Letter: What is the payback for all those rich, out-of-state donors?

I am reading with great interest how Governor Scott Walker has raised over $25 million this past year through political fundraisers.

These junkets have taken him to Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, New York, California, Illinois and elsewhere.

He has raised several million right here in Wisconsin as well. One of his largest investors is a successful CEO from Beloit.

Those who ‘Stand with Walker’ claim that unions have contributed thousands of dollars to Kathleen Falk and Tom Barrett who are vying to unseat the governor.

I suspect that is true, and some of that union money is from out of state. It is clear that these unions are investing in Barrett or Falk because they want to restore workers’ rights to public employees and to maintain viable labor unions in the private sector.

One has to wonder, however, what investment bankers from Manhattan and Boston, Chicago and Little Rock expect to receive in return for their investments of hundreds of thousands of dollars in Scott Walker.

These are not philanthropists. They expect a return on their investments.

What interest do these big money managers have in the leadership of Wisconsin?

A Las Vegas casino owner, who was a big contributor to Newt Gingrich, has invested a quarter-million dollars in Scott Walker.

The owner of the Orlando Magic NBA team has invested quarter million in Walker as well.

Oil Billionaires David and Charles Koch have invested heavily in Walker for years.

I do not fault these rich people for being rich. Good for them. They are free to spend their money any way they want.

However, citizens of Wisconsin should ask what these wealthy investors expect to get in return for their large contributions to Scott Walker’s campaign. I certainly wonder.

Don’t you?

Tags: opinion, letters, politics