Wisconsin politicians on both sides of the aisle are denying potential conflicts of interest in state government. A recent example is the introduction of a bill by state Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Waterford, that would lower the legal hunting age to eight.
Gunderson is one of the most vocal advocates of relaxed gun laws in the state Legislature. Gunderson also has a financial interest in Gundy's Sports, which sells guns and hunting equipment along with other sporting goods.
But according to John Witte, professor of political science at UW-Madison, Gunderson's legislation is independent of his business interests.
'He believes that, as a legislator, we need to increase the number of hunters in the state,' Witte said. 'This has nothing to do with Representative Gunderson making money.'
Mike Prentiss, spokesperson for state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, also defended Gunderson.
'You can't draw a direct correlation between expanding the number of people who are eligible to hunt if their parents want to take them with a huge increase of [Gunderson's] business,' Prentiss said.
Defenders of the gun bill said Gunderson was acting in the interest of Wisconsin through introducing Assembly Bill 586. Gunderson Spokesperson Mike Bruhn said the bill would allow Wisconsin residents to control the state's growing deer population.
Josh Gunderson of Gundy's Sport said the bill is not as radical as critics are making it out to be.
'This isn't something new,' Josh Gunderson said. 'It's a learning process for these kids.'
Scott Gunderson's case is not the first case of potential conflict of interest in Wisconsin politics. State Rep. Scott Jensen, R-Waukesha, is a consultant for the Phoenix-based Alliance for School Choice. As a result, Jensen has removed himself from legislation regarding school choice in Wisconsin. According to Prentiss, Jensen is protecting himself from criticism.
'No one wants to be accused of trying to pad their own pockets by passing certain kinds of legislation,' Prentiss said.
According to state Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, conflict of interest is rarely an issue in state government.
'People are pretty cognizant that something could come back to bite them pretty easily,' Pocan said.
Prentiss said he agreed, citing the lengthy review process that legislation undergoes before reaching the assembly.
'It's not the scandal some people would like it to be,' Prentiss said.
