After spending nearly $300,000 in taxpayer funds last year on private planes to fly around the state and country, Scott Walker has billed the taxpayers for a staggering $221,046 for use of state-owned planes in just the first six months of 2014.
That’s according to documents obtained by the Shepherd Express, who previously reported on Walker’s extensive 2013 airplane travel.
The $221,046 spent in the first six months of an election year where Walker is tied with challenger Mary Burke is a nearly 40% increase over the amount Walker billed to the taxpayers in the same time period last year.
Following recent news that taxpayer-funded security costs for Walker had increased by 239% as Walker took a security detail on campaign trips and on a vacation to the Bahamas, earlier this week the Democratic Party of Wisconsin called on Walker to reimburse the state for expenses incurred on his political trips.
Overall, taxpayers have spent more than $5.75 million on security for Walker, to include at least 110 out-of-state trips to partisan events, a family vacation to the Bahamas, and on fundraising trips to places like New York, Georgia, and Arkansas.
Incredibly, Walker even took 5 security guards with him to the Republican National Convention, a National Special Security Event under the protection of the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI.
The figure also includes 24/7 security for two homes.
“Once again, Scott Walker’s motto is ‘It’s OK, the taxpayers will pay,’ when it comes to advancing his personal political ambitions,” Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said Wednesday. “Whether its having his staff illegally fundraise for him on public time or sticking taxpayers with the bill for a private plane to fly the 75 miles between his two homes, Scott Walker always puts his own needs first.”
