The current members of the WISTAX board of directors have donated $385,763 to political candidates. This includes nearly $358,000 to Republican or (non-partisan conservative) candidates and $27,775 to Democratic (or non-partisan liberal) candidates - meaning Republicans and conservatives have received 92.7 percent of WISTAX board of directors' giving.
In addition, WISTAX Board members are intertwined in a network of organizations advocating a common message of fewer taxes and less accountability for corporations, and at the same time, lower taxes for the wealthy and reduced investment in public services.
WISTAX promotes itself as “independent,” inferring it doesn’t have a rabid anti-tax ideology, such as, for instance, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, yet its present and past board is littered with WMC board members.
Since 1994, nearly half — 15 of 33 board members — of WISTAX have also been board members of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. There are currently six WISTAX board members: Thomas Spero, James Riordan, John "Jay" B. Williams, Dale R. Schuh, Mark A. Cullen, and J. Douglas Quick, who previously served on WMC’s boards.
The impact of the state’s largest conservative, pro-corporate lobby representing a majority of WISTAX board members over the years cannot be understated.
The incontrovertible ties between WISTAX and WMC are not only professional but also personal. For instance, current WISTAX chair Carol Ward Knox is married to Randall Knox, a previous chair of WMC.
Below is a list of current board members of the WISTAX along with the total amount of contributions given by each member to politicians and candidates and a biography showing publicly-known connections to conservative organizations or causes in Wisconsin. Click the listed contribution amount to see a detailed contribution report for each WISTAX board member.
Legend:
$50,000+ total given to Republicans or non-partisan conservatives and 75%+ of contributions to Republicans or non-partisan conservative
$5,000 - $49,999 total given to Republicans or non-partisan conservatives and 75%+ of contributions to Republicans or non-partisan conservative
Up to $4,999 total given to Republicans or non-partisan conservatives and 75%+ of contributions to Republicans or non-partisan conservative
Past or present member of the board of directors of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, Wisconsin's most powerful corporate interest lobby.
Conservative connections including serving other conservative boards; corporate board service with other conservative activists; conservative business associations; and family ties to conservative groups
Abbreviations:
WCCF
Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the 501(c)3 affiliate of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce
WPRI
Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, the state’s most prominent right-wing think tank
MMAC
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, the Milwaukee arm of WMC
BRADLEY
Lynde and Harry Bradly Foundation, leading financier of the right wing movement
Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance Current Board of Directors
| Jeffrey Adams | Mark Cullen | J. Douglas Quick | Thomas Spero |
| Todd Berry | Carl Fortner | James Riordan | Carol Ward Knox |
| Mark Bugher | Jere McGaffey | Dale Schuh | Jay Williams |
Carol Ward Knox
Retired Public Relations Executive, Past GOP Consultant
WISTAX Board Chair, Member 1999-2009
- Conservative Connections: Former Republican campaign strategist and Republican gubernatorial appointee.
- WMC Connections: Husband Randall is past Board Chair of WMC and currently sits on the board of the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Foundation, WMC's 501(c)3 affiliate.
- Total Contributions: $156,118 (Knox and spouse)
- GOP/Conservative Contributions: $156,118
- Percent to GOP/Conservatives: 100%
Carol Ward Knox joined the WISTAX Board of Directors in 1999 and became chair of the board in 2009.
Knox has served in various roles for a number of Republican candidates including campaign treasurer for Jefferson County Republican District Attorney candidate Peter Tempelis, campaign manager for Attorney General Don Hanaway and press secretary for U.S. Rep. Robert Kasten.
Knox was appointed to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection by Republican Governor Lee Dreyfus in 1981 and served until 1993 when it was revealed she ran two statewide public relations campaigns for Kraft General Foods while the company was under investigation by the Agricultural Board, of which she was the chair. Knox came under additional scrutiny for conflict of interest after she voted on the regulation of atrazine, a herbicide that contaminates drinking water, while her public relations firm was representing a manufacturer of the chemical.
Conservative Connections
Carol and her husband, Randall Knox, are well-known conservative activists. Randall previously served as treasurer and chairman of the board of directors of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state's largest and most influential conservative lobbying group. He currently serves on the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Foundation board, the 501(c)3 affiliate of WMC. Mr. Knox was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly as a Republican and served from 1979-1981. Mr. Knox was vice-chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin for 16 years and also served as the Chair of the Jefferson County Republican Party.
Political Contributions
Knox and her husband Randall have contributed a total of $156,118 to political candidates, all of which was given to Republican or conservative candidates. Click to see the full breakdown of these contributions.
