User talk:Mia Veltri

Mia Veltri is a student at University of Wisconsin, and an intern at CMD.

Wellspring Committee.

The Wellspring Committee is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization operating out of Manassas, VA. The Wellspring Committee was founded in 2008, and serves as a fund for conservative political nonprofit groups. The Wellspring Committee contributed funding to several political nonprofits that created ads for Republican candidates and causes in the 2010 and 2012 elections. However, because the Wellspring Committee did not fund the ads directly, their IRS application maintains the group is not engaged in, "political campaign activities on behalf of or in opposition to candidates for public office."

501(c)(4) Status

As a 501(c)(4) organization, the Wellspring Committee is not required to disclose its donors. The group's tax exempt status allows them to be "part of a network of conservative tax-exempt groups that do little but transfer money, via grants, to other groups closer to the political front lines." According to National Public Radio and the Center for Responsive politics, the Wellspring Committee thus far "has raised $24 million, and distributed nearly $16.9 million to other social welfare groups." Of the $24 million the group has received, only $251,000 has been traced back to identifiable donors.

Finances

Distribution of Grants and Other Financial Assistance

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the following organizations received assistance from the Wellspring Committee between the years 2008 and 2011:

• American Action Network: $305,500
• American Energy Alliance: $604,000
• American Future Fund: $367,457
• American Majority Action (American Majority): $1,020,125
• Americans for Job Security: $2,951,922
• Americans for Prosperity: $1,651,811
• Citizens for the Republic: $360,000
• Common Sense Issues Coalition (Common Sense Issues): $50,000
• Concerned Women for American Legislative Committee (Concerned Women for America): $50,000
• Faith & Freedom Coalition: $250,000
• Judicial Crisis Network: $520,000
• Judicial Education Project: $186,000
• Let Freedom Ring: $25,000
• Right to Life: $542,000
• RightChange.com: $1,131,459
• Susan B Anthony List: $753,278
• WI Manufacturers & Commerce: $200,000
• Wisconsin Club for Growth (Club for Growth): $400,000

Personnel

John Klink - Director

Ann Corkery - Director, President

Steve Wagner - Director, Secretary, Treasurer

Second John Doe Investigation

On October 21, 2013, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported another John Doe proceeding is under way. The investigation is a further examination on “a number of leads turned up by an earlier John Doe probe.” According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the focus of the John Doe inquiry is a “current legislative leader and the governor’s contest.” The investigation will look into a number of state issues, which span five Wisconsin counties and include the recall elections.

Media Organizations Seek Emails and Other Documents Related to John Doe Investigation

Motion for Access to the Public Records Owned by Milwaukee County

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is currently seeking documents related to the secret investigations of public officials and employees. In a motion filed September 18, 2013, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and reporter David Umhoefer moved for:

“..the return of the Records and associated computer devices, originated and owned by Milwaukee County, to the County’s possession where the newspaper and the public may have access to them in accordance with the Open Records Law.”

In the motion, the newspaper argues for the release of these documents and emails based on:

• The newspaper's right to intervene on the public's behalf.
• The fact that every John Doe proceeding is, by its nature, a matter of public interest.
• The nature of this proceeding, in particular, because it involved public officials and the abuse of public resources.
• The presumption under Wisconsin law that the records are open, as they involved the public affairs of Milwaukee County.
• Milwaukee County's right to retain their own copies of the records -and their duty to "safely keep and preserve" the records under Wis. Stat. 19.21(1).
• The fact that the emails would have been public if the officials involved had not purposely set up secret emails to avoid disclosure.
• The newspaper's recognition of permissible claims of secrecy regarding documents from the John Doe proceedings. The motion does not request the release of any questions, answers or transcripts recorded during the John Doe investigations or proceedings
• Public policy which demands the greatest possible access to information related to the affairs of government and government representatives.
• The assumption that the disclosure of important public documents should not be subject to "piecemeal" exceptions.
• The increasingly tenuous justification for secrecy as the cases come to a close.
• The requirement that John Doe proceedings be "drawn as narrowly as is reasonable," and the absence of a need for secrecy in this case. Secrecy in John Doe cases is only reasonable for the following reasons:

(1) Keeping knowledge from defendant's who might otherwise attempt to escape.

(2) Prevent the defendant from collecting perjured testimony to use at trial.

(3) Prevent persons from tampering with the prosecution's evidence or testimony.

(4) Creating an environment where witnesses feel more at ease disclosing information.

(5) Prevent testimony that isn't true from becoming public.

The Milwaukee Journal argues that none of these justifications apply to the records in contest.

