DNR: Governor cancels grant to sportsmen's group

[hue]

http://host.madison.com/news/state-and-regional/dnr-governor-cancels-grant-to-sportsmen-s-group/article_36b96260-a2dc-5432-b491-f10c950acf5d.html

The secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says a $500,000 grant to a politically connected sportsmen's group has been rescinded at the request of Gov. Scott Walker.

In a statement, Secretary Cathy Stepp said Walker canceled the grant to United Sportsmen of Wisconsin, which was to recruit sportsmen and women for hunting, trapping and fishing.

The grant came under scrutiny recently after questions were raised about United Sportsmen's federal tax-exempt status. President Andy Pantzlaff assured members of the grant committee that the group had secured tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. But Wednesday, the group issued a statement saying Pantzlaff was mistaken.

[Scuba]

1. It was too obvious. They'll find a sneakier method of giving their backers our tax dollars.

[hue]

2. Exactly what I was thinking. They'll be rewarded somehow...

[Ellipsis]

3. ...under pressure

[Ellipsis]

4. United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation Inc. appeared to be improperly claiming a federal tax-exemp

The group, which has close ties to Republican politicians and other conservative organizations, now says its president, Pantzlaff, was confused when he told state committee last week that United Sportsmen had been approved by the federal Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. However, United Sportsmen also had stated that on its letterhead in a letter to the state.

"Mr. Pantzlaff did not speak directly with the foundation's counsel concerning the 501(c)(3) status, and was mistaken about the exemption process," said a statement issued by the group. "There was no intent to mislead anyone and ... the foundation apologizes for any confusion caused by this misunderstanding."

United Sportsmen applied for the federal nonprofit designation on March 1 but has not yet received it.

Despite the misrepresentation, the DNR initially notified United Sportsmen in a letter Tuesday that it would be receiving the grant anyway, with $50,000 of it as an advance before receipts are filed.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/dnr-ousts-longtime-operator-of-environmental-center-b9991886z1-222615021.html

[Ellipsis]

5. Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder slipped the grant money into the 2013-'15 state budget

Republican lawmakers led by former Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder slipped the grant money into the 2013-'15 state budget this summer along with a requirement that it can be given only to groups that are "not an affiliate of a national federation or organization." That meant conservation groups such as the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and state chapters of Pheasants Forever, National Wild Turkey Federation and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation were prevented from applying for the grant.

The deadline for the sporting grant application was Aug. 2 — the DNR listed the new grant on one of its web pages but did not issue a news release to let the public know about it.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/after-outdoor-training-grant-canceled-scott-walker-lawmakers-eye-alternatives-b9992104z1-222703171.html

[hue]

6. Thanks Ellipsis!! Did You read Cog Diss take on how Wanker will prob disperse pay off to puppets??

[Ellipsis]

7. I did. thanks for posting that... this may have some legs

especially in further establishing a pattern of cronyism and bring down his reelection chances by another couple of points.

[lutefisk]

8. "United Sportsmen of Wisconsin" needs to pay back the $50,000 advance

Even if Luke Hilgemann or one of the others already went out and used the money to buy a new black Escalade, the money needs to be returned. It's taxpayer money.

The agency awarded the grant Tuesday and gave United Sportsmen a $50,000 advance. Normally, groups with such “capacity-building” grants file for reimbursement for already-incurred expenses once a year, DNR officials said at last week’s hearing.

http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/united-sportsmen-misled-committee-about-tax-status/article_5be6b63b-2321-5d98-96da-59a8f98fbefd.html#ixzz2eEI8V8pU