Todd Berry
Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Assistant Secretary, 1979-1983
Governor’s Tax Reform Commission, 1978-1979
WISTAX President since 1994
- Conservative Connections: Eight-year Executive Committee Member, Jefferson Country Republican Party; Assistant Department of Revenue Secretary under GOP Gov. Lee S. Dreyfus; featured speaker at Americans for Prosperity’s right-wing “Defending the Dream" summit in 2009, the precursor to the right-wing "tea parties."
- WMC Connections: Fifteen board members of WMC have served on the WISTAX board since Berry was named president. The WISTAX board chair when Berry was named president was himself a former WMC board chair.
- Total Contributions: $0*
- GOP/Conservative Contributions: $0*
- Percent to GOP/Conservatives: N/A
Todd Berry became the president of WISTAX in 1994. Berry is the leading spokesperson for the group and is sought by the media for comment on state politics, government and policy, appearing in hundreds of news articles and nearly always described as “independent” or “non-partisan.”
This seems curious, considering the deep ties WISTAX under his tenure has to the anti-tax, anti-corporate accountability movement, like the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and WPRI, and how the “research” of WISTAX coincidentally echoes the talking points of the Republican Party of Wisconsin and the conservative anti-corporate tax agenda.
Conservative Connections
Berry has a long history of involvement with conservative organizations and operatives. Berry served on the Executive Committee of the Jefferson County Republican Party from 1985-1993, leaving his official position with the GOP just before becoming president of WISTAX. His wife, Margaret Lewis, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly as a Republican and served from 1985-1989. Berry was a long-time member of the now-defunct New Republican Conference, a group of fiscally conservative but self-described “social liberals” that included former Republican Scott McCallum and former Republican State Senator Mary Panzer.
Berry is also a highly-sought after speaker for conservative organizations and events. Earlier in 2009, Berry appeared as a featured speaker at the “Defending the Dream" summit, organized by Americans for Prosperity that supports massive deregulation of economic markets, severely reducing public investment and funneling tax dollars to private corporations in the form of massive tax breaks and other incentives. Other speakers at the event included Republicans U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Attorney General JB Van Hollen, failed conservative state Supreme Court candidate Randy Koschnick, far-right shock jock Vicki McKenna and even GOP stage prop “Joe the Plumber.” Berry is also a common guest speaker at Chambers of Commerce across the state and has even given private presentations to the board at WMC.
*Political Contributions
Berry has made no political contributions in the recent past, but his spouse has contributed a total of $2,175 to political candidates, $1,925 of which was given to Republican or conservative candidates, or 89 percent.
Jere D. McGaffey
Corporate and Estate Planning Tax Attorney, Foley & Lardner, Retired
WISTAX Secretary-Treasurer since 1995, Board President 1988-1990, 1991-1992
- Conservative Connections: Long-time member, Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce (MMAC).
- WMC Connections: MMAC is the Milwaukee chapter of WMC.
- Total Contributions: $16,625
- GOP/Conservative Contributions: $10,525
- Percent to GOP/Conservatives: 63%
Jere McGaffey is a long-time member of the WISTAX board of directors and he has served in nearly every possible role including chair of the board from 1988-1990 and 1991-1992. McGaffey has been secretary/treasurer of the WISTAX board since 1995. McGaffey is a retired partner at Foley & Lardner having specialized in corporate taxation and other general corporate legal matters.
McGaffey serves or has served on the board of directors of a long list or corporations including Aurora Health Care, Wisconsin Gas Corporation, Lord Baltimore Capital Corporation, Northwestern Mutual Trust Company and Smith Investment Company (A.O. Smith Corp.).
Conservative Connections
McGaffey was a long-time member of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce (MMAC), serving in several capacities between 1983 and 2003.
Political Contributions
McGaffey has contributed a total of $16,625 to political candidates, $10,525 of which was given to Republican or conservative candidates, or 63 percent. Click to see the full breakdown of McGaffey's contributions.
Mark Cullen
Manager, J.P. Cullen and Sons
WISTAX Board Member since 2009
- Conservative Connections: Cullen is a member of the M & I Bank board, which was headed for 20 years until 2007 by Dennis Kuester, both a former WISTAX and WMC board chair.
- WMC Connections: Cullen is a former member of the WMC Board and currently sits on its 501(c)3 organization, the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
- Total Contributions: $159,065
- GOP/Conservative Contributions: $154,865
- Percent to GOP/Conservatives: 97%
Mark Cullen, along with his brothers David and Richard, are the managers of J.P. Cullen and sons, a construction company with over $180 million in annual sales. Mark was appointed to the WISTAX board in 2009.
