* Showing is better than discussing. You may remember the
Pentagon's overpriced toilet seat that became a symbol of profligate
federal spending. You probably don't recall the total Pentagon budget
for that year. That's because we remember colorful details better than
dry facts. When writing an op-ed article, therefore, look for great
examples that will bring your argument to life.
* Use short sentences and paragraphs. Use a style that relies
mainly on simple declarative sentences. Cut long paragraphs into two or
more shorter ones.
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it's good to use the personal voice whenever possible. If you are a
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mention the earlier article once and argue your own case.
* Make your ending a winner. You're probably familiar with the
importance of a strong opening paragraph, or "lead," that hooks readers.
But when writing for the op-ed page, it's also important to summarize
your argument in a strong final paragraph.