TAVERN LEAGUE PAYS ETHICS FORFEITURE
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2005 -- 2:38 PM
On Monday, the Ethics Board announced The Tavern League of Wisconsin has paid a $2,500 forfeiture for illegally subsidizing a March 29 reception attended by 48 legislators.The Tavern League charged legislators and other government workers only $5 for the reception that ended their day of Capitol lobbying, even though the actual cost of the reception was $27.50 to $30 per person.
The Ethics Board said, by undercharging by more than $20 per person for the Concourse Hotel reception, the Tavern League broke the law that says groups that hire lobbyists to influence decisions in the Capitol cannot provide free food, drink or other favors to state officials.
Hours after the reception ended, state Sen. Russ Decker (D-Schofield) was stopped for drunken driving in the suburb of Middleton. He will lose his driver's license for six months.
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