Conservative Connections
Mark and his brothers are deeply involved in conservative causes and politics. The Cullen brothers have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Republican and conservative candidates on both the state and federal levels. Before joining the WISTAX board in 2009, Mark sat on the board of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and in fact currently sits on the board of WMC’s 501(c)3 organization, the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
David Cullen also served on the board of directors of WMC until 2008. Cullen abruptly resigned from WMC's board in 2008 when Epic Systems announced it would no longer contract with companies involved with the board of directors of WMC.
Mark also serves on the board of directors of M & I Bank, which from 1987 to 2007 was headed by Dennis Kuester, former chair of both WMC and WISTAX. More information about Kuester is available in the Past Board section of WISTAX Watch.
Political Contributions
Cullen has contributed a total of $159,065 to political candidates, $154,865 of which was given to Republican or conservative candidates, or 97 percent. Click to see the full breakdown of Cullen's contributions.
James R. Riordan
President & CEO, WPS Health Insurance
WISTAX Vice Chair, Member 2009
- Conservative Connections: Under Riordan's leadership, WPS has partnered with health insurance and pharmaceutical industry on a series of anti-health insurance reform briefings featuring the David Koch-funded Cato Institute. Koch is the founder of ultra-right Americans for Prosperity.
- WMC Connections: Riordan was identified in a 1994 article as a WMC board member; WMC is a major partner of the above anti-health insurance reform events.
- Total Contributions: $10,900
- GOP/Conservative Contributions: $6,375
- Percent to GOP/Conservatives: 59%
James Riordan is the president and CEO of WPS Health Insurance and was appointed to the WISTAX board in 2009. Riordan has contributed a total of $10,900 to political candidates, $6,375 of which was given to Republican or conservative candidates, or 59 percent. Click to see the full breakdown of Riordan's contributions.
Mark D. Bugher
UW-Madison University Research Park Director
WISTAX Board Member since 2000
- Conservative Connections: Bugher was a top official for GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson, serving as both Administration and Revenue Secretary.
- WMC Connections: N/A
- Total Contributions: $7,190
- GOP/Conservative Contributions: $6,890
- Percent to GOP/Conservatives: 96%
Mark Bugher is the director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison University Research Park and is known as a “key player” in the Madison business community. Bugher joined the WISTAX board in 2000.
Conservative Connections
Bugher has served in several capacities under Republicans; he was district director for Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Gunderson in the 80s and he was appointed by Republican Governor Tommy Thompson to two high-profile cabinet posts: Secretary of the Department of Revenue from 1988-1996 and Secretary of the Department of Administration from 1996-1999.
Bugher is also a member of pro-corporate groups like the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and sits on the board of First Business Financial Services, which according to its website, serves “businesses, their owners and executives, and high net worth individuals.”
Political Contributions
Bugher has contributed a total of $7,190 to political candidates, $6,890 of which was given to Republican or conservative candidates, or 96 percent. Click to see the full breakdown of Bugher's contributions.
J. Douglas Quick
CEO, Lakeside Foods, Inc.
WISTAX Board Member since 1991, Vice Chair 1995-1996
- Conservative Connections: Executive member of National Food Processors Association, whose PAC has given 83 percent of its contributions to Republicans, totaling $262,000.
- WMC Connections: Quick was a WMC board member from 2000-2006. He is a member of the board of Associate Banc-Corp, whose Chair and CEO also sits on the WMC board.
- Total Contributions: $3,140
- GOP/Conservative Contributions: $3,140
- Percent to GOP/Conservatives: 100%
J. Douglas Quick is the president and CEO of Lakeside Foods, Inc. Quick is a long-time WISTAX board member, joining the board in 1991 and serving as board vice chair from 1995 to 1996.
Conservative Connections
Quick served on the board of directors of WMC from 2000 - 2006, during which time he was also an active member of the board of directors of WISTAX. Quick also serves on the board of directors of Associated Banc-Corp, a large commercial and consumer bank with over $24 billion in assets. Chairman and CEO of Associated Banc-Corp, Pat Beideman is currently on the board of WMC.
Quick is the also acting treasurer, director, and member of Executive Committee of the National Food Processors Association (NFPA), a trade association that lobbies Congress and federal regulatory agencies on behalf of companies like Kraft, ConAgra, and Quick’s company, Lakeside Foods Inc. The NFPA also has a political action committee that has overwhelming given to Republican legislators and candidates. Since 1998, NFPA PAC has donated over $262,000 to Republicans, over 83% of its total giving. [Source: http://www.opensecrets.org]
Political Contributions
Quick has contributed a total of $3,140 to political candidates, all of which was given to Republican or conservative candidates. Click to see the full breakdown of Quick's contributions.
Dale Schuh
President & CEO, Sentry Insurance
WISTAX Board Member since 2002, Chair 2005-2007, Vice Chair 2002-2004
- Conservative Connections: Schuh sits on the board of 20 insurance, financial and investment companies.
