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Dems Blast Walker As ‘Hypocrite’ For Accepting Marijuana Industry Donation

Republican Governors Association Accepted $25K Donation From Trade Group

By
Evan Vucci/AP Photo

Democrats are calling Gov. Scott Walker a “hypocrite” for accepting a political donation from a pro-marijuana group while pushing more drug testing for public benefits recipients in Wisconsin.

Walker chairs the Republican Governors Association, which accepted a $25,000 donation from the National Cannabis Industry Association earlier this year.

On Tuesday, liberal group One Wisconsin Now called out the donation hypocritical, citing Walker’s continued push for more drug testing for public benefits recipients.

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“While Scott Walker wants to deny poor people food, health care and job training if they test positive for marijuana, he’s taking money from the marijuana trade industry,” said Scot Ross, director of One Wisconsin Now.


Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, left, Rep. Jimmy Anderson, D-Fitchburg, center, and One Wisconsin Now Director Scot Ross denounce the Republican Governors Association’s acceptance of $25,000 from the National Cannabis Industry Association during a press conference in the state Capitol on Tuesday, July 18, 2017. Laurel White/WPR

Wisconsin already tests participants in its welfare-to-work program for drug use. The state is seeking a federal waiver to begin drug testing in its Medicaid program, and the governor has also proposed drug testing for some food stamp recipients.

“Gov. Walker’s hypocrisy in playing politics with people who need health care access is extremely appalling,” said Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee.

Johnson and Rep. Jimmy Anderson, D-Fitchburg, participated in the One Wisconsin Now press conference denouncing the donation.

“Hypocrisy is a real sickness in this building,” Anderson said. “If we continue to allow hypocrisy like this to go unchallenged, it will only fester. We ought to do better, and Gov. Walker ought to do better.”

A spokesman for the Republican Governors Association called the Democrats’ accusation a “political stunt” and a distraction.