The motion also reveals that the newspaper attempted to retrieve these documents through a few different channels. These attempts included: An open records request to Milwaukee County during the course of the John Doe proceeding (Milwaukee County could not comply because they did not keep copies of the records); an open records request to Judge Neal Nettesheim from David Umhoefer, sent on July 3, 2013; and a letter from the editor of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to the Milwaukee County Executive, requesting “he procure the return of the Records and computers belonging to Milwaukee country but still under the deal of the John Doe proceeding…”

Motion to Intervene in Kelly Rindfleisch Appeal

In a separate but related proceeding, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel- along with several other media organizations-- moved to intervene in the criminal appeal of Kelly Rindfleisch. Ms. Rindfleisch (Scott Walker's former deputy chief of staff while he was Milwaukee County executive) pled guilty to official misconduct "for doing campaign work at her government job" in 2012. As she appeals her conviction, Ms. Rindfleisch has requested that her emails and other records continue to be sealed. These records, the news organizations claim, are the property of Milwaukee County for the same reasons articulated in the September 18 motion. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel attorney Robery Dreps argued: "This is a criminal case in which a defendant, convicted and sentenced in a public proceeding involving the use of public resources with evidence from public records, has exercised her right to appeal," "there is nothing private about it."

On October 9, 2013, the news organizations’ motion for intervention was granted, allowing intervention “for the sole purpose" of opposing Ms. Rindfleisch's motion to seal the documents in her appeal..

Repudiation of the United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Grant

On August 29, 2013, The United Sportsmen of Wisconsin Foundation (“United Sportsmen”) was named the recipient of a $500,000 grant by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The grant was slipped into the state budget by Assembly Majority Leader at the time Scott Suder. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

"In May and June, Suder had worked with other GOP lawmakers to insert a provision into the state budget creating a grant so narrowly tailored that the United Sportsmen Foundation was all but assured of receiving it."

United Sportsmen's receipt of the grant quickly aroused scrutiny. Despite its alleged purpose to promote hunting, fishing and trapping in Wisconsin, the grant had been poorly advertised and included terms that excluded most sporting groups in the state. Moreover, United Sportsmen had no record of outdoors training - but according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, did demonstrate "close ties to GOP politicians." The Journal Sentinel pointed to Suder's emails and a planned fishing trip with the head of United Sportsmen in August 2013 as evidence of Suder's relationship to the group. The emails also reveal Suder and United Sportmen had ties to the conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity.

According to Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine), the grant was proposed to the budget committee as a competitive opportunity for groups across the state. However, Mason said he later realized, "in hindsight, [the grant] seems like a sweetheart deal for one group that has ties to Scott Suder." Members of the budget committee also were not informed that the grant would result in the loss of $28 million dollars in annual federal aid to the state.

Governor Walker's administration was notified about the implications of the grant after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sent two warning letters to the state DNR. The letters advised:

"Passage of legislation containing wording similar to motion 527 would violate (state law) and run counter to federal regulations, making Wisconsin ineligible to receive funding through the Sport Fish Restoration and Wildlife Restoration Acts…"

The DNR also notified Scott Suder and Assistant Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) about the federal funding issues, and the potential loss of $28 million federal dollars. Suder –nearing the end of his term in legislature, and scheduled to begin working for Walker in the Public Service Commission in fall 2013 –ignored the warnings.

The grant was approved by vote in May, and raised serious objections from the state DNR. Consequently, Governor Walker vetoed the measure in part, ensuring that only state money would be used for the grant. This act, “avoided any loss in federal aid, but it also meant that state taxpayers were going to have to pay for the entire grant.”

The deal was finally cancelled by Gov. Walker on September 5, 2013, after it was revealed that United Sportsmen's President Andy Pantzlaff "misrepresented [United Sportmens'] federal tax-exempt status to state officials throughout the grant process."

The response to Suder's actions were significant. Sportsmen were "outraged" and "the liberal group One Wisconsin Now filed an ethics complaint with the state Government Accountability Board over the matter." As a result of the public outcry, Suder declined the position with the Public Service Commission. In his brief resignation, he stated: "I want to thank you for offering me an opportunity to work with the Public Service Commission, however I must respectfully decline as I have decided to accept a position in the private sector at the Wisconsin Paper Council. Thank you for your consideration."

Many believe that Suder’s resignation was prescribed by Gov. Walker in order to, “bur[y] the controversy over the grant.” As Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee stated:

“While Gov. Walker may hope today’s personnel change will allow the GOP sportsmen scandal to dissipate, Wisconsinites will not be so quick to forget Gov. Walker’s continued misuse and politicization of Wisconsin’s taxpayer dollars,” “Rep. Suder was not alone in his moves to funnel taxpayer dollars to a political group with little sporting experience.”

Early Life

Aerial view Findlay, Ohio

]]Mia was born in Findlay, OH. She lived there for 18 years.

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Education

Mia attended Findlay High School.

Higher Education

Mia studied history at DePaul University, and law at the University of Wisconsin.

Raw Milk

Drinking raw milk is against the law in Wisconsin.

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