Railroad executive charged with campaign law violations (WISCONSIN)

[Ellipsis]

Source: By Daniel Bice of the Journal Sentinel

Railroad executive William E. Gardner was charged Monday morning with two felony counts of violating campaign finance laws for reimbursing his employees for making donations in political contests, including to Gov. Scott Walker in last year's governor's race.

Gardner was charged with one count of exceeding the campaign contribution limits, which is $10,000 per person in the gubernatorial contest. The other felony is for giving money to other individuals so they could make campaign contributions. Both are Class I felonies, which carry a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The charges were filed Monday morning in Washington County, where Gardner lives.

Gardner is being charged under a state law that prohibits anyone from giving money to someone else so they may make a political donation. The violation is a Class I felony, which has a maximum punishment of 3.5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, according to the complaint.

Gardner, president and chief executive officer of Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co., told state regulators last year that he used railroad receipts to reimburse workers who had given to Scott Walker, who later defeated Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a Democrat, for governor.

Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119595644.html

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Zing!

[hedgehog]

1. A railroad executive intefering in an election - that's just so retro!

[Jackpine Radical]

4. And so Wisconsin

(circa 1890).

[mahatmakanejeeves]

20. Go directly to Jail.

Do not pass "Go."

Do not collect $200.

[Bozita]

26. but, but, but ...

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SCfwBkF65oY/SQNM4rxrijI/AAAAAAAAF8g/IIQp9liG57s/s400/Dem+Monopoly+Get+Out+of+Jail+Free+Card.jpg

[xchrom]

2. good. nt

[hedgehog]

3. Dupe

[ewagner]

5. That's just ONE

there are hundreds of others....

[catgirl]

7. Buyers remorse

People need to speak up. I imagine that is how this guy got busted... buyers remorse.

[catgirl]

6. Busted!

[Snoutport]

8. One Kochroach down...how many more to go?

[movonne]

10. millions...got to start stomping harder...

[Blue Owl]

9. 'Cause we all know how much Walker loves railroads

Seems the owner of thee WSOR likes shootin' himself in the foot.

:WTF:

[Newsjock]

11. $1,000 fine! Wow, that'll really show 'em

Day-uhm, with a fine so unbelievably harsh, I will certainly think twice next time I contemplate rigging a Wisconsin election.

[Ellipsis]

13. Yes but he's been probed!

Er...




State election officials and prosecutors say they plan to make an announcement about an investigation into a railroad magnate's donations to Gov. Scott Walker's campaign.

The state Government Accountability Board and Milwaukee prosecutors will hold a news conference Monday afternoon in Madison to discuss the results of an investigation into allegations of illegal contributions by Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Company chief executive William Gardner.

Gardner last May apologized for using company money to reimburse employees' political donations to Walker. The governor, who was in the middle of a primary contest at the time, returned about $44,000 in contributions. Donating corporate money to political candidates is illegal in Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee County district attorney's office didn't immediately return a message. Gardner also didn't immediately return a message left at his office.

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S2059998.shtml?cat=89

[think]

14. Skip the fine. Let him do time

like an ordinary citizen would have to do. Or at least make him do community service and have him go to the schools to show kids what election fraud is....

[Lifelong Protester]

22. I think the OP said $10,000, but even that is chump change

to the backers of Snotty Walker and for the infringement upon my rights in a democracy...

[Stuart G]

12. K and R nt

[goobergoober01]

15. FUCK MAXIMUM.... what is the minimum penalty.... since the GOV WILL COMMUTE anyways lol

[Ellipsis]

17. Walker says he wasn't lobbied by Gardner on high-speed line

May 24, 2010 | Verona – Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker said Monday a railroad executive who has acknowledged making illegal donations did not try to persuade Walker to drop his opposition to a high-speed passenger rail line.

Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co. President and CEO William E. Gardner told state regulators last week he had used railroad money to reimburse employees and friends who donated money to Walker’s campaign for governor. It is illegal to give corporate funds to candidates or to hide the identity of donors.

Walker, a Republican, returned the $43,800 from the donors when a Gardner’s attorney informed him of the situation.

Gardner, who has said he made a mistake, runs a firm that would benefit from a planned high-speed rail line from Milwaukee to Madison because it would upgrade tracks his freight line runs on. Walker said Gardner had talked to him about infrastructure but not the high-speed rail line that Walker has promised to stop if he is elected.

http://www.destinationhollywood.com/movies/armageddon/quickclip_12.shtml


He'll stay far away from him I assure you.

[Myrina]

27. Snotty probably wasn't ...

... I'm sure he took his directives from the Koch brothers, the GOP insiders and others on the "we hate Obama" bandwagon because at least 2 other newly elected governor's shitcanned high speed rail funding because it came from the Fed Gov't.

Mr. Railroad sounds like a bit player in the whole scheme of corporate/GOP politics & had the luck to bet on a winning horse in the last election cycle.

[Ellipsis]

28. Think he's going to squeak? ...get immunity?

[Doctor_J]

16. 18 months in the Marion gen pop

Strong deterrent for breaking federal law

[patrice]

18. One wonders how common this and other more covert political behaviors are amongst employers, especia

lly because they can hold any job hostage to "at will" employment.

[patrice]

19. P.S. Think of the consequences of this type of behavior in America's "Health" "Care" . nt

[SemperEadem]

21. buying an election

there are laws against that shit, s0n. Oh, now you know... they apply to you, too.

[madrchsod]

23. walker killed this guys direct rail line from madison to milwaukee

the w&s does`t have a direct line to milwaukee...!

[Ellipsis]

24. The map of the rail lines is quite interesting.

[madrchsod]

29. yes it is..espically the rail line to chicago...

[EC]

25. So is this why Walker gave wanted to convert the

HSR money into monies for the existing railroad and roads? He's still putting out a plan that is supposed to increase speed on existing railroad...

[librechik]

30. Wake up America THE REPUBLICANS ARE CROOKED AND STEALING YOUR DEMOCRACY!!!