- WMC Connections: Schuh was a WMC board member from 2001-2007, including the years in which he was a chair or vice chair of the WISTAX board.
- Total Contributions: $24,250
- GOP/Conservative Contributions: $14,050
- Percent to GOP/Conservatives: 58%
Dale Schuh is the president and CEO of Sentry Insurance, the fourth largest insurer in the nation, with over $2.5 billion in revenue in 2008. Schuh joined the WISTAX board in 2002 as vice chair, and served as chair between 2005 and 2007.
Conservative Connections
Schuh was appointed vice-chair of the WISTAX board just one year after he first joined the board of WMC in 2001. Schuh served on the WMC board until 2007, during which time he ascended to the chair of the WISTAX board.
Political Contributions
Schuh has contributed a total of $24,250 to political candidates, $14,050 of which was given to Republican or conservative candidates, or 58 percent. Click to see the full breakdown of Schuh's contributions.
Thomas Spero
Managing Partner, Deloitte & Touche, LLP, Retired
WISTAX Board Member since 2009
- Conservative Connections: See WMC Connections
- WMC Connections: Spero served on WMC board from 2003-2006
- Total Contributions: $3,300
- GOP/Conservative Contributions: $2,700
- Percent to GOP/Conservatives: 82%
Thomas Spero was appointed to the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance board in 2009. Most recently, Spero was the office managing partner for Deloitte & Touche, LLP, the largest accounting firm in the Milwaukee area. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Deloitte performed audits "about half of the largest public and privately held companies in Wisconsin."
Conservative Connections
Spero served on the board of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce from 2003 to 2006.
Political Contributions
Spero has contributed a total of $3,300 to political candidates, $2,700 of which was given to Republican or conservative candidates, or 82 percent. Click to see the full breakdown of Spero's contributions.
Jay Williams
COO, PrivateBancorp, Inc.
WISTAX Board Member since 2001, Chair 2008, Vice Chair 2005-2007
- Conservative Connections: See WMC Connections
- WMC Connections: Williams served on the WMC board from 2001-2005.
- Total Contributions: $2,700
- GOP/Conservative Contributions: $1,100
- Percent to GOP/Conservatives: 41%
Like numerous other past and present members of the WISTAX board, Williams is a prominent player in Wisconsin’s banking industry. He is currently Chief Operating Officer on the Wisconsin branch of PrivateBancorp, Inc, a bank that “offer[s] personalized service to high-net-worth individuals” with total assets of over $11 billion. Previously, Williams was the president of U.S. Bank and its predecessors, Firstar and First Wisconsin banks.
Williams joined the WISTAX board 2001 and has served as both vice chair in 2005-2007 and was chair of the board in 2008.
Conservative Connections
Williams served on the board of directors of WMC from 2001-2005. He joined the WISTAX board the same year he joined the WMC board, and left the WMC board the same year he became vice chair of the WISTAX board.
Political Contributions
Williams has contributed a total of $2,700 to political candidates, $1,100 of which was given to Republican or conservative candidates, or 41 percent. Click to see the full breakdown of Williams's contributions.
Carl Fortner
Corporate Tax Attorney, Foley & Lardner
WISTAX Board Member since 2009
- Conservative Connections: N/A
- WMC Connections: N/A
- Total Contributions: $300
- GOP/Conservative Contributions: $300
- Percent to GOP/Conservatives: 100%
Carl Fortner is a partner of Foley & Lardner law firm specializing in corporate tax law. He joined the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance Board of Directors in 2007.
Political Contributions
Fortner has contributed a total of $300, all of which was given to Republican Gubernatorial candidate Mark Green. Click to see the full breakdown of Fortner's contributions.
Jeffrey L. Adams
Beloit College Economics Professor since 1982
WISTAX Board Member since 2004
- Conservative Connections: See WMC Connections.
- WMC Connections: Served as director of Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce, Beloit’s WMC affiliate.
- Total Contributions: $0
- GOP/Conservative Contributions: $0
- Percent to GOP/Conservatives: N/A
Jeffrey Adams was appointed to the WISTAX board in 2004. He has also taught economics at Beloit College since 1982. Adams is also a member of a number of other development and commerce boards and projects like Beloit 2020 redevelopment team and director of Visit Beloit, the Beloit visitor’s bureau.
Conservative Connections
Jeffrey Adams served as the director of the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce [GBCC] that, according to its website has a “long history with Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, and the GBCC is listed on the WMC website as a member.
Political Contributions
Adams has not contributed to any political candidates.
Information compiled from the Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System, the Federal Election Commission and the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign database of campaign contributions. Contribution amounts include amounts donated by the individual and spouse.
