Gov. Walker feigns ignorance of $700,000 funneled to CRG by mining company with WI interests

Yeah, there’s absolutely nothing odd about a $700,000 contribution from Gogebic Taconite, the mining company Scott Walker helped by pushing through favorable mining legislation to the Wisconsin Club for Growth, a pro-Walker organization Gov. Walker “encouraged” outside groups and individuals to funnel millions of dollars into during the recall elections in 2011 and 2012.

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.”

While Gov. Walker may think accusations of pay-to-play are ridiculous, given how many times he and some of his closest aides and campaign donors have been investigated (and convicted, in the case of his aides and donors), I don’t think it’s at all unreasonable to worry about pay-to-play in Gov. Walker’s government.